US2396100A - Electric contact - Google Patents
Electric contact Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US2396100A US2396100A US492917A US49291743A US2396100A US 2396100 A US2396100 A US 2396100A US 492917 A US492917 A US 492917A US 49291743 A US49291743 A US 49291743A US 2396100 A US2396100 A US 2396100A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- lead
- gold
- thallium
- electric contact
- contact
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
- 229910052716 thallium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 12
- BKVIYDNLLOSFOA-UHFFFAOYSA-N thallium Chemical compound [Tl] BKVIYDNLLOSFOA-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 12
- PCHJSUWPFVWCPO-UHFFFAOYSA-N gold Chemical compound [Au] PCHJSUWPFVWCPO-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 11
- 229910052737 gold Inorganic materials 0.000 description 11
- 239000010931 gold Substances 0.000 description 11
- 239000000956 alloy Substances 0.000 description 8
- 229910045601 alloy Inorganic materials 0.000 description 8
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 8
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 8
- 150000002739 metals Chemical class 0.000 description 4
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 4
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000000843 powder Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000005245 sintering Methods 0.000 description 3
- RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N Copper Chemical compound [Cu] RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- PXHVJJICTQNCMI-UHFFFAOYSA-N Nickel Chemical compound [Ni] PXHVJJICTQNCMI-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- KDLHZDBZIXYQEI-UHFFFAOYSA-N Palladium Chemical compound [Pd] KDLHZDBZIXYQEI-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 229910052802 copper Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 239000010949 copper Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000004615 ingredient Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 2
- BASFCYQUMIYNBI-UHFFFAOYSA-N platinum Chemical compound [Pt] BASFCYQUMIYNBI-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 229910052709 silver Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 239000004332 silver Substances 0.000 description 2
- PWHULOQIROXLJO-UHFFFAOYSA-N Manganese Chemical compound [Mn] PWHULOQIROXLJO-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 241001502883 Marcia Species 0.000 description 1
- HCHKCACWOHOZIP-UHFFFAOYSA-N Zinc Chemical compound [Zn] HCHKCACWOHOZIP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 238000007792 addition Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005275 alloying Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000003247 decreasing effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000009826 distribution Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000005496 eutectics Effects 0.000 description 1
- UCHOFYCGAZVYGZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N gold lead Chemical compound [Au].[Pb] UCHOFYCGAZVYGZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910052748 manganese Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000011572 manganese Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000002844 melting Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000008018 melting Effects 0.000 description 1
- 150000002736 metal compounds Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 238000002156 mixing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000003472 neutralizing effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229910052759 nickel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 230000001590 oxidative effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229910052763 palladium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000002245 particle Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052697 platinum Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 238000003825 pressing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000003466 welding Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000009736 wetting Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910052725 zinc Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000011701 zinc Substances 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
- H01H1/00—Contacts
- H01H1/02—Contacts characterised by the material thereof
- H01H1/021—Composite material
- H01H1/023—Composite material having a noble metal as the basic material
Definitions
- the contact alloys may contain:
- the preferred contact materials for most uses contain:
- the alloys can also be made by powder etallurgical methods, consisting in mixing the powders, pressing same and then sintering them at a temperature where the ingredients diffuse into each other. In certain cases, it may be advisable to mix oxide powders of the lead and thallium with the gold base material and then carry out the sintering in a reducing atmosphere. In certain cases it may be advisable to retain a certain percentage of oxides in the alloy and for such applications the sintering may be carried out in a neutral or oxidizing atmosphere.
- Contacts 01 the present invention find application in various electric devices, such as relays, voltage regulators, meters, gauges, telephone relays, thermostatic applications, sliding contacts and brush applications where certain anti-friction properties are required.
- These contacts have-the advantages of tarnish resistance and thereby low contact resistance. They can be operated at low pressures both in The presence of lead and thallium in the percentages covered by the present invention, provides a finely distributed phase which, during the operation of the contacts, tends to form a non-wettingoxide'. The percentages of this oxide are so calculated that they will hardly afiect thecontact resistance but will greatly decrease the sticking tendencies of the contacts. Due to. the fact that the goldthallium and gold-lead systems are eutectic compositions, th metals lead and thallium are present in elementary form or metal compounds. The
- An electric contact formed of a gold base alloy containing 0.1 to 15% of metal selected from the group consisting of lead and thallium.
- An electric contact composed of 0.1 to 15% of metal selected irom the group consisting of lead and thallium, balance substantially all gold, said contact being characterized by low contact resistance and the presence of a finely distributed 3 phase formed predominantly of the lead or thallium capable of decreasing the sticking tendency of. the contact.
- An electric contact composed of 0.5 to 5% of metal selected from the group consisting oi lead
Landscapes
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Composite Materials (AREA)
- Materials Engineering (AREA)
- Contacts (AREA)
Description
Marcia 5', 1946 FJR. HENSEL 2,396,100
ELECTRIC CONTACT Filed June so, 1945 /ELECTRIC cowmcr FORMED OFGOLD BASE ALLOY CONTAINING LEAD OR THHLLIUM llrronNc-vs Patented Mar. 5, 1946 ELECTRIC CONTACT Franz It. Hensel, Indianapolis, Ind., asslgnor to P. R. Mallory & Co., Inc., Indianapolis, Ind., a corporation of Delaware Application June 30, 1943, Serial No. 492,917
3 Claims.
This invention relates to electric contacts. An object of the invention is to improve electric contact compositions.
The present invention contemplates an electric contact formed of a gold base alloy containins lead or thallium. s,
The contact alloys may contain:
. Per cent by weight Lead, thallium or lead and thallium 0.1 to 15 Gold or gold base alloys-.. Balance The gold used may be either pure gold or one of the carat golds. These consist of gold-base alloys containing additions of silver, copper or other metals such as nickel, zinc, palladium, platinum or manganese. A table or carat gold is given in Metals Handbook (American Society for Metals, Cleveland, Ohio) 1939 edition, page 1507. It is contemplated that silver or copper may be present in the metal composition from traces to 20%, and hence are sometimes present in proportions still higher than would be present if carat golds were used in making the compositions.
The preferred contact materials for most uses contain:
7 Per cent by weight Lead, thallium or lead and thallium 0.5 to 5 Gold Balance Examples of suitable specific contact materials are:
The contact alloys can be made by conventional alloying methods, as by melting the ingredients and thallium, balance gold.
FRANZ R. HENBEL.
v D. C. and A. C. circuits.
The alloys can also be made by powder etallurgical methods, consisting in mixing the powders, pressing same and then sintering them at a temperature where the ingredients diffuse into each other. In certain cases, it may be advisable to mix oxide powders of the lead and thallium with the gold base material and then carry out the sintering in a reducing atmosphere. In certain cases it may be advisable to retain a certain percentage of oxides in the alloy and for such applications the sintering may be carried out in a neutral or oxidizing atmosphere.
Contacts 01 the present invention find application in various electric devices, such as relays, voltage regulators, meters, gauges, telephone relays, thermostatic applications, sliding contacts and brush applications where certain anti-friction properties are required.
These contacts have-the advantages of tarnish resistance and thereby low contact resistance. They can be operated at low pressures both in The presence of lead and thallium in the percentages covered by the present invention, provides a finely distributed phase which, during the operation of the contacts, tends to form a non-wettingoxide'. The percentages of this oxide are so calculated that they will hardly afiect thecontact resistance but will greatly decrease the sticking tendencies of the contacts. Due to. the fact that the goldthallium and gold-lead systems are eutectic compositions, th metals lead and thallium are present in elementary form or metal compounds. The
distribution, therefore, of the non-wetting con-' stituent is microscopically fine. During the operation of the contacts, and particularly during the arc stage, a slight oxidationoi these microscopical particles prevents welding of the contacts because gold areas which might be momentarily fused will have no chance to flow together, thereby iorming a large enough molten pool to cause sticking.
While specific embodiments oi the invention have been described, it is intended to cover the 5 invention broadly within the spirit and scope or the appended claims.
What is claimed is:
1. An electric contact formed of a gold base alloy containing 0.1 to 15% of metal selected from the group consisting of lead and thallium.
2. An electric contact composed of 0.1 to 15% of metal selected irom the group consisting of lead and thallium, balance substantially all gold, said contact being characterized by low contact resistance and the presence of a finely distributed 3 phase formed predominantly of the lead or thallium capable of decreasing the sticking tendency of. the contact.
3. An electric contact composed of 0.5 to 5% of metal selected from the group consisting oi lead
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US492917A US2396100A (en) | 1943-06-30 | 1943-06-30 | Electric contact |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US492917A US2396100A (en) | 1943-06-30 | 1943-06-30 | Electric contact |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| US2396100A true US2396100A (en) | 1946-03-05 |
Family
ID=23958129
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| US492917A Expired - Lifetime US2396100A (en) | 1943-06-30 | 1943-06-30 | Electric contact |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US2396100A (en) |
Cited By (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2539298A (en) * | 1945-07-28 | 1951-01-23 | Mallory & Co Inc P R | Electrical contact of an internally oxidized composition |
| US2655466A (en) * | 1942-12-30 | 1953-10-13 | Standard Oil Dev Co | Process for shutting-down catalytic apparatus employed for the conversion of hydrocarbons |
| DE1190199B (en) * | 1957-09-27 | 1965-04-01 | Siemens Ag | Use of an alloy based on silver and / or copper as a material for electrical contacts |
| DE1234397B (en) * | 1954-11-20 | 1967-02-16 | Duerrwaechter E Dr Doduco | Use of gold and / or silver alloys as a material for electrical contacts and processes for making contacts |
-
1943
- 1943-06-30 US US492917A patent/US2396100A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Cited By (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2655466A (en) * | 1942-12-30 | 1953-10-13 | Standard Oil Dev Co | Process for shutting-down catalytic apparatus employed for the conversion of hydrocarbons |
| US2539298A (en) * | 1945-07-28 | 1951-01-23 | Mallory & Co Inc P R | Electrical contact of an internally oxidized composition |
| DE1234397B (en) * | 1954-11-20 | 1967-02-16 | Duerrwaechter E Dr Doduco | Use of gold and / or silver alloys as a material for electrical contacts and processes for making contacts |
| DE1190199B (en) * | 1957-09-27 | 1965-04-01 | Siemens Ag | Use of an alloy based on silver and / or copper as a material for electrical contacts |
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