(19)
(11)EP 2 826 110 B1

(12)EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION

(45)Mention of the grant of the patent:
22.04.2020 Bulletin 2020/17

(21)Application number: 13712053.1

(22)Date of filing:  12.03.2013
(51)International Patent Classification (IPC): 
H01R 39/36(2006.01)
H01R 39/41(2006.01)
(86)International application number:
PCT/US2013/030389
(87)International publication number:
WO 2013/138281 (19.09.2013 Gazette  2013/38)

(54)

BRUSH ASSEMBLY

BÜRSTENANORDNUNG

ENSEMBLE BALAIS


(84)Designated Contracting States:
AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

(30)Priority: 14.03.2012 US 201213419937

(43)Date of publication of application:
21.01.2015 Bulletin 2015/04

(73)Proprietor: Cutsforth, Inc.
Cohasset, MN 55271 (US)

(72)Inventor:
  • CUTSFORTH, Robert S.
    Bellingham, Washington 98226 (US)

(74)Representative: Findlay, Alice Rosemary 
Reddie & Grose LLP The White Chapel Building 10 Whitechapel High Street
London E1 8QS
London E1 8QS (GB)


(56)References cited: : 
WO-A1-03/052902
US-A- 2 935 632
US-A- 3 641 379
US-A1- 2001 043 022
US-A1- 2009 096 315
DE-A1-102005 062 073
US-A- 3 534 206
US-A- 5 739 619
US-A1- 2006 021 775
  
      
    Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention).


    Description

    TECHNICAL FIELD



    [0001] The disclosure is directed to a brush assembly.

    BACKGROUND



    [0002] A purpose of a brush in an electrical device is to pass electrical current from a stationary contact to a moving contact surface, or vice versa. Brushes and brush holders may be used in electrical devices such as electrical generators, electrical motors, and/or slip ring assemblies, or sliding connection applications, for example, slip ring assemblies on a rotating machine such as a rotating crane or a linear sliding connection on a monorail. Brushes in many electrical devices are blocks or other structures made of conductive material, such as graphite, carbon graphite, electrographite, metal graphite, or the like, that are adapted for contact with a conductive surface or surfaces to pass electrical current. Electrically conductive leads or shunts extend from the brush to provide an electrical pathway to and/or from the brush from another conductive member.

    [0003] In some designs, a brush box type brush holder, or other type of brush holder, may be used to support the brush during operation. The brush and brush box may be designed such that the brush can slide within the brush box to provide for continuing contact between the brush and the conductive surface contacted by the brush. Over time, the brush will be reduced in size, or get shorter (i.e., diminish in longitudinal length), for example, as the wear surface of the brush in frictional contact with the conductive surface wears down. Accordingly, the brush is intended to move within the brush holder. If left unconstrained, the leads extending from the brush may interfere with free movement in the brush holder, as the brush wears down. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a structure to retain the leads extending from the brush in a desired position/orientation to ensure the leads do not interfere with movement of the brush within the brush holder.

    [0004] WO 03/052902 and US 2001/043022 disclose brush holder assemblies.

    [0005] US 2935632 discloses a shunt for a carbon brush.

    SUMMARY



    [0006] The invention is defined by the independent claim.

    BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS



    [0007] The aspects of the disclosure may be more completely understood in consideration of the following detailed description of various embodiments in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

    FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary brush holder assembly for an electrical device in a disengaged position;

    FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the exemplary brush holder assembly of FIG. 1 in an engaged position;

    FIG. 3 is a top view of the brush holder assembly of FIG. 1;

    FIGS. 4A and 4B are perspective views of components of a replaceable brush of the brush holder assembly of FIG. 1;

    FIGS. 5A and 5B are perspective views of an exemplary lead guide for maintaining the leads extending from a brush in a desired position/orientation;

    FIGS. 6A and 6B are exploded perspective views of the exemplary lead guide of FIGS. 5A and 5B; and

    FIG. 7 is a top view of the components of the exemplary lead guide of FIGS. 5A and 5B.


    DETAILED DESCRIPTION



    [0008] A brush holder assembly 10, for example as shown in FIG. 1, includes a brush holder 12, such as a brush box, surrounding a brush 20 on several sides and including a plurality of guiding surfaces for guiding linear or longitudinal movement of the brush 20. In some embodiments, the brush holder 12 may not take on the form of a box, but may include one or a plurality of guiding surfaces, such as channels, posts or columns, abutting and/or encompassing one or more sides of the brush 20 and/or extending into or through the brush 20, or a portion thereof, for guiding linear or longitudinal movement of the brush 20.
    The brush holder 12 may be secured to a mounting beam 14 configured and adapted to be mounted to another structure, such as a mounting block 30. The brush holder assembly 10 is configured to place the brush 20 in contact with a conductive surface 32, such as a rotating surface of a collector ring, a slip ring, or a commutator, and conduct current therefrom. The brush 20 may extend from the lower edge of the brush holder 12 such that a wear surface 31 of the brush 20 engages the conductive surface 32. The mounting beam 14 may include an over-center engagement mechanism, a slotted or channeled engagement mechanism for sliding engagement, or other mechanism for easily engaging and disengaging the brush 20 from a conductive surface 32.

    [0009] In some embodiments, the brush holder assembly 10 may substantially resemble a brush holder assembly as described in U.S. Patent No. 7,034,430, entitled "Brush Holder Apparatus, Brush Assembly, and Method". In other embodiments, the brush holder assembly may include a brush holder rigidly mounted to another structure holding the brush holder stationary, or mounted to another structure in any desired arrangement. For example, in some embodiments the brush holder may be bolted or welded to a stationary structure. Some such brush holders are disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 6,731,042; 5,753,992; 5,621,262; 5,463,264; 5,397,952; and 5,256,925.

    [0010] As shown in FIG. 1, the mounting beam 14 may include an upper beam member 16 and a lower beam member 18 hingedly or pivotably coupled to one another. As shown in FIG. 1, when the upper beam member 16 is tilted from the lower beam member 18 (e.g., the longitudinal axis of the upper beam member 16 is oblique to the longitudinal axis of the lower beam member 18), the brush holder 12 may be considered to be in a disengaged, or unlocked, position such that the brush 20 may be non-contiguous with, spaced from, or otherwise not in direct electrical contact with the conductive surface 32. As shown in FIG. 2, when the upper beam member 16 and the lower beam member 18 are aligned with one another (e.g., the longitudinal axis of the upper beam member 16 is parallel with the longitudinal axis of the lower beam member 18), the brush holder 12 may be considered to be in an engaged, or locked, position such that the brush 20 may be contiguous with or in contact with the conductive surface 32.

    [0011] The mounting beam 14 may be removably coupled to the mounting block 30 during operation. In some embodiments, the mounting beam 14 may slidably engage with, interlock with, or otherwise be removably coupled to the mounting block 30. The mounting block 30 may be coupled to, secured to, or otherwise extend from another structure which maintains the mounting block 30 stationary with respect to the conductive surface 32, for example.

    [0012] In some embodiments, a handle 22 may be attached to the brush holder 12 to facilitate engagement and disengagement of the brush 20 from the conductive surface 32. For example, the handle 22 may be attached to the upper beam member 16 such that movement of the handle 22 actuates (e.g., pivots, slides, releases) the upper beam member 16 relative to the lower beam member 18 between the disengaged position (FIG. 1) and engaged position (FIG. 2). The handle 22 may be a removable handle or the handle 22 may be permanently attached to the upper beam member 16 or another portion of the brush holder 12.

    [0013] Also illustrated in FIG. 1 is a brush spring 24, such as a constant force spring, which provides tension to the brush 20 to bias the brush 20 toward and in contact with the conductive surface 32. The spring 24 may be attached to a portion of the brush holder 12 or the mounting beam 14 of the brush holder assembly 10, for example. In some embodiments, the spring 24 may extend along one side surface of the brush 20 between the brush 20 and the mounting beam 14 of the brush holder assembly 10.

    [0014] The brush 20 includes at least two electrical leads (e.g., shunts), such as braided copper cables, for conducting electricity to and/or from the electrically conductive surface 32 through the brush 20. For example, a first electrical lead 26a and a second electrical lead 26b may extend from the brush 20 to an electrically conductive terminal 28 coupled to a component of the brush holder assembly 10, such as the mounting beam 14. The ends of the leads 26a, 26b may be soldered, brazed, crimped, clamped or otherwise removably or permanently secured to the terminal 28.

    [0015] The brush holder assembly 10 also includes a brush lead guide 40 configured to retain the leads 26a, 26b extending from the brush 20 in a desired position/orientation to ensure the leads 26a, 26b do not interfere with movement of the brush 20 within the brush holder 12. For example, the guide 40 may maintain the first lead 26a and the second lead 26b in a spaced apart arrangement such that the spring 24 may be positioned between the first lead 26a and the second lead 26b. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 3, the guide 40, which may move with the brush 20 relative to the brush holder 12, may maintain the first lead 26a and the second lead 26b in a position such that the leads 26a, 26b are held within the width W of the opening of the brush holder 12 (i.e. the distance between the outer edge of the first lead 26a and the outer edge of the second lead 26b is less than the width W of the opening of the brush holder 12) to ensure leads 26a, 26b do not interfere with movement of the brush 20 within the opening of the brush holder 12 during use of the brush holder assembly 10. For example, the guide 40 may prevent the leads 26a, 26b from catching on or dragging/rubbing against the walls of the brush holder 12 as the brush 20 moves in the brush holder 12.

    [0016] FIGS. 4A and 4B further illustrate the arrangement of the guide 40 between portions of the leads 26a, 26b. As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the leads 26a, 26b may extend from an upper surface 21 of the brush 20 opposite the lower wear surface 31 at spaced apart locations. The leads 26a, 26b may be arranged to extend from the upper surface 21 along a midplane X of the brush equally spaced between the front surface 23 of the brush 20 and the rear surface 25 of the brush 20. Furthermore, the leads 26a, 26b may be arranged equidistantly from the midplane Y of the brush 20 between the first side surface 27 and the second side surface 29 of the brush 20. In other words, each of the first lead 26a and the second lead 26b may be positioned the same distance from the midplane Y on opposite sides of the midplane Y of the brush 20. With such an arrangement in which the leads 26a, 26b may be spaced apart a desired distance and centrally located extending from the upper surface 21 of the brush 20, various sizes of brushes 20 may be made (i.e., brushes with different lengths between the front and rear surfaces 23, 25 and/or different widths between the side surfaces 27, 29) while the spacing between the leads 26a, 26b may be constant such that a single sized lead guide 40 may be used regardless of the dimensions of the brush 20.

    [0017] The lead guide 40 may be positioned between the leads 26a, 26b to maintain a proper distance between a base portion of the leads 26a, 26b to accommodate the spring 24 therebetween. The lead guide 40 may be positioned between the leads 26a, 26b and the spring 24 to prevent direct contact between the leads 26a, 26b and the spring 24, and thus prevent the leads 26a, 26b from being cut, worn, scraped, abraded or otherwise damaged by the spring 24.

    [0018] The portion of the leads 26a, 26b extending from the guide 40 to or toward the terminal 28 may converge and be secured together with a fastener 36, such as a clip, tape, ring, or other mechanism to hold the leads 26a, 26b together. Additional fasteners 36 may be used if desired along portions of the length of the leads 26a, 26b to secure the leads 26a, 26b in a desired arrangement. Accordingly, the fastener 36 may prevent the leads 26a, 26b from spreading apart, while the guide 40 may prevent the leads 26a, 26b from converging together, thus holding the leads 26a, 26b in a desired position. The guide 40 includes first and second channels 46 for receiving the leads 26a, 26b therein to maintain the leads 26a, 26b generally parallel and spaced apart as the leads 26a, 26b extend from the upper surface 21 of the brush 20. In the illustrated embodiment, the lead guide 40 may permit the leads 26a, 26b to flex at the upper surface 21 of the brush 20 toward and/or away from the front and rear surfaces 23, 25 during the life of the brush 20, while preventing the leads 26a, 26b from flexing toward and away from the side surfaces 27, 29 of the brush 20. Thus, the lead guide 40 may be configured to permit a degree of movement of the leads 26a, 26b at the interface with the upper surface 21 of the brush 20 as the brush 20 is moved through the brush holder 12 as the brush 20 is worn.

    [0019] Turning to FIGS. 5A and 5B, as well as the exploded views of FIGS. 6A and 6B, features of the guide 40 are further illustrated. The guide 40 may include a first member, such as a bracket 60, and a second member, such as a brace 50, which may be coupled together. The bracket 60 and the brace 50 may be formed of any desired material, including resilient metal materials and/or polymeric materials. In some instances, the bracket 60 may be formed from a resilient metal material such as stainless steel or copper, while the brace 50 may be formed of a suitable polymeric material.

    [0020] The bracket 60 includes a first guide rail 42a, a second guide rail 42b and a cross member 44 extending between the first guide rail 42a and the second guide rail 42b, such as from an end of the first guide rail 42a to an end of the second guide rail 42b. In some embodiments, the cross member 44 may extend between the first end 48a of the first guide rail 42a and the first end 48b of the second guide rail 42b. In some instances, the bracket 60 may be formed as a unitary member including the first guide rail 42a, the second guide rail 42b and the cross member 44, while in other embodiments the bracket 60 may be formed of multiple members secured together. The first guide rail 42a, which in some instances may be considered a first leg of the bracket 60, may be arranged generally parallel to the second guide rail 42b, which in some instances may be considered a second leg of the bracket 60, or at any desired angle relative to the second guide rail 42b.

    [0021] The first guide rail 42a defines a channel 46 for receiving a portion of the first lead 26a therein and the second guide rail 42b defines a channel 46 for receiving a portion of the second lead 26b therein. The channels 46 of the first and second guide rails 26a, 26b open out in opposite directions. The channel 46 of the first guide rail 42a may extend from the first end 48a to the second end 49a of the first guide rail 42a, and the channel 46 of the second guide rail 42b may extend from the first end 48b to the second end 49b of the second guide rail 42b.

    [0022] The brace 50 may be configured to be removably attached to the bracket 60 to prevent relative movement between the first and second guide rails 42a, 42b. For example, the brace 50 may be configured to stabilize the first guide rail 42a relative to the second guide rail 42b, such as to prevent movement of the first and second guide rails 42a, 42b toward and/or away from one another.

    [0023] The brace 50 may include a bridge portion 62 extending between the first guide rail 42a and the second guide rail 42b, such as from an end of the first guide rail 42a to an end of the second guide rail 42b. In some embodiments, the bridge portion 62 may extend between the second end 49a of the first guide rail 42a and the second end 49b of the second guide rail 42b.

    [0024] The brace 50 may include an engagement interface configured to mate with and engage an engagement interface of the bracket 60 to removably couple the brace 50 to the bracket 60. For example, the brace 50 may include a first end 64a having one or more posts 54, 55 configured to interlock with one or more openings 58, 59 in the first guide rail 42a, and the brace 50 may include a second end 64b having one or more posts 54, 55 configured to interlock with one or more openings 58, 59 in the second guide rail 42b. In some instances, the openings 58 may be through holes extending through the base portion of the guide rails 42a, 42b, and/or the openings 59 may be notches formed on an edge of the side portions of the guide rails 42a, 42b. It is noted that in other embodiments, the bracket 60 may include posts 54, 55 and the brace 50 may including openings 58, 59 for receiving the posts 54, 55, if desired. Other interconnecting structures are also contemplated for removably coupling the brace 50 to the bracket 60 of the lead guide 40.

    [0025] The first end 64a of the brace 50 may include a first post 54 and a second post 55. As shown in FIG. 7, the first post 54 may extend generally perpendicular to the second post 55. The first post 54 may be configured to be inserted into a first opening 58 in the first guide rail 42a, while the second post 55 may be configured to be inserted into a second opening 59 in the first guide rail 42a. The first opening 58 may have a central longitudinal axis along which the first post 54 extends and the second opening 59 may have a central longitudinal axis along which the second post 55 extends. In some instances, the central longitudinal axis of the first opening 58 may be generally perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of the second opening 59. In some embodiments, the first opening 58 may extend through a base portion of the first guide rail 42a and the second opening 59 may extend through a side portion of the first guide rail 42a.

    [0026] Similarly, the second end 64b of the brace 50 may include a first post 54 and a second post 55. As shown in FIG. 7, the first post 54 may extend generally perpendicular to the second post 55. The first post 54 may be configured to be inserted into a first opening 58 in the second guide rail 42b, while the second post 55 may be configured to be inserted into a second opening 59 in the second guide rail 42b. The first opening 58 may have a central longitudinal axis along which the first post 54 extends and the second opening 59 may have a central longitudinal axis along which the second post 55 extends. In some instances, the central longitudinal axis of the first opening 58 may be generally perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of the second opening 59. In some embodiments, the first opening 58 may extend through a base portion of the second guide rail 42b and the second opening 59 may extend through a side portion of the second guide rail 42b.

    [0027] In some embodiments, the first post 54 at the first end 64a of the brace 50 may be coaxial with the first post 54 at the second end 64b of the brace 50, and/or the second post 55 at the first end 64a of the brace 50 may extend parallel to the second post 55 at the second end 64b of the brace 50.

    [0028] The brace 50 may further include a first stop 56 positionable against the first guide rail 42a when the one or more posts 54, 55 at the first end 64a of the brace 50 are positioned in the one or more openings 58, 59 of the first guide rail 42a, and/or a second stop 56 positionable against the second guide rail 42b when the one or more posts 54, 55 at the second end 64b of the brace 50 are positioned in the one or more openings 58, 59 of the second guide rail 42b.

    [0029] The stops 56 may be positioned between the first and second guide rails 42a, 42b to prevent movement of the guide rails 42a, 42b toward one another, while the engagement of the posts 55 in the openings 59 may prevent movement of the guide rails 42a, 42b away from one another. Thus, coupling the brace 50 to the bracket 60 may substantially stabilize the first and second guide rails 42a, 42b from movement relative to one another.

    [0030] The lead guide 40 may also include a wear marker 52 configured to track or follow the movement of the brush 20. For example, the lead guide 40 may be arranged with the brush 20 such that the lead guide 40 moves with the brush 20 as the brush 20 travels in the brush holder 12 during the life of the brush 20. In other words, the lead guide 40 and the brush 20 are configured to move together as the brush 20 is worn during use. Accordingly, movement of the marker 52 may directly correspond to movement of the brush 20. For example, linear or longitudinal displacement of the marker 52 may be equivalent, or otherwise proportional, to the linear or longitudinal movement and/or diminution of the brush 20 as the brush 20 is worn. The marker 52 may include one or more, or a plurality of, indicia or markings, or the like, that may aid in determining the position of the marker 52, and thus the position of the brush 20, as described in U.S. Pat. App. Pub. No. 2008/0291273. As shown in the illustrative embodiment, the marker 52 may be formed integrally with the brace 50 and extend from the bridge portion 62 of the brace 50. However, in other embodiments, the marker 52 may be a portion of the bracket 60, or the marker 52 may be formed separately and attached to the brace 50, the bracket 60, or another component of the lead guide 40, if desired.

    [0031] Referring again to the assembled configuration of FIGS. 1 and 2, it can be seen that the guide 40 may be configured such that the connecting member 44 of the bracket 60 and the bridge portion 62 of the brace 50 of the guide 40 extend through the coil spring 24 such that the coil of the spring 24 surrounds the connecting member 44 of the bracket 60 and the bridge portion 62 of the brace 50, with the coil of the spring 24 positioned between the first and second leads 26a, 26b. Thus, when the guide 40 is assembled between the first and second leads 26a, 26b the coil of the spring 24 may pass under the bridge portion 62 of the brace 50 and between the bridge portion 62 of the brace 50 and the upper surface 21 of the brush 20, and the coil of the spring 24 may also pass over the cross member 44 of the bracket 60 and between the cross member 44 of the bracket 60 and the portions of the leads 26a, 26b extending from the guide 40 to the terminal 28.

    [0032] In assembling the guide with the leads 26a, 26b of the brush 20, one of the guide rails 42 (either the first guide rail 42a or the second guide rail 42b) of the bracket 60 may be passed through the opening of the coil of the spring 24 such that the first guide rail 42a is positioned on a first side of the coil of the spring 24 and the second guide rail 42b is positioned on a second side of the coil of the spring 24. The first lead 26a may be positioned in the channel 46 of the first guide rail 42a and the second lead 26b may be positioned in the channel 46 of the second guide rail 42b. As shown in FIG. 7, the first guide rail 42a (including a base portion and opposing side portions) may surround the first lead 26a on three sides of the first lead 26a when the first lead 26a is positioned in the channel 46, and the second guide rail 42b (including a base portion and opposing side portions) may surround the second lead 26b on three sides of the second lead 26b when the second lead 26b is positioned in the channel 46.

    [0033] The bridge portion 62 of the brace 50 may be passed through the opening of the coil of the spring 24, and the ends 64a, 64b of the brace 50 may be coupled to the respective guide rails 42a, 42b, as described above. For example, the posts 54 may be inserted into the openings 58 on opposite sides of the spring 24 with the stops 56 pressed against the first and second guide rails 42a, 42b, and the posts 55 may be inserted into the openings 59 on opposite sides of the spring 24. Engagement of the brace 50 between the guide rails 42a, 42b of the bracket 60 may stabilize the guide rails 42a, 42b from movement toward and/or away from one another.

    [0034] The portions of the leads 26a, 26b extending from the guide 40 to or toward the terminal 28 may be brought toward one another such that the leads 26a, 26b converge above the lead guide 40. The portions of the leads 26a, 26b extending from the guide 40 may be secured together with a fastener 36, such as a clip, tape, ring, or other mechanism to hold the leads 26a, 26b together. Additional fasteners 36 may be used if desired along portions of the length of the leads 26a, 26b to secure the leads 26a, 26b in a desired arrangement. Accordingly, the fastener 36 may prevent the leads 26a, 26b from spreading apart, while the guide 40 may prevent the leads 26a, 26b from converging together, thus holding the leads 26a, 26b in a desired position.

    [0035] The terminal 28 may be coupled to an electrically conductive member to complete an electrical connection from the brush 20.


    Claims

    1. A brush assembly comprising:

    a brush (20), wherein the brush (20) includes a first lead (26a) and a second lead (26b) extending from the brush (20) at spaced apart locations;

    a lead guide (40) for maintaining the leads extending from the brush in a desired position, the lead guide (40) comprising:

    a bracket (60) comprising a first guide rail (42a), a second guide rail (42b), and a cross member (44) extending between the first guide rail and the second guide rail;

    the first guide rail including a channel (46) for receiving the first lead (26a) of the brush and the second guide rail including a channel (46) for receiving the second lead (26b) from the brush, the bracket configured to space the first lead away from the second lead to permit a spring (24) of a brush holder assembly (10) to be positioned therebetween;

    wherein the lead guide and the brush travel together as the brush diminishes in length during use, characterized in that the channel of the first guide rail opens out in a first direction and the channel of the second guide rail opens out in a second direction, opposite the first direction.


     
    2. The brush assembly of claim 1, wherein the first guide rail extends generally parallel to the second guide rail.
     
    3. The brush assembly of claim 1, the lead guide further comprising:
    a brace (50) attached to the bracket between the first guide rail and the second guide rail to stabilize the first guide rail relative to the second guide rail.
     
    4. The brush assembly of claim 3, wherein the cross member extends between a first end (48a) of the first guide rail and a first end (48b) of the second guide rail, and the brace extends between a second end (49a) of the first guide rail and a second end (49b) of the second guide rail.
     
    5. The brush assembly of claim 4, wherein the brace includes a wear marker (52) extending from a bridge portion (62) of the brace, the bridge portion extending between the second end of the first guide rail and the second end of the second guide rail.
     
    6. The brush assembly of claim 4, wherein the brace prevents movement of the second ends of the first and second guide rails toward one another.
     
    7. A brush holder assembly (10) for an electrical device, the brush holder assembly comprising:

    the brush assembly of claim 1;

    a brush holder (12);

    wherein the brush (20) is positionable in the brush holder; and

    a spring (24) exerting a force against the brush in the brush holder, with a coiled portion of the spring positioned between the first and second leads;

    wherein the lead guide is configured to prevent the first and second leads (26a, 26b) from contacting the brush holder and restricting free movement of the brush in the brush holder; and

    wherein the brush holder has an opening therethrough for receiving the brush, the opening having a width (W), wherein the lead guide maintains the first and second leads (26a, 26b) in a position such that the first and second leads (26a, 26b) are held within the width of the opening of the brush holder to ensure first and second leads (26a, 26b) do not interfere with movement of the brush within the brush holder during use of the brush holder assembly.


     
    8. The brush holder assembly of claim 7, wherein the lead guide is positionable between a base portion of the first lead (26a) and a base portion of the second lead (26b).
     
    9. The brush holder assembly of claim 8, wherein portions of the first and second leads extending from the lead guide converge and are fastened together.
     
    10. The brush holder assembly of claim 8, the first guide rail (42a) extending along the base portion of the first lead and the second guide rail (42b) extending along the base portion of the second lead.
     
    11. The brush holder assembly of claim 10, wherein the spring (24) is positionable between the first guide rail of the lead guide and the second guide rail of the lead guide.
     
    12. The brush holder assembly of claim 11, wherein the lead guide includes a bracket (60) and a brace (50) attachable to the bracket, the bracket including the first guide rail and the second guide rail, and the brace attachable to the bracket between the first guide rail and the second guide rail to stabilize the first guide rail relative to the second guide rail.
     
    13. The brush holder assembly of claim 12, wherein the brace extends through a coiled portion of the spring.
     
    14. The brush holder assembly of claim 10, wherein the lead guide includes a bracket (60) and a brace (50) attachable to the bracket, the bracket including the first guide rail and the second guide rail, and the brace attachable to the bracket between the first guide rail and the second guide rail to stabilize the first guide rail relative to the second guide rail.
     
    15. The brush holder assembly of claim 14, wherein the brace is configured to prevent movement of the first and second guide rails toward one another.
     
    16. The brush holder assembly of claim 7, wherein the lead guide includes a brush wear indicator (52) following movement of the brush to indicate the extent to which the brush has worn.
     
    17. The brush holder assembly of claim 7, wherein the lead guide (40) is positioned between first and second leads (26a, 26b) and the spring (24) to prevent the leads (26a, 26b) from directly contacting the spring (24).
     


    Ansprüche

    1. Bürstenanordnung, die Folgendes aufweist:

    eine Bürste (20), wobei die Bürste (20) eine erste Leitung (26a) und eine zweite Leitung (26b) aufweist, die sich an voneinander beabstandeten Stellen aus der Bürste (20) erstrecken;

    eine Leitungsführung (40) zum Halten der sich aus der Bürste erstreckenden Leitungen in einer gewünschten Position, wobei die Leitungsführung (40) Folgendes aufweist:

    eine Halterung (60), die eine erste Führungsschiene (42a), eine zweite Führungsschiene (42b) und ein Querstück (44), das sich zwischen der ersten Führungsschiene und der zweiten Führungsschiene erstreckt, aufweist;

    wobei die erste Führungsschiene eine Nut (46) zur Aufnahme der ersten Leitung (26a) der Bürste aufweist und die zweite Führungsschiene eine Nut (46) zur Aufnahme der zweiten Leitung (26b) von der Bürste aufweist, wobei die Halterung zum Beabstanden der ersten Leitung von der zweiten Leitung gestaltet ist, damit eine Feder (24) der Bürstenhalteranordnung (10) zwischen ihnen positioniert werden kann;

    wobei die Leitungsführung und die Bürste sich zusammen bewegen, wenn die Bürste während des Gebrauchs an Länge verliert,

    dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Nut der ersten Führungsschiene in einer ersten Richtung ausmündet und die Nut der zweiten Führungsschiene in einer der ersten Richtung entgegengesetzten, zweiten Richtung ausmündet.


     
    2. Bürstenanordnung nach Anspruch 1, wobei die erste Führungsschiene sich allgemein parallel zur zweiten Führungsschiene erstreckt.
     
    3. Bürstenanordnung nach Anspruch 1, wobei die Leitungsführung ferner Folgendes aufweist:
    eine Versteifung (50), die zwischen der ersten Führungsschiene und der zweiten Führungsschiene an der Halterung angebracht ist, um die erste Führungsschiene relativ zur zweiten Führungsschiene zu stabilisieren.
     
    4. Bürstenanordnung nach Anspruch 3, wobei das Querstück sich zwischen einem ersten Ende (48a) der ersten Führungsschiene und einem ersten Ende (48b) der zweiten Führungsschiene erstreckt und die Versteifung sich zwischen einem zweiten Ende (49a) der ersten Führungsschiene und einem zweiten Ende (49b) der zweiten Führungsschiene erstreckt.
     
    5. Bürstenanordnung nach Anspruch 4, wobei die Versteifung eine Abnutzungsmarkierung (52) hat, die sich von einem Brückenteil (62) der Versteifung erstreckt, wobei der Brückenteil sich zwischen dem zweiten Ende der ersten Führungsschiene und dem zweiten Ende der zweiten Führungsschiene erstreckt.
     
    6. Bürstenanordnung nach Anspruch 4, wobei die Versteifung die Bewegung der zweiten Enden der ersten und der zweiten Führungsschiene aufeinander zu verhindert.
     
    7. Bürstenhalteranordnung (10) für eine elektrische Vorrichtung, wobei die Bürstenhalteranordnung Folgendes aufweist:

    die Bürstenanordnung nach Anspruch 1;

    einen Bürstenhalter (12);

    wobei die Bürste (20) im Bürstenhalter positionierbar ist; und

    eine Feder (24), die eine Kraft gegen die Bürste im Bürstenhalter ausübt, wobei ein gewickelter Teil der Feder zwischen der ersten und der zweiten Leitung positioniert ist;

    wobei die Leitungsführung gestaltet ist, um zu verhindern, dass die erste und die zweite Leitung (26a, 26b) mit dem Bürstenhalter in Kontakt kommen und die freie Bewegung der Bürste im Bürstenhalter beschränken; und

    wobei der Bürstenhalter eine Öffnung zur Aufnahme der Bürste durch sie hindurch hat, die Öffnung dabei eine Breite (W) hat, wobei die Leitungsführung die erste und die zweite Leitung (26a, 26b) in einer Position hält, so dass die erste und die zweite Leitung (26a, 26b) innerhalb der Breite der Öffnung des Bürstenhalters gehalten werden, um sicherzustellen, dass die erste und die zweite Leitung (26a, 26b) die Bewegung der Bürste während der Verwendung der Bürstenhalteranordnung innerhalb des Bürstenhalters nicht stören.


     
    8. Bürstenhalteranordnung nach Anspruch 7, wobei die Leitungsführung zwischen einem Basisteil der ersten Leitung (26a) und einem Basisteil der zweiten Leitung (26b) positionierbar ist.
     
    9. Bürstenhalteranordnung nach Anspruch 8, wobei sich von der Leitungsführung erstreckende Teile der ersten und der zweiten Leitung zusammenlaufen und aneinander befestigt sind.
     
    10. Bürstenhalteranordnung nach Anspruch 8, wobei die erste Führungsschiene (42a) sich am Basisteil der ersten Leitung entlang erstreckt und die zweite Führungsschiene (42b) sich am Basisteil der zweiten Leitung entlang erstreckt.
     
    11. Bürstenhalteranordnung nach Anspruch 10, wobei die Feder (24) zwischen der ersten Führungsschiene der Leitungsführung und der zweiten Führungsschiene der Leitungsführung positionierbar ist.
     
    12. Bürstenhalteranordnung nach Anspruch 11, wobei die Leitungsführung eine Halterung (60) und eine an der Halterung anbringbare Versteifung (50) hat, wobei die Halterung die erste Führungsschiene und die zweite Führungsschiene hat und die Versteifung an der Halterung zwischen der ersten Führungsschiene und der zweiten Führungsschiene anbringbar ist, um die erste Führungsschiene relativ zur zweiten Führungsschiene zu stabilisieren.
     
    13. Bürstenhalteranordnung nach Anspruch 12, wobei sich die Versteifung durch einen gewickelten Teil der Feder erstreckt.
     
    14. Bürstenhalteranordnung nach Anspruch 10, wobei die Leitungsführung eine Halterung (60) und eine an der Halterung anbringbare Versteifung (50) hat, die Halterung die erste Führungsschiene und die zweite Führungsschiene hat und die Versteifung zwischen der ersten Führungsschiene und der zweiten Führungsschiene an der Halterung anbringbar ist, um die erste Führungsschiene relativ zur zweiten Führungsschiene zu stabilisieren.
     
    15. Bürstenhalteranordnung nach Anspruch 14, wobei die Versteifung zum Verhindern einer Bewegung der ersten und zweiten Führungsschiene aufeinander zu gestaltet ist.
     
    16. Bürstenhalteranordnung nach Anspruch 7, wobei die Leitungsführung einen Bürstenabnutzungsanzeiger (52) hat, der der Bewegung der Bürste nachgeführt wird, um das Ausmaß der Abnutzung der Bürste anzuzeigen.
     
    17. Bürstenhalteranordnung nach Anspruch 7, wobei die Leitungsführung (40) zwischen der ersten und der zweiten Leitung (26a, 26b) und der Feder (24) positioniert ist, um zu verhindern, dass die Leitungen (26a, 26b) direkt mit der Feder (24) in Kontakt kommen.
     


    Revendications

    1. Ensemble de balai comprenant :

    un balai (20), où le balai (20) comprend un premier conducteur (26a) et un deuxième conducteur (26b) s'étendant du balai (20) à des emplacements espacés l'un de l'autre ;

    un guide de conducteurs (40) pour maintenir les conducteurs s'étendant du balai dans une position désirée, le guide de conducteurs (40) comprenant :

    un support (60) comprenant un premier rail de guidage (42a), un deuxième rail de guidage (42b), et un membre transversal (44) s'étendant entre le premier rail de guidage et le deuxième rail de guidage ;

    le premier rail de guidage comprenant un canal (46) pour recevoir le premier conducteur (26a) du balai et le deuxième rail de guidage comprenant un canal (46) pour recevoir le deuxième conducteur (26b) du balai, le support étant configuré pour espacer le premier conducteur à l'écart du deuxième conducteur afin de permettre qu'un ressort (24) d'un ensemble porte-balai (10) soit positionné entre eux ;

    dans lequel le guide de conducteurs et le balai se déplacent ensemble au fur et à mesure que le balai diminue en longueur durant l'emploi,
    caractérisé en ce que

    le canal du premier rail de guidage s'ouvre dans une première direction et le canal du deuxième rail de guidage s'ouvre dans une deuxième direction, opposée à la première direction.


     
    2. Ensemble de balai selon la revendication 1, dans lequel le premier rail de guidage s'étend généralement parallèle au deuxième rail de guidage.
     
    3. Ensemble de balai selon la revendication 1, le guide de conducteurs comprenant en outre :
    une armature (50) attachée au support entre le premier rail de guidage et le deuxième rail de guidage pour stabiliser le premier rail de guidage par rapport au deuxième rail de guidage.
     
    4. Ensemble de balai selon la revendication 3, dans lequel le membre transversal s'étend entre une première extrémité (48a) du premier rail de guidage et une première extrémité (48b) du deuxième rail de guidage, et l'armature (50) s'étend entre une deuxième extrémité (49a) du premier rail de guidage et une deuxième extrémité (49b) du deuxième rail de guidage.
     
    5. Ensemble de balai selon la revendication 4, dans lequel l'armature comprend un marqueur d'usure (52) s'étendant d'une partie de pont (62) de l'armature, la partie de pont s'étendant entre la deuxième extrémité du premier rail de guidage et la deuxième extrémité du deuxième rail de guidage.
     
    6. Ensemble de balai selon la revendication 4, dans lequel l'armature empêche le mouvement des deuxièmes extrémités du premier et du deuxième rail de guidage l'une vers l'autre.
     
    7. Ensemble porte-balai (10) pour un dispositif électrique, l'ensemble porte-balai comprenant :

    l'ensemble de balai selon la revendication 1 ;

    un porte-balai (12) ;

    où le balai (20) est positionnable dans le porte-balai ; et

    un ressort (24) exerçant une force contre le balai dans le porte-balai, avec une partie spiralée du ressort positionnée entre le premier et le deuxième conducteur ;

    dans lequel le guide de conducteurs est configuré pour empêcher le premier et le deuxième conducteur (26a, 26b) d'entrer en contact avec le porte-balai et de restreindre le mouvement libre du balai dans le porte-balai, et

    dans lequel le porte-balai a une ouverture à travers celui-ci pour recevoir le balai, l'ouverture ayant une largeur (W), dans lequel le guide de conducteurs maintient le premier et le deuxième conducteur (26a, 26b) dans une position telle que le premier et le deuxième conducteur (26a, 26b) sont tenus dans la largeur de l'ouverture du porte-balai afin de s'assurer que le premier et le deuxième conducteur (26a, 26b) n'interfèrent pas avec le mouvement du balai dans le porte-balai durant l'emploi de l'ensemble porte-balai.


     
    8. Ensemble porte-balai selon la revendication 7, dans lequel le guide de conducteurs est positionnable entre une partie de base du premier conducteur (26a) et une partie de base du deuxième conducteur (26b).
     
    9. Ensemble porte-balai selon la revendication 8, dans lequel des parties du premier et du deuxième conducteur s'étendant de guide de conducteurs convergent et sont attachées ensemble.
     
    10. Ensemble porte-balai selon la revendication 8, le premier rail de guidage (42a) s'étendant le long de la partie de base du premier conducteur et le deuxième rail de guidage (42b) s'étendant le long de la partie de base du deuxième conducteur.
     
    11. Ensemble porte-balai selon la revendication 10, dans lequel le ressort (24) est positionnable entre le premier rail de guidage du guide de conducteurs et le deuxième rail de guidage du guide de conducteurs.
     
    12. Ensemble porte-balai selon la revendication 11, dans lequel le guide de conducteurs comprend un support (60) et une armature (50) attachable au support, le support comprenant le premier rail de guidage et le deuxième rail de guidage, et l'armature étant attachable au support entre le premier rail de guidage et le deuxième rail de guidage pour stabiliser le premier rail de guidage par rapport au deuxième rail de guidage.
     
    13. Ensemble porte-balai selon la revendication 12, dans lequel l'armature s'étend à travers une partie spiralée du ressort.
     
    14. Ensemble porte-balai selon la revendication 10, dans lequel le guide de conducteurs comprend un support (60) et une armature (50) attachable au support, le support comprenant le premier rail de guidage et le deuxième rail de guidage, et l'armature étant attachable au support entre le premier rail de guidage et le deuxième rail de guidage pour stabiliser le premier rail de guidage par rapport au deuxième rail de guidage.
     
    15. Ensemble porte-balai selon la revendication 14, dans lequel l'armature est configurée pour empêcher le mouvement du premier et du deuxième rail de guidage l'un vers l'autre.
     
    16. Ensemble porte-balai selon la revendication 7, dans lequel le guide de conducteurs comprend un indicateur d'usure de balai (52) qui suit le mouvement du balai pour indiquer l'étendue selon laquelle le balai s'est usé.
     
    17. Ensemble porte-balai selon la revendication 7, dans lequel le guide de conducteurs (40) est positionné entre le premier et le deuxième conducteur (26a, 26b) et le ressort (24) pour empêcher que les conducteurs (26a, 26b) n'entrent directement en contact avec le ressort (24).
     




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    Cited references

    REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION



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    Patent documents cited in the description