Chemistry: electrical current producing apparatus – product – and – Current producing cell – elements – subcombinations and... – Cell enclosure structure – e.g. – housing – casing – container,...
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-15
2001-07-10
Brouillette, Gabrielle (Department: 1745)
Chemistry: electrical current producing apparatus, product, and
Current producing cell, elements, subcombinations and...
Cell enclosure structure, e.g., housing, casing, container,...
C429S178000, C429S179000, C429S175000, C429S170000, C429S181000, C429S183000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06258481
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to bushings for battery terminals, and more specifically pertains to a battery terminal bushing incorporated into a battery cover and having a sealed, encapsulated bend that allows for frontal access to the battery termination.
Batteries have been in existence for a number of years. Moreover, batteries are produced in a variety of different forms. For example, one common variety of battery is provided with battery terminals vertically extending from the top of the battery enclosure. Such types of batteries are commonly found in automobiles. Those skilled in the battery arts generally refer to such batteries as standard top termination batteries.
In certain industries, such as the telecommunications industry, standard top termination batteries are not preferred. Rather, in such industries, like the telecommunications industry, batteries having frontal termination are preferred. Frontal termination batteries are those having their points of access for making connection to draw power from the battery located on a side (as opposed to a top) portion of the battery. In spite of the general affinity for frontal (rather than top) termination in the telecommunications industry, standard top termination batteries are still widely used in this industry; however, these batteries are usually modified to provide frontal termination.
In particular, those in the telecommunications industry are presently integrating termination transformation kits to standard top termination batteries to transform them into pseudo-frontal termination batteries. Typically, the use of such kits involves interconnecting one or more members between the top of the battery where the battery terminals are located, and a side portion of the battery where it is preferred to have power drawn from the battery. There is added cost in procuring a kit to facilitate running power from a standard top termination battery to a side portion of the battery. Additionally, such a kit typically has more than one piece, increasing the likelihood of losing one of the pieces and rendering the kit useless without a replacement piece. Moreover, attaching portions of such kits to the top of the batteries necessitates having greater space in between adjacent racks of batteries. In this regard, it is common in the telecommunications industry to find a series of vertically stacked racks, each containing a plurality of batteries. There would be considerable space savings if such kits were not needed.
Therefore, there existed a need to provide an improved battery terminal bushing integrally connected to a battery cover, having a portion connected to a Cast on Strap post in a battery, and having another portion extending to a side of the battery cover to permit frontal termination. Such an improved battery terminal bushing obviates the present practice of integrating termination transformation kits with standard top termination batteries.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One embodiment of the present invention is a device comprising, in combination, a battery terminal bushing; and a body of the battery terminal bushing forming a first cavity situated about a first axis, and forming a second cavity situated about a second axis substantially orthogonal to the first axis. Having the substantially orthogonal arrangement, it will be seen, permits frontal termination of a battery without the need for a supplemental kit. The body includes a first portion having a substantially cylindrical external shape with an internal surface forming the first cavity, and a second portion having a substantially cylindrical external shape with an internal surface forming the second cavity. The internal surface forming the first cavity is substantially cylindrical, and the internal surface forming the second cavity is substantially cylindrical. The body further includes a third portion integrally coupled in between the first and second portions, and having a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the second axis. The third portion creates a distance between the first portion where, ultimately, a COS post will reside, and the second portion where frontal termination is desired. Preferably, the first and second cavities are axially centered about the first and second axes, respectively. Outer surfaces of the first and second portions form acid rings. The acid rings help limit or prevent electrolyte seepage from the battery through the battery terminal bushing and battery cover. Preferably, the first member consists of lead, as it stands up well to exposure with battery acid.
The device further comprises an insert integrally coupled to the internal surface forming the second cavity. The insert has a substantially cylindrical outer surface shape with rings, and an internal surface forming a third cavity situated about the second axis. The internal surface forming the second cavity is provided with rings for complementary inter-engagement with the rings of the outer surface of the insert. Preferably, the insert consists of brass or copper, as these materials demonstrate good conductive characteristics. The internal surface forming the third cavity is preferably threaded to facilitate connection, at this frontal termination point of the battery, to an external load line connector.
In an alternative embodiment to the present invention, a battery cover assembly is disclosed for a battery having positive and negative plates joined to respective upright posts, comprising a molded cover; and a pair of terminal bushings molded into the battery cover wherein each bushing has a body with a first portion adapted to fit about and connect to a respective post, and has a second portion extending away from the first portion approximately orthogonally. The second portions of the terminal bushings extend through the cover and are accessible via apertures located on a side surface of the cover. Each terminal bushing body forms a first cavity wherein a respective post is inserted, and forms a second cavity situated about a second axis substantially orthogonal to an axis of the respective post. The first portion has a substantially cylindrical external shape with an internal surface forming the first cavity, and the second portion has a substantially cylindrical external shape with an internal surface forming the second cavity. The internal surface forming the first cavity is substantially cylindrical, and the internal surface forming the second cavity is substantially cylindrical. Each body further includes a third portion integrally coupled in between the first and second portions, and having a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the second axis. The first and second cavities are axially centered about the axis of the respective post and the second axis, respectively. Note that an outer surface of the first portion forms acid rings, and an outer surface of the second portion forms acid rings. The acid rings help limit or prevent electrolyte seepage from the battery through the battery terminal bushing and battery cover. Preferably, the first member consists of lead, as it stands up well to exposure with battery acid.
The battery cover assembly embodiment further comprises an insert integrally coupled to the internal surface forming the second cavity. The insert has a substantially cylindrical outer surface shape with rings, and an internal surface forming a third cavity situated about the second axis. The internal surface forming the second cavity is provided with rings for complementary inter-engagement with the rings of the outer surface of the insert. Preferably, the second member consists of brass or copper, as these materials demonstrate good conductive characteristics. Lastly, the internal surface forming the third cavity is preferably threaded to facilitate connection, at this frontal termination point of the battery, to an external load line connector.
REFERENCES:
patent: 43373
Pfeifer Guy L.
Ross William J.
Brouillette Gabrielle
C&D Charter Holdings Inc.
Dove Tracy
Duane Morris & Heckscher LLP
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