US1838024A

US1838024A - Connection for battery terminals or the like

Info

Publication number: US1838024A
Application number: US253882A
Authority: US
Inventors: Sparrow Frederick
Original assignee: A A MATHEWS; H M MATHEWS
Current assignee: A A MATHEWS; H M MATHEWS
Priority date: 1928-02-13
Filing date: 1928-02-13
Publication date: 1931-12-22
Anticipated expiration: 1948-12-22

Description

Dec. 22, 1931. F. SPARROW 1,838,024

CONNECTION FOR BATTERY TERMINALS OR THE LIKE Filed Feb. 13, 1928 W MM Patented @ee. 22, 11933.

D STATES PATENT OFFICE FREDERICK SPARROW, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO A. A. MATHEWS AND H. M. MATHEWS, BOTH 015 LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA CONNECTION FOR BATTERY TERMINALS OR THE LIKE This invention has to do with a device for spread or somewhat sprung after the clamp making an electrical connection, and its a primary object of the invention to provide a device for making connection with a binding post or terminal such as the terminal of a storage battery, or the like.

Various electrical devices and particularly storage batteries of the general type used in motor vehicles, and the like, are provided In with terminals to which the electrical conductors or cables are adapted to be connected.

In practice the terminals of storage batteries of the character mentioned vary in diiferent makes'of batteries. In some cases the .variation is in the diameter of the terminaL' In other cases it is in the shape or taper. The battery terminals are usually made fairly large or heavy as they are subject to corrosion and they are usually made tapered to facilitate the removal of the connecting devices that frequently become tightly corroded on them.

It is common practice to provide connecting devices for battery terminals in the form of split clamps adapted to more or less closely fit the terminals when new and clean and adapted to be made tight by a clamping bolt. These clamps are usually in the form of castings open at one side to allow them to be tightened or clamped onto the terminals through the action of the clamping bolt. This form of connection in order to be effective must have a fairly accurate fit with the terminal. With the split clamp type of connector now in use it is'necessary to provide many different forms and styles of clamps to accommodate the different sizes and shapes of battery terminals. Further with this split clamp type of connector it is often diflicult to make the proper connection with a terminal and have the connector positioned so that there is no interference with other parts such as the battery handles, mounting means, etc. Further, it is found that this split clamp type of connector frequently becomes tightly corroded to the terminal and even though the clamp bolt is released it is difiicult and in some cases impossible to get the connector 03. This is a parent as the split clamp must necessarily e bolt is released.

It is an object of this invention to provide a terminal connector applicable to terminals of various sizes and shapes.

Another object of this invention is to provide a terminal connector, which is of simple, inexpensive formation and which is simple and convenient to use.

A further object of this invention is to provide a terminal connector that can be readily removed from a terminal regardless of corrosion that may have taken place at the terminal and connector.

It is an object of this invention to provide a battery connector that can be effectively applied to a terminal in various positions to avoid interference with surrounding parts.

The various objects and features of the invention will be best and more fully understood from the following detailed description of typical forms and applications of the invention, throughout which description reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which: c

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a typical storage battery showing connectors provided by my invention applied to the terminals.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the connector provided by my invention showingit applied to a terminal.

Fig. 3 is a view taken as indicated by line 33, on Fig. 2.

Fig. 4: is a View taken as indicated by line 4-4, on Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view taken as indicated by line 55, on Fig. 2, and

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing another form of the invention.

The connector provided by this invention is adapted to be applied to terminals or binding posts for the purpose of making electrical connection therewith. The connector is particularly useful in connection with terminals such as are found on storage batteries, and the like, and therefore, I will proceed to describe the invention in this connection, it being understood that the invention is not to be construed as specifically limited to this particular application.

In the drawings I have disclosed a typical form of storage battery 10 having binding posts or terminals 11. The battery is carried in a case12 provided at its ends with handles 13. In accordance with the usual arrangement of parts the terminals 11 project upwardly from the top of the battery and are located near the ends of the battery where they are in the vicinity of the handles 13 The connector provided by my invention is intended to make a suitable electrical connection between a conductor or cable 14 and a terminal such as one of the terminals 11. The connector includes, generally, a body 15, a U-clamp 16 carried by the body and adapted to engage around the terminal 11, a nut 17 applied to the U-clamp for tightening the body and clamp on the terminal 11 and a socket 18 in connection with the body for receiving the end of the cable 14.

The body 15 of the device may be a flat plate-like part having one side adapted to engage the side of the terminal 11. In the preferred form of the invention a pad or seat 20 is provided at the front or terminal engaging side of the body to receive the terminal. The seat 20 is preferably concave, in which case it is desirable to form the seat on a radius less than the radius of the battery terminals to be engaged so that the seat has spaced parts bearing on the terminal when applied thereto as shownin Fig. 2 of the drawings. Further in practice the seat 20 may be roughened or provided with projecting parts or teeth 21 which operate to bite into the terminal when the body is applied thereto.

The U-bolt 16 provided for holding the body to the terminal may be a simple form of U-bolt having a curved part 25 adapted to fit or extend around the terminal and spaced

side parts

26 and 27 adapted to be carried by the body 15.

In accordance with my invention the spaced

side parts

26 and 27 of the U-bolt extend through the body and one of them is threaded to receive the clamping nut 17. Side part 27 projects through the body 15 and the clamping nut 17 is applied to the projecting end of said part to engage the rear face of the body. The body 15 is constructed to pass the side parts of the U-bolt. In the construction shown the body has spaced openings 30 which more or less freely pass the parts of the bolt as shown throughout the drawings. The side part 26 of the bolt projects a substantial distance through the body so that the bolt will have the desired holding action as will be hereinafter described.

The socket 18 provided for receiving the end of the terminal 14 may be in the form of an enlargement on one end of the body, for instance, at the end of the body receiving the side part 26 of the clamp bolt 16. The socket 18 is provided with an opening 31 in which the end of the cable 14 may be sweated or otherwise made secure.

In using the connector it is applied to a terminal 11 in the manner shown in the drawings; the nut 17 being tightened to draw the curved part 25 of the bolt toward the body 15, so that the body and bolt tightly grip the terminal. In the course of tightening the nut 17 the bolt may turn or cramp somewhat to one side, however, I have found that the single clamp nut 17 is effective and suiticient to establish a tight and efiicient connection between the body 15 and the terminal 11.

It will be apparent that the connector can be efiectively applied to terminals of different diameters and that it is effective on terminals that are straight or tapered. By my invention I have thus provided a simple, practical and effective connector that is universal in application to terminals such as are found on storage batteries. When it is desired to detach the connector from the terminal 11 the nut 17 is loosened on or removed from the side part 27, whereupon, the connector and body are loose and easily detachable from the terminal. If the parts are found to be tightly corroded to the terminal it is a very simple matter to drive the U-bolt by hammering on the ends of the

side parts

26 and 27 and when the U-bolt is released it is a very simple matter to dislodge the body 15. In applying the connector to a terminal it can be turned or faced in either direction, thus allowing it to be ositioned to accommodate or avoid inter ering parts, such as the handles 13.

In Fig. 6 of the drawings, I disclose a somewhat modified form of the invention in which the side part 26 of the bolt has its projecting end turned to form a hook 40 adapted to engage the body 15 or the socket 18, which may be considered a part of the body. The end or hook part 40 in being thus engaged with the body provides a means of holding the end 26 so that it cannot-be displacedfrom the opening in the body and limits or restricts the movements of the side parts 26 as the nut 17 is tightened to clamp the bolt and bod to a terminal.

Having described only a typical preferred form of invention I do not wish to limit myself to the specific details set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any changes or variations that may appear to those skilled in the art or fall within the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A terminal connector of the character described including a rigid body to engage one side of a terminal, a cable socket on one end of the body disposed longitudinally of the body, a U-bolt to directly engage around the terminal and having its side @parts pro jecting through the body, and a clamp nut threaded on one side part of the bolt to engage the body.

2. A terminal connector of the character described including a rigid flat body having a seat on one side to engage one side of a terminal, a cable socket on one end of the body, a U-bolt to directly engage around the terminal and having its side parts projecting through the body, a clamp nut threaded on one side of the bolt to engage the body, and means connecting the other side part of the bolt with the body.

3. A terminal connector of the character described including a body to engage one side of a terminal, a cable socket on the body, a U-bolt to engage around the terminal and having its side parts projecting through openings in the body, a clamp nut threaded on one side part of the bolt to engage the body, and a hook part on the end of the other side part of the bolt that projects through one of the openings in the body the hook part engaging the body.

4. A battery terminal connector including a body in the form of a plate, a toothed semi-circular seat in one side of the body to engage a battery terminal, a cable socket on one end of the body disposed longitudinally of the body, a U-bolt to engage around the terminal and having its side parts extending transversely through 0 enings in the body, a clamp nut threade on one side part of the U-bolt to engage a side of the body, the other side part being carried in one of the body openings to bind therein when the connector is applied to a battery terminal.

5. A-terminal connector of the character described including, a rigid body to engage one side of a terminal, a U-bolt to engage around the terminal and having its side parts projecting through openings in the body, and a clamp nut threaded on one side part of the bolt to engage the body, the other side part of the bolt being related to the body opening that receives it so that it binds in said opening.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 2nd day of February, 1928.

FREDERICK SPARROW.