Brush holder apparatus and system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9793670-B2
Application number	US-201414300305-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 10, 2014
Priority date	Jun 10, 2014
Publication date	Oct 17, 2017
Grant date	Oct 17, 2017

Abstract

A brush holder apparatus includes a stationary support member having at least one groove and a fork electrical connector. A brush retainment member has a brush restraint apparatus having a plunger brush restraint configured to restrain a brush from sliding within the brush retainment member by pressing it against the brush retainment member. The brush retainment member has at least one rail configured to slide along the at least one groove, and a knife electrical connector configured to mate with the fork electrical connector. The brush retainment member is configured to be releasably affixed to the stationary support member. The stationary support member is configured for electrical connection to a collector mount, and the brush retainment member is configured to retain at least one brush.

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;
a brush retainment member having a plunger brush restraint configured to restrain a brush from sliding within the brush retainment member by pressing the brush against the brush retainment member, the brush retainment member having at least one rail configured to slide along the at least one groove, the brush retainment member having a knife electrical connector configured to mate with the fork electrical connector;
a pivoting bar connected to the plunger brush restraint, the pivoting bar connected to a pivot support and a spring that biases the plunger brush restraint against the brush, the pivoting bar is configured to follow a contoured surface of the stationary support member during insertion of the brush retainment member into the stationary support member; the brush is restrained against the brush retainment member during insertion of the brush retainment member into the stationary support member, and the brush is released when the brush retainment member is fully inserted into the stationary support member;
a handle assembly comprising an electrically insulating handle having an electrically insulating guard configured to be located between the handle and brush connector leads, and 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; and
wherein the brush retainment member is configured to be releasably affixed to the stationary support member, and the stationary support member is configured for electrical connection to a collector mount and the brush retainment member is configured to retain the brush, and the brush retainment member is configured to clamp a brush terminal between a terminal compression plate and an opposing surface of the brush retainment member, and the brush terminal is engaged manually.

2. 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 retainment member.

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

4. The brush holder apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of holes are configured to attach a plurality of stationary support members together.

5. The brush holder apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the stationary support member further comprises:
a conductive spacer plate located on a side of the stationary support member, the conductive spacer plate configured to provide electrical conductivity with the collector mount or a second stationary support member.

6. The brush holder apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the fork electrical connector of the stationary support member is substantially centrally located in the stationary support member, or
wherein the fork electrical connector of the stationary support member extends to one side of the stationary support member.

7. The brush holder apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the stationary support member and the brush retainment member is comprised of aluminum or an aluminum alloy.

8. The brush holder apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the stationary support member and the brush retainment member 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 retainment member is configured to be substantially electrically insulating.

9. The brush holder apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the stationary support member and the brush retainment member 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 retainment member is configured to be substantially electrically insulating.

10. The brush holder apparatus of claim 1 , 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.

11. The brush holder apparatus of claim 10 , 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 retainment member 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 retainment member is fully locked into operating condition on the stationary support member.

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

13. The brush holder apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the brush terminal includes at least one of:
a bend, a rib, a hole or a notch, a protrusion; and
wherein the brush retainment member includes a complementary feature to the bend, the rib, the hole, the protrusion or the notch to facilitate securing the brush terminal to the brush retainment member.

14. The brush holder apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the brush retainment member 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 retainment member.

15. The brush holder apparatus of claim 1 , the brush retainment member further comprising:
a brush spring configured to press a brush against a collector of a dynamoelectric machine, and wherein the brush spring is configured to be replaceable in the brush retainment member; and
wherein the brush spring is configured to be located in-line with the plunger brush restraint configured for restraining a brush against the brush retainment member.

16. A brush holder apparatus comprising:
a stationary support member having at least one groove, the stationary support member having a fork electrical connector;
a brush retainment member having a plunger brush restraint configured to restrain a brush from sliding within the brush retainment member by pressing against the brush retainment member, the brush retainment member having at least one rail configured to slide along the at least one groove, the brush retainment member having a knife electrical connector configured to mate with the fork electrical connector;
a handle assembly having 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; and
wherein the brush retainment member is configured to be releasably affixed to the stationary support member, and the stationary support member is configured for electrical connection

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

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

Classifications

• H01R39/58

  Means structurally associated with the current collector for indicating condition thereof, e.g. for indicating brush wear · CPC title

• 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

• H02K5/148

  Slidably supported brushes · CPC title

• H01R43/14

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

• H01R39/385 Primary

  Means for mechanical fixation of the brush holder · CPC title