GB2299701A

GB2299701A - Cellular battery

Info

Publication number: GB2299701A
Application number: GB9507220A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Philip Stockton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-04-07
Filing date: 1995-04-07
Publication date: 1996-10-09
Anticipated expiration: 2015-04-07
Also published as: GB2299701B; GB9507220D0

Abstract

The battery (1) includes a number of cells (2) in a required configuration to provide the necessary current flow, each cell (2) has a rectangular shape and each cell (2) is provided with corresponding locating formations (8) enabling a cell (2) to receive and locate similar cells (2) adjacent thereto in various configurations and each cell (2) has an electric connector in the form of plug (10) and socket (11) formations, the formations being interlinked by conductive members (12).

Description

CELLULAR BATTERY This invention relates to a cellular battery. More particularly, but not exclusively, the invention relates to a battery consisting of unitary cells that can be connected in various combinations of parallel or series to obtain a desired level of either voltage or storage capacity.

The use of batteries as a source of electricity is well know and many different designs with regard to voltage or storage capacity as well as size, shape and/or configuration presently exist to cater for various applications. One such design is the multiple cell battery typically used in the automotive industry where the battery is supplied as a unit which has to be replaced once one of the cells becomes faulty, commonly known in the industry as a dead cell. The disadvantage of the above design is therefore the need to replace an entire battery once one or more of the cells become faulty.

It is accordingly an object of this invention to overcome the above disadvantage by providing a simple and relatively inexpensive cellular battery, or at least to provide an alternative to the existing battery designs.

According to a first aspect of this invention there is provided a cellular battery including a number of cells in a required configuration to provide the necessary current flow, each cell having a substantially rectangular configuration to define a front wall, a rear wall, two opposed side walls, a base and a top, each cell being provided with corresponding locating formations enabling a cell to receive and locate similar cells adjacent to the front, the rear and the side walls of the cell, thus allowing for various configurations of the cellular battery in series or parallel, each cell having electric connector means to allow current flow between the various cells.

The electric connector means may be in the form of plug and socket formations, connecting the various cells electrically by receiving and securing the corresponding formations, the formations being interlinked by means of conductive members. The cells are preferably provided with socket formations, the plug formations being detachable and in use secured to the required socket formations with screw fasteners.

The cellular battery may be provided with detachable pole terminals, each terminal preferably having an opposed conductive plug formation extending rearwardly therefrom, the terminals similarly being connected to conductive members extending preferably transversely therefrom, each pole terminal by means f its plug formation being receivable by the socket formations.

The pole terminal preferably is secured to the required socket formation by means of a screw fastener.

The corresponding locating formations may consist of lugs and lug holes, each cell preferably provided with lugs at two adjacent walls and lug holes at two opposed adjacent walls, the formations enabling each wall of a cell to receive and locate an opposed wall of an adjacent cell.

Alternatively, the locating formations may consist of at least one upwardly protruding skirt formation extending from at least one edge of the base of the cell, each cell having at least one corresponding recess at an opposed base edge to receive and locate an opposed wall of an adjacent cell.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a cellular battery cell substantially as hereinbefore defined.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a method of providing electricity by means of a battery, the method including the step of drawing electricity from a cellular battery substantially as hereinbefore defined.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by means of a non-limiting example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view from above of a part of a cellular battery in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is an exploded view of part of a cell as illustrated in figure 1; Figure 3 is a view from above of part of the cellular battery illustrated in figure 1; and Figure 4 is a side view of a cellular battery being provided with alternative locating formations.

Figure 5 is a side view of the cross-section of a cell being provided with an alternative lid, including a locking mechanism.

The same reference numerals are used for denoting corresponding parts in the accompanying drawings.

A cellular battery 1 as illustrated in figures 1 to 4 consists of a number of cells 2, each cell having a rectangular configuration defining a front wall 3, a rear wail 4, two opposed side walls 5, a base 6 and a top 7, each cell being provided with corresponding locating formations 8 enabling a cell to receive and locate similar cells thereto, each cell having electric connector means 9 to allow current flow between the various cells.

The corresponding locating formations 8, consisting of lug and lug holes, are located at the front, the rear and the side walls of the cell, enabling each wall of the cell to receive and locate opposed walls of adjacent cells. Thus, the cells 2 allow for various configurations of a cellular battery in series or parallel.

The cellular battery 1 further includes a fastening means in the form of a non-conductive strap means (not shown) for strapping the various cells 2 into a single unit for use in a required application.

The electric connector means 9 are in the form of plug 10 and socket 11 formations, indirectly connecting the various cells 2 electrically by corresponding formations, the formations of the various cells being connected by means of conductive members in the form of lead strap lengths 12. Each cell 2 is provided with two lead socket formations, respectively linked to the negative and positive pole of the cell. The detachable plug formations 10 in use are secured to the lead socket formations by means of screw fasteners 13, the fasteners wedging the plug formations outwardly fast with the socket formations.

The cellular battery 1 further includes detachable pole terminals 14, each terminal having an opposed plug formation extending rearwardly therefrom. Each terminal 14 is connected to a lead strap length 12 extending transversely therefrom, each pole terminal by means of its plug formation being receivable by the lead socket formation. Each pole terminal 14 is similarly secured to the required socket formation of a cell by means of a screw fastener 13.

The alternative locating formations as illustrated in figure 4 consist of upwardly protruding skirt formations 15 extending from two adjacent base edges and corresponding recesses 16 at two opposed adjacent base edges to receive and locate opposed bases of adjacent cells.

An alternative cell 17, as illustrated in figure 5, has a rectangular configuration defining a front wall 18, a rear wall 19, two opposed side walls 20, a base 21, and a top 22, which is hinged 23 to the rear wall 19 and is provided with a locking mechanism 24 which corresponds to a locking mechanism 25 provided in the front wall 18 and side walls 20. A rubber gasket 26 is provided to seal the cell.

For use, the required number of cells 2 for a selected configuration and a specified current flow is determined. The cells are then located by means of the corresponding locating formations 8 and secured in a single unit by means of the strap means.

To connect the various cells 2 electrically in accordance with the specified current flow, the required plug formations 10 and lead strap lengths 12 are determined and the plug formations located in the corresponding socket formations 13 of the various cells. Similarly, the required locations of the pole terminals 14 are determined and the terminals are similarly located in the corresponding socket formations 11 of the cells. The terminals 14 and the plug formations 10 are then secured by means of screw fasteners 13.

It will be appreciated that many variations in detail are possible without departing from the scope and/or spirit of the invention, such as using various locating formations and/or configurations, connector means and/or means for securing the various cells in a single unit.

Claims

1. A cellular battery including a number of cells in a

required configuration to provide the necessary current flow, each cell having a substantially rectangular configuration to define a front wall, a rear wall, two opposed side walls, a base and a top, each cell being provided with corresponding locating formations enabling a cell to receive and locate similar cells adjacent to the front, the rear and the side walls of the cell, thus allowing for various configurations of the cellular battery in series or parallel, each cell having electric connector means to allow current flow between the various cells.

2. The cellular battery as claimed in claim 1 wherein the electric connector means is in the form of plug and socket formations, indirectly connecting the various cells electrically, the formations being interlinked by means of conductive members.

3. The cellular -battery as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the cells are provided with socket formations, the plug formations being detachable and in use secured to the required socket formations with screw fasteners.

4. The cellular battery as claimed in claim 1,2 or 3 wherein the battery is provided with detachable pole terminals, each terminal having an opposed conductive plug formation extending rearwardly therefrom, the terminals being connected to conductive members extending therefrom, each pole terminal by means of its plug formation being receivable by the socket formations.

5. The cellular battery as claimed in claim 1,2,3 or 4 wherein the corresponding locating formations consist of lugs and lug holes, each cell provided with lugs at two adjacent walls and lug holes at two opposed adjacent walls, the formations enabling each wall of a cell to receive and locate an opposed wall of an adjacent cell.

6. The cellular battery as claimed in claims 1,2,3,4 or 5 wherein the locating formations consist of at least one upwardly protruding skirt formation extending from at least one edge of the base of the cell, each cell having at least one corresponding recess at an opposed base edge to receive and locate an opposed wall of an adjacent cell.

7. A cellular battery substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

8. A cellular battery cell having a substantially rectangular configuration to define a front wall, a rear wall, two opposed side walls, a base and a top, each cell being provided with corresponding locating formations enabling a cell to receive and locate similar cells adjacent to the front, the rear and the side walls of the cell, thus allowing for various configurations of a cellular battery in series or parallel, each cell having electric connector means to allow current flow between the various cells.

9. A cellular battery cell substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

10. A method of providing electricity by means of a battery, the method including the step of drawing electricity from a cellular battery having a number of cells in a required configuration to provide the necessary current flow, each cell having a substantially rectangular configuration to define a front wall, a rear wall, two opposed side walls, a base and a top, each cell being provided with corresponding locating formations enabling a cell to receive and locate similar cells adjacent to the front, the rear and the side walls of the cell, thus allowing for various configurations of the cellular battery in series or parallel, each cell having electric connector means to allow current flow between the various cells.

11. A method of providing electricity by means of a battery, the method being substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.