US4957771A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ion bombardment of insulator surfaces
Assignee: United States Department of the Air Force
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Filing: 1989-07-21
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Granted: 1990-09-18
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Expires: 2009-07-21
Abstract
Abstract A system is disclosed which will improve the flashover strength of high-voltage insulators in vacuum. Treatments which deposit a small amount of metal on an insulator surface can improve flashover performance. This process applies commercial ion-implantation techniques to achieve a quasi-metalized surface on a vacuum insulator. By making the metal a part of the structure of the insulator near the surface, the ion-bombardment process yields a surface which has the same electrical properties as a metalized surface achieved by other methods, with the additional advantage of mechanical and electrical ruggedness.
Inventors
- 👤 Carl L. Enloe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 11:39
CPC Classifications
C; C23; C23C; C23C14/00; C23C14/22; C23C14/48
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
76 words
A process for treating high-voltage insulators in order to improve their flashover strength, said process comprising the steps of: exposing the high-voltage insulators to a beam of high-energy metal ions which are emitted by an ion accelerator; maintaining the beam of high-energy metal ions on the high-voltage insulator with a particle flux of up to approximately 5×10 14 particles per second for a preselected duration; and annealing the high-voltage insulators when said maintaining step is completed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
76 words
A process for treating high-voltage insulators in order to improve their flashover strength, said process comprising the steps of: exposing the high-voltage insulators to a beam of high-energy metal ions which are emitted by an ion accelerator; maintaining the beam of high-energy metal ions on the high-voltage insulator with a particle flux of up to approximately 5×10 14 particles per second for a preselected duration; and annealing the high-voltage insulators when said maintaining step is completed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
A process of treating high-voltage insulators in order to improve their flashover strength, said process comprising exposing the high-voltage insulators to a beam of high-energy metal ions which are emitted by an ion accelerator.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A process of treating high-voltage insulators in order to improve their flashover strength, said process comprising exposing the high-voltage insulators to a beam of high-energy metal ions which are emitted by an ion accelerator.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
A process of treating high-voltage insulators, as defined in claim 2, wherein said metal ions are generated using a source of metallic ions of a metal selected from the group consisting of iron, cobalt, nickel, silver, aluminum, gold and copper.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
A process for treating high-voltage insulators, as defined in claim 3, wherein said high-voltage insulators are selected from a group consisting of polymers, ceramics, glasses, metal oxides, and fiber/epoxy laminates.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
A process for treating high-voltage insulators, as defined in claim 4, wherein said exposing step includes directing said beam of high-energy metal ions onto a surface of an insulator for preselected time to achieve preselected depth of penetration and metallic ion density of said high-energy metal ions in the insulator surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process of treating high-voltage insulators, as defined in claim 4, wherein said process includes annealing the high voltage insulators.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
A process for treating high-voltage insulators, as defined in claim 3, wherein said process includes directing said beam of high energy metal ions onto a surface of an insulator for preselected time to achieve preselected depth of penetration and metallic ion density of said high-energy ions in the insulator surface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
A process for treating high-voltage insulators, as defined in claim 3, wherein said process includes annealing the high-voltage insulators.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
A process for treating high-voltage insulators, as defined in claim 3, wherein said process includes maintaining the beam of high-energy metal ions on the high-voltage insulator with a particle flux of up to approximately 5×10 14 particles per second for a preselected duration.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
66 words
A process for treating high-voltage insulators in order to improve their flashover strength, said process comprising the steps of: exposing the high-voltage insulators to a beam of high-energy metal ions which are emitted by an ion accelerator; and maintaining the beam of high-energy metal ions on the high-voltage insulator with a particle flux of up to approximately 5×10 14 particles per second for a preselected duration.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
66 words
A process for treating high-voltage insulators in order to improve their flashover strength, said process comprising the steps of: exposing the high-voltage insulators to a beam of high-energy metal ions which are emitted by an ion accelerator; and maintaining the beam of high-energy metal ions on the high-voltage insulator with a particle flux of up to approximately 5×10 14 particles per second for a preselected duration.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
A process of treating high-voltage insulators, as defined in claim 10, wherein said metal ions are generated using a source of metallic ions of a metal selected from the group consisting of iron, cobalt, nickel, silver, aluminum, gold and copper.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
A process for treating high-voltage insulators, as defined in claim 11, wherein said high-voltage insulators are selected from a group consisting of polymers, ceramics, glasses, metal oxides, and fiber/epoxy laminates.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
51 words
A process for treating high-voltage insulators, as defined in claim 12, wherein said exposing step includes directing said beam of high-energy metal ions onto a surface of an insulator for preselected time to achieve preselected depth of penetration and metallic ion density of said high-energy metal ions in the insulator surface.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
A process for treating high-voltage insulators, as defined in claim 13, wherein said maintaining step is continued until surface concentration of said metal ions is said insulator of up to approximately 5×10 17 particles per square centimeter are achieved.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
A process for treating high-voltage insulators, as defined in claim 14 wherein said polymers selected for said high-voltage insulators include acetal resin, polycaprolactam, polytetinfluoro-ethylene, polyethylene, polyvinylchoride, and polystyrene.
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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) | 1993-09-17 | 1994-03-19 | 1994-09-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-09-17 | 1998-03-19 | 1998-09-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-09-17 | 2002-03-19 | 2002-09-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |