Patents Assigned to Cutsforth, Inc.
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Patent number: 9287675Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 28, 2015Date of Patent: March 15, 2016Assignee: CUTSFORTH, INC.Inventors: Robert S. Cutsforth, David L. Cutsforth
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Patent number: 9287674Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 28, 2015Date of Patent: March 15, 2016Assignee: CUTSFORTH, INC.Inventors: Robert S. Cutsforth, David L. Cutsforth
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Patent number: 9252643Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 14, 2013Date of Patent: February 2, 2016Assignee: CUTSFORTH, INC.Inventor: Robert S. Cutsforth
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Publication number: 20160028201Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 1, 2015Publication date: January 28, 2016Applicant: Cutsforth, Inc.Inventor: Robert S. Cutsforth
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Patent number: 9209667Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 21, 2013Date of Patent: December 8, 2015Assignee: Cutsforth, Inc.Inventor: Robert S. Cutsforth
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Patent number: 9178327Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 14, 2012Date of Patent: November 3, 2015Assignee: CUTSFORTH, INC.Inventor: Robert S. Cutsforth
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Publication number: 20150300915Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2015Publication date: October 22, 2015Applicant: CUTSFORTH, INC.Inventor: Robert S. Cutsforth
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Patent number: 9099827Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 14, 2012Date of Patent: August 4, 2015Assignee: Cutsforth, Inc.Inventor: Robert S. Cutsforth
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Publication number: 20150070810Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2013Publication date: March 12, 2015Applicant: Cutsforth, Inc.Inventors: Robert S. Cutsforth, Jason R. Kammerer
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Patent number: 8922092Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 7, 2011Date of Patent: December 30, 2014Assignee: Cutsforth, Inc.Inventor: Robert S. Cutsforth
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Publication number: 20140265675Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: CUTSFORTH, INC.Inventor: Robert S. Cutsforth
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Patent number: 8825800Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 26, 2013Date of Patent: September 2, 2014Assignee: Cutsforth, Inc.Inventor: Robert S. Cutsforth
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Publication number: 20140193189Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 20, 2014Publication date: July 10, 2014Applicant: Cutsforth, Inc.Inventor: Robert S. Cutsforth
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Patent number: 8714860Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 5, 2011Date of Patent: May 6, 2014Assignee: Cutsforth, Inc.Inventor: Robert S. Cutsforth
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Publication number: 20140077960Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 26, 2013Publication date: March 20, 2014Applicant: Cutsforth, Inc.Inventor: Robert S. Cutsforth
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Publication number: 20140052611Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 16, 2012Publication date: February 20, 2014Applicant: CUTSFORTH, INC.Inventor: Robert S. Cutsforth
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Patent number: 8618943Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 24, 2007Date of Patent: December 31, 2013Assignee: Cutsforth, Inc.Inventors: Robert S. Cutsforth, Denis Robert Bourdeau
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Publication number: 20130342073Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2013Publication date: December 26, 2013Applicant: Cutsforth, Inc.Inventors: Robert S. Cutsforth, David L. Cutsforth
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Patent number: 8546993Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 4, 2012Date of Patent: October 1, 2013Assignee: Cutsforth, Inc.Inventors: Robert S. Cutsforth, David L. Cutsforth
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Patent number: 8493707Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 5, 2011Date of Patent: July 23, 2013Assignee: Cutsforth, Inc.Inventor: Robert S. Cutsforth