Abstract: An electrically conductive contact element for an electrical connector comprises a contact surface having a plurality of caverns arranged under the contact surface in a microstructure and an auxiliary material filled in the plurality of caverns.

Abstract: Compositions and methods related to straining defect doped materials as well as their methods of use in electrical circuits are generally described.

Abstract: An electrode assembly for a vacuum interrupter includes a contact plate, an electrode coil, an inner support, a lower support, and at least one support member. The electrode coil includes a base for attachment to a terminal post of the vacuum interrupter. The electrode coil also includes at least one arcuate arm between the base and the contact plate extending along a curved path in a plane substantially perpendicular to a direction of travel of the electrode assembly. Each arcuate arm includes an aperture that is positioned to align with a corresponding aperture of an adjacent arcuate arm or the base of the electrode coil. Each support member is partially positioned within aligned apertures to maintain a gap between the arcuate arms and the base. The support members and the lower support may be slotted to decrease the current flowing through the supports.

Abstract: A contact assembly for an electrical device and a method for making such an assembly are presented. The contact assembly comprises a substrate and a contact material disposed on the substrate. The contact material comprises a composite material comprising a refractory material and a matrix material. The matrix material has a higher ductility than the refractory material. The composite material further comprises a core region and an outer region bounding the core region, the core region having a higher concentration of the refractory material than the outer region. The method applies cold spraying a blended feedstock to produce a layer that includes the composite material described above.

Abstract: A preparation method of an electrical contact material includes steps of: adopting chemical plating to cover nickel coating on aquadag or metallic oxide, then covering with silver coating, and forming Ag—Ni—C or Ag—Ni—MeO core-shell structure, which improves interface wettability of aquadag, metallic oxide and silver matrix, and removes the adverse effect on the electrical contact material mechanical property due to bad interface wettability in conventional powder metallurgy method. What is important is that the silver in intermediate composite particles is replaced by nickel coating, thus reduce the silver use level. The main function of silver coating is to improve inoxidizability of composite particles, sintering granulation property and the deformability during the manufacturing process of intermediate composite particles, thus improve the technological property.

Abstract: An electrical contact including stainless steel material is disclosed with advantages of good fusing resistance, good abrasion resistance and low contact electrical resistance. The electrical contact includes silver-based material and the stainless steel material. The stainless steel material is dispersed in the silver-based material and weight percentage thereof accounting to the electrical contact is 0.01% to 35%.

Abstract: The invention discloses a semi-finished product for making plug-in contacts in plug-in connectors for electric DC power systems in motor vehicles which are operated at a nominal voltage at which electric arcing may occur, having an electrically conductive main body made of a non-precious metallic material that carries, at least in part, a contact-making coating of a material more precious than the material of the main body. It is provided according to the invention that the coating has thickness of at least 0.3 ?m and consists of silver or of a silver-based alloy with an addition that will not form an alloy with silver or with the silver-based alloy, or will at best form a precipitation alloy, and which has a higher melting point than silver.

Abstract: Provided an electrical contact is cheap, excellent workability and lasts the effect of chopping current reduction. An electrical contact comprising a Cu matrix, and compounds Cu and low melting point metal which are dispersed in the Cu matrix, wherein a vapor pressure of the low melting point metal is more than 105 Pa at 1000° C., the compound has stoichiometric ratio which is the value of the low melting metal/Cu is greater than 0.5, and a longitudinal direction of the compound is oriented at an angle of 90°±10° to the contact surfaces. The method of the electrical contact is stretching mixture the Cu matrix with the compounds at 70-85% while heating, using as a contact surfaces of the electrical contact.

Abstract: Provided are: a method for producing an electrode material for a vacuum circuit breaker, whereby withstand voltage, high current interruption performance and capacitor switching performance can be improved; an electrode material for a vacuum circuit breaker; and an electrode for a vacuum circuit breaker. The electrode material for a vacuum circuit breaker is produced by a method comprising a mixing step, a press sintering step, and a Cu infiltration step. In the mixing step, an Mo powder having a particle diameter of 0.8 to 6 ?m is homogeneously mixed with a thermite Cr powder having a particle diameter of 40 to 300 gm in such a manner as giving a mixing ratio (Mo:Cr) of 1:1 to 9:1 and satisfying the weight relation Mo?Cr. In the press sintering step, the resultant mixture is pressure molded under a press pressure of 1 to 4 t/cm2 to give a molded article. Next, said molded article is sintered by maintaining the same at a temperature of 1100 to 1200° C.

Abstract: A process for producing a Cu—Cr material by powder metallurgy for a switching contact, in particular for vacuum switches, includes the steps of pressing a Cu—Cr powder mixture formed from Cu powder and Cr powder and sintering the pressed Cu—Cr powder mixture to form the material of the Cu—Cr switching contact. The sintering or a subsequent thermal treatment process is carried out with an alternating temperature profile, in which the Cu—Cr powder mixture or the Cu—Cr material is heated above an upper temperature limit value and cooled again below a lower temperature limit value at least twice in alternation. All of the steps are carried out at temperatures at which no molten phase forms.

Abstract: An electrical contact including stainless steel material is disclosed with advantages of good fusing resistance, good abrasion resistance and low contact electrical resistance. The electrical contact includes silver-based material and the stainless steel material. The stainless steel material is dispersed in the silver-based material and weight percentage thereof accounting to the electrical contact is 0.01% to 35%.

Abstract: Method of using a material including a conductive metal matrix and magnetic entities representing between 8 and 80% by weight of the material and including hard magnetic phases, the magnetic entities being non-magnetized but capable of being magnetized in an average orientation defined by the direction of a magnetic field applied to the material, in order to blow an electric arc between two electrical contact pads, at least one of which includes the material.

Abstract: A contact surface. for electrical contacts may include an Ag layer deposited on a copper-based substrate using galvanic methods. The Ag layer includes finely dispersed graphite particles in a quantity of, e.g., 1 to 3 weight % of the Ag layer, the graphite particles having a length in the range of, e.g., 0.5 to 20 ?m.

Abstract: Contact pad designed to be fixed on a movable contact of a low-voltage circuit breaker designed to withstand peak short-circuit currents comprised between 200 and 600 amperes per square millimeter of pad. The pad is made of a silver- or copper-based conducting material alloy, a fraction of refractory particles such as tungsten carbide, tungsten or titanium nitride and a fraction of carbon fibers. The weight percentage of carbon fibers in the pad is strictly less than 2% of the total weight of the pad.

Abstract: A first resistor layer is formed on the lower surface of a base in film form, and at the same time, a second resistor layer in which particles of different particle diameters are dispersed is formed and layered on the lower surface of the first resistor layer, and thus, a pressure sensitive conductive sheet is formed. In this configuration, the second resistor layer in uneven form makes contact with the fixed contacts in accordance with a pressing force so that electrical connection is made via the second resistor layer and the first resistor layer, and therefore, a thin panel switch with little fluctuation in the resistance value resulting from repeated operation where a stable resistance value can be gained can be realized.

Abstract: A movable contact assembly includes a base sheet made of insulating film, a contact provided under a bottom surface of the base sheet, and a conductive layer comprising silver paste on the base sheet. The silver paste contains 12 wt % to 15 wt % of resin binder and 35 wt % to 88 wt % of silver particles. The resin binder includes polyester resin having a glass-transition point ranging from 30° C. to 40° C. and an average molecular weight ranging from 30000 to 35000. The silver particles contain 70 wt % to 80 wt % of flake-shaped silver particles and 20 wt % to 30 wt % of dendritic silver particles. This conductive layer of the movable contact assembly can be baked at a low temperature, and does not have cracks and is not peeled off even when being bent. In addition, this conductive layer can easily cope with static electricity and has high reliability.

Abstract: A contact construction and switching device for DC loads that can be repeatedly used while minimizing problems such as cut-off failure, locking and deposition due to an abnormal continuation of an arc between the contacts, burning and destruction of the contacts, and an increase in contact resistance has a construction that includes a stationary contact and a movable contact that are opposite to each other, and a magnetic unit which applies a magnetic field orthogonal to the moving direction of the movable contact. In the contact construction, the anode-side contact is made of an AgSnO2-based alloy which contains at least Ag and SnO2, and the cathode-side contact is made of one of an AgNi-based alloy which contains at least Ag and Ni and an AgCuO-based alloy which contains Ag and CuO. The switching device has the above-mentioned contact construction.

Abstract: A pressure activated electrically conductive polymeric matrix material that is doped with particulate filler material. Electrical conductivity is pressure activated with a change in electrical resistance; specifically, with no pressure applied, the material is at a high resistance and with pressure the resistance is materially lower. Conductive fillers may be spherical or powder substrate, such as glass, graphite, etc., having plated thereon a metal coating which is electrically conductive and which is more thermally conductive than the substrate. The polymeric matrix materials may include polyurethane, silicone, and many other synthetic or natural rubbers.

Abstract: A long-life encoder switch which can enable flexible production in which a wide variety of products are manufactured in low volume is provided by using a conductive resin composition which has both excellent conductivity and abrasion resistance as a material for a contact part. The contact part of the encoder switch is produced by making a pattern of the conductive resin composition by screen printing and the conductive particles of the conductive resin composition contain a conductive powder of carbon beads with silver-coated surfaces and a silver powder.

Abstract: The present invention relates to powder-metallurgically produced composite material comprising a matrix of a metal with a melting point of at most 1,200° C. and a granular additive which consists of at least two refractory components embedded in said matrix, characterized in that the refractory components are present as mixed crystals or intermetallic phases. In one embodiment of the invention one or a first group of refractory component(s) has a melting point in the range of 1,500 to 2,400° C. and the second or the second group of refractory component(s) has a melting point above 2,400° C. The composite material is produced by heating a pulverized mixture of the refractory components, thus converting it into a mixed crystal or an intermetallic phase, and then combining the powder obtained by cooling and pulverizing with a metal matrix having a melting point of at most 1,200° C. by means of powder-metallurgy.

Abstract: A method of forming a key comprising the steps of: depositing an electroless metallic layer on an upper surface of a substrate; removing the metallic layer from selected portions to expose the substrate, said exposed portions of the substrate defining the image of an indicia; depositing a second metallic layer on the remaining portions of the first metallic layer by electrolysis; and coupling a lower surface of the substrate to an element for actuating a switch. A device for tactile actuation by a user, having an element, for activating a switch, coupled to a body supporting a metallic layer for tactile actuation by a user, wherein the metallic layer extends over an upper surface of the body and wherein at least one aperture extends through the metallic layer to said upper surface thereby defining at least one visible indicia.

Abstract: A micro switch includes a fixed contact and a movable contact. One is made of silver-carbon sintered metal, and the other is made of a silver-metal oxide alloy. The silver-carbon sintered metal includes carbon powder particles sufficiently small in average size to be capable of plastic molding into a sintered metal. The contact made of the silver-carbon sintered metal is directly crimped onto a contact supporting plate.

Abstract: A contact material for a vacuum interrupter including, a conductive component including at least Cu, and an arc-proof component including at least one selected from the group consisting of carbides of W, Zr, Hf, V and Ti. An amount of the conductive component in the contact material is 40-50 vol %, an amount of the arc-proof component in the contact material is 50-60 vol %, and a grain size of the arc-proof component is 3 .mu.m or less. A total amount of a sintering activator including at least one selected from the group consisting of Co, Fe and Ni melted in the conductive component is 0.1% or less of the amount of the conductive component.

Abstract: Sintered silver-iron material for electrical contacts, with properties comparable with those of silver-nickel materials, is obtained by using iron powder having more than 0.25% carbon by weight and microhardness higher than 200 HV 0.025 and sintering in a hydrogen-free protective gas.

Abstract: The vacuum valve contact material of the present invention is manufactured by a step of mixing an anti-arc constituent powder and a conductive constituent powder, a step of forming, and a step of sintering the formed body below the melting point of the conductive constituent, and has improved arc interruption performance.

Abstract: An Ag--Cu alloy for a sliding contact containing:a) 0.1 to 8.0 wt. % of Cu, based on the weight of the alloy, wherein at least 70 wt. % of the Cu contained in the alloy is solid-solubilized in an Ag-.alpha.-phase; andb) 0.1 to 4.0 wt. %, based on the weight of the alloy, of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Ge, Ni, Sn, In, Zn, Mg, Mn, Sb, Pb and Bi.The Ag--Cu alloy is desirably utilized to form a composite with a Cu or Cu alloy base material. Such composite has been found to be very useful for fabricating the commutator of a compact DC motor.

Abstract: Interrupting and chopping characteristics of a Cu--Cr contact alloy are improved by rounding Cr particles to be spherical in the alloy. The Cr particles are rounded in the alloy by sintering raw Cr powder particles having an average particle diameter of less than 100 .mu.m at a temperature of 1,100.degree. C. or higher with Cu powder, or by sintering raw Cr powder particles having an average particle diameter of 100 to 150 .mu.m at a temperature of 1,200.degree. C. or higher with Cu powder.

Abstract: There is disclosed an electrical component having an axial direction and two ends for making electrical contact with another component comprising a plurality of electrically conductive fibers in a matrix, the plurality of the fibers being oriented in the matrix in a direction substantially parallel in the axial direction of the component and being continuous from one end of the component to the other end to provide a plurality of electrical point contacts at each end of the component, wherein the component further includes magnetic particles.

Abstract: A 100% dense, porosity free copper-chromium contact has been prepared in which deleterious porosity has been eliminated. This copper-chromium contact has been produced by pressurizing liquid copper to infiltrate an evacuated chromium based, lightly sintered, highly porous preform. The electrical contact has one of either a homogeneous Cr distribution and a graded Cr distribution. The apparatus used to effect the molten metal infiltration has two independent, physically separated chambers--a first cold chamber and a second hot chamber. The first chamber is under no applied pressure except inside a gating system used to transfer molten Cu into the porous preform in the first chamber. The new contact has about 15-30% Cr material and a high erosion resistant contact surface. The graded Cr distribution has a Cr rich layer with about 25-50% by weight Cr, an intermediate Cr layer with about 15-20% by weight Cr, a low Cr layer with about 5-15% Cr and a Cr poor layer with about 1-5% Cr above a copper substrate.

Abstract: A contact material for a vacuum valve including, a conductive constituent including at least copper, an arc-proof constituent including at least chromium and an auxiliary constituent including at least one selected from the group consisting of tungsten, molybdenum, tantalum and niobium. The contact material is manufactured by quench solidification of a composite body of the conductive constituent, the arc-proof constituent and the auxiliary constituent.

Abstract: A contact facing is normally bonded to the carrier by brazing or welding, for which purpose, the bonding side has to have a suitable layer. According to the invention, prior to the bonding operation, the contact facings are treated without fusion in such a way that the metal oxide is at least partially reduced to metal at least on the solder side at the surface and in the subsurface region of the contact facing. The reduction can be carried out by heat treatment in reducing atmosphere. In the case of contact materials based on silver/iron oxide (AgFe.sub.2 O.sub.3 /Fe.sub.3 O.sub.4), in particular, the iron oxide may also be reduced to iron on the switching side since iron oxide is again formed after switching. Alternatively, contact facings may be provided with carbon as reducing agent on the solder side. In particular, the reduction may take place locally in this case.

Abstract: An electrical system including a multi-layer conductive composition is disclosed. The multi-layer conductive composition includes at least a first composition, which may be a bottom composition layer, and a second composition, which may be a top composition layer, arranged on a substrate. The bottom composition layer has a greater level of conductivity than the top composition layer. In one preferred embodiment, the multi-layer conductive composition may be vertically conductive. In this preferred embodiment, the conductivity of the top composition layer may be selected so that electric current is permitted to flow along the z axis, but not along the x and y axes thereof. The electric current can flow along the x, y and z axes of the bottom composition layer. The top composition layer may mask the bottom composition layer. Further, the top composition may comprise a substantial amount of pigment so that multi-layer conductive composition has a desired color.

Abstract: A switch is made for use in elevated temperatures. A first stationary contact carrier is made of stainless steel and configured to be rigidly attached to a first stationary contact pad that is made of a nickel silver alloy. A second stationary contact pad of fine silver is used as the normally opened contact. A movable contact pad made of a silver cadmium oxide alloy is movable from a first position in contact with the normally closed first contact pad to a second position in contact with the normally opened second stationary contact pad.

Abstract: Particularly in the case of contacts consisting of a silver-metal oxide-(AgMeO)-based material which are provided on their the back side with solder, it is noted, upon hard soldering, on a contact base that solder can ascend in undesired manner up to the contact surfaces. This is due to the heating upon the hard soldering. In accordance with the invention, the wettability of the side surfaces of the contacts is reduced to such an extent that the ascent of solder to the surface on the contact mating area is avoided. For this purpose, metal oxides are preferably introduced into the surfaces of the contacts. In the case of contacts having a base of silver-metal oxide (AgMeO), metal oxides which are already contained as active elements in the material can preferably be used.

Abstract: An electric contact is provided on at least one of a pair of conductors and includes a surface which is coated with a ceramic layer comprising at least one material selected from the group consisting of nitrides, carbides and borides of high melting point metals, this electric contact having a low contact resistance and good reliability.

Abstract: A sliding contact member substantially free of the toxic metals lead and antimony, includes copper, carbon, and at least one added material which is selected from the group consisting of a metal and a metal alloy having a melting temperature which is substantially below that of copper. The sliding contact member contains less than 10 percent by weight of the at least one added material. The sliding contact member is electrically conductive and capable of carrying high current densities, and the at least one added material provides a good cleaning effect, promotes cooling of the sliding contact member during operation, and provides good slidability against a mating contact member. This is achieved by keeping the at least one added material separate from the copper so that alloy formation is inhibited and, preferably, prevented.

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: The present invention relates to a contact for a vacuum interrupter obtained by processing a contact-forming material comprising from 20% to 60% by weight of Cr, Bi in an amount of from 0.05% to 1.0% by weight of the total amount of Cu and Bi, and the balance substantially Cu into the shape of a contact, and thereafter subjecting the processed material to vacuum heat treatment. The contact for the vacuum interrupter has both excellent anti-welding characteristics and excellent voltage withstanding characteristics.

Abstract: A movable electrical contactor having a surface thereof in slidable contact with a mating conductor, the surface being coated with a composite material in which particles of graphite (C) are dispersed in a matrix of silver (Ag). The coating film is formed by electric plating using a plating liquid of metal silver in the range of 2-100 g/l in concentration, potassium cyanide in the range of 2-250 g/l, potassium hydroxide in the range of 0.5-15 g/l, graphite powder in the range of 1-55 g/l, and a dispersant for dispersing graphite powder into plating liquid in the range of 10-2000 ppm.

Abstract: An Ag-Cu-WC contact forming material for a vacuum interrupter comprising a highly conductive component comprising Ag and Cu and an arc-proof component comprising WC wherein the content of the highly conductive component is such that the total amount of Ag and Cu(Ag+Cu) is from 25% to 65% by weight and the percentage of Ag based on the total amount of Ag and Cu[Ag/(Ag+Cu)] is from 40% to 80% by weight; wherein the content of the arc-proof component is from 35% to 75% by weight; wherein the structure of the highly conductive component comprises a matrix and a discontinuous phase, the discontinuous phase having a thickness or width of no more than 5 micrometers and wherein said arc-proof component comprises a discontinuous grain having a grain size of no more than 1 micrometer.

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: 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: A contact material for a vacuum circuit breaker having excellent properties, which consists essentially of copper, molybdenum, one member selected from the group consisting of niobium and tantalum, and one or more kinds of low melting point materials.

Abstract: An electrical switch assembly is made with a braided electrical conductor having a densified end which has reduced porosity from the braided wire. Preferably, the densified end is formed by squeezing copper wires with a solder matrix to reduce the air in the densified end so that it has over 95% solids. A solder layer is formed between the densified end and the switch element, preferably by using a foil of silver braze which is melted between the densified end and the switch element. In the preferred method of forming the densified end, the solder and copper are heated and squeezed at pressures in the range of 500-750 pounds under a liquid blanket of material to limit copper oxidation.

Abstract: An electrical contact material consists of Ag in which a metallic oxide is produced and dispersed through an internal oxidation and containing as metallic elements Cd, Mn and Al. With this contact material of this composition, there can be shown a high anti-welding property and a stably low contact resistance.

Abstract: Contact materials based on AgSnO.sub.2 and having Bi.sub.2 O.sub.3 and CuO as further metal oxide additives were previously disclosed. In these materials the total content of all metal oxides was supposed to be between 10 and 25% by volume with the SnO.sub.2 share equal to or greater than 70% by volume of the total amount of oxide.According to this invention the quantity of SnO.sub.2 is kept smaller than 70% by volume; specifically at about 65%, but in any case equal to or greater than 50%. The SnO.sub.2 weight content is to be in the 4% to 8% range and the weight percentage ratio of SnO.sub.2 to CuO is to be between 8:1 and 12:1.In the associated production process, either Bi.sub.2 O.sub.3 powder is purposely admixed to an internally oxidized alloy powder (IOAP) in an additional operation, a grain restructuring with locally different Bi.sub.2 O.sub.3 concentrations occurring in the structure after sintering and compacting.

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: A contact forming material for a vacuum valve or vacuum circuit breaker comprising (a) a conductive material consisting of copper and/or silver, and (b) an arc-proof material consisting of chromium, titanium, zirconium, or an alloy thereof wherein the amount of said arc-proof material present in said conductive material matrix is no more than 0.35% by weight. This contact forming material is produced by a process which comprises the steps of compacting arc-proof material powder into a green compact, sintering said green compact to obtain a skeleton of the arc-proof material, infiltrating the voids of said skeleton with a conductive material, and cooling the infiltrated material. The contact forming material can provide contacts for a vacuum valve or vacuum circuit breaker which has excellent characteristics such as temperature rise characteristic and contact resistance characteristic.

Abstract: A powdered metallurgical procedure for forming chromium copper contacts used in vacuum circuit interrupters, in which prealloyed powder formed by mixing to copper, chromium of between two to thirty-seven weight percent is rapidly solidified after melting at about 1100.degree. C. to 1500.degree. C. This powder may be blended with additional chromium of between 12 to 50 weight percent with a maximum of fifty-five weight percent of chromium in the final contact structure. This blended mixture may then be either (i) cold pressed at 100,000 psig. and vacuum sintered at 800.degree. to 1400.degree. C.; or (ii) be subjected to hot isostatic pressure of 10,000 to 30,000 psig. at between 700.degree. C. to 1080.degree. C.; or (iii) containing the blended copper-chromium powder and the additional chromium powder into an evacuated can and hot extruding the can between 400.degree. C. to 900.degree. C., to form the contacts.

Abstract: A vacuum interrupter device 11 with contacts 21 and 27 formed from a mixture of copper, chromium, bismuth, and at least about 0.5 weight percent of chromic oxide. The mixture can additionally include small amounts of silver, iron and titanium. The chromic oxide hinders copper grain growth, binds bismuth in the matrix, and increases vacuum dielectric strength in the vacuum interrupter.