The invention mainly relates to a spiral spring (36) of a brush holder for a motor vehicle starter. The spiral spring includes: a rolled-up portion (37) having a plurality of turns (371); and an arm (39) for engaging one surface of a brush of the brush holder. The invention is characterized in that the spiral spring (36) also comprises a means (42) for reducing the friction between at least two adjacent turns (371) of the rolled-up portion (37).

The invention mainly relates to a spiral spring (36) of a brush holder for a motor vehicle starter. The spiral spring includes: a rolled-up portion (37) having a plurality of turns (371); and an arm (39) for engaging one surface of a brush of the brush holder. The invention is characterized in that the spiral spring (36) also comprises a means (42) for reducing the friction between at least two adjacent turns (371) of the rolled-up portion (37).

A slip ring apparatus including a ring assembly having a conductive ring with a conductive ring engagement surface, a contact assembly having a contact element with a contact element engagement surface for engaging with the conductive ring engagement surface, and a surface discontinuity provided in at least one of the conductive ring engagement surface and the contact element engagement surface. An apparatus including the slip ring apparatus, wherein the apparatus includes a housing having an interior and a shaft rotatably extending through the interior of the housing. A method for reducing the potential of a hydroplaning effect in a slip ring apparatus, including providing a surface discontinuity in at least one of a conductive ring engagement surface and a contact element engagement surface.

A slip ring apparatus including a ring assembly having a conductive ring with a conductive ring engagement surface, a contact assembly having a contact element with a contact element engagement surface for engaging with the conductive ring engagement surface, and a surface discontinuity provided in at least one of the conductive ring engagement surface and the contact element engagement surface. An apparatus including the slip ring apparatus, wherein the apparatus includes a housing having an interior and a shaft rotatably extending through the interior of the housing. A method for reducing the potential of a hydroplaning effect in a slip ring apparatus, including providing a surface discontinuity in at least one of a conductive ring engagement surface and a contact element engagement surface.

A power terminal includes a terminal beam having a mating surface. A protective thermal coupler bridge is positioned adjacent the terminal beam having a bridge conductor, an insulating substrate and a bridge pad. The bridge pad has a mating surface. A variable resistive member is electrically coupled between the terminal beam and the bridge conductor to provide a shunt so that arcing does not occur when the power terminal is disconnected from the mating power terminal. The mating surface of the terminal beam is separable before the mating surface of the bridge pad is disconnected so that the resistance in the variable resistive member increases after disconnection of the main power terminal from the mating power terminal and prior to disconnection of the bridge pad from the mating power terminal to shunt the current through the bridge conductor and the variable resistive member during unmating.

A power terminal includes a terminal beam having a mating surface. A protective thermal coupler bridge is positioned adjacent the terminal beam having a bridge conductor, an insulating substrate and a bridge pad. The bridge pad has a mating surface. A variable resistive member is electrically coupled between the terminal beam and the bridge conductor to provide a shunt so that arcing does not occur when the power terminal is disconnected from the mating power terminal. The mating surface of the terminal beam is separable before the mating surface of the bridge pad is disconnected so that the resistance in the variable resistive member increases after disconnection of the main power terminal from the mating power terminal and prior to disconnection of the bridge pad from the mating power terminal to shunt the current through the bridge conductor and the variable resistive member during unmating.

A brush assembly for a brush motor includes a support member, brush holders, at least four brushes respectively mounted to the brush holders, and first and second motor terminals for connecting with an external power supply. A first filter circuit is connected between the first motor terminal and corresponding first brushes. A second filter circuit is connected between the second motor terminal and corresponding second brushes. The first and second motor terminals and the first and second filter circuits are mounted in a region defined by two corresponding adjacent brushes forming an angle greater than 60 degrees but less than 180 degrees.

The invention relates to a disc commutator and a drum commutator for an electric motor having at least two commutator plates, each having a sliding-surface segment for contacting a carbon brush, said sliding-surface segments being electrically separated from one another. In the disc commutator, the electrical separation extends between the sliding-surface segments towards a commutator diameter inclined at an angle In the drum commutator, the electrical separation of the sliding-surface segments is inclined in the longitudinal direction of the drum commutator and forms an angle with a projection of the rotational axis of the drum commutator on the casing surface of the drum commutator.

A slip ring apparatus including a ring assembly having a conductive ring with a conductive ring engagement surface, a contact assembly having a contact element with a contact element engagement surface for engaging with the conductive ring engagement surface, and a surface discontinuity provided in at least one of the conductive ring engagement surface and the contact element engagement surface. An apparatus including the slip ring apparatus, wherein the apparatus includes a housing having an interior and a shaft rotatably extending through the interior of the housing. A method for reducing the potential of a hydroplaning effect in a slip ring apparatus, including providing a surface discontinuity in at least one of a conductive ring engagement surface and a contact element engagement surface.

A slip ring apparatus including a ring assembly having a conductive ring with a conductive ring engagement surface, a contact assembly having a contact element with a contact element engagement surface for engaging with the conductive ring engagement surface, and a surface discontinuity provided in at least one of the conductive ring engagement surface and the contact element engagement surface. An apparatus including the slip ring apparatus, wherein the apparatus includes a housing having an interior and a shaft rotatably extending through the interior of the housing. A method for reducing the potential of a hydroplaning effect in a slip ring apparatus, including providing a surface discontinuity in at least one of a conductive ring engagement surface and a contact element engagement surface.