GB2038533A - Housings for accumulators &c - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a housing for accumulators or other batteries, consisting of a lower part formed by side walls (1, 2, 3, 4) and a base (5) and of a cover (6) covering this lower part. Two opposite side walls (1, 2) of the lower part are each provided with a projection (7) extending beyond the cover, the two projections being connected by a handle (8) by means of which the housing may be more easily transported. The cover of the housing consists of walls defining a hollow space between them, in which the terminals of the accumulator or battery are arranged, and is provided with several connector sockets and/or plug sockets (19) which are connected to the terminals of the accumulator or battery via wiring arranged in the hollow space. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Housing for accumulators or other batteries The invention relates to a housing for accumulators or other batteries.

There are known various housings for accumulators which allow the accumulator to be transported easily and which make possible multi-purpose application. In order to facilitate the transportation of the accumulators, there is known, from German Auslegeschrift No. 1, 279,793, a carrying device consisting of two belts one of which is arranged horizontally around the accumulator and has a catch for the purpose of adapting to different circumferences, and the other of which is passed through below the accumulator. The latter belt is a continuous band and serves as a carrying handle. This known carrying device has the disadvantage that it does not completely cover the accumulator to be transported and thus individuals handling the accumulator can come into contact with spilt acid.Since the end terminals are not covered, there is further the danger of a short circuit during transportation.

There is known from Austrian Patent Specification No. 331,324 a carrying device for galvanic elements, consisting of two half shells and a cover placed onto these half shells, the cover being connected to the half shells via a U-shaped strap to which there is secured a carrying handle. A carrying device of this type has the disadvantage that it is additional to the battery housing customarily present and must be adapted to the various dimensions of the customary housings.

It is also known to provide electric batteries with a stirrup-shaped carrying handle, the free ends of the handle being bent and passed through slotted holes in the cornices of the battery housing and safeguarded against abnormal leakage by a safety part. With this known device there is the danger of a short circuit due to the fact that the handle is metallic. Furthermore, with this device, individuals handling the battery can also come into contact with spilt acid.

It is desirable to eliminate the disadvantages of the known devices and to create a housing for accumulators which allows easy and safe handling of the accumulators.

According to the present invention, there is provided a housing for an accumulator or other battery, comprising a lower part, formed by side walls and a base, and a cover covering the lower part, two opposite side walls of the lower part each being provided with a projection extending beyond the cover, the two projections being connected by a carrying handle.

The housing of the invention can be equipped at low cost such that it can be transported easily and safely. In this connection, the projections and handle can be manufactured in a cast with the housing sides and base so that, once the mould has been made, no additional work and only small quantities of additional material are necessary to manufacture the projections and the carrying handle.

Accumulators equipped with the housing according to the invention can find application for example as a second battery in a motor vehicle. In this case, the accumulator can be charged by the light dynamo in addition to the motor vehicle battery present and can thus always be in the charged state. A second battery of this type can be used in a versatile manner, for example as additional starter battery in the cold months, and also to power for example, a warning light, a portable radio, a television set, a tape recorder, a shaver or tent lighting.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the cover consists of walls defining a hollow space between them, the terminals of the accumulator or battery being arranged in this hollow pace. In this way, the terminals are protected and thus there is no danger of a short circuit as a result of metallic parts resting against the terminals.

The hollow space can however be utilized for other purposes. Thus according to an additional feature of the invention the cover can be provided with several connector sockets and or plug sockets which are connected to the terminals of the accumulator or battery via wiring arranged in the hollow space. The arrangement of a motor vehicle plug socket in a battery housing is already known. As result of the arrangement of several connector sockets and/or plug sockets there is however the advantage that it is possible to connect appliances with various plug constructions without difficulty. Advantageously, the cover is provided with as many connector sockets and/or plug sockets as there are variously-constructed plugs on the market.Due to the fact that the cover encloses a hollow space, the connector sockets and/or plug sockets can be arranged in a countersunk manner so that they cannot be damaged. The wiring arranged in the hollow space is likewise protected from being damaged. Connection to a battery charger or the light dynamo respectively of a motor vehicle can also be effected via a connector socket and/or plug socket.

According to a further feature of the invention, the hollow space of the cover is penetrated by tubes extending into the acid area of the accumulator or battery. Into these tubes, the locking plugs are inserted, preferably screwed. In this way, in spite of the hollow space, it is possible to maintain the acid area of the accumulator or battery satisfactorily by filling with distilled water and accumulator acid respectively. In this connection, it is particularly advantageous if the locking plugs consist of a hollow cylinder closed by end walls, at least one opening being provided in the end walls.When the housing according to the invention is being transported, any spilt acid firstly enters the hollow cylinder forming the locking plug via the openings in the end wall facing the acid area, which hollow cylinder thus forms an overload area from which the acid can flow back into the accumulator or battery. Any loss of acid is therefore impossible.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference will now be made, by way of exampIe, to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a housing according to the invention; Figures 2 and 3 show, on a larger scale, sections along lines Il-Il and Ill-Ill of Fig. 1; and Figure 4 shows a locking plug capable of being screwed into the housing of Fig. 1.

The housing shown in Fig. 1 consists of a lower part formed by four side walls 1, 2, 3 and 4 and a base 5. The lower part is closed by a cover 6 which is arranged in the lower part in a countersunk manner.

The two opposite side walls 1 and 2 are provided with projections 7, the two projections being connected by a carrying handle 8.

Advantageously, the entire lower part together with the projections 7 and the carrying handle 8, is constructed in one piece.

As is shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the cover 6 consists of two parallel walls 9 and 10, spaced at a distance from one another to define a hollow space 11. The hollow space 11 is penetrated by tubes 12 extending into the acid area of the accumulator and into which there are screwed locking plugs 13. As is shown in Fig. 4, these locking plugs 13 consist of a hollow cylinder 16 closed by end walls 14 and 1 5, openings 17 being provided in the end walls. The openings 17 in the end wall 14 facing the acid area serve not only for the escape of the gases, but allow the accumulator acid to enter the hollow space 18.

This hollow space 18 thus serves as collecting area for the accumulator acid issuing when, for example, the housing swings during transportation so that this accumulator acid does not reach the exterior and harm the individual handling the housing or damage his or her clothing.

As is shown in Fig. 3, numerous connector sockets and/or plug sockets 19 are further provided in the cover 6. These sockets allow the most diverse appliances to be connected via variously-constructed plugs. The sockets are arranged in a plate 20 in a countersunk manner, which plate is connected to the wall 9 of the cover. The sockets thus extend into the hollow space 11 of the cover 6 where they are connected mutually and to the terminals 22 of the accumulator via wiring 21.

These terminals 22 are likewise arranged in the hollow space 11 between the two cover walls 9 and 10 and are therefore protected from being damaged in the same way as the wiring 21.

Claims (7)

1. A housing for an accumulator or other battery, comprising a lower part, formed by side walls and a base, and a cover covering the lower part, two opposite side walls of the lower part each being provided with a projection extending beyond the cover, the two projections being connected by a carrying handle.

2. A housing according to claim 1, wherein the cover comprises walls defining therebetween a hollow space, and wherein terminals for the accumulator or battery are arranged in the hollow space.

3. A housing according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cover is provided with several connector sockets and/or plug sockets which are connected to the terminals via wiring arranged in the hollow space.

4. A housing according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein in that the hollow space of the cover is penetrated by tubes extending into the acid area of the accumulator or battery, and wherein locking plugs are screwed or otherwise inserted into the tubes.

5. A housing according to claim 4, wherein the locking plugs consist of a hollow cylinder closed by end walls, at least one opening being provided in the end walls.

6. A housing for an accumulator or other battery substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.

7. An accumulator or other battery provided with a housing according to any of claims 1 to 5.