ingiant technology | Industry new | April 22.2025
In the modern industrial field, large mobile equipment such as port cranes and mining machinery are in frequent operation. Cable reels are key equipment that provide power supply, control power supply and signal transmission for them. Their performance directly affects production efficiency and safety. Ingiant's through-hole slip rings have become one of the suppliers chosen by cable reel dealers due to their stable conductivity and signal transmission capabilities, effectively solving the problem of power and signal transmission during the rotation of equipment.
1. How through bore slip rings work in cable reels
(I) Basic working principle
Through-hole slip rings are conductive slip rings, mainly composed of conductive rings, brushes and shells. The conductive rings are usually made of metal materials with excellent conductivity, such as copper alloys, and the brushes are made of copper or gold-silver alloys to ensure good conductivity. When the cable drum is running, the rotating parts of the equipment drive the slip ring rotor to rotate, and the stationary parts are connected to the slip ring stator. The brushes maintain moderate pressure contact with the conductive rings, so that the current is stably transmitted between the rotating and stationary parts, ensuring that the power supply and signal are not interrupted during the 360-degree continuous rotation of the equipment.
For example, on the quay crane equipment of a large port, a large number of container loading and unloading operations need to be completed every day. During the rotation of the quay crane cable drum, the ground power is continuously transmitted to the rotating mechanism of the crane through the through-hole slip ring, and the control signal of the operating room is accurately transmitted to each execution component. Even during busy operation periods, there is no interruption of operation due to slip ring transmission problems, which effectively guarantees the efficient operation of the port.
(II) Signal and power transmission process
When the cable drum is working, the external static power supply is connected to the slip ring stator, and the current is transmitted to the rotating conductive ring through the brush, and then the mobile device is powered by the cable. If signal transmission is involved, such as control signals, data signals, etc., it also follows this path and is transmitted from the static end to the rotating equipment end to achieve precise control of the equipment.
Take the electric shovel loader in mining as an example. It not only requires a stable power supply to drive the motor to operate, but also requires reliable control signals to achieve steering, lifting and other operations. The through-hole slip ring in the cable drum ensures the stable power supply of the motor, and at the same time enables the control instructions issued by the operator in the cab to be accurately transmitted to the corresponding actuator, even in the complex underground tunnel environment, it can also achieve efficient and safe operation.
2. Installation method of through bore slip ring in cable reels
(I) Internal slip ring
Internal slip ring is a common installation method, which is suitable for horizontal installation of cable drum. At this time, the through-hole slip ring is installed inside the central axis of the cable drum. This method has a compact structure, can effectively save space, and makes the appearance of the equipment more beautiful.
A large bridge crane in a certain automobile manufacturing workshop uses a cable drum with internal slip ring due to limited workshop space and requirements for the aesthetics of equipment layout. After installation, it not only achieves stable power transmission and meets the needs of frequent crane lifting operations, but also saves space for the layout of other equipment in the workshop and personnel operation. However, the concentricity of the slip ring and the central axis must be strictly guaranteed during installation, otherwise it will affect the performance of the slip ring.
(II) External slip ring
External slip ring is suitable for situations where cable specifications need to be changed frequently or multiple cables share one drum. The slip ring is installed axially on the side of the cable drum, and is equipped with a protective shell on the outside, which can protect the slip ring and facilitate replacement and maintenance.
At the construction site of urban subways, the demand for cables is constantly changing due to different construction stages, and cables of different specifications often need to be replaced. With the use of slip ring external cable reels, construction workers can quickly disassemble the protective shell and replace the cables, greatly improving construction efficiency. During installation, attention should be paid to the firm fixation of the protective shell and the sealing of the connection between the slip ring and the cable reel to prevent external factors from affecting the performance of the slip ring.
(III) Slip ring cantilever type
In the slip ring cantilever structure, the conductive slip ring is installed in the base and arranged axially, and the reel is located in the cantilever position. It is suitable for occasions with large space and need to reel long and heavy cables. It is common in large port overhead crane equipment.
The giant gantry crane at a coastal port is used to lift cargo on large container ships and needs to reel hundreds of meters of heavy cables. The use of slip ring cantilever type cable reels, with its good support and winding capabilities, ensures the stable transmission of power and signals during the lifting process of the gantry crane. During installation, ensure that the base is stable and the cantilever load-bearing capacity meets the standards to prevent structural deformation from affecting equipment operation.
3. Precautions for installation and use of through bore slip rings
(I) Points to note during installation
a. Concentricity adjustment: When installing through-hole slip rings, the concentricity of the rotor and stator is crucial. When the slip ring rotates at high speed, the concentricity deviation will cause uneven contact between the brush and the conductive ring, accelerate wear, and affect the transmission performance. For example, when a factory installed the slip ring, it did not strictly control the concentricity. After the equipment ran for a period of time, the slip ring had problems such as abnormal heating and unstable signal transmission. Eventually, it had to stop and readjust the installation, causing production delays and economic losses. Therefore, during installation, professional tools such as dial indicators should be used to carefully adjust the position of the slip ring to control the concentricity error within a very small range.
b. Selection of fixing method: Usually 4 set screws are used to fix the slip ring on the rotating shaft. Before tightening the screws, the slip ring should be manually rotated to automatically find the correct axis position before locking it to avoid uneven force on the internal structure of the slip ring. At the same time, when fixing the anti-rotation rod rotating piece, ensure that it moves freely, otherwise the slip ring will be damaged.
c. Wire protection: The wire of the slip ring needs to be carefully protected during installation to avoid damage to the insulation layer and cause a short circuit. In addition, the wiring should be reasonably planned, with the stator wire away from the rotating shaft and the rotor wire away from the fixed part. Due to the failure to properly protect the wire at a construction site, the wire was scratched by the rotating parts during the operation of the equipment, causing a short circuit fault and affecting the construction progress. Therefore, wire troughs and wire tubes can be used to protect and organize the wires.
(II) Precautions for use and maintenance
a. Avoid overload operation: Through-hole slip rings have rated current, voltage and other parameters, and overload operation is strictly prohibited. Overload will cause the slip ring to heat up severely, accelerate component wear, and even cause safety accidents. The equipment of a certain company used the slip ring for a long time due to overload, resulting in serious burning of the conductive ring. Not only is the cost of replacing the slip ring high, but it also causes the equipment to shut down for a long time, causing huge losses to production. Therefore, it is necessary to select the appropriate slip ring model according to the actual load and monitor the operating parameters in real time.
b. Regular cleaning and inspection: Regular cleaning and inspection of the slip ring is the key to ensuring its stable operation. During operation, the slip ring will absorb impurities such as dust and oil, affecting the contact effect. It is recommended to wipe the slip ring with a dry, clean non-cotton cloth every week or month according to the environment and frequency of equipment use, check the wear of the conductive ring, the wear of the brush and the looseness of the connection parts, and repair or replace the parts in time.
c. Environmental factors: The working environment of the slip ring has a significant impact on its performance and life. It should be avoided to install it in an environment with high temperature, high humidity, strong electromagnetic interference or corrosive gas. If it cannot be avoided, protective measures must be taken. For example, add a heat sink in a high temperature environment, seal and dehumidify in a high humidity environment, use a shielded slip ring in a strong electromagnetic interference environment, and choose a corrosion-resistant material slip ring in a corrosive gas environment and strengthen the protective coating treatment.
Through bore slip rings play a core transmission role in cable reels. By understanding their working mechanism, reasonably selecting installation methods and strictly complying with installation and use precautions, it is possible to ensure stable and efficient operation of cable reels and related equipment, providing reliable support for industrial production.
Post time: Apr-22-2025