Battery connector and method

• US 5,158,477 A
• Filed: 11/15/1991
• Issued: 10/27/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army
• Inventors: Testa, Bruce A., Bard, Arnold
• Primary Examiner(s): Schwartz, Larry I.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vu, Hien D.
• Application Number:
  US07/792,827
• Time in Patent Office: 347 Days
• Field of Search: 439/489, 439/507, 439/512, 439/513, 439/514, 439/509, 439/45, 439/46, 439/152, 439/388, 439/389, 429/121, 429/65, 429/178, 429/180
• US Class Current: 439/507
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2200/00 Safety devices for primary or secondary batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/50 Current conducting connections for cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/569 Constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals battery terminal connectors with integrated measuring arrangements G01R31/364
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/703 operated by engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. dual-continuity coupling partH01R13/71 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A battery connector for use in a battery having an inner sensor circuit inrder to turn on and shut off the inner sensor circuit automatically when respectively connecting and disconnecting the battery for extending the battery storage shelf life. The battery connector includes a metal connector pin, a socket receiving the pin having a first metal positive conductor and having a second metal sensor circuit conductor, an insulator between the conductors, and a bridge for electrical conduction past the insulator between the first and second conductors and between the first conductor and the pin.

Claims

1. A connector for a battery comprising:

a pin having an axis and being axially displaced;

a socket for positioning the pin therein and coaxially therewith, said socket having first and second metal conductors and being mounted on a battery and extending through a wall of the battery;

wherein the first metal conductor has a first conductive portion for connection to a positive battery terminal, the second metal conductor has a second conductive portion for connection to a battery sensor circuit, and the first and second metal conductors form a recess for positioning the pin in the recess for contact with the pin;

an insulating medium disposed between the first and second conductors; and

bridge means which connects the first conductor to the second conductor only when the pin is positioned within the socket.

2. The connector of claim 1, wherein

the first metal conductor and second metal conductor are elongate members each having an arcuate cross-section and being separated by two elongate slots;

and

the insulating medium is an air gap.

3. The connector of claim 1, wherein

the first metal conductor is a cylinder;

the second metal conductor is a round plate axially spaced from the cylinder coaxially therewith;

the insulating medium is a ring made of insulating material; and

the ring has an edge fixedly connected to the cylinder and has a second edge fixedly connected to the round plate.

4. The connector of claim 1, wherein

the first metal conductor is a cylinder;

the second metal conductor is a round plate axially spaced from the cylinder coaxially therewith;

the first and second metal conductors have a bracket for support of the second metal conductor by the first metal conductor.

5. The connector of claim 1, wherein

the first metal conductor is an outer cylinder;

the second metal conductor is an inner cylinder;

the insulating medium is a middle cylinder disposed between the outer and inner cylinder and is made of an insulating material;

the inner cylinder has a plurality of cantilever bent strips;

the bent strips each has a middle portion engaged by the pin when the pin is in position within the socket and each bent strip has an outer end in bearing against the outer cylinder when the strip middle portion is engaged by the pin; and

the middle cylinder has an opening disposed radially outwardly of each strip for movement therethrough of the strip outer end.