US2192209A

US2192209A - Battery post connector

Info

Publication number: US2192209A
Application number: US197659A
Authority: US
Inventors: Bert A Stocking
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1938-03-23
Filing date: 1938-03-23
Publication date: 1940-03-05
Anticipated expiration: 1957-03-05

Description

March 5, 1940.

B. A. STOCKING BATTERY POST CONNECT-OR Filed March 23, 193s "III In Fig.5

5 foe 2'27 qmg Patented Mar. 5, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Bert A. Stocking, Denver, Colo.

Application March 23, 1938, Serial No. 197,659

3 Claims.

This invention relates to means for operatively and detachably connecting one end of an electricai conductor, or cable, with a terminal post of a secondary or storage battery, such as is commonly employed in automotive vehicles,'andthe like, and has as an object to provide an improved construction and unitary'combination of elements conveniently and efliciently operable to establish and maintain the desired connection.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved connector for secondary battery terminal posts which minimizes corrosion and corrosive effect at the connection established thereby.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved coacting, cam-type means in a battery post connector conveniently operable to establish a positive, readily-releasable grip on the terminal post of a battery.

n A further object of the invention is to provide an improved battery post connector susceptible of convenient use in cramped and restricted 10'- cations, which is arranged for positive manipulation by readily-available tools; which minimizes the probability of damage to the battery during its removal and replacement, and which is longlived, durable, and efllcient in use.

My invention consists in the construction, ar-

- rangement, and combination of elements hereinafter set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated by the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a sideelevation of a preferred embodiment of the invention as assembled and installed for practical use, portions of the associated battery being broken away to conserve space. Figure 2 is a vertical, diametric section or the showing of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a'bottom plan view of the connector removed from the battery post. Figure 4 is a transverse section taken on the indicated line 4-4 of Figure 2. Figure 5 is a side elevation of an alternative embodiment of the invention. I

In the construction of the improvement as shown, the connector is illustrated as comprising a cylindrical body portion l0 and a relatively rotatable clamping member Ii telescopically associated with the body portion. The body portion i0 is preferably formed of suitable metal by molding, casting, or the like, in the form of a cylinder having. a diameter. much in excess of the diameter of a conventional battery terminal post and an axial length substantially equal to I the projection of such terminal post above its 58 point of attachment to a battery assembly. One

end of the bodyportion I0 is traversed by an integral web or plate I2 which serves to close said end of the member save as hereinafter set forth, and the other end of the body portion is recessed to form a cylindrical chamber whereof the web I! I constitutes the bottom. An integral boss or post l3 rises centrally from the web l2 within the cylindrical chamber of the body portion l0 and terminates in the plane of the open end of said body portion, said boss preferably being formed with an upwardly-tapered outer wall substantially parallel with the tapered conical wall of a typical battery terminal post. The web I 2 of the body'portion is intersected by a hole or opening ll of a size and'shape to telescope over and seat loosely about the base portion of a typical battery terminal post l5, which hole is carried entirely through said web l2 in markedly eccentric relation with the body portion I0 and is continued as a frusto-conical bore through one side all portion and into intersecting relation through the end of the central boss I3, so that when the body portion I0 is mounted over and in embracing telescoping relation with the post ii, the frusto-conical form of said post is accommo- 35 dated by the similar form of the bore to permit seating 01 that portion of the boss I! intersected by said bore smoothly and in partially embracing relation against a side wall of said post. The body portion I0 is formed with an integral arm or ing it projecting radially therefrom, which arm is formed with an axial bore opening radially and outwardly of the assembly and adapted to receive the metallic core ll of an electrical conductor I 8, an opening I! being provided in one wall of the arm 16 in communicating relation with the axial bore of said arm wherein means, such as solder, may be introduced to firmly fix the metal core I! in the desired telescopic relation within the axial bore of said arm, thus providing a firm, positive, and electrically eflicient connection between the conductor and the connector assembly.

The clamping member H is also preferably formed of metal by molding or casing and is in 5 the forinof a cylinder adapted to telescope within v and freely rotate relative to the cylindrical recess of the body portionv l0, said cylinder being formed with an annular flange or rib 20 positioned to engage against the end margin defining the cylindrical recess of said body portion and thereby position the housed end of said member ll adjacent and in closely spaced relation with the web II of the body portion, a gasket ring 2! pref-.

erably being interposed between adjacent surfaces of the flange 2i! and body portion In to partially seal the joint formed thereby, to minimize corrosive action at such joint and consequent sticking of the member ii to the body portion Ill, and to facilitate relative rotation between said cooperating members. The outer end of the clamping member H is entirely closed and is finished to a terminal, axially-disposed boss 22 formed with angularly-related side surfaces adapted to be engaged by the jaws of a wrench, or similar tool, whereby said member may be rotated relative to the body portion iii. The inner end of the clamping member ii is eccentrically recessed to form a chamber having side walls tapered to substantial parallelism with the side walls of the battery post it, the eccentricity of said chamber relative to the clamping member being such as to provide a thinner wall on one side which will not entirely fill the space between the more adjacent walls of the battery post iii and the body portion it, and a thicker wall whichwill more than fill said space between the more nearly adjacent battery post and body portion walls, so that, when the clamping member H is rotated to bring its thinner wall portion into the narrowest space between the body portion and the battery post, the connector assembly is in loosely telescoping relation with said h v post and can be freely lifted away or placed over said post, rotation of the clamping member to bring a thicker portion of its recess wall into the narrowest space between the body portion and battery post serving to wedge said battery post against the central boss i3 and tightly clamp the connector assembly to said post. The eccentric relation of the bore id in and with the body portion it, coupled with the eccentric character of the recess in the clamping member i i which is in turn mounted for concentric rotation in the body portion it, is productive of a compound cam or eccentric action which serves to firmly and positively clamp the connector to a battery post when relatively moderate forces are employed to effect rotation of the clamping member relative to the body portion, while still permitting a complete and immediate release of such clamping effect through a relatively limited rotation of the clamping member in its mounting.

Various means and arrangements may be employed to retain the clamping member l l against axial displacement relative to the body portion it, one such means being illustrated in Figure l as comprising a slot 28 circumferentially and adjacent the recessed end of the body portion it, and a pin it fixed at its inner end to the cylindrical skirt of the clamping member ii in engagement within and for travel along said slot 23, an alternative arrangement operable to the same end being illustrated in Figure 5 as comprising a Z-shaped lug 25 fixed as by means of'a screw 26 to the arm it so that one of its terminal arms engages over and above the rib or flange 25 of the clamping member I i to thereby limit axial separation of said rib or flange from the adjacent portion of the body member iii.

The eccentric frusto-conical recess of the clamping member ii preferably has a depth in excess of that necessary to accommodate the battery post it and boss it of the body portion iii, thereby providing a reservoir disposed above said battery post when the connector is operatively associated with the latter, in which reservoir suit able grease or lubricant, indicated at 27! in Figure 2, may be deposited just prior to attachment of the connector to the battery post, which grease or lubricant serves to film and protect those surfaces of the assembly subject to the corrosive efiect so commonly found atbattery post connections,

and thereby minimize such effect, particularly in the tendency of the corrosive efiect' to stick or bind adjacent surfaces and thereby render removal and replacement of conventional battery connectors difficult and destructive of battery assemblies.

The improved connector is particularly adapted for use on automotive storage batteries in that its design and construction permits of its use and actuation for clamping or loosening efiect in very. restricted spaces, in that it is an unitary assembly and free from the disadvantage of loose members or elements which may be dropped or misplaced, in that it provides positive and efflcient means for permanent operative connection with an electrical conductor, and in that, because of its-specific construction and provision for minimizing corrosive efiect, it may be readily loosened from the battery post without prying, twisting, and shaking of a nature which might damage the post and attached elements of the battery.

Since many changes in the specific form, construction, and arrangement of the elements shown and described may be had without departing from the spirit of my invention, I wish to be understood as being limited solely by the scope of the appended claims, rather than by any details of the illustrative showing and foregoing description.

I claim asmy invention- 1. A battery connector comprising a cylindrical body member formed with a central boss and a cylindrical recess opening through one end of said member and surrounding said boss, a bore eccentrically of said body member and intersecting one side of said boss and adapted to receive a battery post and thereby mount said body memher in telescoping and embracing relation with said post, a cap-type clamping member rotatably and telescopically associated with said body memher and formed with an eccentric clamping ring rotatably disposed in the cylindrical recess of said body member and thereby positioned for wedging action between said battery post and body member, and means for operatively connecting said body member with an electrical conductor.

2. A battery post connector comprising a body member formed with a central boss, a cylindrical recess opening through one end of said member in encircling relation with said boss, and bore opening eccentrically through said body member in intersecting relation with one side of said boss to receive a battery post and thereby mount said body member on and in eccentric telescoping relation with said post, means rotatably associated with said body member to clamp the latter to said post, said means comprising a cap-type member formed with an exteriorly-cylindrical skirt intersected by an eccentrically-disposed recess to form a cam-type clamping ring rotatably disposed concentrically within the cylindrical recess of said body member in telescoping relation with said post, whereby rotation of said cap-type member acts to wedge a thicker portion'of said clamping ring tightly between said post and body member, a tool-engageable boss on the outer end of said clamping member, and means for operatively connecting said body member with an electrical condoctor. I

3. In a battery post connector, a body portion ,an eccentric skirt portion rotatably disposed in the cylindrical recess-oi said body member in 'position to rotate between adjacent portions of 10 said body member and post, such rotation serving to wedge a thicker portion of said skirt into tightly clamping relation between said post and body member, a tool-engageable boss on the upper end of said clamping member,an arm fixed to and in radially-projecting relation with said 5 body member, an axial bore in said arm adapted to receive an electrical conductor, and means for securing said conductor in said bore.

BERT A. STOCEING. 10