US1974440A - Tester for storage batteries - Google Patents

Description

INVENTOR Gerald 6/102 Sept.25, 1934. e. H. ALLEN TESTER FOR STORAGE BATTERIES Filed Feb. 28, 1931 Patented Sept. 25, 1934 UNITED STATES TESTER FOR STORAGE BATTERIES Gerald H. Allen, Kalamazoo, Mich., assignor to Allen Electric and Equipment Company,

' Kalamazoo, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application February 28, 1931, Serial No. 519,081

1 Claim.

This invention relates to an improved tester for storage batteries.

The objects of the invention are:

First, to provide a simple, compact and efficient structure for the purpose.

Second, to provide an improved shape of meter mounting bracket capable of being made of flat rolled stock.

Third, to provide improved means of assembling the handle, bracket and prods.

Objects relating to details of construction and operation will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined in the claim. A structure embodying the features of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved battery tester.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation view taken from the left of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the reading of the voltmeter.

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. 1, showing details of construction and the method of attaching the voltmeter to the brackets.

The parts will be identified by their numerals of reference which are the same in all the Views.

1 is the handle of the cell tester and serves as the support for all the other parts. The prods 2 and 3 are identical and are made of half-round metal tapered at 31 from the half-round side to sharp points, at an angle of about 60 degrees. This is preferably accomplished by clamping the two half-rounds together in a lathe chuck and turning the two points at a single operation. The upper ends are bent parallel and are inserted into a bore 4 in the handle 1 (see Fig. 4), thus forming a shank. The metal parts may or may not be protected by cadmium or other plating and finally finished with clear lacquer to protect them.

5 is a blade of insulation inserted between the two prods in the socket or bore 4. The insulation is not indispensable if the prods are held in spaced relation. 6 are the supporting brackets of iden- 45 tical form supported by semi-circular curved ends 61 disposed in an annular groove 7 around the handle 1. The groove could be dispensed with. These parts are clamped together by screws 8 extending therethrough and radially through the handle, being screw threaded into the opposite prod members 2 and 3 (Fig. 4) and holding them separately. By this means the brackets are connected electrically each to one of the prods and the prods are insulated from each other.

Vertical eyes 62 are turned in the outer ends of the bracket arms 8 and a voltmeter 9 is carried thereby and is insulated therefrom by a sheet of insulating fiber 10 disposed on the top of the brackets. The voltmeter is retained in place by bolts 11 through the vertical eyes 62 which serve as the binding posts for the said voltmeter as well as the attaching means therefor. The voltmeter could be otherwise supported.

A resistance element 12, preferably made of a metal with a low temperature coeii'icient, is disposed between the prods and secured thereto by binding posts 121, 121 at each side, which are preferably supplemented by solder 122. These, however, may be secured by riveting or by spot welding. The binding posts are preferable on account of the facility with which the parts may be renewed in the event of injury.

In the use of my improved battery tester the points are pressed sufiiciently to prick through the oxide or corrosion to the metal of the battery terminals and are then gently pressed to place. The heat developed at once softens the lead so that the points drop to a uniform depth, thus insuring uniformity of testing. The voltmeter is carefully calibrated under this 003C111 tion and thus secures uniformity of test.

I have shown a very specific, special form of construction of the various parts, which possesses great merit in economy of construction. It will be observed that no ferrules, bushings, washers or special forms of insulating material are made use of. By using fiat stock for the brackets great economy is accomplished. Stock materials without any special form are thus made use of at a minimum of expense.

I desire therefore to claim the invention in its specific form, as well as broadly, as pointed out in the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

In a tester, the combination of an insulating handle having a central socket round in cross section, prods of half-round metal having points formed by tapering from the rounded side and disposed in parallel spaced relation, said prods at the upper ends being bent and fitted fiat sides together to form a shank to fit within the said socket, an insulator blade between the said prods within the socket, a bracket made up of parallel arms, having the outer ends of said bracket arms turned into eyes and having semi-circular inner ends disposed in an annular groove around the said handle, the prods and bracket being retained together by cross screws through the said bracket and handle and threaded onto said prods, and

a meter having binding posts disposed in the

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