Patent ID: 8053945

Claim:
A commutator for an electric motor, comprising a plurality of commutator segments supported by an electrically non-conductive base, the commutator segments comprising: an electrically conductive body portion and at least one tang provided on the body portion for engaging a winding lead wire of the electric motor; the tang being electrically conductive and foldable and having a proximal end on or adjacent to the body portion, and a distal end remote from the proximal end; and a preformed wire-accommodating portion on or adjacent to the tang, so that, when the tang is folded, the distal end contacts a brush contacting surface of the body portion, and the wire-accommodating portion provides a predetermined interior gap for accommodating the winding lead wire without damaging the lead wire, and a layer of an electrically conductive ductile material formed on a surface of the tang that contacts the winding lead wire; wherein the winding lead wire and the tang are made of different material and the electrically conductive ductile material provides a protective layer between the tang and the lead wire to reduce galvanic corrosion.