Grounding brush assembly
A grounding brush assembly includes a brush and a mounting plate, the brush including a plurality of conductive fibers and a support inside of which the conductive fibers are housed. The support includes a mounting portion, first and second lateral rims axially gripping the conductive fibers, and at least one tab distinct from the first and second lateral rims and bearing axially against the mounting plate. The grounding brush assembly further includes at least one connector for rigidly securing the tab to the mounting plate, the connector being distinct from the support and from the mounting plate.
1 . A grounding brush assembly comprising:
a grounding brush including a support and a plurality of conductive fibers disposed at least partially within the support, the support having a mounting portion, a first lateral rim extending from one axial side of the mounting portion and a second lateral rim extending from another axial side of the mounting portion, the first and second lateral rims axially gripping the conductive fibers; and
a brush mounting plate;
wherein the support of the brush includes at least one tab distinct from the first and second lateral rims and bearing axially against the mounting plate; and
wherein the grounding brush assembly further comprises at least one securing means for rigidly securing the at least one tab of the support to the mounting plate, the securing means being distinct from the support and from the mounting plate.
2 . The grounding brush assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the mounting plate includes a main body and at least one centering portion extending at least axially from the main body, the at least one centering portion being offset radially outwardly with respect to the support and having an outer surface defining an outside diameter of the mounting plate, the at least one tab of the support bearing axially against the main body of the mounting plate.
3 . The grounding brush assembly according to claim 1 , wherein one of:
the at least one tab of the support of the brush bears axially directly against the mounting plate; and
the at least one securing means is disposed axially between the least one tab of the support of the brush and the mounting plate such that the at least one tab bears axially indirectly against the mounting plate.
4 . The grounding brush assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one tab of the support of the brush extends from the mounting portion of the support or extends from the first lateral rim of the support.
5 . The grounding brush assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the securing means is made of an electrically conductive material.
6 . The grounding brush assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the first lateral rim of the support is in axial contact with the mounting plate.
7 . The grounding brush assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the securing means include at least one of glue, an adhesive, a weld and a braze.
8 . The grounding brush assembly according to claim 1 , wherein:
the support of the brush includes a plurality of tabs bearing axially against the mounting plate and spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction; and
the grounding brush assembly further comprises a plurality of securing means each rigidly securing a separate one of the plurality of tabs to the mounting plate.
9 . An electric motor comprising:
a casing having a bore;
a shaft; and
a grounding brush assembly according to claim 1 mounted radially between the casing and the shaft, the conductive fibers of the grounding brush assembly being in contact with the shaft and the mounting plate being in radial contact with the bore of the casing.
10 . A method for assembling a grounding brush assembly according to claim 1 , comprising the steps of:
forming the at least one tab of the support by partially cutting the support of the brush and bending a portion of the cut support;
positioning the grounding brush axially against the mounting plate; and
assembling the grounding brush and the mounting plate by rigidly securing the at least one tab of the support to the mounting plate using the securing means.
11 . A grounding brush assembly comprising:
a grounding brush including a support and a plurality of conductive fibers disposed at least partially within the support, the support having a mounting portion, a first lateral rim extending from one axial side of the mounting portion and a second lateral rim extending from another axial side of the mounting portion, the first and second lateral rims axially gripping the conductive fibers; and
a brush mounting plate;
wherein the support of the brush includes at least one tab distinct from the first and second lateral rims and bearing axially against the mounting plate; and
wherein the grounding brush assembly further comprises at least connector rigidly securing the at least one tab of the support to the mounting plate, the at least one connector being distinct from the support and from the mounting plate.
12 . The grounding brush assembly according to claim 11 , wherein the at least one connector includes at least one of glue, an adhesive, a weld and a braze.