Patents Assigned to Cutsforth, Inc.
  • Patent number: 9287675
    Abstract: Devices and methods of use for brush holder assemblies are disclosed. Brush holder assemblies including a mounting block and a brush holder are disclosed. Also illustrated is a brush holder assembly including a first portion in sliding engagement with a second portion. In some embodiments the brush holder includes a channel, such that at least a portion of the mounting block is disposed within the channel of the brush holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: CUTSFORTH, INC.
    Inventors: Robert S. Cutsforth, David L. Cutsforth
  • Patent number: 9287674
    Abstract: Devices and methods of use for brush holder assemblies are disclosed. Brush holder assemblies including a mounting block and a brush holder are disclosed. Also illustrated is a brush holder assembly including a first portion in sliding engagement with a second portion. In some embodiments the brush holder includes a channel, such that at least a portion of the mounting block is disposed within the channel of the brush holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: CUTSFORTH, INC.
    Inventors: Robert S. Cutsforth, David L. Cutsforth
  • Patent number: 9252643
    Abstract: A monitoring apparatus configured for monitoring a carbon brush of a brush holder assembly of an electrical machine. The monitoring apparatus may include a flexible sensor and a signal processing circuit for processing a signal received from the flexible sensor. The flexible sensor may have an electrical resistance that varies based on a radius of curvature of the flexible sensor, wherein the radius of curvature of the flexible sensor may be associated with a deflection of a spring providing a force to engage the carbon brush with a rotating component of the electrical machine. The signal processing circuit may be coupled to the sensor and may be configured to determine a measure of a wear state of the carbon brush using information about the variable resistance of the flexible sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: CUTSFORTH, INC.
    Inventor: Robert S. Cutsforth
  • Publication number: 20160028201
    Abstract: A brush lead guide for a brush holder assembly configured to retain the leads extending from a brush in a desired position/orientation to ensure the leads do not interfere with movement of the brush within the brush holder. In some instances, the lead guide includes a first guide rail including a channel for receiving a first lead of the brush and a second guide rail including a channel for receiving a second lead from the brush. The lead guide maintains the leads in a position such that the leads are held within the width of the opening of the brush holder to ensure the leads do not interfere with movement of the brush within the brush holder during use of the brush holder assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Applicant: Cutsforth, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert S. Cutsforth
  • Patent number: 9209667
    Abstract: A shaft grounding apparatus including a grounding rope in electrical contact with ground, and an adjustable rope guide configured to guide the grounding rope on an electrically conductive surface of a rotating shaft of an electric machine. The adjustable rope guide includes a plurality of articulating segments configured to provide the adjustable rope guide with a variable radius of curvature to closely follow a radius of curvature of the rotating shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Cutsforth, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert S. Cutsforth
  • Patent number: 9178327
    Abstract: A brush lead guide for a brush holder assembly configured to retain the leads extending from a brush in a desired position/orientation to ensure the leads do not interfere with movement of the brush within the brush holder. In some instances, the lead guide includes a first guide rail including a channel for receiving a first lead of the brush and a second guide rail including a channel for receiving a second lead from the brush. The lead guide maintains the leads in a position such that the leads are held within the width of the opening of the brush holder to ensure the leads do not interfere with movement of the brush within the brush holder during use of the brush holder assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: CUTSFORTH, INC.
    Inventor: Robert S. Cutsforth
  • Publication number: 20150300915
    Abstract: A marking system for knowing precisely at which location on an electrical device a used brush and associated brush holder assembly were positioned to evaluate whether abnormal brush wear, abnormal operation or other anomaly is occurring and performing maintenance and/or replacement of components as needed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Applicant: CUTSFORTH, INC.
    Inventor: Robert S. Cutsforth
  • Patent number: 9099827
    Abstract: A marking system for knowing precisely at which location on an electrical device a used brush and associated brush holder assembly were positioned to evaluate whether abnormal brush wear, abnormal operation or other anomaly is occurring and performing maintenance and/or replacement of components as needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Cutsforth, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert S. Cutsforth
  • Publication number: 20150070810
    Abstract: A grounding rope assembly for electrically grounding a rotatable conductive shaft of a dynamo-electric machine. The assembly includes a grounding rope member including a plurality of conductive wires extending along the length of the grounding rope member and one or more discrete fixation points intermediate the first and second ends of the grounding rope member. Two or more of the plurality of conductive wires are affixed together at each of the discrete fixation points.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: Cutsforth, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert S. Cutsforth, Jason R. Kammerer
  • Patent number: 8922092
    Abstract: A brush holder assembly including a quick disconnect assembly for quickly disconnecting a brush and electrical leads from a remaining component of the brush holder assembly to facilitate brush removal and replacement. The quick disconnect assembly includes a receptacle having a cavity for removably receiving and an end of the electrical lead, such as the nugget, and a resilient clip. When positioned in the cavity of the receptacle, the resilient clip urges a surface of the nugget into direct contact with a surface of the receptacle partially defining the cavity, completing an electrical current pathway from the brush through the electrical lead to the nugget, and from the surface of the nugget to the surface of the receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Cutsforth, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert S. Cutsforth
  • Publication number: 20140265675
    Abstract: A monitoring apparatus configured for monitoring a carbon brush of a brush holder assembly of an electrical machine. The monitoring apparatus may include a flexible sensor and a signal processing circuit for processing a signal received from the flexible sensor. The flexible sensor may have an electrical resistance that varies based on a radius of curvature of the flexible sensor, wherein the radius of curvature of the flexible sensor may be associated with a deflection of a spring providing a force to engage the carbon brush with a rotating component of the electrical machine. The signal processing circuit may be coupled to the sensor and may be configured to determine a measure of a wear state of the carbon brush using information about the variable resistance of the flexible sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: CUTSFORTH, INC.
    Inventor: Robert S. Cutsforth
  • Patent number: 8825800
    Abstract: Methods and systems for monitoring a brush holder assembly and/or detecting wear of a brush in a brush holder assembly are disclosed. One method includes sending data from a plurality of remote monitoring locations to a central control unit, where the data may be evaluated in order to monitor states of brushes at a plurality of remote electrical facilities. For example, multiple images of a marker tracking longitudinal movement of the brush may be acquired. A comparison of the images, for example, a comparative imaging technique, such as pixel-by-pixel comparison, may then be performed in order to evaluate a condition of the brush, such as the wear rate, wear state, or life expectancy of the brush.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Cutsforth, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert S. Cutsforth
  • Publication number: 20140193189
    Abstract: A mounting fixture for positioning a workpiece in a desired relationship with an apparatus including an articulation joint for coupling first and second tubular members in a desired angular relationship. The articulation joint includes a first end portion clamped to an interior surface of the first tubular member and a second end portion clamped to an interior surface of the second tubular member. First and second clamping members of the articulation joint are clamped together to prevent pivotable movement between a first articulation member and a second articulation member of the articulation joint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: Cutsforth, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert S. Cutsforth
  • Patent number: 8714860
    Abstract: A mounting fixture for positioning a workpiece in a desired relationship with an apparatus including an articulation joint for coupling first and second tubular members in a desired angular relationship. The articulation joint includes a first end portion clamped to an interior surface of the first tubular member and a second end portion clamped to an interior surface of the second tubular member. First and second clamping members of the articulation joint are clamped together to prevent pivotable movement between a first articulation member and a second articulation member of the articulation joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Cutsforth, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert S. Cutsforth
  • Publication number: 20140077960
    Abstract: Methods and systems for monitoring a brush holder assembly and/or detecting wear of a brush in a brush holder assembly are disclosed. One method includes sending data from a plurality of remote monitoring locations to a central control unit, where the data may be evaluated in order to monitor states of brushes at a plurality of remote electrical facilities. For example, multiple images of a marker tracking longitudinal movement of the brush may be acquired. A comparison of the images, for example, a comparative imaging technique, such as pixel-by-pixel comparison, may then be performed in order to evaluate a condition of the brush, such as the wear rate, wear state, or life expectancy of the brush.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: Cutsforth, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert S. Cutsforth
  • Publication number: 20140052611
    Abstract: A method of performing maintenance of components of an electrical device including receiving a container of used brush holder assemblies at a remote location geographically removed from an electrical device facility and sending a container of unused brush holder assemblies to the electrical device facility for installation on an electrical device at the electrical device facility. The container includes a plurality of brush holder assemblies including brush holders and brushes pre-loaded in the brush holders prior to shipping the brush holder assemblies in the container. The container includes a plurality of carriers for interfacing with the brush holder assemblies. Each carrier is configured to restrict movement of the associated brush holder assembly within the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2012
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: CUTSFORTH, INC.
    Inventor: Robert S. Cutsforth
  • Patent number: 8618943
    Abstract: Methods and systems for monitoring a brush holder assembly and/or detecting wear of a brush in a brush holder assembly are disclosed. One method includes sending data from a plurality of remote monitoring locations to a central control unit, where the data may be evaluated in order to monitor states of brushes at a plurality of remote electrical facilities. For example, multiple images of a marker tracking longitudinal movement of the brush may be acquired. A comparison of the images, for example, a comparative imaging technique, such as pixel-by-pixel comparison, may then be performed in order to evaluate a condition of the brush, such as the wear rate, wear state, or life expectancy of the brush.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Cutsforth, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert S. Cutsforth, Denis Robert Bourdeau
  • Publication number: 20130342073
    Abstract: Devices and methods of use for brush holder assemblies are disclosed. Brush holder assemblies including a mounting block and a brush holder are disclosed. Also illustrated is a brush holder assembly including a first portion in sliding engagement with a second portion. In some embodiments the brush holder includes a channel, such that at least a portion of the mounting block is disposed within the channel of the brush holder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: Cutsforth, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert S. Cutsforth, David L. Cutsforth
  • Patent number: 8546993
    Abstract: Devices and methods of use for brush holder assemblies are disclosed. Brush holder assemblies including a mounting block and a brush holder are disclosed. Also illustrated is a brush holder assembly including a first portion in sliding engagement with a second portion. In some embodiments the brush holder includes a channel, such that at least a portion of the mounting block is disposed within the channel of the brush holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Cutsforth, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert S. Cutsforth, David L. Cutsforth
  • Patent number: 8493707
    Abstract: A shaft grounding apparatus including a grounding rope in electrical contact with ground, and an adjustable rope guide configured to guide the grounding rope on an electrically conductive surface of a rotating shaft of an electric machine. The adjustable rope guide includes a plurality of articulating segments configured to provide the adjustable rope guide with a variable radius of curvature to closely follow a radius of curvature of the rotating shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Cutsforth, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert S. Cutsforth