Abstract: A brush holder apparatus has a stationary support member having two opposing grooves, a fork electrical connector, and a conductive bar passing through a main body of the stationary support member. A brush holder is releasably affixed to the stationary support member, and has two rails that slide along the grooves. The brush holder's knife electrical connector mates with the fork electrical connector. A brush spring is clipped on the brush holder, and presses a brush against a collector. A brush lead connects the brush to a brush terminal. The brush terminal has a generally L-shaped body with a lower part thereof retained under a terminal compression plate, and an upper part thereof located on a front side of the terminal compression plate. The brush terminal is removed from or installed into a front side of the brush holder, and by hand or without the use of any tools.

Abstract: A retention assembly for retaining a plurality of elements in a stator slot of an electric machine is provided. The retention assembly may include a stator wedge fixedly positioned in a dovetail in the stator slot to retain the plurality of elements; a top ripple spring between the plurality of elements and the stator wedge; and at least one shim positioned between the stator wedge and a load bearing surface of the dovetail. A method may include compressing the stator wedge in the stator slot from a first position thereof relative to the dovetail of the stator slot, the compressing creating a gap between the stator wedge and the dovetail. A shim may be inserted in the gap; the compressing released such that the shim retains the stator wedge in a second position that is more compressed relative to the plurality of elements in the stator slot compared to the first position.

Abstract: A brush holder apparatus includes a stationary support member having at least one groove, a fork electrical connector, and a conductive bar configured to pass through a portion of a main body of the stationary support member. The conductive bar provides electrical conductivity with a collector mount and fork electrical connector. A brush holder is releasably affixed to the stationary support member, and has at least one rail that slides along the groove(s). The brush holder has a knife electrical connector that mates with the fork electrical connector. A brush spring is clipped on the brush holder, and presses a brush against a collector of a dynamoelectric machine. The brush spring is replaceable in the brush holder. The brush spring or brush holder has a friction enhancing material attached to an area where the brush spring attaches to the brush holder.

Abstract: A brush holder apparatus includes a stationary support member having at least one groove, a fork electrical connector, and a conductive bar configured to pass through a portion of a main body of the stationary support member. The conductive bar provides electrical conductivity with a collector mount and fork electrical connector. A brush holder is releasably affixed to the stationary support member, and has at least one rail that slides along the groove(s). The brush holder has a knife electrical connector that mates with the fork electrical connector. A brush spring is clipped on the brush holder, and presses a brush against a collector of a dynamoelectric machine. The brush spring is replaceable in the brush holder. The brush spring or brush holder has a friction enhancing material attached to an area where the brush spring attaches to the brush holder.

Abstract: A brush holder apparatus has a stationary support member having two opposing grooves, a fork electrical connector, and a conductive bar passing through a main body of the stationary support member. A brush holder is releasably affixed to the stationary support member, and has two rails that slide along the grooves. The brush holder's knife electrical connector mates with the fork electrical connector. A brush spring is clipped on the brush holder, and presses a brush against a collector. A brush lead connects the brush to a brush terminal. The brush terminal has a generally L-shaped body with a lower part thereof retained under a terminal compression plate, and an upper part thereof located on a front side of the terminal compression plate. The brush terminal is removed from or installed into a front side of the brush holder, and by hand or without the use of any tools.

Abstract: A brush holder apparatus includes a stationary support member having at least one groove and a fork electrical connector. A brush retainment member has a brush restraint apparatus having a plunger brush restraint configured to restrain a brush from sliding within the brush retainment member by pressing it against the brush retainment member. The brush retainment member has at least one rail configured to slide along the at least one groove, and a knife electrical connector configured to mate with the fork electrical connector. The brush retainment member is configured to be releasably affixed to the stationary support member. The stationary support member is configured for electrical connection to a collector mount, and the brush retainment member is configured to retain at least one brush.

Abstract: A brush holder system includes a stationary support member having at least one groove, and a fork electrical connector. A brush retainment member is configured to be releasably affixed to the stationary support member. The brush retainment member has at least one rail configured to slide along the at least one groove. The brush retainment member has a knife electrical connector configured to mate with the fork electrical connector. A radio frequency identification device (RFID) tag is mounted on the brush retainment member, and the RFID tag is configured to monitor brush wear and communicate brush wear status to a monitoring system. The stationary support member is configured for electrical connection to a collector mount and the brush retainment member is configured to retain at least one brush.

Abstract: A brush holder apparatus includes a stationary support member having at least one groove and a fork electrical connector. A brush retainment member is configured to be releasably affixed to the stationary support member. The brush retainment member has at least one rail configured to slide along the at least one groove. The brush retainment member has a knife electrical connector configured to mate with the fork electrical connector. The stationary support member is configured for electrical connection to a collector mount and the brush retainment member is configured to retain at least one brush.

Abstract: In certain exemplary embodiments, a generator field upgrade kit includes a design modification package configured to be installed in a generator field of a generator as a retrofit to mitigate damage of the generator field due to high cyclic duty of the generator. The design modification package includes a plurality of individual modifications that are selectable based on specific operational and performance parameters of the generator.

Abstract: A retention assembly for retaining a plurality of elements in a stator slot of an electric machine is provided. The retention assembly may include a stator wedge fixedly positioned in a dovetail in the stator slot to retain the plurality of elements; a top ripple spring between the plurality of elements and the stator wedge; and at least one shim positioned between the stator wedge and a load bearing surface of the dovetail. A method may include compressing the stator wedge in the stator slot from a first position thereof relative to the dovetail of the stator slot, the compressing creating a gap between the stator wedge and the dovetail. A shim may be inserted in the gap; the compressing released such that the shim retains the stator wedge in a second position that is more compressed relative to the plurality of elements in the stator slot compared to the first position.

Abstract: A brush holder apparatus includes a stationary support member having at least one groove and a fork electrical connector. A brush retainment member has a brush restraint apparatus having a plunger brush restraint configured to restrain a brush from sliding within the brush retainment member by pressing it against the brush retainment member. The brush retainment member has at least one rail configured to slide along the at least one groove, and a knife electrical connector configured to mate with the fork electrical connector. The brush retainment member is configured to be releasably affixed to the stationary support member. The stationary support member is configured for electrical connection to a collector mount, and the brush retainment member is configured to retain at least one brush.

Abstract: A brush holder apparatus includes a stationary support member having at least one groove and a fork electrical connector. A brush retainment member is configured to be releasably affixed to the stationary support member. The brush retainment member has at least one rail configured to slide along the at least one groove. The brush retainment member has a knife electrical connector configured to mate with the fork electrical connector. The stationary support member is configured for electrical connection to a collector mount and the brush retainment member is configured to retain at least one brush.

Abstract: A brush holder system includes a stationary support member having at least one groove, and a fork electrical connector. A brush retainment member is configured to be releasably affixed to the stationary support member. The brush retainment member has at least one rail configured to slide along the at least one groove. The brush retainment member has a knife electrical connector configured to mate with the fork electrical connector. A radio frequency identification device (RFID) tag is mounted on the brush retainment member, and the RFID tag is configured to monitor brush wear and communicate brush wear status to a monitoring system. The stationary support member is configured for electrical connection to a collector mount and the brush retainment member is configured to retain at least one brush.

Abstract: A rotor train torsional mode frequency tuning apparatus is provided and includes a rotor train and a coupling element. The rotor train includes first and second shafts and a coupling operably disposed between the first and second shafts and has a torsional mode frequency. The coupling element is disposed at the coupling and is configured to adjust the torsional mode frequency of the rotor train by a change in at least one of inertia and/or torsional stiffness in the rotor train.

Abstract: In certain exemplary embodiments, a generator field upgrade kit includes a design modification package configured to be installed in a generator field of a generator as a retrofit to mitigate damage of the generator field due to high cyclic duty of the generator. The design modification package includes a plurality of individual modifications that are selectable based on specific operational and performance parameters of the generator.

Abstract: A solution is provided for tuning the frequency of a torsional mode of interest of a rotating body (such as a generator rotor torsional mode) by adding a detuner to act as an undamped torsional vibration absorber. The detuner may be coupled to an overhung shaft extending from the rotating body. The detuner may be modular, therefore weight can be added or subtracted easily from the detuner in order to adjust the stiffness and/or inertia of the overhung shaft. This change in stiffness and/or inertia yields a torsional frequency of oscillation in the overhung shaft substantially similar to the natural frequency of the torsional mode of interest of the rotating body, therefore forcing the frequency of the torsional mode of interest of the rotating body above or below its torsional natural frequency.

Abstract: A solution is provided for tuning the frequency of a torsional mode of interest of a rotating body (such as a generator rotor torsional mode) by adding a detuner to act as an undamped torsional vibration absorber. The detuner may be coupled to an overhung shaft extending from the rotating body. The detuner may be modular, therefore weight can be added or subtracted easily from the detuner in order to adjust the stiffness and/or inertia of the overhung shaft. This change in stiffness and/or inertia yields a torsional frequency of oscillation in the overhung shaft substantially similar to the natural frequency of the torsional mode of interest of the rotating body, therefore forcing the frequency of the torsional mode of interest of the rotating body above or below its torsional natural frequency.