JP2004200067A - Battery terminal protection cover - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an easily mountable battery terminal protection cover capable of setting a mounting direction of a battery terminal to a predetermined angle. <P>SOLUTION: The protection cover for covering a battery terminal 2 having a clamp part 3 fastened and connected to an electrode post 7 for a battery and a connecting part 11 for connecting a wire 21, comprises a cover part 1 and a cover holder part 4. The cover part 1 has an open/close rotating shaft 25 which is rotated through a hinge mechanism mating with a pin receiving part 17, to open/close for covering the upper and side part of the clamp 3. The cover part 1 has a stopper 26a 26b, for controlling the angle for mounting the battery terminal 2 onto the electrode post 7, and a coil spring 27a, 27b. With the cover 1 in open status, the coil spring 27a, 27b abuts on a battery body for indicating if the mounting angle is correct or not. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a protective cover for a battery terminal.
[0002]
[Prior art]
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-35478 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-340214 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-357835 Electrode post of a battery of an automobile and a battery tightly connected thereto As the protective cover for covering the terminal, for example, a protective cover for covering and protecting the battery terminal and the electrode post is provided by a main body fixed to the battery terminal and a cover that is rotatably attached to the main body to be opened and closed. Are known.
The protective cover is movable between a protection position for covering and protecting the periphery of the electrode post and an exposure position for exposing the periphery of the electrode post. Usually, the protection cover covers the battery terminal and the electrode post, and detaches the battery terminal from the electrode post. In some cases, the structure is such that the periphery of the electrode post is exposed to facilitate attachment and detachment work (see Patent Documents 1 and 2).
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the battery terminal protection structure having such a protective cover, when attaching the battery terminal to the electrode post of the battery, an operator operates the battery terminal with respect to the electrode post so as to prevent the electric wire from interfering with the battery body and the battery peripheral parts. The mounting direction must be determined by visual inspection, and there is a problem that workability such as readjustment after mounting is poor.
[0004]
In order to solve this problem, a method is known in which, for example, a positioning protrusion is provided on the protective cover in the mounting direction, and a positioning hole for receiving the positioning protrusion of the protective cover is provided on the battery body (see Patent Document 3).
However, in such a positioning structure in the mounting direction, it is necessary to provide a positioning hole in the battery main body, so that a general-purpose battery cannot be used, resulting in an increase in cost.
[0005]
An object of the present invention is to provide a battery terminal protection cover that can set a mounting direction of a battery terminal at a predetermined angle and that can easily be mounted, in order to solve the above problems.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
For this reason, the present invention provides a protective cover for covering and protecting a battery terminal including a clamp portion that is tightened and connected to an electrode post of a battery and a connection portion that connects an electric wire, wherein the protective cover is fixed to the battery terminal. A cover mounting portion, a cover portion rotatably supported by the cover mounting portion and covering the clamp portion, and a positioning setting portion provided on the cover portion and for restricting a mounting direction of the battery terminal to the electrode post. When the mounting direction of the battery terminal to the electrode post is not correct, the positioning setting unit interferes with the battery body, and the cover unit cannot be opened to a predetermined angle.
[0007]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, when the cover is rotated and opened so as to expose the clamp part of the battery terminal and the electrode post of the battery, the positioning setting part provided on the cover comes into contact with the battery body.
When the mounting direction of the battery terminal to the electrode post is at a predetermined angle, the positioning setting unit can keep the cover open without interference by merely abutting on the battery body, If the mounting direction is wrong, the positioning setting unit interferes with the battery body and attempts to close the cover, so that the positioning of the battery terminal in the mounting direction can be easily performed.
[0008]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1A shows the entire cover portion of the battery terminal protection cover, and FIG. 1B shows a cover holder portion for attaching the cover portion and the battery terminal. FIG. 1C is an enlarged view of the hinge mechanism of the battery terminal protection cover taken along the line AA of FIG. 1B.
FIGS. 2A and 2B are diagrams illustrating a detailed configuration of a cover unit.
As shown in FIGS. 1A and 2A, the cover unit 1 includes a cover lid 23, a cover side surface 24, an opening / closing rotation shaft 25, stoppers 26a and 26b, and extensions 28a and 28b. It is a resin molded product with a structure.
When the cover part 1 is closed, the cover lid part 23 covers the battery terminal 2 and the electrode post from above, and the cover side part 24 is configured to cover those side surfaces.
[0009]
The battery terminal 2 is made of a conductive metal, and as shown in FIG. 1 (b), a battery electrode (not shown) is attached to the tip of a wire connecting portion 11 for peeling the tip of the wire 21 and exposing the exposed core wire. The clamp part 3 connected to the post is connected.
The clamp portion 3 has a substantially short cylindrical fastening ring 13 for fastening the electrode posts, and fastening portions 12a and 12b.
Tightening bolts 15 are attached through the bolt holes of the tightening pieces 14 connected to the tightening portions 12a and 12b and the cover holder portion 4 described later.
By tightening the tightening bolt 15, the diameter of the tightening ring 13 can be reduced, the electrode post and the tightening ring 13 can be tightened, and the cover holder part 4 is also fixed at the same time.
[0010]
A pin receiving portion 17 for receiving the opening / closing rotary shaft 25 of the cover portion 1 is provided on the upper surface of the cover holder portion 4, and the opening / closing rotary shaft 25 is attached to the pin receiving portion 17 of the cover holder portion 4 as shown in FIG. To form a hinge mechanism.
As shown by an arrow B in FIG. 3, the cover unit 1 can rotate between a protection position for covering and protecting the clamp unit 3 and an exposure position for exposing the clamp unit 3 by the hinge mechanism.
[0011]
The cover holder 4 has a guide rib (not shown) provided inside the cover 1 so that the cover 1 is appropriately guided when the cover 1 is closed so as to cover the clamp 3. It has a guide portion 18 for performing the operation.
Although not shown, a resin claw part integrally molded is provided inside the cover part 1, and the claw part is hooked on the fastening ring 13 or the cover holder part 4 with the cover part 1 closed, and the cover part 1 is closed. It is configured to be able to hold in the state.
[0012]
As shown in FIGS. 1A and 2A, the stoppers 26a and 26b are pivotally connected to the opening and closing rotation shaft 25 in a direction opposite to the cover lid 23 with the opening and closing rotation shaft 25 of the cover 1 interposed therebetween. It extends from the tip of two extending portions 28a and 28b extending at intervals in the direction so as to contact the side wall of the battery body when the cover portion 1 is rotated and opened, and has a step at its tip and becomes slightly thin. Spring mounting portions 29a and 29b.
The coil springs 27a, 27b are fitted to the spring attachment portions 29a, 29b so as to hit a step with the spring attachment portions 29a, 29b at the tips of the stoppers 26a, 26b, and are held by the frictional force with the inner diameters of the coil springs 27a, 27b. .
[0013]
As shown in FIG. 2A, the length of the stopper 26a including the spring mounting portion 29a and the length of the stopper 26b including the spring mounting portion 29b are the same L3, and the length of the coil springs 27a and 27b is It changes according to the position of the battery and the layout of the electric wires for each model.
That is, as shown in FIG. 4, the free ends of the coil springs 27a and 27b abut against the side wall of the battery body 8 and the cover 1 is opened when the cover 1 is opened by 90 degrees or more, as shown in FIG. In the state in which the coil springs 27a and 27b are not compressed, they correspond to the mounting direction determined by the lengths L1 and L2 of the stopper and the coil springs (that is, the angle α formed by the battery terminal 2 with respect to the side wall of the battery body 8). The length of the coil springs 27a and 27b thus set is set.
[0014]
The cover 1 shown in FIG. 1A is an example in which the angle α is smaller than 90 degrees. The length L1 of the combination of the stopper 26a and the coil spring 27a is the length of the combination of the stopper 26b and the coil spring 27b. Length L2.
[0015]
The operation of the present embodiment will be described.
Before connecting the battery terminal 2 to the electrode post 7 of the battery, the opening and closing rotation shaft 25 of the cover unit 1 in which coil springs 27a and 27b of appropriate lengths are fitted to stoppers 26a and 26b, The battery terminal protection cover is assembled by fitting into the receiving portion 17.
The length of the coil springs 27a and 27b is set to a value such that when the battery terminal 2 is set in a predetermined mounting direction (here, the angle α) and the cover 1 is opened by 90 degrees as shown in FIG. Is set so that the free end thereof contacts the side wall of the battery body 8.
[0016]
In this state, the fastening ring 13 is fitted to the electrode post 7, and the angle of the battery terminal 2 is set by eye in a predetermined mounting direction. Then, the cover 1 is opened, and the tightening bolt 15 is tightened.
At this time, when the mounting direction of the battery terminal 2 is set at a predetermined angle α, the free ends of the coil springs 27a and 27b only come into contact with the side wall of the battery body 8 as shown in FIG. Since the cover 1 opens slightly more than 90 degrees and keeps that state, the tightening bolt 15 can be tightened.
[0017]
On the other hand, when the mounting direction is α ′ different from the predetermined angle α as shown in FIG. 5, when the cover portion 1 is to be opened more than 90 degrees, only one end of the coil spring 27a or 27b 5, the coil spring 27 b is compressed to generate a spring force in the case of FIG. 5, and the cover 1 does not remain in a state of being strongly opened by 90 degrees but tries to close.
As a result, the worker notices that the mounting direction of the battery terminal 2 is not appropriate, and adjusts the direction of the battery terminal 2 by rotating the battery terminal 2 left and right in a direction that can maintain the 90-degree open state.
[0018]
The determination of the suitability of the mounting direction after the tightening of the battery terminal 2 can be determined to be acceptable if the cover 1 is opened to a little over 90 degrees and released with your hands off, and if the cover 1 is closed, it is determined to be unacceptable.
The opening / closing rotation shaft 25 and the pin receiving portion 17 of the present embodiment constitute the hinge mechanism of the present invention, the cover holder portion 4 constitutes a cover attaching portion, and the stoppers 26a and 26b and the coil springs 27a and 27b constitute a positioning setting portion.
In particular, the stoppers 26a and 26b constitute positioning protrusions, and the coil springs 27a and 27b constitute elastic members.
[0019]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, in order to attach the battery terminal 2 to the electrode post 7 of the battery, the tightening ring 13 is fitted to the electrode post 7, and when the tightening work is performed by the tightening bolt 15, an appropriate mounting direction is required. When the angle of the battery terminal 2 is not set, the coil spring 27a or 27b hits the side wall of the battery body 8 and the cover 1 does not open up to 90 degrees and tries to close by the repulsive force of the spring. Notice that the terminal 2 is not installed in the right direction.
[0020]
Therefore, the work of resetting the mounting direction of the battery terminal 2 can be prevented, and the workability can be improved. As a result, the accuracy of the mounting direction of the battery terminal 2 is improved, and the accuracy of the layout of the battery cable is improved.
Furthermore, when the cover 1 is opened, the free end of the coil spring, which is an elastic body, comes into contact with the battery body 8, so that the battery body 8 is not damaged.
[0021]
Further, since the coil springs 27a and 27b are detachably attached to the stoppers 26a and 26b, it is possible to easily cope with a design change in the mounting direction of the battery terminal 2 by changing the lengths of the coil springs 27a and 27b. It is not necessary to change the design of the cover 1 of the molding resin.
As a result, the cover part 1 which is an integrally molded resin product can be shared with another vehicle model having a different layout design of the battery cable, so that a newly designed mold is not required for the cover part 1 and the cost can be reduced. .
[0022]
Further, since two stoppers 26a, 26b and two coil springs 27a, 27b are provided in the axial direction of the opening / closing rotary shaft 25, the coil springs 27a, 27b are turned when the cover 1 is rotated by a predetermined angle. Since both of them abut only on the side wall of the battery body 8 and do not interfere with each other, it can be shown that the battery terminal 2 is attached to the electrode post 7 in the correct direction.
[0023]
In the present embodiment, the electric wire 21 is directly connected to the battery terminal 2 at the connection portion 11. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the power supply harness may be detachably connected to the battery terminal 2. Good.
In addition, instead of the coil springs 27a and 27b, pipe-shaped hard rubber may be attached to the stoppers 26a and 26b as an elastic member.
[0024]
Further, in FIG. 2A, the lengths of the stoppers 26a and 26b are set to L3, but the length of the stopper 26a is set to L1 and the length of the stopper 26b is set to L2 without attaching the coil springs 27a and 27b. When the cover 1 is rotated by a predetermined angle and opened, the ends of the stoppers 26a and 26b may contact the side wall of the battery body 8 to regulate the mounting direction of the battery terminal 2.
Although two stoppers 26a, 26b and two coil springs 27a, 27b are provided at an interval in the axial direction of the opening / closing rotary shaft 25, a plate-shaped member having a width in the axial direction of the opening / closing rotary shaft 25 is used instead. A plate-shaped stopper may be provided at the end of the extension, and the tip of the stopper may be formed so that the tip of the plate-shaped stopper appropriately abuts on the side wall of the battery body in accordance with the mounting direction of the battery terminal 2.
[0025]
Further, the cover holder section 4 is configured to be connected to the tightening piece 14. However, the connection section 11, the electric wire 21 or the power harness is sandwiched from the left and right, and is detachably attached to the battery terminal 2 from above or below. It may be made of an integrally molded resin, provided with a pin receiving portion 17 on the upper portion thereof, and constituting an opening / closing rotation shaft 25 of the cover portion 1 and a hinge mechanism. In that case, as shown in JP-A-2001-35478, a concave portion or a convex portion is provided in the cover holder portion 4 for holding the cover portion 1 in a closed state, and a corresponding claw is attached to the cover lid portion 23 or the cover side surface. It may be provided inside the part 24.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a battery terminal protection cover according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a detailed configuration of a cover part of a battery terminal protection cover.
FIG. 3 is a view showing a state in which a cover portion of a battery terminal protection cover is opened.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory view for attaching a battery terminal to an electrode post of the battery.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for attaching a battery terminal to an electrode post of the battery.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Cover part 2 Battery terminal 3 Clamp part 4 Cover holder part 7 Electrode post 8 Battery body 11 Connection parts 12a and 12b Tightening part 13 Tightening ring 14 Tightening piece 15 Tightening bolt 17 Pin receiving part 18 Guide part 21 Electric wire 23 Cover lid part 24 Cover side surface 25 Opening and closing rotation shafts 26a, 26b Stoppers 27a, 27b Coil springs 28a, 28b Extensions 29a, 29b Spring attachment

Claims (5)

In a protective cover for covering and protecting a battery terminal provided with a clamp portion that is tightened and connected to an electrode post of a battery and a connection portion that connects an electric wire,
A cover attaching portion fixed to the battery terminal;
A cover portion rotatably supported by the cover mounting portion and covering the clamp portion;
A positioning setting unit that is provided on the cover unit and regulates a mounting direction of the battery terminal to the electrode post;
When the mounting direction of the battery terminal to the electrode post is incorrect, the positioning setting unit interferes with the battery body, and the cover unit cannot be opened to a predetermined angle. The cover unit is supported by the cover mounting unit by a hinge mechanism,
The cover portion has an extension extending in a direction opposite to the clamp portion side with respect to a rotation axis of the hinge mechanism,
2. The battery terminal protection cover according to claim 1, wherein the positioning setting portion is a positioning protrusion extending from the extension portion such that the positioning setting portion contacts the side wall of the battery body when the cover portion is opened. 3. The battery terminal protection cover according to claim 2, wherein the positioning projection includes an elastic member at a tip. The battery terminal protection cover according to claim 3, wherein the elastic member is a coil spring. The battery terminal protection cover according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein two positioning protrusions are provided at intervals in a rotation axis direction of the hinge mechanism.

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