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Rolamite Slip Ring
A rotating electrical connection using deformed scrolling metal bands to carry electricity | |
current slip rings usually use sliding brushes to carry current. These wear out and eventually have to be replaced. There's also some that use liquid conductors like mercury or indium gallium eutectic alloys though those are typically more expensive.
I propose using a thin circular metal band similar
to the balls in a ball bearing but deformable. it would roll between the rotating and stationary elements of the slip ring but because it deforms it would form a larger contact area with the rotating and stationary conductors than a rigid roller would.
if the stator, rotor and band are serated then multiple bands can be used without coming in contact with one another as the serated band acts somewhat like a flexible gear.
[link]
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That's why you use a thin metal band made of a material like beryllium copper |
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Many metals have a definite threshold strain below which
they don't fatigue, [MechE], however often the strain is
repeated. |
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Think of the reeds of a harmonica, if you must. |
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[+] Anything with Rolamite (or in this case, a
scrollerwheel) gets a bun from me. |
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Of course, the question remains of whether spring
copper will fatigue faster or slower than sliding brushes
will wear out. |
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In addition, even if the metal band of a scrollerwheel is
more long lasting than the brushes of a conventional
slip ring, there is the additional consideration of
replacement cost and toxicity. |
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Carbon brushes are cheap, nontoxic, and easy to
replace. |
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All beryllium compounds are toxic, which increases cost
of manufacture, and replacing the band in a
scrollerwheel bearing likely requires a fair amount of
dexterity. |
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Spring copper fatigues very quickly if worked for long
periods at a time. It's really more of a 'repeated use'
material, rather than a 'continual use' one. |
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