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How to Select Carbon Brushes for Motors and ... - Morgan AM&T

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4<br />

Contact Drop<br />

Contact voltage drop <strong>for</strong> the brushes listed in this brochure<br />

are approximate values only <strong>and</strong> represent the <strong>to</strong>tal voltage<br />

drop (positive plus negative) obtained on a copper ring at<br />

50 amps/in 2 (7.75 amps/cm 2 ) while rotating at 2500 f/m<br />

(12.7 m/sec).<br />

They are classified as follows:<br />

Contact Drop Volts<br />

Very High<br />

High<br />

Medium<br />

Low<br />

Current Carrying Capacity<br />

1.7 <strong>and</strong> above<br />

1.2 <strong>to</strong> 1.7<br />

0.6 <strong>to</strong> 1.2<br />

Below 0.6<br />

The actual current carrying capacity of a brush is widely<br />

influenced by operating conditions such as type of<br />

ventilation, continuous or intermittent duty, speed <strong>and</strong> other<br />

fac<strong>to</strong>rs. The brush grade current ratings are conservative,<br />

some allowance having been made <strong>for</strong> overloads. <strong>Brushes</strong><br />

have been run at currents considerably above those listed<br />

in the grades table. Metal graphites, <strong>for</strong> example, have<br />

been operated at 180 amps/in² (27.9 amps/cm 2 ) on certain<br />

high current genera<strong>to</strong>rs. Electrographitic brushes have<br />

been operated at 100 amps/in² (15.5 amps/cm 2 ) on similar<br />

equipment with reasonably good results.<br />

The current carrying capacity of a brush depends on the<br />

operating temperature. On well ventilated machines, having<br />

small brushes, with large surface area in proportion <strong>to</strong> their<br />

volume, <strong>and</strong> where brushes cover only a small percentage<br />

of the commuta<strong>to</strong>r or ring surface, conventional current<br />

densities can usually be doubled <strong>for</strong> short periods without<br />

seriously jeopardizing the per<strong>for</strong>mance. <strong>How</strong>ever,<br />

increasing current density without making provisions <strong>for</strong><br />

maintaining a low brush temperature may severely reduce<br />

brush life. The brush current density of a given machine can<br />

be calculated as follows:<br />

D = I / (½ N x W x T) * <strong>for</strong> commuta<strong>to</strong>r machines<br />

D = I / (N x W x T) * <strong>for</strong> slip rings<br />

D = brush current density in amps/in²<br />

(amps/cm 2 )<br />

I = <strong>to</strong>tal current in amps*<br />

*Armature amps <strong>for</strong> commuta<strong>to</strong>r machines<br />

*Ro<strong>to</strong>r or secondary amps <strong>for</strong> slip ring machines<br />

N = <strong>to</strong>tal number of brushes on a commuta<strong>to</strong>r<br />

or the number of brushes on an individual ring<br />

W = width of the brush in inches (cm)<br />

T = thickness of the brush in inches (cm)<br />

Maximum Speed<br />

The highest peripheral or surface speed in feet per minute<br />

(meters per second) recommended <strong>for</strong> the collec<strong>to</strong>r or<br />

commuta<strong>to</strong>r on which the brush is <strong>to</strong> ride is referred <strong>to</strong> as<br />

the maximum speed. The maximum speed depends not<br />

only upon the characteristics of the brush material, but also<br />

upon the spring <strong>for</strong>ce, current density, type of brush holder,<br />

brush angle, condition of the ring or commuta<strong>to</strong>r,<br />

atmospheric conditions, etc. Consequently, the maximum<br />

speed, conventionally listed as a brush characteristic, is<br />

only an approximation.<br />

Friction Coefficients<br />

Brush friction is influenced by many variables including<br />

brush temperature, spring <strong>for</strong>ce, current, atmospheric<br />

conditions, mechanical conditions, ring or commuta<strong>to</strong>r<br />

materials, surface films, speed <strong>and</strong> other fac<strong>to</strong>rs. The slip<br />

ring/commuta<strong>to</strong>r surface even under favorable conditions is<br />

continually undergoing changes caused by oxidation,<br />

abrasion <strong>and</strong> moisture.<br />

Friction chatter, noise <strong>and</strong> associated brush wear can be<br />

accelerated with certain brush holder configurations. This is<br />

especially true under conditions of light loads <strong>and</strong> lower<br />

brush temperatures when the coefficient of friction is<br />

relatively high (refer <strong>to</strong> Fig. 1). Specific brush grades are<br />

used <strong>to</strong> lessen the severity of friction chatter under these<br />

conditions. Friction between the brush <strong>and</strong> rotating surface<br />

can be a major source of heat generation that causes<br />

serious temperature related problems. Commuta<strong>to</strong>rs can<br />

dis<strong>to</strong>rt, slip rings can move, <strong>and</strong> brush wear can become<br />

excessive when the coefficient of friction becomes <strong>to</strong>o high.<br />

The brushes are classified as follows:<br />

Friction<br />

Classification<br />

High<br />

Medium<br />

Low<br />

Transverse Strength<br />

Friction<br />

Coefficient<br />

0.40 <strong>and</strong> above<br />

0.22 <strong>to</strong> 0.40<br />

Below 0.22<br />

The st<strong>and</strong>ard sample is supported near the ends on two<br />

knife edges as shown in Figure 2. A third knife edge<br />

presses on the <strong>to</strong>p of the sample midway below the two<br />

supporting edges. The <strong>for</strong>ce is increased on the <strong>to</strong>p knife<br />

edge until the sample breaks. The transverse strength is<br />

computed by using the beam <strong>for</strong>mula, also called 3 Point<br />

Method:<br />

3

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