US2371239A - Electric contact - Google Patents
Electric contact Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US2371239A US2371239A US2371239DA US2371239A US 2371239 A US2371239 A US 2371239A US 2371239D A US2371239D A US 2371239DA US 2371239 A US2371239 A US 2371239A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- platinum
- contact
- beryllium
- electric contact
- contacts
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
- BASFCYQUMIYNBI-UHFFFAOYSA-N platinum Chemical compound [Pt] BASFCYQUMIYNBI-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 28
- 229910052697 platinum Inorganic materials 0.000 description 14
- 229910052790 beryllium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 9
- ATBAMAFKBVZNFJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N beryllium atom Chemical compound [Be] ATBAMAFKBVZNFJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 9
- 229910000952 Be alloy Inorganic materials 0.000 description 4
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 4
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 4
- 229910045601 alloy Inorganic materials 0.000 description 3
- 239000000956 alloy Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 3
- 150000002739 metals Chemical class 0.000 description 3
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229910001316 Ag alloy Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N Copper Chemical compound [Cu] RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- XEEYBQQBJWHFJM-UHFFFAOYSA-N Iron Chemical group [Fe] XEEYBQQBJWHFJM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- KDLHZDBZIXYQEI-UHFFFAOYSA-N Palladium Chemical group [Pd] KDLHZDBZIXYQEI-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910001260 Pt alloy Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- BQCADISMDOOEFD-UHFFFAOYSA-N Silver Chemical compound [Ag] BQCADISMDOOEFD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 230000002411 adverse Effects 0.000 description 1
- -1 compound metals Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 229910052802 copper Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000010949 copper Substances 0.000 description 1
- PCHJSUWPFVWCPO-UHFFFAOYSA-N gold Chemical compound [Au] PCHJSUWPFVWCPO-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910052737 gold Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000010931 gold Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000004615 ingredient Substances 0.000 description 1
- HWLDNSXPUQTBOD-UHFFFAOYSA-N platinum-iridium alloy Chemical class [Ir].[Pt] HWLDNSXPUQTBOD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000010970 precious metal Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000002035 prolonged effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000003870 refractory metal Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052709 silver Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000004332 silver Substances 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
- H01H1/00—Contacts
- H01H1/02—Contacts characterised by the material thereof
- H01H1/021—Composite material
- H01H1/023—Composite material having a noble metal as the basic material
Definitions
- This invention relates to electric contacts.
- An object of the invention is to improve electric contacts and the composition thereof.
- the drawing illustrates an electric contact assembly embodying features of the present invention.
- Platinum electric contacts have long been used because of their low contact resistance and other good electrical properties and their ability to maintain a clean low resistance surface in corrosive atmospheres and under long periods of infrequent use. For this reason they are especially suitable for applications where the contact pressure is low, such as in sensitive relays.
- the present invention contemplates an electric contact formed of a platinum alloy containing beryllium.
- an electric contact may be formed of an alloy of Percent Beryllium 0.025 to 2 Platinum Balance Small proportions of other ingredients which do not adversely affect the contact characteristics or the hardening effect oil the beryllium may be present in .some cases, such as the metals of the platinum and palladium group, metals of the iron group refractory metals'and the high conductivity metals of the first group such as copper, silver and gold.
- a specific contact material which is very suitable is formed of Percent Beryllium 0.15 Platinum Balance er hardness and resistance to deformation than.
- platinum contacts combined with low contact resistance. They also have less tendency to creep or deform when operated at high temperatures or where overheated in operation.
- the contacts withstand material transfer particularly in D. C. circuits.
- the contacts of platinum beryllium alloy may beused on either polarity or in differential combinations working against refractory metalg'refractory compound metals such as .Ei-
- the drawing illustrates a contact combination suitable for use in relays or interrupters comprising a contact disc I formed of the platinum beryllium alloy of the invention brazed or welded to the end of a threaded backing screw 2 threaded into an opening in the support arm 3 and locked in position by lock nut 4.
- a cooperating contact disc 5 is supported on a movable contact arm 6' for make and break operation with contact I.
- Contact 5 may also be formed of the platinum beryllium alloy or may be of a different composition such as those mentioned in the preceding paragraph.
- An electric contact formed of 0.025 to 2 beryllium, balance substantially all platinum. said contact being characterized by higher hardness than pure platinum.
- An electric contact formed of an alloy of 0.025 to 2% beryllium, balance platinum.
Landscapes
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Composite Materials (AREA)
- Materials Engineering (AREA)
- Contacts (AREA)
Description
March 13, 1945. F; R. HENSEL 2,371,239
ELECTRIC CONTACT Filed June 8, 1945 IN VEN TOR.
BY Franz Z fie/15c! m r az/s/ av-h.
Patented Mar. 13, 1945 UNITED STA ELECTRIC CONTACT Franz R. Henscl, Indianapolis, Ind., assignor to P. R. Mallory & 00., Inc., Indianapolis, Ind., a
corporation of Delaware 2 Claims.
This invention relates to electric contacts.
An object of the invention is to improve electric contacts and the composition thereof.
Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the description and claims.
The drawing illustrates an electric contact assembly embodying features of the present invention.
Platinum electric contacts have long been used because of their low contact resistance and other good electrical properties and their ability to maintain a clean low resistance surface in corrosive atmospheres and under long periods of infrequent use. For this reason they are especially suitable for applications where the contact pressure is low, such as in sensitive relays.
Under heavy use, however, platinum contacts have a tendency to deform under mechanical forces such as repeated making and breaking of the contacts. I
The present invention contemplates an electric contact formed of a platinum alloy containing beryllium. a
Small amounts of beryllium have an extraora dinarily good hardening effect on platinum. As
little as 0.05% beryllium imparts a hardness to platinumequal to that imparted by 10% of iridi- ;um and 0.25 beryllium gives a hardness equal to "that of a 25% iridium-platinum alloy. These platinum-beryllium alloys have a very fine grain and undergo a much smaller loss in weight on prolonged heating than does pure platinum.
According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention an electric contact may be formed of an alloy of Percent Beryllium 0.025 to 2 Platinum Balance Small proportions of other ingredients which do not adversely affect the contact characteristics or the hardening effect oil the beryllium may be present in .some cases, such as the metals of the platinum and palladium group, metals of the iron group refractory metals'and the high conductivity metals of the first group such as copper, silver and gold.
A specific contact material which is very suitable is formed of Percent Beryllium 0.15 Platinum Balance er hardness and resistance to deformation than.
platinum contacts, combined with low contact resistance. They also have less tendency to creep or deform when operated at high temperatures or where overheated in operation. The contacts withstand material transfer particularly in D. C. circuits. The contacts of platinum beryllium alloy may beused on either polarity or in differential combinations working against refractory metalg'refractory compound metals such as .Ei-
. konitea'carbidic materials, silver alloys or other precious metals and alloys.
The drawing illustrates a contact combination suitable for use in relays or interrupters comprising a contact disc I formed of the platinum beryllium alloy of the invention brazed or welded to the end of a threaded backing screw 2 threaded into an opening in the support arm 3 and locked in position by lock nut 4. A cooperating contact disc 5 is supported on a movable contact arm 6' for make and break operation with contact I. Contact 5 may also be formed of the platinum beryllium alloy or may be of a different composition such as those mentioned in the preceding paragraph.
While specific embodiments of the invention have been described, it is intended to cover the invention broadly within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
What is claimed is:
1. An electric contact formed of 0.025 to 2 beryllium, balance substantially all platinum. said contact being characterized by higher hardness than pure platinum.
2. An electric contact formed of an alloy of 0.025 to 2% beryllium, balance platinum.
. FRANZ R. HENSEL.
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| US2371239A true US2371239A (en) | 1945-03-13 |
Family
ID=3434426
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| US2371239D Expired - Lifetime US2371239A (en) | Electric contact |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US2371239A (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3070875A (en) * | 1959-11-24 | 1963-01-01 | Westinghouse Electric Corp | Novel brazing alloy and structures produced therewith |
-
0
- US US2371239D patent/US2371239A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3070875A (en) * | 1959-11-24 | 1963-01-01 | Westinghouse Electric Corp | Novel brazing alloy and structures produced therewith |
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