Abstract: An electronic component for making electrical contact with another component comprising a nonmetallic pultruded composite member having a plurality of small generally circular cross section conductive fibers in a polymer matrix the plurality of fibers being oriented in the matrix in a direction substantially parallel to the axial direction of the member and being continuous from one end of the member to the other to provide a plurality of electrical point contacts at each end of the member at least one end of the member having a fibrillated brush-like structure of said plurality of fibers providing a densely distributed filament contact wherein the terminating ends of the fibers in the brush-like structure defines an electrically contacting surface. In a preferred embodiment the brush-like member is a laser fibrillated structure.

Abstract: An electronic device for conducting electric current has two contacting components at least one of which is a nonmetallic electronic contact in the form of a pultruded composite member made of a plurality of small generally circular cross section conductive fibers in a polymer matrix, the fibers being oriented in the matrix in a direction substantially parallel to the axial direction of the pultruded composite member and being continuous from one end of the member to the other to provide a plurality of electrical point contacts at each end of the member.

Abstract: An electric contact with a base metal used as a switch wherein the non-welded peripheral portion of the contact is prevented from bow-like bending and from peeling off. The electric contact with a base metal having a contact promoting shape is formed by die forging of a contact material joined to the base metal by resistance welding. The composite contact material is prepared by coating the core material of Ag-oxide contact material with non-oxide contact material. The side of the material in contact with the base metal is of non-oxide contact material. The contact material may be pressed to fill a groove preformed in the base metal, welded to protrusions preformed in the base metal, welded to the bottom of a cut preformed in the base metal, or welded to bottoms of recesses preformed in the base metal.

Abstract: A contact forming material for a vacuum interrupter comprising: from 25% to 65% by weight of a highly conductive component comprising Ag and Cu, and from 35% to 75% by weight of an arc-proof component selected from the group consisting of Ti, V, Cr, Zr, Mo, W and their carbides and borides, and mixtures thereof wherein the highly conductive component of the contact forming material comprises (i) a first highly conductive component region composed of a first discontinuous phase having a thickness or width of no more than 5 micrometers and a first matrix surrounding the first discontinuous phase, and (ii) a second highly conductive component region composed of a second discontinuous phase having a thickness or width of at least 5 micrometers and a second matrix surrounding the second discontinuous phase, wherein the first discontinuous phase in the first highly conductive component region is finely and uniformly dispersed in the first matrix at intervals of no more than 5 micrometers, and wherein the amount of

Abstract: A relay (30) has one or both current carrying relay contacts (12, 14) made of a soft, deformable, readily fusible metal, preferably indium, lead, cadmium, bismuth, or tin. When the relay (30) closes, the contacts (12, 14) deform or fuse together, ensuring good electrical conductance and eliminating chatter and accidental opening. The relay (30) is particularly useful in a bypass circuit (54) for a spacecraft battery system (50).

Abstract: Disclosed is a slide switch comprising an insulator, at least one stationary contact member fixed in an upper surface of the insulator, a contact holder slidable on the insulator, movable contact members connected by a connecting member and mounted on the contact holder through contact biasing springs to make sliding electrical contact with the stationary contact member, and a casing enclosing the contact holder together with the insulator. In the slide switch, the movable contact members and the connecting member are formed of a thermally deformable material so that their side walls extending in a direction substantially orthogonal with respect to the upper surface of the contact holder are freely deformable when subjected to heat.

Abstract: An electrical device is provided which has contacts having regions with a conductive matte-finish metal surface. The matte-finish surface is characterized by having a Knoop hardness number of at least 300, a diffuse reflectance of less than about 20 percent, and a specular reflectance of less than about 2 percent. These contacts have a contact resistance of less than about 50 milliohms, under a 50-gram load, even after exposure to 50.degree. C. and 95% relative humidity for a period of 20 days. Reflection electron microscopy shows that particularly advantageous matte-finish surfaces have sharply peaked asperities with average peak angles of less than about 90 degrees. In one embodiment, the surface is formed of hardened nickel electroplated from an electrolytic bath with a pH above about 7.0.

Abstract: An appliance timer includes a motor driven cam carried in a housing. A switch blade carried in the housing is responsive to the cam to selectively activate one of a pair of switch circuits, each of which provide a different operating level for an appliance function, e.g. several different heat levels in an automatic dryer. Each switch circuit includes a contact, a contact support spring, and an electrical feed-through which connects to a terminal strap on the exterior of the housing. A resistor that is an integral part of one of the switch circuits provides the level differentiation between the circuits. In one embodiment a carbonaceous organic resistor chip replaces the circuit contact. In another embodiment an inorganic ceramic resistor slug replaces the circuit feed-through.

Abstract: Electrical contacts especially for use with electric breakers, consisting of (1) a base made from a silver-tin system alloy containing In, and (2) a clad over the base made from a silver-cadmium system alloy, the alloys having been internally oxidized. The clad (2) stands by to initial tests provided for electric breakers, and the base (1) stands by to the tests thereafter. The base has no segregation of tin oxides on account of internal oxidation of the base screened by the clad (2).

Abstract: The arc withstanding electrodes in an electric circuit breaker for switching high voltages attain greater mechanical strength and improved arc withstanding capabilities by forming the arc withstanding electrodes of a carbon-fiber-reinforced-graphite material which material is constituted of a graphite matrix which is reinforced by carbon fibers embedded therein. A method for forming the carbon-fiber-reinforced-graphite of the arc electrodes and for affixing the arc electrodes to a metal carrier therefor includes the steps of employing a high-temperature solder based on copper and/or silver, containing at least one carbide-forming element such as, for example, Cr.

Abstract: A novel contact electrode material for vacuum interrupters is disclosed, by which the chopping current value inherent in contact material can be reduced so that it is possible to stably interrupt small lagging current due to inductive loads without generating surge voltages. The material is equivalent or superior to the conventional Cu-0.5Bi material in large current interrupting capability and dielectric strength. The material consists essentially of copper, chromium, iron or molybdenum and chromium carbide or molybdenum carbide. The metallographical microstructure is such that copper is infiltrated into a porous matrix formed by mutually bonding chromium powder, iron or molybdenum powder and metal carbide powder in diffusion state.

Abstract: A continuous-current switch for shorting at least one superconducting magnet winding is provided with at least two contacts, each of which comprises several superconducting conductor sections which are arranged parallel to one another. The superconducting conductor sections are connected to support elements and are cooled by a cryogenic coolant. An actuating device is provided for joining the superconducting conductor sections together with a predetermined contact pressure. In order to ensure contact resistances are as low as possible for large superconducting magnets, the invention provides that the superconducting sections are arranged at the surfaces of the contacts facing each other in at least substantially parallel planes whereby the superconducting conductor sections of the first contact cross the superconducting conductor sections of the other contact.

Abstract: An electrical contact surface, suitable for use in producing electrical connectors, and having low surface contact resistance, is produced by the electrolytic deposition of nickel in crystalline form on a substrate. A plating bath is prepared containing nickel anions selected from the group consisting essentially of TiF.sub.6 --, ZrF.sub.6 --, HfF.sub.6 --, and TaF.sub.7 --. The nickel is preferably in the form of nickel chloride in an amount between about 0.1-2 molar, while the anion additives are in an amount between about one gram per liter and the solubility limit of the particular anion. The bath temperature, pH, and current density conditions are controlled to effect the deposition, and the electrical contact surface produced has a matte finish with nodules densely arranged on the surface. The contact resistance is less than that of a standard copper surface coated with 500 microinches of gold.

Abstract: A contact of a vacuum interrupter and a manufacturing process therefor are disclosed. The contact can greatly reduce the chopping current of the interrupter, can greatly increase the dielectric strength thereof and can improve the large- and small-current interrupting capabilities thereof. The contact is made of a material containing 29 to 74 weight % copper, 15 to 60 weight % chromium, 10 to 35 weight % iron, 0.5 to 15 weight % carbon and 0.5 to 15 weight % silicon. The process contains the steps of producing a porous matrix by sintering a mixture of all of the elements except copper under a nonoxidizing atmosphere, impregnating the matrix with copper and machining the resultant material.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a cup type vacuum interrupter contact comprised of a holder portion and a contact portion. The holder portion is cup shaped and has a base and side walls extending vertically from the base. The contact portion is circular in configuration corresponding approximately in shape and cross-sectional area to the side walls of the holder portion and is disposed on and affixed to the rim of the side walls. The holder portion has slots extending at an angle from its base through the side walls to the rim. The holder portion is comprised of a precipitation-hardened copper alloy and the contact portion is comprised of copper.

Abstract: An electrical contact structure of a vacuum interrupter wherein a pair of electrical contacts 2 are provided within a vacuum vessel 1 through a pair of contact rods 14 so that one is in contact with the other or away therefrom. The electrical contact 2 comprises a substantially disk-shaped contact body 2b made of high electric conducting metal portions and metallic pipes having a low electric conductivity, and a plurality of major current flowing sections 22 made of metal having a high electric conductivity, penetrated in the contact body 2b in a manner to be penetrated in the direction of the thickness of the contact body 2b and separated from each other.

Abstract: A contact material for use in a vacuum circuit interrupter which simultaneously provides superior current interrupting performance and breakdown voltage. The contact material of the invention includes components of copper, tantalum and at least one of cobalt and iron. Cobalt or iron should be present in an amount of 50 wt % or less, while the combination of tantalum and cobalt or iron should be present in an amount of at least 10 wt %. A fourth component of at least one of titanium, zirconium and aluminum may be added. Also, there may be included a fifth component containing at least one of a low melting point metal, alloys of a low melting point metal, intermetallic compounds of a low melting point metal, and oxides thereof, with the low melting point metal being at least one of bismuth, tellurium, antimony, thallium, lead, selenium, cerium and calcium in an amount of not more than 20 wt %.

Abstract: A small portion of a lead for a superconducting coil is made to function as a controllable resistor with a low resistance value and fast thermal response so as to be capable of rapidly being switched between the superconducting and resistive states. The device is thus capable of fine adjustment of the current flowing in a superconducting loop. The switch includes lengths of parallel conductor so that the resulting section of superconductive material is cryostable. The superconducting oil lead is disposed on a substrate so as to permit ready access for helium or other cryogenic coolant to most lead surfaces. The small mass and close contact with the coolant produce rapid turn-on and turn-off response characteristics. Furthermore, the low overall resistance causes the coil current to decay slowly, thus preventing precise control of the superconducting current.

Abstract: An electrical contact member and method of fabrication which facilitates braze connection of the electrical contact member to the conductive support stem of a vacuum interrupter structure. A high density slug of the contact material is performed. The high density slug is disposed in a powder mass of the contact material which is sintered to form the contact member. A high conductivity component is then infiltrated in the electrical contact member to produce the desired conductivity for the contact member, with the high density portion being easily brazed to a conductive support stem.

Abstract: A vacuum interrupter for opening and closing a current passage comprises a pair of electrodes which are detachable and respectively connected to each of conductive rods in a vacuum container, wherein each of said electrodes comprises one or more grooves to cut the peripheral part of the electrode at one end and to approach the other end near the peripheral part of the electrode to form a current passage and also each current conductor connecting electrically said electrode to said conductive rod near the cut part of said electrode deviated from the center of said electrode, whereby a magnetic field in parallel to the arc between said pair of electrodes is formed.

Abstract: An electrical connector arrangement comprises a first element adapted to be in contact for substantial periods of time with a second element. The first element comprises a first metal substrate having an outer layer of a copper base alloy comprising from about 2 to about 12% aluminum, about 0.001 to about 3% silicon, and the balance essentially copper. The second element comprises a second metal substrate having a gold or gold base alloy contact surface.

Abstract: A flexible multilayered membrane switch having electrically conducting contacts comprising Ti.sub.2-x N or Ta.sub.2-x N, to reduce oxidation of the surfaces of the contacts.

Abstract: An electrical contact element is made of material which is resistant to metal migration and which contains a major proportion by weight, at least two metallic components which are soluble in each other and form a composite material. At least one of the components consists of a noble metal, and the metallic components are heterogeneously embedded in the composite material as pure metallic components. A process for making such a contact element comprises forming jacket wires, made of the metallic components, into clusters and metallurgically joining the wires by plastic shaping to form the composite material.

Abstract: In a rhodium electrical contact of a switch, particularly a reed switch, from 0.1 to 10 atomic % of Ag is included in the electrical contact. The electrical contact of the invention has a long life under a various loading conditions from a non-working condition, where an electric current is neither conducted nor broken by the switch, to a working condition, where erosion of the electrical contact is caused by short arcs between members of the electrical contact.

Abstract: An electrode of a vacuum circuit breaker, having a high dielectric strength, large breaking current and superior non-welding characteristic. The electrode is made of a cast alloy comprising copper, 20 wt% or less of rare earth metal such as lanthanum, cerium or an alloy of either one of these rare earth metal with another rare earth metal, 10 wt% or less of a metal such as lead and bismuth having a lower melting point and a higher vapor pressure than copper, and 0.1 to 30 wt% of a metal of iron group. A part of the rare earth metal and a part of the metal having the lower melting point and higher vapor pressure than copper are crystallized in the grain boundary and in the grains of copper.

Abstract: A relay contact made of nickel-cobalt sintered alloys with the composition 50 to 85% nickel and 50 to 15% cobalt is described.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine ignition distributor wherein the circumferentially disposed stationary output electrodes carried by the distributor cap are made up of a resistive material having a predetermined resistance value per unit length. The resistive material may be (1) an electrically resistive, resin bonded mixture of metal, carbon and ferrite powders or (2) an electrically resistive, epoxy resin bonded mixture of copper alloy powder, manganese-zinc-ferrite powder and carbon powder.

Abstract: A membrane switch of the type having a substrate and a flexible membrane. Both the substrate and membrane have a set of electrical conductors formed thereon. The conductors are in facing relation and are separated by a spacer. The spacer has openings in line with switch sites of the conductors to allow electrical contact in response to pressure on the flexible membrane. The spacer is formed of puff ink.

Abstract: Method for improving switch contacts in particular enhancing the voltage endurance, lowering the chopper level and improving the electrical conductivity for the use in vacuum switches in which ions are implanted of material improving the above said characteristics, at least in the surface area of the switch contacts where upon switching action a discharge is generated.

Abstract: The mercury contact comprises a solid metal base of antimony, wetted with mercury. The method of manufacturing the mercury contact includes preparing the solid metal base by electrolytic deposition of antimony onto the substrate, and subsequently coating the antimony with a layer of mercury.

Abstract: A vacuum switch assembly which is connectable as a shunting switch across the electrodes of an electrochemical cell, in which a plurality of electrical parallel current paths are provided through a plurality of parallel vacuum switches with separate electrical bus conductors extending from each switch contact. The vacuum switch layout is particularly adapted to permit bus conductor paths to the electrochemical cell which minimize stored induction energy which must be dissipated. The vacuum switch operating mechanism provides for approximately simultaneous switch operation with means for adjusting the individual switch openings. The switch assembly is compact and portable for correction to any one of the series cells in a plant.

Abstract: The invention provides a bath that is operable at, or close to, pH 7 to deposit a coating of ruthenium on a substrate, e.g. the contacts of electrical switches, which does away with the need to provide a protective coating on the substrate prior to ruthenium plating. The bath consists essentially of (i) a compound or a complex that contains a nitrogen bridge linkage joining together two ruthenium atoms and (ii) an aqueous solution of oxalic acid or an oxalate.

Abstract: The mercury contact comprises a solid metal base of beryllium, wetted with mercury. The method of manufacturing the mercury contact includes periodically dipping the cleaned solid metal base of beryllium into chemically pure mercury through a mixture of saturated water solution of chromic anhydride and a 40 percent solution of hydrofluoric acid water, taken in a 1:1 ratio by volume.

Abstract: To provide for better distributor radio interference noise suppression and to localize resistance elements used in connection therewith as close to the spark gap of the distributor, the rotor electrode and/or the stationary electrodes in the distributor are made of a resistance material which has a sufficiently high resistance to provide for effective interference suppression; the material may be a high-melting oxynitride, particularly of a metal of the III or IV-B to VI-B groups of the periodic table; or a ceramic substrate, on which a coating is applied, for example of high melting point titanium, zirconium or aluminum oxide which are rendered conductive by being present in less than stoichiometric proportions; or silicon compounds such as chromium-silicon compounds, molybdenum-silicon compounds, with or without a matrix of silicon or ceramic-metal mixture in which the metal is both a binder and a conductive component, particularly Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 -Mo, Cr.sub.2 O.sub.3 -Si, SiC-Cr-Ni and B.sub.4 C.sub.

Abstract: A switch mechanism designed to overcome the problem of electrical noise employs a compound movable contact assembly, including a coil spring member and a smooth-surfaced wire contact member mounted thereon. The flexing of the coil spring provides an advantageous rolling, wiping motion for the wire contact member, without the noise-producing electrical discontinuities associated with earlier mechanisms in which the coil spring itself made direct electrical contact.

Abstract: An ignition distributor for an internal combustion engine is provided with a novel rotor electrode which substantially reduces radio frequency interference generated by spark discharges across the rotor gap. At least the tip segment of the rotor electrode is formed of a composite material consisting of a first phase of fibers of a dielectric material interspersed with a second phase of a conductive material. In operation, dielectric fibers protrude from the conductive phase into the gap promoting ionization therein so that electrical discharge occurs at voltages where radio frequency signal production is substantially suppressed.

Abstract: An ignition distributor for an internal combustion engine is provided with a novel rotor electrode which substantially reduces radio frequency interference generated by spark discharges across the rotor gap. At least the tip segment of the rotor electrode is formed of a composite material consisting of a dielectric phase interspersed with a conductive metal phase. In operation, the dielectric phase protrudes from the surface of the electrode promoting ionization in the rotor gap so that electrical discharge occurs at voltages where radio frequency signal production is substantially suppressed.

Abstract: A persistence switch comprises a diode and superconductive wire in thermal contact with the diode. The heat evolved by current through the forward biased diode raises the temperature of the superconductor above the transition temperature. The diode characteristic of the switch permits a plurality of such switches to be arranged in a network for selection by a relatively few signal conductors.

Abstract: A pressure sensitive switch including a poly (vinylidene fluoride) (PVF.sub.2) sheet arranged to be compressed and laterally outwardly distended under a load carrying on each major surface thereof contact means for receiving a signal generated by the sheet when compressed and distended two thick blocks of solid elastomeric material between which is sandwiched the sheet, and means for compressing and laterally outwardly distending both blocks by relative motion toward each other thereby in the absence of tension forces compressing and laterally outwardly distending the sheet sandwiched therebetween to generate the signal.

Abstract: An ignition distributor for automotive vehicles comprises a shaft, a rotor arm mounted on the shaft for rotation therewith, a stationary center electrode mounted coaxially with the shaft, and a plurality of angularly spaced stationary outer electrodes. A contact member is secured to the rotor arm which extends between the center of the shaft and a point adjacent to the outer electrode and comprises a baseplate secured to the rotor arm and a resistive film secured to the baseplate, the latter being in electrical contact with the center electrode and in radially inwardly spaced from the outer electrode such that a sudden breakdown of air occurs when the outer end of the contact plate is positioned in proximity to the outer electrode generating an electric discharge. The baseplate is composed of a material having lower electrical conductivity than that of the resistive film so that a distributed constant RC transmission path is formed along the passage of the discharge current.

Abstract: A vacuum circuit breaker comprising an evacuated envelope and a pair of movable conductive rods within the envelope having points of contact equipped with contact members, wherein the conductive rods slide into and out of engaging contact, the improvement comprising at least one of said contacts having circuit making and breaking contact members formed of an alloy consisting essentially of 9.4 wt% to 15 wt% Al, 4.5 wt% to 20 wt% Ni, 0.1 wt% to 10 wt% of at least one metal (Me) selected from the group consisting of bismuth, tellurium, selenium, antimony and magnesium with copper as the balance of the alloy, wherein said alloy contains an .alpha. copper phase (Cu(.alpha.)) containing nickel and a .gamma. copper phase (Cu(.gamma.)) containing nickel substantially dispersed throughout said alloy.

Abstract: In high-current vacuum switch devices wherein the arc must transfer from the contacts to auxiliary electrodes, excessive contact erosion can be avoided by making this transfer occur as quickly as possible. Rapid transfer is facilitated by fabricating the contacts of refractory metal and the auxiliary electrodes of a material that is easily vaporized, consistent with chopping and recovery requirements, such as copper or iron.

Abstract: A contact arrangement for a graphite electric arc-electrode employs a contact spud composed of a metal having a high melting point and a soldering layer disposed between the contact spud and graphite electrode. The soldering layer contains at least one carbide forming metal. In one embodiment of the invention, a carbide-forming metal layer is disposed between the graphite electric arc-electrode and the soldering layer. In a preferred form of the method of making the arrangement, the soldering layer and the carbide-forming metal layer are plasma-sprayed or steamed onto the surface to be connected.

Abstract: To reduce costs and permit use of a smaller amount of noble metals in nobel metal contacts, a common metal contact material which forms, in an oxygen-containing atmosphere or in air, non-porous insulating oxides, is coated with a porous noble metal or noble metal alloy cover layer, the pores or regions not covered by the noble metal or nobel metal alloy being permitted to oxidize to form a protective common metal contact material oxide, the noble metal regions in contact with the underlying contact material itself providing for the electrical connection. Preferably, the porous cover layer has a thickness of between about 0.1 to 0.2 .mu.m, and the contact material, separately or applied to a carrier, has a thickness of between 2 to 100 .mu.m, preferably about 10 .mu.

Abstract: An electric key-operated switch adapted to be mounted on the exterior of a vehicle or structure to arm or disarm an alarm system. A key is to be rotated in a cylinder between two positions, each of which controls a separate circuit that is normally open when the contact rotor carried by the cylinder is not engaged with contacts connected to the respective circuit. The invention provides more positive electrical engagement and a novel structure for economically adjusting the limits of positions of the contact rotor so that the key may readily be inserted and removed.

Abstract: In a distributor having a pair of electrodes, which comprises a rotor electrode and a side electrode, at least one electro-conductive metal member is disposed between the pair of electrodes to extend from one to the other, whereby generation of radio noise is suppressed.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell circuit has vacuum interrupter cell by-pass switches provided in order to prevent the impurities in the environment, caused by leakage from the electrochemical cells, from interfering with the switch operation.

Abstract: A printed wiring board for a keyboard switch assembly for electronic apparatus, such as electronic calculators, comprising a self-supporting insulative board having a plurality of elongated connectors on one surface thereof, at least some of the conductors having terminal portions for cooperating with switch elements. A layer of insulating material covers the one surface of the board and the conductors excluding the terminal portions. Each of the terminal portions has a coating of conductive ink thereon and a jumper element also formed of conductive ink is coated on the insulating layer crossing at least one of the conductors embedded therein and joining at least two of the terminal portion coatings. The conductive ink is preferably a noble-metal filled resin compound, such as silver epoxy, screen printed onto the insulating layer and terminal portions.

Abstract: A persistent current switch adapted to connect the ends of a superconducting coil together and to disconnect the ends thereof includes a vacuum casing and at least a pair of electrodes disposed in the vacuum casing in opposing relationship to each other. Each of the electrodes is provided with a highly conductive contact portion of high-purity metal having a very small resistivity at extremely low temperatures and with at least one superconducting contact portion of superconducting material in alignment with one another in the respective electrodes so that parallel current paths of the highly conductive contact portion and the superconducting contact portion may be simultaneously established when the electrodes are brought into contact with each other.

Abstract: Electrical vacuum switch having two contact members carried by contact rods for moving the contact members in and out of engagement with each other, in which each contact rod is partly surrounded by a yoke of magnetic permeable material, closely adjacent each contact member, each yoke leaving a gap between the yoke legs, so that upon moving the contact members out of engagement, the magnetic flux lines, generated in each yoke by the current through the contact rods, will traverse the arcing gap between the contact members, towards the opposing yoke, resulting in a magnetic field in the arcing gap.