Brush holder assembly monitoring apparatus, assembly, system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12068562-B2
Application number	US-202217695138-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 15, 2022
Priority date	May 24, 2007
Publication date	Aug 20, 2024
Grant date	Aug 20, 2024

Abstract

Methods and systems for monitoring a brush holder assembly and/or detecting wear of a brush in a brush holder assembly are disclosed. One method includes sending data from a plurality of remote monitoring locations to a central control unit, where the data may be evaluated in order to monitor states of brushes at a plurality of remote electrical facilities. For example, multiple images of a marker tracking longitudinal movement of the brush may be acquired. A comparison of the images, for example, a comparative imaging technique, such as pixel-by-pixel comparison, may then be performed in order to evaluate a condition of the brush, such as the wear rate, wear state, or life expectancy of the brush.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A brush holder assembly for an electrical device comprising:
a brush holder;
a carbon brush slidably disposed within the brush holder, the carbon brush configured to contact a rotating conductive surface of an electrical generator to conduct electrical current therefrom, the brush holder permitting linear movement of the carbon brush toward the rotating conductive surface as the carbon brush wears;
a brush wear indicator configured to provide data indicative of linear displacement of the carbon brush relative to the brush holder associated with wear of the carbon brush, the brush wear indicator including a base portion having a lower surface and an upper surface opposite the lower surface, the lower surface of the base portion attached to a top surface of the carbon brush; and
a spring having a coiled portion engaging the upper surface of the base portion to advance the carbon brush towards the rotating conductive surface.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the base portion is configured to move with linear movement of the carbon brush.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the base portion is in interlocking engagement with the carbon brush.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the base portion includes a male interlocking portion engaging a complementary female interlocking portion of the carbon brush.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the male interlocking portion is a tab and the female interlocking portion is a channel receiving the tab.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the base portion includes first and second projections extending into the carbon brush from the top surface of the carbon brush.

7. The assembly of claim 6 , wherein first and second projections extend from the lower surface of the base portion.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the upper surface of the base portion includes a recess bordered by raised edges.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the recess constrains the coiled portion between the raised edges.

10. A brush assembly for an electrical device comprising:
a carbon brush having a top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface;
a brush wear indicator configured to provide data indicative of linear displacement of the carbon brush associated with wear of the carbon brush, the brush wear indicator including a base portion having a lower surface and an upper surface opposite the lower surface, the lower surface of the base portion replaceably attachable to the top surface of the carbon brush.

11. The assembly of claim 10 , wherein the base portion is configured to move with linear movement of the carbon brush.

12. The assembly of claim 10 , wherein the base portion includes a first projection extending into the carbon brush from the top surface of the carbon brush.

13. The assembly of claim 12 , wherein the base portion includes a second projection extending into the carbon brush from the top surface of the carbon brush.

14. The assembly of claim 13 , wherein first and second projections extend from the lower surface of the base portion.

15. The assembly of claim 12 , wherein the first projection extends from the lower surface of the base portion.

16. The assembly of claim 10 , further comprising a spring having a coiled portion engaging the upper surface of the base portion.

17. The assembly of claim 16 , wherein the upper surface of the base portion includes a recess bordered by raised edges.

18. The assembly of claim 17 , wherein the recess constrains the coiled portion between the raised edges.

Assignees

• Cutsforth Inc

Inventors

• Cutsforth Robert S

Classifications

• H02K5/14

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

• G06Q10/20

  Administration of product repair or maintenance · CPC title

• G06Q10/1097

  using calendar-based scheduling for task assignment · CPC title

• G05B2219/50185

  Monitoring, detect failures, control of efficiency of machine, tool life · CPC title

• G05B19/4065

  Monitoring tool breakage, life or condition · CPC title