DESC:EARLIEST PRIORITY DATE:
This Application claims priority from a provisional patent application filed in India having Patent Application No. 202321041608, filed on June 19, 2023, and titled “A DEPOSITION TO ENHANCE SLIPRING CHARACTERISTICS”.
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0001] Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a field of electroplating and more particularly to a method to improve a plurality of material properties of an electrical joint.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Electrical joints refers to a connection between two or more electrical components to enable flow of electrical current between the two or more electrical components. The electrical joints include sliprings, rotary joints, electrical contacts and electrical connectors. The electrical joints may take various forms, depending on application and types of the two or more electrical components involved.
[0003] Conventionally, soft metals such as gold and silver are used to manufacture the electrical joints to increase conductivity. However, the soft metals are prone to wear and tear due to relative motion electrical joints, causing wear and tear of the electrical joints. Utilization of hard metals to counter the wear and tear compromises the conductivity. Also, materials which are used to manufacture the electrical joints are vulnerable to ingress of air, acids, water and temperature variations, subsequently raising maintenance costs.
[0004] Hence, there is a need for method to improve a plurality of material properties of an electrical joint to address the aforementioned issue(s).
OBJECTIVE OF THE INVENTION
[0005] An objective of the invention is to provide a method to improve wear resistance of an electrical joint along with increasing conductivity of the electrical joint by providing a plurality of coatings on the electrical joint.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION
[0006] In accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, a method to improve a plurality of material properties of an electrical joint is provided. The method includes providing a first layer of coating on the electrical joint. The first layer of coating includes copper. The method also includes providing a second layer of coating on the first layer of coating. The second layer of coating includes nickel. The method also includes providing a third layer of coating on the second layer of coating. The third layer of coating includes palladium. The palladium is coated on the second layer of coating utilizing a platinized titanium anode situated in an alkaline bath. The method further includes providing a fourth layer of coating on the third layer of coating. The fourth layer of coating includes ruthenium, thereby improving the plurality of material properties of the electrical joint.
[0007] To further clarify the advantages and features of the present disclosure, a more explicit description of the disclosure will follow by reference to specific embodiments thereof, which are illustrated in the appended figures. It is to be appreciated that these figures depict typical embodiments of the disclosure and are therefore not to be considered limiting in scope. The disclosure will be described and explained with additional details with the appended figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The disclosure will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail with the accompanying figures in which:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a flow chart representing the steps involved in a method to improve a plurality of material properties of an electrical joint in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0010] Further, those skilled in the art will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and may not have necessarily been drawn to scale. Furthermore, in terms of the construction of the device, one or more components of the device may have been represented in the figures by conventional symbols, and the figures may show only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present disclosure so as not to obscure the figures with details that will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the description herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0011] To promote an understanding of the principles of the disclosure, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the figures and specific language will be used to describe them. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the disclosure is thereby intended. Such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated system, and such further applications of the principles of the disclosure as would normally occur to those skilled in the art are to be construed as being within the scope of the present disclosure.
[0012] The terms ``comprises", "comprising", or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process or method that comprises a list of steps does not include only those steps but may include other steps not expressly listed or inherent to such a process or method. Similarly, one or more devices or sub-systems or elements or structures or components preceded by "comprises... a'' does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other devices, sub-systems, elements, structures, components, additional devices, additional sub-systems, additional elements, additional structures, or additional components. Appearances of the phrase "in an embodiment", "in another embodiment" and similar language throughout this specification may, but not necessarily do, all refer to the same embodiment.
[0013] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which this disclosure belongs. The system, methods, and examples provided herein are only illustrative and not intended to be limiting.
[0014] In the following specification and the claims, reference will be made to a number of terms, which shall be defined to have the following meanings. The singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
[0015] In the discussion that follows, references will be made to “first potential of hydrogen”, and “second potential of hydrogen” with reference to potential of hydrogen value associated with an alkaline bath and an acidic bath respectively. In the discussion that follows, references will be made to “first predefined concentration”, and “second predefined concentration” with reference to concentration of the alkaline bath and the acidic bath respectively.
[0016] Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a method to improve a plurality of material properties of an electrical joint. The method includes providing a first layer of coating on the electrical joint. In one embodiment, the electrical joint may include, but not limited to, electrical contacts, electrical connectors, slipring, and rotary joints. The first layer of coating includes copper. The method also includes providing a second layer of coating on the first layer of coating. The second layer of coating includes nickel. The method also includes providing a third layer of coating on the second layer of coating. The third layer of coating includes palladium. The palladium is coated on the second layer of coating utilizing a platinized titanium anode situated in an alkaline bath. The method further includes providing a fourth layer of coating on the third layer of coating. The fourth layer of coating includes ruthenium, thereby improving the plurality of material properties of the electrical joint.
[0017] FIG. 1 is a flow chart representing the steps involved in a method (10) to improve a plurality of material properties of an electrical joint in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. In one embodiment, the electrical joint may include a slipring and a brush. In some embodiments, the plurality of material properties may include conductivity, wear resistance and the like. The method (10) includes providing a first layer of coating on the electrical joint. The first layer of coating includes copper in step 20. In one embodiment, the first layer of coating may include a first predefined thickness ranging between 10 microns and 15 microns.
[0018] Further, the method (10) includes providing a second layer of coating on the first layer of coating. The second layer of coating includes nickel in step 30. In one embodiment, the second layer of coating may include a second predefined thickness ranging between 5 microns and 8 microns. The method (10) also includes providing a third layer of coating on the second layer of coating. The third layer of coating includes palladium in step 40. In one embodiment, the third layer of coating may include a third predefined thickness ranging between 0.2 microns and 2 microns. The palladium is coated on the second layer of coating utilizing a platinized titanium anode situated in an alkaline bath.
[0019] Furthermore, in one embodiment, the alkaline bath may include a first potential of hydrogen and a first predefined concentration. In such an embodiment, the first potential of hydrogen ranges between 8 and 9. In one embodiment, the first predefined concentration may range between 1.5 grams per liter and 5 grams per liter. The method (10) further includes providing a fourth layer of coating on the third layer of coating. The fourth layer of coating includes ruthenium, thereby improving the plurality of material properties of the electrical joint in step 50. In one embodiment, the fourth layer of coating may include a fourth predefined thickness ranging between 0.1 microns and 0.5 microns.
[0020] Additionally, in a specific embodiment, the ruthenium may be coated on the third layer of coating utilizing the platinized titanium anode situated in an acidic bath comprising a second predefined concentration ranging between 5 grams per liter and 10 grams per liter. In such an embodiment, the acidic bath may include a second potential of hydrogen ranging between 1.5 and 2. In some embodiments, the first layer of coating, the second layer of coating, the third layer of coating and the fourth layer of coating may be provided through electrolysis. Combination of the first layer of coating, the second layer of coating, the third layer of coating and the fourth layer of coating on the electrical joint may be termed as Quad metal WearProTech plating.
[0021] Various embodiments of the method to improve the plurality of material properties of the electrical joint described above enable various advantages. The fourth layer of coating comprising the ruthenium is capable of providing superior wear resistance and conductivity to the electrical joint. The superior wear resistance of the electrical joint negates the need of frequent maintenance thereby achieving cost effectiveness. The ruthenium also protects the electrical joint from ingress of air, acids and water, thereby protecting the electrical joint from harsh environmental conditions. Also, the ruthenium protects the electrical joint from temperature variations. Further, the first layer of coating, the second layer of coating, and the third layer of coating are adapted to bind the fourth layer of coating to the electrical joint, thereby making the fourth layer of coating robust.
[0022] It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory of the disclosure and are not intended to be restrictive thereof. While specific language has been used to describe the disclosure, any limitations arising on account of the same are not intended.
[0023] The figures and the forgoing description give examples of embodiments. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that one or more of the described elements may well be combined into a single functional element. Alternatively, certain elements may be split into multiple functional elements. Elements from one embodiment may be added to another embodiment. For example, the order of processes described herein may be changed and is not limited to the manner described herein. Moreover, the actions of any flow diagram need not be implemented in the order shown; nor do all the acts need to be necessarily performed. Also, those acts that are not dependent on other acts may be performed in parallel with the other acts. The scope of embodiments is by no means limited by these specific examples.
,CLAIMS:1. A method (10) to improve a plurality of material properties of an electrical joint comprising:
characterized in that:
providing a first layer of coating on the electrical joint, wherein the first layer of coating comprises copper; (20)
providing a second layer of coating on the first layer of coating, wherein the second layer of coating comprises nickel; (30)
providing a third layer of coating on the second layer of coating, wherein the third layer of coating comprises palladium, wherein the palladium is coated on the second layer of coating utilizing a platinized titanium anode situated in an alkaline bath; (40) and
providing a fourth layer of coating on the third layer of coating, wherein the fourth layer of coating comprises ruthenium, thereby improving the plurality of material properties of the electrical joint. (50)
2. The method (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first layer of coating comprises a first predefined thickness ranging between 10 microns and 15 microns.
3. The method (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second layer of coating comprises a second predefined thickness ranging between 5 microns and 8 microns.
4. The method (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the third layer of coating comprises a third predefined thickness ranging between 0.2 microns and 2 microns.
5. The method (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fourth layer of coating comprises a fourth predefined thickness ranging between 0.1 microns and 0.5 microns.
6. The method (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first layer of coating, the second layer of coating, the third layer of coating and the fourth layer of coating are provided through electrolysis.
7. The method (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the alkaline bath comprises a first potential of hydrogen and a first predefined concentration, wherein the first potential of hydrogen ranges between 8 and 9, wherein the first predefined concentration ranges between 1.5 grams per liter and 5 grams per liter.
8. The method (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrical joint comprises a slipring and a brush.
9. The method (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ruthenium is coated on the third layer of coating utilizing the platinized titanium anode situated in an acidic bath comprising a second predefined concentration ranging between 5 grams per liter and 10 grams per liter.
10. The method (10) as claimed in claim 9, wherein the acidic bath comprises a second potential of hydrogen ranging between 1.5 and 2.

Dated this 18th day of December 2023

Signature

Jinsu Abraham
Patent Agent (IN/PA-3267)
Agent for the Applicant