Patent Grant
7553200
Typical battery terminal connections used in most commercial trucks are known as “stud and post” connections. One such connection may be best understood by referring to
A nut 18 is threaded on the stud 10 and provides compressive force required to clamp the ring terminal 16 to the battery post 12. The compressive force concentrates the clamping force on a small area around the battery post 12, thereby pressing the soft copper ring terminal 16 into the very soft lead battery post 12. Due to the center concentrated clamping force, the outer perimeter A of the ring terminal 16 bends upwardly or lifts off the battery terminal, resulting in a ring terminal 16 that is concave in cross-section as seen in
This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This summary is not intended to identify key features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
In accordance with aspects of the present disclosure, a battery cable terminal fitting is provided for a battery having a terminal post. The battery cable terminal fitting comprises an attachment flange and a conductor attachment portion extending from the attachment flange. The attachment flange has an interface area extending between the attachment flange and the terminal post when the battery cable terminal fitting is coupled to the battery. The interface area has a battery contact area that increases as a nut used to fasten the attachment flange to the terminal post is tighten.
The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will become better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
A battery cable terminal fitting (“fitting 20”) constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure may be best understood by referring to
The battery cable connection assembly 26 includes a nut 28 and a terminal post 30 having a threaded stud 32. The battery cable connection assembly 26 is well-known and is configured to couple the cable 22 to the battery 24 by the fitting 20.
The fitting 20 includes an attachment flange 36 having a centrally located aperture 34 sized and configured to slidably fit over the threaded stud 32. The fitting 20 is releasably coupled to the threaded stud 32 by the nut 28. The fitting 20 also includes a cable attachment portion 38 adapted to electrically connect the fitting to the cable 22, as is well known in the art. The attachment flange 36 and cable attachment portion 38 are suitably integrally formed from a well-known material, such as copper.
As may be best seen by referring to
The attachment flange 36 of the fitting 20 is configured to enhance electrical and mechanical attachment of the cable 22 to the battery 24. The attachment flange 36 is substantially conical in contour. The contour in the attachment flange 36 is geometrically shaped to generate increased peripheral interface force between the attachment flange 36 and the terminal post 30 when the nut 28 is installed with the appropriate amount of installation torque. Although the attachment flange 36 is illustrated and described as substantially conical in contour, it should be apparent that other shapes, such as ovoid, round, square, triangular, etc., are also within the scope of the appended claims.
Operation of the fitting 20 may be best understood by referring to
It has been discovered by the present inventor that forming the attachment flange 36 such that it is substantially conical in contour retains the electro/mechanical connection by increasing the frictional contact area at the connection between the fitting 20 and the terminal post 30. As a non-limiting example, the substantially conical shape of the attachment flange 36 increases the contact area by approximately 40% when compared to prior art fittings. Increasing the contact area increases the electrical efficiency leading to improved current function, such as engine start.
In several embodiments that utilize copper or other materials with similar mechanical properties, the fitting 20 can be reused since the amount of contour formed in the attachment flange 36 is such that flattening of the attachment flange during use typically does not plastically deform the fitting.
A fitting 120 constructed in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the present disclosure may be best understood by referring to
While illustrative embodiments have been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims. As a non-limiting example, as used in the above discussion, the usage of the phrase “substantially conical attachment flange” is intended to describe the approximate shape of a battery cable terminal fitting attachment flange that will result in substantially uniform contact between the battery cable terminal fitting and the battery terminal post when attached with an attachment nut or attachment bolt. It should be appreciated that deviations from a conical shape are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
It should also be appreciated that the conical shape can be chosen to limit the strain levels experienced by the substantially conical attachment flange 36 to the elastic range of the material used so as to allow for re-use of the battery cable terminal fitting without re-forming. Additionally, while many materials can be used for battery cable terminal fittings in general, copper is a widely used material and can also be used with this invention.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5529509 | Hayes et al. | Jun 1996 | A |
| 5655936 | Meredith | Aug 1997 | A |
| 7125295 | Zhao et al. | Oct 2006 | B2 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20080242159 A1 | Oct 2008 | US |
