Housing with air chamber for battery monitor system and method for manufacturing same

• US 9,226,412 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2014
• Issued: 12/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Pinol Pedret, Montserrat, Cubero Pitel, Jose Antonio, Saiz Garcia, Miguel
• Primary Examiner(s): Ngo, Hung V
• Application Number:
  US14/325,731
• Publication Number:
  US 20150083484A1
• Time in Patent Office: 539 Days
• Field of Search: 174560-564
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/06 using friction, e.g. spin welding non-plastics elements to plastic elements B29C65/645
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/3468 Batteries, accumulators or fuel cells battery cases B29L2031/7146
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 1/04 Housings; Supporting members; Arrangements of terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/364 Battery terminal connectors with integrated measuring arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/48 Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/20 Fuel cells in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/50 Current conducting connections for cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/287 Intermediate parts between battery post and cable end piece
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0004 comprising several parts forming a closed casing
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A housing is described that may include a main portion having at least one wall defining an opening that may have a perimeter. The at least one wall may have a rib and an inner wall extending therefrom about the perimeter of the opening. The inner wall may have an air relief slot formed therein. The housing may further include a cover. The cover may have an edge defining a perimeter. The cover may include a rib extending from the edge about the perimeter of the cover. The main portion rib, the inner wall and the cover rib may cooperate for attachment of the cover to the main portion and to define an air chamber between the cover rib and the inner wall.

Claims

1. A housing comprising:

a main portion comprising at least one wall defining an opening having a perimeter, the at least one wall having a rib and an inner wall extending therefrom about the perimeter of the opening, the inner wall having an air relief slot formed therein; and

a cover having an edge defining a perimeter, the cover comprising a rib extending from the edge about the perimeter of the cover;

wherein the main portion rib, the inner wall and the cover rib are configured to cooperate for attachment of the cover to the main portion and to define an air chamber between the cover rib and the inner wall.

2. The housing of claim 1 wherein the main portion is adapted to receive an electronic component, the component configured for attachment to a battery terminal connector.

3. The housing of claim 1 wherein the air chamber facilitates vibration of the cover relative to the main portion to attach the cover to the main portion by friction welding.

4. The housing of claim 3 wherein the inner wall is configured to engage an inner surface of the cover to define a friction welding area.

5. The housing of claim 1 wherein the air chamber communicates with an interior of the housing via the air relief slot.

6. The housing of claim 1 wherein the air chamber inhibits water ingress into the housing.

7. The housing of claim 1 wherein the main portion and the cover comprise the same plastic material.

8. A housing comprising:

a sidewall extending from a base and defining an opening having a perimeter, the sidewall having a rib and an inner wall extending therefrom about the perimeter of the opening;

wherein the sidewall is adapted to cooperate with a cover to define a housing chamber, the cover having an edge defining a perimeter and comprising a rib extending from the edge about the perimeter of the cover, wherein the cover rib and inner wall define an air chamber therebetween, and wherein the air chamber facilitates vibration of the cover relative to the inner wall to attach the cover to the inner wall by friction welding.

9. The housing of claim 8 further comprising a cover adapted to cooperate with the sidewall for attachment of the cover to the sidewall to define the housing chamber.

10. The housing of claim 8 wherein the air chamber communicates with the housing chamber via an air relief slot formed in the inner wall.

11. The housing of claim 8 wherein the inner wall is configured to engage an inner surface of the cover to define a friction welding area.

12. The housing of claim 8 wherein the sidewall and base are adapted to receive an electronic component, the component configured for attachment to a battery terminal connector.

13. The housing of claim 8 wherein the air chamber inhibits water ingress into the housing chamber.

14. The housing of claim 9 wherein the sidewall and the cover comprise the same plastic material.