Electrically conductive shaped fibers
US6117802A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 28, 1997 |
| Grant date | Sep 12, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 28, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T442/699
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A nonwoven filter media or mat (10) formed from a plurality of elongated generally hollow fibers (20) each having an internal cavity (22) which has an opening (24), smaller than the cavity width, to the fiber (20) surface and each retaining within the internal cavity (22) an electrically conductive material. The electrically conductive material can be a large number of relatively small conductive solid particles (18). The small solid particles (18), which can be graphite are permanently entrapped within the longitudinal cavities (22) of the fibers (20) without the use of an adhesive. The electrically conductive material can also be a selected liquid. In the case of a liquid, the wicking fibers (20) are filled with the selected conductive liquid through capillary action by which the individual wicking fibers (20) rapidly draw the selected electrically conductive liquid, with which they come into contact, through the internal cavities (22). The electrically conductive material, either solid particles or a liquid, remains within the wicking fiber cavities (22) and generally does not enter the space between the wicking fibers yet through the longitudinal openings (24).
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.