About Mercotac Brushless Slip Rings

Mercotac® brushless slip rings incorporate a unique design that uses a pool of liquid metal to make the connection between the stationary and rotating contacts. The conductive liquid metal is molecularly bonded to the contacts, which provides a low-resistance, stable connection. During rotation, the liquid metal flows and maintains the electrical connection between the contacts without any wear.

If you are looking for a reliable, high-performance, and maintenance-free rotating electrical connection, then Mercotac brushless slip rings are the perfect solution for you.

Here are some additional details about how Mercotac brushless slip rings work:

• The liquid conductive metal (such as elemental mercury or a gallium alloy) is contained in a small pool between the rotating contact ring and the stationary contact ring.
• As the rotating ring turns, the liquid metal flows, keeping the electrical connection between the contacts, resulting in a low-resistance stable connection.
• The liquid metal is protected to ensure that it remains clean and free of contaminants and oxidation.
• This unique design eliminates the need for brushes, which are a source of wear and tear on traditional brushed slip rings.
• Mercotac brushless slip rings eliminate the electrical noise inherent in traditional brushed slip rings.
• This is because the liquid metal provides a stable unchanging electrical connection.
• Mercotac brushless slip rings are a reliable, long lasting, and cost-effective solution for a wide range of rotating electrical applications.

Mercotac® brushless slip rings are passive electromechanical devices that allow the transmission of power and electrical signals from a stationary to a rotating structure without the typical slip ring brush wear components. They transfer power, signals, and data between a stationary and a rotating device which would not be possible with wires due to the twisting and the resultant breakage.

They are a superior alternative to traditional slip rings, which use brushes to make contact with the rotating ring. Mercotac brushless slip rings do not use brushes, which eliminates the need for maintenance and eliminates electrical noise.

They also have lower resistance and can typically transfer more power than traditional slip rings of the same size and cleaner data signals.

Mercotac® slip rings are NOT:

• Rotary Connectors and Electrical Rotary Connectors: This is a misnomer, as slip rings do not connect and disconnect two pieces of electrical equipment. Instead, they are like a wire, transferring electrical power and signals from point A to point B.
• Switches: Switches are devices that at a minimum have two states of function in an electrical circuit. They connect and disconnect the electricity. Slip rings only have one electrical state (connection) and do not connect and disconnect anything. They are like a rotating wire, simply transferring power and signals.
• Relays: Relays are switches activated by an electrical signal. Slip rings do not have any moving parts activated by an electrical signal.
• Rotating connector switches: This is a misnomer, as slip rings do not change electrical states or switch anything. They have a single state (connection only) and simply transfer power, signals, and data across a rotating interface.
• Connectors: This very broad term, which is used to describe a wide variety of electrical devices, is a misnomer. Slip rings do not actually connect two pieces of electrical equipment together. Instead, they transfer power and signals across a rotating interface to keep wires from twisting. In simplistic terms, they are a rotating wire.
• Commutator: Some people use the term commutator for slip rings; however, commutators are somewhat different and are specialized for use on DC motors and generators. Mercotac brushless slip rings cannot be used as commutators because they don’t reverse the electrical current.
• Other Terminology: There are many other phrases used to search for and find Mercotac Brushless Slip Rings. These terms may not be technically accurate, but they are listed here as a reference: rotary electrical interface, rotating electrical connector, electrical collector, rotary joint, electrical swivel, collector ring, electrical slip joint, and electrical union.

Mercotac® brushless slip rings are available in a variety of sizes and configurations to meet the needs of different applications. They are used in a wide range of industries, including:

• Aerospace
• Defense
• Energy
• Manufacturing
• Medical
• Transportation

Wide varieties of applications utilize Mercotac brushless slip rings, ranging from satellites to rotating lights to semiconductor manufacturing equipment.

Learn more about applications that use Mercotac products.