# US 10,768,204 B2 · Electrical measurement devices for a device under test > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,768,204 B2 - Document ID: US10768204B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/291,587 - Filed: 2019-03-04 - Published: 2019-06-27 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2015-10-29 - Assignees: Illinois Tool Works Inc. - Applicants: Illinois Tool Works Inc. - Inventors: Jeffrey Richardson; Adam Willwerth - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10768204B2 ## CPC - G01R 1/06755: {Material aspects} - G01R 1/06705: {Apparatus for holding or moving single probes (for moving multiple probe heads or ICs under test G01R31/2886)} - G01R 31/343: {in operation} - G01R 1/06738: {related to tip portion} - G01R 1/06788: {Hand-held or hand-manipulated probes, e.g. for oscilloscopes or for portable test instruments (end pieces terminating in a probe H01R11/18)} - H01R 11/24: with gripping jaws, e.g. crocodile clip - H01R 39/24: Laminated contacts; Wire contacts, e.g. metallic brush, carbon fibres - H01R 2201/20: for testing or measuring purposes - G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12) - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS ## Abstract Methods and apparatus for electrical measurement are disclosed. An example electrical measurement device includes a conductive cable comprising a plurality of conductive filaments on a first end and an electrical connector on a second end, a cable mount that includes a base and an adjustable support attached to the base and the conductive cable to hold the plurality of conductive filaments in contact with a rotating element of a device under test during a measurement operation, with the conductive cable forming a portion of a circuit when the plurality of conductive filaments are in contact with the rotating element of the device under test and the electrical connector is in contact with an output. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electrical measurement device comprising: a conductive cable comprising a plurality of conductive filaments on a first end and an electrical connector on a second end, the plurality of conductive filaments held in contact with a rotating element of a device under test during a measurement operation via a cable mount; and a coupling to secure the plurality of conductive filaments to the cable, the coupling comprising a conductive coupling in contact with each of the plurality of conductive filaments and the conductive cable. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electrical measurement device of claim 1, wherein the cable mount comprises a base having a lock to secure the cable mount to a fixed structure during the measurement operation. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The electrical measurement device of claim 2, wherein the lock comprises at least one of an electromagnet, a clamp and a bolted support plate. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The electrical measurement device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of conductive filaments extends from the first end by a predetermined length to form a brush. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The electrical measurement device of claim 4, wherein at least one filament of the plurality of conductive filaments maintains electrical contact with the rotating element of the device under test when the device under test is in motion. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The electrical measurement device of claim 1, wherein the device under test comprises a motor, the rotating element comprising a shaft configured to rotate during operation of the motor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The electrical measurement device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of conductive filaments is configured to maintain electrical contact with the rotating element as the rotating element rotates and the cable mount holds the conductive cable in a stationary position. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The electrical measurement device of claim 1, wherein the coupling and the conductive cable are encased in one or more electrically insulating layers. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The electrical measurement device of claim 1, wherein the electrical connector is a probe configured to connect with an electrical sensor to measure an electrical property of the device under test during a measurement operation. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The electrical measurement device of claim 9, wherein the electrical sensor comprises at least one of a voltmeter and an ammeter. ### Claim 11 An electrical measurement system comprising: a first electrical measurement device comprising a first conductive cable having a first plurality of conductive filaments on a first end and a first electrical connector on a second end, the first plurality of conductive filaments being held in contact with a first portion of a rotating element of a device under test during a measurement operation via a first cable mount; and a second electrical measurement device comprising a second conductive cable having a second plurality of conductive filaments on a first end and a second electrical connector on a second end, the second plurality of conductive filaments being held in contact with a second portion of the rotating element of the device under test during a measurement operation via a second cable mount. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The electrical measurement system of claim 11, wherein the first cable mount comprises: a first base; and a first adjustable support attached to the first base and the first conductive cable; and wherein the second cable mount comprises: a second base; and a second adjustable support attached to the second base and the second conductive cable. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The electrical measurement system of claim 11, further comprising an electrical sensor in electrical contact with at least one of the first and second electrical connectors to measure an electrical property of the device under test during a measurement operation. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The electrical measurement system of claim 11, wherein the first electrical connector is in contact with the second electrical connector via a conductive element to create a closed circuit. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The electrical measurement system of claim 11, wherein each of the first and second base comprises a lock to secure each respective cable mount to one or more fixed structures during the measurement operation, wherein each lock comprises at least one of an electromagnet, a clamp, and a bolted support plate. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The electrical measurement system of claim 11, wherein the device under test is an electric motor and the rotating element is a rotatable shaft. ### Claim 17 An electrical measurement system comprising: a conductive cable comprising a plurality of conductive filaments on a first end and an electrical connector on a second end, the plurality of conductive filaments held in contact with a rotating element of a device under test during a measurement operation via a cable mount; a coupling to secure the plurality of conductive filaments to the cable, the coupling comprising a conductive coupling in contact with each of the plurality of conductive filaments and the conductive cable; and an adjustable support attached to the conductive cable, the conductive cable forming a portion of a circuit through the plurality of conductive filaments that contact the rotating element of the device under test and the electrical connector in contact with an output. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The electrical measurement system of claim 17, wherein the adjustable support is configured to position the device such that the plurality of conductive filaments maintain electrical contact with the device under test. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The electrical measurement system of claim 18, wherein the device under test comprises a motor having a shaft, the adjustable support configured to position the device such that the plurality of conductive filaments maintain electrical contact with the motor shaft while the shaft rotates. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The electrical measurement system of claim 17, wherein the cable mount further comprises an electromagnetic lock to secure the cable mount to a fixed ferromagnetic surface in a fixed position during a measurement operation.