CA1281070C - Interconnector device - Google Patents

Interconnector device

Info

Publication number
CA1281070C
CA1281070C CA000541066A CA541066A CA1281070C CA 1281070 C CA1281070 C CA 1281070C CA 000541066 A CA000541066 A CA 000541066A CA 541066 A CA541066 A CA 541066A CA 1281070 C CA1281070 C CA 1281070C
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
battery
pair
wafer
leclanche
locations
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 - Lifetime
Application number
CA000541066A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
John A. Christopulos
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.)
United States Department of the Army
Original Assignee
United States Department of the Army
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 United States Department of the Army filed Critical United States Department of the Army
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA1281070C publication Critical patent/CA1281070C/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01RELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R31/00Coupling parts supported only by co-operation with counterpart
    • H01R31/06Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter
    • 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
    • H01M50/20Mountings; Secondary casings or frames; Racks, modules or packs; Suspension devices; Shock absorbers; Transport or carrying devices; Holders
    • H01M50/202Casings or frames around the primary casing of a single cell or a single battery
    • 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
    • H01M50/20Mountings; Secondary casings or frames; Racks, modules or packs; Suspension devices; Shock absorbers; Transport or carrying devices; Holders
    • H01M50/253Mountings; Secondary casings or frames; Racks, modules or packs; Suspension devices; Shock absorbers; Transport or carrying devices; Holders adapted for specific cells, e.g. electrochemical cells operating at high temperature
    • 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
    • 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)
  • Battery Mounting, Suspending (AREA)

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
An interconnector device permits a lithium-sulfur-dioxide battery (e.g., the BA5847/U) to be substituted for a standard Leclanche battery (e.g., BA200/U). The lithium-type battery can therefore be used in its customary manner or, with the interconnector, as a substitute for the Leclanche battery; battery proliferation is thereby reduced. The interconnector comprises a rectangular wafer of plastic material with a pair of prongs mounted on one flat surface of the wafer and at a location which corresponds to that of female sockets of the lithium-type battery.
A pair of coil spring connectors are mounted on the opposite flat surface of the wafer and at locations which correspond to the locations of the coil spring connectors of the Leclanche battery.
The prongs and coil spring connectors of the interconnector are electrically interconnected in parallel.

Description

~LY~8~1[370 The present invention relates in general to batteries and, more particularly, to a battery interconnector device which can be utilized to reduce battery proliferation.
The military makes extensive use of the standard Leclanche (~inc-marlganese-dioxide) BA200/U battery, made by Union Carbide and others. This is a 6 volt, non-rechargeable battery which is used to provide the power for test meters (e.g., ohm-meters), radio receivers, etc. For most purposes this battery has heretofore proven to be quite satisfactory. However, it is not without some shortcomings. For example, it has temperature range restrictions (i.e~, 0 - 125F); a current capability restriction (approximately 0.150 amperes); and, a limited battery storage life (< 2 years)~
A lithium-sulfur-dioxide battery similar in outward ; appearance in all respects to the BA200/U can, of course, be made for field conditions, equipment requirements, and other situations where operative temperature range, current capacity and shelf storage life are important considerations. A lithium-sulfur-dioxide batter (e.g., ~A5847/U) will provide operational capability to electronic equipment(s) at temperatures ranging from -65~F to 160F, with a battery storage life at ambient conditions of five or more years. Also, the current capacity of the latter battery is substantial (e.g., 2 amperes).
To make an outwardly similar lithium-sulfur-dioxide battery as a substitute for the standard Leclanche ~A200/U, for those situations that demand such a substitution, would result in undue proliferationO

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7~3 The BA5~47/U is a readily available lithium sulfur-~ioxide (6 volt) battery produced by Power Conversion Inc. and others. Unfortunately, the BA5847/U is different in outward appearance ~e~g., connector location and connector configuration or typa) from the Leclanche BA200/U and herlce cannot be readily substituted for the latter.
It is a primary object of the present invention to reduce (battery) proliferation~
The above and other objects are achieved in accordance with the present invention by the use of an interconnector device which permits a more versatile battery (e.g., the BA58~7/U) to be substituted for another and different battery (e.g~ the BA200/U).
Thus ~he aforesaid versatile battery can be utilized in its customary manner or as a substitute for the other battery. More specifically, the interconnector device comprises a flat wafer of plastic material of predetermined size and configuration. A pair of connecting elements (e.g., prongs) are disposed on one flat ~ surface of the wafer and at a location which corresponds to the ; location of the connecting elements (e.g., female sockets) of the aforesaid versatile battery~ A second pair of connecting elements are disposed on the opposite flat surface of the wafer. The connecting elements of this second pair have a configuration the same as the connecting elements of the other battery and they are positioned at locations which correspond to the locations of the elements of the latter battery. The two pairs of connecting elements mounted on opposite surfaces of the wafer are interconnected in parallel.

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~ ' , The invention will be more fully appreciated from the following detailed description when the same is considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:
Figs. lA and lB are elevation and top views of a prior art battery, FigsO 2A and 2B are elevation and top views of another prior art battery:
FigO 3A is a perspective view of an interconnector device in accordance with the present invention; and Fig8. 3B and 3C are two end views of the interconnector device of Fig. 3A.

Turning now to Figs. lA and lB of the drawings, there is ~hown a Leclanche BA200/U ba~tery 11. This is a 6 volt non- -rechargeable battery, with a current capability of about 0.15 amperes. As previously notedr this is a commercially available it~m. The BA200/U battery is 2 and 5/8 inches by 2 and 5/8 inches, with a height of about 3 and 27/32 inches. The battery connector(s) comprises a pair of coil springs 12, which extend approximately 9/16 of an inch above the top or upper surface of the battery. The electronic equipment (not shown) to be powered by the BA200/U battery will comprise a pair of terminals that are pressed against, and thereby depress, the coil springs 12 so as to establish electrical contact. One coil spring is centrally located on the battery and the other is off-center by approximately one inch (+ 1/16 of an inch).

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, 7~9 Figs. 2A and 2B show a BA5847/U battery 21. This is a li~hium-sulfur-dioxide battery having the advantageous characteristics previously set forth. This also is a 6 volt non-rechargeable ba~tery, but it has increased current capacity (2.0 amperes) and is approximately one-third the weight of the BA200/U
battery~ The sA5847/U is also a commercially available item. The BA5847/U battery is 1.500 inches by 2.550 inches, with a height of about 3.750 inches. For present purposes, the respective heights of the two batteries is unimportant. As will be noted in Fig. 2B, the connector (female sockets or h~les 22) is positioned off-centerO The designation of this connector is "MIL-B-18D(2-hole) type IV", this designation is a standard and is well known to those skilled in this art. Now while the BA5847/U battery could readily fit into the close-fitting compartment or well which ~- typically receives the BA200/U battery, the BA5847/U cannot be substituted for the latter battery because of their very different connectors and the different locations of the same.
For clearance purposes, a small rectangular, slightly recessed, section 23 surrounds the connector sockets 22. This slight recess is unimportant for present purposes and can be disregarded.
Noting the dimensions of the previously discussed exemplary batteries and particularly the different configurations and locations of their respective connectors, it is the primary principle of the present invention to provide an interconnection device which will allow a given battery (e.g., the BA5847/U ~o be used as a subseitute for another and different battery (e.g., the :~ ' o~
BA200/U). Such a device will serve to achieve the above-stated object of reducing battery proliferation. More particularly, the BA5847/U can be used in its usual manner or, with the aid o~ an interconnector device in accordance with the invention, it can be used as a substitute for the BA200/U battery.
Turning now ~ore specifically to Figs. 3A-3C of the drawings, the interconnector device shown ~herein comprises a flat rectangular piece 31 of phenolic-type molding material. This piece or wafer of plastic is approximately 2 and 5/8 inches by 2 and 5/8 inches, with a thickness of about 0~125 of an inch. A
pair of connecting elements or prongs 32 are mounted on one flat surface (i~eO, the underside) of the wafer 31~ The prongs 32 are disposed a~ a location which corresponds to the location of the connecting elements or female ~ockets 22 of the BA5847/U ba~tery shown in Figs. 2A-B. When the interconnector device is mounted on the BA5847/U battery the prongs 32 are received into the sockets 22.
A second pair of connecting elemen~s in the form of coil springs 33 are disposed on the opposite flat surface (i.e., the upper side) of the square wafer 31. These coil springs are like the coil springs 12 of the BA200/U battery shown in Figs. lA-B;
furthermore, they are positioned on the wafer 31 at locations which correspond to the locations of the coil springs of the latter battery. Accordingly, when the BA5847/U battery with the mounted interconnector device is substituted for the BA200/U
battery, the pair of terminals of the user equipmen~ will pressure engage the coil springs 33 in much the same way as these terminals ~' i - 5 -,. ~, ,, .

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presc against and thereby engage the coil spring.s 12 of the BA200/U ba~tery. The pressure engagement, of course, establishes electrical contact.
The pair of connectors 32 and 33 are electrically interconnected in parallel, as suggested by the dotted lines 35 of Fig. 3A. This is readily accomplished during manufacture of the interconnector by plating two thin electrical stripes on the underside of the wafer 31 between the respective connecting elements. The coil springs 33 must, of course, extend through the wafer 31 to the underside surface.
~ The battery 21 with the mounted interconnector device of - Fig. 3A can be readily accommodated by the equipment compartment or well which normally receives the BA200/~ battery. Moreover, since the interconnector device has the same (cross-sectional) dimensions (2 and 5/8 inches by 2 and 5/8 inches) as the battery 11, the interconnector also serves as a guide and sacuring block for the BA5847/U battery within the confines of the battery ~;; compartment of the user equipment.
While specific batteries have been cited for disclosure purposes, it should be clear to those in the art that the principles of the invention have wider applicability. It is to be -; understood, therefore, that the foregoing disclosure relates to only a particular embodiment of the invention, and a specific use thereof, and that numerous modifications or alterations may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention~
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Claims (2)

1. An interconnector device that allows a lithium-type battery to be substituted for a Leclanche buttery, said Leclanche battery being of predetermined dimensions and having a Pair of coil spring connection terminals at predetermined locations on the top surface thereof, said lithium battery being of different predetermined dimensions than said Leclanche battery and having a pair of female connection sockets positioned at a predetermined off-center location on the top surface thereof, the locations of said coil spring terminals and said connection sockets of the respective batteries being at substantially different non-matching positions, comprising a thin flat wafer of non-conductive material of predetermined size and configuration, said wafer having the same cross-section dimensions as said Leclanche battery, a pair of prongs on the underside surface of said wafer and at locations which correspond to the locations of the female connection sockets of said lithium battery, the prongs being received into said female connection sockets when the interconnector device is mounted on said lithium battery, a pair of coil spring connection terminals mounted on the opposite or top surface of said wafer and having a configuration which matches that of the connection terminals of said Leclanche battery and being positioned at locations which correspond to the locations of the coil spring connection terminals of the Leclanche battery, and a pair of electrical conductors plated on the underside surface of said wafer for respectively interconnecting the Pair of prongs and the Pair of coil spring connection terminals in parallel.
2. An interconnector device as defined in claim 1, wherein said Leclanche battery is typically received into a tight-fitting compartment or well, said lithium battery having dimensions that permit the same to also be received into said tight-fitting compartment, the mounted interconnector device serving as a guide and securing block for said lithium battery within the confines of said compartment, said wafer having a thickness of substantially 0.125 of an inch.
CA000541066A 1986-09-17 1987-06-30 Interconnector device Expired - Lifetime CA1281070C (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US909,364 1986-09-17
US06/909,364 US4678728A (en) 1986-09-17 1986-09-17 Interconnector device

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA1281070C true CA1281070C (en) 1991-03-05

Family

ID=25427113

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA000541066A Expired - Lifetime CA1281070C (en) 1986-09-17 1987-06-30 Interconnector device

Country Status (2)

Country Link
US (1) US4678728A (en)
CA (1) CA1281070C (en)

Families Citing this family (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5816847A (en) * 1996-09-13 1998-10-06 Ericsson Inc. Insert molded battery contacts and method
US5874181A (en) * 1997-11-21 1999-02-23 Tam; Clement Pui-Yin Battery container
USD455711S1 (en) 2001-05-29 2002-04-16 Sage Electronics And Technology, Inc. Lantern battery housing with three terminal posts
USD456003S1 (en) 2001-05-29 2002-04-23 Sage Electronics And Technology, Inc. Lantern battery housing with three springs
EP2348561A1 (en) * 2010-01-23 2011-07-27 Braun GmbH Battery contact spring
DE102011007319A1 (en) * 2011-04-13 2012-10-18 Robert Bosch Gmbh Storage unit for storing electrical energy
USD698723S1 (en) * 2012-04-24 2014-02-04 WebTuner, Corp. Television adapter with front mounted video and audio outputs, telephone and ethernet ports, and multiple power outlets

Family Cites Families (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1934498A (en) * 1929-05-18 1933-11-07 Gen Electric Adapter unit
US2225460A (en) * 1936-02-04 1940-12-17 Burgess Battery Co Battery
US4125681A (en) * 1976-11-03 1978-11-14 The Gates Rubber Company Rechargeable battery enclosure
US4084037A (en) * 1977-04-01 1978-04-11 American Optical Corporation Constant polarity battery-connection system
US4229686A (en) * 1978-02-13 1980-10-21 General Electric Company Battery charger adapter system
US4213079A (en) * 1978-02-13 1980-07-15 General Electric Company Battery charger adapter
US4211968A (en) * 1978-02-16 1980-07-08 General Electric Company Battery charger adapter
US4250443A (en) * 1978-12-22 1981-02-10 General Electric Company Battery charger adapter including snap type assembly means

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US4678728A (en) 1987-07-07

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