System and method for monitoring the status of one or more components of an electrical machine
AssigneeCutsforth, Inc.
InventorsRobert S. Cutsforth, Dustin L. Cutsforth, David William Drury Harrison, Douglas Christopher Bruey
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Example brush holder assemblies of an electric machine are disclosed. An example brush holder assembly of an electric machine includes a carbon brush including an upper surface and a lower surface opposite the upper surface. The brush holder assembly also includes one or more lead wires extending out of the carbon brush at an insertion point on the upper surface and a first cavity extending into the carbon brush from the upper surface at a location spaced away from the insertion point of the one or more lead wires and unobstructed by the one or more lead wires.
Claims24
An assembly for a brush holder assembly of an electric machine, comprising:
- a carbon brush including an upper surface and a lower surface opposite the upper surface,
- one or more lead wires extending out of the carbon brush at an insertion point on the upper surface;
- a first cavity extending into the carbon brush from the upper surface at a location spaced away from the insertion point of the one or more lead wires and unobstructed by the one or more lead wires;
- and
- a spacer coupled to the carbon brush, the spacer including a first projection configured to releasably engage within the first cavity.
A system for monitoring the wear state of a carbon brush, comprising:
- a brush holder assembly, the brush holder assembly including:
- a carbon brush including an upper surface, a lower surface opposite the upper surface, and a length measured from the upper surface to the lower surface, wherein the length is diminished from an initial length as the lower surface of the carbon brush wears away during use;
- a spring having a first end and a second end, and a coiled portion;
- a wear state monitor positioned within the coiled portion of the spring, the wear state monitor including a sensor, wherein the sensor is configured to measure an angular displacement of the wear state monitor as the wear state monitor rotates;
- a spacer positioned between the coiled portion of the spring and the upper surface of the carbon brush, the spacer including a first projection extending away from a bottom surface of the spacer;
- wherein the carbon brush includes a first cavity extending into the carbon brush from the upper surface, and wherein the first cavity receives the first projection therein.
An assembly for a brush holder assembly of an electrical device, comprising:
- a carbon brush including an upper surface, a lower surface opposite the upper surface, and a length measured from the upper surface to the lower surface;
- one or more lead wires extending out of the carbon brush at an insertion point on the upper surface;
- first and second cavities extending into the carbon brush from the upper surface at a location spaced away from the insertion point of the one or more lead wires and unobstructed by the one or more lead wires;
- and
- a spacer having first and second projections extending from a lower surface of the spacer;
- wherein the first and second projections are configured to be inserted into the first and second cavities when the lower surface of the spacer is juxtaposed with the upper surface of the carbon brush.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.