EP0118345A1 - Elektrisches Kontaktstück und Verfahren zu dessen Herstellung - Google Patents

Elektrisches Kontaktstück und Verfahren zu dessen Herstellung Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0118345A1
EP0118345A1 EP84400278A EP84400278A EP0118345A1 EP 0118345 A1 EP0118345 A1 EP 0118345A1 EP 84400278 A EP84400278 A EP 84400278A EP 84400278 A EP84400278 A EP 84400278A EP 0118345 A1 EP0118345 A1 EP 0118345A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
contact
protuberance
wafer
crushed
coating
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.)
Granted
Application number
EP84400278A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0118345B1 (de
Inventor
Jean-Paul Favre-Tissot
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Merlin Gerin SA
Original Assignee
Merlin Gerin SA
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Merlin Gerin SA filed Critical Merlin Gerin SA
Publication of EP0118345A1 publication Critical patent/EP0118345A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0118345B1 publication Critical patent/EP0118345B1/de
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H11/00—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for the manufacture of electric switches
    • H01H11/04—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for the manufacture of electric switches of switch contacts
    • H01H11/041—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for the manufacture of electric switches of switch contacts by bonding of a contact marking face to a contact body portion
    • H01H11/043—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for the manufacture of electric switches of switch contacts by bonding of a contact marking face to a contact body portion by resistance welding
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T29/00—Metal working
    • Y10T29/49—Method of mechanical manufacture
    • Y10T29/49002—Electrical device making
    • Y10T29/49117—Conductor or circuit manufacturing
    • Y10T29/49204—Contact or terminal manufacturing
    • Y10T29/49208—Contact or terminal manufacturing by assembling plural parts
    • Y10T29/4921—Contact or terminal manufacturing by assembling plural parts with bonding
    • Y10T29/49211—Contact or terminal manufacturing by assembling plural parts with bonding of fused material
    • Y10T29/49213—Metal
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T29/00—Metal working
    • Y10T29/49—Method of mechanical manufacture
    • Y10T29/49002—Electrical device making
    • Y10T29/49117—Conductor or circuit manufacturing
    • Y10T29/49204—Contact or terminal manufacturing
    • Y10T29/49208—Contact or terminal manufacturing by assembling plural parts
    • Y10T29/49218—Contact or terminal manufacturing by assembling plural parts with deforming

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a method of manufacturing an electrical contact piece comprising a contact finger made of a good conductive material, in particular copper, on which is fixed by brazing or soldering a coating in the form of a sheet or wafer. silver base constituting the contact.
  • the pad for example made of a silver - nickel alloy, is relatively thick, and its surface has the final shape of the contact, for example curved or cylindrical.
  • the support in this case the contact finger, has a fixing base on which the wafer is welded, in particular by high frequency welding. The pad and the support retain their initial shape, the weld creating a simple bond between the two parts.
  • This known method of making a contact is expensive because it requires a large amount of silver, precious metal, and a relatively long soldering or soldering time. In addition, the entire end of the copper contact finger is annealed, affecting its properties.
  • the object of the present invention is to remedy these drawbacks by a simple and reliable method.
  • the method according to the invention is characterized in that the contact finger has in the contact area a protuberance on which said front coating is deposited bringing the end of a welding electrode to the coating and applying a resistance welding current by exerting a compressive force to crush said protuberance and fix said coating on the crushed protuberance.
  • a single operation realizes by hot crushing of the protuberance an enlarged seat for the covering and the fixing of the latter on this seat.
  • an electrode with an end surface shaped as a matrix
  • the protuberance and its coating are molded to the appropriate shape during the soldering operation, the deformation of the copper of the support being contained by the matrix.
  • An examination of the finished part reveals an annealing zone, limited to the protuberance, the resistance heating being located in this zone.
  • the method according to the invention can be used for a coating with a thin silver foil, for example a few hundredths of a millimeter thick, the soldering being carried out directly on the copper support, which constitutes the contact finger, without contribution. of solder
  • the material of the wafer is generally a silver-nickel, silver-tungsten, silver-graphite or similar alloy, commonly used for contact pads, a sheet or paste brazing being applied to the protuberance before deposition of the wafer. Phosphorus soldering gives good results even for silver-nickel plates, which is unexpected.
  • the crystallographic examination shows a real encrustation of the wafer on the support with an intimate connection between the two materials ensuring good conduction.
  • the wafer with flat faces is shaped and curved to present a convex contact face during welding.
  • the welding or resistance brazing operation is very short, of the order of a second, which explains the limited annealing of the part, only the upper layer of the protuberance and the finger being heated by the Joule effect.
  • the intensity of the heating current is advantageously within a range of 15,000 to 50,000 amperes.
  • a 1.5 mm thick wafer made of a silver and nickel alloy can be brazed with a phosphor solder 1 mm thick by a welding current of 20,000 amperes lasting one second, the force applied to the electrode being 500 Decanewton. This force must obviously be adapted to the size of the contact piece and it varies within wide limits.
  • the contact finger is cut from a copper plate, the protuberance appearing on the contour of the finger.
  • the coating is applied by the aforementioned method to the edge of the protuberance, the latter widening during the welding operation to form an enlarged seat for supporting the contact itself.
  • An almost complete crushing of the protuberance limits the height of projection of the contact to that of the plate shaped by the matrix of the electrode.
  • the invention also relates to a thin-coated silver-based contact piece welded or brazed by resistance on a hot-crushed protuberance of a copper contact finger.
  • This contact part replaces; advantageously to conventional silver-based contacts, commonly used in low-voltage devices. She can cooperate with a contact of the same type or a different type depending on the characteristics sought.
  • the contact according to the invention constitutes the movable contact of a breaking device, in particular of a low voltage circuit breaker.
  • the contact according to the invention increases the performance, in particular of switching off the device.
  • Manufacturing does not require any special machine since it suffices to adapt the electrode of a conventional resistance welding machine and to provide a device for applying a force to the electrode.
  • the reduction in welding time results in a high production rate and a significant reduction in cost.
  • the assembly can be automated.
  • the contact piece comprises several joined fingers joined together by welding according to the inventive method of a plate covering all of the protuberances. A connection between the copper fingers is observed, produced by the hot crushing of the protuberances.
  • the electrode is preferably made of tungsten and has a matrix in the form of a groove with a concave bottom, the shape of the bottom being complementary to that of the convex surface of the contact.
  • the depth of the groove allows the coating and the protuberance to be confined to carry out a real hot molding.
  • the localized resistance heating facilitates this surface molding and the width of the groove defines that of the seat obtained by the crushing of the protuberance.
  • the width of the plate is substantially equal to that of the groove, the plate being simply deformed or curved to present a convex contact surface. In the case of a thin coating, in particular of a silver sheet, the edges of the sheet can be folded back to form a cap covering the crushed protuberance.
  • a contact piece 10 for example a movable contact of a power cut device, is cut from a plate of copper or any other material which is good conductor of electricity, according to a predetermined contour.
  • the width of the contact piece in this case the thickness of the copper plate, is small, for example 3 mm, but it is clear that the invention is applicable to contacts of greater or smaller width depending on the applications and the characteristics of the devices comprising this contact.
  • the contour of the contact piece 10 has a protrusion 12, the edge 14 of which may be covered with a silver-based coating to constitute the contact itself. In the example according to FIGS.
  • the coating consists of a plate 16 of straight parallelepiped shape in a silver alloy, in particular silver-nickel, silver-graphite or silver-tungsten.
  • a solder in particular a sheet 18 of phosphor solder, for example with a thickness of one tenth of a millimeter, before the application of an electrode 20 - of resistance brazing ( Figs. 10 and 11).
  • the electrode 20 is applied with a predetermined force on the wafer 16 and the protrusion 12 for the duration of the passage of the brazing current.
  • the combined action of heating by the Joule effect and of compression by the force exerted by the electrode 20 on the protuberance 12 causes the latter to be crushed and a deformation and brazing of the plate 16.
  • the end of the electrode 20, cooperating with the plate 16, is shaped as a contact molding matrix.
  • this matrix is constituted by a groove 22 with a convex bottom 24 capable of covering the plate 16 and protuberance assembly 12.
  • the width 1 1 of the groove 22 is greater than the width 1 2 of the part or of the contact finger 10, this width 1 1 corresponding to that of the crushed protuberance 12 after the brazing operation (see fig. 4).
  • the width of the plate 16 and of the solder sheet 18 is equal to or slightly less than the width 11 of the groove 22 so as to be able to fit into the latter when the soldering electrode 20 is lowered. 'brazing operation the plate 16 and the solder 18 project laterally from the protrusion 12, The lengths being on the other hand substantially equal.
  • the contact according to FIGS. 3 and 4 with a width 1 2 of 3 mm was made using a plate 16 made of a nickel silver alloy.
  • the thickness of the plate 16 is 1.5 mm, its width 1 1 being 5 mm and its length 9 mm.
  • the thickness of the phosphor brazing sheet 18 is one tenth of a millimeter, the width and the length being 5 and 8 mm respectively.
  • the Width 1 1 of the groove 22 of the electrode 20 is 5 mm and the pressing force is 500 decaNewtons.
  • the resistance welding current is maintained for about one second, the intensity of the current being 20,000 amperes.
  • the brazing current is generally within the range of 15,000 to 50,000 amperes, the duration of maintenance of this current being generally of the order of a second.
  • the protrusion 12 is not necessarily arranged around the periphery of the contact piece 10, but it can be present on a flat face, for example of a fixed contact or on any other part of this contact.
  • the edge 14 receiving the plate 16 is not necessarily flat and this plate 16 can also be of a different shape.
  • the method according to the invention is summarized below by describing the operation of the welding machine illustrated in FIG. 9.
  • the contact finger 10 is tightened between jaws 26, 28 of a holding vice, the protrusion 12 being oriented towards a soldering electrode 20.
  • a transfer device designated by the general reference 30, takes the solder sheet 18 and deposits it on the edge 14 of the protrusion 12.
  • the next operation, carried out by a transfer device 32, consists in depositing the wafer 16 on the sheet 18.
  • Each jaw 26, 28 is provided with a branch 34, 36 for holding the sheet 18 and the wafer 16.
  • These holding branches 34, 36 laterally frame the protuberance 12 being spaced apart by a distance 1 1 corresponding to the width of the sheet 18 and the wafer 16.
  • the method according to the invention is applicable to a contact having a thin coating consisting of a sheet of pure silver.
  • Figures 5 to 8 illustrate a contact of this kind in which the sheet 42 is deposited directly on the protrusion 12 without interposition of solder.
  • the width 1 3 of the sheet 42 is notably greater higher than that of the contact finger 10, so as to cause the lowering of the electrode 20 the folding of the edges to form a yoke covering the crushed protuberance 12.
  • the welding machine and the cycle is identical to that described here. above, only the phase of supply of the solder sheet being eliminated.
  • the thickness of the sheet 42 is a few hundredths or tenths of a millimeter, the crushed protuberance 12 being entirely covered by this sheet 42. It is clear that the invention is applicable to a sheet 42 whose edges would not be folded on the sides of the crushed protuberance 12.
  • the enlarged seat constituted by the crushed protuberance 12 allows this reduction of coating based on silver.
  • FIG. 12 to 15 there is shown a third alternative embodiment according to the invention, in which the contact piece consists of four joined fingers 44, each having a protuberance 12.
  • a solder sheet 18 and a single plate 16 of appropriate dimensions are deposited on the four joined protrusions 12 to perform a brazing operation described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 above.
  • the protrusions 12 are under the action of heating and compression exerted by the electrode 20 crushed and shaped to produce the contact surface with wafer 16.
  • the four fingers 44 are on the one hand secured by the wafer 16 brazed on the protrusions 12, and on the other hand by the crushing and melting of the copper of the protrusions 12.
  • the few examples described above clearly show that the invention is applicable to different types of contact, in particular of variable shapes and dimensions.
  • the contact piece may be made of copper or a copper alloy or, if appropriate, of another material which is a good conductor of electricity, and the composition and the shape of the coating may be different.
  • the breaking capacity of the devices equipped with the contacts according to the present invention is notably superior to that of the devices with contacts provided with pads with a thickness of 2.5 mm.
  • Welding or resistance brazing make an intimate connection limiting the heating during the passage of current in the electrical appliance.
  • Another important advantage of resistance welding is to limit the heating in the area of the protuberance, thus avoiding any annealing of the support part.
  • the contact made according to the inventive method does not require any further treatment, in particular cleaning or machining.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Manufacture Of Switches (AREA)
  • Contacts (AREA)
EP84400278A 1983-02-21 1984-02-10 Elektrisches Kontaktstück und Verfahren zu dessen Herstellung Expired EP0118345B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR8303051 1983-02-21
FR8303051A FR2541520B1 (fr) 1983-02-21 1983-02-21 Piece de contact electrique et son procede de fabrication

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0118345A1 true EP0118345A1 (de) 1984-09-12
EP0118345B1 EP0118345B1 (de) 1987-05-13

Family

ID=9286233

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP84400278A Expired EP0118345B1 (de) 1983-02-21 1984-02-10 Elektrisches Kontaktstück und Verfahren zu dessen Herstellung

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US4587728A (de)
EP (1) EP0118345B1 (de)
JP (1) JPS59158024A (de)
CA (1) CA1231996A (de)
DE (1) DE3463705D1 (de)
FR (1) FR2541520B1 (de)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP3230197B2 (ja) 1994-08-30 2001-11-19 三菱電機株式会社 回路遮断器
FR2933541B1 (fr) * 2008-07-07 2016-03-25 Schneider Electric Ind Sas Procede d'assemblage par resistance d'un materiau de contact sur un support metallique, contact electrique realise par un tel procede et pastille de contact utilisee
JP5493757B2 (ja) * 2009-11-19 2014-05-14 富士電機機器制御株式会社 回路遮断器

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2641508B1 (de) * 1976-09-15 1978-02-09 Siemens Ag Vorrichtung zum verbinden von unverdichteten, hochflexiblen, blanken oder isolierten litzen aus kupfer mit metallischen traegern
US4291215A (en) * 1979-03-29 1981-09-22 General Electric Company Bonding a highly conductive arc-resistant electrical contact pad on a metal body
FR2484136A1 (fr) * 1980-06-06 1981-12-11 Merlin Gerin Contacts electriques perfectionnes pour disjoncteurs multipolaires a basse tension et procede de fabrication des contacts

Family Cites Families (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2216510A (en) * 1938-08-16 1940-10-01 Wilson H A Co Method of making contacts
US2513939A (en) * 1944-04-19 1950-07-04 Eaton Mfg Co Construction of composite metal articles
US3191276A (en) * 1959-12-01 1965-06-29 Talon Inc Method of making composite electrical contact bodies
US3139669A (en) * 1960-02-23 1964-07-07 Gibson Electric Company Method of making an electrical contact
JPS4821863B1 (de) * 1968-08-02 1973-07-02
JPS5063162U (de) * 1973-10-10 1975-06-09
US4107506A (en) * 1976-02-18 1978-08-15 Ismael Martinez Pelegri Soldering method
DE2919851A1 (de) * 1978-05-17 1979-11-22 Johnson Matthey Co Ltd Elektrischer kontakt und insbesondere verfahren zu seiner herstellung
JPS5696413A (en) * 1979-12-29 1981-08-04 Chugai Electric Ind Co Ltd Method of manufacturing composite electric contact welded with supporting metal

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2641508B1 (de) * 1976-09-15 1978-02-09 Siemens Ag Vorrichtung zum verbinden von unverdichteten, hochflexiblen, blanken oder isolierten litzen aus kupfer mit metallischen traegern
US4291215A (en) * 1979-03-29 1981-09-22 General Electric Company Bonding a highly conductive arc-resistant electrical contact pad on a metal body
FR2484136A1 (fr) * 1980-06-06 1981-12-11 Merlin Gerin Contacts electriques perfectionnes pour disjoncteurs multipolaires a basse tension et procede de fabrication des contacts

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2541520A1 (fr) 1984-08-24
JPS59158024A (ja) 1984-09-07
JPH0418650B2 (de) 1992-03-27
FR2541520B1 (fr) 1985-07-19
US4587728A (en) 1986-05-13
EP0118345B1 (de) 1987-05-13
DE3463705D1 (en) 1987-06-19
CA1231996A (en) 1988-01-26

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