CA1083240A - One piece electrical connector for batteries - Google Patents

One piece electrical connector for batteries

Info

Publication number
CA1083240A
CA1083240A CA297,550A CA297550A CA1083240A CA 1083240 A CA1083240 A CA 1083240A CA 297550 A CA297550 A CA 297550A CA 1083240 A CA1083240 A CA 1083240A
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
wall
connector
supporting means
boss
connecting means
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
CA297,550A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Frank L. Ciliberti, Jr.
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Duracell Inc USA
Original Assignee
PR Mallory and Co Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by PR Mallory and Co Inc filed Critical PR Mallory and Co Inc
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA1083240A publication Critical patent/CA1083240A/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01MPROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M50/00Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the non-active parts of electrochemical cells other than fuel cells, e.g. hybrid cells
    • H01M50/50Current conducting connections for cells or batteries
    • H01M50/543Terminals
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01RELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/02Contact members
    • H01R13/20Pins, blades, or sockets shaped, or provided with separate member, to retain co-operating parts together
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02EREDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E60/00Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02E60/10Energy storage using batteries

Landscapes

  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Electrochemistry (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Connection Of Batteries Or Terminals (AREA)
  • Connector Housings Or Holding Contact Members (AREA)
  • Separation By Low-Temperature Treatments (AREA)
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging Apparatus (AREA)
  • Optical Communication System (AREA)
  • Sealing Battery Cases Or Jackets (AREA)
  • Battery Mounting, Suspending (AREA)

Abstract

ONE PIECE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR
FOR BATTERIES

ABSTRACT

A connector assembly comprising a one piece connector attached to a supporting means. The one piece connector has a connecting means which has an integral means for firmly attaching the connecting means in a seal-ing relationship to the supporting means. The integral means comprises an integral bottom wall and an integral hollow boss extending below the bottom wall in a direction opposite to that in which the connecting means extends.
The supporting means has an aperture therein through which the boss ex-tends. The boss is formed of a substantially continuous material, and the bottom end of the boss is pressed flat against the supporting means.

Description

1~83~0 The present invention relates to one piece connectorS
and more particularly to one piece electrical connectoYSfor batteries.
When man began to manufacture various items,a need appeared for a means of temporarily connecting two or more items.
One solution to this problem was the discovery of mating male and female connectors, although other connecting means can be found in use. The type of connector used varies,depending on the particular application. For example, in battery applications there are certain requirements that a connector must meet. A
battery is expected to function for extended periods. Accordingly, the terminal must be reliable and it must provide continuously satisfactory mechanical and electrical connections over the entire life of the battery. Similar requirements may also be found in other applications where long life and reliability are necessary.
A further requirement of battery connectors is that they seal the battery container so that no corrosive material can leak out. This requirement has, in the pa9t, been partially satisfied by the use of a two piece connector in which a con-necting means, such as a female mating device, is manufactured with a hole in the center of it5 base. Then a rivet is inserted through a supporting means, which is usually an insulator,and through the hole in the connecting means. The end of the rivet is clinched or peened outwardly so as to firmly attach the con-necting means to the insulator. The solid head of the rivet is thereby pressed against the insulator to provide a seal and inhibit leakage. All of the internal connections of a conven~ onal .

~ 3394 9 volt battery are formed by welding (e.g. connections by electrically conductive tabs between the individual cells, and to the rivet heads) except for the mechanical connection between the rivet end and the connecting means which thereby forms the "weakest link" in the electrical continuity of the battery.
The two piece construction and the necessary intermediate steps in the assembling of these prior art connectors renders them relatively expensive to manufacture.
Some one piece connectors have previously been used, but all contained an eyelet or an open ended boss. When such connector is attached to a supporting means, a hole remains in the connector. This is especially undesirable for some embodi-ments such as those destined for use in electrochemical cells since corrosive material could leak out. The connector of the present invention, with its closed end, solves this problem.
One of the requirements in the manufacture of the device of this invention is that there be no leakage path through the connecting assembly. Accordingly, the entire one piece connector is made of continuous material.
It has heretofore been believed that one piece connectors such as those contemplated by the present invention could not be formed, and that, even if capable of being formed, they could not be assembled without fracturing of the metal.
In accordance with the present :Lnvention it has now been discovered that it is possible to make a one piece connector which is readily capable of being assembled. The one piece con-nectors of the present invention are not only substantially cheaper to manufacture than two piece connectors, but in addition, since the ~ 394 connector is now a single piece" the mechanical connection at the rivet is eliminated,together with the drawbacks of such connection.
In the connector of the present invention, the portion of the connec~or assembly which forms the connecting means, e.g. the mating male and female elements may be the same as those heretofore used . However, instead of a separate rivet there is provided an integral boss which is formed during the manufacture of the connector.
The boss portion of the one piece connector of this invention is adapted to be inserted into an aperture in a supporting means. The boss must be longer than the thickness of the supporting means so that it will extend beyond the remote wall thereof,whereby to enable the boss to be peened against the supporting means. This action firmly attaches the connector to the supporting means and produces a connector assembly.
The dimensions of the boss will vary according to the material it is made of and the size of the connector itself.
The boss must be long enough to penetrate and project beyond the supporting means. A sufficient portion of the end of the boss must project therethrough that the closed end of the boss, when peened , will form a head which is large enough to prevent the connector from being pulled out of the supporting means,as when the connector is being disconnected. The maximum length of the boss will be determined by the material used,which will affect the ability of the boss to be formed without penetration of the bottom wall by the die which forms it,which would produce an open ended boss. A practical length for a _ . , _ _ . . . _ ~

boss used in a connector for a battery would be between about 0.05 inch and about 0.1 inch in conjunction with an outer diameter of the boss between about 0.122 and 0.125 inch. The connectcr can be made of almost any formable or castable material. Useful materials include steel, brass, phosphorous bronze, beryllium copper. The preferred embodiment is made of steel containing some carbon and manganese and restricted amounts of sulfur and phospho-rous. In one specific embodiment the connector is steel that is about 0.01 inch thick and contains between about 0. 48% and about 0.55% carbon, between about 0.6% and about 0.9% manganese, a maximum of about 0.035% phosphorous and a maximum of about 0.045%
sulfur. Other useful steels contain between about 0.25% and 0.4%
manganese, and 0. 08% maximum of carbon; between about 0.3% and 0.51%
manganese and about 0.1% maximum of carbon; and between about 0. 08%
and 0.13% carbon, and about 0.3% and 0.6% manganese. Each of the above steels contains a maximum of about 0.035% phosphorous, and 0.045% sulfur. Each of the above mate~alsis also sufficiently malleable to permit the formation of a closed-end boss sufficiently long to be useable. In addition, when the boss is peened during the attachment of the connector to the supporting means the material must remain continuous since, if any fractures form in the boss, material from the battery may leak through the connector.
It has been discovered that, surprisingly, the formation of the boss ca~ses the steel to become work hardened so that resiliency of the fingers of female connecting means is increased.
; This mades it unnecessary to heat treat the fingers.
The supporting means must be able to hold the connector in place while it is being used and thus prevent it from being .. .. . . . . . . . ..

~1-3~94 pulled out. Also the supportin~g means must not be damaged during the peening of the end of the boss and the attachment of the connector thereto. In addition, when the connecting means is to be used in a battery the supporting means will preferably be formed from an insulative material. Suitable such materials vary widely and include vulcanized fiber, which is made of paper that has been soaked in zinc chloride, washed and dried; and epoxy resin having a fiberglass filler. In a preferred embodiment, the supporting means has a thickness of between about 0.02 inch and about 0.04 inch.

Because the connector has only a single boss passing through the supporting means, the connector could be subject to pivotal rotation. Accordingly, the invention contemplates the use of means for preventing rotation. A presently preferred means involves the use of at least one, and preferably two, rosettes formed in the bottom wall of the connector which is to be adjacent the supporting means. The rosette is formed by forcing a cutting die through the bottom wall of the connector whereby one or more pointed edges or lances is formed, each lance ex-tending towards the contemplated position of the supporting means. Each rosette may be small and may have as few as one lance projecting from it or, the rosette may be larger and have many more lances projecting from it. Where leakage is a potential problem it is desirable that the length of each lance be less than the thickness of the supporting means. In an alternate embodiment of the invention the die making the rosette may not penetrate the bottom wall, in which case a dimple is formed in the bottom wall.

A further alternative means of preventing pivatal rotation is`
the use of a turned down edge of an annular flange M-3~94 1~832~L0 which extends around the connecting means. This can be formed by forcing one or more parts of the edge of the annular flange into the supporting means.
The means for preventing pivotal rotation is made operable by the partial penetration of said means into the supporting means. Generally, this partial penetration occurs simultaneously with the peening of the end of the boss. The force exerted in peening the end of the boss over is sufficient to cause the lance, the dimple, or the turned edge to partially penetrate the supporting means.
The invention will be more fully understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure l is an isometric view of a female connector assembly made in accordance with the invention;
Figure 2 is a top plan view of the one piece connector of the invention before it is attached to a supporting means;
Figure 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken through the diameter of the one piece connector shown in Figure
2; and Figure 4 is a corresponding vertical cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment wherein a male connector is shown attached to a supporting means.
Referring now to Figures 1-3 of the drawings there is shown a one piece connector 10 with a connecting means 12 comprised of an outer discontinuous cylindrical wall 14, an inner dis-continuous cylindrical wall 16, connecting means 20 between said walls, and a plurality of axial slits 18 passing through both said walls and said connecting means. The discontinuous cylindrical walls form a plurality of resilient fingers M-3~

which are adapted to grip the corresponding parts of a male connector. The connecting means 12 is integral with planar bottom wall 22 from which integral boss 24 projects in a direction opposite to connecting means 12. The boss 24 is comprised of a substantially cylindrical neck 26, an encircling flange 27, and a closed disc shaped bottom 28. The enlarged diameter of bottom 28 together with planar wall 22 securely holds connector 10 in place on supporting means 32.
There is also provided an inte~ral rosette 34 formed in bottom wall 22. Rosette 34 prevents pivotal rotation by virtue of four lances 36 which project from wall 22 and partially penetrates into supporting means 32 . This partial penetration into supporting means 32 prevents pivotal rotation of the one piece connector 10 with respect to supporting means 32. A tab 38 from the cells of a conventional 9 volt electrochemical cell (not shown) is welded to the closed bottom 28.
Figures 2 and 3 show a one piece female connector 10 prior to attachment to supporting means 32 and wherein the boss is shown as having a cylindrical form without flange 27. Closed bottom 28 has a diameter less than that of aperture 30 (Figure 1~.
During assembly, the closed bottom 28 of the boss 24 is flattened against the bottom of the support 32 whereby the flange 27 is formed and enlargement of bottom 28 occurs while,simultane-ously,lances 36 penetrate into support 32.
Figure 4 shows an alternate embodiment of the invention, wherein the one piece connector assembly 50 has a male connecting means 52 which is comprised of an outer cylindrical wall 54 and an inner cylindrical wall 56. The outer wall 54 has a diameter C~ ~

~083'~0 adjacent to supporting means 32 which is less thar. the diameter thereof at a point nearer its opposite end so that a female connector will be securely held in place thereon. In the embodi-ment shown, the enlarged portion forms a cylinder of somewhat greater diameter than the cylindrical form of the small portion, but other configurations can be used.
The outer wall 54 is integral with an annular flange 58 which helps to buttress connecting means 52 against supporting means 32. In addition, flange 58 provides a means 60 for pre-vention of pivotal rotation. Means 60 is formed by pressing outer edge 62 of said annular flange 58 into supporting means 32 at one or more positions around the periphery of flange 58. Attachment ; of the male connector 50 to supporting means 32 is otherwise substantially the same as the attachment procedure described above with respect to the female connector shown in Figures 1 to 3.
The inner wall 56 of connecting means 52 is integrally formed with a bottom wall 122 from which an integral boss 124 extends.
Boss 124 is comprised of a substantially cylindrical neck 126, a flange portion 127, and a closed bottom 128 in the form of a disc.
The closed bottom 128 of boss 124 has a larger diameter than the diameter of aperture 130 in the supporting means 32 whereby the boss 124 and the planar wall 122 securely hold said supporting means 32 therebetween.
It is understood that changes and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the following claims.

,. _g_ ,, . . . . . ... ~ . , .

Claims (8)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. A connector assembly comprising a one piece con-nector attached to a supporting means, said connector having a connecting means with an integral bottom wall, said bottom wall having an integral boss with a closed end protruding from said bottom wall in a direction away from said connecting means, said supporting means having an aperture therein through which said boss extends, the bottom end of said boss being pressed flat against said supporting means in the form of an outwardly exten-ding shoulder having a diameter greater than the diameter of said aperture, whereby said supporting means is secured between the shoulder of said boss and said bottom wall in sealing rela-tionship, and whereby said one piece connector is securely at-tached to said supporting means.
2. The connector assembly of claim 1 further com-prising means for preventing pivotal movement of said connector.
3. The connector assembly of claim 2 wherein said means for preventing pivotal movement comprises a rosette con-taining at least one lance extending from said rosette, said lance penetrating partially through said supporting means where-by said connecting means is held stationary against said support-ing means.
4. The connector assembly of claim 1 wherein said boss is hollow, and is comprised of a neck portion which is sub-stantially cylindrical and said bottom end which is substantially a disc.
5. The connector assembly of claim 1 wherein the material for said one piece connector is selected from the group consisting of steel, brass, phosphorous bronze, and beryllium copper.
6. The connector assembly of claim 1 wherein said connecting means comprises an inner generally cylindrical wall axially slit to pro-vide a circular series of resilient fingers that provide bearing surfaces adapted to bear resiliently and make contact against an outer surface of a mating connecting means, and an integral outer, generally cylindrical wall through which the axial slits of said inner wall pass, said outer wall being reversely turned from the top edge of said inner wall and extending downwardly until it merges with said integral bottom wall.
7. The connector assembly of claim 1 wherein said connecting means comprise a generally cylindrical outer wall, the diameter of said outer wall adjacent said supporting means is less than the diameter thereof at a point nearer its opposite end, said outer wall being adapted to make good contact with the inner wall of a mating connecting means; and a generally cylindrical inner wall reversely turned from the top edge of said outer wall and extending downwardly until it merges with said integral bottom wall.
8. The connector assembly of claim 8 further comprising means for preventing pivotal movement of said connector, said means comprising an annular flange which extends outwardly from said outer wall, said flange being coplanar with said bottom wall, at least one outer edge of said annular flange being turned towards said supporting means, and said edge penetrating said supporting means whereby said connecting means is held stationary in said supporting means.
CA297,550A 1977-04-14 1978-02-23 One piece electrical connector for batteries Expired CA1083240A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US78768377A 1977-04-14 1977-04-14
US787,683 1991-11-04

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA1083240A true CA1083240A (en) 1980-08-05

Family

ID=25142262

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA297,550A Expired CA1083240A (en) 1977-04-14 1978-02-23 One piece electrical connector for batteries

Country Status (17)

Country Link
JP (1) JPS53128792A (en)
AU (1) AU521039B2 (en)
BE (1) BE865974A (en)
BR (1) BR7802313A (en)
CA (1) CA1083240A (en)
CH (1) CH627589A5 (en)
DE (1) DE2815728A1 (en)
DK (1) DK151992C (en)
FR (1) FR2387531A1 (en)
GB (1) GB1590603A (en)
IE (1) IE46721B1 (en)
IL (1) IL54143A (en)
IT (1) IT1096182B (en)
MX (1) MX146488A (en)
NL (1) NL7803971A (en)
NO (1) NO781294L (en)
SE (1) SE7804189L (en)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3314731C2 (en) * 1983-04-22 1985-10-24 Leopold Kostal Gmbh & Co Kg, 5880 Luedenscheid Plug contact socket

Family Cites Families (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1393674A (en) * 1919-10-25 1921-10-11 Doe Walter Scott Battery-connector
GB558199A (en) * 1942-06-23 1943-12-24 United Carr Fastener Corp Improvements in and relating to electrical connectors
US2376072A (en) * 1943-04-21 1945-05-15 Miller Edwin August Rivet operable by means of hammer blows
US2424528A (en) * 1944-01-31 1947-07-22 Scovill Manufacturing Co Electric socket
FR1147809A (en) * 1956-04-17 1957-11-29 Waterproof feedthrough for capacitor
FR1312314A (en) * 1962-01-24 1962-12-14 Texas Instruments Inc Electrical connection terminal, its manufacturing process and its fixing method
US3541496A (en) * 1967-12-21 1970-11-17 Thomas & Betts Corp Terminal
DE6929944U (en) * 1969-07-29 1969-11-20 Siemens Ag CONNECTING ELEMENTS PROVIDED WITH CHANGES IN CROSS SECTION THAT ARE FIXED IN PLASTIC PARTS BY USING VIBRATIONS IN THE ULTRASONIC AREA.
US3655456A (en) * 1970-06-15 1972-04-11 Esb Inc Dry cell battery
US3990919A (en) * 1974-12-31 1976-11-09 Krueger Ralph A Battery adapter
US3980367A (en) * 1975-03-19 1976-09-14 Sealectro Corporation Electrical connector for joining conductors attached to printed circuit boards

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
NL7803971A (en) 1978-10-17
DE2815728C2 (en) 1988-02-04
AU3490278A (en) 1979-10-18
NO781294L (en) 1978-10-17
AU521039B2 (en) 1982-03-11
IL54143A (en) 1980-10-26
IT1096182B (en) 1985-08-17
IE780731L (en) 1978-10-14
BE865974A (en) 1978-07-31
JPS53128792A (en) 1978-11-10
BR7802313A (en) 1979-02-13
DK151992B (en) 1988-01-18
MX146488A (en) 1982-07-01
FR2387531B1 (en) 1984-03-23
DK151992C (en) 1988-07-04
CH627589A5 (en) 1982-01-15
IT7822296A0 (en) 1978-04-13
DE2815728A1 (en) 1978-10-19
GB1590603A (en) 1981-06-03
FR2387531A1 (en) 1978-11-10
DK161778A (en) 1978-10-15
IL54143A0 (en) 1978-04-30
IE46721B1 (en) 1983-09-07
SE7804189L (en) 1978-10-15

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