Self-lubricated rotary joint

Claim 2

An assembly for electrically joining a first pair of conductors to a second pair of conductors and for rotating one pair relative to the other, said assembly comprising: first means for electrically connecting a first conductor of said first pair with a first conductor of said second pair, said first means including a pair of physically spaced-apart but effectively electrically connected coupling elements, each of which is engageable with a respective one of said first conductors; second means for electrically connecting a second conductor of said first pair with a second conductor of said second pair, said second means including rotatable joint means having a base element mountable to one of said second conductors and a partially resilient ring element having one circumferential portion mountable to the other of said second conductors and a second circumferential portion spaced from said first portion and rotatably engagable against said base element; and insulation means for electrically insulating said first means from said second means.

Claim 3

An assembly for electrically joining a first pair of conductors to a second pair of conductors and for rotating one pair relative to the other, said assembly comprising: first means for electrically connecting a first conductor of said first pair with a first conductor of said second pair, said first means including a pair of physically spaced-apart but effectively electrically connected coupling elements, each of which is engageable with a respective one of said first conductors; second means for electrically connecting a second conductor of said first pair with a second conductor of said second pair; said second means including rotatable joint means having a base element mountable to one of said second conductors and a partially resilient ring element having one circumferential portion mountable to the other of said second conductors and a second circumferential portion spaced from said first portion and rotatably engageable against said base element, said second means also including means for continuously minimizing friction at said joint means, said friction minimizing means including a lubrication reservoir adapted for substantially continuously providing lubrication to said joint means.

Claim 4

An assembly for electrically joining a first pair of conductors to a second pair of conductors and for rotating one pair relative to the other, said assembly comprising: first means for electrically connecting a first conductor of said first pair with a first conductor of said second pair, said first means including a pair of physically spaced-apart but effectively electrically connected coupling elements, each of which is engageable with a respective one of said first conductors; second means for electrically connecting a second conductor of said first pair with a second conductor of said second pair; said second means including rotatable joint means having a base element mountable to one of said second conductors and a partially resilient ring element having one circumferential portion mountable to the other of said second conductors and a second circumferential portion spaced from said first portion and rotatably engageable against said base element, said second means also including means for continuously minimizing friction at said joint means, said friction minimizing means including a lubrication reservoir adapted for substantially continuously providing lubrication to said joint means.

Claim 5

An assembly for electrically joining a first pair of conductors to a second pair of conductors and for rotating one pair relative to the other, said assembly comprising: first means for electrically connecting a first conductor of said first pair with a first conductor of said second pair, said first means including a pair of physically spaced-apart but effectively electrically connected coupling elements, said coupling elements including physically spaced-apart centrally apertured discs having substantially flat confronting surfaces which cooperate to provide capacitive coupling of said elements upon receipt of an alternating electrical signal, said first means also including first and second connector means each of which has a substantially cylindrical portion connected to and surrounding said centrally apertured portion of a different one of said discs, each of said connector means being connected with a different one of said first conductors; second means for electrically connecting a second conductor of said first pair with a second conductor of said second pair; and insulation means for electrically insulating said first means from said second means.

Claim 6

An assembly for electrically joining a first pair of conductors to a second pair of conductors and for rotating one pair relative to the other, said assembly comprising: first means for electrically connecting a first conductor of said first pair with a first conductor of said second pair, said first means including a pair of physically spaced-apart but effectively electrically connected coupling elements, said coupling elements including physically spaced-apart centrally apertured discs having substantially flat confronting surfaces which cooperate to provide capacitive coupling of said elements upon receipt of an alternating electrical signal, said first means also including first and second connector means each of which has a substantially cylindrical portion connected to and surrounding said centrally apertured portion of a different one of said discs, each of said connector means being connected with a different one of said first conductors; second means for electrically connecting a second conductor of said first pair with a second conductor of said second pair; and insulation means for electrically insulating said first means from said second means.

Claim 7

An assembly for joining one electrical conductor to a second electrical conductor, said assembly comprising: rotatable joint means engageable with said conductors and adapted for allowing at least one of said conductors to axially rotate relative to the other conductor; said joint means being constructed of electrically conductive material for electrically connecting said conductors together and having a base element mouNtable to one of said second conductors and a partially resilient ring element having one circumferential portion mountable to the other of said second conductors and a second circumferential portion spaced from said first portion and rotatable engageable against said base element; and a lubrication reservoir positioned adjacent said joint means and adapted for substantially continuously providing lubrication to said joint means whereby minimizing frictional wear thereat.

Claim 8

An assembly for joining one electrical conductor to a second electrical conductor, said assembly comprising: rotatable joint means engageable with said conductors and adapted for allowing at least one of said conductors to axially rotate relative to the other conductor; said joint means being constructed of electrically conductive material for electrically connecting said conductors together and having a base element mouNtable to one of said second conductors and a partially resilient ring element having one circumferential portion mountable to the other of said second conductors and a second circumferential portion spaced from said first portion and rotatable engageable against said base element; and a lubrication reservoir positioned adjacent said joint means and adapted for substantially continuously providing lubrication to said joint means whereby minimizing frictional wear thereat.

Claim 9

An assembly for joining one electrical conductor to a second electrical conductor, said assembly comprising: an electrically conductive base element mountable to one of said conductors; a partially resilient electrically conductive ring element having one circumferential portion mountable to the other of said conductors and a second circumferential portion spaced from said first portion and rotatable engagable with said base element; and means for supporting said contact element and said base element.

Claim 10

An assembly for joining one electrical conductor to a second electrical conductor, said assembly comprising: an electrically conductive base element mountable to one of said conductors; a partially resilient electrically conductive ring element having one circumferential portion mountable to the other of said conductors and a second circumferential portion spaced from said first portion and rotatable engagable with said base element; and means for supporting said contact element and said base element.

Claim 11

An assembly for electrically joining a pair of conductors and for rotating the same relative to each other, said assembly comprising: a first coupling element including a first centrally apertured disc having a first surface having a predetermined substantially flat surface area, said first coupling element also including a first cylindrical connector connected at one end to said first disc so as to surround the central aperture therein, the other end of said connector being connected with one of said conductors; a second coupling element including a second centrally apertured disc having a second surface having a predetermined substantially flat surface area, said second coupling element also including a second cylindrical connector connected at one end to said second disc so as to surround the central aperture therein, the other end of said connector being connected with the other of said conductors; means for supporting said second surface a predetermined distance from and in confronting relationship with said first surface, the values of said predetermined surface areas and said predetermined distance being such that an effective short circuit is provided between said coupling elements upon receipt of an alternating electrical signal; and means for rotating at least one of said coupling elements relative to the other coupling element.

Claim 12

An assembly for electrically joining a pair of conductors and for rotating the same relative to each other, said assembly comprising: a first coupling element including a first centrally apertured disc having a first surface having a predetermined substantially flat surface area, said first coupling element also including a first cylindrical connector connected at one end to said first disc so as to surround the central aperture therein, the other end of said connector being connected with one of said conductors; a second coupling element including a second centrally apertured disc having a second surface having a predetermined substantially flat surface area, said second coupling element also including a second cylindrical connector connected at one end to said second disc so as to surround the central aperture therein, the other end of said connector being connected with the other of said conductors; means for supporting said second surface a predetermined distance from and in confronting relationship with said first surface, the values of said predetermined surface areas and said predetermined distance being such that an effective short circuit is provided between said coupling elements upon receipt of an alternating electrical signal; and means for rotating at least one of said coupling elements relative to the other coupling element.