US5945010A — Electrode wire for use in electric discharge mach…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 107 words

An electrode wire for use in an electric discharge machining apparatus, said wire comprising: a core comprising one of a metal and an alloy of a metal; a coating is disposed on said core, said coating comprising one of a second metal and an alloy of a second metal which is comprised of greater than 50% by weight of said second metal, said second metal having a volumetric heat of sublimation less than 35 kilojoules per cubic centimeter, said coating having a melting point equal to or greater than 550° C., said coating including discontinuities whereby said core is not covered by said coating at said discontinuities.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 107 words

An electrode wire for use in an electric discharge machining apparatus, said wire comprising: a core comprising one of a metal and an alloy of a metal; a coating is disposed on said core, said coating comprising one of a second metal and an alloy of a second metal which is comprised of greater than 50% by weight of said second metal, said second metal having a volumetric heat of sublimation less than 35 kilojoules per cubic centimeter, said coating having a melting point equal to or greater than 550° C., said coating including discontinuities whereby said core is not covered by said coating at said discontinuities.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 20 words

The electrode wire of claim 1, wherein said coating covers less than 100% of the surface area of the core.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 18 words

The electrode wire of claim 1, wherein said alloy or a second metal comprises a copper zinc alloy.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 18 words

The electrode wire of claim 1, wherein said alloy of a second metal comprises a nickel zinc alloy.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 13 words

The electrode wire of claim 1, wherein said core comprises copper clad steel.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 11 words

The electrode wire of claim 1, wherein said core comprises brass.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 20 words

The electrode wire of claim 6, wherein said brass comprises zinc in the range of 5% to 40%, by weight.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 26 words

The electrode wire of claim 1, wherein said second metal is selected from the group consisting of zinc, cadmium, tin, lead, antimony, bismuth, magnesium, and aluminum.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 28 words

The electrode wire according to claim 8 wherein said second metal is zinc and said alloy of a second metal has a zinc content between 58% and 67%.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 19 words

The electric discharge machining wire according to claim 1 wherein said coating essentially consists of a γ phase alloy.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 71 words

An electrode wire for use in an electric discharge machining apparatus, said wire comprising: a core comprising one of a first metal and an alloy of a first metal; a coating is disposed on said core, said coating comprising a γ phase alloy of a second metal which has a low volumetric heat of sublimation, said coating having discontinuities whereby said core is not covered by said coating at said discontinuities.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 71 words

An electrode wire for use in an electric discharge machining apparatus, said wire comprising: a core comprising one of a first metal and an alloy of a first metal; a coating is disposed on said core, said coating comprising a γ phase alloy of a second metal which has a low volumetric heat of sublimation, said coating having discontinuities whereby said core is not covered by said coating at said discontinuities.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 62 words

An electrode wire for use in an electric discharge machining apparatus, said wire comprising: a core comprising one of a first metal and an alloy of a first metal; and a coating is disposed on said core of a copper-zinc alloy having a zinc content greater than 50% by weight, said coating having discontinuities whereby said core is exposed at said discontinuities.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 62 words

An electrode wire for use in an electric discharge machining apparatus, said wire comprising: a core comprising one of a first metal and an alloy of a first metal; and a coating is disposed on said core of a copper-zinc alloy having a zinc content greater than 50% by weight, said coating having discontinuities whereby said core is exposed at said discontinuities.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 82 words

A process for manufacturing an electric discharge machining wire electrode, said process comprising: providing a wire core composed of one of a first metal, an alloy of a first metal, and a composite structure of a first metal; coating said core by means of electrochemical codeposition with a nickel-zinc mixture comprised of nickel and zinc; heating said coated wire core in the range of 150° C.-400° C. until said nickel-zinc mixture forms a γ phase alloy; and cooling said coated wire core.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 82 words

A process for manufacturing an electric discharge machining wire electrode, said process comprising: providing a wire core composed of one of a first metal, an alloy of a first metal, and a composite structure of a first metal; coating said core by means of electrochemical codeposition with a nickel-zinc mixture comprised of nickel and zinc; heating said coated wire core in the range of 150° C.-400° C. until said nickel-zinc mixture forms a γ phase alloy; and cooling said coated wire core.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 20 words

The process for manufacturing an electric discharge machining electrode wire according to claim 13 wherein said first metal is copper.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 31 words

The process for manufacturing an electric discharge machining electrode wire according to claim 13 wherein said nickel-zinc mixture has a zinc content in the range of 75% to 90% by weight.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 92 words

A process for manufacturing an electric discharge machining wire electrode, said process comprising: providing a wire core composed of one of a first metal, an alloy of a first metal, and a composite structure of a first metal; coating said core by means of electrochemical codeposition with a nickel-zinc mixture comprised of nickel and zinc; heating said coated wire core until said nickel-zinc mixture forms a γ phase alloy, said γ phase alloy having a constant concentration of zinc in the radial direction of said wire; and cooling said coated wire core.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 92 words

A process for manufacturing an electric discharge machining wire electrode, said process comprising: providing a wire core composed of one of a first metal, an alloy of a first metal, and a composite structure of a first metal; coating said core by means of electrochemical codeposition with a nickel-zinc mixture comprised of nickel and zinc; heating said coated wire core until said nickel-zinc mixture forms a γ phase alloy, said γ phase alloy having a constant concentration of zinc in the radial direction of said wire; and cooling said coated wire core.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 65 words

An electrode wire for use in an electric discharge machining apparatus, said wire comprising: a core comprising one of a metal, an alloy of a metal, and a composite structure of a first metal; a coating is disposed on said core, said coating comprised of a nickel-zinc alloy, said nickel-zinc alloy coating having a constant concentration of zinc in the radial direction of said wire.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 65 words

An electrode wire for use in an electric discharge machining apparatus, said wire comprising: a core comprising one of a metal, an alloy of a metal, and a composite structure of a first metal; a coating is disposed on said core, said coating comprised of a nickel-zinc alloy, said nickel-zinc alloy coating having a constant concentration of zinc in the radial direction of said wire.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 17 words

The electrode wire of claim 17, wherein said nickel-zinc alloy coating comprises a γ phase nickel-zinc alloy.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 24 words

The electrode wire of claim 17, wherein said nickel-zinc alloy coating has a zinc content in the range of 75% to 90% by weight.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 79 words

A process for manufacturing an electric discharge machining electrical wire, said process comprising: providing a metal core comprising one of a first metal and an alloy of a first metal; coating said core with a second metal, said second metal having a low volumetric heat of sublimation; heating said coated core in the range of 150° C.-400° C. in the range of 1-4 hours until said first and second metal form a γ phase alloy; and cooling said wire.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 79 words

A process for manufacturing an electric discharge machining electrical wire, said process comprising: providing a metal core comprising one of a first metal and an alloy of a first metal; coating said core with a second metal, said second metal having a low volumetric heat of sublimation; heating said coated core in the range of 150° C.-400° C. in the range of 1-4 hours until said first and second metal form a γ phase alloy; and cooling said wire.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 78 words

A process for manufacturing an electric discharge machining electrical wire, said process comprising: providing a metal core comprising one of a first metal and an alloy of a first metal, said first metal comprising nickel; coating said core with a second metal, said second metal having a low volumetric heat of sublimation; heating said coated core in the range of 150° C.-400° C. until seen first and second metal form a γ phase alloy; and cooling said wire.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 78 words

A process for manufacturing an electric discharge machining electrical wire, said process comprising: providing a metal core comprising one of a first metal and an alloy of a first metal, said first metal comprising nickel; coating said core with a second metal, said second metal having a low volumetric heat of sublimation; heating said coated core in the range of 150° C.-400° C. until seen first and second metal form a γ phase alloy; and cooling said wire.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 63 words

An electrode wire for use in an electric discharge machining apparatus, said wire comprising: a core comprising brass which has a zinc content of greater than 30% by weight; and a brass coating is disposed on said core, said brass coating consisting substantially of γ phase brass, said coating including discontinuities whereby said core is not covered by said coating at said discontinuities.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 63 words

An electrode wire for use in an electric discharge machining apparatus, said wire comprising: a core comprising brass which has a zinc content of greater than 30% by weight; and a brass coating is disposed on said core, said brass coating consisting substantially of γ phase brass, said coating including discontinuities whereby said core is not covered by said coating at said discontinuities.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2002-08-30	2003-03-01	2003-08-31	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2006-08-30	2007-03-01	2007-08-31	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2010-08-30	2011-03-01	2011-08-31	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Electrode wire for use in electric discharge machining and process for preparing same

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag