Current Diverter Ring

Abstract

The current diverter rings and bearing isolators serve to dissipate an electrical charge from a rotating piece of equipment to ground, such as from a motor shaft to a motor housing. One embodiment of the current diverter ring includes an inner body and an outer body configured to clamp at least one conductive segment between them. In the preferred embodiments of the current diverter ring, the conductive segments are positioned in radial channels. The outer body may be affixed to a shaft, a motor housing, a bearing isolator, or other structure. The bearing isolator may incorporate a retention chamber for holding conductive segments within the stator of the bearing isolator, or the bearing isolator may be fashioned with a receptor groove into which a current diverter ring may be mounted.

1 . A multi-ring current diverter ring comprising:
 a. a retainer comprising:
 i. a retainer base extending in the axial direction, wherein an outer surface of said retainer base is defined as a retainer radial exterior surface; 
 ii. a first annular groove formed on an inner surface of said retainer base; 
 iii. a retainer wall extending radially inward from said retainer base; and 
 iv. a second annular groove formed on said inner surface of said retainer base; 
   b. a first ring comprising:
 i. a radial channel fashioned in an interior axial surface of said first ring, wherein said interior axial surface of said first ring abuts said retainer wall; 
 ii. a radial ring exterior surface abutting said first annular groove; and 
 iii. an exterior axial surface opposite said retainer wall; 
   c. a second ring comprising:
 i. a radial channel fashioned in an interior axial surface of said second ring, wherein said interior axial surface of said second ring abuts said exterior axial surface of said first ring; 
 ii. a radial ring exterior surface abutting said second annular groove; and 
 iii. an exterior axial surface opposite said first ring. 
   d. a conductive segment, wherein said conductive segment is positioned in said radial channel of said first ring.   
     
     
         2 . The multi-ring current diverter ring according to  claim 1  wherein said first ring is further defined as being comprised of two split ring segments. 
     
     
         3 . The multi-ring current diverter ring according to  claim 2  wherein said two spilt ring segments further comprise an aperture formed therein, wherein said aperture extends from said interior axial surface to said exterior axial surface. 
     
     
         4 . The multi-ring current diverter ring according to  claim 3  further comprising at least one fastener simultaneously engaging a portion of said first ring and a portion of said second ring. 
     
     
         5 . The multi-ring current diverter ring according to  claim 1  wherein said first ring further comprises a plurality of radial channels and said second ring further comprises a plurality of radial channels. 
     
     
         6 . The multi-ring current diverter ring according to  claim 5  further comprising a plurality of conductive segments, wherein each said conductive segment is positioned in one of said radial channels in said first and second rings. 
     
     
         7 . The multi-ring current diverter ring according to  claim 1  further comprising a backing ring, wherein said retainer is engagable with said backing ring. 
     
     
         8 . The multi-ring current diverter ring according to  claim 7  wherein said backing ring is further defined as comprising two distinct portions. 
     
     
         9 . A multi-ring current diverter ring comprising:
 a. a first ring comprising:
 i. a body that is substantially ring-shaped; 
 ii. a main aperture positioned in the center of said main body; 
 iii. a plurality of radial channels, wherein each said radial channel extends from the radial exterior surface of said body to the radial interior surface of said body; 
 iv. a radial channel shelf, wherein said radial channel shelf is positioned in one of said radial channels adjacent the radial interior surface of said main body; and, 
 v. a conductive assembly positioned in one of said radial channels, wherein a contact portion of said conductive assembly protrudes from said radial channel radially inward past said radial interior surface. 
   b. a second ring positioned adjacent said first ring, said second ring comprising:
 i. a body that is substantially ring-shaped; 
 ii. a main aperture positioned in the center of said main body; 
 iii. a plurality of radial channels, wherein each said radial channel extends from the radial exterior surface of said body to the radial interior surface of said body; 
 iv. a radial channel shelf, wherein said radial channel shelf is positioned in one of said radial channels adjacent the radial interior surface of said main body; and, 
 v. a conductive assembly positioned in one of said radial channels, wherein a contact portion of said conductive assembly protrudes from said radial channel radially inward past said radial interior surface. 
   
     
     
         10 . The multi-ring current diverter ring according to  claim 9  wherein said first and second ring are further defined as being engaged with one another. 
     
     
         11 . The multi-ring current diverter ring according to  claim 10  wherein said first and second ring are further defined as being engaged with one another via a fastener. 
     
     
         12 . The multi-ring current diverter ring according to  claim 9  further comprising a backing ring configured to engage a housing. 
     
     
         13 . The multi-ring current diverter ring according to  claim 9  wherein said conductive assembly comprises a carbon-based filament. 
     
     
         14 . The multi-ring current diverter ring according to  claim 9  wherein said plurality of radial channels in said first and second rings is further defined as three radial channels. 
     
     
         15 . The multi-ring current diverter ring according to  claim 14  further comprising a plurality of conductive assemblies corresponding to said plurality of radial channels in said first and second rings. 
     
     
         16 . The multi-ring current diverter ring according to  claim 9  wherein said plurality of radial channels is further defined as being equally spaced about said body. 
     
     
         17 . The multi-ring current diverter ring according to  claim 9  wherein said bodies of said first and second rings further comprise a plurality of mounting apertures positioned in an axial face thereof, and wherein a plurality of fasteners and straps cooperatively engage said plurality of mounting apertures. 
     
     
         18 . The multi-ring current diverter ring according to  claim 9  wherein said conductive assembly comprises a binder and a contact portion, and wherein said contact portion extends into said main aperture. 
     
     
         19 . A method of dissipating an electrical charge from a shaft through a motor housing comprising:
 a. fixing a current diverter ring to said motor housing;   b. mounting at least one conductive segment within said current diverter ring, wherein said at least one conductive segment is in close proximity to or in contact with said shaft;   c. transmitting said electrical charge from said shaft to said at least one conductive segment;   d. transmitting said electrical charge from said at least one conductive segment to said current diverter ring; and   e. transmitting said electrical charge from said current diverter ring to said motor housing.