JP3246941U - Adapter ring for battery terminal and battery terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

An adapter ring for a battery terminal and a battery terminal are provided that enable flexible, quick, and safe attachment to battery electrodes having different diameters.
[Solution] The present invention is an adapter ring 34 for a battery terminal 10, in particular a battery terminal for a vehicle battery, the battery terminal 10 having a fastening piece 12 at least partially surrounding in the circumferential direction U a substantially cylindrical receiving space 14 for a battery electrode 16 of the vehicle battery, the adapter ring 34 having an outer surface 36 for close contact with the inside of the fastening piece 12 and an inner surface 38 for close contact with the battery electrode 16, the outer circumference of the outer surface 36 substantially corresponds to the inner circumference of the fastening piece 12 and the inner circumference of the inner surface 38 is smaller than the outer circumference of the outer surface 36, and the adapter ring 34 has a plurality of adapter elements 40 arranged between the outer surface 36 and the inner surface 38 and capable of plastically deforming in particular in the radial direction.
[Selected figure] Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to an adapter ring for a battery terminal, in particular for a battery terminal for a vehicle battery in a vehicle, and to a battery terminal, the battery terminal having a fastening piece that at least partially surrounds in the circumferential direction a substantially cylindrical receiving space for a battery electrode of the vehicle battery.

Battery terminals are used in vehicles to establish a safe electrical connection between a vehicle battery and the vehicle's electrical circuit. The battery terminal has a clamping piece, which has a substantially cylindrical receiving space for the battery electrodes of the vehicle battery, on which a connection for the vehicle's electrical circuit is provided. Furthermore, a sensor for detecting the state of the vehicle battery, in particular a battery sensor or a current sensor, can be integrated into such a battery terminal. The clamping piece is usually interrupted in the circumferential direction, with a clamping device being provided at the interruption for reducing the circumferential length of the clamping piece. The battery terminal can then be clamped and fixed to the battery electrode by reducing the circumferential length of the clamping piece.

Such battery terminals are usually dimensioned for a defined diameter or diameter range of the battery electrode. Different diameters of the battery electrode usually require different battery terminals or battery terminals with different clamping pieces, which respectively have a circumference adapted to the diameter of the battery electrode. To compensate for battery electrodes with smaller diameters, rigid adapter sleeves or adapter rings are known from the prior art, which are arranged on the battery electrodes. These adapter sleeves or adapter rings are then dimensioned such that their outer circumference corresponds to the outer circumference of the battery electrode with a larger diameter, i.e. the inner diameter of the clamping piece. However, the installation of such adapter sleeves or adapter rings requires additional work steps during the connection of the vehicle battery. Furthermore, these adapter rings can also be lost. A further disadvantage is that due to their rigid structure, these adapter sleeves or adapter rings may be inflexible, which may require a larger installation force for a reliable clamping and secure connection of the battery terminal to the battery electrode.

The objective of the present invention is to provide an adapter ring for a battery terminal and a battery terminal that allow flexible, quick, and safe attachment to battery electrodes having different diameters.

To solve this problem, an adapter ring for a battery terminal, in particular for a battery terminal for a vehicle battery in a vehicle, is provided, in which the battery terminal has a clamping piece that at least partially surrounds in the circumferential direction a substantially cylindrical receiving space for a battery electrode of the vehicle battery. The adapter ring has an outer side for close contact with the inside of the clamping piece and an inner side for close contact with the battery electrode, the outer periphery of the outer side substantially corresponds to the inner periphery of the clamping piece, and the inner periphery of the inner side is smaller than the outer periphery of the outer side. The adapter ring comprises a plurality of adapter elements extending radially from the outer side to the inner side and capable of deformation in the radial direction, in particular plastically or elastically.

The adapter ring is manufactured as a separate part and attached to the fastening piece prior to attachment of the battery terminal to the battery electrode. In particular, the adapter ring is non-removably fixed to the battery terminal, so that the battery terminal with the attached adapter ring can be transported and attached as a single assembly. Thereby, no additional work steps are required to hold and align the adapter ring during installation.

Since the adapter elements are spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction, the adapter ring is made flexible, so that the flexibility of the fastening piece to which the adapter ring is attached is not impaired or is only slightly impaired, and no increased clamping or mounting force is required to attach the battery terminal.

When the battery terminal is attached to the battery electrode, the adapter element is in close contact with the battery electrode, and the adapter element can deform when a clamping force is applied to the clamping piece, for example by a clamping device. This allows the inner diameter of the clamping piece of the battery terminal to be adapted to different diameters of the battery electrode. In particular, the spacing of the adapter element in the circumferential direction allows it to stretch or deform in the circumferential direction, improving the flexibility of the adapter element.

In particular, the adapter element is formed to be softer than the battery electrode, so that there is no or only slight deformation of the battery electrode when the battery terminal is attached to the battery electrode.

The adapter elements are each conductive, thereby enabling an electrical connection to be established between the battery electrodes and the fastening pieces.

Preferably, the adapter elements are arranged evenly distributed in the circumferential direction, so that the mechanical and electrical contact between the battery electrodes and the adapter ring, and thus the battery terminals, is ensured uniformly and over as large a surface as possible in the circumferential direction.

The adapter elements can also each be fixed individually to the inner circumference of the fastening piece. Preferably, however, the adapter elements are connected to one another, so that all adapter elements can be attached and positioned together. In particular, the adapter ring is provided for this with a support element which runs at least partially around the circumference and which connects at least two adapter elements to one another, in particular two adapter elements which are adjacent in the circumference.

In particular, the support element can connect all adapter elements to one another in the circumferential direction. Such a support element facilitates the mounting and positioning of the adapter ring on the fastening piece. In particular, such a support element facilitates the fixing of the adapter ring to the fastening piece. The support element is formed in such a way that the flexibility of the fastening piece is not impaired as much as possible, so that no additional mounting force is required when mounting the battery terminal to the battery electrode.

In particular, the support element can be formed in the shape of a ring, in which case the support element can have interruptions in the circumferential direction that can overlap with the interruptions of the fastening piece, in particular when attached to the battery electrode.

In order to make the adapter ring as flexible as possible and thus to avoid the need for additional, particularly strong, mounting forces when mounting the battery terminal with the adapter ring, the inner surface of the adapter ring is at least partially interrupted in the circumferential direction between the adapter elements.

The adapter ring can be substantially cylindrical, with the adapter elements extending in the direction of the cylindrical longitudinal axis over substantially the entire length of the adapter ring. This provides the battery electrodes with the largest possible intimate contact surface, thereby allowing a reliable mechanical and electrical connection to be established between the battery electrodes and the adapter ring, and thus the battery terminals.

The adapter element may have additional structure on its inner surface to improve the mechanical and/or electrical connection between the adapter ring and the battery electrodes. Additionally, the adapter element may have structure on its outer surface to improve the mechanical and/or electrical contact between the adapter ring and the fastening piece of the battery terminal.

Preferably, the adapter ring is provided with a retaining means for fixing the adapter ring to the fastening piece of the battery terminal. Preferably, the retaining means is formed such that the adapter ring is non-releasably held and fixed to the battery terminal, whereby the battery terminal can be attached together with the adapter ring.

In particular, the holding means can be formed in such a way that the adapter ring can be attached without tools. For example, the holding means can be a stop element or a fastening element that can be stopped on the fastening piece. For example, the stop element is formed in such a way that no additional structural measures are required on the fastening piece of the battery terminal in order to stop the adapter ring on the fastening piece. The adapter ring can thus be used flexibly.

The holding means, in particular the locking elements, are formed in such a way that they can fix the adapter ring to the fastening piece, in particular lock it, i.e. prevent the adapter ring from slipping out of the receiving space, for example with respect to the mounting direction of the adapter ring extending along the cylindrical longitudinal axis.

For example, the retaining means, in particular the locking element, is provided at the leading or trailing edge of the adapter ring relative to the cylindrical longitudinal axis.

Furthermore, the retaining means may be formed to allow slight circumferential misalignment and/or movement of the adapter ring relative to the fastening piece, e.g. to compensate for tolerances or not to limit the flexibility of the fastening piece.

For example, the adapter ring can be formed so that the distance between the inner and outer surfaces is constant in the circumferential direction, so that the smaller battery electrode is always kept centered with respect to the clamping piece.

Optionally, the distance between the inner and outer surfaces can also vary in the circumferential direction, so that when attached to the fastening piece, the center of the inner surface of the adapter ring does not coincide with the center of the fastening piece. This also allows some modification of the attachment position of the battery terminal to the battery electrode. For example, the adapter element can have different radial thicknesses in the circumferential direction in order to change the attachment position of the battery terminal to the battery electrode.

The adapter ring can be interrupted in the circumferential direction. This can, for example, increase the flexibility of the adapter ring.

Furthermore, the adapter ring may only extend partially in the circumferential direction, so that the battery electrodes are in close contact, for example partially, with the adapter ring and with the inner circumference of the fastening piece.

The adapter ring can be formed such that the center of the receiving portion formed by the inner surface for the battery electrode is radially offset with respect to the receiving space with respect to the geometric center of the outer surface. Thereby, the center of the battery terminal or of the receiving space is offset with respect to the center of the battery electrode. This can have several advantages. For example, this can result in a positioning of the battery terminal on the battery electrode that requires less installation space overall or protrudes less from the battery or the surface of the battery.

Furthermore, the clamping mechanism of the battery terminal can be provided with a cut-off mechanism, which allows the clamping mechanism to operate only when the battery terminal is completely pressed against the battery electrode. The cut-off mechanism has, for example, an actuating element that is in close contact with the base of the battery electrode and is displaced when the battery terminal is pressed against the battery electrode, thereby allowing the clamping mechanism to operate. When the battery electrode is small, the base of the battery electrode is also small, so that when the battery terminal is centered on the battery electrode, the actuating element may not be able to come into close contact with the base because it protrudes too far outward in the radial direction. By shifting the center of the battery terminal on the battery electrode, the battery terminal can be shifted so that the actuating element overlaps with the base of the battery in the mounting direction extending in the direction of the cylindrical longitudinal axis, and thereby can operate when pressed against the battery electrode.

The adapter elements may each have the same mechanical properties. However, the adapter elements may also have different mechanical properties, in particular different deformation properties, so that upon application of a clamping force the adapter elements may be deformed to different degrees, thereby influencing the position of the battery terminal on the battery electrode.

To solve the above problem, a battery terminal, in particular a battery terminal for a vehicle battery in a vehicle, is further provided, which comprises a fastening piece that at least partially surrounds in the circumferential direction a substantially cylindrical receiving space for a battery electrode of the vehicle battery, and any of the adapter rings described above, the adapter ring being accommodated in the receiving space, in particular non-detachably, so that the adapter ring is in close contact with the inner circumference of the fastening piece by its outer surface.

The fastening piece may be provided with a retaining device for fixing the adapter ring.

Preferably, the adapter ring extends over the entire clamping piece in the longitudinal direction of the receiving space to establish the best mechanical and/or electrical contact between the clamping piece and the battery electrode.

Further advantages and features will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a prior art battery terminal. FIG. 2 is a plan view of a battery terminal according to the present invention; FIG. 2 is a plan view of an adapter ring for the battery terminal according to FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a side view of the adapter ring according to FIG. 2 . FIG. 4 shows an adapter element for the adapter ring according to FIGS. 2 and 3 . FIG. 4 shows another adapter element for the adapter ring according to FIGS. 2 and 3 . FIG. 4 shows another adapter element for the adapter ring according to FIGS. 2 and 3 . FIG. 4 shows another adapter element for the adapter ring according to FIGS. 2 and 3 . FIG. 2 is a second view of the battery terminal according to the present invention; FIG. 2 is a further view of the adapter ring. FIG. 8 shows a battery terminal with an adapter ring according to FIG. 7. 13 is a schematic diagram of a battery terminal with a further embodiment of an adapter ring.

Figure 1 shows a battery terminal 10 for a vehicle battery in a vehicle. The battery terminal 10 has a clamping piece 12, which is substantially cylindrically and/or conically shaped. The clamping piece 12 has a receiving space 14 for a battery electrode 16. In the circumferential direction U, the clamping piece 12 has an interruption 18 in which a clamping mechanism 20 is provided. The clamping mechanism 20 has a screw 22 and a nut 24 which engage with two legs 30, 32 arranged respectively on the edges 26, 28 of the interruption 18 and which can be pressed towards each other in the circumferential direction U in order to clamp the clamping piece 12 and thus the battery terminal 10 to the battery electrode 16.

The size of the receiving space 14, i.e. its diameter or circumference, is adapted to the size of the battery electrode 16 in order to obtain an optimal clamping effect on the battery electrode 16 or the best mechanical and electrical connection with the battery electrode 16.

To establish a reliable mechanical and electrical connection with the smaller diameter battery electrode 16 (shown in dashed lines in FIG. 1), an adapter ring 34, shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, is provided.

The adapter ring 34 has an outer surface 36 that substantially corresponds to the inner circumference of the fastening piece 12. Additionally, the adapter ring 34 has an inner surface 38 for intimate contact with the smaller diameter battery electrode 16. Thus, the perimeter of the inner surface substantially corresponds to the outer circumference of the smaller diameter battery electrode 16.

Between the inner surface 38 and the outer surface 36, a number of adapter elements 40 are provided, which in this embodiment are evenly distributed and arranged in the circumferential direction U. Each of the adapter elements 40 extends from the inner surface 38 to the outer surface 36 and is formed to be deformable in the radial direction with respect to the receiving space 14, in particular to be deformable plastically or elastically, as described below. In particular, the adapter elements 40 are softer than the battery electrodes 16, for example by being manufactured from a material softer than the material of the battery electrodes 16. For example, the adapter elements 40 are manufactured from copper or a copper alloy.

As can be seen particularly in FIG. 4, the adapter element 40 extends in the direction of the cylindrical longitudinal axis L of the receiving space 14 over substantially the entire length of the receiving space 14 or the fastening piece 12. Thus, the adapter ring 34 similarly extends in the direction of the cylindrical longitudinal axis L over the entire receiving space 14.

The adapter element 40 is connected in the circumferential direction U to a number of support elements 42, which are arranged radially outwardly on the adapter ring 34 and thus form part of the outer surface 36. As can be seen in particular in FIG. 4, a number of support elements 42 are provided that are distributed in the longitudinal direction L.

In contrast to the present embodiment shown here, support elements 42 can also be provided which only connect two or more adapter elements 40 to each other. It is not necessary for one support element 42 to connect all adapter elements 40 to each other. In particular, the support elements 42 can be made flexible in the circumferential direction U.

As can be seen particularly in Figures 2 and 3, the inner surface 38 is interrupted between the adapter elements 40.

The adapter ring 34 is inserted into the fastening piece 12 of the battery terminal 10 and can be fixed therein, for example by additional retaining means. In particular, the retaining means can be provided on the outer side 36. The retaining means is formed, for example, by a support element 42 which projects radially outward and can engage in a corresponding groove in the fastening piece 12.

In particular, the adapter ring 34 is non-detachably fixed to the fastening piece 12 within the fastening piece 12. This allows the adapter ring 34 to be transported and installed together with the battery terminal 10 without requiring additional work steps to fasten or align the adapter ring 34.

When the battery terminal 10 is attached to a small-diameter battery electrode 16, the inner surface 38 of the adapter ring 34 comes into close contact with the battery electrode 16. By operating the fastening mechanism 20, the battery terminal 10 or the fastening piece 12 of the battery terminal 10 can be fastened to the battery electrode 16. At that time, the adapter ring 34 comes into close contact with the battery electrode 16 and the fastening piece 12 of the battery terminal 10, thereby compensating for the difference in diameter between the battery electrode 16 and the fastening piece 12.

In particular, the adapter element 40 is formed to be radially deformable, whereby the adapter element 40 can deform radially as the clamping force increases in the circumferential direction to establish a better mechanical and/or electrical connection to the battery electrode 16.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 2 and 3, each of the adapter elements 40 is geometrically identical, i.e., the adapter elements have the same cross-section and the same mechanical properties. When a stronger clamping force is applied, all of the adapter elements 40 experience substantially the same radial force and deform in a similar amount. Thereby, the battery terminal 10, or the clamping piece 12, is located at the center of the battery electrode 16, i.e., the center of the clamping piece 12 is substantially located at the center of the battery electrode 16.

Figure 6 shows a second embodiment of the battery terminal 10 with an adapter ring 34. The structure of the adapter ring 34 substantially corresponds to the structure of the adapter ring 34 shown in Figures 2 and 3. However, the adapter elements 40 have different thicknesses in the radial direction, so that the center of the battery electrode 16 located in the fastening piece 12 does not overlap with the center of the receiving space 14. This allows the position of the battery terminal 10 to be shifted to a certain extent if necessary, for example due to installation space restrictions.

In particular, the adapter ring 34 can be formed such that the adapter element 40 is provided only in a predetermined area, whereby the battery electrode is in direct intimate contact with the fastening piece 12 in another area.

One such embodiment is shown, for example, in FIG. 9. This can have the advantage that the center of the battery terminal 10 or of the receiving space 14 can be offset relative to the center of the battery electrode 16.

This allows, for example, effective use of the space around the battery electrode 16 or the installation space of the vehicle battery.

Furthermore, the clamping mechanism 20 of the battery terminal 10 may have a cut-off mechanism that allows the clamping mechanism 20 to operate only when the battery terminal 10 is fully pressed against the battery electrode. For this purpose, the cut-off mechanism may have an actuating element 46, which is only shown diagrammatically in FIG. 9. The actuating element 46 is in close contact with the base portion 48 of the battery electrode 16, and is displaced when the battery terminal 10 is pressed in the mounting direction M so that the cut-off mechanism is pressed to an unlocked position where the clamping mechanism 20 can operate.

When the battery terminal 10 is positioned at the center of the battery electrode 16, the actuating element 46 is positioned radially outwardly with respect to the battery electrode 16, resulting in no or insufficient overlap with the base of the battery electrode, with smaller battery electrodes having less overlap. By shifting the center of the battery terminal relative to the center of the battery electrode, the actuating element 46 is brought radially closer to the center of the battery electrode 16 and overlaps with the base of the battery electrode 16, allowing the base of the battery electrode 16 to operate the cutoff mechanism.

In particular, the adapter elements 40 may have different mechanical properties, so that they deform differently and more strongly upon application of a clamping force. This also makes it possible to achieve a predetermined radial offset of the clamping pieces 12 on the battery electrodes 16.

Regardless of the present embodiment of the adapter ring 34 or of the adapter element 40, the adapter ring 34 is formed so that it can be non-detachably attached and fixed to the fastening piece 12, so that the adapter ring 34 can be attached together with the fastening piece 12 or the battery terminal 10.

In particular, the retaining means can be formed in such a way that it can be disassembled using a tool, for example for replacing the adapter ring 34.

Furthermore, a number of retaining devices can be provided on the fastening piece 12 for fixing the adapter ring 34. These retaining devices can then engage with the adapter ring 34 or with the retaining means of the adapter ring 34. In particular, the retaining devices are formed in such a way that attachment to a battery electrode 16 having a larger diameter is possible when the adapter ring 34 is not attached.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the adapter ring has a retaining means 44 formed as a locking element which projects opposite to the mounting direction M. The retaining means 44 can be locked to the upper edge of the fastening piece 12 with respect to Fig. 8, thereby fixing the adapter ring 34 to the fastening piece 12 with respect to the mounting direction M.

Regardless of this embodiment, the adapter ring 34 and the battery terminal 10 are formed such that the adapter ring 34 is held inseparably on the battery terminal 10, thereby allowing the battery terminal 10 with the adapter ring to be attached to the battery electrode all at once. In particular, the adapter ring 34 allows the battery terminal 10 to be quickly adapted to a battery electrode of smaller diameter. In particular, various adapter rings 34 with different diameters of the inner surface 38 can also be provided, thereby allowing adaptation to different diameters of the battery electrode 16.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 Battery terminal 12 Fastening piece 14 Receiving space 16 Battery electrode 34 Adapter ring 36 Outer surface 38 Inner surface 40 Adapter element 42 Support element 44 Holding means L Cylindrical longitudinal axis M Mounting direction U Circumferential direction

Regardless of the embodiment, the adapter ring 34 and the battery terminal 10 are formed such that the adapter ring 34 is non-detachably held to the battery terminal 10, thereby allowing a one-stop attachment of the battery terminal 10 with the adapter ring to the battery electrode. In particular, the adapter ring 34 allows for a quick adaptation of the battery terminal 10 to a battery electrode of smaller diameter. In particular, various adapter rings 34 can also be provided with different diameters of the inner surface 38, thereby allowing adaptation to different diameters of the battery electrode 16.
This application relates to the invention described in the claims of a utility model registration, but also includes the following as other aspects.
1.
An adapter ring (34) for a battery terminal (10), in particular for a battery terminal (10) for a vehicle battery in a vehicle, said battery terminal (10) having a fastening piece (12) which at least partially surrounds in a circumferential direction (U) a substantially cylindrical receiving space (14) for a battery electrode (16) of the vehicle battery,
the adapter ring (34) having an outer surface (36) for intimate contact with the inside of the fastening piece (12) and an inner surface (38) for intimate contact with the battery electrode (16);
the outer periphery of said outer surface (36) substantially corresponds to the inner periphery of said fastening piece (12), and the inner periphery of said inner surface (38) is smaller than the outer periphery of said outer surface (36);
The adapter ring (34) is arranged between the outer surface (36) and the inner surface (38) and comprises a plurality of adapter elements (40) which are deformable, in particular radially, in particular plastically or elastically.
2.
The adapter ring according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of adapter elements (40) are evenly distributed and arranged in the circumferential direction (U).
3.
3. The adapter ring of claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the outer surface (36) is provided with at least one support element (42) which at least partially circumferentially runs in the circumferential direction (U), which support element connects at least two adapter elements (40) to each other.
4.
4. The adapter ring according to claim 3, wherein the support elements (42) connect all the adapter elements (40) to each other in the circumferential direction (U).
5.
5. The adapter ring according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the inner surface (38) is at least partially interrupted in the circumferential direction (U) between the adapter elements (40).
6.
The adapter ring (34) is substantially cylindrical;
6. The adapter ring according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the adapter element (40) extends in the direction of the cylindrical longitudinal axis (L) over substantially the entire length of the adapter ring (34).
7.
7. The adapter ring according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the adapter ring (34) is provided with a retaining means (44) for fixing the adapter ring (34) to a fastening piece (12) of a battery terminal (10).
8.
8. The adapter ring according to claim 7, wherein the retaining means (44) is a locking element capable of being locked to the fastening piece.
9.
9. The adapter ring according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the holding means (44), in particular the locking elements, are formed in such a way that they can be locked, in particular so as to fix the adapter ring (34) to the fastening piece (12) relative to a mounting direction (M) of the adapter ring (34) extending in a cylindrical longitudinal axis (L).
10.
10. The adapter ring according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the retaining means (44) is provided at the front or rear edge of the adapter ring (34) with respect to the cylindrical longitudinal axis (L), in particular protruding in the direction of the cylindrical longitudinal axis (L).
11.
11. The adapter ring according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the distance between the inner surface (38) and the outer surface (36) is constant in the circumferential direction (U).
12.
11. The adapter ring according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the distance between the inner surface (38) and the outer surface (36) varies in the circumferential direction (U), in particular the radial lengths of the adapter elements (40) vary.
13.
13. The adapter ring according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the adapter ring is interrupted in the circumferential direction (U).
14.
14. The adapter ring of claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the center of the receiving portion formed by the inner surface (38) for the battery electrode (16) is radially offset with respect to the receiving space (14) with respect to the geometric center of the outer surface (36).
15.
15. The adapter ring according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the adapter elements (40) have different mechanical properties, in particular different deformation properties.
16.
A battery terminal (10), in particular for a vehicle battery in a vehicle, comprising:
a fastening piece (12) at least partially surrounding in a circumferential direction (U) a substantially cylindrical receiving space (14) for a battery electrode (16) of the vehicle battery;
and an adapter ring (34) according to any one of 1 to 15 above;
The battery terminal (10) has an adapter ring (34) that is housed in the receiving space (14), in particular in a non-detachable manner, whereby the adapter ring (34) is in close contact with the inner circumference of the fastening piece (12) by means of the outer surface (36).
17.
17. The battery terminal according to claim 16, characterized in that the fastening piece (12) is provided with a holding device for fixing the adapter ring (34).
18.
18. The battery terminal according to claim 16 or 17, characterized in that the adapter ring (34) extends over the entire fastening piece (12) in the longitudinal direction (L) of the receiving space (14).

Claims (18)

An adapter ring (34) for a battery terminal (10), in particular for a battery terminal (10) for a vehicle battery in a vehicle, said battery terminal (10) having a fastening piece (12) which at least partially surrounds in a circumferential direction (U) a substantially cylindrical receiving space (14) for a battery electrode (16) of the vehicle battery,
the adapter ring (34) having an outer surface (36) for intimate contact with the inside of the fastening piece (12) and an inner surface (38) for intimate contact with the battery electrode (16);
the outer periphery of said outer surface (36) substantially corresponds to the inner periphery of said fastening piece (12), and the inner periphery of said inner surface (38) is smaller than the outer periphery of said outer surface (36);
The adapter ring (34) is arranged between the outer surface (36) and the inner surface (38) and comprises a plurality of adapter elements (40) which are deformable, in particular radially, in particular plastically or elastically. The adapter ring according to claim 1, characterized in that the multiple adapter elements (40) are evenly distributed and arranged in the circumferential direction (U). The adapter ring according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the outer surface (36) is provided with at least one support element (42) that at least partially circumferentially runs in the circumferential direction (U), which support element connects at least two adapter elements (40) to each other. The adapter ring according to claim 3, characterized in that the support element (42) connects all the adapter elements (40) to each other in the circumferential direction (U). The adapter ring according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the inner surface (38) is at least partially interrupted in the circumferential direction (U) between the adapter elements (40). The adapter ring (34) is substantially cylindrical;
An adapter ring according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the adapter element (40) extends in the direction of a cylindrical longitudinal axis (L) over substantially the entire length of the adapter ring (34). The adapter ring according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the adapter ring (34) is provided with a retaining means (44) for fixing the adapter ring (34) to the fastening piece (12) of the battery terminal (10). The adapter ring according to claim 7, characterized in that the retaining means (44) is a locking element that can be locked to the fastening piece. The adapter ring according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the holding means (44), in particular the locking elements, are formed in such a way that they can be locked, in particular so that they can fix the adapter ring (34) to the fastening piece (12) with respect to a mounting direction (M) of the adapter ring (34) that runs along the cylindrical longitudinal axis (L). The adapter ring according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the retaining means (44) is provided at the front or rear edge of the adapter ring (34) with respect to the cylindrical longitudinal axis (L), in particular protruding in the direction of the cylindrical longitudinal axis (L). An adapter ring according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the distance between the inner surface (38) and the outer surface (36) is constant in the circumferential direction (U). An adapter ring according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the distance between the inner surface (38) and the outer surface (36) varies in the circumferential direction (U), in particular the radial lengths of the adapter elements (40) vary. An adapter ring according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the adapter ring is interrupted in the circumferential direction (U). The adapter ring according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the center of the receiving portion formed by the inner surface (38) for the battery electrode (16) is radially offset with respect to the receiving space (14) with respect to the geometric center of the outer surface (36). An adapter ring according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the multiple adapter elements (40) each have different mechanical properties, in particular different deformation properties. A battery terminal (10), in particular for a vehicle battery in a vehicle, comprising:
a fastening piece (12) at least partially surrounding in a circumferential direction (U) a substantially cylindrical receiving space (14) for a battery electrode (16) of the vehicle battery;
An adapter ring (34) according to any one of claims 1 to 15,
The battery terminal (10) has an adapter ring (34) that is housed in the receiving space (14), in particular in a non-detachable manner, whereby the adapter ring (34) is in close contact with the inner circumference of the fastening piece (12) by means of the outer surface (36). The battery terminal according to claim 16, characterized in that the fastening piece (12) is provided with a retaining device for fixing the adapter ring (34). The battery terminal according to claim 16 or 17, characterized in that the adapter ring (34) extends over the entire fastening piece (12) in the longitudinal direction (L) of the receiving space (14).

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