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US 12,266,987 B1Granted
Rotating brushes for electric motors
OwnerLarry A. Burchfieldinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A rotating brush assembly for an electric motor, including a commutator and a plurality of brushes, each of the brushes rotatingly mounted on an axle disposed between arms coupled to respective first and second brush holders, wherein the brush holders are urged toward said commutator with a spring, and wherein the brushes rotate in a direction opposite the direction in which the commutator rotates.
Claims17
A rotating brush assembly for an electric motor, comprising:
- a commutator;
- and
- first and second brushes, each rotatingly mounted on an axle disposed between arms coupled to respective first and second brush holders;
- wherein said brush holders are urged toward said commutator with a spring;
- and
- further wherein said first and second brushes rotate in a direction opposite the direction in which said commutator rotates;
- wherein said first and second brushes are cylindrical and said commutator is cylindrical;
- and
- wherein said first and second brushes each include arcuate surface elements that engage complementary arcuate surface elements on said commutator so as to match rotation rates of said first and second brushes and to prevent slippage of said first and second brushes relative to said commutator during rotation.
6 more elements
A rotating brush assembly for an electric motor, comprising:
- a commutator;
- a plurality of rotating brushes;
- and
- a segmented commutator in mechanical and electrical contact with said plurality of rotating brushes;
- wherein each of said rotating brushes is configured as an electrically energized cylindrical roller bearing and includes a conductive shaft rotatably journaled at a first and second end in a cup holder assembly that includes a bearing race, ball bearings, a conductive coupling bearing, and a hemispherical cap through which an electrical lead is disposed at or near an apex of the hemispherical cap;
- and wherein said lead electrically contacts with said coupling bearing, which in turn couples to an end of said conductive shaft of said cylindrical roller bearing, such that said plurality of rotating brushes is disposed around said commutator to center and support said commutator;
- and
- further wherein each of said plurality of brushes rotates in a direction opposite the direction in which said commutator rotates.
5 more elements
A rotating brush assembly for an electric motor, comprising:
- a commutator;
- and
- first and second brushes, each rotatingly mounted on an axle disposed between arms coupled to respective first and second brush holders;
- wherein said brush holders are urged toward said commutator with a spring;
- and
- further wherein said first and second brushes rotate in a direction opposite the direction in which said commutator rotates;
- wherein said first and second rotating brushes are geared with toothed surfaces, and wherein said commutator is geared with a toothed surface in mesh with said toothed surface of said first and second brushes, wherein the rotation of said first and second brushes in relation to said commutator involves directionally opposite rotation of gear teeth in mesh.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.