US4112197A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Manufacture of improved electrical contact materials
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1977-02-07
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Granted: 1978-09-05
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Expires: 1997-02-07
Abstract
Abstract Improved electrical contact materials and a method for manufacturing same are disclosed. The improved materials comprise mechanically elongated billets composed of at least a first metal and the oxide of a second metal. The billets include a plurality of alternating substantially coaxial zones of metal-metal oxide and zones devoid of the metal oxide. The zones devoid of the metal oxide serve as slip zones and render the contact material readily formable into any desired electrical contact shape.
Inventors
- 👤 W. Peter Metz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 00:19
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H1/00; H01H1/02; H01H1/021; H01H9/00; H01H2009/0077; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S428/00; Y10S428/922; Y10S428/9265; Y10S428/929; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49117; Y10T29/49204; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/12; Y10T428/12493; Y10T428/12535; Y10T428/12583; Y10T428/1259; Y10T428/12611; Y10T428/12708; Y10T428/12715; Y10T428/12771; Y10T428/12785; Y10T428/12792; Y10T428/12861; Y10T428/12896
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 43
Claim 1
Independent Claim
174 words
A method for manufacturing electrical contact materials comprising, providing a metallic alloy strip composed of at least a first metal having good electrical conductive properties and a second metal more readily oxidizable than said first metal, internally oxidizing said strip to obtain a strip composed of said first metal and the oxide of said second metal, the center of said strip being at least partially depleted of said second metal during internal oxidation and being substantially devoid of metal oxide to provide a depletion zone composed substantially of said first material and adjacent zones of metal oxide, said depletion zone being more readily deformable than the adjacent zones of metal oxide, winding said strip to form a wrapped billet, and mechanically elongating said wrapped billet to provide a ductile metal-metal oxide product having depletion zones alternating with zones of metal oxide, which depletion zones are disposed symmetrically about the longitudinal axis of said wrapped billet so that said product will deform symmetrically about said axis when headed in the direction normal to said axis.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
174 words
A method for manufacturing electrical contact materials comprising, providing a metallic alloy strip composed of at least a first metal having good electrical conductive properties and a second metal more readily oxidizable than said first metal, internally oxidizing said strip to obtain a strip composed of said first metal and the oxide of said second metal, the center of said strip being at least partially depleted of said second metal during internal oxidation and being substantially devoid of metal oxide to provide a depletion zone composed substantially of said first material and adjacent zones of metal oxide, said depletion zone being more readily deformable than the adjacent zones of metal oxide, winding said strip to form a wrapped billet, and mechanically elongating said wrapped billet to provide a ductile metal-metal oxide product having depletion zones alternating with zones of metal oxide, which depletion zones are disposed symmetrically about the longitudinal axis of said wrapped billet so that said product will deform symmetrically about said axis when headed in the direction normal to said axis.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said wrapped billet is mechanically elongated by extruding.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said wrapped billet is mechanically elongated by swaging.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said wrapped billet is mechanically elongated by rod rolling.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said first metal is silver.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said second metal is cadmium.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said metallic alloy strip is obtained by melting and casting said metallic alloy into an ingot and rolling said ingot to form said strip.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said metallic alloy strip is obtained by blending powders of said first and second metals, sintering said blended powders to form an ingot and rolling said ingot to form said strip.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said metallic alloy strip is cleaned prior to internal oxidation of said strip to remove surface contaminants.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said metallic alloy strip is cleaned to remove surface contaminants prior to winding said strip to form said wrapped billet.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 wherein wrapped billet has a circular cross-section.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said wrapped billet has a rectangular cross-section.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein subsequent to mechanical elongation, said billet is formed into a desired shape for use as an electrical contact.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said strip is wound to form said wrapped billet about a core of metal-metal oxide wire.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said metallic alloy strip has a thickness of from about 0.100 inch to 0.001 inch.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
162 words
A method for manufacturing electrical contacts comprising, melting and casting an ingot of a silver-cadmium alloy, rolling said ingot to form a strip having a thickness of about 0.100 inch to 0.001 inch, internally oxidizing said strip, the center of said strip being at least partially depleted of cadmium during internal oxidation and being substantially devoid of cadmium oxide to provide a depletion zone composed substantially of silver and adjacent zones of cadmium oxide, said depletion zone being more readily deformable than the adjacent zones of cadmium oxide, winding said strip into a billet, mechanically elongating said billet to form a wire of silver-cadmium oxide having depletion zones alternating with zones of cadmium oxide, which depletion zones are disposed symmetrically about the longitudinal axis of said wire so that said wire will deform symmetrically about said axis when headed in the direction normal to said axis, and heading said wire in the direction normal to said axis to form an electrical contact.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
162 words
A method for manufacturing electrical contacts comprising, melting and casting an ingot of a silver-cadmium alloy, rolling said ingot to form a strip having a thickness of about 0.100 inch to 0.001 inch, internally oxidizing said strip, the center of said strip being at least partially depleted of cadmium during internal oxidation and being substantially devoid of cadmium oxide to provide a depletion zone composed substantially of silver and adjacent zones of cadmium oxide, said depletion zone being more readily deformable than the adjacent zones of cadmium oxide, winding said strip into a billet, mechanically elongating said billet to form a wire of silver-cadmium oxide having depletion zones alternating with zones of cadmium oxide, which depletion zones are disposed symmetrically about the longitudinal axis of said wire so that said wire will deform symmetrically about said axis when headed in the direction normal to said axis, and heading said wire in the direction normal to said axis to form an electrical contact.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 16 wherein said billet is mechanically elongated by extruding.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 16 wherein said billet is mechanically elongated by swaging.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 16 wherein said billet is mechanically elongated by rod rolling.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
110 words
An improved electrical contact material comprising a mechanically elongated billet composed of at least a first metal comprising silver and the oxide of a second metal, said billet including a plurality of alternating first and second zones, said zones extending the entire length of said billet and being substantially symmetrical and coaxial about the longitudinal axis of said billet, said first zones being substantially devoid of metal oxide and said second zones being substantially composed of metal-metal oxide, and said first zones are more readily deformable than said second zones so that said billet will deform symmetrically about its longitudinal axis when headed in the direction normal to said axis.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
110 words
An improved electrical contact material comprising a mechanically elongated billet composed of at least a first metal comprising silver and the oxide of a second metal, said billet including a plurality of alternating first and second zones, said zones extending the entire length of said billet and being substantially symmetrical and coaxial about the longitudinal axis of said billet, said first zones being substantially devoid of metal oxide and said second zones being substantially composed of metal-metal oxide, and said first zones are more readily deformable than said second zones so that said billet will deform symmetrically about its longitudinal axis when headed in the direction normal to said axis.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
14 words
The electrical contact material of claim 20 wherein said billet comprises an extruded billet.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
14 words
The electrical contact material of claim 20 wherein said billet comprises a swaged billet.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
15 words
The electrical contact material of claim 20 wherein said billet comprises a rod rolled billet.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
18 words
The electrical contact material of claim 20 wherein said first zone is composed substantially of said first metal.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
20 words
The electrical contact material of claim 20 wherein said first zone is composed substantially of said first and second metals.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
15 words
The electrical contact material of claim 20 wherein the cross-section of said billet is circular.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
15 words
The electrical contact material of claim 20 wherein the cross-section of said billet is rectangular.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
22 words
The electrical contact material of claim 20 wherein said second metal is selected from the group consisting of cadmium, zinc, and tin.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
122 words
An improved electrical contact material comprising a mechanically elongated billet composed of at least a first metal and the oxide of a second metal, said second metal being selected from the group consisting of cadmium, zinc, and tin, said billet including a plurality of alternating first and second zones, said zones extending the entire length of said billet and being substantially symmetrical and coaxial about the longitudinal axis of said billet, said first zones being substantially devoid of metal oxide and said secnd zones being substantially composed of metal-metal oxide, and said first zones are more readily deformable than said second zones so that said billet will deform symmetrically about its longitudinal axis when headed in the direction normal to said axis.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
122 words
An improved electrical contact material comprising a mechanically elongated billet composed of at least a first metal and the oxide of a second metal, said second metal being selected from the group consisting of cadmium, zinc, and tin, said billet including a plurality of alternating first and second zones, said zones extending the entire length of said billet and being substantially symmetrical and coaxial about the longitudinal axis of said billet, said first zones being substantially devoid of metal oxide and said secnd zones being substantially composed of metal-metal oxide, and said first zones are more readily deformable than said second zones so that said billet will deform symmetrically about its longitudinal axis when headed in the direction normal to said axis.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
109 words
An improved electrical contact material comprising a mechanically elongated billet composed of at least silver and cadmium oxide, said billet including a plurality of alternating first and second zones, said zones extending the entire length of said billet and being substantially symmetrical and coaxial about the longitudinal axis of said billet, said first zones being substantially devoid of cadmium oxide and said second zones being substantially composed of silver-cadmium oxide obtained by internal oxidation of silver-cadmium alloy, and said first zones are more readily deformable than said second zones so that said billet will deform symmetrically about its longitudinal axis when headed in the direction normal to said axis.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
109 words
An improved electrical contact material comprising a mechanically elongated billet composed of at least silver and cadmium oxide, said billet including a plurality of alternating first and second zones, said zones extending the entire length of said billet and being substantially symmetrical and coaxial about the longitudinal axis of said billet, said first zones being substantially devoid of cadmium oxide and said second zones being substantially composed of silver-cadmium oxide obtained by internal oxidation of silver-cadmium alloy, and said first zones are more readily deformable than said second zones so that said billet will deform symmetrically about its longitudinal axis when headed in the direction normal to said axis.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
60 words
The electrical contact material of claim 20 further including additional zones alternating with said first and second zones, extending the entire length of said billet and being substantially symmetrical and coaxial about the longitudinal axis of said billet, said additional zones being composed substantially of materials selected from the group comprising metals, metal oxides, metal alloys, and mixtures of same.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
212 words
A method for manufacturing composite electrical contact materials comprising, providing a first metallic alloy strip composed of at least a first metal having good electrical conductive properties, and a second metal more readily oxidizable than said first metal, internally oxidizing said strip to obtain a strip composed of said first metal and the oxide of said second metal, the center of said strip being at least partially depleted of said second metal during internal oxidation and being substantially devoid of metal oxide to provide a depletion zone composed substantially of said first material and adjacent zones of metal oxide, said depletion zone being more readily deformable than the adjacent zones of metal oxide, placing at least a second strip of a material selected from the group comprising metals, metal oxides, metal alloys, and mixtures of same, in overlying relationship to said first strip, said second strip having a composition different from the composition of said first strip, winding said strips to form a wrapped billet, and mechanically elongating said wrapped billet whereby a composite electrical contact material product is obtained having depletion zones disposed symmetrically about the longitudinal axis of said wrapped billet so that said product wll deform symmetrically about said axis when headed in the direction normal to said axis.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
212 words
A method for manufacturing composite electrical contact materials comprising, providing a first metallic alloy strip composed of at least a first metal having good electrical conductive properties, and a second metal more readily oxidizable than said first metal, internally oxidizing said strip to obtain a strip composed of said first metal and the oxide of said second metal, the center of said strip being at least partially depleted of said second metal during internal oxidation and being substantially devoid of metal oxide to provide a depletion zone composed substantially of said first material and adjacent zones of metal oxide, said depletion zone being more readily deformable than the adjacent zones of metal oxide, placing at least a second strip of a material selected from the group comprising metals, metal oxides, metal alloys, and mixtures of same, in overlying relationship to said first strip, said second strip having a composition different from the composition of said first strip, winding said strips to form a wrapped billet, and mechanically elongating said wrapped billet whereby a composite electrical contact material product is obtained having depletion zones disposed symmetrically about the longitudinal axis of said wrapped billet so that said product wll deform symmetrically about said axis when headed in the direction normal to said axis.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 32 wherein said wrapped billet is mechanically elongated by extruding.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 32 wherein said wrapped billet is mechanically elongated by swaging.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 32 wherein said wrapped billet is mechanically elongated by rod rolling.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
66 words
The method of claim 32 further comprising the step of placing at least a third strip of a material selected from the group comprising metals, metal oxides, metal alloys and mixtures of same, in overlying relationship to said first and second strips prior to winding said strips to form said wrapped billet, said third strip having a composition different than the composition of said first strip.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 32 further comprising the step of placing additional strips of materials selected from the group comprising metals, metal oxides, metal alloys, and mixtures of same in overlying relationship to said first and second strips prior to winding said strips to form said wrapped billet.
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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) | 1981-09-04 | 1982-03-06 | 1982-09-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-09-04 | 1986-03-06 | 1986-09-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-09-04 | 1990-03-06 | 1990-09-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |