Brush holder apparatus, brush assembly, and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9287676-B2
Application number	US-201514607712-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 28, 2015
Priority date	Dec 18, 2001
Publication date	Mar 15, 2016
Grant date	Mar 15, 2016

Abstract

Devices and methods of use for brush holder assemblies are disclosed. Brush holder assemblies including a mounting block and a brush holder are disclosed. Also illustrated is a brush holder assembly including a first portion in sliding engagement with a second portion. In some embodiments the brush holder includes a channel, such that at least a portion of the mounting block is disposed within the channel of the brush holder.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of removably attaching a brush holder component to an electrical generator in a power plant without stopping a moving conductive surface adjacent a conductive brush held by the attached brush holder component, the method comprising:
slidably engaging a channel of a brush holder component with an elongate mounting block that is fixedly mounted to a base while a brush box of the brush holder component carries a conductive brush, the mounting block being elongated in a longitudinal direction between a lower end and an upper end of the mounting block, the mounting block including a front face, a rear face abutting the base, an aperture extending from the front face to the rear face for receiving a mounting fastener to fixedly secure the mounting block to the base, and a stationary brush release positioned proximate to the lower end of the mounting block and extending upward therefrom;
advancing the brush holder component along the mounting block toward the moving conductive surface of the electrical generator so that the stationary brush release of the mounting block engages a brush catch of the brush holder component, the brush catch being spring biased to a first position for bearing against a lateral side of the conductive brush at a position above a lowermost edge of the brush box, wherein the brush catch is adjustable, in response to engagement with the stationary brush release, from the first position to a second position for disengaging the conductive brush; and
releasably locking the brush holder component on the mounting block while the conductive brush extends from the lowermost edge of brush box and engages the moving conductive surface of the electrical generator.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising a mounting fastener extending through the aperture of the elongate mounting block and into engagement with the mount base of the electrical generator to fixedly attach the mounting block to the mount base.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising removing the brush holder component and the conductive brush away from the moving conductive surface of the electrical generator while the elongate mounting block remains fixedly attached to the mount base of the electrical generator.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the brush holder component and the conductive brush are removed from the electrical generator without removing a mounting fastener.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein removing the brush holder component and the conductive brush away from the moving conductive surface of the electrical generator causes the stationary brush release to disengage the spring-biased brush catch so as to adjust the brush catch from the second position to the first position.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the stationary brush release extends longitudinally upward from the lower end of the elongate mounting block.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the stationary brush release has a longitudinal length greater than its maximum width and its maximum thickness.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein slidably engaging the channel of the brush holder component with the elongate mounting block includes slidably engaging the brush holder component with guide channels in sidewalls of the elongate mounting block, the guide channels being defined by the elongate mounting block at a position laterally outward from the aperture.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the elongate mounting block has a lower width extending parallel to the front face in a lower region adjacent to the aperture, and the lower width being greater than an upper width of the elongate mounting block extending parallel to the front face at the upper end.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the stationary brush release extends longitudinally upward from the lower end of the elongate mounting block.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the stationary brush release has a longitudinal length greater than a maximum width of the stationary brush release and a maximum thickness of the stationary brush release.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein a stop element is defined by the mounting block at a position between the rear face and the front face, the stop element comprising a groove structure defined in the mounting block.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the groove structure is defined along an exterior of the elongate mounting block at the position between the rear face and the front face of the elongate mounting block.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the channel of the brush holder component is slidable along the mounting block until the stop element engages a corresponding element of the brush holder component, the corresponding element of the brush holder component comprising a pin structure that is configured to engage the stop element defined by the elongate mounting block.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mounting block includes a lock element positioned between the rear face and the front face, the lock element of the mounting block comprising a locking pin hole positioned between the rear face and the front face of the mounting block.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the brush holder component includes a corresponding lock element, the corresponding lock element of the brush holder component comprising a locking pin configured to mate with the lock element of the mounting block.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the elongate mounting block is configured to mount against a planar surface of the mount base such that no portion of the elongate mounting block extends through a plane defined by said planar surface of the base.

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the brush holder component includes a beam affixed to the brush box.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the beam includes the channel.

20. The method of claim 1 , wherein said releasably locking the brush holder component to the mounting block comprises pivoting an insulated handle in a first rotational direction relative to the fixed position of the elongate mounting block.

21. The method of claim 20 , further comprising pivoting said insulated handle in a second rotational direction to unlock the brush holder component from the elongate mounting block to permit withdrawal of the brush holder component.

22. The method of claim 1 , wherein engaging the stationary brush release with the spring-biased brush catch of the brush holder component is contemporaneous with advancing the brush holder component along the mounting block.

23. The method of claim 1 , wherein advancing the brush holder component along the mounting block toward the conductive surface of the collector ring or commutator of the electrical generator causes the conductive brush within the brush box to contact the conductive surface without stopping motion of the conductive surface of the collector ring or commutator of the electrical generator.

24. The method of claim 23 , wherein releasably locking the brush holder component to the mounting block includes mating a lock element of the mounting block positioned between the rear face and the front face with a corresponding lock element of the brush holder component without stopping motion of the conductive surface of the collector ring or commutator of the electrical generator.

25. The method of claim 24 , further comprising removing the brush holder component and the conductive brush away from the conductive surface of the collector ring or commutato

Assignees

• Cutsforth Inc

Inventors

• Cutsforth Robert S
• Cutsforth David L

Classifications

• H02K15/50

  Disassembling, repairing or modifying dynamo-electric machines (repairing of cooling fluid boxes H02K15/38) · CPC title

• Y10T29/49011

  Commutator or slip ring assembly · CPC title

• H01R39/381

  characterised by the application of pressure to brush · CPC title

• H02K5/14

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

• H01R43/14 Primary

  Maintenance of current collectors, e.g. reshaping of brushes, cleaning of commutators · CPC title