Claims
- 1. 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 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.
- 2. A brush assembly according to claim 1 wherein the bristle holes have a substantially constant bristle hole diameter and the bristle cap includes a flange attached to the sleeve at the first sleeve end, the flange having a diameter greater than the bristle hole diameter, and wherein the at least a portion of a bristle cap is inserted into its associated bristle hole so that the flange engages the upper bristle holder surface.
- 3. A brush assembly according to claim 1 wherein the lower bristle holder surface is substantially planar and the bristle holes are formed at a bristle angle, the bristle angle being measured from an axis normal to the lower bristle holder surface.
- 4. A brush assembly according to claim 3 wherein the upper bristle holder surface includes a plurality of bristle holder serrations, each bristle holder serration having a substantially planar forward surface and a rearward surface, the forward surface being substantially normal to the bristle angle and wherein each bristle hole is formed through an associated forward serration surface.
- 5. A brush assembly according to claim 4 wherein the brush assembly further comprises an electrically conductive adaptor plate disposed intermediate the bus block and the bristle holder, the adaptor plate having an upper adaptor plate surface in 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.
- 6. A brush assembly according to claim 1 wherein the bristles are formed at least in part from a beryllium copper alloy.
- 7. A brush assembly according to claim 1 wherein the bristles are each 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.
- 8. A brush assembly according to claim 1 further comprising a brush holder attached to the bus block, the brush holder having means for attaching the brush holder to an actuation assembly, and a non-conductive spacer disposed intermediate the brush holder and the bus block to electrically isolate the brush holder from the bus block.
- 9. A brush assembly according to claim 8 further comprising an actuation assembly adapted 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.
- 10. A brush assembly according to claim 9 wherein the actuation assembly includes 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.
- 11. A brush assembly according to claim 10 wherein the means for selectively maintaining a predetermined downward force on the brush holder includes a pneumatic actuator.
- 12. A brush assembly according to claim 10 wherein the actuation assembly is adapted to automatically adjust the contact position as the bristles are shortened from an initial length to a worn length.
- 13. A brush assembly according to claim 10 wherein the actuation assembly includes means for adjusting the orientation of the bristle holder relative to the surface.
- 14. 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.
- 15. A brush assembly according to claim 14 wherein the bristle holes have a substantially constant bristle hole diameter and the bristle cap includes a flange attached to the sleeve at the first sleeve end, the flange having a diameter greater than the bristle hole diameter, and wherein the at least a portion of a bristle cap is inserted into its associated bristle hole so that the flange engages the upper bristle holder surface.
- 16. A brush assembly according to claim 14 wherein the bristles are formed at least in part from a beryllium copper alloy.
- 17. A brush assembly according to claim 14 wherein the bristles are each 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.
- 18. A brush assembly according to claim 14 further comprising a brush holder attached to the bus block, the brush holder having means for attaching the brush holder to an actuation assembly, and a non-conductive spacer disposed intermediate the brush holder and the bus block to electrically isolate the brush holder from the bus block.
- 19. A brush assembly according to claim 18 further comprising an actuation assembly adapted 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.
- 20. A brush assembly according to claim 19 wherein the actuation assembly includes 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.
- 21. A brush assembly according to claim 20 wherein the means for selectively maintaining a predetermined downward force on the brush holder includes a pneumatic actuator.
- 22. A brush assembly according to clam 20 wherein the actuation assembly is adapted to automatically adjust the contact position as the bristles are shortened from an initial length to a worn length.
- 23. A brush assembly according to claim 20 wherein the actuation assembly includes means for adjusting the orientation of the bristle holder relative to the surface.
- 24. 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.
- 25. A brush assembly according to claim 24 wherein the bristle holes have a substantially constant bristle hole diameter and the bristle cap includes a flange attached to the sleeve at the first sleeve end, the flange having a diameter greater than the bristle hole diameter, and wherein the at least a portion of a bristle cap is inserted into its associated bristle hole so that the flange engages the upper bristle holder surface.
- 26. A brush assembly according to claim 24 wherein the lower bristle holder surface is substantially planar and the bristle holes are formed at a bristle angle, the bristle angle being measured from an axis normal to the lower bristle holder surface.
- 27. A brush assembly according to claim 26 wherein the upper bristle holder surface includes a plurality of bristle holder serrations, each bristle holder serration having a substantially planar forward surface and a rearward surface, the forward surface being substantially normal to the bristle angle and wherein each bristle hole is formed through an associated forward serration surface.
- 28. A brush assembly according to claim 27 wherein the brush assembly further comprises an electrically conductive adaptor plate disposed intermediate the bus block and the bristle holder, the adaptor plate having an upper adaptor plate surface in 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.
- 29. A brush assembly according to claim 24 wherein the bristles are formed at least in part from a beryllium copper alloy.
- 30. A brush assembly according to claim 24 further comprising a brush holder attached to the bus block, the brush holder having means for attaching the brush holder to an actuation assembly, and a non-conductive spacer disposed intermediate the brush holder and the bus block to electrically isolate the brush holder from the bus block.
- 31. A brush assembly according to claim 30 further comprising an actuation assembly adapted 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.
- 32. A brush assembly according to claim 31 wherein the actuation assembly includes 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.
- 33. A brush assembly according to claim 32 wherein the means for selectively maintaining a predetermined downward force on the brush holder includes a pneumatic actuator.
- 34. A brush assembly according to claim 32 wherein the actuation assembly is adapted to automatically adjust the contact position as the bristles are shortened from an initial length to a worn length.
- 35. A brush assembly according to claim 31 wherein the actuation assembly includes means for adjusting the orientation of the bristle holder relative to the surface.
- 36. 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.
- 37. A brush assembly according to claim 36 wherein the means for selectively maintaining a predetermined downward force on the brush holder includes a pneumatic actuator.
- 38. A brush assembly according to claim 36 further comprising means for automatically adjusting the contact position as the bristles are shortened from an initial length to a worn length.
- 39. A brush assembly according to claim 36 wherein the bristles are formed at least in part from a beryllium copper alloy.
- 40. A brush assembly according to claim 36 wherein the bristles are each 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.
Parent Case Info
This application is a continuation of pending prior application Ser. No. 09/973,903 filed on Oct. 10, 2001, which derives priority from U.S. application Ser. No. 60/238,966 filed Oct. 10, 2000 the disclosures of which are both incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
US Referenced Citations (16)
Provisional Applications (1)
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60/238966 |
Oct 2000 |
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Continuations (1)
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09/973903 |
Oct 2001 |
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09/997935 |
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