US3941969A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and process for applying contact dots
Assignee: FCI Americas Technology LLC
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Filing: 1973-08-09
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Granted: 1976-03-02
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Expires: 1993-08-09
Abstract
Abstract A process and apparatus are provided for applying gold contacts to a metal member by engaging the end of a hard gold wire with the metal member, welding the end of the wire to the member, heating the gold wire to establish a difference in its temper along a boundary in the region of the weld, and breaking away the gold wire along the boundary in the region of the weld. The apparatus comprises a first welding electrode having opposing jaws for receiving a gold wire, the jaws are actuatibly disposed on a yoke member which is pivotally mounted in an opposing relationship with a second welding electrode. The jaws clamp the wire and urge its end against the metal member during electrical welding of the wire end to the member. The opposing jaws are then released and retracted a first distance along the gold wire and then reclamp the wire. The yoke completes its pivotal travel pulling on the wire. The wire is deformed along the temper boundary in the region of the weld and then broken. The welded gold contact may then be coined to provide a contact of desired configuration.
Inventors
- 👤 Stanton Brenneman LeFever
- 👤 Robert Michael Matrisian
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 06:11
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23K; B23K11/00; B23K11/16; B23K11/20; B23K11/04; H; H01; H01H; H01H11/00; H01H11/04; H01H11/041; H01H11/043; H01R; H01R43/00; H01R43/02; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49117; Y10T29/49204; Y10T29/49208; Y10T29/4921; Y10T29/49218
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
106 words
A process for attaching a metal element to metal member, comprising the steps of: engaging an end portion of said metal element with said metal member, welding said end portion to said metal member by passing an electrical current through said element and said member thereby heating said element and removing the heat from said element thereby establishing a difference in temper along a boundary within said element contiguous to the region of said weld, and pulling said element to break it away from said member in the region of said weld along said boundary leaving said end portion of said element attached to said member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
106 words
A process for attaching a metal element to metal member, comprising the steps of: engaging an end portion of said metal element with said metal member, welding said end portion to said metal member by passing an electrical current through said element and said member thereby heating said element and removing the heat from said element thereby establishing a difference in temper along a boundary within said element contiguous to the region of said weld, and pulling said element to break it away from said member in the region of said weld along said boundary leaving said end portion of said element attached to said member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein said metal element is a continuous hard gold wire.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process according to claim 1 additionally including the step of coining the end portion of said element attached to said member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
115 words
A process for preparing a contact on a metal member, comprising the steps of: engaging an end portion of a metal element with a metal member, welding said end portion to said member by passing an electrical current through said element and said metal member thereby heating said element and removing the heat from said element thereby establishing a difference in temper of said element along a boundary within said element continguous to the region of said weld, and pulling said element from said member to break it away from said member in the region of said weld along said boundary leaving said end portion of the form of a contact attached to said member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
115 words
A process for preparing a contact on a metal member, comprising the steps of: engaging an end portion of a metal element with a metal member, welding said end portion to said member by passing an electrical current through said element and said metal member thereby heating said element and removing the heat from said element thereby establishing a difference in temper of said element along a boundary within said element continguous to the region of said weld, and pulling said element from said member to break it away from said member in the region of said weld along said boundary leaving said end portion of the form of a contact attached to said member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
A process according to claim 4 wherein said element is a hard gold wire.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
A process according to claim 4 additionally comprising coining said end portion of the element welded to the member to provide a substantially uniform contact.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
100 words
An apparatus for attaching an end portion of a metal element to a metal member comprising feed means for engaging said end portion of said metal element with said strip member, means for welding said end portion of said metal element to said member including a heat sink for establishing a difference in temper along a boundary within said element contiguous to the region of said weld, and means for pulling said element to break it away from said member along said boundary in the region of the weld leaving said end portion as a contact attached to said member.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
100 words
An apparatus for attaching an end portion of a metal element to a metal member comprising feed means for engaging said end portion of said metal element with said strip member, means for welding said end portion of said metal element to said member including a heat sink for establishing a difference in temper along a boundary within said element contiguous to the region of said weld, and means for pulling said element to break it away from said member along said boundary in the region of the weld leaving said end portion as a contact attached to said member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
An apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said means for welding said metal element comprises a first welding electrode having opposing jaw members actuatibly disposed for clamping said element, and a second welding electrode disposed in an opposing relationship with said first welding electrode.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus according to claim 8 additionally including means for coining said contact to provide a substantially uniform contact.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-03-02 | 1979-09-01 | 1980-03-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-03-02 | 1983-09-01 | 1984-03-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-03-02 | 1987-09-01 | 1988-03-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |