Electrical connectors – Metallic clamp-type connector for storage battery terminal – Deformable c- or u-clamp
Patent
1996-08-01
1998-03-10
Abrams, Neil
Electrical connectors
Metallic clamp-type connector for storage battery terminal
Deformable c- or u-clamp
439923, 439158, H01R 442
Patent
active
057253994
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a battery cable terminal for vehicles, with a clamping bore for retention to the battery post, including an attached safety separator which is located between a battery and an on-board cable end of the vehicle and is operable conditioned by an accident, and further including a housing of the separator.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
DE 30 37 502 C2 has disclosed a safety separator which is detachably fastened to the cable terminal and has an inertia element connected to one of the contacts. This device of elaborate design has functional drawbacks resulting from structural tolerances, ageing and a system-conditioned directional sensitivity. Through this directional sensitivity, the contact separation takes place with sufficient dependability only if and when in the event of an accident there is an impact acceleration in a preferred direction. If the accident-conditioned impact acceleration is in different directions, contact separation is not adequately ensured although the severity of an accident might so require. This also applies for the so-called rear collision where the car is crashed into from behind, because the inertia element of the separator fails to be adequately deflected with the necessary reliability and therefore there is then no dependable contact separation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object underlying the invention is therefore to provide a cable terminal of the kind mentioned at the outset with a separator, wherein the device is of simple design and reliably ensures any necessary contact separation independently of a specific direction of impact in the event of an accident, even after lengthy use of the vehicle.
To accomplish this object, the cable terminal stated at the outset is characterized in that a fixed part of the housing of the separator is integral with the cable terminal and secures a cable end of the on-board system by means of a separable fastening device, and that the configuration and arrangement of a powered drive element between fixed walls of the housing and the cable end is such that when said drive element is actuated the fixation of the cable end is released, wherein the powered drive element has a control line effecting actuation of said drive element in dependance on an accident sensor separately from and/or together with other safety systems, as required.
The integral configuration of the housing of the safety separator with the battery cable terminal and the use of a powered drive element permit the separator to be formed without any additional fixtures and with little structural complexity so as to be operationally dependable and of unchanged efficiency even when the vehicle has been in lengthy use. Furthermore the extent of work involved in assembly is less in comparison to a separate arrangement. The weight of the separator and its housing integral with the cable terminal can be supported by means of the mount on the battery connecting terminal; in addition however the device can also be located in position by support against the external surface of the battery. By this means the arrangement displays particularly high mechanical stability without the structural complexity involved by the separator having its own fixtures.
It is advantageous if a pyrotechnically acting, powered drive element is provided. The use in vehicles of a pyrotechnical, powered drive element controlled by an accident sensor is known and field-proven e.g. with airbags. In the present application, however, the intention is not that a large volume of gas be generated in the minimum of time, but the action of pressure force is required and utilized. Consequently other powered drive elements can also be employed, such as spring energy accumulators, gas accumulators and/or air-hydraulic accumulators.
German laid open print No. 21 31 479 has disclosed the use of a pyrotechnical, powered drive element in a safety device for smashing a window pane. This powered drive element is triggered at the same time as the airbag and serves to reduce the p
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O. Richter R.v. Voss, Bauelemente Der Feinmechanik, Verlag Technik Berlin, 1952, pp. 135-138.
Albiez Robert
Grobmair Maximilian
Krappel Alfred
Nolle Gunther
Abrams Neil
Auto-Kabel Hausen GmbH & Co. Betriebs-KG
Wittels Daniel
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