Terminal for accumulator cells

• US 9,136,518 B2
• Filed: 11/22/2010
• Issued: 09/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: BRUSA Elektronik AG
• Original Assignee: BRUSA Elektronik AG
• Inventors: Krause, Axel, Meier, Andrea
• Primary Examiner(s): HARVEY, JAMES R
• Application Number:
  US13/511,139
• Publication Number:
  US 20120282820A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,758 Days
• Field of Search: 439/115, 439/116, 439/119, 439/762
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0413 Large-sized flat cells or batteries for motive or stationary systems with plate-like electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/50 Current conducting connections for cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/503 characterised by the shape of the interconnectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/517 by fixing means, e.g. screws, rivets or bolts
• 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: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

Abstract

A terminal (3a . . . 3h) for the electrical connection of a plurality of electrochemical cells (2) of a accumulator, which terminal comprises a U-shaped outer rail (4a . . . 4f) and an actuating element (5a . . . 5g), is described. According to the invention, the actuating element (5a . . . 5g) is coupled to a clamping element (6a . . . 6f . . . 6h) in such a way that the clamping element (6a . . . 6f . . . 6h) is pressed against at least one limb (4a′ . . . 4f′) of the outer rail (4a . . . 4f) on actuation of the actuating element (5a . . . 5g).

Claims

1. An electrical connector terminal comprising:

a generally U-shaped outer rail;

said outer rail having a first limb;

said first limb having a first inner surface;

said outer rail having a second limb;

said second limb having a second inner surface facing said first inner surface;

said outer rail having a base connected between said first and second limbs;

an actuator extending through said base into a space between said first inner surface and said second inner surface; and

,

a clamping member configured to selectively exert clamping pressure against at least one of said first and second inner surfaces in a direction substantially parallel to said base of said outer rail when selectively activated by said actuator, said clamping member being operatively connected to said actuator and having location in said space between said first inner surface and said second inner surface.

2. An electrical connector terminal as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

said clamping member includes a cam; and

,

said actuator is operatively connected to said cam to rotate it.

3. An electrical connector terminal as claimed in claim 2, further comprising:

a second clamping member having location in said space between said first inner surface and said second inner surface, said second clamping member includes a second cam.

4. An electrical connector terminal as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

said clamping member includes a generally U-shaped inner rail;

said inner rail having an inner rail first limb;

said inner rail first limb having an inner rail first limb inner surface;

said inner rail first limb having an inner rail first limb outer surface;

said inner rail having an inner rail second limb;

said inner rail second limb having an inner rail second limb inner surface;

said inner rail second limb having an inner rail second limb outer surface;

said inner rail having an inner rail base connected between said inner rail first limb and said inner rail second limb; and

,

said inner rail base has an inner rail base inner surface, and said inner rail base has an inner rail base outer surface.

5. An electrical connector terminal as claimed in claim 4, further comprising:

said actuator includes a plurality of actuating screws extending through said outer rail base.

6. An electrical connector terminal as claimed in claim 5, further comprising:

an actuating rail configured to selectively exert clamping pressure on said inner rail first and second limbs, said actuating rail having location in said space between said first inner surface and said second inner surface.

7. An electrical connector terminal as claimed in claim 6, further comprising:

said actuating screws are operatively connected to said actuating rail; and

,

said actuating rail contacts said inner rail first limb inner surface and said inner rail second limb inner surface.

8. An electrical connector terminal as claimed in claim 5, further comprising:

said inner rail base outer surface has a central step portion, said central step portion forming a thicker wall;

said central step portion being connected to said inner rail first limb by a first comparatively narrow connection portion, and said central step portion being connected to said inner rail second limb by a second comparatively narrow connection portion;

said inner rail first and second limb inner surfaces being inclined relative to the axes of said actuating screws; and

,

said actuating screws each extending, respectively, into respective bores in said central step portion thicker wall.

9. An electrical connector terminal as claimed in claim 8, further comprising:

an actuating rail configured to selectively exert clamping pressure on said inner rail first and second limbs; and

,

said actuating screws are operatively connected to said actuating rail.

10. An electrical connector terminal as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

said actuator includes a plurality of actuating screws extending through said outer rail base.

11. An electrical connector terminal as claimed in claim 10, further comprising:

said clamping member includes a first V-strip; and

,

said clamping member includes a second V-strip.

12. An electrical connector terminal as claimed in claim 11, further comprising:

said first V-strip is a first rail with first trapezoidal cross-section; and

,

said second V-strip is a second rail with second trapezoidal cross-section.

13. The electrical connector terminal as claimed in claim 12, wherein:

said first trapezoidal cross-section has one of its legs perpendicular to both its bases and has its longer base facing said first inner surface; and

,

said second trapezoidal cross-section has one of its legs perpendicular to both its bases and has its longer base facing said second inner surface.

14. The electrical connector terminal as claimed in claim 12, wherein:

said first trapezoidal cross-section has its shorter leg perpendicular to both its bases;

said second trapezoidal cross-section has its shorter leg perpendicular to both its bases; and

,

the respective longer legs of each of said first and second trapezoidal cross-sections, respectively, are in mutual contact.

15. An electrical connector terminal as claimed in claim 11, further comprising:

an actuating rail configured to selectively exert clamping pressure biasing said first V-strip towards said first limb inner surface and biasing said second V-strip towards said second limb inner surface; and

,

said actuating screws are operatively connected to said actuating rail.

16. An electrical connector terminal as claimed in claim 10, further comprising:

said clamping member includes a V-strip having the form of a rail with trapezoidal cross-section.

17. An electrical connector terminal as claimed in claim 10, further comprising:

said clamping member has a resilient body in said space between said first inner surface and said second inner surface.

18. An electrical connector terminal as claimed in claim 17, further comprising:

said clamping member has a strip configured to compress said resilient body towards said outer rail base.

19. An electrical connector terminal as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a temperature sensor operatively connected to said outer rail.

20. An electrical connector terminal as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a cooling fin on said outer rail.

21. An electrical connector terminal as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a ventilation hole in said outer rail.

22. An electrical connector terminal as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

at least one of a plug, a bush, or an auxiliary terminal arranged on said outer rail.

23. An electrical connector terminal comprising:

a generally U-shaped outer rail;

said outer rail having a first limb;

said first limb having a first inner surface;

said outer rail having a second limb;

said second limb having a second inner surface facing said first inner surface;

said outer rail having a base connected between said first and second limbs;

an actuator extending parallel to said base into a space between said first inner surface and said second inner surface;

a clamping member configured to selectively exert clamping pressure against at least one of said first and second inner surfaces when selectively activated by said actuator, said clamping member being operatively connected to said actuator and having location in said space between said first inner surface and said second inner surface;

said clamping member includes a cam; and

,

said actuator is operatively connected to said cam to rotate it.