US5209987A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Wire and cable
Assignee: Raychem Ltd
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Filing: 1990-10-30
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Granted: 1993-05-11
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Expires: 2010-10-30
Abstract
Abstract An article of manufacture, for example a conductor for an electrical wire or cable, is provided with a refractory coating preferably formed from a refractory metal or semi-metal oxide or nitride and preferably deposited on the surface of the article by a vacuum deposition process such as a sputter ion plating method. Adhesion of the refractory coating, especially at high temperatures may be improved, and migration of the substrate metal through the coating may be suppressed by varying the stoichiometry of the coating through its thickness and/or by the provision of a metallic or refractory intermediate layer. The articles are particularly suitable for use in circuit and signal integrity cables. The vacuum deposited refractory layer may constitute the sole refractory, or additional refractory layers may be deposited by other methods e.g. a sol-gel method.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard J. Penneck
- 👤 James M. O'Brien
- 👤 Stephen J. Duckworth
- 👤 Nicholas J. G. Smith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 04:14
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01B; H01B13/00; H01B13/06; H01B13/065; C; C23; C23C; C23C14/00; C23C14/02; C23C14/027; C23C28/00; H01B1/00; H01B1/02; H01B1/06; H01B1/08; H01B3/00; H01B3/02; H01B3/10; H01B3/105; H01B7/00; H01B7/0009; H01B7/02; H01B7/0275; H01B7/08; H01B7/0823; H01B7/17; H01B7/28; H01B7/2806; H01B7/29; A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/22; A61B2017/22038; A61B2017/22051; A61B2017/22055; A61B2017/22062; A61B2017/22082; A61B2017/22084; A61M; A61M29/00; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/12; Y10T428/12458; Y10T428/12493; Y10T428/12535; Y10T428/12542; Y10T428/12549; Y10T428/12583; Y10T428/1259; Y10T428/12611; Y10T428/12771; Y10T428/12806; Y10T428/12812; Y10T428/12861; Y10T428/12903; Y10T428/31504; Y10T428/31678
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
75 words
An electrical wire which comprises an elongate metallic electrical conductor having an adherent coating of a refractory compound of a metal or semi-metal that is bonded to the conductor by a metallic or refractory intermediate layer, the stoichiometry of the refractory coating varying throughout its thickness such that the proportion of metal or semi-metal in the coating decreases toward the outer surface of the coating, and, surrounding the coated conductor, a layer of polymeric insulation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
75 words
An electrical wire which comprises an elongate metallic electrical conductor having an adherent coating of a refractory compound of a metal or semi-metal that is bonded to the conductor by a metallic or refractory intermediate layer, the stoichiometry of the refractory coating varying throughout its thickness such that the proportion of metal or semi-metal in the coating decreases toward the outer surface of the coating, and, surrounding the coated conductor, a layer of polymeric insulation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
A wire as claimed in claim 1, wherein the intermediate layer comprises a metal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
A wire as claimed in claim 2, wherein the intermediate layer comprises that metal from which the refractory coating is formed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
A wire as claimed in claim 2, wherein the intermediate layer comprises nickel or silver.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A wire as claimed in claim 1, wherein the adherent coating comprises an oxide or nitride of a metal or semi-metal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
A wire as claimed in claim 5, wherein the adherent coating comprises an oxide of aluminium, silicon, titanium or tantalum.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
A wire as claimed in claim 1, wherein the refractory coating contains the metal or semi-metal in a stoichiometric excess.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
A wire as claimed in claim 1, wherein the coating has an outer region of substantially uniform stoichiometry.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
A wire as claimed in claim 1, wherein the refractory coating has been formed by a vacuum deposition process.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
A wire as claimed in claim 9, wherein the refractory coating has been formed by a reactive sputter ion plating method.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
A wire as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least part of the refractory coating has been formed by a sol-gel method.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
A wire as claimed in claim 1, which comprises a layer of aluminum nitride or titanium nitride which has been deposited on top of the refractory coating.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
A wire as claimed in claim 1, wherein the refractory coating comprises an oxide, and has a refractory nitride layer thereon.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
A wire as claimed in claim 1, wherein the metallic electrical conductor has a melting point of at least 800° C.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
A wire as claimed in claim 14, wherein the metallic electrical conductor comprises copper.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
45 words
A wire as claimed in claim 15, wherein the intermediate layer is formed from a metal that acts as a barrier to diffusion of oxygen or copper or both so that migration of copper through the refractory layer when the article is heated is suppressed.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
A wire as claimed in claim 16, wherein the intermediate layer is formed from aluminium, silicon, titanium, tantalum, nickel, manganese, chromium or an alloy thereof.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
A wire as claimed in claim 1, wherein the refractory coating has a thickness in the range of from 0.5 to 15 micrometers.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
32 words
A wire as claimed in claim 1, wherein the conductor comprises a bundle of strands and the refractory coating extends around the circumference of the bundle but not around the individual strands.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
A wire as claimed in claim 19, wherein the intermediate layer has a thickness of at least 1.1 micrometers.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
A wire as claimed in claim 20, wherein the intermediate layer has a thickness of at least 2 micrometers.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
A wire as claimed in claim 1, wherein the intermediate layer has a thickness of at least 1.1 micrometers.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
17 words
A wire as claimed in claim 22, wherein the intermediate layer has a thickness of 2 micrometers.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
14 words
A wire as claimed in claim 1 wherein the polymeric insulation has been crosslinked.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
16 words
A wire as claimed in claim 1, wherein the polymeric insulation has been crosslinked by irradiation.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
15 words
A wire as claimed in claim 1, wherein the polymeric insulation contains an inorganic filler.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
48 words
An electrical wire which comprises an elongate metallic electrical conductor having an adherent coating of a refractory compound of a metal or semi-metal that is bonded to the conductor by a metallic or refractory intermediate layer, and, surrounding the coated conductor, a layer of substantially halogen-free polymeric insulation.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
48 words
An electrical wire which comprises an elongate metallic electrical conductor having an adherent coating of a refractory compound of a metal or semi-metal that is bonded to the conductor by a metallic or refractory intermediate layer, and, surrounding the coated conductor, a layer of substantially halogen-free polymeric insulation.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-05-10 | 1996-11-09 | 1997-05-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-05-10 | 2000-11-09 | 2001-05-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-05-10 | 2004-11-09 | 2005-05-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |