US4261099A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for making multi-element brushes
Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corp
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Filing: 1979-07-27
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Granted: 1981-04-14
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Expires: 1999-07-27
Abstract
Abstract A method of making electrical brushes from thousands of hair-like fibers comprises wetting the fibers to hold them together in a bundle, placing the bundle in a tube and reducing the opening in the tube to hold the fibers therein.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert E. Gainer, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 01:14
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R39/00; H01R39/02; H01R39/18; H01R39/24; H01R43/00; H01R43/12; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49117; Y10T29/49194; Y10T29/49201
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
181 words
A method for forming a multi-element electrical brush made up of a multiplicity of conductive fibers, said method comprising the steps of: applying a liquid to said fibers; aligning said wet fibers to form a bundle; cutting said wet bundle to a predetermined length; cutting a metal tubular member generally to the same predetermined length; annealing the tubular member; removing essentially all of the surface oxides from the metal of the tubular member; placing the cut wet bundle of predetermined length in the metal tubular member of generally the same predetermined length; removing the liquid from the bundle of fibers in the tubular member; reducing the opening in the tubular member to compact the fibers at least on one end to a predetermined density; removing a portion of the tubular member freeing one end of the fibers; stacking a plurality of tubular members with the compacted fibers therein with ducts dispersed in a stack; placing the stack in an outer tubular member; and reducing the opening in the outer tubular member to form a unitized fiber brush with ducts disposed therein.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
181 words
A method for forming a multi-element electrical brush made up of a multiplicity of conductive fibers, said method comprising the steps of: applying a liquid to said fibers; aligning said wet fibers to form a bundle; cutting said wet bundle to a predetermined length; cutting a metal tubular member generally to the same predetermined length; annealing the tubular member; removing essentially all of the surface oxides from the metal of the tubular member; placing the cut wet bundle of predetermined length in the metal tubular member of generally the same predetermined length; removing the liquid from the bundle of fibers in the tubular member; reducing the opening in the tubular member to compact the fibers at least on one end to a predetermined density; removing a portion of the tubular member freeing one end of the fibers; stacking a plurality of tubular members with the compacted fibers therein with ducts dispersed in a stack; placing the stack in an outer tubular member; and reducing the opening in the outer tubular member to form a unitized fiber brush with ducts disposed therein.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of aligning the fibers in a bundle comprises aligning fibers coated with a highly conductive metal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the step of aligning the fibers in a bundle comprises aligning fibers coated with silver.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the step of aligning the fibers in a bundle comprises aligning graphite or carbon fibers coated with a highly conductive metal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of aligning the fibers in a bundle comprises aligning graphite or carbon fibers coated with silver.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of applying liquid to the fibers comprises applying methanol.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of removing the liquid comprises blowing it from the tubular member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method as set forth in claim 7 wherein the step of removing liquid from the bundle further comprises placing the tubular members with the fiber bundle therein in a low temperature vacuum oven.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of removing liquid from the fibers comprises placing the fiber and tubular member in a low temperature vacuum oven.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of reducing the opening in the tubular member comprises reducing the opening by swaging.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of reducing the opening in the tubular member comprises reducing the opening by spinning.
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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) | 1984-04-13 | 1984-10-13 | 1985-04-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-04-13 | 1988-10-13 | 1989-04-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-04-13 | 1992-10-13 | 1993-04-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |