Planar carbon segment commutator

Abstract

A planar carbon segment commutator comprises a commutator base 10 of insulating material. The base has a rotational axis and front and rear surfaces, extending, at least in part, transversely to the rotational axis. A plurality of apertures 16 extend through the base. The commutator also comprises a plurality of commutator terminals 20 each of which comprises a terminal portion 21 and a contact portion 22. The contact portion 22 of each terminal extends through a respective aperture 16 and is bent to lie against or in close proximity to the front surface of the base 10. The terminal portion of each terminal has two cutting edges for cutting insulation on a connector portion of a winding and a slot which in use straddles and grips the connector portion. The commutator also comprises a plurality of carbon segments 30 formed on the front surface of the base and over the contact portions 22, respectively, of the terminals 20 and a housing (FIG. 9) having a plurality of housing recesses for receiving the terminal portions 21, respectively, of the terminal.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.