SE540179C2 - A protective arrangement for a cable connector - Google Patents

A protective arrangement for a cable connector

Info

Publication number
SE540179C2
SE540179C2 SE1551598A SE1551598A SE540179C2 SE 540179 C2 SE540179 C2 SE 540179C2 SE 1551598 A SE1551598 A SE 1551598A SE 1551598 A SE1551598 A SE 1551598A SE 540179 C2 SE540179 C2 SE 540179C2
Authority
SE
Sweden
Prior art keywords
washer
battery
connector
protective arrangement
terminal
Prior art date
Application number
SE1551598A
Other versions
SE1551598A1 (en
Inventor
Tengstedt Carl
Wingbrant Helena
Dabbagh Sandra
Original Assignee
Scania Cv Ab
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 Scania Cv Ab filed Critical Scania Cv Ab
Priority to SE1551598A priority Critical patent/SE540179C2/en
Priority to DE102016013928.5A priority patent/DE102016013928A1/en
Publication of SE1551598A1 publication Critical patent/SE1551598A1/en
Publication of SE540179C2 publication Critical patent/SE540179C2/en

Links

Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60LPROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
    • B60L50/00Electric propulsion with power supplied within the vehicle
    • B60L50/50Electric propulsion with power supplied within the vehicle using propulsion power supplied by batteries or fuel cells
    • B60L50/60Electric propulsion with power supplied within the vehicle using propulsion power supplied by batteries or fuel cells using power supplied by batteries
    • B60L50/64Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01MPROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M50/00Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the non-active parts of electrochemical cells other than fuel cells, e.g. hybrid cells
    • H01M50/50Current conducting connections for cells or batteries
    • H01M50/571Methods or arrangements for affording protection against corrosion; Selection of materials therefor
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01RELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R11/00Individual 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
    • H01R11/11End pieces or tapping pieces for wires, supported by the wire and for facilitating electrical connection to some other wire, terminal or conductive member
    • H01R11/28End pieces consisting of a ferrule or sleeve
    • H01R11/281End pieces consisting of a ferrule or sleeve for connections to batteries
    • H01R11/284End pieces consisting of a ferrule or sleeve for connections to batteries comprising means for preventing corrosion, e.g. covers, enclosures filled with gel
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01MPROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M10/00Secondary cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M10/06Lead-acid accumulators
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01MPROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M2220/00Batteries for particular applications
    • H01M2220/20Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02EREDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E60/00Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02E60/10Energy storage using batteries
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02TCLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
    • Y02T10/00Road transport of goods or passengers
    • Y02T10/60Other road transportation technologies with climate change mitigation effect
    • Y02T10/70Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Electrochemistry (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Sustainable Development (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Sustainable Energy (AREA)
  • Power Engineering (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Battery Mounting, Suspending (AREA)
  • Connection Of Batteries Or Terminals (AREA)

Abstract

A protective arrangement for a connector (5) adapted to connect a cable (4) to a terminal (3) of a wet cell battery (1), wherein said terminal extends from a battery casing (2) of said battery. The protective arrangement comprises a washer (6) mounted around said terminal between the battery casing and the connector, forming a chemically tight seal with the terminal. A gap is provided between the washer and the battery casing and the washer has a hydrophobic outer surface to prevent electrochemical corrosion of the connector. The invention further relates to a battery assembly comprising said protective arrangement and a motor vehicle.(Fig. 1)

Description

A protective arrangement for a cable connector TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a protective arrangement for protecting a connector adapted to connect a cable to a terminal of a wet cell battery according to the preamble of claim 1. The invention also relates to a battery assembly and a motor vehicle.
A hydrophobic surface is herein to be understood as a surface having a contact angle with water of at least 90°.
BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART Wet cell batteries, e.g. lead-sulphate type batteries, are commonly used as an electrical power source in motor vehicles having an internal combustion engine such as trucks, buses, boats, automobiles, etc. The batteries are connected to the wiring of the motor vehicle by means of cables having connectors attached to the terminals of the battery. Such batteries are unfortunately associated with corrosion and sulphation problems affecting the attached connectors. Corrosion and sulphation cause deterioration of the electrical connection that may ultimately lead to lost electrical contact between the terminals and the cables. Thus, corrosion and sulphation, generally arising due to evaporation of battery electrolyte from the area around the terminal, may damage the battery terminals and the connectors and thereby shorten battery life, and potentially even create hazards to safe vehicle operation. Road dirt and salt or corrosion products may in combination with moisture lead to that a connection is formed between the terminal and grounded parts of the motor vehicle, which can cause a leakage current and severe electrochemical corrosion of the connector.
US5021305 discloses a protective arrangement for protecting a connector adapted to connect a cable to a terminal of a wet cell battery from corrosion. The protective arrangement comprises a housing encapsulating the connector such as to prevent gases from the battery from coming into contact with the connector. A washer is provided between a casing of the battery and the housing, in contact with the battery casing surface such that it forms a seal therewith and furthermore with the terminal and the housing. However, the construction is complicated, and there is also a risk that humidity enters the housing due to temperature variations and therewith associated pressure variations, and condenses therein. Such condensation may lead to corrosion problems. The deformation of the battery terminals over time, that arises since the terminals are generally made from soft and ductile material such as lead, may also affect the sealing properties of the washer and make the arrangement unstable over time.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a primary objective of the present invention to achieve a protective arrangement for protecting a connector adapted to connect a cable to a terminal of a wet cell battery, which is in at least some aspect improved with respect to known solutions. In particular, it is an objective to achieve such a protective arrangement which is easy to install and to replace. Another objective is to achieve such a protective arrangement which can function regardless of temperature variations.
According to a first aspect of the invention, at least the primary objective is achieved by means of the initially defined protective arrangement, which is characterised in that the washer has a hydrophobic outer surface, wherein the outer surface of the washer has a contact angle with water of at least 100°, and in that the washer is made from a plastic material. The washer forms a chemically tight seal with the terminal of the battery and thereby prevents gases from the battery from reaching the cable connector. By placing a washer at a distance from the battery casing, gases that escape from the battery casing can be directed away from the terminal, and thereby also from the connector, once the gases reach the washer. Thus, on one hand, the washer interrupts streams of gas and splashes of acid originating from the battery toward the connector. The washer thereby prevents chemical corrosion arising due to contact between acid from the battery and the connector.
On the other hand, the washer has a hydrophobic surface and is therefore water repellent. The hydrophobic surface prevents formation of a continuous thin film of adsorbed moisture from forming on the washer. The washer thereby interrupts the electrochemical connection that may otherwise, in the absence of the washer, form between the connector and a chassis of a motor vehicle in which the battery is located. The chassis is usually connected directly to the negative battery pole and serves as ground for the electrical wiring, with an electric potential of 0 V. Such an electrochemical connection, formed by a wetting film, may lead to electrochemical (galvanic) corrosion on the connector, in particular on the positive terminal. By breaking the connection, the washer prevents the connector from electrochemical corrosion.
Thus, the protective arrangement according to the invention protects the connector from both chemical and electrochemical corrosion without the need to build the connector into a housing or the like. The protective arrangement is thereby very easy to install by simply mounting a suitably designed washer with a chemically tight fit around the terminal and apart from that leaving the connector exposed. Of course, grease may be used to further prevent the connector from corrosion, but the amount of grease may be reduced in comparison with battery assemblies in which no protective arrangement is used.
The protective arrangement is also easy to replace upon service of the battery. If the terminal deforms over time, the washer may simply be adjusted or replaced to maintain the function of the protective arrangement. Since the protective arrangement is not constructed to form an hermetically sealed housing around the connector, problems with moisture condensing on the connector are reduced, and the protective arrangement can thereby function also as the surrounding temperature varies.
The hydrophobic outer surface of the washer may be achieved by making the entire washer from a hydrophobic material, by providing a washer with a hydrophobic coating, or by otherwise treating the surface of the washer such that a hydrophobic surface is obtained.
The gap between the washer and the battery casing can be tuned depending of the hydrophobicity of the outer surface of the washer.
A chemically tight seal between the washer and the terminal can be achieved either by selecting a suitable washer material able to form a tight seal, or by incorporating a ductile sealing material around a center hole of the washer.
According to the present invention, the outer surface of the washer has a contact angle with water of at least 100°. Wetting of the washer is thereby efficiently prevented.
According to the present invention, the washer is made from a plastic material. By “plastic material” is to be understood a synthetic material comprising organic polymers. For example, polypropylene and polytetrafluoroethylene are suitable plastic materials with hydrophobic properties to use for the washer. Plastic materials are lightweight and possible to tailor such that the washer obtains desirable properties.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the washer is made from a hydrophobic material. Preferably, the material is a hydrophobic plastic material. By making the entire washer from a hydrophobic material, the manufacturing process becomes cost efficient and the hydrophobic surface is less sensitive to damage than in the case of a separate hydrophobic coating.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, the washer is made from polytetrafluoroethylene. This is a hydrophobic plastic material with a water contact angle of more than 100° and which is also inert to sulphuric acid, commonly used as the electrolyte in wet cell batteries. The washer is in this embodiment protected against damage from sulphuric acid as such acid evaporates or otherwise leaks from the battery. This improves the lifetime of the protective arrangement.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, the washer is dimensioned so that it has at least the same extension as the connector in a direction parallel with an upper surface of the battery casing. Sulphuric acid from the battery, which is directed away from the connector by means of the washer, is thus guided past the connector and it is prevented that the acid reaches the connector.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, the gap between the washer and the battery casing is at least 0.5 mm. This distance is usually sufficient to achieve the above discussed advantages.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, the washer has a lower surface directed toward the battery casing, which lower surface is provided with a surface pattern. The surface patterning, in the form of e.g. grooves, ridges, indentations, or protrusions, helps preventing formation of a thin film of adsorbed moisture on the washer.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, the washer is colour coded to indicate a polarity of the battery terminal. For example, the washer of the protective arrangement for the positive terminal is red coloured and the washer for mounting on the negative terminal is black.
According to another aspect of the invention, the invention relates to a battery assembly comprising a wet cell battery, a cable, and a connector, further comprising the proposed protective arrangement. In such a battery assembly, the connector or connectors are protected from corrosion as discussed above.
The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising the proposed battery assembly. The motor vehicle is e.g. a wheeled motor vehicle, such as a truck, a bus, or a passenger car.
Other advantageous features as well as advantages of the present invention will appear from the following description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Embodiments of the invention will in the following be described with reference to the appended drawings, in which: Fig. 1 schematically shows a battery assembly including a protective arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention, and Fig. 2 schematically shows a motor vehicle comprising the battery assembly.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION A battery assembly 10 according to an embodiment of the invention is schematically shown in fig. 1. The battery assembly 10 comprises a wet cell battery 1 having a battery casing 2. A terminal 3 extends from the battery casing 2. The terminal 3 has the shape of a truncated cone, thus being wider at the battery casing 2 than at a top of the terminal 3. The battery assembly further comprises an insulated cable 4 and a connector 5 connecting the cable 4 to the terminal 3. The battery assembly is further provided with a protective arrangement comprising a circular washer 6 mounted around the terminal 3, between the battery casing 2 and the connector 5. The washer forms a tight seal with the terminal 3, either by means of an additional ductile sealing material or by itself. A gap having a width w, preferably of at least 0.5 mm, is provided between the battery casing 2 and the washer 6. The washer 6 is dimensioned so that it extends outside of the connector 5 as seen in a plane parallel with an upper surface of the battery casing 2. The washer 6 has a hydrophobic outer surface and is preferably made from polytetrafluoroethylene. The washer can also be formed with extensions (not shown) extending from a lower surface of the washer, directed toward the battery casing. The extensions set the distance to the battery casing 2 and force the washer to be parallel to the upper surface of the battery casing.
When in use, the washer 6 prevents splashes of sulphuric acid H2SO4from the wet cell battery 1 , and gas leaking out from around a base of the terminal 3. Furthermore, the hydrophobic outer surface of the washer 6 prevents formation of a thin film of adsorbed moisture which can otherwise create an electrochemical connection between the connector 5 and a chassis of a motor vehicle in which the battery assembly 10 is located. For a 24 V battery, there is a potential difference of 24 V between the positive terminal 3 of the battery 1 and the ground. In the presence of a thin film of adsorbed moisture, such a potential difference drives electrochemical processes leading to corrosion on the connector.
Fig. 2 very schematically shows a motor vehicle 20 comprising a battery assembly 10 according to the invention. A chassis 21 of the motor vehicle 20 serves as ground.
The invention is of course not in any way restricted to the embodiments described above. On the contrary, many possibilities to modifications thereof will be apparent to a person with ordinary skill in the art without departing from the basic idea of the invention such as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (8)

1. A protective arrangement for a connector (5) adapted to connect a cable (4) to a terminal (3) of a wet cell battery (1), wherein said terminal (3) extends from a battery casing (2) of said battery (1 ), said protective arrangement comprising a washer (6) mounted around said terminal (3) between the battery casing (2) and the connector (5), said washer (6) forming a chemically tight seal with the terminal (3), wherein a gap is provided between the washer (6) and the battery casing (2) characterised in that the washer (6) has a hydrophobic outer surface, wherein the outer surface of the washer has a contact angle with water of at least 100°, and in that the washer (6) is made from a plastic material.
2. The protective arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the washer (6) is made from a hydrophobic material.
3. The protective arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the washer (6) is made from polytetrafluoroethylene.
4. The protective arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the washer (6) is dimensioned so that it has at least the same extension as the connector (5) in a direction parallel with an upper surface of the battery casing (2).
5. The protective arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the gap between the washer (6) and the battery casing (2) is at least 0.5 mm.
6. The protective arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the washer (6) has a lower surface directed toward the battery casing (2), which lower surface is provided with a surface pattern.
7. A battery assembly (10) comprising a wet cell battery (1 ), a cable (4), and a connector (5), further comprising a protective arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims.
8. A motor vehicle (20) comprising a battery assembly (10) according to claim 7.
SE1551598A 2015-12-04 2015-12-04 A protective arrangement for a cable connector SE540179C2 (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
SE1551598A SE540179C2 (en) 2015-12-04 2015-12-04 A protective arrangement for a cable connector
DE102016013928.5A DE102016013928A1 (en) 2015-12-04 2016-11-22 Protection arrangement for a cable connector

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
SE1551598A SE540179C2 (en) 2015-12-04 2015-12-04 A protective arrangement for a cable connector

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
SE1551598A1 SE1551598A1 (en) 2017-06-05
SE540179C2 true SE540179C2 (en) 2018-04-24

Family

ID=58722470

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
SE1551598A SE540179C2 (en) 2015-12-04 2015-12-04 A protective arrangement for a cable connector

Country Status (2)

Country Link
DE (1) DE102016013928A1 (en)
SE (1) SE540179C2 (en)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US12525673B2 (en) 2021-03-24 2026-01-13 Ford Global Technologies, Llc Anti-filiform corrosion channels

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5021305A (en) 1989-06-28 1991-06-04 Turner William C Battery terminal seal

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE102016013928A1 (en) 2017-06-08
SE1551598A1 (en) 2017-06-05

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