Battery intercell connector manifold

• US 4,376,156 A
• Filed: 05/11/1981
• Issued: 03/08/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/1981
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: General Motors Corporation (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Wheadon, Ellis G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Walton, Donald L.
• Application Number:
  US06/262,132
• Time in Patent Office: 666 Days
• Field of Search: 429/160, 429/161
• US Class Current: 429/160
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/12 Construction or manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/528 Fixed electrical connections, i.e. not intended for disconnection
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

Abstract

A multi cell electric storage battery having an intercell connector manifold sealed within a recess in the battery'"'"'s cover. The manifold comprises a plurality of conductive lightweight links integral with a nonconductive carrier plate and secured to posts projecting from the battery'"'"'s cell elements.

Claims

1. A multi-cell Pb-acid storage battery comprising:

an open-ended case including a plurality of external walls defining a central cavity;

a plurality of partitions dividing said cavity into several compartments each adapted to receive a galvanic cell element immersed in electrolyte, said cell element comprising a stack of alternately interleafed positive and negative polarity plates, said plates each having a lug projecting therefrom for electrically coupling the plate to other plates in the same cell element and to an adjacent cell element via an intercell connector;

a cover sealed along its borders to said external walls and including a closure wall substantially completely overlying said open-end such as to substantially confine said electrolyte to said compartments;

an undivided recess in said cover, said recess traversing said several compartments and defined in part by said closure wall;

a terminal post on each element for concentrating the current flowing to and from a plurality of like-polarity plates in said element, said post projecting from a bundle of lugs from like-polarity plates through said closure wall and into said recess;

a plurality of apertures in said closure wall and through which said posts project into said recess from said elements;

seal means engaging said post and said closure wall at each said aperture for preventing passage of said electrolyte from said compartment into said recess through said aperture;

a discrete intercell connector manifold in said recess adjacent said closure wall and traversing said several compartments, said manifold comprising a non-conductive carrier plate including as an integral part thereof a plurality of small, highly conductive links of lightweight, electrolyte-destructible metal and serving to permit en masse handling of said links and electrical coupling of the terminal posts of several different cell elements together into a plurality of sets according to a desired interconnection pattern;

at least two openings in each said link, each said opening mating with and secured to a said post; and

means for protectively covering said manifold.

2. A multi-cell Pb-acid storage battery comprising:

an open-ended case including a plurality of external walls defining a central cavity;

a plurality of partitions dividing said cavity into several compartments each adapted to receive a galvanic cell element immersed in electrolyte, said cell element comprising a stack of alternately interleafed positive and negative polarity plates, said plates each having a lug projecting therefrom for electrically coupling the plate to other plates in the same cell element and to an adjacent cell element via an intercell connector;

a cover sealed along its borders to said external walls and including a closure wall substantially completely overlying said open-end such as to substantially confine said electrolyte to said compartments;

an undivided recess in said cover, said recess traversing said several compartments and defined in part by said closure wall;

a terminal post on each element for concentrating the current flowing to and from a plurality of like-polarity plates in said element, said post projecting from a bundle of lugs from like-polarity plates through said closure wall and into said recess;

a plurality of apertures in said closure wall and through which said posts project into said recess from said elements;

deformable seal means engaging said post and said closure wall at each said aperture for preventing passage of said electrolyte from said compartment into said recess through said aperture;

a discrete intercell connector manifold in said recess traversing said several compartments and comprising a non-conductive carrier plate including as an integral part thereof a plurality of small, highly conductive, links of lightweight, electrolyte-destructible metal, said manifold compressing said seal means to enhance said electrolyte passage prevention while also serving to permit en masse handling of said links and electrical coupling of the terminal posts of several different cell elements together into a plurality of sets according to a desired interconnection pattern;

at least two openings in each said link, each said opening mating with and secured to a said post; and

means for protectively covering said manifold.