The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 13, 1977
Filed:
Oct. 29, 1974
Werner S Emmerich, Pittsburgh, PA (US);
Westinghouse Electric Corporation, Pittsburgh, PA (US);
Abstract
A material is described which is useful in electrical current switching devices and is especially adapted to form the contact surface of the electrodes of electrical current switching devices which are employed in a vacuum environment. The contact material comprises a major component which is characterized by a melting point in excess of 1250.degree. C and a boiling point of less than 3500.degree. C. A small but effective amount of an element which provides antiwelding characteristics and in which said element has only minimum solubility within the major component. The balance is a minor constituent for providing a low resistance path for the electrical current to flow from one electrode to the other. Typical compositions includes a chromium matrix material which comprises in excess of 50% by weight of the contact material, up to about 1.5% of an antiwelding element for example bismuth and the balance essentially a high electrical and thermal conductivity element notably copper or silver. These ingredients are compounded and are formed into the shape of a contact material which is attached to the electrodes in electrical current switching devices.