Brush holder apparatus, brush assembly, and method

A method of removably installing a conductive brush in contact with a conductive surface of an electrical generator in a power plant without stopping motion of the conductive surface of the electrical generator, the method comprising:

• slidably engaging a channel of a brush holder assembly with an elongate mounting block fixedly attached to a mount base of the electrical generator, the brush holder assembly including:
• a brush holder including a brush box having a plurality of sidewalls including a first side wall, a second side wall, and a third side wall;
• a conductive brush positioned in the brush box for longitudinal movement therein, the conductive brush including a first side surface facing the first side wall, a second side surface facing the second side wall, a third side surface facing the third side wall, a fourth side surface, and a lower surface;
• wherein the step of slidably engaging the channel of the brush holder assembly with the elongate mounting block includes moving the brush holder assembly from a disengaged position in which the lower surface of the brush is not contacting the conductive surface of the electrical generator to an engaged position in which the lower surface of the brush is contacting the conductive surface of the electrical generator;
• and
• wherein as the brush holder assembly moves from the disengaged position to the engaged position, a stationary brush release fixed relative to the elongate mounting block engages a brush catch of the brush holder assembly to release a force exerted on the fourth side surface of the brush by the brush catch.