EP1909360A1 - Current collector terminal in electric batteries - Google Patents

Current collector terminal in electric batteries Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1909360A1
EP1909360A1 EP07380095A EP07380095A EP1909360A1 EP 1909360 A1 EP1909360 A1 EP 1909360A1 EP 07380095 A EP07380095 A EP 07380095A EP 07380095 A EP07380095 A EP 07380095A EP 1909360 A1 EP1909360 A1 EP 1909360A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
hole
battery
post
screw
ball
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
Application number
EP07380095A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1909360B1 (en
Inventor
Jose Juan Sanchez Moratalla
Thomas Kurz
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.)
SEAT SA
Original Assignee
SEAT SA
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 SEAT SA filed Critical SEAT SA
Publication of EP1909360A1 publication Critical patent/EP1909360A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1909360B1 publication Critical patent/EP1909360B1/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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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
    • H01R4/00—Electrically-conductive connections between two or more conductive members in direct contact, i.e. touching one another; Means for effecting or maintaining such contact; Electrically-conductive connections having two or more spaced connecting locations for conductors and using contact members penetrating insulation
    • H01R4/28—Clamped connections, spring connections
    • H01R4/50—Clamped connections, spring connections utilising a cam, wedge, cone or ball also combined with a screw
    • H01R4/5058—Clamped connections, spring connections utilising a cam, wedge, cone or ball also combined with a screw using a ball
    • 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
    • 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
    • H01R11/285—Battery post and cable secured by the same locking means
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R4/00—Electrically-conductive connections between two or more conductive members in direct contact, i.e. touching one another; Means for effecting or maintaining such contact; Electrically-conductive connections having two or more spaced connecting locations for conductors and using contact members penetrating insulation
    • H01R4/28—Clamped connections, spring connections
    • H01R4/50—Clamped connections, spring connections utilising a cam, wedge, cone or ball also combined with a screw
    • H01R4/52—Clamped connections, spring connections utilising a cam, wedge, cone or ball also combined with a screw which is spring loaded

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a terminal which has been especially designed to carry out the connection or current collector of an electric battery, especially a battery installed in an automotive vehicle.
  • the object of the invention is to obtain a fast and effective connection system between the vehicle wiring and the posts of the battery, ensuring an ideal electrical connection and an also ideal mechanical fixing, which remain unchanged over time, as well as a very easy and fast assembly without specific fixing tools.
  • the invention is therefore comprised in the field of the industry dedicated to the manufacture of automotive vehicles, also including the industry dedicated to the manufacture of electric components for automobiles.
  • connection terminals for connecting the vehicle wiring to the posts of the battery have evolved very little over time, the use of a metal clamp and a screw for each post of the battery being maintained for some time, which clamp is usually tightened by means of a fixing tool.
  • connection system In addition to specific tools, this connection system requires a certain installation time.
  • the terminal proposed by the invention solves in a fully satisfactory manner the drawbacks explained above in relation to the different aspects discussed.
  • said terminal is carried out in a solid metal base body provided with a central hole for coupling to the corresponding post of the battery, this hole being slightly frustoconical or diverging from the front face of the body to the rear face so as to facilitate its coupling to the post.
  • a side hole having a slightly angled inner mouth opens towards this wide central hole, in which side hole there is a small ball pressed against by a spring supported on a regulating screw threaded in the side hole, such that said ball tends to penetrate into the central hole and, accordingly, radially act on the post when the base body is assembled thereon.
  • This side hole is crossed with a threaded front hole, which is preferably blind at its rear face, in which there is a screw having a conical front, the conical end of which acts by way of a came laterally acting on the ball, pressing it strongly towards the inside of the central hole, i.e. towards the post of the battery.
  • said screw is oversized in length in relation to the hole it is located in, a substantial part thereof projecting and on which a bracket acting by way of a locknut is located.
  • the base body incorporates, preferably in its area opposite to the area of the fixing mechanisms for fixing the base body to the post of the battery, a through hole having a suitable diameter so as to allow access to its inside for the cable or group of cables which must be connected to the corresponding post of the battery, which through hole is crossed with two other threaded front holes, one of which is intended to house a set-screw for fixing the cable or cables, whereas the other one is intended to be used eventually, allowing the entrance of any system for checking the state of the battery.
  • the terminal proposed by the invention reduces the time needed for its assembly on the post of the battery, in the assembly line and when carrying out tests on the vehicle in which it is necessary to constantly assemble and disassemble the posts of the battery, a simple screwdriver being sufficient for doing so.
  • the terminal described is formed from an approximately rectangular prismatic base body (1), having a wide central hole (2) having a diameter in accordance with the diameter of the post (3) of the battery (4) it is intended for, but with the particularity that it is slightly divergent towards its inner face, i.e. it adopts a slightly frustoconical configuration so as to facilitate its coupling on the post (3).
  • a considerably smaller side hole (5) opens radially towards the hole (2), the inner mouth of the side hole, the mouth of the opening towards the hole (2), being slightly narrowed and having a section close to its other threaded end, a ball (6) being housed inside this hole (5) which is able to partially penetrate the hole (2) pressed against by a spring (7) externally supported on a screw (8) threaded in the corresponding section of the hole (5).
  • the spring (7) makes the ball (6) be supported on the post (3) of the battery when the terminal is coupled to said post, but the force for the mechanical fixing of the base body (1) to the post is carried out with the aid of a screw (9) having a conical front (10) located in a front threaded hole (11) of the base body (1), which opens towards the hole (5) in which the ball (6) is located, laterally acting on the latter and forcing it, along the inclined plane of its conical front (10), to penetrate the central hole (2) and to strongly press against the post (3), thus mechanically fixing the post and base body (1).
  • the mentioned screw (9) having a conical tip (10) incorporates opposite to said tip a diametrical groove (12) for tightening it with a screwdriver, and furthermore the length of said screw is such that part of it is outside the base body (1) in a tightened situation, receiving a bracket (13) acting as a locknut so as to prevent the loosening of the screw (1) and, accordingly, the loosening in the tightness of the ball (6) against the post (3).
  • transverse through hole (14) Located on the opposite side of the base body (1) there is a transverse through hole (14) having a suitable diameter so as to allow the passage therethrough of the cable or group of cables to connect to the post (3), which cables are fixed with the aid of a set-screw (15) threaded in a hole (16) perpendicular to the hole (14) and opening towards the latter.
  • a second threaded hole (17) similar and close to the previous hole (15) allows the entrance of any element for checking the state of the battery.

Landscapes

  • Connection Of Batteries Or Terminals (AREA)

Abstract

The invention relates to a current collector terminal in electric batteries for the connection of the cables in an automobile to the terminals of the corresponding battery. The terminal is formed from a solid metal base body having a general rectangular prismatic configuration, having a wide central hole dimensionally suitable for its coupling to the corresponding post of the battery, a side hole having a considerably smaller diameter, with a slightly narrowed inner mouth and a threaded outer mouth, opening towards said central hole, in which side hole there is a ball, a spring tending to project said ball towards the inside of the central hole, and an outer screw regulating the tension of the spring. A front threaded hole opens towards this side hole, in which front hole there is in turn a screw having a conical front laterally acting on the ball pressing it against the post of the battery when the former is housed in the central hole of the base body, to which post the cables of the vehicle are suitably fixed.

Description

    OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
  • The present invention relates to a terminal which has been especially designed to carry out the connection or current collector of an electric battery, especially a battery installed in an automotive vehicle.
  • The object of the invention is to obtain a fast and effective connection system between the vehicle wiring and the posts of the battery, ensuring an ideal electrical connection and an also ideal mechanical fixing, which remain unchanged over time, as well as a very easy and fast assembly without specific fixing tools.
  • The invention is therefore comprised in the field of the industry dedicated to the manufacture of automotive vehicles, also including the industry dedicated to the manufacture of electric components for automobiles.
    • BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
  • As is know, in the automotive field the connection terminals for connecting the vehicle wiring to the posts of the battery have evolved very little over time, the use of a metal clamp and a screw for each post of the battery being maintained for some time, which clamp is usually tightened by means of a fixing tool.
  • In addition to specific tools, this connection system requires a certain installation time.
  • Furthermore, over time this connection of the clamp to the post of the battery loosens with the vibrations derived from the operation of the engine, being a problem for the user who is forced to periodically check the posts of the battery, frequently having to tighten the mentioned clamps so as to ensure the proper operation of the battery.
    • DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
  • The terminal proposed by the invention solves in a fully satisfactory manner the drawbacks explained above in relation to the different aspects discussed.
  • To that end and more specifically, said terminal is carried out in a solid metal base body provided with a central hole for coupling to the corresponding post of the battery, this hole being slightly frustoconical or diverging from the front face of the body to the rear face so as to facilitate its coupling to the post.
  • A side hole having a slightly angled inner mouth opens towards this wide central hole, in which side hole there is a small ball pressed against by a spring supported on a regulating screw threaded in the side hole, such that said ball tends to penetrate into the central hole and, accordingly, radially act on the post when the base body is assembled thereon.
  • This side hole is crossed with a threaded front hole, which is preferably blind at its rear face, in which there is a screw having a conical front, the conical end of which acts by way of a came laterally acting on the ball, pressing it strongly towards the inside of the central hole, i.e. towards the post of the battery. To prevent this screw having a conical front from coming loose, said screw is oversized in length in relation to the hole it is located in, a substantial part thereof projecting and on which a bracket acting by way of a locknut is located.
  • Finally and as a complement of the described structure, it has been provided that the base body incorporates, preferably in its area opposite to the area of the fixing mechanisms for fixing the base body to the post of the battery, a through hole having a suitable diameter so as to allow access to its inside for the cable or group of cables which must be connected to the corresponding post of the battery, which through hole is crossed with two other threaded front holes, one of which is intended to house a set-screw for fixing the cable or cables, whereas the other one is intended to be used eventually, allowing the entrance of any system for checking the state of the battery.
  • As can be inferred from the foregoing, the terminal proposed by the invention reduces the time needed for its assembly on the post of the battery, in the assembly line and when carrying out tests on the vehicle in which it is necessary to constantly assemble and disassemble the posts of the battery, a simple screwdriver being sufficient for doing so.
    • DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
  • To complement the description being made and for the purpose of aiding to better understand the features of the invention according to a preferred practical embodiment thereof, a set of drawings is attached as an integral part of said description in which the following is shown with an illustrative and non-limiting character:
    • Figure 1 shows an upper plan view of a current collector terminal in electric batteries carried out according to the object of the present invention.
    • Figure 2 shows a view similar to that of the previous figure, in which the base body of the terminal is partially sectioned in order to show its inner structure.
    • Figure 3 shows an elevational view of the terminal of the previous figures.
    • Figure 4 shows a cross section view of the terminal according to section line A-A of Figure 3.
    • Figure 5 shows another section view of a detail of the terminal, now according to section line B-B of Figure 1.
    • Figure 6 finally shows a perspective view of the same terminal duly opposite to a post of the battery and with the fixing screw for fixing it to said post being disassembled.
    PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
  • In view of the discussed figures, it can be seen how the terminal described is formed from an approximately rectangular prismatic base body (1), having a wide central hole (2) having a diameter in accordance with the diameter of the post (3) of the battery (4) it is intended for, but with the particularity that it is slightly divergent towards its inner face, i.e. it adopts a slightly frustoconical configuration so as to facilitate its coupling on the post (3).
  • A considerably smaller side hole (5) opens radially towards the hole (2), the inner mouth of the side hole, the mouth of the opening towards the hole (2), being slightly narrowed and having a section close to its other threaded end, a ball (6) being housed inside this hole (5) which is able to partially penetrate the hole (2) pressed against by a spring (7) externally supported on a screw (8) threaded in the corresponding section of the hole (5).
  • Evidently the spring (7) makes the ball (6) be supported on the post (3) of the battery when the terminal is coupled to said post, but the force for the mechanical fixing of the base body (1) to the post is carried out with the aid of a screw (9) having a conical front (10) located in a front threaded hole (11) of the base body (1), which opens towards the hole (5) in which the ball (6) is located, laterally acting on the latter and forcing it, along the inclined plane of its conical front (10), to penetrate the central hole (2) and to strongly press against the post (3), thus mechanically fixing the post and base body (1).
  • The mentioned screw (9) having a conical tip (10) incorporates opposite to said tip a diametrical groove (12) for tightening it with a screwdriver, and furthermore the length of said screw is such that part of it is outside the base body (1) in a tightened situation, receiving a bracket (13) acting as a locknut so as to prevent the loosening of the screw (1) and, accordingly, the loosening in the tightness of the ball (6) against the post (3).
  • Located on the opposite side of the base body (1) there is a transverse through hole (14) having a suitable diameter so as to allow the passage therethrough of the cable or group of cables to connect to the post (3), which cables are fixed with the aid of a set-screw (15) threaded in a hole (16) perpendicular to the hole (14) and opening towards the latter.
  • A second threaded hole (17) similar and close to the previous hole (15) allows the entrance of any element for checking the state of the battery.

Claims (4)

  1. A current collector terminal in electric batteries, particularly for the connection of the cables in an automobile to the terminals of the corresponding battery, characterized in that it is formed from a solid metal base body having a general rectangular prismatic configuration, having a wide central hole dimensionally suitable for its coupling to the corresponding post of the battery, a side hole having a considerably smaller diameter, with a slightly narrowed inner mouth and a threaded outer mouth, opening towards said central hole, in which side hole there is a ball, a spring tending to project said ball towards the inside of the central hole, and an outer screw regulating the tension of the spring, with the particularity that a front threaded hole opens towards this side hole, in which front hole there is in turn a screw having a conical front laterally acting on the ball pressing it against the post of the battery when the former is housed in the central hole of the base body, to which post the cables of the vehicle are suitably fixed.
  2. A current collector terminal in electric batteries according to claim 1, characterized in that the screw having a conical front is oversized in length in relation to the threaded hole it is coupled to such that it substantially projects to the outside where it receives a bracket acting as a locknut preventing the loosening of said screw.
  3. A current collector terminal in electric batteries according to the previous claims, characterized in that the wide central hole of the base body is slightly frustoconical, diverging towards its lower or rear face, so as to facilitate its coupling to the post of the battery.
  4. A current collector terminal in electric batteries, according to the previous claims characterized in that the base body incorporates, preferably in the area opposite to the location of the ball and its accessories, a transverse through hole suitable for internally receiving the cable or group of cables to connect to the corresponding post of the battery, which are fixed with the aid of a set-screw located in a front threaded hole which opens towards the mentioned through hole, the existence of a second threaded hole having been provided close and similar to the previous one for introducing elements for testing the state of the battery.
EP07380095A 2006-10-10 2007-04-11 Current collector terminal in electric batteries Active EP1909360B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ES200602206U ES1063912Y (en) 2006-10-10 2006-10-10 TERMINAL FOR POWER OUTLET IN ELECTRICAL BATTERIES.

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1909360A1 true EP1909360A1 (en) 2008-04-09
EP1909360B1 EP1909360B1 (en) 2009-11-25

Family

ID=37814021

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP07380095A Active EP1909360B1 (en) 2006-10-10 2007-04-11 Current collector terminal in electric batteries

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1909360B1 (en)
AT (1) ATE450065T1 (en)
DE (1) DE602007003418D1 (en)
ES (2) ES1063912Y (en)

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB231923A (en) * 1923-12-13 1925-04-14 Rudolf Woods Improvements in sockets or holders for the thermionic valves of wireless systems and apparatus for telephony and telegraphy
US3678450A (en) * 1971-03-31 1972-07-18 Eugene C Azamber Battery connector
EP0381996A2 (en) * 1989-02-10 1990-08-16 Balzers Aktiengesellschaft Ion generating device
DE4404057A1 (en) * 1994-02-09 1995-08-10 Eifelwerk Heinrich Stein Gmbh Electrical terminal connector clamp

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB231923A (en) * 1923-12-13 1925-04-14 Rudolf Woods Improvements in sockets or holders for the thermionic valves of wireless systems and apparatus for telephony and telegraphy
US3678450A (en) * 1971-03-31 1972-07-18 Eugene C Azamber Battery connector
EP0381996A2 (en) * 1989-02-10 1990-08-16 Balzers Aktiengesellschaft Ion generating device
DE4404057A1 (en) * 1994-02-09 1995-08-10 Eifelwerk Heinrich Stein Gmbh Electrical terminal connector clamp

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ES2336268T3 (en) 2010-04-09
ATE450065T1 (en) 2009-12-15
ES1063912Y (en) 2007-03-16
EP1909360B1 (en) 2009-11-25
DE602007003418D1 (en) 2010-01-07
ES1063912U (en) 2006-12-16

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