What is a slip ring?
Slip rings (an electrical engineering term), also known as electrical rotary joints, collector rings, converging rings, or motorised rotary joints are essential components in many rotating systems. Slip rings transmit power and electrical signals from a fixed structure to a rotating structure. Examples include aerospace, construction machinery and industrial automation systems. The smooth transfer of power and data between rotating systems is achieved by improving mechanical performance, simplifying system operation and preventing wire entanglement.
How do slip rings work?
Slip rings consist of two main components: rings and brushes. The rotating ring and the fixed brushes are in contact with each other to transmit power. (JINPAT's non-contact slip ring technology has also made great strides.")
The rings in a slip ring are made of electrically conductive metals such as brass, silver plated, gold plated (‘The choice of material varies depending on the user's use.’) . This element provides the circuit path and is usually mounted on the centre shaft.
The brushes in the slip ring are mounted on arms which are connected to side posts on the ring, providing electrical contact and connecting the rotating and stationary parts. They are made of different conductive materials, such as copper graphite or silver graphite. ("Contacts are mounted in various ways to achieve the most effective ring contact. These contacts are available in different forms and materials").
Slip rings can rotate at various speeds, depending on the application. The slip ring moves along a central axis and sits on a base plate. The base plate remains stationary while the shaft rotates at the centre. (‘The primary design of these systems is for the slip rings to act as the rotating portion of these passive systems, driven by flange interfaces or interfaces with the shaft, while the brushes act as the stationary portion, usually mounted within the housing portion of the device.’) This allows the slip ring to transmit power from the stationary system to the rotating device.
Slip Ring Applications
Slip rings are commonly used in areas such as drones, cable reels, radar antennas and security monitoring, automation equipment, etc., where they play a vital role in achieving continuous rotation.
Main Advantages of Jingpai Slip Rings
I. One of the main advantages of slip rings is their reliability. Electricity and signals can be transferred between stationary and rotating structures without any physical (‘hard-wired/fixed’) connections, and slip rings are less prone to wear and tear than other types of connectors. Without slip rings, cables and wires can twist and tangle, damaging electrical connections and limiting the range of motion of rotating parts.
Second, because slip rings are less susceptible to wear and tear, machine replacement and maintenance costs are reduced.
Thirdly, the customisation of slip rings, JINPAT can be specialised according to the user's needs. This includes operating speed, temperature range, degree of environmental protection required, size, shape and material, etc., thus providing a high degree of customisability and flexibility.
JINPAT Electronics is a leading slip ring manufacturer. Most of our slip ring products have been standardised to provide high quality and discounted slip ring products for various fields.