Apparatus for transferring electrical current between two electrical conductors which can be brought into a movement of rotation in relation to each other around a common axis

Claim 1

In an apparatus for transferring electrical current between two relatively movable conductors, the improvement wherein: (a) the two conductors are disposed for relative rotation about a horizontal common axis, at least one of the conductors having an axle coaxial with said common axis for rotatably driving said one conductor, each conductor having an annular contact flange extending radially outwardly therefrom with respect to said common axis; and (b) an auxiliary rotor is arranged for rotating about an axis coaxial with said common axis, said rotor being rotatably supported by bearing means carried on said axle of said one conductor, and having an inner periphery including two annular grooves in which respective rings of liquid metal are held by centrifugal force during rotation of said rotor and are electrically interconnected by an electrically conductive unit in said rotor, each annular groove encircling and receiving therewithin a respective annular contact flange of said two conductors in contacting relationship with its ring of liquid metal, thereby providing a path for transfer of electrical current between said two conductors by way of their respective contact flanges and said electrically interconnected rings of liquid metal with which said flanges are in contacting relationship.