Battery test contact assembly

• US 5,903,154 A
• Filed: 10/17/1997
• Issued: 05/11/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Chaojiong Zhang
• Original Assignee: Chaojiong Zhang
• Inventors: Piwonka, Dennis, Zhang, Chaojiong
• Primary Examiner(s): Ballato, Josie
• Assistant Examiner(s): Solis, Jose M.
• Application Number:
  US08/953,334
• Time in Patent Office: 571 Days
• Field of Search: 439/219, 439/362, 439/378, 439/377, 324/437, 324/538
• US Class Current: 324/437
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/01 Subjecting similar articles in turn to test, e.g. "go/no-go" tests in mass production; Testing objects at points as they pass through a testing station testing of cables continuously passing the testing apparatus G01R31/59; testing dielectric strength or breakdown voltage G01R31/12
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/364 Battery terminal connectors with integrated measuring arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3865 related to manufacture, e.g. testing after manufacture

Abstract

A battery test contact clamp assembly is set forth. In one embodiment, upper and lower printed circuit boards are spaced apart on four corner located mounting rods of conductive metal. The four rods pass through one of the boards and are held to it by a set of detents and four hubs located at corners to thereby define a rectangular structure where the boards can move closer together or further apart. Frictional mounting hubs are used for the four rods. They are connected electrically in a circuit which involves contact assemblies on the two boards and they are aligned with battery terminals for contact to thereby define an electrical flow path with a test circuit. The contacts are aligned with the battery terminals. Alternative embodiments include two boards with multiple conducting rods there between and they are connected in several independent test modules. Another embodiment features two test contacts mounted on a common board for testing of batteries having two terminals at one end of the battery.

Claims

1. A battery test clamp comprising:

(a) an upper board;

(b) a lower board;

(c) an upper battery test contact on said upper board;

(d) a lower battery test contact on said lower board facing said upper contact; and

(e) a set of posts connected to and extending between said boards to space said boards so that a battery can be releasably tested through said contacts, wherein said boards are spaced to enable a button type battery to contact said battery test contacts and spacing of said boards is changed by relative board movement along said set of posts.

2. The battery test clamp of claim 1 wherein said posts define a relatively rigid test clamp with said boards and said posts are movable through aligned post grips.

3. The battery test clamp of claim 2 wherein said post grips each includes a circular mounting hub for engagement with one of said boards and positioned around a post extending there through, and each grip includes inwardly directed post contacting surfaces enhancing frictional engagement so that post movement is restrained, wherein an axial dimension of said grips defines a minimum board spacing.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said boards are spaced apart by four posts, and said posts are deployed at four corners of said boards to define a rectangular battery test clamp.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 including:

(a) a test circuit connector mounted on one of said boards;

(b) a board supported conductor path extending to said connector and also extending to said battery test contact on said board to make electrical connection therewith; and

(c) a conductor flow path on the other of said boards extending from the contact thereon.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said connector includes one terminal connected electrically with one of said posts to define a current flow path from the other of said boards.

7. The battery test clamp of claim 1 wherein said upper and lower boards are printed circuit boards, and said upper and lower battery test contacts are aligned opposite one another to enable a battery to be inserted between said battery contacts, and at least one of said battery contacts is movable to extend operatively against a battery terminal and to contact said with pressure controlled by a spring.

8. The battery test clamp of claim 7 wherein said test contacts connect on said boards to electrical current flow paths on said boards.

9. The battery test clamp of claim 7 wherein one of said test contacts is relatively movable.

10. The battery test clamp of claim 1 including a current flow path there through wherein the flow path begins and ends at a connector mounted on one of said boards and serially connects through:

(a) a terminal at said connector;

(b) a current flow path from said connector and the board on which said connector is mounted extending to the contact supported by said board;

(c) a current flow path from said remaining battery test contact;

(d) a current conductive mounting hub engaging at least one of said set of posts to complete a circuit there through;

(e) one of said posts, and

(f) a connection from said one post to a second terminal in said connector.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said upper board supports:

(a) at least two spaced apart battery test contacts;

(b) at least two spaced apart battery test contacts on said lower board wherein said upper and lower board battery test contacts are aligned to define at least two test modules between said boards for testing simultaneously two batteries there between; and

(c) separate test module current flow paths connected with the separate upper and lower battery test contacts and including current flow paths through electrically dedicated and isolated posts in said set of posts.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said set of posts are electrically connected in said separate test modules.

13. A battery test clamp comprising:

(a) an upper test board;

(b) a lower test board;

(c) a set of posts extending between said boards to space said boards so that a battery can be releasably positioned between said boards for testing;

(d) first and second board mounted battery test contacts operatively engaging a pair of spaced battery terminals of a battery undergoing tests; and

(e) a set of board mounted post grips aligned with and gripping said set of posts so that said battery test clamp is a rigid structure sized to accommodate a selected battery size positioned between said boards, and said boards are selectively and controllably movable to adjust a different size battery on relative movement of said boards with respect to said set of posts, and, wherein said battery test contacts are resiliently urged to engage said battery terminals with contact pressure.

14. The battery test clamp of claim 13 wherein said first and second battery test contacts are mounted on one of said boards and are spaced on said board to thereby position said battery test contacts at a spacing in accordance with an industry standard to make contact against a battery having terminals thereon in accordance with said industry standard.

15. The battery test clamp of claim 14 wherein said battery test contacts both comprise movable contacts mounted in first or second differently spaced battery contact sleeves for adjustments in spacing.

16. The battery test clamp of claim 13 wherein said set of posts and said set of post grips are relatively positioned on said upper and lower test boards for alignment to define a rigid structure, and said post grips permit sliding frictional movement to accommodate changes in spacing between said boards.

18. The battery test clamp of claim 13 wherein said post grips each includes a circular mounting hub for engagement with one of said boards and positioned around a post extending there through, and each grip includes inwardly directed post contacting surfaces enhancing frictional engagement so that post movement is restrained.

19. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said boards are spaced apart by four posts, and said posts are deployed at four corners of said boards to define a rectangular battery test clamp.

20. The apparatus of claim 13 including:

(a) a test circuit connector mounted on one of said boards;

(b) a board supported conductor path extending to said connector and also extending to said battery test contact on said board to make electrical connection therewith; and

(c) a conductor flow path on the other of said boards extending from the contact thereon.

17. The battery test clamp of said 13 including a connector assembly on one of said boards, and wherein said first and second battery test contacts are mounted on the same board to enable electrical connection on that board to said connector.