US3488833A - Copper alloys for vacuum switches - Google Patents
Copper alloys for vacuum switches Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US3488833A US3488833A US550901A US3488833DA US3488833A US 3488833 A US3488833 A US 3488833A US 550901 A US550901 A US 550901A US 3488833D A US3488833D A US 3488833DA US 3488833 A US3488833 A US 3488833A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- copper
- iron
- alloy
- copper alloys
- vacuum switches
- 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
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
- H01H1/025—Composite material having copper as the basic material
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C21—METALLURGY OF IRON
- C21C—PROCESSING OF PIG-IRON, e.g. REFINING, MANUFACTURE OF WROUGHT-IRON OR STEEL; TREATMENT IN MOLTEN STATE OF FERROUS ALLOYS
- C21C7/00—Treating molten ferrous alloys, e.g. steel, not covered by groups C21C1/00 - C21C5/00
- C21C7/10—Handling in a vacuum
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
- C22B—PRODUCTION AND REFINING OF METALS; PRETREATMENT OF RAW MATERIALS
- C22B15/00—Obtaining copper
- C22B15/0026—Pyrometallurgy
- C22B15/006—Pyrometallurgy working up of molten copper, e.g. refining
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
- C22C—ALLOYS
- C22C1/00—Making non-ferrous alloys
- C22C1/02—Making non-ferrous alloys by melting
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
- C22C—ALLOYS
- C22C9/00—Alloys based on copper
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
- H01H1/00—Contacts
- H01H1/02—Contacts characterised by the material thereof
- H01H1/0203—Contacts characterised by the material thereof specially adapted for vacuum switches
-
- 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
- Y10T29/4998—Combined manufacture including applying or shaping of fluent material
- Y10T29/49988—Metal casting
- Y10T29/49989—Followed by cutting or removing material
Definitions
- This invention relates to the production of alloys for use in the contacts of vacuum switches.
- the alloy should have the following properties:
- a billet of O.F.H.C. (oxygen free, high conductivity) copper together with the required amount of high purity iron is placed in a previously degassed graphite crucible. If the iron were allowed to come into contact with the graphite crucible, before alloying with the copper, it would react with the graphite, causing damage to the crucible inside Wall and resulting in undue carbon pick-up in the melt. To prevent such contact, the iron is placed in a hole drilled in the copper billet. Using this method, no significant reaction occurs. The crucible is placed in a high frequency cvacuable furnace. To deoxidise the metal to the required low level of the order of 0.1 ppm. it is heated to 1350 C.
- O.F.H.C. oxygen free, high conductivity
- the temperature is then reduced to 1200 C. whilst the furnace is evacuated to a pressure of about mm. Hg, to degas the molten metal.
- the metal is then solidified progressively from the bottom upwards by slowly raising the induction heating coil. This method of solidification produces a pipe-free ingot and facilitates the removal of any gas which may remain in the molten metal.
- the graphite crucible wall is made sufliciently thin to be penetrated by the RF. field so that electromagnetic stirring of the molten metal is obtained.
- the fingers of a split contrate contact are stressed in bending, and the properties of alloys for this purpose were compared by loading small cantilever strips of the materials.
- the alloy samples are annealed at 700 C. for 2 hours and slowly cooled. After this treatment, the
- alloy of copper with 2% iron has an electrical conductivity of 55% IACS.
- the load required to give 0.020 deflection of the 2% iron alloy was 28 /2 lbs. compared with 13 lbs. for the 99% copper-1% silver alloy.
- the elastic springback from the 0.020 deflection was considerably higher for the copper alloy containing 2% iron, i.e., 0.011" compared with 0.005" for the copper alloy containing 1% silver.
- a pair of split-contrate switch contacts were made in the usual manner from a copper-2% iron alloy casting, to give a finger length of 1 /2".
- the machined contacts were annealed at 700 C. for two hours and allowed to cool slowly.
- the contacts were placed in a mechanical test rig with their fingers in juxtaposition as in normal use. A load of 1000 lbs. was applied to the pair of contacts and the amount of spring-back of the fingers was noted as the load was released.
- Spring-back commenced when the load has been reduced to 300 lbs. and proceeded almost linearly down to zero load.
- the total amount of spring-back was between 0.016" and 0.020", i.e., 0.008" to 0.010" for each contact. Satisfactory contact was thus maintained between all opposing pairs of fingers.
- a method of manufacturing a contact for an electric vacuum switch which comprises providing a charge consisting essentially of 95 to 99% by weight copper and 5 to 1% by weight high purity iron in a previously degassed graphite crucible; heating the said charge in a furnace at a temperature of about 1350 C. in an atmosphere of hydrogen for about one hour to form a homogeneous melt; degassing the molten metal by reducing the temperature of the melt to about 1200 C. while evacuating the furnace to a pressure of about 10 mm. Hg; solidifying the melt to form an alloy body; and forming a contact from the alloy body in the cast state by machining.
Landscapes
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Materials Engineering (AREA)
- Metallurgy (AREA)
- Organic Chemistry (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Composite Materials (AREA)
- Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
- High-Tension Arc-Extinguishing Switches Without Spraying Means (AREA)
- Contacts (AREA)
- Manufacture And Refinement Of Metals (AREA)
Description
United States Patent Q vs. Cl. 29-527.6 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Contacts for electric vacuum switches are manufactured by preparing an alloy body consisting essentially of 1% to 5% of iron and 99% to 95% of copper, by Weight, forming the contacts from the alloy body in the cast state by machining, and annealing the machined contact.
This invention relates to the production of alloys for use in the contacts of vacuum switches.
It is desirable to increase the mechanical strength and springiness in the fingers of the split contrate contacts of an electrical vacuum switch as described in British Patent No. 997,384, dated Oct. 1, 1963. For this purpose the alloy should have the following properties:
(a) Good electrical conductivity, e.g. 50% IACS (International Annealed Copper Standard),
(b) A high strength in bending and appreciable elastic springback after heating to 700 C. and slow cooling during the processing of the vacuum switch, compared with pure copper or 99% copper-1% silver alloy,
(c) Be produced with a very low gas content.
We have found that copper-iron alloys in the range 15% iron by weight are suitable for this purpose, the favoured composition being 2% iron. The alloys are employed in the cast state and are produced by the following method.
A billet of O.F.H.C. (oxygen free, high conductivity) copper together with the required amount of high purity iron is placed in a previously degassed graphite crucible. If the iron were allowed to come into contact with the graphite crucible, before alloying with the copper, it would react with the graphite, causing damage to the crucible inside Wall and resulting in undue carbon pick-up in the melt. To prevent such contact, the iron is placed in a hole drilled in the copper billet. Using this method, no significant reaction occurs. The crucible is placed in a high frequency cvacuable furnace. To deoxidise the metal to the required low level of the order of 0.1 ppm. it is heated to 1350 C. and held at this temperature for one hour in a continuous stream of hydrogen at atmospheric pressure. The temperature is then reduced to 1200 C. whilst the furnace is evacuated to a pressure of about mm. Hg, to degas the molten metal. The metal is then solidified progressively from the bottom upwards by slowly raising the induction heating coil. This method of solidification produces a pipe-free ingot and facilitates the removal of any gas which may remain in the molten metal. To promote uniformity of composition, the graphite crucible wall is made sufliciently thin to be penetrated by the RF. field so that electromagnetic stirring of the molten metal is obtained.
The fingers of a split contrate contact are stressed in bending, and the properties of alloys for this purpose were compared by loading small cantilever strips of the materials. To stimulate the vacuum outgassing of the vacuum switch, the alloy samples are annealed at 700 C. for 2 hours and slowly cooled. After this treatment, the
alloy of copper with 2% iron has an electrical conductivity of 55% IACS. In the cantilever test, the load required to give 0.020 deflection of the 2% iron alloy was 28 /2 lbs. compared with 13 lbs. for the 99% copper-1% silver alloy. Also the elastic springback from the 0.020 deflection was considerably higher for the copper alloy containing 2% iron, i.e., 0.011" compared with 0.005" for the copper alloy containing 1% silver.
A pair of split-contrate switch contacts were made in the usual manner from a copper-2% iron alloy casting, to give a finger length of 1 /2". The machined contacts were annealed at 700 C. for two hours and allowed to cool slowly. The contacts were placed in a mechanical test rig with their fingers in juxtaposition as in normal use. A load of 1000 lbs. was applied to the pair of contacts and the amount of spring-back of the fingers was noted as the load was released.
Spring-back commenced when the load has been reduced to 300 lbs. and proceeded almost linearly down to zero load. The total amount of spring-back was between 0.016" and 0.020", i.e., 0.008" to 0.010" for each contact. Satisfactory contact was thus maintained between all opposing pairs of fingers.
What We claim is:
1. A method of manufacturing a contact for an electric vacuum switch, which comprises providing a charge consisting essentially of 95 to 99% by weight copper and 5 to 1% by weight high purity iron in a previously degassed graphite crucible; heating the said charge in a furnace at a temperature of about 1350 C. in an atmosphere of hydrogen for about one hour to form a homogeneous melt; degassing the molten metal by reducing the temperature of the melt to about 1200 C. while evacuating the furnace to a pressure of about 10 mm. Hg; solidifying the melt to form an alloy body; and forming a contact from the alloy body in the cast state by machining.
2. A method according to claim 1, in which the copper is put into the crucible in the form of a billet, and the iron is placed in a hole drilled in the copper billet.
3. A method according to claim 1, in which the alloy body is solidified from the bottom upwards by slowly raising an induction heating coil surrounding it.
References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,921,060 8/1933 Williams. 2,048,824 7/1936 Simpson -153 X 2,066,512 1/1937 Archer 75153 2,140,607 12/ 1938 Thompson 164-65 557,182 2/1897 Baron 75153 2,169,187 8/1939 Kelly 75-153 1,144,034 6/1915 Giolitti 164125 X 3,019,102 1/1962 Saarivirta 75135 2,169,189 8/1939 Kelly 75153 184,884 11/1876 Merrell 75153 415,656 11/1889 Schneider 75-153 298,983 5/1884 Keeler 75153 2,576,267 11/1951 Scatf et a1. 164-68 X FOREIGN PATENTS 635,673 1/ 1928 France. 1,480,989 4/1967 France.
I. SPENCER OVERHOLSER, Primary Examiner V. K. RISING, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB22405/65A GB1129152A (en) | 1965-05-26 | 1965-05-26 | Copper alloys for vacuum switches |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US3488833A true US3488833A (en) | 1970-01-13 |
Family
ID=10178843
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US550901A Expired - Lifetime US3488833A (en) | 1965-05-26 | 1966-05-18 | Copper alloys for vacuum switches |
Country Status (6)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US3488833A (en) |
BE (1) | BE681664A (en) |
CH (1) | CH495620A (en) |
DE (1) | DE1533157A1 (en) |
GB (1) | GB1129152A (en) |
NL (1) | NL6607198A (en) |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4911769A (en) * | 1987-03-25 | 1990-03-27 | Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd. | Composite conductive material |
Citations (15)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US184884A (en) * | 1876-11-28 | Improvement in composition alloys | ||
US298983A (en) * | 1884-05-20 | Process of purifying molten iron and steel | ||
US415656A (en) * | 1889-11-19 | Henri schneider | ||
US557182A (en) * | 1896-03-31 | Educational chart | ||
US1144034A (en) * | 1913-04-08 | 1915-06-22 | Anonima Italiana Gio Ansaldo & C Soc | Process for the treatment of steel. |
FR635673A (en) * | 1926-05-26 | 1928-03-22 | Copper Deoxydation Corp | Pyrometallurgical process for refining and casting copper |
US1921060A (en) * | 1931-03-23 | 1933-08-08 | Clyde E Williams | Method of purifying metals |
US2048824A (en) * | 1932-05-13 | 1936-07-28 | Simpson Kenneth Miller | Alloys and method of manufacture |
US2066512A (en) * | 1934-10-17 | 1937-01-05 | Smith Corp A O | Alloy |
US2140607A (en) * | 1935-10-19 | 1938-12-20 | American Metal Co Ltd | Method of and apparatus for casting deoxidized copper |
US2169189A (en) * | 1938-10-21 | 1939-08-08 | Westinghouse Electric & Mfg Co | Copper base alloy |
US2169187A (en) * | 1938-10-21 | 1939-08-08 | Westinghouse Electric & Mfg Co | Copper base alloy |
US2576267A (en) * | 1948-10-27 | 1951-11-27 | Bell Telephone Labor Inc | Preparation of germanium rectifier material |
US3019102A (en) * | 1960-08-19 | 1962-01-30 | American Metal Climax Inc | Copper-zirconium-hafnium alloys |
FR1480989A (en) * | 1965-05-26 | 1967-05-12 | Ass Elect Ind | Process for preparing copper alloys for vacuum interrupters |
-
1965
- 1965-05-26 GB GB22405/65A patent/GB1129152A/en not_active Expired
-
1966
- 1966-05-18 US US550901A patent/US3488833A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1966-05-23 DE DE19661533157 patent/DE1533157A1/en active Pending
- 1966-05-24 CH CH746066A patent/CH495620A/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1966-05-25 NL NL6607198A patent/NL6607198A/xx unknown
- 1966-05-26 BE BE681664D patent/BE681664A/xx unknown
Patent Citations (15)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US184884A (en) * | 1876-11-28 | Improvement in composition alloys | ||
US298983A (en) * | 1884-05-20 | Process of purifying molten iron and steel | ||
US415656A (en) * | 1889-11-19 | Henri schneider | ||
US557182A (en) * | 1896-03-31 | Educational chart | ||
US1144034A (en) * | 1913-04-08 | 1915-06-22 | Anonima Italiana Gio Ansaldo & C Soc | Process for the treatment of steel. |
FR635673A (en) * | 1926-05-26 | 1928-03-22 | Copper Deoxydation Corp | Pyrometallurgical process for refining and casting copper |
US1921060A (en) * | 1931-03-23 | 1933-08-08 | Clyde E Williams | Method of purifying metals |
US2048824A (en) * | 1932-05-13 | 1936-07-28 | Simpson Kenneth Miller | Alloys and method of manufacture |
US2066512A (en) * | 1934-10-17 | 1937-01-05 | Smith Corp A O | Alloy |
US2140607A (en) * | 1935-10-19 | 1938-12-20 | American Metal Co Ltd | Method of and apparatus for casting deoxidized copper |
US2169189A (en) * | 1938-10-21 | 1939-08-08 | Westinghouse Electric & Mfg Co | Copper base alloy |
US2169187A (en) * | 1938-10-21 | 1939-08-08 | Westinghouse Electric & Mfg Co | Copper base alloy |
US2576267A (en) * | 1948-10-27 | 1951-11-27 | Bell Telephone Labor Inc | Preparation of germanium rectifier material |
US3019102A (en) * | 1960-08-19 | 1962-01-30 | American Metal Climax Inc | Copper-zirconium-hafnium alloys |
FR1480989A (en) * | 1965-05-26 | 1967-05-12 | Ass Elect Ind | Process for preparing copper alloys for vacuum interrupters |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
GB1129152A (en) | 1968-10-02 |
NL6607198A (en) | 1966-11-28 |
DE1533157A1 (en) | 1970-01-02 |
CH495620A (en) | 1970-08-31 |
BE681664A (en) | 1966-10-31 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US2144200A (en) | Method of manufacturing siliconiron alloys | |
US3548915A (en) | New procedure for chill casting beryllium composite | |
CN114752814B (en) | Heavy rare earth zinc alloy, method for producing same, use thereof, and use of tungsten-containing container | |
US3488833A (en) | Copper alloys for vacuum switches | |
JPS5893860A (en) | Manufacture of high strength copper alloy with high electric conductivity | |
EP0341354B1 (en) | Magnesium alloy | |
US3470936A (en) | Method for producing high purity copper castings | |
US2173312A (en) | Silicon-iron alloy | |
US2974033A (en) | Melting titanium metal | |
US3352667A (en) | Prevention of hydrogen-embrittlement in oxygen-bearing copper | |
US5026434A (en) | Copper-iron-cobalt-titanium alloy with high mechanical and electrical characteristics and its production process | |
US3450573A (en) | Grain refinement process for copper-bismuth alloys | |
CN111519062A (en) | High-strength high-conductivity copper-silver alloy and preparation method thereof | |
CN114657421B (en) | Ce-Zn alloy, production method thereof and application of smelting vessel | |
EP0688879B1 (en) | High vacuum apparatus member and vacuum apparatus | |
US3776719A (en) | Method of preparing copper for use in the arcing electrodes of a vacuum circuit interrupter | |
CN114540657B (en) | Rare earth copper alloy material with broadband electromagnetic shielding function and preparation method thereof | |
CN115418543B (en) | Eutectic multi-principal element alloy with high toughness and preparation method thereof | |
GB1533403A (en) | Vacuum circuit interrupters | |
JPS6345339A (en) | Copper alloy for high electrical conduction having low softening temperature | |
CN111979447B (en) | High-conductivity copper alloy material and preparation method thereof | |
CN114717433B (en) | Samarium-zinc alloy, production method thereof and use of niobium-containing container | |
RU1803447C (en) | Shape-metal copper-base alloy | |
SU370256A1 (en) | Method of deoxidation of copper | |
CN113430415A (en) | Pore-free copper-iron alloy and preparation method thereof |