CA1155491A - Side terminal battery case having a side terminal molded therein - Google Patents
Side terminal battery case having a side terminal molded thereinInfo
- Publication number
- CA1155491A CA1155491A CA000379347A CA379347A CA1155491A CA 1155491 A CA1155491 A CA 1155491A CA 000379347 A CA000379347 A CA 000379347A CA 379347 A CA379347 A CA 379347A CA 1155491 A CA1155491 A CA 1155491A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- terminal
- battery
- side terminal
- interior surface
- battery case
- 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
Links
Classifications
-
- Y—GENERAL 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
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
- Y02E60/10—Energy storage using batteries
Landscapes
- Connection Of Batteries Or Terminals (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT
A side terminal battery container of the type having a side terminal molded therein is disclosed. The side terminal of the present invention does not extend into the interior of the battery container and is particularly useful for lead burning techniques during the battery manufacturing process.
A side terminal battery container of the type having a side terminal molded therein is disclosed. The side terminal of the present invention does not extend into the interior of the battery container and is particularly useful for lead burning techniques during the battery manufacturing process.
Description
~155~gl SIDE TERI`5INAL BATTERY CASE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention _ _ .
The present invention relates to a side terminal battery case having a side terminal in the end cells of the battery case for making an electrical connection to the hattery.
The invention relates more specifically to side terminal battery cases having a side terminal which is molded in the battery case at the time the battery case is formed.
Description of the Prior Art There are two major classes of side terminal batteries which are currently in the prior art. In the first class the battery case is molded with an aperture through the side wall in each of the end cells. In a later operation, after the molding of the case is complete, a side terminal is then placed in the aperture, assembled and sealed to the battery case~ In the second class of battery cases the battery case having the apertures through the side walls at the end cells thereof is placed in another apparatus and the side terminals are cast in place about the side wall of the battery case and through the aperture.
The prior art battery cases have all required a two step operation in that the battery case must be molded before the side terminal is positioned in the case. Such assembly techniques have resulted in the tendency to leak not only because of the difficulty in securing a tiyht joint between the side terminal and the wall of the battery case, but also because the heat generated during the sealing opera`tion causes distortion of the molded battery case.
,~
~5~1 The reason that the battery case is molded independently of the side terminal, is to permit withdraw of the molding core from the formed container. There is not sufficient clearance for this withdraw when a side terminal is molded or formed at the same ~ime. An additional short-coming of the prior art attempts to produce side terminal battery containers, is that the terminals presently known incorporate an amount of lead in excess of that actually necessary to achieve good electrical and mechanical Connections.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention consists o~ a battery container with a terminal for making the terminal electrical connection with an end element of the battery through the side wall of the battery container, said battery container side wall having an exterior surface and an interior surface and said terminal molded therein, said terminal comprising; a unitary body, said unitary body having a forward ~ace associated with said exterior surface and a rearward portion associated with said interior surface for completing the electrical connection with said end element adjacent to said interior surface; said rearward portion further comprising a border portion substantially co-planar with said interior surface and a recessed portion, said recessed portion being recessed from said interior surface by approximately 0.015 inches, wherein the upstanding portion of the battery strap associated with said end element is placed against said interior surface and said upstanding portion is fused to said recessed portion.
A particular advantage o~ the present invention is that the battery elements which form the storage battery may be inserted in the container without any hindrance from the 115~49~
side terminal, thereby reducing the chance of damage to the plates and separators.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a battery case having a side terminal therein according to an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 2 is a sectional view o~ a side terminal prior to molding of the battery case.
Figure 3 is a sectional view of a terminal molded in the battery case and taken through the line 3~3 o~ Figure 1.
Figure 4 is an illustrative view of the terminal as shown in Figure 3 with a battery plate strap thereon showing the assembly of the battery plate elements in the case.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the drawin~s, wherein like numerals indicate like elements, the invention will be described in greater detail.
In Figure 1 there is shown a battery case 2, having side terminals 4, for making the electrical interconnection.
Note that the battery case 2 has a plurality of partitions 6 which provides the container 2 into six individual cells.
This will be recognized as a six cell, 12 volt battery container. The various configurations of the battery case 2, will be known to those skilled in the art and will not require further description herein.
Referring now to Figure 2, there is shown the battery terminal 4, which is comprised of a unitary lead body 10, and an insert 12. The termina~ 4 is symetric about the centerline c-c. The insert 12 is a stainless steel insert used for making mechanical connection between the terminal 4 and the electrical leads of the device for which the battery is to provide power. The insert 12 will be known to those in the art . ~
.~ , 115~4L9~
and does not require further explanation.
The unitary body 10 has a plurality of angular circum-ferencial rings 14, 16, 18 and 20 which define a plurality of voids 22j 24, and 26 therebetween. The purpose of the angular rings 14 through 20 and voids 22 through 26 is to provide a means for locking the terminal 4 in the battery case 2. When the plastic material of the battery case is introduced into the molding apparatus, the material will flow about the angular rings 14 through 20 and fi l the voids 22 through 26, thus securing the tèrminal 4 in the case 2. The forward face of terminal 4 has a large ring 30, surrounding a void 32. The void 32 provides access for the mechanical fastening means which is to be attached to insert 12. A radius 34 extends between the outer edge 36 of ring .. ..
30 and the forward edge 38 of circumferencial ring 14. A similar radius 40 extends from the inner èdge 42 of ring 30 to the upper fors~ard edge 44 of the insert 12. This structure will be known to those in the art and provides an exposed face to the terminal 4 which is similar to the side terminal batteries presently~known in the art.
~he rearward portion 50, of the terminal 4 extends slightly beyond the last circumferencial ring 20. This rearward portion 50 has a vertically disposed ring 52 on the rear portion thereof and surrounding a circular recess 54. Circular recess 54 is recessed below the plane defined by the ring 54 by approxi-mately .015.
Referring now to Figure 3, there is shown terminal 4 as molded in a battery case 60. The collar 62 has been molded about the terminal 4 and as can be seen from Figure 31 the thermal plastic material of the battery case has filled the voids defined between the circumferencial rings of the 4 and is in a ~ 279 115~491 sealing rela~ionship with the terminal 4. The side wall 64 of the battery case 60 appears as any other standard side wall in a side terminal battery container. Likewise the exterior surface of the side wall 64 appears as any standard exterior surface in this type of battery. However, the interior surface 66 of side wall 64, unlike prior art cases, is substantially planar~ The rearward portion 50 of the terminal 4 is disposed wholly within the thermal plastic material of the battery container 60 and does not extend beyond the plane defined by the interior surface~66. The depth of the circular recess 54 in the molded end terminal as shown in Figure 3 is less than the depth of the originally cast terminal as shown in Figure 2. ~his results from the use of the ring 52 às a crush sleeve in the molding apparatus. In the final embodiment as shown in Figure 3, the circular recess 54 will have a depth which is reduced by the amount of compression affected on the ring 52. Due to the force of the core in the molding apparatus the ring 52 is collapsed slightly. This collapsing of the ring 52 assures that a good seal is achieved between the terminal and the core and that the thermal plastic material forming the bat~ery case 60 will not extend beyond the-outer circumference of the terminal 4 and insulate the terminal. It will be understood that the amount of crush sleeve provided on ring 52 will be determined by the tolerances of the manufacturing process which produces the original terminal 54. As the tolerances are made more rigid the need for the crush sleeve may be reduced.
~15~491 Referring now to Figure 4, there is shown the terminal of Figure 3 with the addition of the strap 70. Battery strap 70 has a lowe portion 72 which is cast on or welded to the lugs of the battery plate element to the side terminal ~. The upstanding portion 74 is dimensioned to extend to approximately the center of circular recess 54 and to contact the ring 52. In operation, ~
the battery element with the plate strap 70 thereon is placed in the end cell o the battery container having the terminal 4 molded therein. The container is then tilted or laid to one side so that the technician may apply a heat source to the rear surface 76 of the upstanding portion 74. ~s the heat is applied to the rear surface 76 the lead portion 74 is fused to the terminal. Circular recess 54 is to provide a pooling place and heat sink for the material of the upstanding portion 74 and the terminal 4 to make good electrical and mechanical contact. Additionally as the terminal 4 is already in a liquid tight mechanical relationship with the container 60, the size of the upstanding portion 74 may-be reduced. Since the terminal of the instant invention provides for better sealing and location it is also possible to control the area of application of heat to the battery strap 70 and thereby reduce the damage done to the battery container during the fabrication process.
Additionally, as is known in the art, terminal 4 is gen-erally provided with an anti-rotation lock feature. In the instant invention, ihe anti-rotation lock may take the form of perpendicular slots cut around the circumference of the angular rings to permit plastic flow therein or may b~ projections or depressions formed with or within the base of the voids to interrupt the smooth circumference thereof.
-~ .,9 11~5491 Having fully disclosed my invention, it is realized that variations thereon may be made with~ut departing fr~m the spirit o~ my invention or the scope of the claims amended hereto..
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention _ _ .
The present invention relates to a side terminal battery case having a side terminal in the end cells of the battery case for making an electrical connection to the hattery.
The invention relates more specifically to side terminal battery cases having a side terminal which is molded in the battery case at the time the battery case is formed.
Description of the Prior Art There are two major classes of side terminal batteries which are currently in the prior art. In the first class the battery case is molded with an aperture through the side wall in each of the end cells. In a later operation, after the molding of the case is complete, a side terminal is then placed in the aperture, assembled and sealed to the battery case~ In the second class of battery cases the battery case having the apertures through the side walls at the end cells thereof is placed in another apparatus and the side terminals are cast in place about the side wall of the battery case and through the aperture.
The prior art battery cases have all required a two step operation in that the battery case must be molded before the side terminal is positioned in the case. Such assembly techniques have resulted in the tendency to leak not only because of the difficulty in securing a tiyht joint between the side terminal and the wall of the battery case, but also because the heat generated during the sealing opera`tion causes distortion of the molded battery case.
,~
~5~1 The reason that the battery case is molded independently of the side terminal, is to permit withdraw of the molding core from the formed container. There is not sufficient clearance for this withdraw when a side terminal is molded or formed at the same ~ime. An additional short-coming of the prior art attempts to produce side terminal battery containers, is that the terminals presently known incorporate an amount of lead in excess of that actually necessary to achieve good electrical and mechanical Connections.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention consists o~ a battery container with a terminal for making the terminal electrical connection with an end element of the battery through the side wall of the battery container, said battery container side wall having an exterior surface and an interior surface and said terminal molded therein, said terminal comprising; a unitary body, said unitary body having a forward ~ace associated with said exterior surface and a rearward portion associated with said interior surface for completing the electrical connection with said end element adjacent to said interior surface; said rearward portion further comprising a border portion substantially co-planar with said interior surface and a recessed portion, said recessed portion being recessed from said interior surface by approximately 0.015 inches, wherein the upstanding portion of the battery strap associated with said end element is placed against said interior surface and said upstanding portion is fused to said recessed portion.
A particular advantage o~ the present invention is that the battery elements which form the storage battery may be inserted in the container without any hindrance from the 115~49~
side terminal, thereby reducing the chance of damage to the plates and separators.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a battery case having a side terminal therein according to an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 2 is a sectional view o~ a side terminal prior to molding of the battery case.
Figure 3 is a sectional view of a terminal molded in the battery case and taken through the line 3~3 o~ Figure 1.
Figure 4 is an illustrative view of the terminal as shown in Figure 3 with a battery plate strap thereon showing the assembly of the battery plate elements in the case.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the drawin~s, wherein like numerals indicate like elements, the invention will be described in greater detail.
In Figure 1 there is shown a battery case 2, having side terminals 4, for making the electrical interconnection.
Note that the battery case 2 has a plurality of partitions 6 which provides the container 2 into six individual cells.
This will be recognized as a six cell, 12 volt battery container. The various configurations of the battery case 2, will be known to those skilled in the art and will not require further description herein.
Referring now to Figure 2, there is shown the battery terminal 4, which is comprised of a unitary lead body 10, and an insert 12. The termina~ 4 is symetric about the centerline c-c. The insert 12 is a stainless steel insert used for making mechanical connection between the terminal 4 and the electrical leads of the device for which the battery is to provide power. The insert 12 will be known to those in the art . ~
.~ , 115~4L9~
and does not require further explanation.
The unitary body 10 has a plurality of angular circum-ferencial rings 14, 16, 18 and 20 which define a plurality of voids 22j 24, and 26 therebetween. The purpose of the angular rings 14 through 20 and voids 22 through 26 is to provide a means for locking the terminal 4 in the battery case 2. When the plastic material of the battery case is introduced into the molding apparatus, the material will flow about the angular rings 14 through 20 and fi l the voids 22 through 26, thus securing the tèrminal 4 in the case 2. The forward face of terminal 4 has a large ring 30, surrounding a void 32. The void 32 provides access for the mechanical fastening means which is to be attached to insert 12. A radius 34 extends between the outer edge 36 of ring .. ..
30 and the forward edge 38 of circumferencial ring 14. A similar radius 40 extends from the inner èdge 42 of ring 30 to the upper fors~ard edge 44 of the insert 12. This structure will be known to those in the art and provides an exposed face to the terminal 4 which is similar to the side terminal batteries presently~known in the art.
~he rearward portion 50, of the terminal 4 extends slightly beyond the last circumferencial ring 20. This rearward portion 50 has a vertically disposed ring 52 on the rear portion thereof and surrounding a circular recess 54. Circular recess 54 is recessed below the plane defined by the ring 54 by approxi-mately .015.
Referring now to Figure 3, there is shown terminal 4 as molded in a battery case 60. The collar 62 has been molded about the terminal 4 and as can be seen from Figure 31 the thermal plastic material of the battery case has filled the voids defined between the circumferencial rings of the 4 and is in a ~ 279 115~491 sealing rela~ionship with the terminal 4. The side wall 64 of the battery case 60 appears as any other standard side wall in a side terminal battery container. Likewise the exterior surface of the side wall 64 appears as any standard exterior surface in this type of battery. However, the interior surface 66 of side wall 64, unlike prior art cases, is substantially planar~ The rearward portion 50 of the terminal 4 is disposed wholly within the thermal plastic material of the battery container 60 and does not extend beyond the plane defined by the interior surface~66. The depth of the circular recess 54 in the molded end terminal as shown in Figure 3 is less than the depth of the originally cast terminal as shown in Figure 2. ~his results from the use of the ring 52 às a crush sleeve in the molding apparatus. In the final embodiment as shown in Figure 3, the circular recess 54 will have a depth which is reduced by the amount of compression affected on the ring 52. Due to the force of the core in the molding apparatus the ring 52 is collapsed slightly. This collapsing of the ring 52 assures that a good seal is achieved between the terminal and the core and that the thermal plastic material forming the bat~ery case 60 will not extend beyond the-outer circumference of the terminal 4 and insulate the terminal. It will be understood that the amount of crush sleeve provided on ring 52 will be determined by the tolerances of the manufacturing process which produces the original terminal 54. As the tolerances are made more rigid the need for the crush sleeve may be reduced.
~15~491 Referring now to Figure 4, there is shown the terminal of Figure 3 with the addition of the strap 70. Battery strap 70 has a lowe portion 72 which is cast on or welded to the lugs of the battery plate element to the side terminal ~. The upstanding portion 74 is dimensioned to extend to approximately the center of circular recess 54 and to contact the ring 52. In operation, ~
the battery element with the plate strap 70 thereon is placed in the end cell o the battery container having the terminal 4 molded therein. The container is then tilted or laid to one side so that the technician may apply a heat source to the rear surface 76 of the upstanding portion 74. ~s the heat is applied to the rear surface 76 the lead portion 74 is fused to the terminal. Circular recess 54 is to provide a pooling place and heat sink for the material of the upstanding portion 74 and the terminal 4 to make good electrical and mechanical contact. Additionally as the terminal 4 is already in a liquid tight mechanical relationship with the container 60, the size of the upstanding portion 74 may-be reduced. Since the terminal of the instant invention provides for better sealing and location it is also possible to control the area of application of heat to the battery strap 70 and thereby reduce the damage done to the battery container during the fabrication process.
Additionally, as is known in the art, terminal 4 is gen-erally provided with an anti-rotation lock feature. In the instant invention, ihe anti-rotation lock may take the form of perpendicular slots cut around the circumference of the angular rings to permit plastic flow therein or may b~ projections or depressions formed with or within the base of the voids to interrupt the smooth circumference thereof.
-~ .,9 11~5491 Having fully disclosed my invention, it is realized that variations thereon may be made with~ut departing fr~m the spirit o~ my invention or the scope of the claims amended hereto..
Claims (3)
1. A battery container with a terminal for making the terminal electrical connection with an end element of the battery through the side wall of the battery container, said battery container side wall having an exterior surface and an interior surface and said terminal molded therein, said terminal comprising;
a unitary body, said unitary body having a forward face associated with said exterior surface and a rearward portion associated with said interior surface for completing the electrical connection with said end element adjacent to said interior surface;
said rearward portion further comprising a border portion substantially co-planar with said interior surface and a recessed portion, said recessed portion being recessed from said interior surface by approximately 0.015 inches;
wherein the upstanding portion of the battery strap associated with said end element is placed against said interior surface and said upstanding portion is fused to said recessed portion.
a unitary body, said unitary body having a forward face associated with said exterior surface and a rearward portion associated with said interior surface for completing the electrical connection with said end element adjacent to said interior surface;
said rearward portion further comprising a border portion substantially co-planar with said interior surface and a recessed portion, said recessed portion being recessed from said interior surface by approximately 0.015 inches;
wherein the upstanding portion of the battery strap associated with said end element is placed against said interior surface and said upstanding portion is fused to said recessed portion.
2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said unitary body further comprises circumferential lock means.
3. The invention of claim 2 wherein said circumfer-ential lock means comprises at least two circumferential rings.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US17412580A | 1980-07-31 | 1980-07-31 | |
| US174,125 | 1980-07-31 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1155491A true CA1155491A (en) | 1983-10-18 |
Family
ID=22634930
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000379347A Expired CA1155491A (en) | 1980-07-31 | 1981-06-09 | Side terminal battery case having a side terminal molded therein |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1155491A (en) |
-
1981
- 1981-06-09 CA CA000379347A patent/CA1155491A/en not_active Expired
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |