Systems, methods, and apparatus for lifting brushes of an induction motor

A method for selectively engaging brushes with slip rings for an induction motor, comprising:

• providing a plurality of slip rings positioned radially around a shaft in operable communication with a wound rotor induction motor (WRIM) rotor, wherein the plurality of slip rings is in electrical communication with rotor windings of the WRIM;
• providing a plurality of brushes, wherein each of the plurality of brushes is to selectively contact a respective one of the plurality of slip rings;
• selectively creating electrical shorts between at least a portion of the plurality of slip rings and at least a portion of the rotor windings of the WRIM;
• and
• selectively lifting at least a portion of the plurality of brushes from at least a portion of the plurality of slip rings, wherein selectively lifting at least a portion of the plurality of brushes from the plurality of slip rings further comprises rotating a corresponding plurality of brush holders about a respective shaft, wherein each of the plurality of brush holders contains a respective one of the plurality of brushes.

A brush lifting system for an induction motor, comprising:

• an actuating mechanism in operable communication with a plurality of brushes and a plurality of electrical contacts, wherein each of the plurality of brushes is to selectively contact a respective slip ring of an induction motor, and wherein the plurality of electrical contacts is in electrical communication with respective terminals of rotor windings of the induction motor;
• wherein, when the actuating mechanism is actuated, at least a portion of the plurality of electrical contacts creates electrical shorts between at least a portion of the plurality of slip rings and the rotor windings of the induction motor;
• wherein, when the actuating mechanism is actuated, at least a portion of the plurality of brushes is lifted from contacting the plurality of slip rings;
• a respective one of a plurality of brush holders associated with each of the plurality of brushes;
• wherein:
• the plurality of brushes is configured into groups of brushes;
• each of the brush holders of the groups of brushes is operably connected to a same one of a plurality of shafts;
• each brush of each group of brushes is aligned with a respective one of the plurality of slip rings for selective contact therewith;
• and
• the actuating mechanism is to selectively apply rotational movement to each of the brush holders about the plurality of shafts to selectively engage and disengage the respective group from the plurality of slip rings.