초록 ▼

The present invention's unique utilization of an electrolytic solution renders more efficient the conduction of electricity between two objects (such as two parts of electrical or electromechanical machinery) in relative motion. According to typical inventive practice, the electrolytic solution is a

The present invention's unique utilization of an electrolytic solution renders more efficient the conduction of electricity between two objects (such as two parts of electrical or electromechanical machinery) in relative motion. According to typical inventive practice, the electrolytic solution is a "strong" electrolytic solution of a "dual-valance" nature, including two compatible solute compounds containing electron donor ions and electron acceptor ions. When inventively implemented at the current collector interface, the electrolytic solution serves to improve current transfer across the interface. During machine operation in which a brush (e.g., fiber brush) slidingly contacts a first machine part while being affixed to a second machine part, the inventive additive represents an auxiliary vehicle for conducting electrical current from one machine part to the other machine part. Among the benefits of inventive practice are reduced conduction power losses, reduced friction power losses, and reduced wear rate.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. Apparatus for conducting electricity between two objects that are moving relative to each other, said apparatus comprising a brush and an electrolytic solution, said brush being capable of electronic conduction of electricity between two objects while said brush is fixed with

What is claimed is: 1. Apparatus for conducting electricity between two objects that are moving relative to each other, said apparatus comprising a brush and an electrolytic solution, said brush being capable of electronic conduction of electricity between two objects while said brush is fixed with respect to the first said object and is in sliding contact at an interface of said brush with respect to the second said object, said electrolytic solution being capable of ionic conduction of electricity between said brush and the second said object while said electrolytic solution is situated at said interface, said apparatus thereby effecting an overall conduction of electricity between said objects that represents the sum of said electronic conduction and said ionic conduction. 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said electrolytic solution is a strong electrolytic solution. 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said electrolytic solution includes electron donor ions and electron acceptor ions, said electron donor ions being characterized by a first valence state, said electron acceptor ions being characterized by a second valence state. 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said electrolytic solution includes two dissolved species of the same chemical substance, the first said species consisting of electron donor ions, the second said species consisting of electron acceptor ions, the first said species being characterized by a first valence state, the second said species being characterized by a second valence state. 5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said two dissolved species are elemental metal cations representing a redox couple selected from the group of redox couples consisting of Vanadium (II) and Vanadium (III), Vanadium (IV) and Vanadium (V), Chromium (II) and Chromium (III), Copper (I) and Copper (II), Titanium (II) and Titanium (III), and Iron (II) and Iron (III). 6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein, during said electronic conduction and said ionic conduction: said brush constitutes a first electrode; the second said object constitutes a second electrode; a first electrochemical reaction occurs at said first electrode; a second electrochemical reaction occurs at said second electrode; said first electrochemical reaction is one of oxidation and reduction; said second electrochemical reaction is the other of oxidation and reduction; an overall electrochemical reaction occurs in said apparatus; said overall electrochemical reaction represents the sum of said first chemical reaction and said second chemical reaction; said overall electrochemical reaction is at least approximately a zero net reaction). 7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein, during said overall chemical reaction, said first electrode and said second electrode are each rendered at least substantially inert. 8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said brush is a fiber brush including a plurality of fibers, and wherein, at any moment during said electronic conduction and said ionic conduction: more than half of said fibers are not in said sliding contact at said interface; said electrolytic solution serves as an electrically conductive bridge between the second said object and said fibers that are not in said contact, said electrolytic solution thereby promoting constancy of said overall conduction of electricity. 9. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said brush is a fiber brush including a plurality of fibers, and wherein, at any moment during said electronic conduction and said ionic conduction: less than half of said fibers are in said sliding contact at said interface; said electrolytic solution serves to increase the area of said electronic conduction in each said fiber. 10. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said electrolytic solution is a strong electrolytic solution. 11. The apparatus of claim 1, said object further comprising a holder for affixing said brush with respect to the first said object. 12. The combination comprising electronic conduction means and ionic conduction means, said electronic conduction means including plural fibers for effecting electronic conduction during relatively moving contact of said fibers with a structure, said contact of at least some said fibers being characterized by intermittency associated with the relatively moving nature of said contact along with surface roughness characterizing said structure, said electronic conduction being characterized by discontinuity associated with said intermittency, said ionic conduction means including a strong electrolytic solution for effecting ionic conduction when placed in the vicinity of said contact, said ionic conduction supplementing said electronic conduction so as to promote the constancy of the overall conduction of electricity, said overall conduction representing the sum of said ionic conduction and said electronic conduction. 13. The combination of claim 12 wherein said electrolytic solution is an aqueous solution including an oxidizing agent and a reducing agent, and wherein an at least substantially neutral electrochemical cell reaction occurs in which said fibers constitute a first electrode and said structure constitutes a second electrode. 14. A method for conducting electricity between two objects that are moving relative to each other, said method comprising: affixing a brush to a first object so that, during relative movement of the first said object and a second object, said brush is in sliding contact at an interface of said brush with respect to the second said object, and so that, during electrification of either the first said object or the second said object, said brush electronically conducts electricity from the electrified said object to the non-electrified said object; and situating a strong electrolytic solution at said interface so that, when said brush electronically conducts electricity, said electrolytic solution ionically conducts electricity either from said brush to the second said object or from said second said object to said brush, said electrolytic solution ionically conducting electricity from said brush to the second said object if the first said object is the electrified said object, said electrolytic solution ionically conducting electricity from the second said object to said brush if the second said object is the electrified said object. 15. The method of claim 14 wherein occurs an overall conduction of electricity between said objects that represents the sum of said electronic conduction and said ionic conduction. 16. The method of claim 14 wherein said electrolytic solution includes two dissolved species of the same chemical substance, the first said species being an oxidant, the second said species being a reductant, the first said species being characterized by a first oxidation number, the second said species being characterized by a second oxidation number, wherein said steps of affixing said brush and situating said electrolytic fluid are performed so that: said brush constitutes a first electrode; the second said object constitutes a second electrode; a first electrochemical reaction occurs at said first electrode; a second electrochemical reaction occurs at said second electrode; said first electrochemical reaction is either oxidation or reduction; said second electrochemical reaction is either oxidation or reduction, said second electrochemical reaction being oxidation if said first electrochemical reaction is reduction, said second electrochemical reaction being reduction if said first electrochemical reaction is oxidation; an overall electrochemical reaction occurs representing the sum of said first chemical reaction and said second chemical reaction; said overall electrochemical reaction is at least approximately a zero net reaction). 17. The method of claim 16 wherein, during said overall chemical reaction, said first electrode and said second electrode are each rendered at least substantially inert. 18. The method of claim 14 wherein: said brush is a fiber brush including a plurality of fibers; some said fibers are not in said sliding contact at said interface; said electrolytic solution serves as an electrically conductive bridge between the second said object and said fibers that are not in said contact, said electrolytic solution thereby promoting constancy of the overall conduction of electricity between said objects, said overall conduction representing the sum of said electronic conduction and said ionic conduction. 19. The method of claim 14 wherein said two dissolved species are elemental metal cations representing a redox couple selected from the group of redox couples consisting of Vanadium (II) and Vanadium (III), Vanadium (IV) and Vanadium (V), Chromium (II) and Chromium (III), Copper (I) and Copper (II), Titanium (II) and Titanium (III), and Iron (II) and Iron (III). 20. The method of claim 14 wherein said affixing of said brush to the first said object includes using a holder for said brush.