EP0457675A1 - Electrical contact - Google Patents

Electrical contact Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0457675A1
EP0457675A1 EP91401247A EP91401247A EP0457675A1 EP 0457675 A1 EP0457675 A1 EP 0457675A1 EP 91401247 A EP91401247 A EP 91401247A EP 91401247 A EP91401247 A EP 91401247A EP 0457675 A1 EP0457675 A1 EP 0457675A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
male
female
elements
aqueous solution
male element
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
EP91401247A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0457675B1 (en
Inventor
Jean-Paul Martin
Jean-Claude Moisant
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.)
CETRA Sarl
Original Assignee
CETRA Sarl
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 CETRA Sarl filed Critical CETRA Sarl
Priority to AT91401247T priority Critical patent/ATE99840T1/en
Publication of EP0457675A1 publication Critical patent/EP0457675A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0457675B1 publication Critical patent/EP0457675B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R39/00—Rotary current collectors, distributors or interrupters
    • H01R39/64—Devices for uninterrupted current collection
    • H01R39/646—Devices for uninterrupted current collection through an electrical conductive fluid
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/02—Contact members
    • H01R13/03—Contact members characterised by the material, e.g. plating, or coating materials

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an electrical contact which can be used either singly or as part of a switch, a contactor, a relay or a connector.
  • This contact is characterized in that it comprises a male element and a female element in which the male element is mounted sliding with hard friction, an air chamber being formed between the end of the male element and the bottom, of the female element, and in that these two male and female elements are at least partially made of a porous material soaked in an aqueous solution charged with metallic submicron particles.
  • the male and female elements are in the form of envelopes containing the aqueous solution.
  • the male and female elements are monolithic and soaked with the solution aqueous.
  • the contact according to the invention comprises a male element 1 and a female element 2 in which the element 1 is slidably mounted with hard friction.
  • the male element 1 is constituted by a cylindrical envelope 3 made of porous material, for example ceramic or alumina, which is closed by a capsule 4, carrying a connection wire 5, and contains an aqueous solution 6 containing metallic particles submicron , with very high conductivity and very low resistance, the particles having a diameter of 10 to 1000 times smaller than the diameter of the pores of the envelope 3;
  • the female element 2 is constituted by an envelope which comprises a wall 7 of porous material and a metal wall 8 carrying a connection wire 9 and contains a solution 10 similar to solution 6.
  • the two elements 1 and 2 define a chamber 11 filled with air.
  • the contact consists of the male 12 and female 13 elements, which are made of a microporous material having a high coefficient of elasticity and soaked with a viscous compound charged with metallic submicron particles.
  • the male element 12 is closed externally by a cap 14 carrying a connection wire 15 while the female element 13 is housed in an envelope 16 carrying a connection wire 17.
  • This contact operates as that previously described.
  • the male element 12 is pressed into the female element, the air in the chamber 11 is compressed and a conductive film is formed between the elements 12 and 13.
  • the contact according to the invention has no rebounds on closing and no electric arc is established. It works perfectly in VHF because of the skin effect, it has a low contact resistance and responds excellently to micro-currents.
  • a reverser could be produced by providing two contacts and by connecting their male elements to the same control lever so that, when one of the male elements is inserted into its female element, the other so and vice versa.

Abstract

Contact électrique qui comprend un élément mâle (1 ou 12) et un élément femelle (2 ou 13) dans lequel l'élément mâle est monté coulissant à frottement dur, une chambre d'air (11) étant ménagée entre l'extrémité de l'élément mâle et le fond de l'élément femelle.Ces deux éléments mâle et femelle sont au moins partiellement en une matière poreuse imbibée d'une solution aqueuse chargée de particules submicroniques métalliques.Electrical contact which comprises a male element (1 or 12) and a female element (2 or 13) in which the male element is slidably mounted with hard friction, an air chamber (11) being formed between the end of the 'male element and the bottom of the female element. These two male and female elements are at least partially made of a porous material soaked in an aqueous solution loaded with submicron metal particles.

Description

La présente invention a pour objet un contact électrique utilisable soit isolément, soit comme élément d'un interrupteur, d'un contacteur, d'un relais ou d'un connecteur.The present invention relates to an electrical contact which can be used either singly or as part of a switch, a contactor, a relay or a connector.

Ce contact est caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend un élément mâle et un élément femelle dans lequel l'élément mâle est monté coulissant à frottement dur, une chambre d'air étant ménagée entre l'extrémité de l'élément mâle et le fond, de l'élément femelle, et en ce que ces deux éléments mâle et femelle sont au moins partiellement en une matière poreuse imbibée d'une solution aqueuse chargée de particules submicroniques métalliques.This contact is characterized in that it comprises a male element and a female element in which the male element is mounted sliding with hard friction, an air chamber being formed between the end of the male element and the bottom, of the female element, and in that these two male and female elements are at least partially made of a porous material soaked in an aqueous solution charged with metallic submicron particles.

Dans un premier mode de réalisation, les éléments mâle et femelle se présentent sous la forme d'enveloppes contenant la solution aqueuse.In a first embodiment, the male and female elements are in the form of envelopes containing the aqueous solution.

Dans un autre mode de réalisation, les éléments mâle et femelle sont monolithiques et imbibés de la solution aqueuse.In another embodiment, the male and female elements are monolithic and soaked with the solution aqueous.

On a décrit ci-après, à titre d'exemples non limitatifs, deux modes de réalisation du contact selon l'invention, avec référence au dessin annexé dans lequel :
   Les Figures 1 et 2 sont des vues en coupe axiale de ces modes de réalisation.Two embodiments of the contact according to the invention have been described below, by way of non-limiting examples, with reference to the appended drawing in which:
Figures 1 and 2 are views in axial section of these embodiments.

Tel qu'il est représenté à la Figure 1, le contact selon l'invention comprend un élément mâle 1 et un élément femelle 2 dans lequel l'élément 1 est monté coulissant à frottement dur.As shown in Figure 1, the contact according to the invention comprises a male element 1 and a female element 2 in which the element 1 is slidably mounted with hard friction.

L'élément mâle 1 est constitué par une enveloppe cylindrique 3 en matière poreuse, par exemple en céramique ou en alumine, qui est fermée par une capsule 4, portant un fil de connexion 5, et contient une solution aqueuse 6 contenant des particules métalliques submicroniques, à très haute conductivité et à très faible résistance, les particules ayant un diamètre de 10 à 1000 fois plus petit que le diamètre des pores de l'enveloppe 3; l'élément femelle 2 est constitué par une enveloppe qui comprend une paroi 7 en matière poreuse et une paroi métallique 8 portant un fil de connexion 9 et contient une solution 10 analogue à la solution 6. Les deux éléments 1 et 2 délimitent une chambre 11 remplie d'air.The male element 1 is constituted by a cylindrical envelope 3 made of porous material, for example ceramic or alumina, which is closed by a capsule 4, carrying a connection wire 5, and contains an aqueous solution 6 containing metallic particles submicron , with very high conductivity and very low resistance, the particles having a diameter of 10 to 1000 times smaller than the diameter of the pores of the envelope 3; the female element 2 is constituted by an envelope which comprises a wall 7 of porous material and a metal wall 8 carrying a connection wire 9 and contains a solution 10 similar to solution 6. The two elements 1 and 2 define a chamber 11 filled with air.

Lorsque l'élément mâle est enfoncé dans l'élément femelle 2, comme indiqué par la flèche F, par déplacement de l'élément 1 ou celui de l'élément 2, l'air de la chambre 11 est comprimé et traverse les pores des parois de cette chamhre en exerçant une surpression sur les solutions 6 et 10. Ces solutions traversent par capillarité les parois en regard 3 et 7 qui sont par ailleurs comprimées et exsudent à la manière d'éponges le liquide qui les imprègne; les solutions constituent ainsi entre ces parois une pellicule conductrice qui assure le passage du courant.When the male element is pressed into the female element 2, as indicated by the arrow F, by displacement of the element 1 or that of the element 2, the air of the chamber 11 is compressed and passes through the pores of the walls of this chamhre by exercising a overpressure on solutions 6 and 10. These solutions pass by capillarity through the facing walls 3 and 7 which are moreover compressed and exude in the manner of sponges the liquid which impregnates them; the solutions thus constitute between these walls a conductive film which ensures the passage of current.

Inversement lorsqu'on extrait l'élément mâle 1 de l'élément femelle 2 la pellicule de solution aqueuse se résorbe par les pores à l'intérieur des enveloppes qui cessent d'être comprimées et le passage du courant est interrompu.Conversely, when the male element 1 is extracted from the female element 2, the film of aqueous solution is absorbed by the pores inside the envelopes which cease to be compressed and the flow of current is interrupted.

Dans le mode de réalisation de la Figure 2, le contact est constitué par les éléments mâle 12 et femelle 13, qui sont en une matière microporeuse ayant un coefficient d'élasticité important et imbibés d'un composé visqueux chargés de particules submicroniques métalliques. L'élément mâle 12 est fermé extérieurement par un capuchon 14 portant un fil de connexion 15 alors que l'élément femelle 13 est logé dans une enveloppe 16 portant un fil de connexion 17. Ce contact fonctionne comme celui précédémment décrit. Lorsque l'élément mâle 12 est enfoncé dans l'élément femelle l'air de la chambre 11 est comprimé et une pellicule conductrice se forme entre les éléments 12 et 13.In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the contact consists of the male 12 and female 13 elements, which are made of a microporous material having a high coefficient of elasticity and soaked with a viscous compound charged with metallic submicron particles. The male element 12 is closed externally by a cap 14 carrying a connection wire 15 while the female element 13 is housed in an envelope 16 carrying a connection wire 17. This contact operates as that previously described. When the male element 12 is pressed into the female element, the air in the chamber 11 is compressed and a conductive film is formed between the elements 12 and 13.

Le contact selon l'invention ne présente pas de rebonds à la fermeture et aucun arc électrique ne s'établit. Il fonctionne parfaitement en VHF du fait de l'effet de peau, il a une faible résistance de contact et répond de manière excellente aux micro-courants.The contact according to the invention has no rebounds on closing and no electric arc is established. It works perfectly in VHF because of the skin effect, it has a low contact resistance and responds excellently to micro-currents.

Il va de soi que la présente invention ne doit pas être considérée comme limitée aux modes de réalisation décrits et représentés, mais en couvre, au contraire, toutes les variantes. C'est ainsi, par exemple, qu'on pourrait réaliser un inverseur en prévoyant deux contacts et en reliant leurs éléments mâles à un même levier de commande de façon que, lorsque l'un des éléments mâles s'enfonce dans son élément femelle, l'autre en sorte et inversement.It goes without saying that the present invention should not be considered as limited to the embodiments described and shown, but covers, on the contrary, all variants thereof. Thus, for example, a reverser could be produced by providing two contacts and by connecting their male elements to the same control lever so that, when one of the male elements is inserted into its female element, the other so and vice versa.

Claims (3)

Contact électrique,
caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend un élément mâle (1 ou 12) et un élément femelle (2 ou 13) dans lequel l'élément mâle est monté coulissant à frottement dur, une chambre d'air (11) étant ménagée entre l'extrémité de l'élément mâle et le fond de l'élément femelle, et en ce que ces deux éléments mâle et femelle sont au moins partiellement en une matière poreuse imbibée d'une solution aqueuse chargée de particules submicroniques métalliques.Electric contact,
characterized in that it comprises a male element (1 or 12) and a female element (2 or 13) in which the male element is mounted sliding with hard friction, an air chamber (11) being formed between the end of the male element and the bottom of the female element, and in that these two male and female elements are at least partially made of a porous material soaked with an aqueous solution charged with metallic submicron particles. Contact selon la revendication 1,
caractérisé en ce que les éléments mâle (1) et femelle (2) se présentent sous la forme d'enveloppes (3 et 7-8) contenant la solution aqueuse (6 ou 10).Contact according to claim 1,
characterized in that the male (1) and female (2) elements are in the form of envelopes (3 and 7-8) containing the aqueous solution (6 or 10). Contact selon la revendication 1,
caractérisé en ce que les éléments mâle (12) et femelle (13) sont monolithiques et imbibés de la solution aqueuse.Contact according to claim 1,
characterized in that the male (12) and female (13) elements are monolithic and soaked with the aqueous solution.
EP91401247A 1990-05-17 1991-05-15 Electrical contact Expired - Lifetime EP0457675B1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AT91401247T ATE99840T1 (en) 1990-05-17 1991-05-15 ELECTRIC CONTACT.

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR9006600A FR2662311B1 (en) 1990-05-17 1990-05-17 ELECTRIC CONTACT.
FR9006600 1990-05-17

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0457675A1 true EP0457675A1 (en) 1991-11-21
EP0457675B1 EP0457675B1 (en) 1994-01-05

Family

ID=9397001

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP91401247A Expired - Lifetime EP0457675B1 (en) 1990-05-17 1991-05-15 Electrical contact

Country Status (8)

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US (1) US5112236A (en)
EP (1) EP0457675B1 (en)
JP (1) JPH05109330A (en)
KR (1) KR910020973A (en)
AT (1) ATE99840T1 (en)
CA (1) CA2042769A1 (en)
DE (1) DE69100914D1 (en)
FR (1) FR2662311B1 (en)

Families Citing this family (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5267871A (en) * 1992-07-02 1993-12-07 The Whitaker Corporation Switching electrical connector
US5645549A (en) * 1995-04-24 1997-07-08 Danek Medical, Inc. Template for positioning interbody fusion devices
US5785707A (en) * 1995-04-24 1998-07-28 Sdgi Holdings, Inc. Template for positioning interbody fusion devices
US7060865B2 (en) * 2002-11-12 2006-06-13 Exxonmobil Chemical Patents Inc. Recovery of C4 olefins from a product stream comprising C4 olefins, dimethyl ether and C5+ hydrocarbons
US6878246B2 (en) * 2003-04-02 2005-04-12 Alcoa, Inc. Nickel foam pin connections for inert anodes
US7306469B1 (en) * 2007-04-02 2007-12-11 Slautterback Frederick A Self-latching quick disconnect connector
DE102009029687A1 (en) * 2009-09-23 2011-03-24 Robert Bosch Gmbh Commutator for power transmission in an electrical machine

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4266154A (en) * 1979-04-19 1981-05-05 General Electric Company Permeable mesh current collector for DC machines
US4284918A (en) * 1979-10-17 1981-08-18 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Porous interface stabilized liquid metal current collector

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2200125A (en) * 1938-04-14 1940-05-07 Westinghouse Electric & Mfg Co Electrical contact means
SU1104609A1 (en) * 1982-11-12 1984-07-23 Азербайджанский Научно-Исследовательский Электротехнический Институт Производственного Объединения "Азерэлектромаш" Electric connector
US5006286A (en) * 1986-03-31 1991-04-09 Amp Incorporated Polymeric electrical interconnection apparatus and method of use

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4266154A (en) * 1979-04-19 1981-05-05 General Electric Company Permeable mesh current collector for DC machines
US4284918A (en) * 1979-10-17 1981-08-18 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Porous interface stabilized liquid metal current collector

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE69100914D1 (en) 1994-02-17
EP0457675B1 (en) 1994-01-05
ATE99840T1 (en) 1994-01-15
CA2042769A1 (en) 1991-11-18
KR910020973A (en) 1991-12-20
US5112236A (en) 1992-05-12
JPH05109330A (en) 1993-04-30
FR2662311A1 (en) 1991-11-22
FR2662311B1 (en) 1992-09-04

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