CA1172323A - Separable contact joint for use at high-current conductors - Google Patents
Separable contact joint for use at high-current conductorsInfo
- Publication number
- CA1172323A CA1172323A CA000388860A CA388860A CA1172323A CA 1172323 A CA1172323 A CA 1172323A CA 000388860 A CA000388860 A CA 000388860A CA 388860 A CA388860 A CA 388860A CA 1172323 A CA1172323 A CA 1172323A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- contact
- separable
- joint
- peaks
- separable contact
- 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
Links
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
- H01R4/00—Electrically-conductive connections between two or more conductive members in direct contact, i.e. touching one another; Means for effecting or maintaining such contact; Electrically-conductive connections having two or more spaced connecting locations for conductors and using contact members penetrating insulation
- H01R4/26—Connections in which at least one of the connecting parts has projections which bite into or engage the other connecting part in order to improve the contact
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE:
This invention relates to a separable contact joint for use at high-current conductors and more particularly at busbars in electrolytic apparatus. The contact surface of at least one of the contact elements of the separable contact joint is rough and has sharp-edged peaks in a height of 0.1 to 0.8 mm. The contact surface formed with the peaks and, if desired, the smooth contact surface are preferably provided with a noble metal layer in a thickness of 0.5 to 5.0 x 10-3 mm.
By using such a separable contact joint, the I2R losses (ohmic losses) due to voltage drops may be reduced and the current-carrying capacity may be increased.
This invention relates to a separable contact joint for use at high-current conductors and more particularly at busbars in electrolytic apparatus. The contact surface of at least one of the contact elements of the separable contact joint is rough and has sharp-edged peaks in a height of 0.1 to 0.8 mm. The contact surface formed with the peaks and, if desired, the smooth contact surface are preferably provided with a noble metal layer in a thickness of 0.5 to 5.0 x 10-3 mm.
By using such a separable contact joint, the I2R losses (ohmic losses) due to voltage drops may be reduced and the current-carrying capacity may be increased.
Description
~ l~J232~
The present invention relates to a separable contact joint for use at high-current conductors, particularly at busbars in electrolytic apparatus.
In large electrolytic plan-ts handling total currents of 100 ]cA and more, I R ]osses (ohmic losses) which are too large to be neglected occur in the electric leads and in the busbars leading to the electrode terminals. A special problem arises in connection with the joints between metallic leads and nonmetallic electrodes or easily corrodible metall.ic electrodes. Soldered joints are often provided for an improved contact between the lead and the electrode, or said contact is established by means of noble metal-plated contact surfaces held in pressure contact by screws, or by means of special stuffing box contacts. Owing to the requirements of operation and assembling, the contact joints at the busbars must be detachable. Currents up to several 100 kA must flow through these contact joints. The contact joints must be designed with special care because the voltage drop must not exceed a few millivolts if an excessive temperature rise and destruction of said contact joints is to be avoided.
Different materials must often be connected by contact joints of the kind described. Practical experience has shown that certain maximum current densities are permissible for such joints. These maximum permissible current densities are stated hereinafter together with the voltage drops involved:
Combination Current Voltage drop of density materials A/cm _ mV _ Fe/Cu 10 2 Cu/Al 20 2 Cu/Cu 30 1.5 Cu/Ag 60 2 , ~ .
1 1 7~323 The contacts forming said joi~ts are usually machined and smoothened so that they are as planar as possible and can ensure a large pressure contact surface and an intimate contact.
It has been found in pract:ice that the contact pressure produced by means of a screw or a c~amping of the contact faces effected by other mechanical means will not always result in an intimate contact and the voltage drop may be excessively high.
It is an object of the invention to avoid voltage drops at contact joints or at separable contacts,or to reduce such voltage drops.
More particular]y, according to the present invention, there is provided a separable contact joint for busbars in electrolytic apparatuses, this separable joint comprising two contact surfaces, characterized in that at least one of the contact surfaces of the joint is rough and formed with sharp-edged peaks having an height of 0.1 to 0.8 mm, and that at least the contact surface formed with the sharp-edged peaks carries a coating of noble metal having a thickness of 0.5 x 10 3 to 5.0 x 10 3 mm.
In such contact joints, a reduction of vol-tage drop is accomplished in that at least one of the contact surfaces of the joint is rough and Eormed with sharp-edged peaks. Such peaks may consist of ridges, which may be formed by a cutting, e.g. of grooves in-to the surface. Alternatively said peaks may be formed by a filelike structure of a knurled structure or by spark erosion.
By the provision of such peaks on at least one of the contact surfaces, an intimate contact between the contact surfa-ces forced against each other can be ensured and contact resistances can be avoided. It is assumed that the peaks or sharp-edged profiles provided in accordance with the invention can be deformed more easily -than a perfectly planar contact "f ! 1 7~323 surface which apparently has only a few crowned contac-t surface elements in spite of a substantial machining.
According to preferred embodiments of the invention, each contact surfaces carries a coating of noble metal, the noble metal of the two coatings is aifferent, and one of -the -two contact surfaces is smooth.
For -the purposes of the present invention, the term noble metals>~ may include silver, gold and platinum metals, such as osmium, iridium, platinium, ruthenium, rhodium, palla-dium. The noble me-tals of each coating consist preferably of silver or platinum. For instance, -the peaked contact surface may for example carry an electro-deposited silver layer in a thickness of about 1.0 x 10 3 mm and the smooth contact surface may be provided with a similar layer in the case it is provided with a noble metal coating. In accordance with another prefer-red modification of the invention, the peaked contact surface may be provided with a silver layer having a thickness of 1.0 x 10 3 mm and the smooth contact surface may carry a pla-ti~
num layer having a thickness of 0.5 x 10 3 mm.
The contact surfaces designed in accordance with the~
invention afford the advantage that losses due to voltage drops can be drastically reduced and the contact can carry a higher current.
The invention willbee~plaïned more in detail by way of example with reference to an Example and Figure 1 of the drawings which represents a preferred embodiment of separable contact joint according to the invention.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a separable contact ~oint according to the invention. ~usbars 3 consisting, e.g., of copper, are welded to a flat cylindrical contact element 1, which consists, e.g., of copper and has a through bore 2. The con-tact surface of the contac-t element ,~ .
1 is rough and formed with peaks ~. The Elat cylindrical contact element 1 is in contact with the smooth surface of a cylindrical metal pin 6, which consists, e.y., of copper and is formed with a tapped bore 7 (the screw threads are no-t shown). The contact element 1 is i-orced against the cylindrical pin 6 by a screw, not shown, which extends through 2 and 7.
Noble metal layers are designated 5.
Example In an electrolytic plant, a screwed contact joint at a copper busbar (material combination copper/copper) was designed in accordance with the invention. For this reason, one of the surfaees was provided with closely spaced eoncentric grooves having a depth of 0.5 mm. The contact surface provided with the grooves and sharp-edged ridges was provided with an eleetrodeposited silver layer in a thiekness of 1.0 x 10 mm.
Under a load of 550 A/cm2, a voltage drop of 5 mV was measured.
This means that such a given voltage drop resulting from four times the usual load indicates that the contact surface areas required can be greatly reduced.
The present invention relates to a separable contact joint for use at high-current conductors, particularly at busbars in electrolytic apparatus.
In large electrolytic plan-ts handling total currents of 100 ]cA and more, I R ]osses (ohmic losses) which are too large to be neglected occur in the electric leads and in the busbars leading to the electrode terminals. A special problem arises in connection with the joints between metallic leads and nonmetallic electrodes or easily corrodible metall.ic electrodes. Soldered joints are often provided for an improved contact between the lead and the electrode, or said contact is established by means of noble metal-plated contact surfaces held in pressure contact by screws, or by means of special stuffing box contacts. Owing to the requirements of operation and assembling, the contact joints at the busbars must be detachable. Currents up to several 100 kA must flow through these contact joints. The contact joints must be designed with special care because the voltage drop must not exceed a few millivolts if an excessive temperature rise and destruction of said contact joints is to be avoided.
Different materials must often be connected by contact joints of the kind described. Practical experience has shown that certain maximum current densities are permissible for such joints. These maximum permissible current densities are stated hereinafter together with the voltage drops involved:
Combination Current Voltage drop of density materials A/cm _ mV _ Fe/Cu 10 2 Cu/Al 20 2 Cu/Cu 30 1.5 Cu/Ag 60 2 , ~ .
1 1 7~323 The contacts forming said joi~ts are usually machined and smoothened so that they are as planar as possible and can ensure a large pressure contact surface and an intimate contact.
It has been found in pract:ice that the contact pressure produced by means of a screw or a c~amping of the contact faces effected by other mechanical means will not always result in an intimate contact and the voltage drop may be excessively high.
It is an object of the invention to avoid voltage drops at contact joints or at separable contacts,or to reduce such voltage drops.
More particular]y, according to the present invention, there is provided a separable contact joint for busbars in electrolytic apparatuses, this separable joint comprising two contact surfaces, characterized in that at least one of the contact surfaces of the joint is rough and formed with sharp-edged peaks having an height of 0.1 to 0.8 mm, and that at least the contact surface formed with the sharp-edged peaks carries a coating of noble metal having a thickness of 0.5 x 10 3 to 5.0 x 10 3 mm.
In such contact joints, a reduction of vol-tage drop is accomplished in that at least one of the contact surfaces of the joint is rough and Eormed with sharp-edged peaks. Such peaks may consist of ridges, which may be formed by a cutting, e.g. of grooves in-to the surface. Alternatively said peaks may be formed by a filelike structure of a knurled structure or by spark erosion.
By the provision of such peaks on at least one of the contact surfaces, an intimate contact between the contact surfa-ces forced against each other can be ensured and contact resistances can be avoided. It is assumed that the peaks or sharp-edged profiles provided in accordance with the invention can be deformed more easily -than a perfectly planar contact "f ! 1 7~323 surface which apparently has only a few crowned contac-t surface elements in spite of a substantial machining.
According to preferred embodiments of the invention, each contact surfaces carries a coating of noble metal, the noble metal of the two coatings is aifferent, and one of -the -two contact surfaces is smooth.
For -the purposes of the present invention, the term noble metals>~ may include silver, gold and platinum metals, such as osmium, iridium, platinium, ruthenium, rhodium, palla-dium. The noble me-tals of each coating consist preferably of silver or platinum. For instance, -the peaked contact surface may for example carry an electro-deposited silver layer in a thickness of about 1.0 x 10 3 mm and the smooth contact surface may be provided with a similar layer in the case it is provided with a noble metal coating. In accordance with another prefer-red modification of the invention, the peaked contact surface may be provided with a silver layer having a thickness of 1.0 x 10 3 mm and the smooth contact surface may carry a pla-ti~
num layer having a thickness of 0.5 x 10 3 mm.
The contact surfaces designed in accordance with the~
invention afford the advantage that losses due to voltage drops can be drastically reduced and the contact can carry a higher current.
The invention willbee~plaïned more in detail by way of example with reference to an Example and Figure 1 of the drawings which represents a preferred embodiment of separable contact joint according to the invention.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a separable contact ~oint according to the invention. ~usbars 3 consisting, e.g., of copper, are welded to a flat cylindrical contact element 1, which consists, e.g., of copper and has a through bore 2. The con-tact surface of the contac-t element ,~ .
1 is rough and formed with peaks ~. The Elat cylindrical contact element 1 is in contact with the smooth surface of a cylindrical metal pin 6, which consists, e.y., of copper and is formed with a tapped bore 7 (the screw threads are no-t shown). The contact element 1 is i-orced against the cylindrical pin 6 by a screw, not shown, which extends through 2 and 7.
Noble metal layers are designated 5.
Example In an electrolytic plant, a screwed contact joint at a copper busbar (material combination copper/copper) was designed in accordance with the invention. For this reason, one of the surfaees was provided with closely spaced eoncentric grooves having a depth of 0.5 mm. The contact surface provided with the grooves and sharp-edged ridges was provided with an eleetrodeposited silver layer in a thiekness of 1.0 x 10 mm.
Under a load of 550 A/cm2, a voltage drop of 5 mV was measured.
This means that such a given voltage drop resulting from four times the usual load indicates that the contact surface areas required can be greatly reduced.
Claims (4)
1. A separable contact joint for busbars in electro-lytic apparatuses, said separable joint comprising two contact surfaces, characterized in that at least one of the contact surfaces of the joint is rough and formed with sharp-edged peaks having a height of 0.1 to 0.8 mm, and that at least the contact surface formed with said sharp-edged peaks carries a coating of noble metal having a thickness of 0.5 x 10-3 to 5.0 x 10-3 mm.
2. A separable contact joint according to claim 1, characterized in that each of said two contact surfaces carries a coating of noble metal.
3. A separable contact joint according to claim 2, characterized in that the noble metal of the two coatings is different.
4. A separable contact joint according to claim 1, characterized in that one of the two contact surfaces is smooth.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| DEP3043207.6 | 1980-11-15 | ||
| DE19803043207 DE3043207A1 (en) | 1980-11-15 | 1980-11-15 | DETACHABLE CONNECTOR FOR HIGH CURRENT CONDUCTORS |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1172323A true CA1172323A (en) | 1984-08-07 |
Family
ID=6116913
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000388860A Expired CA1172323A (en) | 1980-11-15 | 1981-10-27 | Separable contact joint for use at high-current conductors |
Country Status (4)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0052384B1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPS57109265A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1172323A (en) |
| DE (2) | DE3043207A1 (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5334809A (en) * | 1990-02-14 | 1994-08-02 | Particle Interconnect, Inc. | Particle enhanced joining of metal surfaces |
| GB2500604A (en) * | 2012-03-26 | 2013-10-02 | Leclanche Sa | Battery Cell electrical connections |
Families Citing this family (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE3406797C2 (en) * | 1984-02-24 | 1985-12-19 | Conradty GmbH & Co Metallelektroden KG, 8505 Röthenbach | Coated valve metal anode for the electrolytic extraction of metals or metal oxides |
| JPH0753397Y2 (en) * | 1989-05-11 | 1995-12-06 | 株式会社三ツ葉電機製作所 | Motor fixing structure |
| DE19501212A1 (en) * | 1994-12-22 | 1996-06-27 | Richter Elk Prof Dr Ing | Prodn. of bitumen and asphalt with improved ageing properties |
| DE19600417A1 (en) * | 1996-01-08 | 1997-07-17 | Sefag Ag | Contact element e.g. for storage battery pole |
| FR2771757B1 (en) * | 1997-12-03 | 1999-12-31 | Lorraine Laminage | ELECTRODEPOSITION SYSTEM, ELECTRODE AND SUPPORTING MEMBER THEREFOR AND ELECTRODEPOSITION METHOD |
| DE102022106382A1 (en) | 2022-03-18 | 2023-09-21 | Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft | Method for producing an improved electrical contact and motor vehicle |
Family Cites Families (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB689182A (en) * | 1950-02-14 | 1953-03-25 | Bernard William Edmund Webber | An improved clamp for electrical connections |
| DE1592044B2 (en) * | 1965-11-08 | 1972-12-21 | Friedrich Uhde Gmbh, 4600 Dortmund | ELECTROLYSIS CELL |
| CH470062A (en) * | 1966-08-02 | 1969-03-15 | Alusuisse | Process for producing a contact surface on aluminum busbars and aluminum busbar with a contact surface produced according to this process |
| DE2151683A1 (en) * | 1971-10-13 | 1973-04-19 | Siemens Ag | ELECTRICAL CONTACT ARRANGEMENT |
| CA981354A (en) * | 1972-06-14 | 1976-01-06 | Milton J. Weitzman | Terminal for electrically connecting an aluminum wire |
-
1980
- 1980-11-15 DE DE19803043207 patent/DE3043207A1/en not_active Withdrawn
-
1981
- 1981-09-25 DE DE8181201063T patent/DE3176077D1/en not_active Expired
- 1981-09-25 EP EP81201063A patent/EP0052384B1/en not_active Expired
- 1981-10-27 CA CA000388860A patent/CA1172323A/en not_active Expired
- 1981-11-11 JP JP56180933A patent/JPS57109265A/en active Granted
Cited By (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5334809A (en) * | 1990-02-14 | 1994-08-02 | Particle Interconnect, Inc. | Particle enhanced joining of metal surfaces |
| US5835359A (en) * | 1990-02-14 | 1998-11-10 | Particle Interconnect Corporation | Electrical interconnect using particle enhanced joining of metal surfaces |
| GB2500604A (en) * | 2012-03-26 | 2013-10-02 | Leclanche Sa | Battery Cell electrical connections |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| EP0052384B1 (en) | 1987-04-01 |
| JPS57109265A (en) | 1982-07-07 |
| JPH0146996B2 (en) | 1989-10-12 |
| DE3176077D1 (en) | 1987-05-07 |
| EP0052384A1 (en) | 1982-05-26 |
| DE3043207A1 (en) | 1982-07-08 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEC | Expiry (correction) | ||
| MKEX | Expiry |