Brush assembly for magnetic induction test apparatus

A brush assembly for engaging a surface and for at least one of conducting electricity to the surface and conducting electricity from the surface, the brush assembly comprising:

• a monolithic, electrically conductive bus block having an upper bus block surface, a lower bus block surface and a cable attachment portion configured for selective attachment of cabling for establishing electrical communication between the bus block and an electrical power supply;
• a bristle holder formed as a monolithic block with an upper bristle holder surface and a substantially planar lower bristle holder surface, the upper bristle holder surface having a plurality of bristle holder serrations, each bristle holder serration having a substantially planar forward surface and a rearward surface, the forward surface being set at a serration angle measured from an axis normal to the lower bristle holder surface, the bristle holder having a plurality of substantially parallel bristle holes formed therethrough at an angle normal to the serration angle, each bristle hole being formed through an associated forward serration surface and extending through the lower bristle holder surface;
• a plurality of bristle assemblies, each bristle assembly having
• an elongate, electrically conductive bristle having a distal bristle end adapted for contacting the surface and a proximal bristle end, and
• an electrically conductive bristle cap having a sleeve with an open first sleeve end and an opposing closed second end, the proximal end of the bristle being secured within the sleeve so that the bristle is in electrical communication with the sleeve and extends outward from the second sleeve end,
• wherein at least a portion of the bristle cap of each bristle assembly is removably disposed within an associated bristle hole so that the bristle of each bristle assembly extends through its associated bristle hole and downwardly away from the lower bristle holder surface;
• and
• an electrically conductive adaptor plate disposed intermediate the bus block and the bristle holder, the adaptor plate having an upper adaptor plate surface adapted for engagement and electrical contact with the lower bus block surface and a lower adaptor plate surface having a plurality of adaptor plate serrations configured to be complementary to the bristle holder serrations so that the lower adaptor plate surface is in electrical contact with the first sleeve of the bristle cap of each of the bristle assemblies;
• and
• means for removably securing the adaptor plate and the bristle holder to the bus block so that the bus block is in electrical communication with the first sleeve of each bristle cap through the electrically Conductive adaptor plate.

A brush assembly for engaging a surface and for at least one of conducting electricity to the surface and conducting electricity from the surface, the brush assembly comprising:

• a monolithic, electrically conductive bus block having an upper bus block surface, a lower bus block surface and a cable attachment portion configured for selective attachment of cabling for establishing electrical communication between the bus block and an electrical power supply;
• a bristle holder removably attached to the bus block, the bristle holder being formed as a monolithic block with an upper bristle holder surface and a lower bristle holder surface and having a plurality of substantially parallel bristle holes formed therethrough, the bristle holes extending through the upper and lower bristle holder surfaces;
• and
• a plurality of bristle assemblies, each bristle assembly having
• a bristle having a proximal end and a distal end, the bristle being formed from a plurality of elongate, electrically conductive wire elements each having a proximal wire end and a distal wire end, the proximal wire ends collectively forming the proximal bristle end and the distal wire ends collectively forming the distal bristle end, and
• an electrically conductive bristle cap having a sleeve with an open first sleeve end and an opposing closed second end, the proximal end of the bristle being secured within the sleeve so that the bristle is in electrical communication with the sleeve and extends outward from the second sleeve end,
• wherein at least a portion of the bristle cap of each bristle assembly is removably disposed within an associated bristle hole so that the bristle of each bristle assembly extends through its associated bristle hole and downwardly away from the lower bristle holder surface, and wherein each bristle cap is in electrical communication with the bus block.

A brush assembly for engaging a surface and for at least one of conducting electricity to the surface and conducting electricity from the surface, the brush assembly comprising:

• a monolithic, electrically conductive bus block having an upper bus block surface, a lower bus block surface and a cable attachment portion configured for selective attachment of cabling for establishing electrical communication between the bus block and an electrical power supply;
• a bristle holder removably attached to the bus block, the bristle holder being formed as a monolithic block with an upper bristle holder surface and a lower bristle holder surface and having a plurality of substantially parallel bristle holes formed therethrough, the bristle holes extending through the upper and lower bristle holder surfaces;
• a plurality of bristle assemblies, each bristle assembly having
• an elongate, electrically conductive bristle having a distal bristle end adapted for contacting the surface and a proximal bristle end, and
• an electrically conductive bristle cap having a sleeve with an open first sleeve end and an opposing closed second end, the proximal end of the bristle being secured within the sleeve so that the bristle is in electrical communication with the sleeve and extends outward from the second sleeve end,
• wherein at least a portion of the bristle cap of each bristle assembly is removably disposed within an associated bristle hole so that the bristle of each bristle assembly extends through its associated bristle hole and downwardly away from the lower bristle holder surface, and wherein each bristle cap is in electrical communication with the bus block;
• a brush holder attached to the bus block, the brush holder being at least one of formed from a non-conductive material and electrically isolated from the bus block;
• actuation means for moving the brush holder between a withdrawn position wherein the bristles are not in contact with the surface and a contact position wherein at least a portion of each of the bristles is in contact with the surface;
• and
• means for selectively maintaining a predetermined downward force on the brush holder when the brush holder is in the contact position, the downward force being transmitted through the brush holder, the bus block and the bristle holder to the bristles.