US2625737A - Method of making electrical contacts - Google Patents

Method of making electrical contacts Download PDF

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Publication number
US2625737A
US2625737A US181449A US18144950A US2625737A US 2625737 A US2625737 A US 2625737A US 181449 A US181449 A US 181449A US 18144950 A US18144950 A US 18144950A US 2625737 A US2625737 A US 2625737A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
strip
metal
disc
solder
plug
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
Application number
US181449A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Howard E Spooner
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.)
D E MAKEPEACE Co
Original Assignee
D E MAKEPEACE Co
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
Priority to NL87414D priority Critical patent/NL87414C/xx
Priority to BE516778D priority patent/BE516778A/fr
Application filed by D E MAKEPEACE Co filed Critical D E MAKEPEACE Co
Priority to US181449A priority patent/US2625737A/en
Priority to GB29656/52A priority patent/GB717652A/en
Priority to FR1066773D priority patent/FR1066773A/fr
Priority to DEM16409A priority patent/DE1117791B/de
Priority to CH309321D priority patent/CH309321A/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US2625737A publication Critical patent/US2625737A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime 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
    • 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
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S428/00—Stock material or miscellaneous articles
    • Y10S428/922—Static electricity metal bleed-off metallic stock
    • Y10S428/9265—Special properties
    • Y10S428/929—Electrical contact feature
    • 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
    • Y10T428/00—Stock material or miscellaneous articles
    • Y10T428/12—All metal or with adjacent metals
    • Y10T428/12451—Macroscopically anomalous interface between layers
    • 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
    • Y10T428/00—Stock material or miscellaneous articles
    • Y10T428/12—All metal or with adjacent metals
    • Y10T428/12486—Laterally noncoextensive components [e.g., embedded, etc.]
    • 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
    • Y10T428/00—Stock material or miscellaneous articles
    • Y10T428/12—All metal or with adjacent metals
    • Y10T428/12493—Composite; i.e., plural, adjacent, spatially distinct metal components [e.g., layers, joint, etc.]
    • Y10T428/12771—Transition metal-base component
    • Y10T428/12861—Group VIII or IB metal-base component
    • Y10T428/12868—Group IB metal-base component alternative to platinum group metal-base component [e.g., precious metal, etc.]

Definitions

  • This invention relates to electrical contact elements suitable for use in the making and breaking of electric circuits and to methods for manufacturing such elements.
  • the present invention provides for improvements in the methods of making contacts, and an object of this invention is to produce improved electrical contacts and to save precious metals in the manufacture thereof. Further objects and various advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred forms, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which, unless otherwise indicated, corresponding elements are similarly numbered throughout the Various figures. The essential characteristics are summarized in the claims.
  • Fig. 1 is a face view of a base metal strip used in fabricating contacts embodying the invention
  • Fig. 2 is a side elevation of an individual plug greatly enlarged
  • Fig. 3 shows the operation of punching the plug from a laminated metal strip greatly enlarged
  • Fig. 4 is a face view of the die shown in Fig. 3;
  • Fig. 5 is an enlarged section of a contact element drawn and cut from the strip of Fig. 1.
  • a wide fiat strip I0 formed of any suitable electrically conductive base metal, e. g. copper, nickel, and so forth, or alloys thereof, such for example as brass, bronze, nickel-silver, etc.
  • the strip I0 is run through a punch press which punches out a series of bores H, the location and number of the bores being dependent upon the shape and construction of the electrical contact element that is to be manufactured.
  • the contact element which was chosen for illustration purposes has three precious metal contact points and accordingly there are three bores H punched in the strip Ill for each contact element to be manufactured.
  • a series of locating or centering holes I2 is also punched in the strip in in a line parallel to an edge of the metal strip, the centering holes being spaced apart by a distance equal to the length of strip needed to form one contact element.
  • a flat laminated metal plug IS In Fig. 2, there is shown a flat laminated metal plug IS, the shape and size of which is such that it will press fit into a bore H.
  • the thickness of the plug i3 preferably approximates that of the metal strip H3.
  • the plug I3 is punched out from a metal strip l4 (Fig. 3) having a film or layer a of solder on the bottom surface thereof.
  • the strip It is preferably formed from a compound metal stock having a relatively thick base or foundation b of an inexpensive metal, such as, for example, that from which the metal strip H1 is formed, and a thin layer 0 of a precious metal such as gold, silver, platinum, palladium and alloys of these metals.
  • the layer 0 may be electroplated on the surface of the foundation I), or the layers of metal may be integrally bonded together by direct weld with the application of heat and pressure, or by brazing or soldering, all as is well known to those skilled in the art.
  • the strip 14 may consist entirely of precious metal with a film a of solder on one of its surfaces.
  • the plug l3 herein shown as a disc, is punched out from the metal strip 14 by passing the strip between a die It and punch H, with the solder face a of the strip towards the dieand its precious metal face towards the punch.
  • the die I6 is provided with serrations l8 around the rim of the die hole l9 (see Fig. 4). These serrations cause the solder layer a to be drawn up around the sides of the disc [3 as the disc is being punched out from the strip l4, thereby forming the scalloped edge 23 of the solder layer as is shown in Fig. 2.
  • the next step in the manufacture of the electric contacts of this invention comprises fixing the discs l3 into the bores II. This may be accomplished by supporting the die I6 upon a base 2
  • the die I6 is provided in its bottom surface with a recess 2
  • the assembly of the strip l containing. the discs I 3 is: then heated as by passing'the stripi through a furnace at the liquidus temperature of the solder. will flow between the sides of the discs and the Walls of the base metal bore ll so that the discs I become firmly bonded into the strip.
  • the finished contacts 25- (Fig; 5) are-formed v from the assembled strip byJa series of-stamping, drawing and cutting operations, the particulan sequence of these operations being immaterial.
  • the finished contacts 25- (Fig; 5) are-formed v from the assembled strip byJa series of-stamping, drawing and cutting operations, the particulan sequence of these operations being immaterial.
  • the finished contacts 25- (Fig; 5) are-formed v from the assembled strip byJa series of-stamping, drawing and cutting operations, the particulan sequence of these operations being immaterial.
  • shortas'pro jections 26 which serve as the contact pointsrare drawn out with their precious metal layers on the outer surface of the projection.
  • this invention provides a method for manufacturing an improved electricalcontact having longer wearing properties and greater corrosion resistance exactly where needed and permits of the. most.economi-- cal use-of costly noble or precious metals or alloys of these metals, since only the very point of contact is made from these metals.
  • the method of making an electrical contact from a base metal strip including at. least one disc-like plug formed from a laminated stock having a precious metal top layer and a bottom layer of solder, said method comprising the steps ofinserting said plug with its bottom layer facing said strip into a hole in said strip while simultaneously causing solder to be drawn up around the sides of said disc, bonding said plug at its peripheral surfaces in said hole in the strip by heating said plug and strip assembly to a ternperature sufficient to cause said solder to bond the peripheral ides of said plug to the walls of said hole to form a completed base strip capable of being further worked, and thereafter forming a projectionin the bonded assembly including at least said plug with its precious metal layer being projected forward to serve as the contact point.
  • said punching step being performed by means of a die having serrations around the rim of the die opening whereby the solder is caused to be drawn up around the sides of the disc, and inserting said disc into a perforation in a second .base metal strip, heating said disc while being carried. in said perforation. to the. liquidus temperature of said solder'so thatthe disc becomes joined to said strip at its peripheral edges, and thereafter forming a projection in said bonded assembly, the apex of said projection comprising said'disc with'said precious metal layer forming theouter surface of said projection whereby an electriccontact is. formed having the precious metal, contact material only at the point where needed.-

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Manufacture Of Switches (AREA)
  • Contacts (AREA)
US181449A 1950-08-25 1950-08-25 Method of making electrical contacts Expired - Lifetime US2625737A (en)

Priority Applications (7)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NL87414D NL87414C (fr) 1950-08-25
BE516778D BE516778A (fr) 1950-08-25
US181449A US2625737A (en) 1950-08-25 1950-08-25 Method of making electrical contacts
GB29656/52A GB717652A (en) 1950-08-25 1952-11-24 Improvements in or relating to the methods of making electrical contacts
FR1066773D FR1066773A (fr) 1950-08-25 1952-11-24 Interrupteur électrique
DEM16409A DE1117791B (de) 1950-08-25 1952-11-25 Verfahren zur Herstellung elektrischer Kontaktstuecke mit scheibenfoermigen Kontakteinsaetzen aus Verbundmetall
CH309321D CH309321A (de) 1950-08-25 1952-12-02 Verfahren zur Herstellung eines elektrischen Kontaktes und nach diesem Verfahren hergestellter elektrischer Kontakt.

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US181449A US2625737A (en) 1950-08-25 1950-08-25 Method of making electrical contacts

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US2625737A true US2625737A (en) 1953-01-20

Family

ID=22664327

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US181449A Expired - Lifetime US2625737A (en) 1950-08-25 1950-08-25 Method of making electrical contacts

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US2625737A (fr)
BE (1) BE516778A (fr)
CH (1) CH309321A (fr)
FR (1) FR1066773A (fr)
GB (1) GB717652A (fr)
NL (1) NL87414C (fr)

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2769875A (en) * 1953-09-25 1956-11-06 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Mercury contact switch
US2984893A (en) * 1958-07-15 1961-05-23 Engelhard Ind Inc Method of making an electrical contact
US3015884A (en) * 1957-10-16 1962-01-09 Raytheon Co Method of storing a material within another material
US3066386A (en) * 1958-05-07 1962-12-04 Electro Tec Corp Method of making a slip ring assembly
US3075281A (en) * 1958-10-03 1963-01-29 Engelhard Ind Inc Method for producing an electrical contact element
US3192351A (en) * 1961-05-08 1965-06-29 Fansteel Metallurgical Corp Electrical contact disc
US3256399A (en) * 1961-11-17 1966-06-14 Robertshaw Controls Co Vacuum operated switch structures
US3690043A (en) * 1968-11-25 1972-09-12 Bodo Futterer Electrofilter for gases
US3964666A (en) * 1975-03-31 1976-06-22 Western Electric Company, Inc. Bonding contact members to circuit boards
US3969156A (en) * 1975-04-23 1976-07-13 Kabel-Und Metallwerke Gutehoffnungshutte Aktiengesellschaft Method of making dispersion strengthened products
US4294396A (en) * 1978-07-21 1981-10-13 Fuji Electric Co., Ltd. Method for manufacturing brazed parts

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3108502A1 (de) * 1979-11-28 1982-09-30 Fa. Leopold Kostal, 5880 Lüdenscheid Elektrischer kontaktgeber und ein zur herstellung desselben geeignetes verfahren
DE2947811C2 (de) * 1979-11-28 1983-06-16 Leopold Kostal GmbH & Co KG, 5880 Lüdenscheid Kontaktkörper

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1046823A (en) * 1908-02-27 1912-12-10 Western Electric Co Electrical switch-contact.
US2018073A (en) * 1933-03-25 1935-10-22 Eisler Electric Corp Electrode or contact mechanism
US2199240A (en) * 1935-02-06 1940-04-30 Mallory & Co Inc P R Silver faced contact
US2216510A (en) * 1938-08-16 1940-10-01 Wilson H A Co Method of making contacts
US2254558A (en) * 1938-10-10 1941-09-02 Ivan A Williams Fastening element and method of making same
US2373861A (en) * 1942-10-08 1945-04-17 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Method of making contact wiper springs
US2414463A (en) * 1943-09-10 1947-01-21 Metals & Controls Corp Electrical contact

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1046823A (en) * 1908-02-27 1912-12-10 Western Electric Co Electrical switch-contact.
US2018073A (en) * 1933-03-25 1935-10-22 Eisler Electric Corp Electrode or contact mechanism
US2199240A (en) * 1935-02-06 1940-04-30 Mallory & Co Inc P R Silver faced contact
US2216510A (en) * 1938-08-16 1940-10-01 Wilson H A Co Method of making contacts
US2254558A (en) * 1938-10-10 1941-09-02 Ivan A Williams Fastening element and method of making same
US2373861A (en) * 1942-10-08 1945-04-17 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Method of making contact wiper springs
US2414463A (en) * 1943-09-10 1947-01-21 Metals & Controls Corp Electrical contact

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2769875A (en) * 1953-09-25 1956-11-06 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Mercury contact switch
US3015884A (en) * 1957-10-16 1962-01-09 Raytheon Co Method of storing a material within another material
US3066386A (en) * 1958-05-07 1962-12-04 Electro Tec Corp Method of making a slip ring assembly
US2984893A (en) * 1958-07-15 1961-05-23 Engelhard Ind Inc Method of making an electrical contact
US3075281A (en) * 1958-10-03 1963-01-29 Engelhard Ind Inc Method for producing an electrical contact element
US3192351A (en) * 1961-05-08 1965-06-29 Fansteel Metallurgical Corp Electrical contact disc
US3256399A (en) * 1961-11-17 1966-06-14 Robertshaw Controls Co Vacuum operated switch structures
US3690043A (en) * 1968-11-25 1972-09-12 Bodo Futterer Electrofilter for gases
US3964666A (en) * 1975-03-31 1976-06-22 Western Electric Company, Inc. Bonding contact members to circuit boards
US3969156A (en) * 1975-04-23 1976-07-13 Kabel-Und Metallwerke Gutehoffnungshutte Aktiengesellschaft Method of making dispersion strengthened products
US4294396A (en) * 1978-07-21 1981-10-13 Fuji Electric Co., Ltd. Method for manufacturing brazed parts

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
NL87414C (fr)
FR1066773A (fr) 1954-06-09
BE516778A (fr)
CH309321A (de) 1955-08-31
GB717652A (en) 1954-10-27

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