Brush Segment component
The following are the circuit components supported as of SimLab:
Component | Icon | Description |
---|---|---|
Brush Segment |
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The brush-segment component is a switch describing the electrical contact between a segment of the commutator segment and the brush in a D.C. machine. |
Introduction
The brush-segment component is a switch describing the electrical contact between a segment of the commutator segment and the brush in a D.C. machine.
This component is used in transient applications and requires the use of kinematic coupling.

Brush-segment: characteristics
The brush-segment component is characterized by five parameters:
- the on state resistance Ron in Ohms
- the off state resistance Roff in Ohms
- the angular position of the commutator segment with respect to the brush position θpos in degrees
- the brush opening angle θbrush in degrees
- the opening angle of the commutator segment θbar in degrees

Brush-Segment: operation
Conductance of brush-segment component (negative θpos)
The brush-segment component is in full conduction whenever the mechanical angle of the rotor (θmec) is opposite to the angular position of the commutator segment with respect the brush (θpos).
Thus, we have conduction of the brush-segment starting from θmec = θpos.
Description of a commutator
To define the commutator of an electrical machine that includes N brushes and M commutator segments, it is necessary to connect each brush to the M commutator segments. Thus, it is necessary to create N*M brush-segments components.
Dialog box
The dialog box of Brush-Segment is represented in the figure below:
On state resistance: the on state resistance Ron in Ohms
Brush segment position: the angular position of the commutator segment with respect to the brush position θpos in degrees
Brush opening angle: the brush opening angle θbrush in degrees
Segment opening angle: the opening angle of the commutator segment θbar in degrees