US5196665A — Multi-layer electrode wire and method for produci…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 57 words

A wire electrode for electro-erosion cutting, comprising: a core of electrically conductive material with good mechanical properties; a film of multiple fine layers covering said core; and said multiple fine layers having alternately a first metal with high electrical conductivity and a second metal whose vaporization and melting temperatures are lower than that of said first metal.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 57 words

A wire electrode for electro-erosion cutting, comprising: a core of electrically conductive material with good mechanical properties; a film of multiple fine layers covering said core; and said multiple fine layers having alternately a first metal with high electrical conductivity and a second metal whose vaporization and melting temperatures are lower than that of said first metal.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 38 words

The wire electrode according to claim 1, in which said second metal with low melting and vaporization point and said first metal with good conductivity can diffuse into each other, to provide alloys of given structure and composition.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 33 words

The wire electrode according to claim 1, in which said core is made of an alloy of said first metal with good conductivity and said second metal with low melting and vaporization point.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 20 words

The wire electrode according to claim in which said film consists of alternate superimposed said layers of copper and zinc.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 53 words

The wire electrode according to claim 1, wherein said conductive material of said core is a metal selected from the group consisting of copper, brass, steel or copper-clad steel and said core is covered with superimposed alternate layers of copper and a metal selected from the group of consisting zinc and zinc alloys.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 19 words

The wire electrode according to claim 5 in which an outer layer of said multiple fine layers is zinc.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 21 words

The wire electrode according to claim 1, in which an outer layer of said multiple fine layers consists of a semi-conductor.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 20 words

The wire electrode according to claim 7, in which an outer layer of said multiple fine layers is zinc oxide.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 99 words

A wire electrode for electro-erosion cutting, comprising: a core of electrically conductive material with good mechanical properties; a film of multiple fine layers covering said core; and said multiple fine layers having alternately a first metal with high electrical conductivity and a second metal whose vaporization and melting temperatures are lower than that of said first metal, said alternating layers of said first metal and said second metal are capable of diffusing together to form alloys of given structure and composition, at least two said alloys of different crystalline structure being present in at least one of said layers.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 99 words

A wire electrode for electro-erosion cutting, comprising: a core of electrically conductive material with good mechanical properties; a film of multiple fine layers covering said core; and said multiple fine layers having alternately a first metal with high electrical conductivity and a second metal whose vaporization and melting temperatures are lower than that of said first metal, said alternating layers of said first metal and said second metal are capable of diffusing together to form alloys of given structure and composition, at least two said alloys of different crystalline structure being present in at least one of said layers.

Claim 12

Independent Claim 89 words

A method for manufacturing a multilayer electrode wire comprising the steps of: superimposing a plurality of alternate fine layers of a first metal with high electrical conductivity and a second metal with a low melting and vaporization point onto a core made of electrically conductive material; finishing said superimposed alternate fine layers with a said layer of said second metal; and cold drawing said superimposed fine layers and said finishing layer to cold-form said electrode wire without causing any of said metals to diffuse into an adjacent said layer.

Claim 13

Independent Claim 89 words

A method for manufacturing a multilayer electrode wire comprising the steps of: superimposing a plurality of alternate fine layers of a first metal with high electrical conductivity and a second metal with a low melting and vaporization point onto a core made of electrically conductive material; finishing said superimposed alternate fine layers with a said layer of said second metal; and cold drawing said superimposed fine layers and said finishing layer to cold-form said electrode wire without causing any of said metals to diffuse into an adjacent said layer.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 48 words

The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of heat treating said electrode wire before or during electrical discharge machining to obtain a plurality of layers of alloys of said metal with a low melting point and vaporization point with a said metal with high electrical conductivity.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 63 words

The method of claim 11, wherein said step of heat treating said electrode wire produces a film consisting of appropriate alternate layers of copper and a metal selected from the group consisting of zinc and zinc alloys, said electrode wire penetrating the slot to be machined has superimposed layers of brass and brass alloys, the latter containing 30 to 60 percent zinc content.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 63 words

The method of claim 11 wherein said step of heat treating said electrode wire produces a film consisting of appropriate alternate layers of copper and a metal selected from the group consisting of zinc and zinc alloys, said electrode wire penetrating the slot to be machined has superimposed layers of brass of thickness less than 0.5 microns and a zinc content over 60%.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 76 words

The method of claim 11, wherein said step of heat treating said electrode wire produces a film consisting of appropriate alternate layers of copper and a metal selected from the group consisting of zinc and zinc alloys, said electrode wire penetrating the slot to be machined has layers of brass with greater than 60% zinc content alternating with layers of brass with zinc content between 30 and 60% and with a thickness greater than 8 microns.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1996-03-22	1996-09-21	1997-03-23	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2000-03-22	2000-09-21	2001-03-23	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2004-03-22	2004-09-21	2005-03-23	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Multi-layer electrode wire and method for producing the same

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