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Find out more about Slip Rings:
What are Slip Rings?
 An electrical
slip ring is a rotary continuity device to transfer electrical power, control, and data
from a stationary to rotating member. UEA slip rings have a center core stack of alternating
conductor rings and insulators. The opposite member consists of brush contacts, arms, mounting
base, and optional enclosure. In a slip ring assembly, one part stays motionless and the
other part rotates. Because a slip ring is simply a continuity device, it makes no difference
whether the brushes rotate around a stationary core, or stationary brushes surround a rotating
core.
Where are Slip Rings used?
 Any rotary motion application where electrical signal needs to transfer from a fixed structural
member to the rotating member needs a slip ring. Amusement rides,
construction cranes, production machinery, robots, wind generators, and irrigation equipment
are just a few of the products which need a slip ring.
What materials are used in Slip Rings?
UEA uses a variety of conductor materials to meet the needs of each application. Power
applications may use basic copper/brass conductors with copper graphite brushes. Lower
level electronic signals may need precious metals ranging from silver to rhodium with silver
graphite brush contacts. All insulating materials are virgin nylons chosen to exceed conditions
encountered in a wide range of applications. Mounting bases, enclosures and hardware are
made from non-corrosive materials to assure long life.
How has UEA Solved Customer Problems?
The automatic car wash industry uses electrical slip rings for their automatic bay rotary
track designs. These industries had been served by vendors whose products were
costing approximately $750.00 per slip ring assembly, but were lasting only 6 months. A
manufacturer of car wash systems came to UEA to seek a better slip ring.
Problems for a typical slip ring in a car wash application were numerous. First the chemicals
that are sprayed on car to clean away contaminants are quite corrosive. The second problem
is that car wash bays never dry out. The humidity is nearly 100% constantly. Finally, a
slip ring in this application needs to have a water line pass through the center of the
assembly for the wash and rinse cycles. These cycles use both hot and cold water. The change
in water temperature in these humidity levels will cause extreme condensation tendencies
for the slip ring.
 A common failure for typical slip rings had been condensation filling up inside the enclosure
and causing the assembly to short out. The enclosures were designed to tightly keep moisture
out. But since not hermetically sealed, condensation formed inside and pooled. Another
failure was the assembly corroding to the point where parts would seize.
UEA first applied non-corrosive materials to all enclosures, mounting brackets, and hardware.
Second, a UEA basic design idea for enclosures was employed. That is, it is nearly impossible
or prohibitively expensive to hermetically seal a slip ring. If you are designing an enclosure
you want to keep as much moisture out as possible. However, if moisture does get inside
the slip ring enclosure, primarily through condensation in this case, you must leave a
way for it to get out. Thus the UEA slip ring enclosure is a "breathable" design to keep
moisture out, but let any moisture inside a pathway out.
The result for this manufacturer was a slip ring design, today called our model S15D,
which was priced at $350.00 per unit and lasted in the field more
than 5 years. This ring became so popular that it is now the only slip ring used by automatic
rotary car wash equipment manufacturers and our competitors send inquiries for this application
to United Equipment Accessories.
What makes UEA Slip Rings Special?
UEA utilizes a patented double pivot point brush design. Each conductor has at least 2
brush contacts. These brush contacts pivot on the brush arm, and
each brush arm is allowed to pivot on its mounting stud. This double
pivot point, "floating",
design assures circuit integrity in orbiting or off center applications
or mounting. In addition UEA employs a high brush contact pressure
to clean the contact surface as the assembly rotates. Dust, dirt and corrosion are wiped
away as the assembly rotates. UEA also has position sensors, which allow for area definition
or exact position sensing. This is why UEA slip rings are known as the products who work,
where competitors fail.
Quick Links to Additional Information on Slip Rings:
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