Patent US4284918A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4284918A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Porous interface stabilized liquid metal current collector
Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
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Filing: 1979-10-17
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Granted: 1981-08-18
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Expires: 1999-10-17
Abstract
Abstract A homopolar machine comprises a stator provided with channel structures caining liquid metal, a rotor concentrically positioned within the stator with circumferential rotor flanges disposed in the channels, and a porous, resilient braided structure slidably positioned in the channels and immersed in the liquid metal to provide a circumferential wetted surface in intimate contact with the peripheral flange surface. The braided structure comprises a longitudinal strip of braided material supported along its longitudinal edge portions by crimped edges of a braid holder such that the central portion of the braided material is resiliently biased toward the peripheral flange surface. The crimped edges of the braid holder are designed to slide into conforming grooves in the stator channel to facilitate easy replacement of the braided structures. Additional resilience is provided by an additional braided element disposed between the braided material and the braid holder.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael J. Cannell
- 👤 Slade L. Carr, Jr.
- 👤 Howard O. Stevens
- 👤 Harold Surosky
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 13:48
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02K; H02K31/00; H02K31/04; H01; H01R; H01R39/00; H01R39/02; H01R39/18; H01R39/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
258 words
A homopolar electrical machine comprising: a stator having an inner surface with channels formed therein, each said channel including radial sidewalls and a bottom surface portion; a rotor concentrically positioned within said stator, said rotor including outwardly projecting flanges, each of said flanges extending into a respective channel in said stator and being spaced from said radially extending sidewalls and said bottom portion; liquid metal disposed in each said channel for making electrical contact between said flange and said channel; a porous means removably secured in said channels and immersed in said liquid metal for maintaining said liquid metal in contact with said flanges; means for removably securing said porous means in said channels; said porous means comprises a porous, compliant strip of resilient material and a support means supporting said strip of material along its longitudinal edge portions such that the central longitudinal portion of said strip of material is resiliently biased toward the peripheral surface of said flange; said strip of material comprises a porous material of woven filaments to provide a plurality of interstices therein and said support means comprises a holder element for said material having longitudinal edge portions crimped around respective said longitudinal edge portions of said strip of material to maintain said central portion in the biased position; and said means for securing said porous means includes grooves formed in opposite sidewalls of said channels and said longitudinal crimped edges of said holder element are dimensioned to slidably engage said grooves and to maintain said strip of material in a fixed position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
258 words
A homopolar electrical machine comprising: a stator having an inner surface with channels formed therein, each said channel including radial sidewalls and a bottom surface portion; a rotor concentrically positioned within said stator, said rotor including outwardly projecting flanges, each of said flanges extending into a respective channel in said stator and being spaced from said radially extending sidewalls and said bottom portion; liquid metal disposed in each said channel for making electrical contact between said flange and said channel; a porous means removably secured in said channels and immersed in said liquid metal for maintaining said liquid metal in contact with said flanges; means for removably securing said porous means in said channels; said porous means comprises a porous, compliant strip of resilient material and a support means supporting said strip of material along its longitudinal edge portions such that the central longitudinal portion of said strip of material is resiliently biased toward the peripheral surface of said flange; said strip of material comprises a porous material of woven filaments to provide a plurality of interstices therein and said support means comprises a holder element for said material having longitudinal edge portions crimped around respective said longitudinal edge portions of said strip of material to maintain said central portion in the biased position; and said means for securing said porous means includes grooves formed in opposite sidewalls of said channels and said longitudinal crimped edges of said holder element are dimensioned to slidably engage said grooves and to maintain said strip of material in a fixed position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The machine of claim 1, wherein said holder element includes aperatures formed therein to permit circulation of liquid metal between said strip of material and said channel bottom.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The machine of claim 1, wherein said strip of material comprises multiple layers of braided filaments having a plurality of cell-like interstices formed therein.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The machine of claim 3, further comprising a ribbon of resilient, porous material disposed between said strip of material and said holder element to maintain said central portion of said strip of material in a biased position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
105 words
A current collector element for use in electrical machines having a rotary member disposed in contact with liquid metal contained in grooves in a stationary member and for maintaining electrical contact between the rotary member and the stationary member, comprises: a porous, resilient strip of woven material secured along its edge portions to rolled, crimped edge portions of a longitudinal holder element for said material such that the central portion of said strip of material is resiliently biased away from said holder element to assume an arcuate configuration, said edge portions of said holder element being configured to engage the grooves in the stationary member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
105 words
A current collector element for use in electrical machines having a rotary member disposed in contact with liquid metal contained in grooves in a stationary member and for maintaining electrical contact between the rotary member and the stationary member, comprises: a porous, resilient strip of woven material secured along its edge portions to rolled, crimped edge portions of a longitudinal holder element for said material such that the central portion of said strip of material is resiliently biased away from said holder element to assume an arcuate configuration, said edge portions of said holder element being configured to engage the grooves in the stationary member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
125 words
A homopolar electrical machine comprises: a cylindrical stator having an inner surface with channels formed therein; a rotor concentrically positioned within said stator, said rotor including radial flanges extending into said channels and being spaced from the walls of said channels; liquid metal disposed in said channels for making electrical contact between said flanges and the walls of said channels; and a porous means removably secured in said channels for maintaining said liquid metal in contact with said flanges, said porous means comprises an elongated strip of pourous, resilient material secured to an elongated holder element, and the longitudinal edges of said holder element slidably engaging the walls of said channels for maintaining said holder element and said strip of material in a fixed position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
125 words
A homopolar electrical machine comprises: a cylindrical stator having an inner surface with channels formed therein; a rotor concentrically positioned within said stator, said rotor including radial flanges extending into said channels and being spaced from the walls of said channels; liquid metal disposed in said channels for making electrical contact between said flanges and the walls of said channels; and a porous means removably secured in said channels for maintaining said liquid metal in contact with said flanges, said porous means comprises an elongated strip of pourous, resilient material secured to an elongated holder element, and the longitudinal edges of said holder element slidably engaging the walls of said channels for maintaining said holder element and said strip of material in a fixed position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
65 words
The structure of claim 6, wherein: said strip of material has a plurality of interstices formed therein and said holder element has longitudinal edge portions crimped around the longitudinal edge portions of said strip of material so that the central portion said strip of material is resiliently biased to assume an arcuate profile in close proximity with the peripheral surface of the adjacent rotor flange.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
65 words
The structure of claim 6, wherein: said strip of material comprises a porous strip of resilient woven material having a plurality of interstices formed therein, said holder element has longitudinal edge portions secured to the longitudinal edge portions of said strip of material, and said longitudinal edge portions of said holder element are slidably received by opposing grooves formed in the walls of said channels.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
47 words
The structure of claim 6, wherein: a plurality of said strips of material and the respective holder elements are disposed in end-to-end relationship in a channel to circumferentially enclose an adjacent rotor flange such that a continuous liquid metal surface is maintained in contact with said flange.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The machine of claim 9, further comprising means for maintaining each said holder element in a predetermined position in respective said stator channel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
101 words
A current collector element for use in electrical machines having a rotary member disposed in contact with liquid metal contained in channels in a stationary member, wherein the liquid metal maintains electrical contact between the rotary member and the stationary member comprises: a porous, resilient, elongated strip of woven material; and an elongated holder element secured to said strip so that the longitudinal central portion of said strip is resiliently biased away from said holder element to assume an arcuate configuration, and the longitudinal edge portions of said holder element comprise means for slidably engaging the channels in the stationary member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
101 words
A current collector element for use in electrical machines having a rotary member disposed in contact with liquid metal contained in channels in a stationary member, wherein the liquid metal maintains electrical contact between the rotary member and the stationary member comprises: a porous, resilient, elongated strip of woven material; and an elongated holder element secured to said strip so that the longitudinal central portion of said strip is resiliently biased away from said holder element to assume an arcuate configuration, and the longitudinal edge portions of said holder element comprise means for slidably engaging the channels in the stationary member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The collector element of claim 10, wherein said woven material comprises a braid of metal filaments.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
The collector element of claim 10, further comprising a ribbon of porous, resilient material interposed between said strip of material and said holder element to provide additional resilience to said central portion of said strip of material.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
123 words
A current collector element for use in electrical machines having a rotary member disposed in contact with liquid metal contained in grooves in a stationary member and for maintaining electrical contact between the rotary member and the stationary member, comprises: an elongated holder element hving longitudinal edge portions; and a porous, resilient strip of woven material having longitudinal edge portions and a longitudinal central portion, said longitudinal edge portions of said strip of material are secured to said longitudinal edge portions of said holder element so that said longitudinal central portion of said strip of material is resiliently biased away from said holder element, and said longitudinal edge portions of said holder element are configured to engage the grooves in the stationary member.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
123 words
A current collector element for use in electrical machines having a rotary member disposed in contact with liquid metal contained in grooves in a stationary member and for maintaining electrical contact between the rotary member and the stationary member, comprises: an elongated holder element hving longitudinal edge portions; and a porous, resilient strip of woven material having longitudinal edge portions and a longitudinal central portion, said longitudinal edge portions of said strip of material are secured to said longitudinal edge portions of said holder element so that said longitudinal central portion of said strip of material is resiliently biased away from said holder element, and said longitudinal edge portions of said holder element are configured to engage the grooves in the stationary member.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-08-17 | 1985-02-16 | 1985-08-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-08-17 | 1989-02-16 | 1989-08-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-08-17 | 1993-02-16 | 1993-08-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |