Battery terminal

• US 5,326,655 A
• Filed: 05/07/1993
• Issued: 07/05/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Mix, Renard E., Key, Tony E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Maples, John S.
• Application Number:
  US08/057,925
• Time in Patent Office: 424 Days
• Field of Search: 429/178, 429/179, 429/182, 429/180, 429/181
• US Class Current: 429/178
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/561 Hollow metallic terminals, e.g. terminal bushings
• 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 corrosion- and vibration-resistant battery terminal including a connector portion comprising a tin-coated, creep-resistant metal blade having a lead collar embedding one end thereof and receiving a battery terminal post therein.

Claims

1. A corrosion-resistant and vibration-resistant battery terminal comprising a terminal post projecting outboard a battery container and a connector engaging said terminal post, said connector comprising:

a creep-resistant metal blade having an aperture through one end receiving said terminal post, means on the other end for coupling said blade to a battery cable connector, and a tin-based coating covering said other end;

a Pb-based alloy collar bonded to and embedding said one end of said blade, said collar having an opening therein which receives said terminal post wherein said alloy is richer in tin contiguous the blade than elsewhere in the collar.

2. The terminal as claimed in claim 1 wherein said coupling means comprises a threaded rod anchored to said other end of said blade and projecting from a first face of said blade for engaging said cable connector.

3. The terminal as claimed in claim 2 wherein said rod is part of a bolt having a head which is at least partially embedded in Pb alloy bonded to a second face of said other end opposite said first face.

4. The terminal as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one lug extends radially outwardly from said post, and said collar has at least one recess receiving said lug for preventing rotation of said collar with respect to said post.

5. The terminal as claimed in claim 1 wherein said collar is fused to said post.

6. The terminal as claimed in claim 1 wherein said coupling means comprises an internally threaded socket.

7. The terminal as claimed in claim 1 wherein said post has an annular flange extending radially therefrom and overlying a surface of said container, and a porous washer sandwiched between said flange and said collar.

8. The terminal as claimed in claim 7 wherein said washer comprises a polyester felt.