Electric motor brush apparatus and method

Abstract

A motor assembly includes: a motor housing including: at least one brush receptacle having top and bottom ends; a locking element extending from the top end toward the bottom end; and a housing spring member; at least one brush holder apparatus including: a brush holder housing sized to be received within the brush receptacle, including: an upper surface and a lower surface; a receiving aperture; and an open end; a brush spring enclosed by the brush holder housing; and a brush located inside the brush holder housing; wherein the brush holder apparatus is inserted inside the brush receptacle; and wherein the housing spring member urges the brush holder apparatus toward the top end such that the locking element is received inside the receiving aperture.

I/We claim: 
     
         1 . A motor assembly comprising:
 a motor housing comprising:
 at least one brush receptacle extending along a longitudinal axis of the brush receptacle and having a top end and a bottom end that are substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis; 
 a locking element extending from the top end toward the bottom end of each brush receptacle; and 
 a cantilevered housing spring member having a distal end extending substantially along the longitudinal axis and extending from the bottom end toward the top end of each brush receptacle; and 
   at least one brush holder apparatus comprising:
 a brush holder housing sized to be received within the at least one brush receptacle, comprising:
 an upper surface and a lower surface that are substantially parallel; 
 a first receiving aperture in the upper surface configured to receive the locking element when the brush holder housing is inserted inside the at least one brush receptacle; and 
 an open end that is substantially perpendicular to the upper surface; 
 
 a brush spring enclosed by the brush holder housing; and 
 a brush located inside the brush holder housing but urged out of the open end of the brush holder housing by the brush spring along the longitudinal axis when the brush holder housing is inserted inside the at least one brush receptacle; 
   wherein the at least one brush holder apparatus is inserted inside the at least one brush receptacle along the longitudinal axis; and   wherein the housing spring member urges the at least one brush holder apparatus toward the top end of the at least one brush receptacle such that the locking element is received inside the first receiving aperture.   
     
     
         2 . A method comprising the steps of:
 a) providing:
 a motor housing comprising:
 at least one brush receptacle extending along a longitudinal axis of the brush receptacle and having a top end and a bottom end that are substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis; 
 a locking element extending from the top end toward the bottom end of each brush receptacle; and 
 a cantilevered housing spring member having a distal end extending substantially along the longitudinal axis and extending from the bottom end toward the top end of each brush receptacle; and 
 
 at least one brush holder apparatus comprising:
 a brush holder housing sized to be received within the at least one brush receptacle, comprising:
 an upper surface and a lower surface that are substantially parallel; 
 a first receiving aperture in the upper surface configured to receive the locking element when the brush holder housing is inserted inside the at least one brush receptacle; and 
 an open end that is substantially perpendicular to the upper surface; 
 
 a brush spring enclosed by the brush holder housing; and 
 a brush located inside the brush holder housing but urged out of the open end of the brush holder housing by the brush spring along the longitudinal axis when the brush holder housing is inserted inside the at least one brush receptacle; 
 
   b) inserting the at least one brush holder apparatus, the open end first, into the at least one brush receptacle along the longitudinal axis, causing the housing spring member to move away from the top end of the brush receptacle;   c) aligning the locking element with the first receiving aperture; and   d) allowing the housing spring member to urge the brush holder apparatus toward the top end of the brush receptacle and causing the first receiving apparatus to receive the locking element.