Equestrian bit mouthpiece from copper alloy

Abstract

Equestrian bits are manufactured with the mouthpiece component comprising a copper alloy with composition; 65-80% by weight copper, 0-2% tin and the remainder being zinc including other elements. In a further embodiment, the copper alloy comprises 70-73% copper, 0.9-1.2% tin, 28% zinc the remainder being other elements at a %, by weight, of less than 1%. The alloy of the invention provides a horse bit mouthpiece which rapidly achieves thermal equilibration when placed in, or moved within, the mouth and has characteristic strength sufficient for the intended use.

1 . A horse bit mouthpiece comprising a copper alloy comprising:
 65-99.95%, by weight, of copper, and one selected from the group comprising:   a) 25-35%, by weight of zinc and impurities,    0-2.0%, by weight, of tin, and    0-0.5% by weight of XV, where XV is one or more elements selected from Group 15 of the periodic table;   b) 0.05-0.2% by weight, zirconium and impurities;   c) 0.15-1.1% by weight, Al 2 O 3  and impurities;   d) 0.4-1.2% by weight of chromium and impurities; and   e) 0.2-2.7% by weight, cobalt, and    0.02-2% by weight, beryllium and impurities,   wherein the alloy has a thermal conductivity greater than 100 W/m.K and a yield strength greater than 70 MPa.   
     
     
         2 . A horse bit mouthpiece as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the alloy consists of:
 68-75%, by weight, of copper,   0.5-1.5%, by weight, of tin,   0-0.2% by weight of XV, and   the remainder being zinc and impurities.   
     
     
         3 . A horse bit mouthpiece as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the alloy consists of:
 70-73%, by weight, of copper,   0.9-1.2%, by weight, of tin,   0-0.1% by weight of XV, and   the remainder being zinc and impurities.   
     
     
         4 . A horse bit mouthpiece as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the alloy consists of:
 70-73%, by weight, of copper,   0.9-1.2%, by weight, of tin,   0.05-0.1% by weight of XV, and   the remainder being zinc and impurities.   
     
     
         5 . A horse bit mouthpiece as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein XV is antimony. 
     
     
         6 . A horse bit mouthpiece as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein XV is phosphorus. 
     
     
         7 . A horse bit mouthpiece as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein XV is arsenic. 
     
     
         8 . A horse bit mouthpiece as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the alloy consists of:
 99.8-99.9%, by weight, of copper, and   0.1-0.2% by weight, of zirconium and impurities.   
     
     
         9 . A horse bit mouthpiece as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the alloy consists of:
 98.9-99.85%, by weight, of copper, and   0.15-1.1% by weight, of Al 2 O 3  and impurities.   
     
     
         10 . A horse bit mouthpiece as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the alloy consists of:
 98.73-99.6%, by weight, of copper, and   0.4-1.27% by weight, of chromium and impurities.   
     
     
         11 . A horse bit mouthpiece as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the alloy consists of:
 95.3-99.78%, by weight, of copper,   0.2-2.7% by weight, of cobalt, and   0.02-2% by weight, of beryllium and impurities.   
     
     
         12 . A horse bit mouthpiece as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the alloy has a thermal conductivity greater than 80 W/m.K and yield strength greater than 400 MPa. 
     
     
         13 . A horse bit mouthpiece as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the alloy has a thermal conductivity greater than 100 W/m.K and yield strength greater than 450 MPa. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled)