Abstract: An electrical brush having at least one conductive element and at least one conditioning material coated on the at least one conductive element wherein the conditioning material has a composition and thickness on the conductive element such that, as deposited on a moving contact surface in the course of brush operation, the conditioning material can have an average film thickness S<˜1 ?m so that current can be conducted by means of electron tunneling through a film thickness of the deposited conditioning material of Si?12 nm thickness over a fractional area fC, greater than 0.01 of a foot print of the conductive element in a current conductive area.

Abstract: A metal fiber or monolithic brush for suppressing circulatory currents includes a base plate that includes plural conductive portions separated by plural current flow barriers oriented normal to the plane of the anticipated circulatory current loops. In the case of a metal fiber brush, the metal fibers are provided with electrically insulating surface films, in the case of a monolithic brush, the brush body is provided with current barriers oriented normal to the plane of the anticipated circulatory current loops. The conductor to which the base plate is electrically connected as well as the substrate on which the brush slides can also be provided with current flow barriers oriented normal to the plane of the anticipated circulatory current loops.

Abstract: A brush holder including a tubular brush box, a baseplate configured to be fastened to an electrical brush and movable in the brush box, a resilient multi-contact lining disposed in the brush box between the baseplate and an inner wall of the brush box, and a spring applying a force to the baseplate in a predetermined direction.

Abstract: Devices for the management of contact spots, partly consisting of surface plating, partly of surface polishing and partly of substrate surface profiling in the form of parallel grooves stretched out in the direction of sliding and/or of isolated asperities. The management of the contact spots is designed to generate, at electrical brush interfaces, a large number of contact spots of pre-determined shapes and distribution that promote low electrical contact resistance and long wear life. Preferably, the substrate is coated with a hard, highly conductive coating that is resistant to wear and chemical attack. The invention is similarly applicable also to electrical switches wherein it will assure reduction of interfacial resistance as well as of sticking forces. Finally, it may also be used for the efficient transfer of heat across interfaces.