Brush holder apparatus, brush assembly, and method

A brush holder having a bottom and a top, the brush holder comprising:

• a beam including a catch element;
• and
• a base member adapted to couple to the beam such that the beam may be moved with respect to the base member, the base member including a passage element adapted such that, when the base member and beam are coupled together in a first configuration, the catch element prevents a brush coupled to the beam from moving with respect to the beam, and when the base member and the beam are coupled together in a second configuration, the passage element disables the catch element.

A brush holder comprising:

• a beam including a notch;
• and
• a spring including a first engagement portion and a second engagement portion, the first engagement portion adapted to engage the notch, and the second engagement portion adapted to engage a brush.

A spring comprising a tension member adapted to provide tension whenever the tension member is deformed from a default shape, the spring being adapted for use in a brush holder, the spring not requiring contact with a back plate to provide spring force to a brush in a brush holder.

A brush holder for selectively holding a brush against a conductive surface, the brush holder comprising:

• a mechanism for receiving a spring adapted to press the brush against the conductive surface;
• wherein the receiving mechanism allows the spring to press the brush against the conductive surface without a back plate.

A brush holder for holding a brush against a conductive surface, the brush holder comprising a brush box for containing the brush on several sides, the brush box having at least one side for containing the brush on at least one side, the brush box not including a back plate.

A brush holder for holding a brush against a conductive surface, the brush holder comprising:

• a brush holding structure defining a surface adapted to engage the brush, wherein the surface is electropolished.

A terminal for use in a brush holder assembly including a conductive segment, the terminal adapted for electrically connecting the conductive segment of the brush holder assembly to a conductive element of a brush, the terminal comprising:

• a body portion and one or more protrusions extending from the body portion, wherein the one or more protrusions are configured to apply a connection force against the conductive segment of the brush holder assembly.