Modular contact assembly for rotating machine tool

For a machine tool comprising a housing, a rotating spindle mounted in the housing, and an electrical device mounted in the rotating spindle, a contact assembly comprising:

• a) a mounting plate joinable to the housing by movement of the plate into an attached position on the housing;
• b) a first brush assembly joined to the mounting plate and comprising a first conductive brush movable with respect to the mounting plate and a second conductive brush movable with respect to the mounting plate;
• c) a first electrical contact disposed in the mounting plate and in electrical communication with the first conductive brush;
• d) a second electrical contact disposed in the mounting plate and in electrical communication with the second conductive brush;
• e) an actuator joined to the mounting plate and operable to move the first conductive brush into electrical contact with a first rotating electrical contact ring in electrical communication with the electrical device, and operable to move the second conductive brush into electrical contact with a second rotating electrical contact ring in electrical communication with the electrical device, when the mounting plate is in the attached position;
• and
• f) a first energy supply connection disposed in the mounting plate and in communication with the actuator;
• wherein when the mounting plate is moved from a detached position to the attached position and is joined to the housing of the machine tool, the first electrical contact disposed in the mounting plate is electrically connected with a first mating electrical contact disposed in the housing of the machine tool, the second electrical contact disposed in the mounting plate is electrically connected with a second mating electrical contact disposed in the housing of the machine tool, and the first energy supply connection disposed in the mounting plate is connected to a first mating energy supply connection disposed in the housing of the machine tool.