Holder for axial brush assembly

A grounding brush assembly for an electric machine, the electric machine including a hollow shaft, the hollow shaft being rotatable about a central axis and having an inner circumferential surface defining a bore, and a fixed shaft extending through the bore of the hollow shaft, the brush assembly comprising:

• a holder including:
• an elongated central hub having a centerline, opposing first and second axial ends spaced apart along the centerline, an inner circumferential surface defining a central bore extending between the first and second axial ends and sized to receive a portion of the fixed shaft, and an outer circumferential perimeter;
• and
• a pair of retainer walls integrally formed with the hub, each one of the pair of retainer walls extending radially outwardly from the outer circumferential perimeter of the hub and axially between the first and second axial ends of the hub, the pair of retainer walls being spaced circumferentially apart so as to define an elongated groove;
• and
• an axial conductive brush disposed within the elongated groove of the holder and including a plurality of conductive fibers extending radially outwardly from and axially along the elongated groove, each conductive fiber having an inner radial end coupled with the holder and an outer radial end engageable with the inner circumferential surface of the hollow shaft such that at least one electrically conductive path extends from the hollow shaft, through the brush and the holder, and to the fixed shaft.