US4415635A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electric brush
Assignee: University of Virginia
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Filing: 1980-04-09
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Granted: 1983-11-15
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Expires: 2000-04-09
Abstract
Abstract A multifiber electrical brush formed of an electrically conductive matrix material having plural electrically conducting fiber wires embedded therein and extending therefrom, wherein the fiber wires have a diameter varying from 1 to 120 mu m, a length on the order of 100 times greater than the diameter thereof, and a packing density between 1-25%. Suitable materials for the fiber wires are platinum, gold, silver, copper, palladium, or niobium which may be embedded in a copper, silver, or other suitable matrix material, or copper embedded in an aluminum matrix. The fiber wires may be provided with a coating of a suitable barrier material on the lateral surfaces thereof as may be required to protect the fiber wires from etching during removal of the matrix material, or to prevent and/or retard interdiffusion between the matrix material and the fiber wire material during annealing or hot-forming of brush stock, and/or to impart improved electrical performance to the resultant electrical brush. The electrical brush is fabricated typically by drawing, cutting, bundling and redrawing metal fiber wires, with or without a coating or casing of a barrier material, packed in a tube of matrix material, whereupon after shaping of the multi-filamentary ends to the shape of an object to which the brush is to make contact, the matrix is etched away to a predetermined length, preferably under high centrifugal forces in a centrifuge and/or with the application of ultrasound.
Inventors
- 👤 Doris Wilsdorf
- 👤 Heinz G. F. Wilsdorf
- 👤 Charles M. Adkins, III
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 20:55
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R39/00; H01R39/02; H01R39/18; H01R39/24; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S505/00; Y10S505/80; Y10S505/812; Y10S505/825; Y10S505/876; Y10S505/877; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/12; Y10T428/12431; Y10T428/12438; Y10T428/12465; Y10T428/12486; Y10T428/12493; Y10T428/12736; Y10T428/12743; Y10T428/1275; Y10T428/12757; Y10T428/12771; Y10T428/12778; Y10T428/12806; Y10T428/12812; Y10T428/12861; Y10T428/12875; Y10T428/12882; Y10T428/12896; Y10T428/12903; Y10T428/1291; Y10T428/12931
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
97 words
An electrical brush for making an electrical connection to an object having a predetermined shape, comprising: an electrically conductive matrix material; plural metal fiber wires embedded in said matrix material and defining a longitudinal axis, said fiber wires having a diameter (d), a length (l) extending from said matrix material, and a packing density (f) defined as the ratio of the total cross-sectional area of the fiber wires relative to the cross-sectional area of the matrix material in a plane cutting the longitudinal axis of said fiber wires, wherein 1 μm<d<120 μm (a) (d/l)<0.05 (b) 1%<f<25% (c)
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
97 words
An electrical brush for making an electrical connection to an object having a predetermined shape, comprising: an electrically conductive matrix material; plural metal fiber wires embedded in said matrix material and defining a longitudinal axis, said fiber wires having a diameter (d), a length (l) extending from said matrix material, and a packing density (f) defined as the ratio of the total cross-sectional area of the fiber wires relative to the cross-sectional area of the matrix material in a plane cutting the longitudinal axis of said fiber wires, wherein 1 μm<d<120 μm (a) (d/l)<0.05 (b) 1%<f<25% (c)
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
11 words
An electrical brush according to claim 1, wherein: 3 μm<d<60 μm.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
11 words
An electrical brush according to claim 1, wherein: 5 μm<d<50 μm.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
11 words
An electrical brush according to claim 1, wherein: 10 μm<d<40 μm.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
11 words
An electrical brush according to claim 1, wherein: 12 μm<d<35 μm.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
9 words
An electrical brush according to claim 1, wherein: 1%<f<20%.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
9 words
An electrical brush according to claim 1, wherein: 2.5%<f<20%.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
9 words
An electrical brush according to claim 1, wherein: 2.5%<f<18%.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
9 words
An electrical brush according to claim 1, wherein 5%<f<17%.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
An electrical brush according to claim 1, wherein: 6 μm<d<50 μm; and 2.5%<f<20%.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
An electrical brush according to claim 1, further comprising: said fiber wires consisting of a material selected from the group consisting of a noble metal, Cu, Ni, Fe, Nb, W, Ti and high concentration alloys thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
50 words
An electrical brush according to claim 11, further comprising: said fiber wires consisting of a material selected from the group consisting of a noble metal, Cu, Ni, Fe, Nb, W, Ti and high concentration alloys thereof to which is added a predetermined amount less than 5% by weight of Zr.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
An electrical brush according to claim 1, further comprising: said fiber wires consisting of a material selected from the group consisting of Pt, Rh, Au, Ag, Pd, Ni, Cu, Fe and high concentration alloys thereof.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
An electrical brush according to claim 1, wherein said matrix material comprises a metal having a melting temperature greater than 300° C.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
An electrical brush according to claim 1, further comprising: said matrix material selected from the group consisting of Cu, Al, Ag, Fe, Ni and high concentration alloys thereof.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
An electrical brush according to claim 1, further comprising: said matrix material consisting of stainless steel, brass or bronze.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
An electrical brush according to claim 1, further comprising: said matrix material consisting of Cu, Al or Ag.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
An electrical brush according to claim 1, further comprising: said matrix material consisting of Cu.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
An electrical brush according to claim 1, further comprising: said fiber wires extending straightly from said matrix material in a generally mutually parallel orientation.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
38 words
An electrical brush according to claim 1, further comprising: a barrier material of at least one metal layer provided at least on the lateral surface area of that portion of each fiber wire extending from said matrix material.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
37 words
An electrical brush according to claim 1, further comprising: a barrier material of at least one layer provided at least on the lateral surface area of that portion of each fiber wire embedded in said matrix material.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
37 words
An electrical brush according to claim 1, further comprising: a multilayer barrier material of which at least one layer is formed on at least part of that portion of each fiber wire extending from said matrix material.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
31 words
An electrical brush according to claim 20, further comprising: said at least one layer deposited on at least part of said portion of each fiber wire extending from said matrix material.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
39 words
An electrical brush according to claims 20 or 23, wherein said at least one metal barrier layer in use exhibits a lower film resistance against the contact surface of said object than that which base fibers would otherwise exhibit.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
32 words
An electrical brush according to claim 20, further comprising: said barrier material selected from the group consisting of noble metals, Ni, Cu, Cr, Fe, layered combinations thereof and high concentration alloys thereof.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
30 words
An electrical brush according to claim 20, further comprising: said barrier material selected from the group consisting of noble metals, Ni, Cu, high concentration alloys thereof, and layered combinations thereof.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
35 words
An electrical brush according to claim 20, further comprising: said barrier material selected from the group consisting of Pt, Ir Rh, Au, Ag, Pd, Al, Cu, Ni, high concentration alloys thereof and layered combinations thereof.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
52 words
An electrical brush according to claim 10, further comprising: said fiber wires selected from the group consisting of Pt, Rh, Au, Ag, Pd, Ni, Cu, Fe, Ti, W, and high concentration alloys thereof; and said matrix material selected from the group consisting of Cu, Al, Ag, Fe, and high concentration alloys thereof.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
18 words
An electrical brush according to claims 20, 21, 22, 23 or 25, wherein: 6 μm<d<50 μm; and 2.5%<f<20%.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
52 words
An electrical brush according to claim 29, further comprising: said fiber wires selected from the group consisting of Pt, Rh, Au, Ag, Pd, Ni, Cu, Fe, Ti, W and high concentration alloys thereof; and said matrix material selected from the group consisting of Cu, Al, Ag, Fe, and high concentration alloys thereof.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
27 words
An electrical brush according to claim 1, further comprising: said fiber wires made of rhodium; and said matrix material made of silver or high concentration silver alloy.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
36 words
An electrical brush according to claim 1, further comprising: said fiber wires having ends which are compositely shaped to a predetermined shape in correspondence to the predetermined shape and a predetermined relative positioning of said object.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
53 words
An electrical brush according to claim 1, further comprising: said fiber wires consisting of a material selected from the group consisting of a nobel metal, Cu, Ni, Fe, Nb, W, Ti, and high concentration alloys thereof to which is added a predetermined amount less than 5% by weight of Ir, Rh or Zr.
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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) | 1986-11-14 | 1987-05-16 | 1987-11-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-11-14 | 1991-05-16 | 1991-11-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-11-14 | 1995-05-16 | 1995-11-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |