US4294616A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrical contacts
Assignee: AMI DELAWARE Inc
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Filing: 1979-01-02
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Granted: 1981-10-13
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Expires: 1999-01-02
Abstract
Abstract An electrical contact of the type having a working surface and comprising a ductile metal and weld inhibiting material includes a wetting agent present in an amount sufficient to reduce the surface energy between said contact surface and the liquid phase of the ductile metal. Improved wettability of the surface results in reduced arc erosion due to the spattering loss of ductile metal. Also, described is a method for selecting and testing proposed additives.
Inventors
- 👤 Han J. Kim
- 👤 Thomas E. Peters
- 👤 John Gustafson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 05:26
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N13/00; H; H01; H01H; H01H1/00; H01H1/02; H01H1/021; H01H1/023; H01H1/0237; H01H1/02372; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S428/00; Y10S428/922; Y10S428/9265; Y10S428/929; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/12; Y10T428/12014; Y10T428/12028; Y10T428/12146
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
87 words
An electrical contact having a working surface consisting essentially of from about 50 to about 95 percent by weight silver or silver alloy, from about 5 to about 50 percent by weight of cadmium oxide, and an additional oxide selected from the oxides of germanium, tantalum, and mixtures thereof, said additional oxide being present in an effective amount sufficient to reduce the surface energy between said working surface and the liquid phase of said silver and being substantially homogeneously distributed on said surface in a silver matrix.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
87 words
An electrical contact having a working surface consisting essentially of from about 50 to about 95 percent by weight silver or silver alloy, from about 5 to about 50 percent by weight of cadmium oxide, and an additional oxide selected from the oxides of germanium, tantalum, and mixtures thereof, said additional oxide being present in an effective amount sufficient to reduce the surface energy between said working surface and the liquid phase of said silver and being substantially homogeneously distributed on said surface in a silver matrix.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
An electrical contact according to claim 1 wherein said wetting agent is a cadmium germanium oxide.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
An electrical contact according to claim 1 wherein said wetting agent is a cadmium tantalum oxide.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
An electrical contact according to claim 1 wherein said contact is sintered and said cadmium oxide and said additional oxide are substantially homogeniously distributed throughout said contact.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
An electrical contact according to claim 1 wherein said cadmium oxide is formed by the internal oxidation of cadmium within a silver matrix.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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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) | 1984-10-12 | 1985-04-13 | 1985-10-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-10-12 | 1989-04-13 | 1989-10-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-10-12 | 1993-04-13 | 1993-10-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |