Battery parts and associated systems and methods

• US 8,701,743 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2009
• Issued: 04/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Water Gremlin Company (Okabe Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Water Gremlin Company (Okabe Company Limited)
• Inventors: Ratte, Robert W., Peterson, Norman E., Cain, Tracy L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Conley, Helen O
• Application Number:
  US12/533,413
• Publication Number:
  US 20100116455A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,726 Days
• Field of Search: 164/120, 164/284, 429/178
• US Class Current: 164/120
• CPC Class Codes: B22D 25/04 Casting metal electric battery plates or the like manufacture thereof by multi-step processes H01M4/82
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/561 Hollow metallic terminals, e.g. terminal bushings
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/562 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49108 Electric battery cell making

Abstract

Battery parts, such as battery terminals, and associated systems and methods for making same. In one embodiment, a battery part has a sealing region or sealing bead located on a lateral face of an acid ring for increasing resistance to leakage therepast as the battery container shrinks. Another embodiment includes a forming assembly for use with, for example, a battery part having a bifurcated acid ring with spaced apart lips. The forming assembly can include movable forming members that can be driven together to peen, crimp, flare or otherwise form the lips on the bifurcated acid ring.

Claims

1. An apparatus for forming acid rings on battery terminals, the apparatus comprising:

a first forming member movable back and forth along an axis, the first forming member having a first forming portion, the first forming portion having a first recess with a first protrusion, wherein the first protrusion is configured to contact a first portion of a first acid ring on a battery terminal; and

a second forming member movable back and forth along the axis, the second forming member having a second forming portion facing the first forming portion, the second forming portion having a second recess with a second protrusion aligned with the first protrusion, wherein the second protrusion is configured to contact a second portion of the first acid ring on the battery terminal;

wherein the first and second forming portions are configured to move toward each other and compress at least the first acid ring on the battery terminal between the first and second protrusions to form a portion of the acid ring.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first and second forming portions are configured to compress at least the first acid ring between the first and second protrusions to flare a lip on the first acid ring.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a part holder positioned between the first and second forming members, wherein the part holder is configured to support the battery terminal;

a first driver operably coupled to the first forming member to move the first forming member in a first direction along the axis and drive the first protrusion against a first portion of the acid ring; and

a second driver operably coupled to the second forming member to move the second forming member in a second direction opposite to the first direction along the axis and drive the second protrusion against a second portion of the acid ring.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the first driver includes a hydraulic device that drives the first forming member toward the second forming member.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the first driver includes a first hydraulic device and the second driver includes a second hydraulic device, and wherein the first and second hydraulic devices are configured to simultaneously drive the first and second forming members toward each other to compress at least the first acid ring on the battery terminal.

6. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the first forming member has a first face adjacent to the first forming portion and the second forming member has a second face adjacent to the second forming portion, wherein the first driver includes a first hydraulic device and the second driver includes a second hydraulic device, and wherein the first and second hydraulic devices are configured to simultaneously drive the first and second faces against each other to compress at least the first acid ring on the battery terminal.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a base, wherein the first and second forming members are slidably coupled to the base.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second forming portion is the mirror image of the first forming portion.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of the first and second protrusions has a wedge-shaped cross-section.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of the first and second protrusions is V-shaped with an apex and adjacent side surfaces.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the axis is a first axis, and wherein the apparatus further comprises a part holder positioned between the first and second forming members, wherein the part holder is configured to extend through a central opening in the battery terminal and align the battery terminal with a second axis, the second axis being perpendicular to the first axis.

9. An apparatus for forming acid rings on battery terminals, the apparatus comprising:

a first forming member movable back and forth along an axis, the first forming member having a first forming portion with a first protrusion, wherein the first protrusion is positioned on a first semicircular recess in the first forming member; and

a second forming member movable back and forth along the axis, the second forming member having a second forming portion facing the first forming portion, the second forming portion having a second protrusion aligned with the first protrusion, wherein the second protrusion is positioned on a second semicircular recess in the second forming member;

wherein the first and second forming portions are configured to move toward each other and compress at least a first acid ring on a battery terminal between the first and second protrusions to form a portion of the acid ring, and wherein the first and second semicircular recesses define a circular opening configured to receive the battery terminal when the first forming member is driven against the second forming member.