US 12,470,113 B2
Electrically conductive device with centering projections
Benoit Arnault, Saint-Cyr-sur-Loire (FR); and Thomas Perrotin, Saint Roch (FR)
Assigned to AKTIEBOLAGET SKF, Gothenburg (SE)
Filed by AKTIEBOLAGET SKF, Gothenburg (SE)
Filed on Oct. 10, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/483,858.
Prior Publication US 2025/0119036 A1, Apr. 10, 2025
Int. Cl. H02K 11/40 (2016.01)
CPC H02K 11/40 (2016.01) 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An electrically conductive device for preventing current flow through the raceways of a bearing, the bearing rotatably coupling a shaft to an outer member, the shaft having a central axis and an outer circumferential surface centered about the central axis, the outer member having at least one radial mounting surface and first and second openings extending inwardly from the at least one mounting surface, the conductive device comprising:
an annular conductor having a centerline and an inner radial end contactable with the shaft, the inner radial end having an inner circumferential surface centered about the centerline; and
a support bracket formed of an electrically conductive material and including an inner annular main body with a centerline, an inner radial end defining a central opening sized to be spaced radially outwardly from the shaft and an outer radial end, the annular conductor being coupled with the main body such that the conductor centerline is coaxial with the bracket centerline, and at least one mounting lug extending radially outwardly from the outer radial end of the main body and disposable against the at least one radial mounting surface of the outer member, the at least one mounting lug including a first centering projection located at a first predetermined distance from the bracket centerline and a second centering projection located at a second predetermined distance from the bracket centerline and spaced angularly apart about the bracket centerline from the first centering projection and/or spaced radially apart from the first centering projection, the first centering projection being disposable within the first opening of the outer member and the second centering projection being disposable within the second opening of the outer member such that the centerline of the conductor is coaxial with the shaft central axis and the conductor inner circumferential surface is centered about the central axis, an electrically conductive path extending between the shaft and the outer member through the conductor and the support bracket.