Brush holder apparatus and brush spring having friction enhancing material

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10158206-B2
Application number	US-201715486612-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 13, 2017
Priority date	Apr 13, 2017
Publication date	Dec 18, 2018
Grant date	Dec 18, 2018

Abstract

A brush holder apparatus includes a stationary support member having at least one groove, a fork electrical connector, and a conductive bar configured to pass through a portion of a main body of the stationary support member. The conductive bar provides electrical conductivity with a collector mount and fork electrical connector. A brush holder is releasably affixed to the stationary support member, and has at least one rail that slides along the groove(s). The brush holder has a knife electrical connector that mates with the fork electrical connector. A brush spring is clipped on the brush holder, and presses a brush against a collector of a dynamoelectric machine. The brush spring is replaceable in the brush holder. The brush spring or brush holder has a friction enhancing material attached to an area where the brush spring attaches to the brush holder.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A brush holder apparatus comprising:
a stationary support member having at least one groove, the stationary support member having a fork electrical connector, the stationary support member having a conductive bar configured to pass through a portion of a main body of the stationary support member, the conductive bar configured to provide electrical conductivity with a collector mount and the fork electrical connector;
a brush holder configured to be releasably affixed to the stationary support member, the brush holder having at least one rail configured to slide along the at least one groove, the brush holder having a knife electrical connector configured to mate with the fork electrical connector, and a brush spring configured to be clipped on the brush holder, the brush spring configured to press a brush against a collector of a dynamoelectric machine, the brush spring configured to be replaceable in the brush holder, at least one of the brush spring or brush holder having a friction enhancing material attached to an area where the brush spring attaches to the brush holder; and
wherein the stationary support member is configured for electrical connection to the collector mount and the brush holder is configured to retain the brush.

2. The brush holder apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the friction enhancing material is on the brush spring in the area where the brush spring attaches to the brush holder.

3. The brush holder apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the friction enhancing material is on the brush holder in the area where the brush holder attaches to the brush spring.

4. The brush holder apparatus of claim 1 , the friction enhancing material comprising at least one of:
rubber, natural rubber, synthetic rubber, butadiene rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, neoprene, polysulfide rubber, butyl rubber, or silicone.

5. The brush holder apparatus of claim 1 , the brush holder further comprising:
a handle assembly comprising an electrically insulating handle having an electrically insulating guard configured to be located between the handle and brush connector leads, the handle assembly having a spring assembly mechanically connected to a brush terminal compression plate, the spring assembly configured to apply pressure to one or more brush terminals at least until the electrically insulating handle is in a locked position.

6. The brush holder apparatus of claim 5 , the handle assembly further comprising:
a locking pin configured for cooperation with a tapered slot in the stationary support member, and
wherein the handle assembly is configured for rotation so that the locking pin is rotated into and out of the tapered slot.

7. The brush holder apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the handle assembly is configured to be rotated about 90 degrees, a 0 degree position configured so that the locking pin is disengaged from the tapered slot so that the brush holder is removed from the stationary support member, and a 90 degree position configured so that the locking pin is engaged in the tapered slot so that the brush holder is fully locked into operating condition on the stationary support member.

8. The brush holder apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the brush holder further comprises:
at least one cam member operably connected to a shaft near a bottom of the brush holder, the cam member configured to restrain the brush from sliding within the brush holder by pressing the brush against the brush holder until the brush holder is fully inserted in the stationary support member.

9. The brush holder apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the stationary support member further comprises:
a bar located near a bottom end of the stationary support member, the bar configured to engage and restrain the at least one cam member so that the brush is free to move and contact a collector of a dynamoelectric machine once the brush holder is substantially fully inserted into the stationary support member.

10. The brush holder apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the brush spring is configured to be located in-line with, or offset by 90 degrees from, the cam member.

11. The brush holder apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the stationary support member further comprises:
a tapered slot configured for cooperation with a locking pin on the brush holder.

12. The brush holder apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the conductive bar further comprises:
a plurality of holes configured to facilitate attachment of the stationary support member to the collector mount.

13. The brush holder apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the conductive bar is configured to attach a plurality of stationary support members together.

14. The brush holder apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the fork electrical connector is formed integrally with the conductive bar.

15. The brush holder apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the stationary support member and the brush holder is comprised of a passivated or anodized aluminum or a passivated or anodized aluminum alloy, and wherein at least a portion of a surface of at least one of the stationary support member and the brush holder is configured to be substantially electrically insulating.

16. The brush holder apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the stationary support member and the brush holder is comprised of a powder coated or painted aluminum, a powder coated or painted aluminum alloy, a ceramic coated metallic or ceramic coated non-metallic material, and wherein at least a portion of a surface of at least one of the stationary support member and the brush holder is configured to be substantially electrically insulating.

17. The brush holder apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the brush holder is configured to accept a single brush or a plurality of brushes.

18. The brush holder apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the brush holder is configured to clamp a brush terminal between a terminal compression plate and an opposing surface of the brush holder, and wherein the brush terminal is engaged manually or without the use of any tools.

19. The brush holder apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the brush holder is configured to electrically and mechanically connect the knife electrical connector to a brush terminal; and
wherein the knife electrical connector and the brush terminal are electrically insulated from a handle of the brush holder.

20. A brush spring for a dynamoelectric machine, comprising:
the brush spring configured to be clipped on a brush holder, the brush spring configured to press a brush against a collector of a dynamoelectric machine, the brush spring configured to be replaceable in the brush holder, the brush spring having a friction enhancing material located in an area where the brush spring attaches to the brush holder; and
wherein the friction enhancing material is at least one of, rubber, natural rubber, synthetic rubber, butadiene rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, neoprene, polysulfide rubber, butyl rubber, or silicone.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Scalzo Iii Frank Austin
• Buskirk Eric Steven
• Mancuso Benjamin Alber
• Hebert Curtis Maurice
• Preston Matthew Thomas

Classifications

• H02K13/00

  Structural associations of current collectors with motors or generators, e.g. brush mounting plates or connections to windings (supporting or protecting brushes or brush holders in motor casings or enclosures H02K5/14); Disposition of current collectors in motors or generators; Arrangements for improving commutation · CPC title

• H01R39/381 Primary

  characterised by the application of pressure to brush · CPC title

• H02K5/14

  Means for supporting or protecting brushes or brush holders · CPC title

• H02K13/003

  Structural associations of slip-rings · CPC title

• H01R39/40

  enabling brush movement within holder during current collection · CPC title