BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the invention
[0001] The present invention relates to a battery terminal connected to the electrode (battery
post) of a battery installed in a motor vehicle, and particularly to a battery terminal
installed by means of tightening a bolt in a clamping member from vertically above.
2. Description of the prior art
[0002] With a conventional battery terminal of this type, an annular post fitting is fit
over the battery post protruding from the battery. The base members contiguous to
the free ends of the post fitting are then clamped tight to the post via a bolt and
nut tightened from the side using an impact wrench or other power tightening tool.
[0003] In most late-model passenger vehicles, however, the engine room is extremely crowded
as a growing number of components are installed in a confined space. This makes it
difficult to adequately tighten the post fitting by applying a horizontal force because
of interference from other engine room components with the tightening tools. It is
even possible for the impact wrench to contact the negative terminal while tightening
the positive post fitting, causing an electrical short which, in a worst-case scenario,
could cause an engine room fire.
[0004] The battery terminal shown in Figs. 5a and 5b has therefore been proposed (Utility
Model Publication (examined) 4-9736) as a means of solving this problem. With this
battery terminal, opposing base 3b and tightening members 3c forming a taper that
is wider at the bottom than at the top are formed as part of the terminal body 3.
A clamping member 5, forming a similar taper that is wider at the bottom than at the
top, fits over and is then pulled down over the base 3b and tightening members 3c
by tightening a bolt 4. This causes the post fitting 3a to close and clamp the post
2 of the battery 1.
[0005] The problem with this configuration, however, is that on the automobile assembly
line many bolts are tightened as the assembly line keeps moving, and the torque of
the impact wrench is not readjusted for each tightening task. As a result, bolt tightening
using an impact wrench is dependent upon the experience of the operator and visual
inspection of bolt tightness.
[0006] Torque control is also not generally used when tightening the battery terminal bolts.
As a result, the terminal bolt may be overtightened due to continued tightening after
the post fitting is sufficiently clamped to the battery post.
[0007] With the battery terminal described above, excessive tightening force can cause the
battery terminal to turn in the direction of arrow X in Fig. 5a around the battery
post 2. This can result in damage to the wires connected to the battery terminal.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a battery terminal which
when tightened to the battery post by means of a bolt using an impact wrench of which
the torque is unregulated will not turn on the battery post even when additional torque
is applied by the impact wrench after the battery terminal is tightened sufficiently
to the battery post.
[0009] To achieve this object, a battery terminal for tightly clamping a battery annular
post, according to the present invention comprises: a fold element having top and
bottom ring-shaped post fitting members, said ring-shaped post fitting members formed
with an annular post fitting opening which is opened towards the folded end for defining
two folded arms, said two folded arms having tapered walls; a clamping member having
tapered sides; an urging means for urging said two folded arms into said clamping
member for sliding said tapered walls along said tapered sides to close said two folded
arms; and notches having pointed tips projecting from the inside circumference surface
of at least one of said ring-shaped post fitting members for biting into the outside
circumference surface of the battery post.
[0010] The urging means is formed by a nut held in a space between said two folded arms
and a bolt engaged to the clamping member and threaded to said nut for sliding said
tapered walls along said tapered sides to close said two folded arms.
[0011] Note that the notches formed on the inside circumference surface of the post fitting
may be formed as a series of teeth that are wave-shaped in cross section and continuous
in the circumferential direction. Said notches may also be formed discontinuously
spaced in the circumferential direction.
[0012] When the bolt is tightened using an impact wrench or other power tightening tool
with a battery terminal thus described, the tips of the notches bite into the outside
circumference surface of the battery post to prevent rotation of the battery terminal.
As a result, when excessive torque is applied using an impact wrench for which the
torque output is not specifically controlled, the battery terminal will not turn on
the battery post.
[0013] In addition, because the tips of the notches bite into the battery post, positive
contact between the battery post and battery terminal can be assured, and poor electrical
contact does not occur.
[0014] Furthermore, even when the tightening force holding the battery terminal to the battery
post is weak, sufficient electrical contact can be obtained by means of the notches.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description
given below and the accompanying diagrams wherein:
Fig. 1 is an exploded view of a battery terminal according to the present invention,
Figs. 2a and 2b are diagrams showing the bolt tightening operation using appropriate
tools,
Figs. 3a and 3b are diagrams showing the closing operation of side walls as the bolt
is tightened,
Fig. 4 is a simplified top plan view showing the battery terminal clamped to the battery
post, and
Figs. 5a and 5b are diagrams showing an example of the prior art.
DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0016] The preferred embodiment of a battery terminal according to the present invention
is described below with reference to the accompanying figures.
[0017] As shown in Fig. 1, the battery terminal 10 of the present invention comprises terminal
body 11, clamping member 12, bolt 14, nut 15, and ring 16.
[0018] The terminal body 11 is a stud bolt type terminal, and is manufactured by shaping
and bending a single metal piece in two as shown in the figure. A stud bolt 18 is
provided in the wire connector 17 at one end of the battery terminal. The terminal
(not shown in the figures) crimped to an electrical wire is placed over and clamped
to the stud bolt 18 using a nut (not shown in the figures).
[0019] Note that the terminal body 11 may alternatively be a crimped-barrel terminal whereby
a barrel integrally formed to the electrical wire connector is crimped to secure and
connect the electrical wire to the terminal.
[0020] The terminal body 11 forms the wire connector 17, post fitting 20, and clamping end
21 by bending top and bottom parts, which are basically identical in shape, around
a bending member at one end such that the top part vertically opposes the bottom part.
[0021] More specifically, both top and bottom parts have at one end a rectangularly shaped
wire connector 17A or 17B, each being connected to a ring-shaped post fitting 20A
or 20B, respectively. A cylindrical member 20A-1 or 20B-1 stands around the inside
circumference edge of the post fittings 20A, 20B.
[0022] Notches 20A-2, 20B-2 having a wave-shaped cross section are formed continuously around
the inside circumference surfaces of the cylindrical members 20A-1, 20B-1. The tips
20A-3, 20B-3 of the projecting ends of each of the notches 20A-2, 20B-2 project in
an acute point to the inside of the post fittings 20A and 20B.
[0023] The end opposite the electrical wire connector side of the post fittings 20A, 20B
is open as shown in Fig. 1. Clamping ends 21A, 21A', 21B, and 21B' are provided contiguous
to each free end. The right side clamping ends 21A and 21B and the left side clamping
ends 21A' and 21B' are respectively linked by bending members 21C and 21C', respectively.
The right and left clamping ends 21A, 21B and 21A', 21B' are separated by a space
S.
[0024] Slide members 21A-1 and 21A'-1 sloping down to the outside are provided at the outside
edges of the top clamping ends 21A, 21A'. Slide members 21B-1 and (21B'-1 not shown
in the figures) sloping up to the inside are provided at the outside edges of the
bottom clamping ends 21B, 21B'.
[0025] The clamping member 12 is a C-shaped member comprising a top 12a and two sides 12b
and 12c. A bolt hole 24 is provided at the center of the top 12a.
[0026] As shown in the figures, side walls 26, 27 that are open to the bottom are provided
in the middle of the sides 12b, 12c, which extend perpendicularly from the edges of
the top 12a. Taper faces 26a, 26b, 26a', 26b', 27a, 27b, 27a', and 27b' forming tapered
members widening to the bottom are provided in horizontal opposition in two vertical
stages on the right and left side edges of the side walls 26, 27. The horizontal faces
connecting the taper faces 26a
...... 27b' are the shoulders 26c, 26c', 27c, and 27c'.
[0027] As shown in Fig. 3a, the clamping member 12 is assembled to the battery terminal
with the taper faces 26a
...... 27b' contacting and sliding freely along the slide members 21A-1
...... 21B'-1 of the clamping end 21. A nut 15 is housed in the space S in the clamping
end 21, and the bolt 14 is threaded partially into the nut 15 through the bolt hole
24 of the clamping member 12.
[0028] Note that a ring 16 (not shown in Figs. 3a and 3b, but only shown in Fig. 1) is fit
to the top of the shank 14b of the bolt 14. This ring 16 causes the clamping member
12 to rise as the bolt 14 is loosened.
[0029] With the bolt 14 loosely threaded into the nut 15, a space S remains between the
clamping ends 21A, 21A' and 21B, 21B' on both sides, and the free-end sides of the
post fittings 20A, 20B contiguous to the clamping ends 21A
...... 21B' are fully open.
[0030] The battery terminal 10 is mounted to the battery post 2 by fitting the post fittings
20A, 20B over the post. The post fittings 20A, 20B can be easily fit over the battery
post because the free ends of the fittings are open wide.
[0031] The head 14a of the bolt 14 is then turned and tightened into the nut 15 using a
power tightening tool such as an impact wrench R (Fig. 2a) or manually using an open-end
wrench R' (Fig. 2b) or other wrench.
[0032] As shown in Fig. 3b, as the bolt 14 is tightened downward, the clamping member 12
also moves down and the taper faces 26a
...... 27b' of the side walls 26, 27 press the slide members 21A-1
...... 21B'-1 projecting to the outside from the right and left clamping ends 21A
...... 21B' horizontally to the inside. As a result, the right and left clamping ends 21A
...... 21B' move horizontally closer together, and the free ends of the post fittings 20A,
20B contiguous to the right and left clamping ends 21A
...... 21B' close.
[0033] As the free ends of the post fittings 20A, 20B close, the inside diameter of the
center opening becomes smaller, and the inside circumference surfaces of the post
fittings 20A, 20B approach the outside circumference surface of the post 2.
[0034] This causes the tips 20A-3, 20B-3 projecting at an acute angle from the notches 20A-2,
20B-2 on the inside circumference surface of the post fittings 20A, 20B to press against
the outside circumference surface of the post 2. As the post fitting is further tightened
by the bolt, the tips 20A-3, 20B-3 bite into the outside circumference surface of
the post 2 as shown in Fig. 4.
[0035] When the tips 20A-3, 20B-3 of the notches 20A-2, 20B-2 on the inside circumference
surface of the post fittings 20A, 20B bite into the outside circumference surface
of the post 2, rotation of the battery terminal 10 is effectively stopped. As a result,
the battery terminal 10 will not turn on the battery post even when the bolt 14 is
overtightened, and the battery terminal 10 is effectively held clamped to the battery
post.
[0036] As will be obvious from the above description, once a battery terminal according
to the present invention is firmly clamped to the battery post by tightening a bolt
using an impact wrench or other tightening tool, the post fitting of the battery terminal
is clamped in a manner preventing the post fitting from turning on the battery post.
[0037] As a result, when an impact wrench of which the torque is not controlled is used
on the assembly line to clamp the battery terminal to the battery post and excessive
tightening force is applied thereby, the battery terminal is prevented from turning
on the battery post.
[0038] A reliable electrical connection between the battery terminal and battery post can
also be assured with a battery terminal according to the present invention because
the battery terminal is clamped to the battery post with the tips of the notches of
the post fitting biting into the outside circumference surface of the battery post.
[0039] Even when the bolt tightening force is weak, sufficient electrical contact can be
assured because of the projecting tips of the notches provided on the inside circumference
surface of the post fitting.
[0040] The productivity of the battery terminal installation task can thus be improved because
special attention is not required to prevent overtightening of the bolt or contact
problems caused by insufficient bolt tightening. The battery terminal of the invention
also helps prevent damage to components resulting from inexperience tightening the
battery terminal.
[0041] The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied
in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit
and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one
skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.
1. A battery terminal for tightly clamping a cylindrical battery post (2), comprising:
a terminal body (11) formed with a post fitting opening which is open towards one
end of the terminal body for defining two arms (21A, 21B and 21A', 21B'), said arms
having tapered walls (21A-1, 21B-1, 21A'-1, 21B'-1);
a clamping member (12) having tapered sides (26a, 26b, 27a, 27b, 26a', 26b', 27a',
27b'); and
urging means (14, 15) for urging said two arms into said clamping member for sliding
said tapered walls along said tapered sides to close said two arms, characterized in that
said terminal body (11) comprises a folded element (20) having top and bottom ring
shaped post fitting members (20A, 20B) defining said post fitting opening which is
opened towards the folded end of said folded element, so that said arms are formed
as folded arms (21A, 21B and 21A', 21B'); and in that at least one of said ring-shaped
post fitting members (20A, 20B) is formed with notches (20A-2) having pointed tips
projecting from the inside circumferential surface of said post fitting member for
biting into the outside circumferential surface of the battery post (2)
2. A battery terminal according to claim 1, wherein said urging means comprise a nut
(15) held in a space between said two folded arms, and a bolt (14) engaged in said
clamping member (12) and threaded into said nut (15).
3. A battery terminal according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said notches (20A-2) are formed
as a series of projections that are wave-shaped in cross section and continuous in
the circumferential direction.
4. A battery terminal as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein said clamping
member (12) is a C-shaped member comprising a top (12a) and two sides (12b, 12c),
said top (12a) being engaged by a member (14) of said urging means, said tapered sides
(26a, 26b, 27a, 27b, 26a', 26b', 27a', 27b') being formed in recesses in the middle
portions of said sides (12b, 12c).
5. A battery terminal according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each of said
folded arms is provided with two tapered walls of which one (21A-1, 21A'-1) is formed
on the top portion (21A, 21A') of the folded arm and the other one (21B-1, 21B'-1)
is formed on the bottom portion (21B, 21B') of the folded arm, and said clamping member
(12) has first tapered sides (26a, 27a, 26a', 26b') formed in a top portion thereof
and second tapered sides (26b, 27b, 26b', 27b') formed in a bottom portion.
6. A battery terminal according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said two folded
arms (21A, 21B and 21A', 21B') are formed on a side of said ring-shaped post fitting
members (20A, 20B) opposite to a wire connector portion (17) of the terminal body,
and said clamping member (12) is adapted to be slid onto said folded arms from the
free end thereof.