Patent Publication Number: US-2015085420-A1

Title: Conductive Assembly

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present utility patent application claims priority from provisional U.S. Pat. App. No. 61/883,060 filed on Sep. 26, 2013, which application is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an electrical charge dissipating device, and more particularly to a conductive assembly for directing electrostatic charge to ground, which electrostatic charge may be created through the use of rotating equipment. 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     No federal funds were used to develop or create the invention disclosed and described in the patent application. 
     REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX 
     Not Applicable 
     AUTHORIZATION PURSUANT TO 37 C.F.R. §1.171(d) 
     A portion of the disclosure of this patent document may contain material that is subject to copyright and trademark protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrights whatsoever. CDR and Current Diverter Ring are the exclusive trademarks of Inpro/Seal LLC. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In order that the advantages of the invention will be readily understood, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered limited of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings. 
         FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of a first illustrative embodiment of a current diverter ring (GDR). 
         FIG. 1B  is an axial cross section view of the first embodiment of the current diverter ring. 
         FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of a second illustrative embodiment of a CDR. 
         FIG. 2B  is another perspective view of the second embodiment of a CDR with the shaft removed for clarity. 
         FIG. 2C  is an axial, cross-sectional view of second embodiment of a CDR. 
         FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of a third illustrative embodiment of a CDR. 
         FIG. 3B  is another perspective view of the third embodiment of a CDR with e shaft removed for clarity. 
         FIG. 3C  is an axial, cross-sectional view of the third embodiment of a CDR. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a first illustrative embodiment of a conductive assembly that may be used with certain embodiments of the CDR. 
         FIG. 5A  is a rear perspective view of a second illustrative embodiment of a conductive assembly that may be used with certain embodiments of the CDR. 
         FIG. 5B  is another rear perspective view of the second illustrative embodiment of a conductive assembly. 
         FIG. 5C  is a front perspective view of the second illustrative embodiment of a conductive assembly. 
         FIG. 5D  is a side view of the second illustrative embodiment of a conductive assembly. 
         FIG. 5E  is an end view of the second illustrative embodiment of a conductive assembly. 
         FIG. 6A  is a perspective view of one illustrative embodiment of a casing that may be used with certain embodiments of the conductive assembly. 
         FIG. 6B  is an end view of the illustrative embodiment of a casing shown in  FIG. 6A . 
         FIG. 6C  is a side view of the illustrative embodiment of a casing shown in  FIGS. 6A &amp; 6B . 
         FIG. 7  provides a side view of a third illustrative embodiment of a conductive assembly. 
         FIG. 8  provides a side view of a fourth illustrative embodiment of a conductive assembly. 
         FIG. 9  provides a side view of a fifth illustrative embodiment of a conductive assembly. 
         FIG. 10  provides a side view of a sixth illustrative embodiment of a conductive assembly. 
         FIG. 11  provides a side view of a seventh illustrative embodiment of a conductive assembly. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION ELEMENT LISTING 
       
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Description 
                 Element No. 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
                 Conductive assembly 
                 10 
               
               
                   
                 Contact end 
                 12 
               
               
                   
                 Shaft 
                 14 
               
               
                   
                 Retention end 
                 16 
               
               
                   
                 Fiber 
                 20 
               
               
                   
                 Distal end 
                 22 
               
               
                   
                 Proximal end 
                 24 
               
               
                   
                 Casing 
                 30 
               
               
                   
                 Compressed portion 
                 32 
               
               
                   
                 Vertex 
                  32a 
               
               
                   
                 Table 
                  32b 
               
               
                   
                 Cylinder 
                 34 
               
               
                   
                 Exterior ramp 
                 36 
               
               
                   
                 Interior ramp 
                 37 
               
               
                   
                 Mounting aperture 
                 54 
               
               
                   
                 Strap 
                 70 
               
               
                   
                 Fastener 
                 72 
               
               
                   
                 Radial CDR 
                 80 
               
               
                   
                 Arc CDR 
                  80a 
               
               
                   
                 Arc cut out 
                 81 
               
               
                   
                 Radial channel 
                 82 
               
               
                   
                 Radial channel shelf 
                 83 
               
               
                   
                 Radial exterior surface 
                  85a 
               
               
                   
                 Radial interior surface 
                  85b 
               
               
                   
                 Conductive assembly 
                 86 
               
               
                   
                 Binder 
                  86a 
               
               
                   
                 Contact portion 
                  86b 
               
               
                   
                 Plug 
                 87 
               
               
                   
                 Main aperture 
                 88 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Scription  
     Before the various embodiments of the present invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that phraseology and terminology used herein with reference to device or element orientation (such as, for example, terms like “front”, “back”, “up”, “down”, “to ”, “bottom”, and the like) are only used to simplify description of the present invention, and do not alone indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a particular orientation, In addition, terms such as “first”, “second”, and “third” are used herein and in the appended claims for purposes of description and are not intended to indicate or imply relative importance or significance. Additionally, the terms radial CDR  80 , arc CDR  80   a , and/or CDR may be used interchangeably when referring to generalities of configuration thereof, methods and/or materials of construction, and/or other general features as may the terms conductive assembly  10 ,  86 . Finally, any dimensions, geometries, and/or other physical characteristics described herein are not limiting, but are for illustrative purposes only. 
     The radial CDR  80 , one embodiment of which is shown in  FIGS. 1  A &amp;  1 B, and/or arc CDR  80   a , various embodiments of which are shown in  FIGS. 2 &amp; 3 , may be press-fit into an aperture in an equipment housing (or other structure from which a shaft  14  extends, not shown), or may be secured to the exterior of the equipment housing using straps  70  and fasteners  72  as describe(in detail below and as shown in the various figures. The CDR  80 ,  80   a  may also be secured to an equipment housing via other structures and/or methods, such as chemical adhesion, welding, rivets, or any other structure and/or method suitable for the particular application without limitation. The CDR  80 ,  80   a  may also be configured to be engaged with a bearing isolator  10 , or integrally formed with a bearing isolator  10 , as described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,604,653, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     Illustrative Embodiment of a Radial Cdr 
     A radial CDR  80  is one embodiment of a current dissipating device, an illustrative embodiment of which is shown in  FIGS. 1A  and B a ring-shaped structure having a main aperture  88  in the center thereof The radial CDR  80  may be mounted to rotational equipment through any structure and/or method without limitation as described above. The embodiment of the radial CDR  80  shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B  may include three straps  70  engaged with the radial CDR  80  via fasteners  72 . Other fasteners  72  may be used to secure the straps  70  to the rotational equipment, thereby securing the radial CDR  80  to the rotational equipment. In other embodiments of the radial CDR  80 , the radial exterior surface  85   a  of the radial CDR  80  is press-fit into the rotational equipment housing. However, the mounting method for the radial CDR is in no way limiting to the scope of the present disclosure. 
     The illustrative embodiment of the radial CDR  80  shown herein may include three radial channels  82  extending from the radial exterior surface  85   a  to the radial interior surface  85   b  of the radial CDR  80 . Each radial channel  82  may include a radial channel shelf  83 , which is best shown in  FIG. 1B . In the pictured embodiment, the radial channel shelf  83  may be located adjacent the radial interior surface  85   b  of the radial CDR  80 . However, in other embodiments a radial channel shelf  83  may be differently located and/or positioned without limitation. Other numbers and/or configurations of radial channels  82  may be used without limiting the scope of the present disclosure. 
     A conductive assembly  86  may be configured to fit within the radial channel  82 . One embodiment of a conductive assembly  86  that may be positioned in a radial channel  82  is shown in detail in  FIG. 4 . This embodiment of a conductive assembly  86  may comprise a binder  86   a , which may be primarily located within the radial channel  82 , and a contact portion  86   b , which may extend radially inward from the radial channel  82 . The binder  86   a  may be formed as any structure that retains the elements of the conductive assembly  86 , including but not limited to a chemical adhesive, structural cap or tether, clap, or combinations thereof, Other types of conductive assemblies  86  (such as those shown in FIGS.  5  and  7 - 11 )) may be used with the radial CDR  80  without limitation. 
     The conductive assemblies  86  in the radial CDR  80  may be configured to be replaceable. That is, once the contact portion  86   b  of a conductive assembly  86  has been exhausted, or the conductive assembly  86  should otherwise be replaced or not perform adequately, the user may remove the conductive assembly  86  from the radial channel  82  and insert anew conductive assembly  86  therein. 
     Illustrative Embodiments of an Arc CDR 
     An arc CDR  80   a  is another embodiment of a current dissipating device and a second embodiment of a CDR. A first embodiment of an arc CDR  80   a  is shown in  FIGS. 2A-2C  and may be configured as semi-circular shaped structure that may have a main aperture  88  in the center thereof and an arc cut out  81 .  FIG. 2A  provides a perspective view of the first illustrative embodiment of an arc CDR  80   a  positioned over a shaft  14 .  FIG. 2B  provides another perspective view of the first embodiment of an arc CDR  80   a  without a shaft  14  for purposes of clarity.  FIG. 2C  provides a radial cross-sectional view of the arc CDR  80   a  shown in  FIGS. 2A &amp; 2B . A perspective view of a second embodiment of an arc CDR  80   a  (which is a third embodiment of a CDR) is shown positioned around a shaft  14  is shown in  FIG. 3A .  FIG. 3B  provides another perspective view of the second embodiment of an arc CDR  80   a  with the shaft  14  removed.  FIG. 3C  provides a radial cross-sectional view of the second embodiment of the arc CDR  80   a.    
     The illustrative embodiments of the arc GDR  80   a  as shown herein may be configured such that they function substantially the same as the radial CDR  80  shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B . However, because the arc CDR  80   a  may be configured such that it is not a full ring, the arc GDR  80   a  may be easier to install over certain shafts  14  when compared to certain embodiments of a radial CDR  80  for specific applications. For certain embodiments of the arc CDR  80   a  it may be beneficial to use a sleeve (not shown), plate (not shown) or other structure to properly position the arc CDR  80   a  with respect to the shaft  14 . It is contemplated that the embodiment of an arc CDR  80   a  shown in  FIGS. 2A-2C  may be engaged with the structure (e.g., equipment housing) from which the shaft  14  extends via one or more mounting apertures  54  therein that may cooperate with a fastener  72 . It is contemplated that the embodiment of an arc CDR  80   a  shown in  FIGS. 3A-3C  may be engaged with the structure equipment housing) from which the shaft  14  extends via. one or more straps  70  in cooperation with one or more fasteners  72 . However, any suitable structure and/or method for securing the arc CDR  80   a  to a structure may be used without limitation as previously described above. 
     The illustrative embodiments of an arc CDR  80   a  pictured herein may be configured such that the arc CDR  80   a  may extend beyond 180 degrees of a circle. More specifically, the illustrative embodiment of the arc CDR  80   a  may be configured as approximately 200 degrees of a full circle. However, in other embodiments the length of the arc CDR  80   a  may be greater than 200 degrees of a full circle. In still other embodiments, the length of the arc CDR  80   a  may be less than 180 degrees of a full circle. Accordingly, the length of an arc CDR  80   a  in no way limits the scope of the present disclosure. 
     The illustrative embodiment of an arc CDR  80   a  shown in  FIGS. 2A-2C  may include three radial channels  82 , which may be configured to extend from the radial exterior surface  85   a  to the radial interior surface  85   b  of the arc CDR  80   a . Each radial channel  82  may include a radial channel shelf  83 , which is best shown in  FIG. 2C , In the pictured embodiments, the radial channel shelf  83  may be located adjacent the radial interior surface  85   b  of the arc CDR  80   a . However, in other embodiments a radial channel shelf  83  may be differently located and/or positioned without limitation. Additionally, other numbers and/or configurations of radial channels  82  may be used without limiting the scope of the present disclosure. 
     The illustrative embodiment of an arc CDR  80   a  shown in  FIGS. 3A-3C  may include four radial channels  82 , These radial channels  82  may be configured with a radial channel shelf  83  as previously described for the first embodiment of an arc CDR  80   a . A conductive assembly  86  may be configured to securely engage a radial channel  82 , and a plug  87  may be positioned over the conductive assembly  86  to secure the position of the conductive assembly  86  with respect to the radial channel  82 . One embodiment of a conductive assembly  86  that may be used with the illustrative embodiments of an arc CDR  80   a  is shown in detail in  FIG. 4 . Other types of conductive assemblies  86  (such as those shown in FIGS.  5  and  7 - 11 ) may be used with the arc CDR  80   a  without limitation. One illustrative embodiment of a plug  87  is threaded and may be configured to cooperate with threads formed in a radial channel  82 , as shown in  FIG. 2C . Other numbers, configurations, and/or orientations of plugs  87  or other structures and/or methods to secure the position of a conductive assembly  86  with respect to a radial channel  82  may be used with any embodiment of a CDR  80 ,  80   a  without limitation. 
     The conductive assemblies  86  in the arc CDR  80   a  may be configured to be replaceable. That is, once the contact portion  86   b  of a conductive assembly  86  has been exhausted, or the conductive assembly  86  should otherwise be replaced, the user may remove the conductive assembly  86  (and/or plug  87  if one is used) from the radial channel  82  and insert a new conductive assembly  86  therein. The number of radial channels  82  formed in an arc CDR  80   a  in no way limits the scope thereof, and similarly, the number of conductive assemblies engaged therewith in no way limits the scope of an arc CDR  80   a.    
     Other Illustrative Embodiments of a Conductive Assembly 
     A second illustrative embodiment of a conductive assembly  10  that may be used with electric charge dissipating devices (e.g., radial CDR  80 , arc CDR  80   a , etc.) is shown in  FIGS. 5A-5E . It is contemplated that this embodiment of a conductive assembly  10  may be easier to replace that other conductive assemblies found in the prior art. The embodiment shown in  FIG. 5  generally may include a contact end  12  and a retention end  16 . This embodiment may be specifically optimized for use with the radial CDR,  80  and/or arc CDR,  80   a  without limitation. As such, it is contemplated that the retention end  16  or a portion thereof may generally be engaged with an electrical charge dissipating device (e.g., via insertion into a radial channel  82  in the radial CDR  80  or arc CDR  80   a ). The contact end  12  may protrude away from the charge dissipating device for contact with another structure (e.g., a shaft  14 ), 
     In the illustrative embodiment, a plurality of fibers  20  may be positioned within and retained by a casing  30 . The fibers  20  in the illustrative embodiment may be carbon filaments with a generally low electrical impedance. The optimal size and/or number of the fibers  20  will vary from one application to the next, but it is contemplated that many applications will require fibers  20  having a diameter between 0.000001 mm and 20 mm and a length between 1 mm and 100 mm. However, the scope of the present disclosure is in no way limited by the size of the fibers  20  and/or the material used for the construction thereof. One fiber  20  that is suitable for some applications is a Panex 35 Continuous Tow sold by Zoltek Corp. based in St. Louis, Mo. The tensile strength of this material is approximately 4137 MPa, the tensile modulus approximately 242 GPa, the electrical resistivity approximately 0.00155 ohm-cm, the density approximately 1.81 g/cc, the fiber diameter approximately 7.2 microns, and the carbon content is approximately 95%. 
     As shown, the casing  30  may include a compressed portion  32  and a cylinder  34 . The compressed portion  32  may be located generally adjacent the proximal ends  24  of the fibers  20 . Specifically, in the second illustrative embodiment of a conductive assembly  10  the end of the casing  30  at the retention end  16  of the conductive assembly  10  and the proximal ends  24  of the fibers  20  may be coterminous. The compressed portion  32  may be configured to have a plurality of tables  32   b , which tables  32   b  may be configured as relatively flat portions. The tables  32   b  may be separated by vertices  32   a . In the second illustrative embodiment, the compressed portion  32  may be formed with eight vertices  32   a  that may be equally spaced about the periphery of the casing  30 , and one table  32   b  may be positioned between adjacent vertices  32   a  for a total of eight tables  32   b  and eight vertices  32   a . As best shown in  FIG. 5E , such a configuration generally may form a regular octagon. It has been found via testing that this configuration may be optimal for manufacturing multiple conductive assemblies  10  repeatedly, wherein the fibers  20  may be adequately retained within the casing  30 . However, in other embodiments of the conductive assembly  10 , the spacing between adjacent vertices  32   a  and/or the number thereof may vary, as may the dimensions of each table  32   b  and/or number thereof. Accordingly, the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to a compressed portion  32  having eight equally spaced vertices  32   a  with generally flat tables  32   b  therebetween, but instead extends to any configuration and/or number of tables  32   b  and/or vertices  32   a  without limitation, including but not limited to curved tables  32   b , four vertices  32   a  and four tables  32   b , five vertices  32   a  and five tables  32   b , six vertices  32   a  and six tables  32   b , etc. 
     Generally, the optimal configuration of the compressed portion  32  will vary depending on the application of the conductive assembly  10 . It is contemplated that for many applications, at least one design consideration for the conductive assembly  10  will comprise the force required to remove a fiber  20  from the casing  30 . This force will at least depend on the length of fiber  20  positioned within the casing  30 , any external force applied to the external surface of the compressed portion  32 , and/or the configuration of the compressed portion (e.g., dimension, geometry, etc.). Accordingly, the optimal distance that the distal ends  22  of the fibers  20  extend from the cylinder  34  will vary from one application of the conductive assembly  10  to the next, and is therefore in no way limiting to the scope thereof. It is contemplated that for some applications, the optimal distance the distal ends  22  of the fibers  20  extend from the cylinder  34  will be between 0.1 mm and 25 mm. Furthermore, the scope of the present disclosure is in no way limited by the various dimensions and/or configurations described above. 
     in second illustrative embodiment of a conductive assembly  10  pictured in  FIGS. 5A-5E , the fibers  20  may extend from the cylinder  34  by approximately 0.165 inches with a tolerance of +/−0.010 inches; the diameter of the cylinder  34  may be approximately 0.160 inches with a tolerance of +/−0.002 inches; the length of the casing  30  may be approximately 0.170 inches with a tolerance of +0.010 inches and −0.005 inches; the axial length of the compressed portion  32  may be approximately 0.085 inches with a tolerance of +/−0.010 inches; width of the compressed portion  32  (i.e., from one table  32   b  to the opposing table  32   b ) may be approximately 0.130 inches +0.003 and −0.001 inches, However, as stated above, these dimensions are in no limiting to the scope of the conductive assembly  10  and are for illustrative purposes only. 
     One illustrative embodiment of a casing  30  that may be used with a conductive assembly  10  is shown in  FIGS. 6A-6C . It is contemplated that when employing the illustrative embodiment of a casing  30  shown herein to fabricate a conductive assembly  10 , a plurality of fibers  20  may be first positioned within the interior bore of the casing  30 , and then an external force may be placed on a portion of the exterior of the casing  30  to form the compressed portion  32 , and thereby retaining the fibers  20  within the casing  30 . 
     As shown, the casing  30  may include at least one ramp  6 ,  37 . In the illustrative embodiment, the casing  30  may include an exterior ramp  36  and an interior ramp  37  on each end of the casing  30 . An exterior ramp  36  may facilitate ease of insertion of the conductive assembly  10  into a radial channel  82 . An interior ramp  87  may facilitate eased insertion of the fibers  20  into the central bore of the casing  30 . Additionally, the presence of a ramp  36 ,  37  and configuration thereof may mitigate against inadvertently shearing and/or damaging a fiber  20  during manufacture and/or use of the conductive assembly  10 . In the illustrative embodiment, the ramps  36 ,  37  may be angled at 45 degrees with respect to the axial dimension of the casing  30 , but other configurations may be used without limitation. For example, in an embodiment not pictured herein the exterior ramp  36  may be angled at 60 degrees with respect to the axial dimension of the casing  30  and the interior ramp  37  may be angled at 65 degrees with respect thereto. Additionally, the exterior ramp  36  on one end of the casing  30  may be differently configured than the exterior ramp  36  on the opposite end of the casing  30 , which is also true for the interior ramps  37 . Accordingly, the specific configuration of the ramps  36 ,  37  in no way limits the scope of the present disclosure. 
     Additionally, the length of either ramp  36 ,  37  may vary from one embodiment of the casing to the next. The specific length of any ramp  36 ,  37  may depend at least upon the radial thickness of the casing  30  and the configuration of the opposing ramp  36 ,  37  on a given end of the casing  30 . Accordingly, the length of any ramp  36 ,  37  in no way limits the scope of the present disclosure. 
     Other embodiments of conductive assemblies  10  are shown in  FIGS. 7-11 . These embodiments are similar to that shown in  FIGS. 5A-5E . However, the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 7-11  are configured with different dimensions than the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 5A-5E . Again, the optimal dimensions and/or configuration of the conductive assembly  10  and various elements thereof will vary from one application to the next, and are therefore in no way limiting to the scope of the present disclosure. 
     A third illustrative embodiment of a conductive assembly  10  is pictured in  FIG. 7 . In this embodiment the fibers  20  may extend from the cylinder  34  by approximately 0.165 to 0.170 inches; the diameter of the cylinder  34  may be approximately 0.160 inches; the length of the casing  30  may be approximately 0.184 inches; the width of the compressed portion  32  (i.e., from one table  32   b  to the opposing table  32   b ) may be approximately 0.130 inches. However, as stated above, these dimensions are in no way limiting to the scope of the conductive assembly  10  and are for illustrative purposes only. 
     A fourth illustrative embodiment of a conductive assembly  10  is pictured in  FIG. 8 . In this embodiment the fibers  20  may extend from the cylinder  34  by approximately 0.175 to 0.185 inches; the diameter of the cylinder  34  may be approximately 0.160 inches; the length of the casing  30  may be approximately 0.186 to 0.207 inches; the width of the compressed portion  32  (i.e., from one table  32   b  to the opposing table  32   b ) may be approximately 0.130 inches. However, as stated above, these dimensions are in no way limiting to the scope of the conductive assembly  10  and are for illustrative purposes only. 
     A fifth illustrative embodiment of a conductive assembly  10  is pictured in  FIG. 9 . in this embodiment the fibers  20  may extend from the cylinder  34  by approximately 0.155 to 0.175 inches; the diameter of the cylinder  34  may be approximately 0.160 inches; the length of the casing  30  may be approximately 0.170 to 0.180 inches; the width of the compressed portion  32  (i.e., from one table  32   b  to the opposing table  32   b ) may be approximately 0.130 inches. However, as stated above, these dimensions are in no way limiting to the scope of the conductive assembly  10  and are for illustrative purposes only. 
     A sixth illustrative embodiment of a conductive assembly  10  is pictured in  FIG. 10 . In this embodiment the fibers  20  may extend from the cylinder  34  by approximately 0.155 to 0.175 inches; the diameter of the cylinder  34  may be approximately 0.160 inches; the length of the casing  30  may be approximately 0.170 to 0.180 inches; the width of the compressed portion  32  (i.e., from one table  32   b  to the opposing table  32   b ) may be approximately 0.130 inches, and the casing  30  may be configured with an exterior ramp  36 . However, as stated above, these dimensions are in no way limiting to the scope of the conductive assembly  10  and are for illustrative purposes only. 
     A seventh illustrative embodiment of a conductive assembly  10  is pictured in  FIG. 11 . In this embodiment the fibers  20  may extend from the cylinder  34  by approximately 0.175 to 0.215 inches; the diameter of the cylinder  34  may be approximately 0.160 inches; the length of the casing  30  may be approximately 0.180 to 0.184 inches; the width of the compressed portion  32  (i.e., from one table  32   b  to the opposing table  32   b ) may be approximately 0.134 to 0.136 inches, and the casing  30  may be configured with an exterior ramp  36 . However, as stated above, these dimensions are in no way limiting to the scope of the conductive assembly  10  and are for illustrative purposes only. 
     Although the embodiments of a conductive assembly  10  pictured and described herein may be specifically configured for use with a radial CDR  80  and/or arc CDR  80   a , the scope of the conductive assembly  10  is not so limited. The conductive assembly  10  may he used with any type of electrical charge transmitting device, including but not limited to the devices disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. Nos, 13/710,231; 13/089,017; 12/757,040; 13/114,995; and 13/920,376; and U.S. Pat. No. 7,521,827. 
     Having described the preferred embodiments, other features of the CDR  80 ,  80   a , and/or conductive assemblies  10 ,  86  will undoubtedly occur to those versed in the art, as will numerous modifications and alterations in the embodiments as illustrated herein, all of which may be achieved without departing from the spirit and scope of the CDR  80 ,  80   a  and/or conductive assembly  10 ,  86 . It should be noted that the CDR  80 ,  80   a  and conductive assembly  10 ,  86  are not limited to the specific embodiments pictured and described herein, but are intended to apply to all similar apparatuses and methods for dissipating and/or conducting an electrical charge from one element to another. Modifications and alterations from the described embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art without departure from the spirit and scope of the CDR  80 ,  80   a  and/or conductive assembly  10 ,  86 .