Title of Invention

"AN ELECTRIC CHOKE AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING THE SAME"

Abstract An electrical choke has a magnetic core with a distributed gap. The magnetic core is composed of an iron based, rapidly solidified metallic alloy The distributed gap configuration is produced by an annealing treatment which causes partial crystallization of the amorphous alloy. As a result of the annealing treatment, the magnetic core exhibits permeability in the range of 100 to 400, low core loss (i.e. less than 70 W/Kg at 100 kHz and 0. 1T) and excellent DC bias behavior ( at least 40% of the initial permeability is maintained at a DC bias field of 3980 A/m or 50 Oe)
Full Text The present invention relates to an electrical chokeand method for produeing "
1. Field Of The Invention;
This invention relates to an amorphous metal magnetic core with a
distributed gap for electrical choke applications; and more particularly to a method for annealing the amorphous core to create the distributed gap therein.
2. Description Of The Prior Art;
An electrical choke is an energy storage inductor. For a toroidal shaped
inductor the stored energy is W=l/2 [(B2Aclm)/(2µoµ)] where B is the magnetic flux density, Ac is the effective magnetic area of the core, lm is the mean magnetic path length, µo is the permeability of the free space and µ is the relative permeability in the material.
By introducing a small air gap in the toroid, the magnetic flux in the air gap remains the same as in the ferromagnetic core material. However, since the permeability of the air (µ,~l) is significantly lower than in the typical ferromagnetic material (µ -several thousands) the magnetic field strength(H) in the gap becomes much higher than in the rest of the core (H=B/|µ). The energy stored per unit volume in the magnetic field is W=1/2(BH), indicating it is primarily concentrated in the air gap. In other words, the energy storage capacity of the core is enhanced by the introduction of the gap. The gap can be discrete or distributed. A distributed gap can be introduced by using ferromagnetic powder held together with nonmagnetic binder or by partially crystallizing an amorphous alloy. In the second case, ferromagnetic crystalline phases separate and are surrounded by nonmagnetic matrix. This partial crystallization mechanism is utilized in connection with the choke of the present invention.
Electrical chokes based on the principle of annealing Fe-base amorphous cores have been described in GB 2,117,979A and USP 4,812,181. In US patent 4,812,181 there is disclosed a method for achieving flat magnetization loop by subjecting Fe base amorphous cores to a long term (more than 10 hrs) anneal at temperatures higher than 410 °C. The method disclosed therein includes the step of crystallizing the surface of the amorphous ribbon, thereby applying stress on the amorphous bulk of the ribbon.
In GB 2,117,979A, an electrical choke is made based on heat treating Fe-base amorphous cores. The maximum permeability is reduced to between 1/50 and 1/30 of the original value, (for maximum permeability of 40,000 this treatment results in values ranging from about 800 and 1300) and the amorphous cores exhibit a degree of crystallization, which does not exceed 10% of the volume.
For applications in power supplies for notebook computers and other small devices there is a need for a very small size electrical choke with very low permeability (100-300), very low core losses, high saturation magnetization and which can sustain high DC bias magnetic fields.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides electrical chokes having sizes ranging from
about 8 mm to 45 mm OD with permeabilities in the range of 100 to 400 and low core losses (less than 70 W/kg at 100 kHz and 0. IT). Advantageously, the magnetic properties are maintained under DC bias (at least 40% of the initial permeability is maintained at a DC bias field of 3980 A/m or 50 Oe).
In addition, there is provided by the present invention a method for heat treating Fe base amorphous alloys in a controlled way to partially crystallize the bulk of the amorphous ribbon and generate microgaps in the cores. As a result of the distributed gaps, the aforementioned properties are achieved.
More specifically, there is provided in accordance with the invention a unique correlation between the degree of crystallization arid the permeability
values. In order to achieve permeability in the range of 100 to 400, bulk crystallization of the amorphous core is required, preferably of the order of 10 to 25% of the core volume.
In addition, the present invention requires certain annealing temperature and time parameters and degree of control of these parameters in order to achieve the desired choke properties.
The present invention relates to an electrical choke, comprising a magnetic core having a distributed gap, said magnetic core consisting essentially of an Fe -base amorphous metal alloy that is partially crystallized, wherein said distributed gap minimizes leakage of magnetic flux from said magnetic core.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will be more fully understood and further advantages will become apparent when reference is had to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a graph depicting the relation between the permeability of the core and the annealing temperature, the different curves describing material with different crystallization temperatures;
Figure 2 is a graph depicting the relation between the permeability of the cores and the annealing temperature for different annealing times;
Figure 3 is a graph depicting the loading configuration of the cores for the annealing in order to achieve temperature uniformity within a few degrees;
Figure 4 is a graph depicting core loss in W/kg of the cores as a function of the DC bias field and the frequency;
Figure 5 is a graph depicting the permeability of the cores under DC bias field conditions;
Figure 6 depicts a typical cross-sectional Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) picture of the ribbon after the annealing; and
Figure 7 describes the permeability as a function of the volume percent of crystalliniry.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Fig. 1 depicts the permeability of the annealed Fe-base magnetic core as a function of the annealing temperature. The permeability was measured with an induction bridge at 10 kHz frequency , 8-turn jig and 100 mV ac excitation. The annealing time was kept constant at 6 hrs. All the cores were annealed in an inert gas atmosphere. The different curves represent Fe-base alloys with small variations in the chemical composition and consequently small changes in their crystallization temperature. The crystallization temperatures were measured by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). A reduction in the permeability is observed with increasing annealing temperature for a constant annealing time. For a given annealing temperature the permeabilities scale according to the crystallization temperature, i.e. the permeability is highest for the alloy with the highest crystallization temperature.
Fig. 2 depicts the permeability of the annealed Fe-base cores with the same chemical composition as a function of the annealing temperature. The different curves represent different annealing times. The plot indicates that for temperatures higher than 450 °C the effect of the annealing temperature dominates the effect of the annealing time.
The appropriate annealing temperature and time combination are selected for an Fe-B-Si base amorphous alloy on the basis of the information in Figs. 1 and 2. This selection can be made provided the crystallization temperature (Tx) and/ or chemical composition of the alloy is known. For example, for Fe80B11Si19 which has ^=507 °C in order to achieve permeabilities in the range of 100 to 400 annealing temperatures in the range of 420 to 425 °C for 6 hrs are appropriate.
Referring again to Fig. 1, reproducibility and uniformity for a given permeability value are obtained when a temperature variation of less than one or two degrees is maintained. Special loading configurations have been developed for the annealing process so that the uniformity and reproducibility of the temperature in the oven are established. For a box type inert gas oven wire mesh Al plates(2)
are stacked according to Fig. 3 and the arrangement is placed in the center of the oven. The Al plates are the substrates that hold the cores(l) during the anneal.
Typical magnetic characterization data for the chokes, such as core loss and DC bias are shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The core loss data are plotted as a function of the DC bias field and the different curves represent different measuring frequencies. The data shown are for cores with 25 mm OD. An important parameter for the choke performance is the percent of the initial permeability that remains when the core is driven by a DC bias field. Fig. 5 depicts a typical DC bias curve for a core having 35mm OD.
Cross-sectional scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and x-ray diffraction (XRD) were performed to determine the distribution and percent crystallization of the annealed cores. Fig. 6 depicts a typical cross-sectional SEM indicating that both the bulk of the alloy and the surface are crystallized. This is readily distinguished from the method described in US patent 4,812,181, in which only the surface is crystallized.
The volume percent of the crystallization was determined from both the SEM and XRD data and is plotted in Fig. 7 as a function of permeability. For permeabilities in the range of 100 to 400 bulk crystallization in the range of 5 to 30% is required.
Having thus described the invention in rather full detail, it will be understood that such detail need not be strictly adhered to but that further changes and modifications may suggest themselves to one skilled in the art, all falling within the scope of the invention as defined by the subjoined claims.




WE CLAIM:
1. An electrical choke, comprising a magnetic core having a
distributed gap, said magnetic core consisting essentially of an Fe -base
amorphous metal alloy that is partially crystallized, characterized in that
said distributed gap minimizes leakage of magnetic flux from said
magnetic core.
2. An electrical choke as claimed in claim 1, having a permeability
ranging from about 100 to 400 at 10kHz, 40% of the initial permeability
being maintained at DC bias magnetic field of 3980 A/m (50 Oe), a core
loss less than 70 W/kg at 100 kHz and O.IT bias magnetic field, and a
high saturation flux density.
3. A method for producing an electrical choke as claimed in claim 1
having a core composed of an amorphous metal alloy, comprising the
step of: annealing the choke in a protective atmosphere at temperature
and time parameters that depend upon the crystallization temperature
and chemical composition of the amorphous metal alloy, said time and
temperature parameters being selected for a specific iron-based alloy in
accordance with data from Figures 1 and 2.
4. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein said amorphous metal
alloy is Fe80B11Si9, said annealing temperature is 425°C and said
annealing time is about 6-8 hrs.
5. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein said amorphous metal
alloy is F80oB12Si8, said annealing temperature is 455°C and said
annealing time is about 4 hrs.
6. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein said annealing step is
carried out in the absence of a magnetic field.
7. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein said temperature is
controlled to within about 2-5 degrees centigrade during said annealing
step, whereby said choke, after said anneal exhibits constant
permeability.
8. A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein said annealing step is
carried out in a box type convection oven and said cores are arranged
within said oven in the manner depicted by Figure 3 to thereby control
said temperature within about 2 to 5 degrees Centigrade.
9. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein said choke, upon being
annealed, being partially crystallized so that all of the amorphous metal
therein is about 10 to 25% crystalline.
10. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein said partial crystallization
causes formation of aFe and Fe2B crystal therein.
11. A method as claimed in claim 6, in which said core is coated with a
thin high temperature resin which electrically insulates said core and
maintains core integrity.
12. An electrical choke substantially as hereinbefore described with
reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
13. A method for producing an electrical choke substantially as
hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Documents:

65-del-1997-abstract.pdf

65-del-1997-assignment.pdf

65-del-1997-claims.pdf

65-del-1997-correspondence-others.pdf

65-del-1997-correspondence-po.pdf

65-del-1997-description (complete).pdf

65-del-1997-drawings.pdf

65-del-1997-form-1.pdf

65-del-1997-form-13.pdf

65-del-1997-form-19.pdf

65-del-1997-form-2.pdf

65-del-1997-form-3.pdf

65-del-1997-form-4.pdf

65-del-1997-form-6.pdf

65-del-1997-gpa.pdf

65-del-1997-petition-137.pdf

65-del-1997-petition-138.pdf


Patent Number 215305
Indian Patent Application Number 65/DEL/1997
PG Journal Number 11/2008
Publication Date 14-Mar-2008
Grant Date 25-Feb-2008
Date of Filing 08-Jan-1997
Name of Patentee METGLAS, INC.
Applicant Address 440 ALLIED DRIVE, CONWAY, SOUTH CAROLINA 29526, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 JOSEPH ABOUT-ELIAS 2-SHIRE DRIVE, GREAT MEADOWS, HANOVER, NEW JERSEY 07838.
2 RONALD J. MARTIS 34 FAIRWAY DRIVE EAST HANOVER, NEW JERSEY 07936.
3 RYUSUKE HASEGAWA 29 HILL STREET, MORRISTOWN, NEW JERSEY 07936.
4 JOHNSILGAILIS 41 THE GLEN, CEDAR GROVE, NEW JERSEY 07009
5 ALKI COLLINS 215 GROVE STREET, NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02166,
PCT International Classification Number H01F 17/00
PCT International Application Number N/A
PCT International Filing date
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 08/584,787 1996-01-11 U.S.A.