EP0615311A2 - Battery terminal - Google Patents
Battery terminal Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0615311A2 EP0615311A2 EP94103322A EP94103322A EP0615311A2 EP 0615311 A2 EP0615311 A2 EP 0615311A2 EP 94103322 A EP94103322 A EP 94103322A EP 94103322 A EP94103322 A EP 94103322A EP 0615311 A2 EP0615311 A2 EP 0615311A2
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- post
- battery
- arms
- battery terminal
- folded
- 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.)
- Granted
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Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R11/00—Individual connecting elements providing two or more spaced connecting locations for conductive members which are, or may be, thereby interconnected, e.g. end pieces for wires or cables supported by the wire or cable and having means for facilitating electrical connection to some other wire, terminal, or conductive member, blocks of binding posts
- H01R11/11—End pieces or tapping pieces for wires, supported by the wire and for facilitating electrical connection to some other wire, terminal or conductive member
- H01R11/28—End pieces consisting of a ferrule or sleeve
- H01R11/281—End pieces consisting of a ferrule or sleeve for connections to batteries
- H01R11/283—Bolt, screw or threaded ferrule parallel to the battery post
Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates to a battery terminal connected to the electrode (battery post) of a battery installed in a motor vehicle, and particularly to a battery terminal installed by means of tightening a bolt in a clamping member from vertically above.
- With a conventional battery terminal of this type, an annular post fitting is fit over the battery post protruding from the battery. The base members contiguous to the free ends of the post fitting are then clamped tight to the post via a bolt and nut tightened from the side using an impact wrench or other power tightening tool.
- In most late-model passenger vehicles, however, the engine room is extremely crowded as a growing number of components are installed in a confined space. This makes it difficult to adequately tighten the post fitting by applying a horizontal force because of interference from other engine room components with the tightening tools. It is even possible for the impact wrench to contact the negative terminal while tightening the positive post fitting, causing an electrical short which, in a worst-case scenario, could cause an engine room fire.
- The battery terminal shown in Figs. 5a and 5b has therefore been proposed (Utility Model Publication (examined) 4-9736) as a means of solving this problem. With this battery terminal, opposing
base 3b and tighteningmembers 3c forming a taper that is wider at the bottom than at the top are formed as part of theterminal body 3. Aclamping member 5, forming a similar taper that is wider at the bottom than at the top, fits over and is then pulled down over thebase 3b and tighteningmembers 3c by tightening abolt 4. This causes the post fitting 3a to close and clamp thepost 2 of thebattery 1. - The problem with this configuration, however, is that on the automobile assembly line many bolts are tightened as the assembly line keeps moving, and the torque of the impact wrench is not readjusted for each tightening task. As a result, bolt tightening using an impact wrench is dependent upon the experience of the operator and visual inspection of bolt tightness.
- Torque control is also not generally used when tightening the battery terminal bolts. As a result, the terminal bolt may be overtightened due to continued tightening after the post fitting is sufficiently clamped to the battery post.
- With the battery terminal described above, excessive tightening force can cause the battery terminal to turn in the direction of arrow X in Fig. 5a around the
battery post 2. This can result in damage to the wires connected to the battery terminal. - Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a battery terminal which when tightened to the battery post by means of a bolt using an impact wrench of which the torque is unregulated will not turn on the battery post even when additional torque is applied by the impact wrench after the battery terminal is tightened sufficiently to the battery post.
- To achieve this object, a battery terminal for tightly clamping a battery annular post, according to the present invention comprises: a fold element having top and bottom ring-shaped post fitting members, said ring-shaped post fitting members formed with an annular post fitting opening which is opened towards the folded end for defining two folded arms, said two folded arms having tapered walls; a clamping member having tapered sides; an urging means for urging said two folded arms into said clamping member for sliding said tapered walls along said tapered sides to close said two folded arms; and notches having pointed tips projecting from the inside circumference surface of at least one of said ring-shaped post fitting members for biting into the outside circumference surface of the battery post.
- The urging means is formed by a nut held in a space between said two folded arms and a bolt engaged to the clamping member and threaded to said nut for sliding said tapered walls along said tapered sides to close said two folded arms.
- Note that the notches formed on the inside circumference surface of the post fitting may be formed as a series of teeth that are wave-shaped in cross section and continuous in the circumferential direction. Said notches may also be formed discontinuously spaced in the circumferential direction.
- When the bolt is tightened using an impact wrench or other power tightening tool with a battery terminal thus described, the tips of the notches bite into the outside circumference surface of the battery post to prevent rotation of the battery terminal. As a result, when excessive torque is applied using an impact wrench for which the torque output is not specifically controlled, the battery terminal will not turn on the battery post.
- In addition, because the tips of the notches bite into the battery post, positive contact between the battery post and battery terminal can be assured, and poor electrical contact does not occur.
- Furthermore, even when the tightening force holding the battery terminal to the battery post is weak, sufficient electrical contact can be obtained by means of the notches.
- The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given below and the accompanying diagrams wherein:
- Fig. 1 is an exploded view of a battery terminal according to the present invention,
- Figs. 2a and 2b are diagrams showing the bolt tightening operation using appropriate tools,
- Figs. 3a and 3b are diagrams showing the closing operation of side walls as the bolt is tightened,
- Fig. 4 is a simplified top plan view showing the battery terminal clamped to the battery post, and
- Figs. 5a and 5b are diagrams showing an example of the prior art.
- The preferred embodiment of a battery terminal according to the present invention is described below with reference to the accompanying figures.
- As shown in Fig. 1, the
battery terminal 10 of the present invention comprisesterminal body 11,clamping member 12,bolt 14,nut 15, andring 16. - The
terminal body 11 is a stud bolt type terminal, and is manufactured by shaping and bending a single metal piece in two as shown in the figure. Astud bolt 18 is provided in thewire connector 17 at one end of the battery terminal. The terminal (not shown in the figures) crimped to an electrical wire is placed over and clamped to thestud bolt 18 using a nut (not shown in the figures). - Note that the
terminal body 11 may alternatively be a crimped-barrel terminal whereby a barrel integrally formed to the electrical wire connector is crimped to secure and connect the electrical wire to the terminal. - The
terminal body 11 forms thewire connector 17, post fitting 20, and clampingend 21 by bending top and bottom parts, which are basically identical in shape, around a bending member at one end such that the top part vertically opposes the bottom part. - More specifically, both top and bottom parts have at one end a rectangularly
shaped wire connector cylindrical member 20A-1 or 20B-1 stands around the inside circumference edge of thepost fittings -
Notches 20A-2, 20B-2 having a wave-shaped cross section are formed continuously around the inside circumference surfaces of thecylindrical members 20A-1, 20B-1. Thetips 20A-3, 20B-3 of the projecting ends of each of thenotches 20A-2, 20B-2 project in an acute point to the inside of thepost fittings - The end opposite the electrical wire connector side of the
post fittings Clamping ends side clamping ends side clamping ends 21A' and 21B' are respectively linked by bendingmembers left clamping ends -
Slide members 21A-1 and 21A'-1 sloping down to the outside are provided at the outside edges of thetop clamping ends Slide members 21B-1 and (21B'-1 not shown in the figures) sloping up to the inside are provided at the outside edges of thebottom clamping ends - The
clamping member 12 is a C-shaped member comprising a top 12a and twosides bolt hole 24 is provided at the center of the top 12a. - As shown in the figures,
side walls sides faces side walls taper faces 26ashoulders - As shown in Fig. 3a, the clamping
member 12 is assembled to the battery terminal with the taper faces26a ...... 27b' contacting and sliding freely along theslide members 21A-1 ...... 21B'-1 of the clampingend 21. Anut 15 is housed in the space S in the clampingend 21, and thebolt 14 is threaded partially into thenut 15 through thebolt hole 24 of the clampingmember 12. - Note that a ring 16 (not shown in Figs. 3a and 3b, but only shown in Fig. 1) is fit to the top of the
shank 14b of thebolt 14. Thisring 16 causes the clampingmember 12 to rise as thebolt 14 is loosened. - With the
bolt 14 loosely threaded into thenut 15, a space S remains between the clamping ends 21A, 21A' and 21B, 21B' on both sides, and the free-end sides of thepost fittings 21A ...... 21B' are fully open. - The
battery terminal 10 is mounted to thebattery post 2 by fitting thepost fittings post fittings - The
head 14a of thebolt 14 is then turned and tightened into thenut 15 using a power tightening tool such as an impact wrench R (Fig. 2a) or manually using an open-end wrench R' (Fig. 2b) or other wrench. - As shown in Fig. 3b, as the
bolt 14 is tightened downward, the clampingmember 12 also moves down and the taper faces26a ...... 27b' of theside walls slide members 21A-1 ...... 21B'-1 projecting to the outside from the right and left clamping ends21A ...... 21B' horizontally to the inside. As a result, the right and left clamping ends21A ...... 21B' move horizontally closer together, and the free ends of thepost fittings 21A ...... 21B' close. - As the free ends of the
post fittings post fittings post 2. - This causes the
tips 20A-3, 20B-3 projecting at an acute angle from thenotches 20A-2, 20B-2 on the inside circumference surface of thepost fittings post 2. As the post fitting is further tightened by the bolt, thetips 20A-3, 20B-3 bite into the outside circumference surface of thepost 2 as shown in Fig. 4. - When the
tips 20A-3, 20B-3 of thenotches 20A-2, 20B-2 on the inside circumference surface of thepost fittings post 2, rotation of thebattery terminal 10 is effectively stopped. As a result, thebattery terminal 10 will not turn on the battery post even when thebolt 14 is overtightened, and thebattery terminal 10 is effectively held clamped to the battery post. - As will be obvious from the above description, once a battery terminal according to the present invention is firmly clamped to the battery post by tightening a bolt using an impact wrench or other tightening tool, the post fitting of the battery terminal is clamped in a manner preventing the post fitting from turning on the battery post.
- As a result, when an impact wrench of which the torque is not controlled is used on the assembly line to clamp the battery terminal to the battery post and excessive tightening force is applied thereby, the battery terminal is prevented from turning on the battery post.
- A reliable electrical connection between the battery terminal and battery post can also be assured with a battery terminal according to the present invention because the battery terminal is clamped to the battery post with the tips of the notches of the post fitting biting into the outside circumference surface of the battery post.
- Even when the bolt tightening force is weak, sufficient electrical contact can be assured because of the projecting tips of the notches provided on the inside circumference surface of the post fitting.
- The productivity of the battery terminal installation task can thus be improved because special attention is not required to prevent overtightening of the bolt or contact problems caused by insufficient bolt tightening. The battery terminal of the invention also helps prevent damage to components resulting from inexperience tightening the battery terminal.
- The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.
Claims (6)
- A battery terminal for tightly clamping a cylindrical battery post (2), comprising:
a terminal body (11) formed with a post fitting opening which is open towards one end of the terminal body for defining two arms (21A, 21B and 21A', 21B'), said arms having tapered walls (21A-1, 21B-1, 21A'-1, 21B'-1);
a clamping member (12) having tapered sides (26a, 26b, 27a, 27b, 26a', 26b', 27a', 27b'); and
urging means (14, 15) for urging said two arms into said clamping member for sliding said tapered walls along said tapered sides to close said two arms, characterized in that
said terminal body (11) comprises a folded element (20) having top and bottom ring shaped post fitting members (20A, 20B) defining said post fitting opening which is opened towards the folded end of said folded element, so that said arms are formed as folded arms (21A, 21B and 21A', 21B'); and in that at least one of said ring-shaped post fitting members (20A, 20B) is formed with notches (20A-2) having pointed tips projecting from the inside circumferential surface of said post fitting member for biting into the outside circumferential surface of the battery post (2) - A battery terminal according to claim 1, wherein said urging means comprise a nut (15) held in a space between said two folded arms, and a bolt (14) engaged in said clamping member (12) and threaded into said nut (15).
- A battery terminal according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said notches (20A-2) are formed as a series of projections that are wave-shaped in cross section and continuous in the circumferential direction.
- A battery terminal as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein said clamping member (12) is a C-shaped member comprising a top (12a) and two sides (12b, 12c), said top (12a) being engaged by a member (14) of said urging means, said tapered sides (26a, 26b, 27a, 27b, 26a', 26b', 27a', 27b') being formed in recesses in the middle portions of said sides (12b, 12c).
- A battery terminal according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each of said folded arms is provided with two tapered walls of which one (21A-1, 21A'-1) is formed on the top portion (21A, 21A') of the folded arm and the other one (21B-1, 21B'-1) is formed on the bottom portion (21B, 21B') of the folded arm, and said clamping member (12) has first tapered sides (26a, 27a, 26a', 26b') formed in a top portion thereof and second tapered sides (26b, 27b, 26b', 27b') formed in a bottom portion.
- A battery terminal according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said two folded arms (21A, 21B and 21A', 21B') are formed on a side of said ring-shaped post fitting members (20A, 20B) opposite to a wire connector portion (17) of the terminal body, and said clamping member (12) is adapted to be slid onto said folded arms from the free end thereof.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP59836/93U | 1993-03-09 | ||
JP5-59836U JPH0730577U (en) | 1993-11-08 | Power generator |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0615311A2 true EP0615311A2 (en) | 1994-09-14 |
EP0615311A3 EP0615311A3 (en) | 1995-05-24 |
EP0615311B1 EP0615311B1 (en) | 1997-10-29 |
Family
ID=13124714
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP19940103322 Expired - Lifetime EP0615311B1 (en) | 1993-03-09 | 1994-03-04 | Battery terminal |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0615311B1 (en) |
DE (1) | DE69406480T2 (en) |
Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE19602671A1 (en) * | 1996-01-25 | 1997-07-31 | Amp Gmbh | Arrangement for contacting a conical contact |
EP1675221A1 (en) * | 2004-12-21 | 2006-06-28 | Delphi Technologies, Inc. | Axially actuated battery terminal post clamp |
CN101908606A (en) * | 2010-07-29 | 2010-12-08 | 长城汽车股份有限公司 | Quick coupler for booster cable |
EP2061119A3 (en) * | 2007-11-17 | 2011-08-24 | Amphenol-Tuchel Electronics GmbH | Contact element and procedure for manufacturing |
Citations (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US1746514A (en) * | 1927-05-20 | 1930-02-11 | Baunach August | Battery terminal |
FR1140044A (en) * | 1956-01-06 | 1957-07-09 | Insulfatable battery terminal | |
EP0069803A2 (en) * | 1981-07-10 | 1983-01-19 | Karl Pfisterer Elektrotechnische Spezialartikel GmbH & Co. KG | Battery clamp |
US4747793A (en) * | 1985-11-15 | 1988-05-31 | Yazaki Corporation | Battery terminal connector |
JPH049736Y2 (en) * | 1985-07-08 | 1992-03-11 | ||
WO1992011667A1 (en) * | 1990-12-21 | 1992-07-09 | United Technologies Automotive, Inc. | Battery terminal connector |
GB2268340A (en) * | 1992-06-09 | 1994-01-05 | Sumitomo Wall Systems Ltd | Battery terminal |
-
1994
- 1994-03-04 DE DE1994606480 patent/DE69406480T2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1994-03-04 EP EP19940103322 patent/EP0615311B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US1746514A (en) * | 1927-05-20 | 1930-02-11 | Baunach August | Battery terminal |
FR1140044A (en) * | 1956-01-06 | 1957-07-09 | Insulfatable battery terminal | |
EP0069803A2 (en) * | 1981-07-10 | 1983-01-19 | Karl Pfisterer Elektrotechnische Spezialartikel GmbH & Co. KG | Battery clamp |
JPH049736Y2 (en) * | 1985-07-08 | 1992-03-11 | ||
US4747793A (en) * | 1985-11-15 | 1988-05-31 | Yazaki Corporation | Battery terminal connector |
WO1992011667A1 (en) * | 1990-12-21 | 1992-07-09 | United Technologies Automotive, Inc. | Battery terminal connector |
GB2268340A (en) * | 1992-06-09 | 1994-01-05 | Sumitomo Wall Systems Ltd | Battery terminal |
Cited By (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE19602671A1 (en) * | 1996-01-25 | 1997-07-31 | Amp Gmbh | Arrangement for contacting a conical contact |
EP0786829A3 (en) * | 1996-01-25 | 1998-09-09 | The Whitaker Corporation | Contact device for a tapered contact |
US5897403A (en) * | 1996-01-25 | 1999-04-27 | The Whitaker Corporation | Apparatus for making contact with a conical contact |
EP1675221A1 (en) * | 2004-12-21 | 2006-06-28 | Delphi Technologies, Inc. | Axially actuated battery terminal post clamp |
US7166001B2 (en) | 2004-12-21 | 2007-01-23 | Delphi Technologies, Inc. | Axially actuated battery terminal post clamp |
EP2061119A3 (en) * | 2007-11-17 | 2011-08-24 | Amphenol-Tuchel Electronics GmbH | Contact element and procedure for manufacturing |
CN101908606A (en) * | 2010-07-29 | 2010-12-08 | 长城汽车股份有限公司 | Quick coupler for booster cable |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP0615311B1 (en) | 1997-10-29 |
EP0615311A3 (en) | 1995-05-24 |
DE69406480D1 (en) | 1997-12-04 |
DE69406480T2 (en) | 1998-05-28 |
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