US2412932A

US2412932A - Battery servicing

Info

Publication number: US2412932A
Application number: US531676A
Authority: US
Inventors: John J Williams
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1944-04-18
Filing date: 1944-04-18
Publication date: 1946-12-17
Anticipated expiration: 1963-12-17

Description

Dec. 17, 1946. .1.J. WILLIAMS 2,412,932

BATTERY sERvIcING Filed April 18, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet l Wma/m E; mun-m m [lilium INVENTOR BY V( ATTORNEYS @l J. Mza/ams,

Dec. 17, 1946. J. J. WILLIAMS 2,412,932

BATTERY SERVICING Filed April 18, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2' mvENToR1 Jak/Lf. WzZZccUmr BY 7 ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 17, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICEA BATTERY SERVICING John J. Williams, Bridgeport, Conn.

Application April 18, 1944, Serial No. 531,676

3 Claims.

This invention relates to tools for use with storage batteries and the like, and more particularly to tools and methods for removing and cleaning battery terminals.

An object of the invention is to provide a means and method for removing and cleaning the terminal clamps of a storage battery whereby this may be done quickly, conveniently and thoroughly, without damage to the battery, and with but a minimum of skill and time being required on the part of the operator.

This is accomplished by the provision of an improved tool adapted to clasp a storage battery terminal clamp and be operated by a simple gentle movement to force the clamp from the battery post and obviating the hammering or tapping usually necessary for this operation. Preferably the tool is adapted to grip and support the battery clamp after its removal so that the operator may conveniently hold the latter rmly to clean the post-receiving aperture thereof.

In the form of the invention illustrated herein, as exemplary thereof, the tool comprises a pair of levers or handles, and jaws associated therewith adapted to clasp the underside of the battery terminal clamp, while a plunger which is operated by a cam-lever functions to force the battery post outwardly of the terminal clamp to loosen and remove the latter from the battery. The jaws of the tool are made to grip the terminal clamp so as to securely hold it after its removal, and the cam-operated plunger is hinged so it may be swung out of the way and permit a wire brush or other suitable cleaning implement to be passed through the post-receiving aperture of the terminal clamp to thoroughly clean the latter. The terminal clamp may then be quickly released from the tool by the operator merely releasing his grasp on the levers or handles so that the clamp may be reinstalled when ready.

The device and method as thus provided by the invention makes the comparatively difficult task of removing the terminal clamp easy and safe to do. In the servicing of automobiles, the battery is often neglected because of the diliiculty of properly cleaning the terminals thereof. Through the use of the present improved tool and method, it is a comparatively simple matter to remove, clean and replace the battery terminals, and this operation can be done very quickly. This provides an incentive to the serviceman so that he can profitably service the battery of an automobile.

Other features and advantages will hereinafte appear.

In the accompanying drawings- Figure 1 is a plan view of the tool of this invention, showing lthe cam-operated plunger means swung aside preparatory to clasping the tool over a battery terminal clamp.

Fig. 2-is a section takenon the line 2--2 of Figs. l and 3.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary front elevation of the tool about to be closed over a battery terminal clamp, the clasping jaws being shown in section.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the tool showing the jaws embracingthe battery terminal clamp, and the cam-operated plunger in position to separate the battery post and the terminal clamp.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but with the cam-lever and plunger in operated position and the terminal clamp loosened from the battery post.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a fragment of a battery showing a terminal clamp as carried on the terminal post, with the clamping bolt removed, preparatory to loosening and removal by the tool of this invention.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing the terminal clamp carried in the tool which is held in one hand of the operator while the other hand holds a wire brush in position to be inserted in and clean the post-receiving hole of the terminal clamp,

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the tool of the present invention comprises a pair of plier-like levers I I) and II pivotally connected intermediate their ends by a pin I2 and having elongate handle portions I3 and I4 respectively. The opposite end portions I5 and I of the levers Ill' and II respectively extend alongside each other, being comparatively flat and lying substantially in the same plane as shown. The portions I5 and I6 are bent at A so that they may be horizontal while the handles extend upwardly at an angle and thus avoid interference with adjacent objects.

According to the present invention, the portions l5 and i6 of the levers are provided respectively with flat jaws I'I and I8 which extend laterally of the direction of movement of said portions, the ends of the jaws having inwardly extending anges or claws I9 and 20 respectively. Opposite the claws I S and 20, the jaws I'I and I 8 have a second set of flanges 2I and 22 which are secured to or form a continuation of the portions I and IS of the lever.

As shown in Fig. 3, the jaws I'I and I8 are positioned and shaped to clasp between thema battery terminal clamp 23 with the flanges I9 and of the jaws being positioned to engage the underside of the clamp when the levers I5 and I6 are brought together by hand pressure thereon.

The tool of this invention also includes means for engaging the end of the battery post 24 on which the terminal clamp 23 is carried, and for conveniently applying pressure to the end relatively to the clamp to loosen the latter from its grip on the post, so that it may be easily lifted from the battery, all without having to resort to hammering or other similar expedients which are injurious to the battery case and plates. This means is movably mounted so that it may be placed across the jaws I1 and I8 to accomplish this purpose, and after removal of the clamp 23 from the battery post may be moved to one side to permit insertion of a wire brush or other suitable device in the post-receiving aperture of the clamp to clean same.

Accordingly, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the jaw I1 has attached thereto, as by welding or other suitable means, a plate 25 on which is hinged a plate 26 of a length suflicient to extend across the open end of the jaws over an abutment plate 21 mounted on the jaw I8 to bridge the space between the jaws when they are in terminalengaging position, Theabutment plate 21 carries a pivotally mounted screw 28 adapted to be received in a slot 29 in the bridging plate 26. The screw 23 is provided with a winged nut 3U by means of which the bridging plate 26 is securely clamped to the abutment plate 21 when the jaws |1 and |8 are embracing the battery terminal clamp 23 as shown in Fig. 4.

The bridging plate 26 has a central threaded aperture which receives an externally threaded sleeve 3| adapted to extend between the jaws |1` and I8 and past the flanges 2| and 22 thereof, which latter are cut away at 32 and 33 respectively for clearance. By rotating the sleeve 3| the end 34 thereof may be moved into close proximity to the end of the battery post 24. The other end 35 of the sleeve 3| is bifurcated and apertured for a pin 36 upon which a hand lever 31 pivots, the pivoting end 38 of the lever extending between the forks of the end 35 of the sleeve.

For applying force to the battery post 24, a plunger 38 having a head 4) is slidably carried in the sleeve 3|, the head being flattened at 0pposite sides so that it may be received between the forks of the bifurcated end 35 of the sleeve. In order to operate the plunger 39 to engage the `battery post 34 and apply force to same, the

pivoting end of the hand lever is provided with a cam surface 33'. When the lever is in the position shown in Fig. 4 and the tool is placed on the terminal clamp and post, the plunger 39 will be pushed up to retracted position in the sleeve 3|. When the hand lever is moved to the position shown in Fig. 5, the camming surface 38 thereof forces the plunger 39 downward to a position where the end 4I thereof projects beyond the end 34 of the sleeve 3| In operating the tool of this invention for removing the terminal clamp 23 from the battery post 24, the tool is rst placed in the position shown in Fig. 3, after which the handle portions I3 and I4 are moved towards each other and held. This causes the jaws II and I8 to engage and 'hold the terminal clamp 23. The hand lever 31 is now grasped, and the bridging plate 25 swung into position across the jaws I1 and I8 as shown in Fig. fl,A whereupon the screw 23 and winged nut 30 are operated to tightly clamp the plate against the abutment plate 21. This holds the jaws I1 and I8 iirmly against moving outwardly away from the terminal clamp 23. The lever 31 is now held to extend laterally of the sleeve 3 I, and rotated about the axis of said sleeve in a clockwise direction to advance the latter into the bridging plate 26 so that the end 34 of the sleeve and the plunger 39 carried thereby approach closely the end of the battery post 24. Then the lever 31 is swung up about the pivot pin 36 as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 4, causing the cam 38 thereon to depress the plunger 39 as shown in Fig. 5, thereby partially pulling the terminal clamp 23 from the Lbattery post 24. The terminal is thus sufliciently loosened so that it may be readily lifted from the battery and held by the tool.

It will be noted that the force applied by the operator to loosen the terminal clamp from the post is in an upward direction, that is to say, away from the battery and not downwardly on the post. There is, therefore, no danger of the post being pushed through the sealing compound or battery top through which the post extends.

After the tool is used for pulling and removing the battery terminal clamp, it still grips the latter and thus may be used to enable the operator to rmly hold the clamp for cleaning the post-receiving aperture thereof. Thus the cperations of removing the terminal clamp and cleaning same are combined and greatly facilitated yby the use of the tool of this invention so that time and labor are saved.

In preparation for this cleaning, after removal oi the clamp from the post as just described, the lever 31 is grasped and operated to unscrew the sleeve 3| an extent from the bridging plate, and the winged nut 30 is loosened to permit the bridging plate 26 and sleeve and plunger carried thereby to be swung to an out-of-the-way position as shown in Fig. 7. A wire brush 42 may now be passed back and forth through the aperture 23a of the terminal clamp to thoroughly clean same, whereupon when the operator relinquishes his grasp of the hand portions I3 and I4 of the levers, the clamp is released from the tool in readiness for being reinstalled.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of this invention and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

I claim:

l. A tool for removing a surrounding member from a post comprising a pair of levers pivotally connected together; jaws on the levers so constructed to engage the sides of the surrounding member with the jaws swinging in a plane at right angles to the post; a bridging member lying in a plane parallel to said first plane, connected to one jaw, extending across the opening of the jaws and across the top of the post and connected to the other jaw; a post-engaging member movably mounted on said bridging member for movement axially of the post and the opening of said jaws; and means for moving said post-engaging member relative to said levers to force the post from the surrounding member.

2. A tool for removing a surrounding member from a post comprising a pair of levers pivotally connected together; jaws on the levers so constructed to engage the sides of the surrounding member with the jaws swinging in a plane at right angles to the post; a bridging member lying in a plane parallel to said rst plane, said member being pivotally connected to one jaw, extending across the opening of the jaws and across the top of the post and detachably connected to the other jaw,- a post-engaging member movably mounted on said bridging member for movement axially of the post and the opening of said jaws; and means for moving said post-engaging member relative to said levers to force the post from the surrounding member, the bridging member being movable about the pivotal connection from said bridging position whereby the post receiving aperture is unobstructed and may be cleaned after the post is removed and while the surrounding member is held in said jaws. i

3. A tool for removing a surrounding member from a post comprising a pair of levers pivotally connected together, jaws on the levers so constructed to engage the sides of the surrounding member with the jaws swinging in a plane at right angles to the post, the jaws having portions along one side and extending under the surrounding member; a bridging member lying in a plane parallel to said rst plane, connected to one jaw, extending across the opening of the jaws and across the top of the post and connected to the other jaw to hold said jaws against lateral separation; a post-engaging member movably mounted on said bridging member for movement axially of the post and the opening of said jaws; and means for applying pressure to the postengaging member to force the member toward the post and by the same operation forcing the jaws and portions extending under the surrounding member in the opposite direction to cause the post to move out of the surrounding member.

JOI-1N J. WILLIAMS.