Brush holder apparatus, brush assembly, and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9293880-B2
Application number	US-201514607560-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 28, 2015
Priority date	Dec 18, 2001
Publication date	Mar 22, 2016
Grant date	Mar 22, 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 positioned adjacent a conductive brush held by the attached brush holder component, the method comprising:
slidably engaging a channel of a brush holder component, wherein a brush box of the brush holder component carries a conductive brush, with an elongate mounting block while the elongate mounting block is fixedly attached to a mount base of the electrical generator, the elongate mounting block being elongated in a longitudinal direction between a lower end and an upper end, the elongate mounting block including a front face, a rear face opposite from the front face and abutting the mount base, and an aperture extending from the front face to the rear face for receiving a mounting fastener to fixedly attach the elongate mounting block to the mount base;
advancing the brush holder component along the elongate mounting block toward the moving conductive surface of the electrical generator until a stop element defined by the elongate mounting block at a position between the rear face and the front face engages a corresponding element of the brush holder component;
engaging a stationary brush release positioned proximate the lower end of the elongate mounting block with a spring-biased brush catch of the brush holder component so as to adjust the brush catch from a first position wherein the brush catch engages a lateral side of the conductive brush to inhibit movement of the brush relative to the brush box to a second position wherein the brush catch disengages the conductive brush to permit movement of the conductive brush relative to the brush box; and
releasably locking the brush holder component to the elongate mounting block to prevent withdrawal of the brush holder component in the longitudinal direction by mating a lock element of the elongate mounting block positioned between the rear face and the front face with a corresponding lock element of the brush holder component.

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 elongate 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 such that the brush catch engages the lateral side of the conductive brush.

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 6 , wherein the brush catch is spring biased to the first position so as to bear against the lateral side of the conductive brush at a position above a lowermost edge of the brush box.

9. 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.

10. The method of claim 9 , 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.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the brush catch is spring biased to the first position so as to bear against the lateral side of the conductive brush at a position above a lowermost edge of the brush box.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the stationary brush release extends longitudinally upward from the lower end of the elongate mounting block.

13. The method of claim 12 , 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.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the stop element comprises a groove structure defined in the elongate mounting block.

15. The method of claim 14 , 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.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the corresponding element of the brush holder component comprises a pin structure that is configured to engage the stop element defined by the elongate mounting block.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the lock element of the elongate mounting block comprises a locking pin hole positioned between the rear face and the front face of the elongate mounting block.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the corresponding lock element of the brush holder component comprises a locking pin configured to mate with the lock element of the elongate mounting block.

19. 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.

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

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the beam includes the channel.

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

23. The method of claim 22 , 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.

24. 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 elongate mounting block.

25. The method of claim 1 , wherein advancing the brush holder component along the elongate mounting block toward the moving conductive surface of the electrical generator causes the conductive brush within the brush box to contact the moving conductive surface without stopping motion of the moving conductive surface of the electrical generator.

26. The method of claim 25 , wherein releasably locking the brush holder component to the elongate mounting block

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

• H02K5/148

  Slidably supported brushes · CPC title

• H01R39/64

  Devices for uninterrupted current collection · CPC title

• Y10T29/49011

  Commutator or slip ring assembly · CPC title

• H01R43/00

  Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing, assembling, maintaining, or repairing of line connectors or current collectors or for joining electric conductors (of trolley lines B60M1/28) · CPC title