Patent US3908266A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3908266A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Reed switch manufacture
Assignee: Comtelco UK Ltd
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Filing: 1974-02-19
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Granted: 1975-09-30
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Expires: 1994-02-19
Abstract
Abstract The invention relates to a method and apparatus for the encapsulation of a switch contact sub-assembly, in which subassembly at least two contacts are rigidly joined in a desired spatial relationship by a destructible bridging piece, wherein the sub-assembly is inserted into a glass tube continuously purged with inert gas and the tube sealed to the sub-assembly by heating two spaced apart regions thereof followed by removal of surplus tube and, in a further aspect of the invention, destruction of the bridging piece.
Inventors
- 👤 John Hill
- 👤 Henry Turczanski
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 23:27
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H11/00; H01H11/005; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49105; Y10T29/53; Y10T29/5313; Y10T29/532; Y10T29/53248
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
91 words
A method of encapsulating a switch contact sub-assembly in which at least two contacts are rigidly but temporarily joined in a desired spatial relationship by at least one fusible and electrically conductive bridging piece, comprising the following steps: 1. inserting the contact sub-assembly into a length of glass tube, the length of the tube being greater than the desired length of the capsule being formed, an end of the contact subassembly protruding from a first end of the tube; 2. holding said contact sub-assembly and tube in co-axial relationship for sealing;
Claim 2
Independent Claim
91 words
A method of encapsulating a switch contact sub-assembly in which at least two contacts are rigidly but temporarily joined in a desired spatial relationship by at least one fusible and electrically conductive bridging piece, comprising the following steps: 1. inserting the contact sub-assembly into a length of glass tube, the length of the tube being greater than the desired length of the capsule being formed, an end of the contact subassembly protruding from a first end of the tube; 2. holding said contact sub-assembly and tube in co-axial relationship for sealing;
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
11 words
holding said contact sub-assembly and tube in co-axial relationship for sealing;
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
11 words
holding said contact sub-assembly and tube in co-axial relationship for sealing;
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
holding said sub-assembly and tube in co-axial relationship for sealing by supporting only said first end of said tube and the associated protruding end of said sub-assembly;
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
holding said sub-assembly and tube in co-axial relationship for sealing by supporting only said first end of said tube and the associated protruding end of said sub-assembly;
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method according to claim 1 further including the steps of: cooling said encapsulated sub-assembly; and removing the skirt comprising the length of tube between the second seal and the second end of said tube.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method according to claim 2 wherein said purge gas is provided to the interior of said tube by insertion of the open end of a hypodermic needle into the open end of said tube.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
introducing a flow of purge gas to the interior of said tube through the unsupported end thereof;
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
introducing a flow of purge gas to the interior of said tube through the unsupported end thereof;
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
112 words
Providing a flow of purge gas to the interior of said tube; 4. sealing the first end of the tube to the protruding end of the contact sub-assembly by directing a flame toward the first end while maintaining the flow of purge gas into the tube; 5. hEating the tube whereby contaminants within the tube are flushed away by the purge gas; and 6. forming a second seal by directing a flame toward a region of said tube situtate between the two ends of the tube at a distance from the first end corresponding to the desired length of said capsule and while maintaining the flow of purge gas into the tube.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
112 words
Providing a flow of purge gas to the interior of said tube; 4. sealing the first end of the tube to the protruding end of the contact sub-assembly by directing a flame toward the first end while maintaining the flow of purge gas into the tube; 5. hEating the tube whereby contaminants within the tube are flushed away by the purge gas; and 6. forming a second seal by directing a flame toward a region of said tube situtate between the two ends of the tube at a distance from the first end corresponding to the desired length of said capsule and while maintaining the flow of purge gas into the tube.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
12 words
Providing a flow of purge gas to the interior of said tube;
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
12 words
Providing a flow of purge gas to the interior of said tube;
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
sealing the first end of the tube to the protruding end of the contact sub-assembly by directing a flame toward the first end while maintaining the flow of purge gas into the tube;
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
sealing the first end of the tube to the protruding end of the contact sub-assembly by directing a flame toward the first end while maintaining the flow of purge gas into the tube;
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
sealing the supported end of said tube to the protruding end of said sub-assembly while maintaining the flow of purge gas into said tube;
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
sealing the supported end of said tube to the protruding end of said sub-assembly while maintaining the flow of purge gas into said tube;
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 3 including a final step of removing any sharp edge of glass by flame polishing.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 1 in which the assembly is vertically aligned during each of the method steps.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
hEating the tube whereby contaminants within the tube are flushed away by the purge gas; and
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
hEating the tube whereby contaminants within the tube are flushed away by the purge gas; and
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
31 words
heating the entire length of said tube between the regions being sealed to cause release of contaminants from the interior of said tube for flushing away by said purge gas; and
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
31 words
heating the entire length of said tube between the regions being sealed to cause release of contaminants from the interior of said tube for flushing away by said purge gas; and
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
39 words
sealing the region of said tube disposed a predetermined distance from the supported end of said tube corresponding to the desired length of said capsule while maintaining the flow of purge gas to thereby complete encapsulation of said sub-assembly.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
39 words
sealing the region of said tube disposed a predetermined distance from the supported end of said tube corresponding to the desired length of said capsule while maintaining the flow of purge gas to thereby complete encapsulation of said sub-assembly.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
48 words
forming a second seal by directing a flame toward a region of said tube situtate between the two ends of the tube at a distance from the first end corresponding to the desired length of said capsule and while maintaining the flow of purge gas into the tube.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
48 words
forming a second seal by directing a flame toward a region of said tube situtate between the two ends of the tube at a distance from the first end corresponding to the desired length of said capsule and while maintaining the flow of purge gas into the tube.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 1 in which the assembly is rotated during the sealing operation to provide for uniform heating of said tube.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method according to claim 1 in which the assembly of said tube and contact sub-assembly is heated by a flame along the length of said tube between the sealing regions thereof prior to the sealing operation.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method according to claim 1 in which the cooling rate of the sealed region of the assembly after sealing is reduced by continued heating thereof for a predetermined length of time to thereby minimize thermal stress of said assembly.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 1 including the further step of passing a pulse of electrical energy through the bridging piece which is thereby disintegrated to provide electrically spaced switch contacts within said tube.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
38 words
A method of encapsulating an electrical sub-assembly in which at least two conductive elements are rigidly but temporarily joined in a desired spatial relationship by at least one fusible and electrically conductive bridging piece, comprising the steps of:
Claim 34
Independent Claim
38 words
A method of encapsulating an electrical sub-assembly in which at least two conductive elements are rigidly but temporarily joined in a desired spatial relationship by at least one fusible and electrically conductive bridging piece, comprising the steps of:
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-09-29 | 1979-03-31 | 1979-09-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-29 | 1983-03-31 | 1983-09-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-29 | 1987-03-31 | 1987-09-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |