POWER CONNECTION DEVICE FOR BATTERY TERMINAL CLAMP

• US 20070267917A1
• Filed: 01/30/2007
• Published: 11/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Puschkat, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 7,615,885 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/10.100
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 1/5822 Flexible connections between movable contact and terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2001/5877 with provisions for direct mounting on a battery pole
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 35/14 Switches operated by change of acceleration, e.g. by shock or vibration, inertia switch wherein the liquid constitutes a contact of the switch H01H29/002
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 50/047 Details concerning mounting a relays

Abstract

A power connection device for installation on a terminal post, such as but not limited to a terminal post associated with a terminal of a battery of a motor vehicle. The power connection device may include a tolerance compensation device having capabilities to facilitate positioning of the power connection device relative to the batter terminal post and an outer packaging or surface of the battery.

Claims

1. A power connection device for installation on a battery terminal post of a motor vehicle, the device in an electrically conductive sequence comprising:

a battery terminal clamp;

a circuit board;

a bistable relay controlled by the circuit board and containing an integrated control module, having;

(i) a transport disconnect feature; and

(ii) a collision disconnect feature; and

a power distribution device having a power distribution rail in electrical communication with the battery clamp via the relay, wherein each of the disconnect features are controllable to disconnect the power distribution rail from the battery terminal clamp.

2. The power connection device of claim 1 wherein the terminal clamp, circuit board, bistable relay, and distribution device are situated with respect to one another to form of a kit.

3. The power connection device of claim 1 further comprising a tolerance compensation device having a flexible conducting wire.

4. The power connection device of claim 3 wherein the tolerance compensation device is fastened to the terminal clamp by a connecting bar.

5. The power connection device of claim 4 wherein the tolerance compensation device includes first and second sheet metal bars connected to corresponding first and second bare ends of the flexible conducting wire, the first bar fastened to the connecting bar and the second bare end connected to a conducting element connected to the power distribution device and disconnectable by the relay.

6. The power connection device of claim 5 wherein the tolerance compensation device has a Z-shape.

7. The power connection device of claim 1 wherein the terminal clamp, circuit board, bistable relay, and distribution device are provided on a mounting plate made of plastic.

8. The power connection device of claim 7 wherein the mounting plate is essentially rectangular and has four outer edges.

9. The power connection device of claim 7 wherein the mounting plate has locking clips for interlocking with locking clips on a battery.

10. The power connection device of claim 9 wherein the locking clips are provided on at least one outer edge of the mounting plate.

11. The power connection device of claim 1 wherein safety fuses are connected to the power distribution device.

12. The power connection device of claim 1 wherein the power connection device is situated on a top surface of the battery.

13. A power connection device for use in electrically connecting a battery with one or more battery loads, the device comprising:

a terminal clamp for electrically connecting to a terminal of the battery;

a distribution rail in electrical communication with the terminal clamp and configured to distribute energy between the one or more loads and the terminal of the battery;

a relay electrically interconnected between the terminal clamp and the distribution rail, the relay having capabilities to disconnect electrical communication between the terminal clamp and distribution rail; and

a tolerance compensation device electrically interconnected between the relay and the terminal clamp, the compensation device being configured for providing connection tolerance between the terminal clamp and relay.

14. The device of claim 13 further comprising a circuit board mounted to the relay and the tolerance compensation device being connected to the circuit board so as to provide the connection tolerance between the terminal clamp and relay.

15. The device of claim 14 further comprising an electrical connection plug mounted on the circuit board, the plug including features to facilitate electrical connection with a vehicle system controller used to control the relay.

16. The device of claim 13 wherein the relay is controllable between a detonatable disconnect in a collision setting and a transport disconnect setting without requiring removal of the relay.

17. The device of claim 16 wherein the relay includes an electronically controllable switch to facilitate disconnecting the electrical communication, the switch being suitable for repeatedly disconnecting the electrical communication without being replaced.

18. The device of claim 13 further comprising a mounting plate, the mounting plate supporting the terminal clamp, distribution rail, relay, and tolerance compensation device, and including locking clips for locking with corresponding battery locking clips so as to secure the device to the battery.

19. The device of claim 17 wherein the locking clips are located on a side of the mounting plate other than a side associated with the distribution rail, the distribution rail being limited one side of the mounting plate.

20. The device of claim 13 wherein the tolerance compensation device is sufficiently flexible to provide at least ±

2 mm of tolerance in all of the X-Y-Z directions.