Battery terminal seal

• US 5,021,305 A
• Filed: 02/15/1990
• Issued: 06/04/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: William C. Turner
• Original Assignee: William C. Turner
• Inventors: Turner, William C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kalafut, Stephen J.
• Application Number:
  US07/480,227
• Time in Patent Office: 474 Days
• Field of Search: 420/65, 439/202, 439/522
• US Class Current: 429/65
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/571 Methods or arrangements for affording protection against corrosion; Selection of materials therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/284 comprising means for preventing corrosion, e.g. covers, enclosures filled with gel
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A cover for battery terminals includes a cap arrangement that may be placed over a battery terminal and a standard cable connector to seal and protect against corrosion. In a first form, the cap includes hinged base sections and a cover section. The hinged base sections include semi-circular recesses that close about the terminal below the connector. The cover section is received over the terminal connector and upright walls of the base section. A first seal is positioned between the cap and the battery case, sealing the cap to the case. A second seal fits between the cable and the cap to complete the sealed enclosure about the terminal and connector. In a second preferred embodiment, the cap includes top and side walls with cable passages. In this embodiment, a surface is formed on the battery case for engagement with the cap to form a first seal about the terminal and connector. In yet another embodiment, a gasket seal is attached to the cap for engagement with the battery case and the cap is secured by a non-conductive fastener bolt to a threaded socket in a modified battery terminal. Cable receiving passages are provided in the walls of the base and cap. The above assemblies may be completed with the battery connector attached to the terminal post.

Claims

1. A battery case terminal, cable, and connector seal assembly, comprising:

a cap including a top and a side wall extending about the periphery of the top, the cap forming an enclosure to releasably receive the battery terminal, connector and a portion of the cable;

the side wall including a cable passage for receiving the cable;

a first seal for substantially sealing the cap side wall and the battery case about the terminal and the connector; and

a second seal for sealing the cable passage about the battery cable.

2. The battery case terminal, cable, and connector seal assembly of claim 1 wherein the first seal is comprised of a bottom edge surface on the cap side wall and a complimentary edge receiving surface formed in the battery case about the terminal and the connector.

3. The battery case terminal, cable, and connector seal assembly of claim 2 wherein the edge receiving surface and the cap side wall include a latching mechanism operable to releasably secure the cap to the battery case.

4. The battery case terminal, cable, and connector seal assembly of claim 2 wherein the battery terminal includes a socket;

wherein the first seal includes a gasket seal mounted to the cap for encircling the terminal and connector and for peripheral sealing engagement between the cap and battery case; and

a hold down fastener on the cap, selectively engagable with the socket on the terminal to hold the cap with the gasket seal in sealing contact with the battery case.

5. The battery case terminal, cable, and connector seal assembly of claim 1 wherein the first seal includes a gasket seal for encircling the terminal and connector for peripheral sealing engagement between the cap edge surface and battery case.

6. The battery case terminal, cable, and connector seal assembly of claim 1 wherein the cap includes a plurality of knock out sections positioned about the side wall, each knock out section being selectively removable from the cap to provide a cable receiving recess at a selected position in the cap.

7. The battery case terminal, cable, and connector seal assembly of claim 6 further comprising:

a cable receiving insert with an opening therein for receiving the second seal and encircling the battery cable; and

wherein the insert includes a peripheral edge shaped to be received by the cable receiving recess formed by removal of one of the knock out sections.

8. The battery case terminal, cable, and connector seal assembly of claim 1 further comprising:

a pair of base sections each including a terminal receiving recess therein;

connector means joining the base sections for movement between open positions wherein the base sections are separated and closed positions wherein the base sections are positioned adjacent one another with the terminal receiving recesses forming a terminal receiving opening;

a cover section receivable over the base plate and sized to cover the battery terminal;

wherein the side wall extends between the cover section and base plate, forming an enclosure with the base plate and cover section, the enclosure being adapted to receive a battery terminal and connector; and

wherein the first seal is flexible and shaped to substantially seal the base sections at the terminal receiving opening about the terminal.

9. The cover of claim 8 wherein the connector means is comprised of a hinge joining the base sections for pivotal movement between the open and closed positions.

10. The battery case terminal, cable, and connector seal assembly of claim 9 wherein the side wall is integral with the base sections and wherein the hinge joins the base sections at the side wall.

11. The battery case terminal, cable, and connector seal assembly of claim 9 wherein the base sections and side wall are integral and formed of plastic and wherein the hinge is integral with the side wall.

12. The battery case terminal, cable, and connector seal assembly of claim 8 wherein the first seal is formed in the shape of a flat washer with a central hole for receiving the battery terminal, and is positionable between the base sections and battery case to deform against the base sections and terminal to fill and seal the terminal opening upon compressive forces being applied against the first seal by the base sections.

13. The battery case terminal, cable, and connector seal assembly of claim 8 wherein the first seal is comprised of a moldable acid resistant adhesive putty material.

14. The battery case terminal, cable, and connector seal assembly of claim 8 wherein the first and second seals are formed of a moldable acid resistant adhesive putty.

15. The battery case terminal, cable, and connector seal assembly of claim 8 wherein the first seal is formed in the shape of a flat washer with a central hole for receiving the battery terminal, and is positionable between the base sections and battery case to deform against the base sections and terminal, to fill and seal the terminal opening upon compressive forces being applied against the first seal by the base sections.

16. The battery case terminal, cable, and connector seal assembly of claim 8 wherein the connector means is comprised of a hinge joining the base sections for pivotal movement between open and closed positions.

17. The battery case terminal, cable, and connector seal assembly of claim 16 wherein the side wall is integral with the base sections and wherein the hinge joins the base sections at the side wall.

18. The battery case terminal, cable, and connector seal assembly of claim 8 wherein two engaging side walls are provided, one being on the base and one being on the cover section, the two side walls being received in an overlapping relationship and forming part of the first seal.

19. The battery case terminal, cable, and connector seal assembly of claim 8 wherein the connector is comprised of a hinge joining the base sections and wherein side wall is comprised of:

a cover section wall;

a base section wall integral with the base, the hinge being integral with the base section wall;

wherein the cover section wall and base wall section slidably interfit, forming a substantially airtight seal; and

wherein the hinge is integral with the cover section wall.

20. The battery case terminal, cable, and connector seal assembly of claim 19 wherein the cover section wall fits over the base sections wall to the outside thereof.

21. The battery case terminal, cable, and connector seal assembly of claim 20 wherein the cable passage is defined by opposed recesses formed in the cover section wall and base section wall.