The Types Of Slip Ring

A slip ring pertains to an electromechanical device that permits power and electrical signals to be transmitted from a stationary structure to a revolving structure. Any electromechanical device that requires rotation while sending signals or power can benefit from using the ring. It can increase mechanical performance, make system operation easier, and minimise cables dangling from moving joints that can cause harm. There are numerous slip rings, such as ethernet slip rings, disk type, wireless, pancake, and more, that have different usages and are used every day in the manufacturing and production industries. 

Slip Ring and Its Composition

Slip Ring:

The rotary electric device, such as rotating connectors, spinners, or electric rotary connections, is the slip ring. This component is primarily used in rotary devices for energy transmission, control circuitries, and analogue and digital applications in fluid dynamic tools, rotary beacons (a beacon installed on airports to indicate the airport’s location to pilots during the night), radio telescopes, and heliostats (is such instrument which consists of a mirror, when it rotates it reflects the light of the sun to the specified location). 

Its Composition:

A slip ring is typically made up of a metal contact or stationary graphite that scrapes against the outside of a spinning metal ring. The electric current or signal is transmitted through the stationary brush straight to the ring, forming the connection as the metal ring turns. More brushes/rings are stacked with the revolving axis if more than one circuit is required. The brushes or the rings are stationary or rotate while the other component spins. For decades, the simple design of the slip ring has been utilised as a basic technique for transmitting current into an absolute rotating device.

Types Of Slip Rings

Capsule slip rings, through hole slip rings, high-speed slip rings, collector rings, disc electric conduction slip rings, wireless slip rings, high-frequency electric conduction slip rings, capacitive slip rings, and so on are all available on the market today. There are so many different slip rings that it can be confusing for folks looking for them. That is why few electronic companies create a summary of the often used expressions in the market today, which is easier for consumers to use.

• Wireless Slip Rings:

These wireless slip rings are unaffected by carbon contact brushes and friction-based metals in slip rings. Instead, they use the electromagnetic field produced by the coils in the spinning receiver and stationary transmitter to communicate data and energy wirelessly. These wireless slip rings are a fantastic alternative to traditional slip rings. 

• Pancake Slip Rings:

The conductors are placed on a flat disc resembling concentric rings on the spinning shaft in a pancake slip ring. This arrangement has higher volume and weight for the same electrical circuits, more crosstalk and capacitance, more brush wear, and easily gather wear debris on its vertical axis. 

• Ethernet Slip Rings:

This slip ring type transfers the Ethernet protocol through a rotating system. When selecting three extremely important parameters for an ethernet slip ring for communication, three extremely important parameters are considered. Return Loss, Insertion Loss, and Crosstalk are examples of these. Ethernet slip rings to aid in reducing losses, impedance balance, and crosstalk management. 

• Mercury Wetted Slip Rings:

The sliding brush interface is replaced by a pool of liquid metal molecularly bound to the contacts in mercury-wetted slip rings, known for their low resistance and stable connection. The liquid metal maintains the electrical connection between the stationary and rotating contacts during rotation. However, because mercury is a poisonous chemical, its use raises safety issues. 

• Fibre Optic Slip Rings:

These kinds of slip rings send and receive enormous volumes of data and signals via revolving interfaces. Fibre Optic Joint or Fiber-Electric Rotary Joint is another name for a fibre optic slip ring. HD video transmission systems, radar, video monitoring systems, medical equipment, and other devices use this sort of slip ring.

• Capsule & Through-hole Slip Rings:

It has a diameter of dimensions 12 to 45mm, and there are 3 to 56 circuits, Capsule Slip Rings are tiny, non-through-hole structures. The special gold-gold technology used on the rings and brushes allows for the transmission with high-frequency signals, and Fieldbus transfers to 1G of bandwidth.

And in the case of through-hole slip rings, In the centre of the slip ring. This slip ring’s function is to transmit power or signal in all directions. It’s commonly attached to a sleeve bracket with a flange. This slide ring is quiet and requires little maintenance.

Conclusion

Slip rings are unavoidable, particularly with rotating machinery. A slip ring happens to be useful in any spinning machine that requires energy and signal transfer. Because the slip ring serves as a linking medium, this is the case. It also aids in transmitting energy or communication between the stationary and rotational parts. There are different slip rings with different structures, designs, and compositions. Each one meets a particular type of requirement, and that’s why many electronic companies make sure to determine their usage type according to their designs.