US4100385A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrical terminal, particularly plug-type terminal
Assignee: WC Heraus GmbH and Co KG
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Filing: 1976-07-16
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Granted: 1978-07-11
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Expires: 1996-07-16
Abstract
Abstract To reduce costs and permit use of a smaller amount of noble metals in nobel metal contacts, a common metal contact material which forms, in an oxygen-containing atmosphere or in air, non-porous insulating oxides, is coated with a porous noble metal or noble metal alloy cover layer, the pores or regions not covered by the noble metal or nobel metal alloy being permitted to oxidize to form a protective common metal contact material oxide, the noble metal regions in contact with the underlying contact material itself providing for the electrical connection. Preferably, the porous cover layer has a thickness of between about 0.1 to 0.2 μm, and the contact material, separately or applied to a carrier, has a thickness of between 2 to 100 μm, preferably about 10 μm, and comprises aluminum, titanium, niobium, chromium, silicon, zirconium or tantalum, the noble metal preferably being gold or a gold alloy, applied under exclusion of oxygen to the underlying contact material after any oxide skin thereon has been removed.
Inventors
- 👤 Max Wutz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 18:55
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H1/00; H01H1/02; H01H1/021; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S439/00; Y10S439/931; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/12; Y10T428/12014; Y10T428/12028; Y10T428/12042
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
116 words
Electrical terminal which comprises at least in the range or region of contact a layer of a contact material, which is at least one material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, titanium, niobium, chromium, silicon, zirconium and tantalum (4) which, in air or oxygen-containing atmosphere, forms a non-porous oxide skin covered with a contact surface comprising; a porous cover layer (5) of from between 0.01 to 1 μm thick noble metal or noble metal alloy on the surface of said contact material to form an electrical conductive connection therewith; and an oxide (6) of the contact material integral with said contact material located in the pores of the porous noble metal or noble metal alloy.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
116 words
Electrical terminal which comprises at least in the range or region of contact a layer of a contact material, which is at least one material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, titanium, niobium, chromium, silicon, zirconium and tantalum (4) which, in air or oxygen-containing atmosphere, forms a non-porous oxide skin covered with a contact surface comprising; a porous cover layer (5) of from between 0.01 to 1 μm thick noble metal or noble metal alloy on the surface of said contact material to form an electrical conductive connection therewith; and an oxide (6) of the contact material integral with said contact material located in the pores of the porous noble metal or noble metal alloy.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
Terminal according to claim 1, wherein the porous noble metal or noble metal alloy layer (5) has a thickness of from between 0.1 to 0.2 μ m.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
Terminal according to claim 1, wherein the porous layer (5) comprises a gold or gold alloy.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
Terminal according to claim 1, wherein the contact material (4) has a thickness of from 2 to 100 μ m.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
Terminal according to claim 4, wherein the contact layer (4) has a thickness of about 10 μ m.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
Terminal according to claim 1, further comprising a support carrier (3), the contact material (4) being applied to the support carrier and in electrical contact therewith.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
59 words
Terminal according to claim 6, wherein the contact carrier (3) comprises a material selected from the group of at least one of: bronze, German silver, brass, copper-beryllium; the contact material (4) comprises niobium; and the porous cover layer (5) comprises gold or a gold alloy, the pores between the gold or gold alloy being formed of niobium oxide (6).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
112 words
Electrical terminal which comprises at least in a contact portion thereof a layer having a thickness of from 2 to 100 μ m of a contact material which is at least one material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, titanium, niobium, chromium, silicon, zirconium, and tantalum and a contact surface comprising; a porous cover layer of from between 0.01 to 1 μ m thick of a noble metal or noble metal alloy on the surface of said contact material to form an electrical conductive connection therewith; and an oxide of the contact material integral with said contact material located in the pores of said porous noble metal or noble metal alloy.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
112 words
Electrical terminal which comprises at least in a contact portion thereof a layer having a thickness of from 2 to 100 μ m of a contact material which is at least one material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, titanium, niobium, chromium, silicon, zirconium, and tantalum and a contact surface comprising; a porous cover layer of from between 0.01 to 1 μ m thick of a noble metal or noble metal alloy on the surface of said contact material to form an electrical conductive connection therewith; and an oxide of the contact material integral with said contact material located in the pores of said porous noble metal or noble metal alloy.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
Terminal according to claim 8 wherein said porous noble metal or noble metal alloy layer is a porous gold or gold alloy layer having a thickness of from between 0.1 to 0.2 μ m.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
Terminal according to claim 9 wherein said contact layer is a layer of niobium having a thickness of about 10 μ m.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
45 words
Terminal according to claim 10 further comprising a support carrier with said contact material being coated on said support carrier and in electrical contact therewith; said support carrier comprising at least one material selected from the group consisting of bronze, German silver, brass, and copper-beryllium.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
12 words
Terminal according to claim 11 in the form of a plug contact.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
12 words
Terminal according to claim 8 in the form of a plug 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) | 1981-07-10 | 1982-01-09 | 1982-07-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-07-10 | 1986-01-09 | 1986-07-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-07-10 | 1990-01-09 | 1990-07-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |