Fluid pump and brush spring retainer thereof

A fluid pump comprising:

• a hollow housing;
• an electric motor located within said hollow housing and having an armature with a commutator, said armature being rotatable about an axis with application of an electric current to said commutator, said electric motor also having a motor frame which supports a pair of permanent magnets which are located radially outward from said armature, said motor frame having a support stem extending axially away therefrom in a direction away from said commutator;
• a pump section rotationally coupled to said electric motor which receives fluid at a relatively low pressure through a fluid inlet and which pressurizes said fluid to a relatively high pressure as a result of rotation of said armature;
• a first motor brush and a second motor brush which deliver said electric current to said commutator and which are urged into electrical contact with said commutator by a first brush spring and a second brush spring respectively;
• and
• a brush spring retainer upon which said first brush spring and said second brush spring are each mechanically grounded, thereby causing said first brush spring and said second brush spring to hold said first motor brush and said second motor brush respectively in contact with said commutator, said brush spring retainer comprising:
• a brush spring retainer central portion which extends along said axis and which includes a brush spring retainer opening therein within which said support stem is received in an interference fit which retains said brush spring retainer to said motor frame;
• and
• a brush spring retainer support arm which extends from said brush spring retainer central portion in a direction laterally relative to said axis, wherein said first brush spring and said second brush spring are mechanically grounded to said brush spring retainer support arm;
• wherein said brush spring retainer central portion includes a first leg and a second leg such that said first leg and said second leg are spaced apart from each other in the direction laterally relative to said axis and such that said brush spring retainer opening is located between said first leg and said second leg;
• and
• wherein said first leg and said second leg each have a respective rib which faces toward said brush spring retainer opening and which has a ridgeline that extends along said axis and engages with said support stem.

A fluid pump comprising:

• a hollow housing;
• an electric motor located within said hollow housing and having an armature with a commutator, said armature being rotatable about an axis with application of an electric current to said commutator, said electric motor also having a motor frame which supports a pair of permanent magnets which are located radially outward from said armature, said motor frame having a support stem extending axially away therefrom in a direction away from said commutator;
• a pump section rotationally coupled to said electric motor which receives fluid at a relatively low pressure through a fluid inlet and which pressurizes said fluid to a relatively high pressure as a result of rotation of said armature;
• a first motor brush and a second motor brush which deliver said electric current to said commutator and which are urged into electrical contact with said commutator by a first brush spring and a second brush spring respectively;
• and
• a brush spring retainer upon which said first brush spring and said second brush spring are each mechanically grounded, thereby causing said first brush spring and said second brush spring to hold said first motor brush and said second motor brush respectively in contact with said commutator, said brush spring retainer comprising:
• a brush spring retainer central portion which extends along said axis and which includes a brush spring retainer opening therein within which said support stem is received in an interference fit which retains said brush spring retainer to said motor frame;
• and
• a brush spring retainer support arm which extends from said brush spring retainer central portion in a direction laterally relative to said axis, wherein said first brush spring and said second brush spring are mechanically grounded to said brush spring retainer support arm;
• wherein said brush spring retainer support arm includes a support arm first portion which extends from said brush spring retainer central portion and also includes a support arm second portion which extends from said brush spring retainer central portion;
• wherein said support arm first portion includes a first lower surface with which said first brush spring is engaged;
• wherein said support arm first portion includes a first protrusion extending from said first lower surface in a direction toward said commutator such that said first brush spring circumferentially surrounds said first protrusion and such that said first protrusion limits movement of said first motor brush in the direction laterally relative to said axis;
• wherein said support arm second portion includes a second lower surface with which said first brush spring is engaged;
• and
• wherein said support arm second portion includes a second protrusion extending from said second lower surface in the direction toward said commutator such that said second brush spring circumferentially surrounds said second protrusion and such that said second protrusion limits movement of said second motor brush in the direction laterally relative to said axis.

A fluid pump comprising:

• a hollow housing;
• an electric motor located within said hollow housing and having an armature with a commutator, said armature being rotatable about an axis with application of an electric current to said commutator, said electric motor also having a motor frame which supports a pair of permanent magnets which are located radially outward from said armature, said motor frame having a support stem extending axially away therefrom in a direction away from said commutator;
• a pump section rotationally coupled to said electric motor which receives fluid at a relatively low pressure through a fluid inlet and which pressurizes said fluid to a relatively high pressure as a result of rotation of said armature;
• a first motor brush and a second motor brush which deliver said electric current to said commutator and which are urged into electrical contact with said commutator by a first brush spring and a second brush spring respectively;
• a brush spring retainer upon which said first brush spring and said second brush spring are each mechanically grounded, thereby causing said first brush spring and said second brush spring to hold said first motor brush and said second motor brush respectively in contact with said commutator, said brush spring retainer comprising:
• a brush spring retainer central portion which extends along said axis and which includes a brush spring retainer opening therein within which said support stem is received in an interference fit which retains said brush spring retainer to said motor frame;
• and
• a brush spring retainer support arm which extends from said brush spring retainer central portion in a direction laterally relative to said axis, wherein said first brush spring and said second brush spring are mechanically grounded to said brush spring retainer support arm;
• and
• a ground wire which is in electrical contact at one end with said second brush spring and said brush spring retainer support arm and which is in electrical contact at another end with said hollow housing such that said ground wire places said second motor brush in electrical communication with said hollow housing;
• wherein said ground wire is captured axially between said brush spring retainer support arm and said second brush spring.