WO1997036344A1 - Borne de batterie d'automobile - Google Patents

Borne de batterie d'automobile Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1997036344A1
WO1997036344A1 PCT/IB1997/000272 IB9700272W WO9736344A1 WO 1997036344 A1 WO1997036344 A1 WO 1997036344A1 IB 9700272 W IB9700272 W IB 9700272W WO 9736344 A1 WO9736344 A1 WO 9736344A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
terminal
actuator
contact section
spring
spring member
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IB1997/000272
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Paul Lindeberg
Jean-Pierre Picaud
Original Assignee
The Whitaker Corporation
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by The Whitaker Corporation filed Critical The Whitaker Corporation
Publication of WO1997036344A1 publication Critical patent/WO1997036344A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R11/00—Individual connecting elements providing two or more spaced connecting locations for conductive members which are, or may be, thereby interconnected, e.g. end pieces for wires or cables supported by the wire or cable and having means for facilitating electrical connection to some other wire, terminal, or conductive member, blocks of binding posts
    • H01R11/11—End pieces or tapping pieces for wires, supported by the wire and for facilitating electrical connection to some other wire, terminal or conductive member
    • H01R11/28—End pieces consisting of a ferrule or sleeve
    • H01R11/281—End pieces consisting of a ferrule or sleeve for connections to batteries
    • H01R11/282—End pieces consisting of a ferrule or sleeve for connections to batteries comprising means for facilitating engagement or disengagement, e.g. quick release terminal
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M50/00—Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the non-active parts of electrochemical cells other than fuel cells, e.g. hybrid cells
    • H01M50/50—Current conducting connections for cells or batteries
    • H01M50/572—Means for preventing undesired use or discharge
    • H01M50/598—Guarantee labels
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R11/00—Individual connecting elements providing two or more spaced connecting locations for conductive members which are, or may be, thereby interconnected, e.g. end pieces for wires or cables supported by the wire or cable and having means for facilitating electrical connection to some other wire, terminal, or conductive member, blocks of binding posts
    • H01R11/11—End pieces or tapping pieces for wires, supported by the wire and for facilitating electrical connection to some other wire, terminal or conductive member
    • H01R11/28—End pieces consisting of a ferrule or sleeve
    • H01R11/281—End pieces consisting of a ferrule or sleeve for connections to batteries
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02E60/10—Energy storage using batteries

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a terminal for connection to an automotive battery.
  • automotive battery terminals There are a great number of different designs available for automotive battery terminals, from simple terminals that comprise a conically shaped through hole and that are clamped to the battery terminal by bolt means, to quick release terminals with lever arms that are clamped to the battery terminal in a tool-less manner.
  • automotive manufacturers often opt for very simple designs which are mounted to a battery post by clamping with a bolt.
  • One of the problems with available tool-less designs is either they are complex, difficult to manufacture and costly, and/or they lack the requisite clamping force and reliability. Due to the large currents that transit from the battery to the automobile, a significant contact force is required by the battery terminal on the post. It is a problem to combine both the requisite clamping force, the required robustness and reliability of the terminal, in a cost-effective anufacturable form that is needed in the automotive industry.
  • One of the problems with the simple bolt clamped battery terminal is that the assembly of the battery terminal to the battery post requires tools, the clamping force is not well defined and may be unreliably effected by an operator (for example the bolts not sufficiently tightened) , and manual assembly is required. It would be desirable on the one hand to increase the ease of mounting of a battery terminal (and release) to a battery post, whilst increasing the reliability of the contact, and ensuring the requisite contact forces are provided in a cost-effective form. It would be particularly advantageous to provide such a terminal in a form that enables automated assembly.
  • It is an object of this invention is to provide a battery terminal that enables easy assembly and disassembly from a battery post, yet provides high contact force in a reliable manner.
  • the battery terminal is easy to mount and the axial movement of the actuator is effected easily by automated means. Furthermore a large lever-arm effect is transmissible by axial movement of the spring being transferred into radial compression, thereby leading to high contact force, but low actuation force. The resiliency provided by the spring ensures ability to absorb dimensional tolerances, or thermal displacement, for a reliable contact.
  • the coupling can be made either by a screw action of the actuator without requiring tools, and which could be effected by an automated robot means due to the vertical access thereto, or by merely depressing, in an axial direction, on the actuator or terminal as a whole.
  • Manual and tool-less disassembly is also enabled in a simple manner.
  • the decoupling of forces between the threaded actuator, or push button mechanism ensures provision of a very high contact force whilst requiring low forces by an operator or a robot on the actuation member.
  • the contact portion of the battery terminal can be integrally stamped and formed with a connection portion of the battery terminal, wherein the few number of parts (spring, actuator and terminal) are relatively cost-effective to manufacture and assemble. Further advantageous aspects of this invention are described in the claims or will be apparent from the following description and drawings.
  • Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view through part of a battery terminal according to this invention, positioned uncoupled on a battery post;
  • Figure 2 is a view in the direction of arrow 2 of Figure 1;
  • Figure 3 is a view similar to that of Figure 1, but with the battery terminal fully coupled to the battery post;
  • Figure 4 is a view in the direction of arrow 4 of Figure 3;
  • Figure 5 is a top view of the contact section of the terminal of Figure 1;
  • Figure 6 is a view in the direction of arrow 6 of Figure 5;
  • Figure 7 is a top view of a spring of the terminal of Figure 1;
  • Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view through an actuation member of the terminal of Figure 1;
  • Figure 9 is a view in the direction of arrow 9 of Figure 8;
  • Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment according to this invention mounted to a battery post, and positioned in an uncoupled state;
  • Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view of the terminal of Figure 10 in the fully coupled position;
  • Figure 12 is a top view of a spring member of the embodiment of Figure 10;
  • Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view through the contact section of the terminal of Figure 10;
  • Figure 14 is a cross-sectional view of a third embodiment according to this invention mounted to a battery post in an uncoupled state; and Figure 15 is a cross-sectional view of the terminal of Figure 14 showing the terminal in the fully coupled state.
  • a battery ter inal 2 for mounting to a battery post 4 of an automotive battery 6 comprises an actuator 8, a spring member 10, and a contact member 12.
  • the contact member 12 is stamped and formed from sheet metal, and comprises a contact section 14 integrally connected to a base section 16 that is only shown partially, and which extends to a connection section for interconnection to power supply cables of an automobile.
  • the contact section 14 comprises a substantially conical contact wall 18 forming a conical battery post receiving area or cavity 20, the wall 18 being separated by a gap 82 at a side opposite the base wall extension 18.
  • the outer wall 18 extends from a top end 24, to a lower end 26, the bottom end 26 being at the larger section of the cone.
  • the outer wall 18 comprises beams 28 that extend and are attached proximate the top end 24, to the bottom end 26, whereby a slot 30 separates the adjacent beams 28 from proximate the top end 24 to the bottom end 26.
  • the contact section 14 further comprises tab extensions 32,34 extending from and above the top end 24, and outwardly bent to free ends 36,38 that project in a radial direction with respect to the axis 40 of the cone.
  • the free ends 36,38 of the different tabs 32 are positioned at different heights that correspond to their position in a spiral, such that the tabs simulate a spiral thread for screw engagement with the actuator.
  • the tabs 31,32,33,34 are spaced at irregular intervals around the wall 18 in order to polarize the contact section 12 with respect to the actuator during assembly (i.e. only one orientation of the actuator with respect to the contact section 14 is allowed) .
  • the actuator 8 comprises a housing 42 having a cavity 44 extending therethrough from a top end 46 to a bottom end 48, the cavity for receiving the contact section 14 therein.
  • the cavity 44 is formed by a wall 50 of the housing.
  • a spiraled recess or thread 52 is provided in the wall 50 for screw engagement with the contact section tabs 31-34.
  • the wall 50 is further provided with axial grooves 54 extending in the axial direction (i.e. in the direction of the axis 40) and are arranged around the inner periphery of the cavity 40 for receiving the tabs 31-33, the grooves 54 enabling the actuator to be positioned over the contact section 14 until the tabs align with the first thread 56 of the spiral thread 52 for engagement therewith.
  • the actuator further comprises a larger diameter spring receiving cavity 58 proximate the bottom end 48 of the actuator.
  • the spring member 10 comprises a largely planar spring stamped and formed from sheet metal in an integral piece, and comprising a base 60 having a central cutout 62 for receiving the contact section 14 therein, the cutout 42 bounded by cantilevered spring beams 64 having their free ends 66 forming an edge of the cutout 62, and their attached ends 68 proximate the outer periphery 70 of the base 60.
  • the free end 66 is provided with protrusions 72 at either corner that engage either side 74 (see Figure 5) of the contact section beams 28, the side 74 being recessed with respect to a lower portion 76 such that a shoulder 78 is formed thereon.
  • the shoulder 78 engages the spring protrusions 72 thereby axially retaining the spring to the contact section.
  • the spring beams 64 are interconnected around the periphery by bridging portions 80 that have a V-shape, the apex of the V being directed towards the cutout area 62.
  • the V-shape of the bridging portions 80 enable the spring beam free ends 66 to bias in the axial direction with large displacements, whereby the bridging portion is able to bias in the same direction (allowing a substantially conical shape to be formed) and providing some flexibility in contraction and expansion of the diameter of the periphery 70 due to their radially inwardly bent shape.
  • the contact section 14 is inserted over the battery post 4.
  • the actuator 8 which is preassembled with the spring 10, in it's natural state, has the spring beams 64 inclined obliquely downwardly as shown in Figure 1.
  • the actuator 8 and spring 10 can subsequently be inserted over the contact section 14, whereby the tabs 31-34 are inserted through the grooves 54 (see Figure 9) of the actuator housing that ensures correct polarization of the actuator with respect to the contact section.
  • the grooves 47 extend up to the lowest thread groove 56.
  • the actuator 8 can then be rotated, whereby engagement of the tabs 31- 34 in the threaded groove causes the actuator to descend axially and flatten the spring 10 as shown in Figure 3.
  • the flattening of the spring causes inward radial pressure of the spring beams 64 against the contact section beams 28, whereby the spring V-shaped portions 80 tend to straighten out a little such that the outer diameter of the spring can expand slightly in a resilient manner, the resiliency providing the spring force.
  • the actuator 8 may be provided with outer radial protrusions 84,86 in order to apply the torque, whereby the protrusions 84,85 may have a slightly different shape or thickness to ensure that an automat d robot means 1- ;lds the tuator in the correct orientatioa. Due to the ability tc assemble the contact section over the battery post in the axial direction, as well as inserting the actuator axially over the contact section, fully automated assembly of the battery terminal and coupling is easily effected.
  • a further advantage is the great flexibility and the elastic energy stored in the spring member 10 that absorbs thermal expansion, and mechanical tolerances, to ensure sufficient contact pressure over a large range of tolerances and operating conditions.
  • a battery terminal 2' comprises an actuator 8', a contact member 12' , and a spring 10'.
  • the contact member 12' comprises a contact section 14' having an outer wall 18' forming a conical cavity 30' therein for receiving the battery post 4.
  • the outer wall 18' comprises a plurality of beams 28' attached proximate an upper end 24' and extending to free ends at a lower end 26' of the outer wall.
  • the outer wall 18 comprises protrusions 78' extending radially outwards and forming a groove 79' for receiving and axially retaining the spring member 10'.
  • the actuator 8' comprises a threaded groove 32' for engaging the periphery 70' of the spring member 10'.
  • the spring member 10' comprises a base 60' stamped and formed from sheet metal, comprising a plurality of cantilever spring beams 64' attached proximate the periphery 70' and extending radially inwards to free ends 66' that substantially define a central cutout area 62' for receiving the contact section 14' therein.
  • Spring beams 64' are interconnected by inwardly curved bridging portions 80' that enable resilient expansion and contraction of the diameter of the periphery 70' in a similar manner to that already described for the spring member 10 of Figure 7.
  • the terminal 2' is assembled to the battery post as follows. Initially, the actuator 8', spring 10' and contact section 14' are assembled together such that the spring is engaged in the threaded groove 52' , and the spring beams 64' engaged at their free ends 66' in the contact section slot 79'. In the preassembly position, the actuator threadably engages the spring outer periphery 70' which is received in an upper portion of the actuator such that the spring beams 64' are downwardly inclined with respect to a horizontal plane as shown in Figure 10. In this preassembly position, the assembled terminal 2' can be axially mounted on the battery post 4 by simply inserting it thereover.
  • the actuator 8' is then rotated such that the outer periphery 70' is threaded into the lower portion of the actuator, the spring member thus being flattened, causing the spring beams 64' to exert inward radial force on the terminal section.
  • the large travel of the actuator with respect to the spring causes a significant decoupling of forces that enables easy manual coupling or uncoupling of the battery terminal.
  • Automated assembly is also facilitated by the low torque required to turn the actuator, and the axial insertion of the terminal over the battery post.
  • the axial insertion and rotational movement of the actuator by a robotic arm is well adapted for automated assembly.
  • the advantages of a flexible resilient contact pressure for the absorption of tolerances and thermal displacements, is as already described above.
  • the actuator 8' is retained axially with respect to the contact section 14' , for example by providing the contact section with tabs extending above the top end 24' that engage in a groove in the actuator (not shown) .
  • FIGs 14 and 15 Another embodiment of a terminal 2" according to this invention is shown in Figures 14 and 15.
  • the terminal 2" comprises an actuator 8", and a contact member and spring member 12' ,10' that could be identical to the contact and spring members described in the embodiments of Figures 13 and 12 respectively.
  • the actuator 8'' comprises a base wall 9" that is axially fixed by latch means 11" to the contact section outer wall 18' .
  • a push button 13' ' is attached via resilient bridging sections 15" to the base member 9".
  • the push button 13" has a groove 58" for axially receiving and retaining the outer periphery 70' of the spring member 10' therein proximate a lower end 48" of the actuator.
  • the spring beam 64' of the spring member 10' are obliquely positioned (the spring member has a substantially conical shape in this configuration) , and the push button 13" is in the upper position.
  • the actuator bridging portions 15" are resilient thin walls that provide some axial resilient force maintaining the push button 13" in the upper position.
  • the terminal 2" is assembled to the battery post 4 by insertion of the contact section 14 over the battery post, whereby the axial resiliency of the bridging sections 15" and the spring member 10' on the push button 13' ' ensures that a good seat of the contact section on the battery post is effected prior to full coupling.
  • the terminal is particularly simple to assemble and therefore advantageous for automated assembly, but also for manual

Landscapes

  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Electrochemistry (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Connection Of Batteries Or Terminals (AREA)

Abstract

Cette invention se rapporte à une borne de batterie (2) qui comprend un actuateur fileté (8), une section de contact estampée et formée (14), et un ressort du type à lames (10). L'actuateur (8) coopère par filetage avec des ergots (32, 34) de la section de contact, ce qui aplatit le ressort à lames (10), entraînant ainsi une compression radiale du ressort vers l'intérieur contre la section de contact. L'introduction axiale de la borne de batterie sur le socle de batterie et, ensuite, la rotation de l'actuateur sont effectuées facilement par des moyens d'assemblage automatisés. En outre, les opérations de branchement et de débranchement manuelles sont aisées en raison de l'importante réduction de force de l'effet de bras de levier du ressort et de rotation de l'actuateur. L'élasticité du ressort permet une grande absorption des tolérances de dimensions et de l'expansion thermique en vue d'assurer un contact fiable.
PCT/IB1997/000272 1996-03-26 1997-03-20 Borne de batterie d'automobile WO1997036344A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP96400639.9 1996-03-26
EP96400639 1996-03-26

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1997036344A1 true WO1997036344A1 (fr) 1997-10-02

Family

ID=8225239

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/IB1997/000272 WO1997036344A1 (fr) 1996-03-26 1997-03-20 Borne de batterie d'automobile

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO1997036344A1 (fr)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE10312188A1 (de) * 2003-03-19 2004-10-07 Sak Auto Kabel Ag Batterieanschluss
EP1589602A1 (fr) * 2004-04-15 2005-10-26 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Ressort de contact et pile électrique le contenant
DE102005041392A1 (de) * 2005-04-07 2006-10-12 Kromberg & Schubert Gmbh & Co. Kg Anschlusseinrichtung
WO2015197349A1 (fr) 2014-06-26 2015-12-30 Robert Bosch Gmbh Élément de liaison à éléments à ressort
WO2019048118A1 (fr) * 2017-09-05 2019-03-14 Robert Bosch Gmbh Borne polaire

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1074686B (de) * 1960-02-04 Dr. Ing. h. c. F. Porsche K.G., Stuttgart-Zuffcnhauscn Deckel tür Batterien
FR2462031A1 (fr) * 1979-07-20 1981-02-06 Ermeto Dispositif de connexion plus particulierement destine aux batteries d'accumulateur
US4470654A (en) * 1982-04-20 1984-09-11 Burndy Corporation Electrical cable connector
FR2601515A1 (fr) * 1986-07-09 1988-01-15 Proner Sa Ets Dispositif de connexion rapide pour borne de batterie
EP0466528A1 (fr) * 1990-07-13 1992-01-15 Automobiles Peugeot Dispositif de connexion rapide pour une borne de batterie d'accumulateur

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1074686B (de) * 1960-02-04 Dr. Ing. h. c. F. Porsche K.G., Stuttgart-Zuffcnhauscn Deckel tür Batterien
FR2462031A1 (fr) * 1979-07-20 1981-02-06 Ermeto Dispositif de connexion plus particulierement destine aux batteries d'accumulateur
US4470654A (en) * 1982-04-20 1984-09-11 Burndy Corporation Electrical cable connector
FR2601515A1 (fr) * 1986-07-09 1988-01-15 Proner Sa Ets Dispositif de connexion rapide pour borne de batterie
EP0466528A1 (fr) * 1990-07-13 1992-01-15 Automobiles Peugeot Dispositif de connexion rapide pour une borne de batterie d'accumulateur

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE10312188A1 (de) * 2003-03-19 2004-10-07 Sak Auto Kabel Ag Batterieanschluss
DE10312188B4 (de) * 2003-03-19 2005-08-18 Sak Auto Kabel Ag Batterieanschluss
EP1589602A1 (fr) * 2004-04-15 2005-10-26 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Ressort de contact et pile électrique le contenant
US7097519B2 (en) 2004-04-15 2006-08-29 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Spring contact sheet and electrochemical battery with such a spring contact sheet
DE102005041392A1 (de) * 2005-04-07 2006-10-12 Kromberg & Schubert Gmbh & Co. Kg Anschlusseinrichtung
DE102005041392B4 (de) * 2005-04-07 2016-02-18 Kromberg & Schubert Kg Anschlusseinrichtung
WO2015197349A1 (fr) 2014-06-26 2015-12-30 Robert Bosch Gmbh Élément de liaison à éléments à ressort
DE102014212271A1 (de) 2014-06-26 2015-12-31 Robert Bosch Gmbh Verbindungselement mit Federelementen
WO2019048118A1 (fr) * 2017-09-05 2019-03-14 Robert Bosch Gmbh Borne polaire
CN111095679A (zh) * 2017-09-05 2020-05-01 罗伯特·博世有限公司 极接线柱
CN111095679B (zh) * 2017-09-05 2021-09-10 罗伯特·博世有限公司 极接线柱

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