Abstract: The disclosed electrode composition for a vacuum switch comprises copper, as a principal ingredient, a low melting point metal such as Bi, Pb, In, Li, Sn or any of their alloys, in a content not exceeding 20% by weight, a first additional metal such as Te, Sb, La, Mg or any of their alloys and a refractory metal such as Cr, Fe, Co, Ni, Ti, W or any of their alloys in a content less than 40% by weight.

Abstract: A contact for a vacuum circuit breaker is disclosed which contains copper as a first component and also at least two elements of the group of chromium, molybdenum, and tungsten as the other components. Each of these other components is contained in an amount not greater than 40% by weight.

Abstract: In order to make possible the lower level of electrostatic disturbance that accompanies the use of a wider than usual gap in an ignition distributor without undesirable increase of the ignition pulse voltage, the distributor electrode and/or the fixed ignition circuit electrodes of the distributor are made at least in part of a material that requires less energy for pulling out an electron and has a higher secondary electron emission capability than the usual brass plate used for the contact plate at the axis of revolution of the distributor rotor, to which a carbon brush is usually provided for making contact. Alloy additions of calcium oxide or barium oxide or silicon to brass have a suitable effect and an alloy containing silicon and preferably also aluminum and calcium is preferred. The gap width is between 3 and 5 mm, preferably about 4 mm for normal motor vehicle engine application.

Abstract: A two-layer contact having a silver backing and a silver cadmium oxide body which backing is relatively free of warpage and macroscopic voids is produced from a mixture of silver oxide, silver acetate and silver.

Abstract: A contactor for a vacuum type circuit interrupter having a pair of detachable electrodes in a vacuum chamber comprises an electrode obtained by melting or sintering a composition of an electric conductive metal of copper or silver as a main component and at least one metal oxide having a melting point lower than that of said conductive metal of bismuth oxide, thallium oxide, indium oxide, antimony oxide or tellurium oxide as an additive, in vacuum or a reduced atmosphere or a nonoxidative atmosphere.

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 gold based electrical contact material comprising an oxide of an oxidize element in the gold matrix formed by subjecting the solid solution to an oxidizing atmosphere for internally oxidizing the oxidizable element is presented. Such internal oxidation forms hard second phase oxide particles dispersed throughout the solution having high wear resistance, high hardness, high strength and high conductivity with homogeneous and uncontaminated structure.

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: There is described a material for electrical contacts based on silver having 5 to 20 weight % tin oxide and 0.5 to 5 weight % tungsten oxide which has the welding strength reduced further without producing an increased switching temperature. The material contains additionally 0.1 to 5 weight % of bismuth oxide.

Abstract: A low-power electrical contact particularly suitable for switching and plug-in connections. The contact comprises an outer contact layer and a substrate composed of a copper base alloy. The contact layer consists essentially of an alloy of 35-55% by weight gold, 18-33.5% silver, 30-40% palladium, and (i) 1-6% indium, or (ii) 0.5-2% tin together with 0.5-2% indium. An intermediate layer of nickel or copper-nickel may be interposed between the contact layer and the substrate.

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: There are needed materials based on Ag/SnO.sub.2 to replace the known Ag/CdO materials for electrical contact on switches, which replacement materials contain an additional metal oxide component, without having to take into account an undesired temperature increase in the switching device. This is attained according to the invention with a material that contains 8-20 weight % tin oxide SnO.sub.2, 0.05-5 weight % tungsten oxide, balance silver.

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: Silver alloy for sliding contact, containing 2 to 8% Mo, up to 10% Cu, up to 10% Pd and remainder of Ag. This alloy has high wear resistance, low electrical contact-resistance and low mechanical friction. So, when it is used as a sliding contact material, the sliding contact has a long operation life.

Abstract: A distributor for internal combustion engines is disclosed, in which at least the spark discharge portion of the rotor electrode and/or each of the fixed electrodes is made of an alloy containing silicon, thus suppressing the generation of radio noise.

Abstract: A new type of electrical contact is described which has reduced erosion and sticking failures and has reduced material costs. The electrical contact is particularly suitable for sealed electrical contacts such as in sealed remreed contacts.

Abstract: An electrical contact of the type having a working surface and comprising a ductile metal and weld inhibiting material includes a wetting agent present in an amount sufficient to reduce the surface energy between said contact surface and the liquid phase of the ductile metal. Improved wettability of the surface results in reduced arc erosion due to the spattering loss of ductile metal. Also, described is a method for selecting and testing proposed additives.

Abstract: An improved vacuum switch has slotted, flexible, discus-shaped contact discs attached to the current carrying contact bolts. In the open circuit case, a gap exists between each contact bolt and its corresponding contact disc and between the two discs. In the closed circuit case, the contact bolts drive the contact discs against one another, slightly deforming the contact discs, resulting in a low resistance current path. As the switch starts to open, the contact bolts first separate from the adjacent disc surfaces. As the switch opens further, any arc that ignites exists only between the contact discs. Tangential slots in the contact discs guide the arc toward the center of the contact discs. The flexible discs assume their previous undistorted shape when the switch has opened.

Abstract: A sintered contact material of silver and at least two embedded metal oxides for use in electrical contacts in which the metal oxides are distributed alternatingly in the silver in different microscopic zones of the sintered contact material.

Abstract: An electrical contact material which is particularly well suited for use in circuit breaker switches consisting essentially of silver in the amount of about 20% to 50% by weight, nickel in the amount of about 2% to 13% by weight, phosphorus in the amount of about 90 ppm to 1000 ppm, and the remainder tungsten. In one embodiment of the contact material forming method provided by the invention, starting particle sizes and liquid phase sintering parameters are selected to yield a relatively coarse grain size in the contact material microstructure with an optimum combination of resistance to oxidation, electrical erosion and distortion associated with high-current interruptions.

Abstract: An electrical contact material comprising silver, bismuth oxide and tin oxide with or without tin metal, wherein the amounts of the bismuth and the tin on the basis of the sum weight of the metals in both the metal component and in the metal oxide component are 1.5 to 6 weight percent and 0.1 to 6 weight percent, respectively. This electrical contact material has high resistance to both welding and arc erosion. An advantageous method of making the electrical contact material comprises preparing a metal alloy composed of all the above metals in the above weight ratio and internally oxidizing the bismuth completely in the alloy after shaping the alloy to a desired electrical contact material shape or after crushing the alloy to scaly flakes.

Abstract: An electrical contact suitable for use in high-current switching or circuit breaking, comprising a mixture of silver or copper with an alloy of tungsten carbide and titanium carbide. The contact material preferably uses from about 10% to about 90% silver by weight, the remainder being (WTi)C alloy, and preferably the alloy component comprises from about 35% to about 50% of WC, the remainder of the alloy being TiC. The contact is preferably made by a powder metallurgical process, and provides not only good impact resistance, weld resistance and erosion resistance but, even more importantly, provides low contact resistance, i.e. low electrical resistance when current flows through the closed contacts even after repeated cycling, as shown by the low temperature rise of the contact in use.

Abstract: An electrical contact material consisting essentially of silver and a small amount of zinc oxide, tellurium oxide, and optionally indium oxide and tin oxide, these oxides being uniformly dispersed in the silver matrix.

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: An electrical contact material comprises from about 85 to 87.5 percent silver and from about 0.01 to 0.10 percent cobalt in the form of an oxide, by weight. The material also comprises from about 10.73 to 12.82 percent cadmium oxide, from about 1.6 to 2.0 percent zinc oxide, and from about 0.15 to 1.0 percent lead oxide, by weight, internally oxidized in situ in the contact material in an oxygen enriched atmosphere.

Abstract: The present invention provides a gold, silver and nickel alloy particularly useful for electrical contacts. The alloy consists essentially of 10-40% by weight silver, 2-25% palladium, 1-5% nickel, 0.1-10% indium, 0.1-3% tin, and the balance substantially gold. The invention also provides contacts comprising said alloy.

Abstract: An electrically conductive composite material which consists of a mixture of silver, not more than 50 weight percent of cadmium oxide and not greater than 2,000 parts per million of compounds of potassium.

Abstract: A material for use in making electrical contacts is produced in a powder form suitable for later processing into electrical contacts by standard metallurgical techniques generally involving compacting, sintering, and forming or cutting to make the desired contact size and shape. The material, and in most general applications the contact made from the material, essentially consists of silver, approximately 15% cadmium oxide by weight, and lithium oxide at a proportion of about .005 weight percent of lithium, which is approximately equal to .04 molecular percent of lithium oxide. The lithium oxide is added and uniformly distributed on the surfaces of the powder particles by precipitation.

Abstract: This application describes the step-wise application of heat during the sintering of a mixture of silver and cadmium oxide to give an alloy having improved characteristics. These alloys are useful as electric contacts in high electric current applications.

Abstract: In a vacuum-type circuit breaker, a contact is composed of a principal component material of Cu alloy, to which a Pb-Bi alloy, containing either 18 to 45 weight % Bi or 65 to 80 weight % Bi and at least one of either cobalt or iron are added. Said contact is provided with a structure in which at least one of either cobalt phase or iron phase is dispersed in a copper matrix and Pb-Bi alloy phase is dispersed in the grain boundary, and has extremely low chopping current.

Abstract: An electrical contact material which consists of at least one material selected from a first group which comprises any one of the precious metals, gold, palladium, ruthenium, rhodium and rhenium or their alloys and the silver/palladium series of contact alloys; and not more than three weight per cent of at least one material selected from a second group which comprises lithium, sodium, sodium chloride, potassium compounds, rubidium, caesium and cadmium sulphide spread uniformly throughout, or formed at discrete sites at the surface of, the said at least one material of the first group.

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: The material is applied to a substrate, for example, terminal bronze, brass, or the like, and comprises, preferably, 50 to 55% gold, 24 to 28% palladium, 15 to 20% silver, 2.5 to 3% tin, 0.08 to 0.15% iridium, 0.08 to 0.15% ruthenium, 0.1 to 0.3% copper and 0.6 to 1% indium.

Abstract: Electrical contact material of silver or mixtures of silver and a thermally decomposable compound of silver having an additive of an alkali metal, for example lithium, added in the form of a salt prior to sintering to increase the as-sintered density of the resulting material and to aid in the prevention of undesirable surface blisters. The silver material may be fabricated as a backing layer on a primary contact material of silver-cadmium oxide.

Abstract: A brazed joint between a beryllium-base part and a copper-base part comprises a first layer of brazing material in contact with the beryllium-base part. This brazing material is an alloy that just prior to brazing consists essentially of silver and a minor constituent of either: (a) tin in a percentage of 4% to 15% by weight of the alloy, (b) silicon in a percentage of 1% to 5% by weight of the alloy, or (c) indium in a percentage of 6% to 25% by weight of the alloy. Contacting this first layer and brazed thereto is a second layer of a material that just prior to brazing consists essentially of silver. Between the second layer and the copper-base part, there is another brazed connection, which is formed at temperatures exceeding 600.degree. C.

Abstract: A material for an electrical contact is produced by an internal oxidation of an alloy consisting of 1-15% by weight of indium, 0.5-12% by weight of tin, 0.01-5% by weight of one selected from manganese and molybdenum, and the balance silver. In a modification an iron group element may be mixed in a range less than 0.5% by weight.

Abstract: A contact system for power circuit breakers includes a nozzle body made of graphite which is pressed cold into a tube of cold-worked copper and is enclosed by the latter with a friction fit. A low-alloy copper is used as the material for the electrically conducting tube. Such a copper alloy can be made, for example, with 0.1 percent silver.

Abstract: Small concentrations of certain dispersed oxides such as CeO.sub.2 substantially improve the electrical contact properties of gold. Gold with dispersed CeO.sub.2 is superior to gold for use as an electrical contact because of much greater resistance to arc erosion and welding and only slightly higher contact resistance.

Abstract: A material for use in making electrical contacts is produced in a powder form suitable for later processing into electrical contacts by standard metallurgical techniques. The material consists of a first metal, such as silver, and the oxide of a second metal, such as cadmium, added to the first metal in a proportion up to the limits of solubility of the second metal in the first metal. An oxide of a third metal having a low electronic work function level, such as lithium oxide, is added and uniformly distributed on the surfaces of the powder particles by precipitation. A fourth metal, such as tellurium, that is insoluble in the first metal is also added to provide selected characteristics.

Abstract: A material for use in making electrical contacts is produced in a powder form suitable for later processing into electrical contacts by standard metallurgical techniques. The material consists of a first metal, such as silver, and the oxide of a second metal, such as cadmium, added to the first metal in a proportion up to the limits of solubility of the second metal in the first metal. An oxide of a third metal having a low electronic work function level, such as lithium oxide, is added and uniformly distributed on the surfaces of the powder particles by precipitation. A fourth metal, such as tellurium, that is insoluble in the first metal is also added to provide selected characteristics.

Abstract: A distributor containing an apparatus for suppressing noise is described, comprising an electrode of a distributor rotor and a group of electrodes of a plurality of stationary terminals which are arranged along a circular locus defined by the rotating distributor rotor keeping a constant spark discharging gap, wherein the surface of at least one of said electrodes of the distributor rotor and the stationary terminals is formed by an electrically high resistive material layer. The base layers for the electrodes and terminals are disclosed as made of silicon, brass, invar, steel and aluminum. The electrically high resistive layers are disclosed as made of silicon dioxide, copper oxide, aluminum oxide and invar oxide.

Abstract: A method of making silver-cadmium oxide-tin oxide type contact materials by oxidizing three-dimensional particles containing silver, cadmium, and tin and then consolidating the oxidized particles into bodies of the desired configuration. The resultant contact materials have a substantially uniform distribution of relatively coarse cadmium oxide particles, improved arc erosion properties, and little or no depleted or porous grain boundaries.

Abstract: In a high amperage switching apparatus comprising multiple, spaced apart, stationary first terminals, each in interruptable circuit communication with corresponding multiple, spaced apart, stationary second terminals, said communication being by movable knife type circuit interrupting means pivotably attached to each second terminal such that it will contact the corresponding first terminal at some point in the pivot arc, the improvement comprising removably and conductively attaching to at least one stationary first terminal, at least one primary sacrificial, bimetallic contact, having highly conductive lower attachment section and highly resistant contact tip and removably and conductively attaching to at least one corresponding movable circuit interrupting means at least one secondary sacrificial bimetallic contact, being comprised of multiple laminate highly conductive metal fingers backed by a spring, compression laminate, having a high resistant metal tip, said primary and secondary sacrificial bimetall

Abstract: A switching element having reed contacts in a hermetically closed envelope with contact surfaces consisting of a gold alloy having a carbon content of between 0.5 and 1.5 % by weight and a cobalt content of between 1 and 6 % by weight.

Abstract: The contact materials comprise silver with additions of mercury or mercury and tellurium and silver-cadmium oxide compositions with additions of mercury and tellurium. The methods of making the materials include the steps of adding a silver-mercury alloy to molten silver and to a molten silver-tellurium powder mixture. The materials including cadmium oxide are produced by heating a mixture of powders of silver, a cadmium-tellurium compound, cadmium oxide, and mercuric oxide powders in a reducing atmosphere and then reoxidizing.

Abstract: A dry-reed contact type of electrical switch is described. The dry-reed contacts have terminal elements constructed from a metal core having a copper covering. The terminal elements extend from the switch housing through fusible beads of printed glass in an airtight or gasproof manner. The material used for the metal core is selected to have an expansion coefficient corresponding to that of the fusible beads. The metal core is covered, first, by copper and then, by nickel in a quantity ratio equal to or slightly less than 1 part nickel to 5 parts copper. The terminal elements are exposed during the sealing process to a temperature of from 750.degree. to 980.degree. C. during a melting period of such duration that at least 85 percent of the quantity of nickel coating is diffused into the copper.

Abstract: A material for use in making electrical contacts is produced in a powder form suitable for later processing into electrical contacts by standard metallurgical techniques. The material consists of a first metal, such as silver, and the oxide of a second metal, such as cadmium, added to the first metal in a proportion up to the limits of solubility of the second metal in the first metal. An oxide of a third metal having a low electronic work function level, such as lithium oxide, is added and uniformly distributed on the surfaces of the powder particles by precipitation. A fourth metal, such as tellurium, that is insoluble in the first metal is also added to provide selected characteristics.