Electrical connectors – With insulation other than conductor sheath – Plural-contact coupling part
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-18
2001-12-11
Bradley, Paula (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
With insulation other than conductor sheath
Plural-contact coupling part
C439S521000, C439S522000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06328604
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a connection structure for a battery unit for providing connections between terminals of a plurality of cells.
2. Description of Related Art
In order to improve long-term durability of a battery unit wherein a plurality of cells are connected, it is essential both to improve the characteristics of the elements for electromotive force in the cells and to improve the durability of the connecting sections providing electrical connections between the cells. Specifically, any deterioration due to corrosion of the connecting sections which come into contact with external air will lead to increased electrical resistance, and hence this becomes a major cause of decline in the output characteristics of a battery unit. Therefore, in the prior art, connection structures for preventing corrosion of the connecting sections by sealing them from the external air have been proposed, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open No.(Hei)10-64507, for example.
Below, a connection structure for a battery according to the prior art is described with reference to FIG.
6
-FIG.
8
. As shown in
FIG. 6
, a cell
1
is constituted by elements for electromotive force
3
, wherein positive electrode plates and negative electrode plates are layered together, separators being interposed therebetween, which are accommodated and sealed inside a battery case
2
of rectangular cross-section made from synthetic resin, together with an electrolyte. Terminals
5
,
6
for the positive electrode and negative electrode are provided respectively projecting from either end portion of the upper face
4
of the battery case
2
, these being connected respectively to the positive electrode plates and negative electrode plates via lead plates
7
. The terminals
5
,
6
penetrate into the interior of the battery case
2
by means of terminal holes formed in the upper face
4
of the battery case
2
, and they are fastened by means of fixing washers
8
in a state where a seal is provided between same and the upper face
4
of the battery case
2
. Numeral
9
denotes a safety vent for discharging gas in cases where the pressure inside the cell increases abnormally.
As illustrated in
FIG. 7
, a battery unit
10
is constituted by arranging cells
1
of the aforementioned construction in a parallel configuration, in such a manner that the positive electrode terminals
5
and negative electrode terminals
6
thereof are situated adjacently to each other in an alternating fashion, these adjacent positive electrode terminals
5
and negative electrode terminals
6
being connected by means of connecting members
11
.
As shown in
FIG. 8
, the connecting members
11
are each constituted by a coupling plate
12
made from copper plate for connecting the terminals
5
,
6
together, and a cover member
13
made from chloroprene rubber for covering the periphery of the terminals
5
,
6
and the coupling plate
12
in such a manner that they are sealed from the external atmosphere.
The coupling plates
12
are respectively made from an oval-shaped plate having connecting holes
12
a
through which screw shaft portions of the terminals
5
,
6
are passed, which is positioned on top of step sections in the base portions of the terminals
5
,
6
and fastened by means of nuts
14
screwing onto the screw shaft portions of the terminals
5
,
6
.
Each cover member
13
comprises tubular sections
15
respectively surrounding the periphery of a terminal
5
,
6
and a nut
14
, and a coupling section
16
for coupling the tubular sections
15
, a coupling plate
12
being embedded integrally inside the cover member
13
. Naturally, the coupling plate
12
is exposed inside the tubular sections
15
. When coupling plates
12
are fastened tightly onto the terminals
5
,
6
, the lower end portions of the tubular sections
15
exert pressure on the upper face
4
of the battery case, about the periphery of the terminals
5
,
6
via the coupling plate
12
. The upper opening portions of the tubular sections
15
are sealed openably by way of lid members
17
, in such a manner that they can be closed tightly after the nuts
14
have been fastened.
However, in the connection structure for a battery described above, an external seal is formed by means of the lower ends of the tubular sections
15
pressing against the coupling plates
12
, thereby exerting pressure on the upper face
4
of the battery case. Consequently, whilst it is possible to prevent corrosion of the terminals
5
,
6
and coupling plates
12
through exposure to the external atmosphere, the tubular sections
15
are liable to deform in an outward radial direction, due to the aforementioned pressure. As a result of this deformation, the seal between the tubular section
15
and the upper face
4
of the battery case becomes insufficient, and consequently, in an operating environment where the battery is exposed to severe variations in temperature conditions, electrolyte seeping between the base portions of the terminals
5
,
6
and the fixing washers
8
, and between the fixing washers
8
and the upper face
4
of the battery case, as indicated by the arrows in
FIG. 8
, will flow out at any points where the seal between the lower ends of the tubular sections
15
and the upper face
4
of the battery case is incomplete.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention was devised with the foregoing in view, an object thereof being to provide a connection structure for a battery unit whereby escape of seeping electrolyte can be prevented in a reliable manner.
The connection structure for a battery according to the present invention, wherein respective terminals of a plurality of cells are mutually connected by way of coupling plates, comprises covering members made from an elastic material covering the periphery of the terminals and coupling plates in such a manner that they are sealed with respect to the exterior of the battery. The covering members comprise tubular sections which are pressed against the battery case surfaces about the periphery of the terminals by way of the coupling plates, when the coupling plates are affixed tightly to the terminals, and ring-shaped clamping sections which are clamped between the coupling plates and fixing washers surrounding the base portions of the terminals are provided on the inner circumference of the tubular sections. Any displacement or deformation of the tubular sections is restricted by way of the clamping sections being clamped between the coupling plates and the fixing washers, and hence the tubular sections are pressed against the upper faces of the battery cases in a stable fashion, thereby ensuring good sealing properties and making it possible to prevent escape of seeping electrolyte in a reliable manner.
Moreover, if a sealing projection having a semicircular or pointed cross-section is provided on the end portion of each tubular section confronting the battery case surface, then the sealing projections will display a reliable sealing function and ensure good sealing performance.
Furthermore, if dual-type inner and outer sealing projections are provided extending respectively on the inner circumference side and outer circumference side of the end portion of each tubular section confronting the battery case surface, then good sealing properties can be obtained with respect to infiltration from outside the battery and escape of electrolyte from inside the battery.
Moreover, if the sealing projections are provided in a circular fashion about the inner circumference of each tubular section, cutaway sections for avoiding interference with members disposed in the side regions of the terminals being formed in side faces of the tubular sections, and these cutaway sections being formed within a range whereby the sealing projections are able to maintain a uniform cross-section throughout the circumference thereof, then interference with peripheral members can be avoided by way of the cutaway sections, whilst ensuring good sealing proper
Fujioka Noriyuki
Hamada Shinji
Inoue Hiroshi
Bradley Paula
Greenblum & Bernstein P.L.C.
Matsushita Electric - Industrial Co., Ltd.
McCamey Ann
LandOfFree
Connection structure for battery unit does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Connection structure for battery unit, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Connection structure for battery unit will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2572734