IP Library Granted Patent US 12,431,680
Granted Patent B2
US 12,431,680 · App. 18/260,233 · Granted Sep 30, 2025

Slip ring apparatus, yaw system, and wind turbine generator set

Inventors: Xianfu Cen (Beijing, CN); Weifeng Gu (Beijing, CN); Jiankun Chu (Beijing, CN)
Assignee: BEIJING GOLDWIND SCIENCE & CREATION WINDPOWER EQUIPMENT CO., LTD.
H01R39/08F03D7/0204F03D80/00H01R39/18F05D2260/20
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,431,680
App. No.
18/260,233
Granted
Sep 30, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A slip ring apparatus, a yaw system, and a wind turbine generator set are provided. The slip ring apparatus includes a rotating part and a fixed part, the rotating part can rotate relative to the fixed part, a conductive ring is provided on the rotating part, an electric brush is provided on the fixed part, and a chute is formed in at least one of the conductive ring and the electric brush, so that when the conductive ring and the electric brush are in contact, the chute can discharge abrasive dust generated when the conductive ring and the brush are in contact, thereby suppressing the increase of fretting contact resistance between the conductive ring and the electric brush.

Claims (46)

1. A slip ring device, comprising:

a rotating part; and

a fixed part,

wherein the rotating part is configured to rotate relative to the fixed part, a conductive ring is arranged on the rotating part, a brush is arranged on the fixed part, and one or more inclined slots are provided on at least one of the conductive ring or the brush,

wherein the one or more inclined slots comprise a first inclined slot provided on the brush and indented into the brush and a second inclined slot provided on the conductive ring and indented into the conductive ring,

wherein the first inclined slot on the brush is inclined at a first inclined angle relative to a circumferential extending direction of the conductive ring and the brush, the second inclined slot on the conductive ring is inclined at a second inclined angle relative to the circumferential extending direction of the conductive ring and the brush, and each of the first and second inclined angles is greater than a repose angle of a material of the brush and a repose angle of a material of the conductive ring, and

wherein when the conductive ring and the brush are in contact with each other, the one or more inclined slots are configured to discharge wear debris generated as the conductive ring and the brush are in contact.

2. The slip ring device according to claim 1 , wherein when the conductive ring and the brush are in contact with each other, the second inclined slot on the conductive ring and the first inclined slot on the brush cross with each other.

3. The slip ring device according to claim 1 , wherein the first or second inclined angle ranges from 45 degrees to 90 degrees.

4. The slip ring device according to claim 1 , wherein a depth of each of the one or more inclined slots ranges from 1 mm to 4 mm, and an area occupied by the one or more inclined slots formed on at least one of the conductive ring or the brush is ⅙ to ⅕ of an area of a contact surface between the conductive ring and the brush.

5. The slip ring device according to claim 1 , further comprising a heat dissipation device arranged on the fixing part, wherein in a working state, the heat dissipation device dissipates heat from the brush, and a temperature of the brush is controlled to be lower than a critical rapid oxidation temperature of the brush.

6. The slip ring device according to claim 5 , wherein the critical rapid oxidation temperature of the brush is calculated based on a temperature rise of the brush and an increase rate of a fretting contact resistance between the conductive ring and the brush.

7. The slip ring device according to claim 6 , further comprising a temperature sensor arranged on the brush for detecting the temperature of the brush, wherein the heat dissipation device is activated when the temperature of the brush is higher than a threshold temperature, and when the temperature of the brush is lower than the threshold temperature, the heat dissipation device is deactivated to control the temperature of the brush to be lower than the critical rapid oxidation temperature of the brush.

8. The slip ring device according to claim 6 , wherein the temperature rise of the brush is controlled to be not higher than 20K and the temperature of the brush is not higher than 85° C. by means of the heat dissipation device.

9. The slip ring device according to claim 1 , wherein a current flowing between the conductive ring and the brush is larger than a ratio of a softening voltage of a material of the brush to a static contact resistance between the conductive ring and the brush, and smaller than a ratio of a melting voltage of the material of the brush to the static contact resistance between the conductive ring and the brush.

10. The slip ring device according to claim 1 , wherein the conductive ring is made of a copper plated silver antimony alloy, and the brush is made of a copper-carbon composite material.

11. The slip ring device according to claim 10 , wherein a roughness of surfaces of the conductive ring and the brush in contact with each other is less than or equal to 0.1 μm.

12. A yaw system, comprising:

a slip ring device arranged on a yaw platform in a middle of an installation position of a tower and a nacelle, and comprising:

a rotating part;

a fixed part; and

a heat dissipation device arranged on the fixing part,

wherein the rotating part is configured to rotate relative to the fixed part, a conductive ring is arranged on the rotating part, a brush is arranged on the fixed part, and one or more inclined slots are provided on at least one of the conductive ring or the brush,

wherein the one or more inclined slots comprise a first inclined slot provided on the brush and indented into the brush and a second inclined slot provided on the conductive ring and indented into the conductive ring,

wherein the first inclined slot on the brush is inclined at a first inclined angle relative to a circumferential extending direction of the conductive ring and the brush, the second inclined slot on the conductive ring is inclined at a second inclined angle relative to the circumferential extending direction of the conductive ring and the brush, and each of the first and second inclined angles is greater than a repose angle of a material of the brush and a repose angle of a material of the conductive ring, and

wherein when the conductive ring and the brush are in contact with each other, the one or more inclined slots are configured to discharge wear debris generated as the conductive ring and the brush are in contact; and

a control unit arranged on the fixed part of the slip ring device and used for controlling activation and deactivation of the heat dissipation device based on a temperature signal measured by a temperature sensor.

13. The yaw system according to claim 12 , wherein the first or second inclined angle ranges from 45 degrees to 90 degrees.

14. The yaw system according to claim 12 , wherein a depth of each of the one or more inclined slots ranges from 1 mm to 4 mm, and an area occupied by the one or more inclined slots formed on at least one of the conductive ring or the brush is ⅙ to ⅕ of an area of a contact surface between the conductive ring and the brush.

15. The yaw system according to claim 12 , wherein in a working state, the heat dissipation device dissipates heat from the brush, and a temperature of the brush is controlled to be lower than a critical rapid oxidation temperature of the brush.

16. The yaw system according to claim 15 , wherein the critical rapid oxidation temperature of the brush is calculated based on a temperature rise of the brush and an increase rate of a fretting contact resistance between the conductive ring and the brush.

17. The yaw system according to claim 16 , wherein the slip ring device further comprises the temperature sensor arranged on the brush for detecting the temperature of the brush, wherein the heat dissipation device is activated when the temperature of the brush is higher than a threshold temperature, and when the temperature of the brush is lower than the threshold temperature, the heat dissipation device is deactivated to control the temperature of the brush to be lower than the critical rapid oxidation temperature of the brush.

18. The yaw system according to claim 17 , wherein the temperature rise of the brush is controlled to be not higher than 20K and the temperature of the brush is not higher than 85° C. by means of the heat dissipation device.

19. The yaw system according to claim 12 , wherein a current flowing between the conductive ring and the brush is larger than a ratio of a softening voltage of a material of the brush to a static contact resistance between the conductive ring and the brush, and smaller than a ratio of a melting voltage of the material of the brush to the static contact resistance between the conductive ring and the brush.

20. A wind turbine, comprising:

a yaw system comprising:

a slip ring device arranged on a yaw platform in a middle of an installation position of a tower and a nacelle, and comprising:

a rotating part;

a fixed part; and

a heat dissipation device arranged on the fixing part,

wherein the rotating part is configured to rotate relative to the fixed part, a conductive ring is arranged on the rotating part, a brush is arranged on the fixed part, and one or more inclined slots are provided on at least one of the conductive ring or the brush,

wherein the one or more inclined slots comprise a first inclined slot provided on the brush and indented into the brush and a second inclined slot provided on the conductive ring and indented into the conductive ring,

wherein the first inclined slot on the brush is inclined at a first inclined angle relative to a circumferential extending direction of the conductive ring and the brush, the second inclined slot on the conductive ring is inclined at a second inclined angle relative to the circumferential extending direction of the conductive ring and the brush, and each of the first and second inclined angles is greater than a repose angle of a material of the brush and a repose angle of a material of the conductive ring, and

wherein when the conductive ring and the brush are in contact with each other, the one or more inclined slots are configured to discharge wear debris generated as the conductive ring and the brush are in contact; and

a control unit arranged on the fixed part of the slip ring device and used for controlling activation and deactivation of the heat dissipation device based on a temperature signal measured by a temperature sensor; and

a generator coupled to the yaw system.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 12, 2023
From: CEN, XIANFU; GU, WEIFENG; CHU, JIANKUN
To: BEIJING GOLDWIND SCIENCE & CREATION WINDPOWER EQUIPMENT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 064231/0254 →
Priority Claims (1)
CN 202011624096.0 · Dec 31, 2020 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240072503A1 · Feb 29, 2024
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