Brush assembly for electrical motors

Claim 2

A brush assembly for an electrical motor that has an axis comprising a housing cap of insulating material that defines a chamber region for receiving a commutator brush member, projection structure in said cap chamber region, said projection structure having a support surface extending transverse to the axis of the motor, structure defining a slot-shaped opening that extends parallel to the axis of the motor and penetrates said housing cap, commutator brush support structure in said chamber region and extending transversely to the motor axis, said commutator brush support structure having a first integral brush support portion positively engaged on said support surface of said projection structure and a second integral brush support portion disposed in said slot-shaped opening, and brush terminal terminal structure disposed in said slot-shaped opening and extending from outside said cap and interconnected electrically with said second integral brush support portion of said commutator brush support structure in said slot-shaped opening by a force-fit arrangement.

Claim 3

A brush assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said support surface of said projection structure is planar, said first integral brush support portion includes an integral fastening lug portion that defines an aperture, and centering structure that penetrates said aperture in said fastening lug portion and secures said fastening lug portion in position on said planar projection structure support surface.

Claim 4

A brush assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said force-fit arrangement includes a resilient tongue which projects from one of said second integral brush support structure portion and said brush terminal structure.

Claim 5

The brush assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein said resilient tongue is formed in said second integral brush support portion and said brush terminal structure is in resiliently biased abutment with said tongue.

Claim 6

A brush assembly as claimed in claim 1 and further including a switch arrangement connected to said brush terminal structure for controlling the electric motor.

Claim 7

A brush assembly for an electrical motor that has an axis comprising a housing cap of insulating material that defines a chamber region of generally cylindrical configuration, two projection structures disposed in said chamber region in diametrically opposed relation, each said projection structure having a support surface extending transverse to the axis of the motor, structure defining a slot-shaped opening that extends parallel to the axis of the motor adjacent each said projection structure, each said slot-shaped opening penetrating said housing cap, two commutator brush support structure in said chamber region, each said commutator brush support structure being disposed on a corresponding one of said projection structures and extending generally radially inward, each said commutator brush support structure having a commutator brush secured adjacent its radially inward end and having a first integral brush support portion adjacent its radially outward end that is positively engaged on the support surface of the corresponding one of said projection structures, and a second integral brush support portion adjacent its radially outward end that is disposed in the corresponding one of said slot-shaped openings, and two brush terminal structures, each said brush terminal structure being disposed in a corresponding one of said slot-shaped openings in electrical contact with said second integral brush support portion of its corresponding brush support structure.

Claim 8

A brush assembly for an electrical motor that has an axis comprising a housing cap of insulating material that defines a chamber region of generally cylindrical configuration, two projection structures disposed in said chamber region in diametrically opposed relation, each said projection structure having a support surface extending transverse to the axis of the motor, structure defining a slot-shaped opening that extends parallel to the axis of the motor adjacent each said projection structure, each said slot-shaped opening penetrating said housing cap, two commutator brush support structure in said chamber region, each said commutator brush support structure being disposed on a corresponding one of said projection structures and extending generally radially inward, each said commutator brush support structure having a commutator brush secured adjacent its radially inward end and having a first integral brush support portion adjacent its radially outward end that is positively engaged on the support surface of the corresponding one of said projection structures, and a second integral brush support portion adjacent its radially outward end that is disposed in the corresponding one of said slot-shaped openings, and two brush terminal structures, each said brush terminal structure being disposed in a corresponding one of said slot-shaped openings in electrical contact with said second integral brush support portion of its corresponding brush support structure.

Claim 9

The brush assembly as claimed in claim 6 wherein each said brush terminal structure is a planar metal member that is inserted into its said slot-shaped opening from outside said housing cap.

Claim 10

A brush assembly as claimed in claim 7 wherein each of said first integral brush support portions includes an integral planar fastening lug portion that is seated on said support surface of its corresponding said projection structure and each said second integral brush support portion includes an integral planar portion that extends generally perpendicularly to its adjacent fastening lug portion.

Claim 11

A brush assembly as claimed in claim 8 wherein each said second integral brush support portion of said commutator brush support structure is interconnected with its corresponding said brush terminal structure by a force-fit arrangement.

Claim 12

A brush assembly as claimed in claim 9 wherein each said force-fit arrangement includes a resilient tongue which projects from each said second integral brush support portion, and a planar surface of each said brush terminal structures is in resiliently biased abutment with said tongue of its corresponding second integral brush support portion.