US2735996A

US2735996A - Storage battery terminal clamps

Info

Publication number: US2735996A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1956-02-21
Anticipated expiration: 1973-02-21

Description

Feb. 21,- 1956 R. E. ZAK

STORAGE BATTERY TERMINAL CLAMPS Filed Dec. l2, 1952 .K MA TZ N E. VE WT R E B O D BYII,X'0

AT aen/fn United States Patenty STORAGE BATTERY TERMINAL CLAMPS Robert E. Zak, Forest Park, Ill. Application December 12, 1952, Serial No. 325,578 1 Claim. (Cl. 339-238) My invention relates to terminal clamps and more particularly to storage battery terminal clamps.

The object of my invention is to provide a means for quickly releasing the terminal clamp on the post of a storage battery.

Another object of my invention is to provide a means for clamping and releasing the cable terminal of the storage battery in its relation to the contact post of a storage battery.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a clamping means that fits the conventional cable terminal without any mechanical changes.

A further object of my invention is to provide a simple device that is easy to manipulate, yet highly etlicient for the purpose for which it is intended.

It is manifest to anyone familiar with storage batteries employed as a source of electric current for the ignition system of automotive vehicles, that the cable terminal needs to be clamped securely onto the contact posts of the battery, to insure perfect contact. The usual method employed is to insert a threaded bolt through the wings of the terminal which necessitates the use of a pair of wrenches to securely fasten the nut portion to the bolt. Obviously, it is just as necessary to use a pair of wrenches when disconnecting the cable terminal from the post, and inasmuch as it is sometimes quite necessary and imperative to disconnect the terminal quickly when a short circuit occurs in the wiring system of the vehicle, it is the prime object of my invention to provide a simple, inexpensive and easily actuated means to make it possible to quickly disconnect the cable terminal from the post of the battery without the use of tools.

Other and further advantages of the invention will become manifest as the description proceeds when taken in conjunction with the drawing in which Figure l is a top or plan view of the top of the storage battery shown in phantom with a terminal surrounding one of the posts, and showing the quick operating clamp arrangement in a locked position.

Figure 2 is a top view of the cable terminal surrounding the battery post, in a clamped position.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of the clamping arrangement, showing the position of the washer in its contact with the terminal and the clamping bolt, and

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the assembled clamping device.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views and referring now to the same, the character shows a storage battery equipped with positive and negative posts indicated by the character 11. The cable 12 is shown equipped with a split terminal body 13 of the conventional type which has

wing portions

14 and 14 extending outward therefrom, these wing portions are provided with transverse apertures, and a clamping portion 15 forming a part of the terminal body is attached to the cable 12.

The device constituting my invention consists of a lever member, having a straight shank portion 16, integrally formed with a handle portion 17, bent at right angles to form an arcuate bend. The shank portion 16 is threaded at 18, and the handle portion 17 may be covered with a non-conducting material shown as 19.

There is a washer 20 disposed over the shank 16 adjacent to the threaded nut 21, and a separate circular clamping washer 22 engages the shank 16 of a diameter greater than the distance between the circular body 13 and the outer end of the wing section 14 as clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3.

By referring to Figure 3, the clamping action of the device is clearly portrayed. The shank portion 16 replaces the conventional bolt and nut assembly that clamps the two

wing portions

14 and 14 forming a part of the terminal 13, shank portion 16 being inserted through the apertures in the

wings

14 and 14 of the terminal 13. As clearly shown in Figure 3, when the handle 17 is rotated in a clamping direction, the arcuate portion 23 at the juncture of the shank 16 and handle 17 will engage an edge portion of the hole in the washer thereby causing the washer to move into an angular position so that the washer 22 will contact the outer end of the wing 14 as at 25 and also form contact with the terminal body 13 and the shank 16 as at 24 and 24'. This will cause the

wings

14 and 14 of the terminal 13 to make rigid contact with the post 11 of the storage battery.

By lifting the handle 17 as shown in phantom in Figure 2 it will permit the wings 14 and 14' to spread apart from one another, and disengage from the post 11. Revolving the shank 16 one half of a revolution will permit the washer 22 to disengage from its contact at 24 and 25 permitting it to loosely engage shank 16 and making it easier to revolve the nut 21, and permitting the terminal 13 to be lifted upward out of engagement with the tapered outer peripheral surface of the post 11. There is sufficient friction between the washer 20 and the nut 21 to hold the nut from rotating upon rotation of the shank 16, but in case of corrosion of the terminal and particularly between the nut and shank, a single wrench may be employed to hold the nut 21 against rotation when the handle is actuated. It is therefore obvious that the half turn of the shank 16 by means of the handle 17 Will make it possible to disconnect the electrical circuit Which is the purpose of my invention.

Although I have shown a specific structure and an arrangement of the component parts constituting the device, I am fully cognizant of the fact that changes may be made in the form of coniiguration of the component parts Without affecting their operativeness and without departing from the spirit of my invention orr the scope cf the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent in the United States is:

A clamping device to be used in combination with a conventional battery cable terminal which consists of a split circular body having a pair of wing sections projecting outwardly therefrom, said wing sections being provided With transverse apertures and said wing sections being offset inwardly of the circular body; said clamping device comprising a rod having a right angularly disposed handle and shank and having an arcuate portion between said handle and shank, said shank having a Washer thereon of a diameter greater than the distance between said circular body and the outer end of the next adjacent Wing section, said shank being extended through the transverse apertures of said wing sections, said shank being threaded, a washer on said shank positioned adjacent the other of said wing sections and a nut on said shank for drawing said rst named washer into forcible engagement with the circular outer surface of saidnterminal body` and the-l outer end of the next adjacentjnwardly oset t. Wing section, said, arcuate portion between said handle and shank causing angular contacting engagement with the circular body and said next adjacent Wing section;

References Cited inthe le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Thomas May 2, Fisher Ian. 13, Casey Jan. 3, Rieg May 4,