Axial brush assembly for electric machine

An electric machine comprising:

• a stator having a plurality of stator windings;
• a rotor shaft supporting a rotor core surrounded by a plurality of rotor windings;
• a first brush configured to engage a first slip ring fixed relative to a first distal end of the rotor shaft, wherein the first brush includes one of a first conical projection or a first convex receptacle and the first slip ring includes the other of the first conical projection or the first convex receptacle;
• a first bearing current bypass brush fixed relative to a first brush housing with the first bearing current bypass brush located radially outward from the first brush and a first bearing current bypass slip ring fixed relative to a first axial end of the rotor shaft and located radially outward of the first slip ring, wherein the first bearing current bypass brush is connected to an electrical ground;
• a first electrical connection extending between the first slip ring and the plurality of rotor windings;
• a second brush configured to engage a second slip ring with the second slip ring fixed relative to the rotor shaft;
• and
• a second electrical connection extending between the second slip ring and the plurality of rotor windings.

A vehicle comprising:

• a body defining a passenger compartment;
• an electric motor supported in the body, the electric motor including:
• a stator having a plurality of stator windings;
• a rotor shaft supporting a rotor core surrounded by a plurality of rotor windings;
• a first brush configured to engage a first slip ring fixed relative to a first distal end of the rotor shaft, wherein the first brush includes one of a first conical projection or a first convex receptacle and the first slip ring includes the other of the first conical projection or the first convex receptacle;
• a first bearing current bypass brush fixed relative to a first brush housing with the first bearing current bypass brush located radially outward from the first brush and a first bearing current bypass slip ring fixed relative to a first axial end of the rotor shaft and located radially outward of the first slip ring, wherein the first bearing current bypass brush is connected to an electrical ground;
• a first electrical connection extending between the first slip ring and the plurality of rotor windings;
• a second brush configured to engage a second slip ring with the second slip ring fixed relative to the rotor shaft;
• and
• a second electrical connection extending between the second slip ring and the plurality of rotor windings.