Month: September 2023

As a crucial component widely applied in industrial sectors, slip rings have a diverse range of applications, leading to substantial variations in technical specifications across different fields.Some equipment demands stringent control over the dynamic resistance fluctuation of slip rings, while others require high reliability in harsh environments. These specific product characteristics necessitate personalized customization. In the realm of high-speed electromechanical devices, high-speedslip rings have emerged as a pivotal subfield. JINPAT, an experienced slip ring manufacturer, has successfully developed two series of high-speed slip rings:the hollow shaft series and the capsule series.

Due to differences in structure, the rotational speed of hollow shaft high-speed slip rings is relatively lower.Moreover, due to their higher linear velocity, their operational lifespan is slightly shorter compared to capsule slip rings. This distinction is even more pronounced in the case of large-bore hollow shaft high-speed slip rings. In terms of annual production, the output of capsule high-speed slip rings slightly surpasses that of hollow shaft high-speed counterparts. Among hollow shaft high-speed slip rings, small-bore products have a higher annual production compared to large-bore products. From a dimensional perspective, the volume of small-bore high-speed hollow shaft slip rings is similar to that of capsule high-speed slip rings, and their functionalities are akin. However, differences in installation requirements across different end devices lead to variations in their external appearance and structure.

Compared to standard products, high-speed slip rings capable of reaching rotational speeds of up to ten thousand revolutions per minute exhibit significant differences in aspects such as precision in component machining, internal and external structural design, and more. They impose higher requirements on the smoothness of the copper ring surface, the ratio of friction pair brush pressure, and the surface machining precision of key structural components. Presently, JINPAT has achieved advanced technological capabilities in the field of large-bore high-speed hollow shaft slip rings. The company offers customized high-speed slip rings supporting amaximum bore diameter of 80mm and up to 20 channels, with a design rotational speed of up to 10,000rpm and an operational lifespan of no less than 50 million revolutions. These channels support a flexible combination of current magnitude and signal types. For instance, the hollow shaft high-speed slip ring model LPT080-0401-HS10000 boasts a maximum through-hole diameter of 80mm and can accommodate up to 20 channels. Its aluminum alloy and stainless steel casing ensure high reliability and a prolonged operational lifespan of no less than 50 million revolutions. Moreover, it features a wide aperture selection range,maintenance-free attributes, and a maximum rotational speed of 10,000rpm,making it suitable for environments ranging from -10°C to 60°C.

As a reputable slip ring manufacturer, JINPAT currently possesses the capacity for large-scale production of capsule high-speed slip rings with rotational speeds of up to 20,000 revolutions perminute. Additionally, capsule slip rings with a maximum rotational speed of30,000 revolutions per minute have also successfully passed JINPAT’ producttesting procedures, meeting design standards. Clients can customize the sliprings they require, with JINPAT’s engineering team offering dedicated services to fulfill these needs.

With an ongoing pursuit of energy efficiency, various types of vessels are increasingly adopting electric propulsion systems to reduce energy consumption. In line with this trend, the application of low-power podded electric propulsion systems as the primary propulsion system is growing. In these podded electric propulsion systems, slip rings are indispensable core components. As a renowned slip ring manufacturer, JINPAThas consistently achieved an industry-leading position in the research of slip rings for podded electric propulsion systems. The rise of electric propulsion technology has brought tremendous market opportunities to JINPAT.

Compared to small electrical equipment in other industries, even low-power podded electric propulsion systems used for inland waterway shipping typically start with power ratings in the hundreds of kilowatts. These propulsion systems are primarily suitable for small-tonnage core shipping vessels. To meet the needs of these inland waterway vessels, JINPAT has developed a specialized 200KW series of slip ring products. This series comprises two categories: an ultra-compact type represented by the product LPA000-06200-0618-44S-01A-05L and a standard carbon-brush integrated slip ring type represented by the product LPA000-06200-0618-44S-01A-06L. The main functional difference between these two products lies in the number of pneumatic and hydraulic channels.

Among them, LPA000-06200-0618-44S-01A-05L represents the ultra-compact high-protection slip ring for podded propulsion systems. Even without considering the height of the PG joint, the overall height of this product is merely 1117mm, with the stator body dimensions of 340mm x 320mm. Notably, this slip ring is not only compact in size but also achieves an IP65 protection rating. In contrast, the protection rating of LPA000-06200-0618-44S-01A-06L is IP54. Despite the lower protection rating of this slip ring, JINPA engineering design team, backed by their exceptional technical expertise, has successfully tackled this challenge and realized a comprehensive design that meets the requirements of compactness, multiple channels, high protection, and high-power transmission.

In addition to addressing slip rings for small-power podded propulsion systems, JINPAT has a wealth of product development experience in the field of slip rings for propulsion systems with power ratings below 5MW. Currently, JINPAT has successfully developed various models of slip rings with single-channel currents of 1000A, 2000A, and 4000A for customers, with rated voltages of 690V, 1000V, and 3300V, respectively.Similar to the 200KW-level slip rings, these slip rings also consist of pneumatic and hydraulic modules, ultra-high-power modules, and regular electrical signal modules. These three modules operate independently and are designed with a high degree of physical isolation to ensure that high currents during operation do not interfere with electrical signals.

In conclusion, JINPAT, as a professional slip ring manufacturer, possesses remarkable research and innovation capabilities in the field of slip rings for low-power podded electric propulsion systems. As electric propulsion technology continues to advance, the company offers high-quality, high-performance slip ring products, contributing to the more efficient and sustainable development of the maritime industry.

The concept of high-power carbon brush slip rings pertains to a specialized rotating connection device designed for transmitting high-power currents and signals. Widely utilized in equipment requiring substantial electrical energy or signal transmission, such as large-scale machinery, industrial robots, rotating stages, and various types of cranes, high-power carbon brush slip rings play a crucial role. Their unique feature lies in the use of carbon brushes as friction materials, ensuring stable operation even under conditions of high load and high rotation speed.

In the product range of JINPAT, products with a single path exceeding 50A are categorized as part of the high-power series, and they adopt a design based on carbon brush friction pairs. JINPAT engineers also determine the structure of slip rings based on variations in product installation environments and purposes.

This type of slip ring boasts an array of remarkable characteristics. Firstly, it possesses exceptional power transmission capability, reliably accommodating the transmission of high currents and powers, thus meeting the demands of large-scale equipment and high-load applications. Secondly, high-power carbon brush slip rings can maintain stable signal transmission while power is being transferred, ensuring the accuracy and reliability of data transmission and providing crucial support for the normal operation of equipment.

Typically, the most commonly used design for this type of high-power carbon brush slip ring is the open-frame design.The appearance of this type of carbon brush slip ring includes several types such as box-shaped, cylindrical, and other irregular shapes. Depending on requirements, it can also be designed with appropriately sized through holes.This type of product finds the most extensive application in equipment such as rotating stages, tower cranes, shore cranes, offshore cranes, heavy-duty winches, and all-electric thrusters. On the other hand, the use of traditional stacked designs for carbon brush slip rings is relatively less common. The main characteristic of these products is space efficiency, enabling them to be made very compact. Their appearance resembles that of a larger hollow shaft. At present, the most common application of this type of carbon brush slip ring is in the control centers of marine seismic exploration industry robots.

Moreover, as the core friction material of the slip ring, carbon brushes exhibit outstanding wear resistance. This implies that they can maintain stable performance over extended periods of use, thereby extending the operational lifespan of the slip ring. Addressing the demand for high-speed rotational motion, high-power carbon brush slip rings also display excellent adaptability. They can maintain stable power and signal transmission even during high-speed rotation, without affecting the overall performance of the equipment.

In terms of applications, high-power carbon brush slip rings find widespread use in various fields. Whether it is high-power power transmission for large-scale machinery or signal transmission during high-speed movement of industrial robots, this type of slip ring is up to the task. The smooth operation of rotating stages, precise control of cranes,and even multi-axis motion control in industrial automation all rely on the support of high-power carbon brush slip rings.

As a pioneer among international slip ring manufacturers, JINPAT has developed corresponding product cases for the various fields mentioned earlier. The characteristics of carbon brush slip rings used differ based on the application equipment or industry. For example, slip rings for cranes used on offshore oil drilling platforms possess not only powerful power transmission capabilities but also a high explosion-proof   design.This equips them to operate stably in the environment of oil and gas extraction. The high explosion-proof rating design also brings a higher level of protection to the slip rings, making it safe to say that high explosion-proof rating carbon brush slip rings coexist with high protection level carbon brush slip rings.

Radar slip rings play a crucial role in radar systems, serving as key components that guide the transmission and reception of radar signals, enabling target detection and localization. As a professional slip ring manufacturer, JINPAT’s  small aperture hollow shaft slip rings are widely used in military radar slip ring applications.

 

JINPAT’s small aperture radar slip rings are characterized by their compact size, small diameter, and volume, making them highly suitable for small rotating military equipment, where they are used for energy and signal transmission. In platforms like military vehicles and small to medium-sized aircraft, radar systems are typically limited in size,power, and transmission range, necessitating appropriately sized slip rings.For such radar systems, the required slip ring structures are relatively   simple, with small aperture through-hole slip rings being the primary choice.

 

Representing the excellence in small aperture radar slip ring products, JINPAT offers the LPT012/015/038/039 series slip rings. The LPT012A-0701-E2 and LPT015-0610-E3 are the smallest aperture products in this series, featuring simple integrated slip rings comprising multiple power rings and one Ethernet channel. These slip rings are commonly used in ship borne collision avoidance radar, airborne radar, vehicle navigation radar, short-range detection, and some small target indication radar scenarios.

 

The LPT038/039 series slip rings are similar to the LPT012/015 series in application platforms but offer slightly enhanced functionality. In addition to having more power rings than the previous series, they also support a greater variety of signal types, resulting in more signal rings. Representative models of these two aperture slip rings are the LPT038-1205-12S and LPT039-0605-16S-E2. The LPT038 adopts standard slip ring molds, providing a significant advantage in delivery speed.

 

Radar slip rings play a critical role in various application fields and continuously undergo improvement and optimization to meet diverse requirements in different scenarios. JINPAT is committed to developing various radar slip rings to cater to the needs of different industries while consistently enhancing product performance and reliability. JINPAT is dedicated to offering high-quality radar slip ring solutions and contributing to the advancement of radar technology.

In the previous section, we introduced several key technical performance indicators of slip rings, including static contact resistance and dynamic contact resistance. Now,let’s discuss friction torque, insulation strength between different loops of the slip rings, and their service life.

 

Apart from contact resistance, friction torque is also an important technical performance indicator of slip rings. Friction torque refers to the resistance generated between the brush and slip ring during rotation due to sliding friction. It is directly proportional to the brush pressure, which is the force exerted by the brush on the slip ring when they make contact. Friction torque is divided into startup friction torque and dynamic friction torque. Startup friction torque consists of static friction torque between the brush and slip ring and static friction torque within the bearing system. The greater the brush pressure, the larger the startup friction torque. The size of the dynamic friction torque varies with the rotation time; the longer the sliding contact between the brush and slip ring, the smaller the dynamic friction torque, resulting in more stable operation of the slip ring.

 

Before delivering carbon brush slip rings, JINPAT conducts a running-in process on the carbon brushes on the workbench to achieve the most stable operating state. After running for a period, the brush wires and slip ring grooves begin to wear, increasing the contact area. This leads to an increase in friction coefficient, dynamic friction torque, and contact resistance. However, for carbon brush slip rings using an open-frame structure, there is no such trouble, as the carbon powder drops to the bottom through gaps between components. When the carbon brush wears to a certain extent, replacement is necessary.

 

In addition, the insulation strength between the loops of the slip rings should also be given attention. Good insulation performance between each loop of the slip ring is essential to avoid issues like current short circuits, ensuring system safety and stability. Insulation strength refers to the insulation resistance between adjacent slip rings and between each slip ring and the housing under a certain voltage. It is typically measured using a 500V or 250V megohmmeter. The main factor affecting insulation strength is the insulation performance of the sealing gel. Currently, most precision slip rings use epoxy resin sealing gel,primarily composed of bisphenol A epoxy resin as the main agent, various an hydrides as curing agents, and added silicon micro-powder or Al2O3 alumina powder as fillers, along with toughening agents and accelerators. After high-temperature curing, the required insulation layer is obtained.

 

Lastly, the service life is another critical performance indicator of slip rings. Various factors affect the service life of slip rings, including rotational speed,brush pressure, material compatibility between the brush and slip ring, as well as processing and assembly techniques. Brush pressure is one of the key factors directly influencing the service life of slip rings. The higher the brush pressure, the greater the friction, leading to more severe brush wear and a decline in various performance indicators. When the wear reaches a certain level, signal transmission functionality may be lost. As a pioneer in the slip ring manufacturing industry, JINPAT has extensive experience in developing high-life slip rings.

 

To increase the service life of slip rings, JINPAT ‘s engineering team has long verified various structures and retained the most reliable and stable configurations through full-life cycle testing. For the frictional mating materials in high-life slip rings, it depends on the material of the brush wire and the material and thickness of the copper ring coating. With years of accumulation, JINPAT’s engineering design team also possesses rich experience in the composition of frictional mating materials for slip rings. Over the years, based on the data and experience gained from these tests, JINPAT has comprehensively optimized and improved the critical design, manufacturing process, and testing technology of its slip rings, achieving the goal of enhancing product quality.

Slip rings are precision and vulnerable components in electromechanical systems. The slip rings produced by JINPAT have been widely used worldwide. The quality and performance of slip rings are crucial for the normal operation of machinery, and their effectiveness is mainly determined by five major technical indicators.

 

This article will introduce several key technical performance indicators of slip rings, including static contact resistance, dynamic contact resistance, friction torque, insulation strength between the rings of the slip ring, and service life. JINPAT employs a mature control process to ensure excellent product performance when dealing with these indicators.

 

First, let’s understand the static contact resistance. Static contact resistance refers to the resistance between the samering brush wire (stator) and the wire lead (rotor) of the slip ring when it is not in operation. The level of this value directly affects the heat generated when current passes through the slip ring and the reliability of signal transmission. The magnitude of contact resistance depends on the materials of the slip ring and brushes, the contact form, and the pressure during contact.Increasing pressure can reduce contact resistance, but there is also a limit.Exceeding the limit can increase friction torque, leading to increased wear atthe contact area. If the contact resistance is too high, it may lead to increased contact voltage drop and even welding between the brushes and slipring, affecting signal transmission.

 

Secondly, dynamic contact resistance refers to the fluctuation value of contact resistance when the slip ring rotates continuously. It can also be expressed as electrical noise, which mainly affects the stability of signal transmission. The fluctuation in contact resistance is mainly influenced by the contact materials, the smoothness of component processing, the stability of contact pressure, the coaxiality of copper rings, and assembly process technology. During use, reasons for an increase in dynamic contact resistance may include poor contact between the brush and ring groove, virtual contact, insufficient pressure, or foreign objects on the ring groove surface. If the dynamic contact resistance is too high, it can cause significant fluctuations and noise in the signal current passing through the slip ring, and in severe cases, it may lead to signal interruptions or loss.