This invention consists of a battery clamp and a method for manufacturing such a battery clamp.
A battery clamp of the aforementioned type known from EP 1 675 221 A1 is known. The battery clamp described in said document includes a holder that can be pushed onto a pole of a battery as well as fasteners for the clamping and fastening the holder onto the pole of the battery. These fasteners include a screw that can be inserted into a nut, where the screw can be screwed in the application direction of the holder, i.e. in the lengthwise direction of the pole. This direction usually corresponds to the vertical direction, meaning that, for these types of battery clamps, the fastening device is also identified as a vertical screw connection. In the case of EP 1675 221 A 1, the holder is designed using an initial punch-bent component. The battery clamp includes two other punch-bent components, which can be pushed into the first punch-bent component from the side. Through tightening of the screw protruding through the two additional punch-bent components, two limbs of the initial punch-bent component going outward from the holder are moved toward each other, causing the diameter of the holder to be reduced and thus the holder to firmly clamp against the pole.
For this state of technology, the complexity of the battery clamp proves to be disadvantageous. One factor is that the clamp consisting of many individual parts is expensive to manufacture. Another factor is that the wide variety of individual parts results in substantial assembly work.
In addition, battery clamps in punch-bent technology are known from the state of the art of technology, in which the fasteners can be operated or screwed in vertically or horizontally in relation to the application direction of the holder. This design has a disadvantage in that the fasteners are difficult to access.
The problem underlying the invention is the creation of a battery clamp described at the beginning of this document, for which the fasteners are readily accessible but which nevertheless has a comparatively simple structure. Furthermore, a method for manufacturing such as a battery clamp needs to be specified.
This is achieved in accordance with invention specifications using a battery clamp of the type described at the beginning of this document with the identifying characteristics of Claim 1 as well as using a method with the characteristics of Claim 15. The subclaims address preferred configurations of the invention.
In accordance with Claim 1, it has been ensured that the clamps include at least one clamping element which is connected to the punch-bent component and/or makes contact with this component. This reduces the complexity of the battery clamp. In particular, it uses only a few additional parts such as fasteners and at least one clamping element, which are sometimes used in forged clamps as well.
Despite the simplicity of the inventive battery clamp, it can be used to implement a vertical screw connection, which guarantees easy access to the fasteners.
In particular, it can be ensured that the battery clamp is designed as a single-part punch-bent component with the exception of the fasteners and the minimum of one clamping element. This greatly reduces the complexity of the battery clamp. The design of the battery clamp as a punch-bent component offers a significant weight advantage in comparison to battery clamps known from the state of the art of technology. Furthermore, an inventive battery clamp allows the complexity of the geometry to be reduced.
There is a chance that the minimum of one clamping element includes an angled surface enclosing an angle not equal to 0° or to 90° relative to the application direction, preferably an angle between 10° and 40° (an angle between 20° and 30° would be ideal). Furthermore, it can be ensured that the fasteners include at least one angled surface enclosing an angle not equal to 0° or to 90° relative to the application direction, preferably an angle between 10° and 40° (an angle between 20° and 30° would be ideal).
For example, the battery clamp here can include two clamping elements, each having an angled surface enclosing an angle not equal to 0° or 90° relative to the application direction, where both clamping elements preferably are arranged on sides facing away from each other and where fasteners can include two angled surfaces enclosing an angle not equal to 0° or 90° relative to the application direction, where both angled surfaces of the fasteners are preferably positioned opposite each other on different sides of the punch-bent component. Preferably, the angled surface of the minimum of one clamping element can make contact with the minimum of one angled surface of the fasteners, interacting with said surface to produce the clamping effect of the holder on the pole of the battery. In this way, despite the complex geometry of the single-part punch-bent component, clamps can be implemented for fastening the holder to the pole of the battery.
The fasteners may include a screw with a head and a threaded section as well as a nut, where the minimum of one angled surface of the fasteners can be positioned against the head of the screw or against the nut. In particular, the minimum of one angled surface is positioned on that fastener component, which does not rotate during the screwing process. When screwing the screw into the nut, this component is the nut. When screwing the nut onto the screw, this component is the head of the screw.
There exists the chance that the holder has been opened or has an opening, particularly in a direction vertical in relation to the application direction, where the punch-bent component has two limbs connected to the opening of the holder and protruding from the holder. Here, the minimum of one clamping element can be positioned against one of the limbs of the punch-bent component, where preferably one clamping element is positioned at each of the two limbs. The interaction between the angled surfaces of the clamping elements and the angled surfaces of the fasteners thus results immediately in the limbs moving toward each other and a resulting clamping effect of the holder against the pole.
There exists the chance that the minimum of one clamping element is permanently attached to one of the limbs of the punch-bent component, in particular through stamping with one of the limbs. This allows for easier assembly of the battery clamp because there are no additional assembly steps required for the minimum of one clamping element.
Furthermore, it can be ensured that the punch-bent component includes at least one holding section for fasteners. In particular, the minimum of one holding section of the punch-bent component can be positioned against one of the limbs. The design ensures that suitable sections of the punch-bent component handle the task of guiding the screw.
There exists the chance that the battery clamp includes a connection section for a cable or a battery sensor, which in particular is included in the punch-bent component design, where the connection section on the side facing away from the limbs preferably protrudes away from the holder, in particular in the direction facing away from the limbs. The connection section can also be integrated into the punch-bent component in this way such that the entire battery clamp can be configured as one part with the exception of the fasteners.
In accordance with Claim 15, it is to be ensured that the minimum of one clamping element is connected to the punch-bent component in the course of being punched and/or bent. For example, a connection between the minimum of one clamping element and the punch-bent component can be implemented in the punching process that is part of the manufacturing process for the punch-bent component. This greatly simplifies the manufacture of the battery clamp.
Reference is now made more particularly to the drawings, which illustrate the best presently known mode of carrying out the invention and wherein similar reference characters indicate the same parts throughout the views.
In the figures, identical components or components with identical functions have been given the same reference numbers.
The embodiment of a battery clamp depicted in
The punch-bent component (1) consists, at least in sections, of an electrically conductive material (particularly metal) such as copper or a copper alloy.
On the side of the head (4) facing the threaded section (5), there are two angled surfaces (8, 9) positioned opposite each other, which, with the axial direction of the threaded section (5) or its cylinder axis (7), enclose an angle α. which lies between 10° and 40°, especially between 20° and 30° in the depicted embodiment (see
The punch-bent component (1) includes a holder (10), which can be pushed onto a non-depicted conical pole of a battery. Here, the holder (10) is designed from a section surrounding more than 270° and preferably more than 300° of the punch-bent component (1), which leaves an inner conical space (11) free for the (normally) conical pole. The surrounding section has the shape of the surface of a partially truncated cone. The cone axis (12) of the inner conical space (11) of the holder (10) extends parallel to the cylinder axis (6) of the threaded section (5) of the screw (3) (see
As clamps, the battery clamp also includes as two clamping elements (18, 19) positioned on two sides of the punch-bent component (1) facing away from each other. Each of these clamping elements (18, 19) features an angled surface (13, 14). These angled surfaces are positioned on outer sides of the clamping elements (18, 19) facing away from the punch-bent component (1) (see
The clamping elements (18, 19) can, at least in some sections, consist of metal or other suitable materials.
The clamping elements (18, 19) are positioned on limbs (15, 16) which extend away from the holder (10) (see
The connection between the clamping elements (18, 19) and the limbs (15, 16) can be a stamp in each case, created during the punching of the punch-bent component (1).
There exists the possibility that other means of connection can be used in place of the connection elements. This applies in particular to the stamped elements. For example, the clamping elements (18, 19) could also be glued to the limbs (15, 16) of the punch-bent component (1).
It can also be seen from
On the side of the recess (10) facing away from the limbs (15, 16), there is a connection section (25) positioned on the recess for a non-illustrated cable or a non-illustrated battery sensor, which is particularly a part of the single-part punch-bent component (1) (see
Once the components of the battery clamp have been assembled as depicted in
The threaded section (5) extends through the opening (24) and upward into the nut (6) lying on the top side of the holding section (23) that the opening (24) is part of.
If the holder (10) has been pushed onto the pole of a battery, tightening the nut (6) onto the threaded section (5) can move the nut (6) downward in
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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10 2015 107 044.8 | May 2015 | DE | national |
This application claims priority to PCT Patent Application No. PCT/EP2016/059879, filed 3 May 2016, which itself claims priority to German Application No. 10 2015 107044.8, filed 6 May 2015, the entirety of both of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/EP2016/059879 | 5/3/2016 | WO | 00 |