# US 2019/0173250 A1 · Brush holder assembly monitoring apparatus, assembly, system and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0173250 A1 - Document ID: US20190173250A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/273,411 - Filed: 2019-02-12 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2007-05-24 - Assignees: Cutsforth, Inc. - Applicants: Cutsforth, Inc. - Inventors: ROBERT S. CUTSFORTH - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190173250A1 ## CPC - H01R 39/58: Means structurally associated with the current collector for indicating condition thereof, e.g. for indicating brush wear - G05B 19/4065: Monitoring tool breakage, life or condition - G05B 23/0208: {characterized by the configuration of the monitoring system} - G05B 23/0218: {characterised by the fault detection method dealing with either existing or incipient faults} - G06Q 10/06311: {Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group} - G06Q 10/083: Shipping - G06Q 10/1097: {using calendar-based scheduling for task assignment} - G06Q 10/20: Administration of product repair or maintenance - G08B 21/182: {Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold} - H01R 43/002: {Maintenance of line connectors, e.g. cleaning} - H02K 5/14: Means for supporting or protecting brushes or brush holders - H02K 11/20: for measuring, monitoring, testing, protecting or switching (rectifiers H02K11/04; power electronics H02K11/33) - H04L 43/04: Processing captured monitoring data, e.g. for logfile generation - G05B 2219/50185: Monitoring, detect failures, control of efficiency of machine, tool life - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS - H02K: DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES (dynamo-electric relays H01H53/00; conversion of DC or AC input power into surge output power {H03K3/53}) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract Methods and systems for monitoring a brush holder assembly and/or detecting wear of a brush in a brush holder assembly are disclosed. One method includes sending data from a plurality of remote monitoring locations to a central control unit, where the data may be evaluated in order to monitor states of brushes at a plurality of remote electrical facilities. For example, multiple images of a marker tracking longitudinal movement of the brush may be acquired. A comparison of the images, for example, a comparative imaging technique, such as pixel-by-pixel comparison, may then be performed in order to evaluate a condition of the brush, such as the wear rate, wear state, or life expectancy of the brush. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of monitoring a plurality of brush holder assemblies each including a carbon brush in contact with a rotating conductive surface of an electrical generator to conduct electrical current therefrom, each brush holder assembly permitting linear movement of the carbon brush toward the rotating conductive surface as the carbon brush wears, the plurality of brush holder assemblies being spaced from one another locally, the method comprising: acquiring data indicative of linear displacement of each carbon brush relative to its respective brush holder assembly; receiving the data at one or more processing units on-site with and in wireless communication with the plurality of brush holder assemblies; evaluating the data using the one or more processing units to monitor a state of each of the carbon brushes in contact with the rotating conductive surface to determine a wear rate of each of the carbon brushes. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of receiving the wear rate of the carbon brushes from the one or more processing units at an on-site central control unit. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the central control unit is networked with the one or more processing units. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of sending an alert of an anomalous or threshold condition at one of the plurality of brush holder assemblies from the one or more processing units. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of scheduling maintenance at one of the plurality of brush holder assemblies. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of routing personnel to one of the plurality of brush holder assemblies. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of scheduling distribution or delivery of a replacement brush to one of the plurality of brush holder assemblies. ### Claim 8 A method of monitoring a plurality of brush holder assemblies each including a carbon brush in contact with a rotating conductive surface of an electrical generator to conduct electrical current therefrom, each brush holder assembly permitting linear movement of the carbon brush toward the rotating conductive surface as the carbon brush wears, the plurality of brush holder assemblies being spaced from one another locally, the method comprising: acquiring data indicative of linear displacement of each carbon brush relative to its respective brush holder assembly; receiving the data at one or more processing units on-site with and in wireless communication with the plurality of brush holder assemblies; evaluating the data using the one or more processing units to monitor a state of each of the carbon brushes in contact with the rotating conductive surface to determine a life expectancy of the carbon brushes. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of receiving the life expectancy of the carbon brushes from the one or more processing units at an on-site central control unit. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the central control unit is networked with the one or more processing units. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of sending an alert of an anomalous or threshold condition at one of the plurality of brush holder assemblies from the one or more processing units. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of scheduling maintenance at one of the plurality of brush holder assemblies. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of routing personnel to one of the plurality of brush holder assemblies. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of scheduling distribution or delivery of a replacement brush to one of the plurality of brush holder assemblies. ### Claim 15 A method of monitoring a plurality of brush holder assemblies each including a carbon brush in contact with a rotating conductive surface of an electrical generator to conduct electrical current therefrom, each brush holder assembly permitting linear movement of the carbon brush toward the rotating conductive surface as the carbon brush wears, the plurality of brush holder assemblies being spaced from one another locally, the method comprising: acquiring data indicative of linear displacement of each carbon brush relative to its respective brush holder assembly; receiving the data at one or more processing units on-site with and in wireless communication with the plurality of brush holder assemblies; evaluating the data using the one or more processing units to monitor a state of each of the carbon brushes in contact with the rotating conductive surface to determine a current wear state of the carbon brushes. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of receiving the current wear state of the carbon brushes from the one or more processing units at an on-site central control unit. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of sending an alert of an anomalous or threshold condition at one of the plurality of brush holder assemblies from the one or more processing units. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of scheduling maintenance at one of the plurality of brush holder assemblies. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of routing personnel to one of the plurality of brush holder assemblies. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of scheduling distribution or delivery of a replacement brush to one of the plurality of brush holder assemblies.