Electropolishing and anodizing method for brush holder apparatus

Abstract

A method for treating a surface of a brush holder apparatus, where the brush holder apparatus is configured for use in a dynamoelectric machine, includes an electropolishing step that electropolishes the surface of the brush holder apparatus. An anodizing step anodizes the surface of the brush holder apparatus. The electropolishing step is performed before the anodizing step.

1 . A method for treating a surface of a brush holder apparatus, the brush holder apparatus for use in a dynamoelectric machine, the method comprising:
 electropolishing the surface of the brush holder apparatus;   anodizing the surface of the brush holder apparatus; and   wherein the electropolishing step is performed before the anodizing step.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 cleaning the surface to remove contaminants; and   wherein the cleaning step is performed before the electropolishing step.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 cleaning the surface to remove contaminants; and   wherein the cleaning step is performed before the anodizing step and after the electropolishing step.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , the electropolishing step performed with the following parameters:
 a 140° F. to 170° F. temperature;   a voltage of 12 volts to 24 volts;   an amperage of 15 amps per square foot to 50 amps per square foot;   a phosphoric acid based electrolyte; and   a dwell time of 4 minutes to 8 minutes.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , the electropolishing step further comprising:
 agitating the brush holder apparatus during the electropolishing.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , the anodizing step performed with the following parameters:
 a chromic acid bath;   a bath temperature of 100° F. to 130° F.;   a current density of about 3 amps per square foot; and   a voltage of 18 volts to 24 volts.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , the anodizing step performed for a time to create an anodizing coating of 0.02 mils to 0.7 mils thick. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , the anodizing step performed with the following parameters:
 a sulfuric acid bath;   a bath temperature of 60° F. to 80° F.;   a current density of 5 to 18 amps per square foot; and   a voltage of 18 to 24 volts.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , the anodizing step performed for a time to create an anodizing coating of 0.07 mils to 1.0 mils thick. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , the anodizing step performed with the following parameters:
 a sulfuric acid bath;   a bath temperature of 25° F. to 35° F.;   a current density of 24 to 40 amps per square foot; and   a voltage of 18 to 75 volts.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , the anodizing step performed for a time to create an anodizing coating of 0.5 mils to 4.0 mils thick. 
     
     
         12 . A method for treating a surface of a brush holder apparatus, the method comprising:
 cleaning the surface to remove contaminants;   electropolishing the surface of the brush holder apparatus;   anodizing the surface of the brush holder apparatus; and   wherein the electropolishing step is performed before the anodizing step, and the brush holder apparatus is configured for use in a dynamoelectric machine.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the cleaning step is performed once before the electropolishing step and once before the anodizing step. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , the electropolishing step performed with the following parameters:
 a 140° F. to 170° F. temperature;   a voltage of 12 volts to 24 volts;   an amperage of 15 amps per square foot to 50 amps per square foot;   a phosphoric acid based electrolyte; and   a dwell time of 4 minutes to 8 minutes.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , the electropolishing step further comprising:
 agitating the brush holder apparatus during the electropolishing step.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , the anodizing step performed with the following parameters:
 a chromic acid bath;   a bath temperature of 100° F. to 130° F.;   a current density of about 3 amps per square foot; and   a voltage of 18 volts to 24 volts.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , the anodizing step performed for a time to create an anodizing coating of 0.02 mils to 0.7 mils thick. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , the anodizing step performed with the following parameters:
 a sulfuric acid bath;   a bath temperature of 60° F. to 80° F.;   a current density of 5 to 18 amps per square foot; and   a voltage of 18 to 24 volts.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , the anodizing step performed for a time to create an anodizing coating of 0.07 mils to 1.0 mils thick. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , the anodizing step performed with the following parameters:
 a sulfuric acid bath;   a bath temperature of 25° F. to 35° F.;   a current density of 24 to 40 amps per square foot;   a voltage of 18 to 75 volts; and   wherein the anodizing step is performed for a time to create an anodizing coating of 0.5 mils to 4.0 mils thick.