KELVIN CONNECTOR ADAPTER FOR STORAGE BATTERY

• US 20170093056A1
• Filed: 09/27/2016
• Published: 03/30/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Salo, Andrew J. III, Bertness, Kevin I.
• Granted Patent: US 9,966,676 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 1/203 Resistors used for electric measuring, e.g. decade resistors standards, resistors for comparators, series resistors, shunts resistors in general H01C; microwave or radiowave terminations H01P1/26; coupling devices H01R
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/364 Battery terminal connectors with integrated measuring arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3644 Constructional arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/283 Bolt, screw or threaded ferrule parallel to the battery post
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/289 characterised by the shape or the structure of the battery post
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/20 for testing or measuring purposes

Abstract

A Kelvin connector adapter for use in connecting a Kelvin connection to a storage battery includes a conducting threaded portion adapted to be received in a threaded connector of the storage battery. A side pad contact is adapted to electrically connect to a side pad of the threaded connector. A first Kelvin connection pad is electrically coupled to the threaded portion and a second Kelvin connection pad is electrically coupled to the side pad contact.

Claims

1. A Kelvin connector adapter for use in connecting a Kelvin connection to a storage battery, comprising:

a conducting threaded portion adapted to be received in a threaded connector of the storage battery;

a side pad contact adapted to electrically connect to a side pad of the threaded connector;

a first Kelvin connection pad electrically coupled to the threaded portion and adapted to connect to a first connector of a Kelvin clamp; and

a second Kelvin connection pad electrically coupled to the side pad contact and adapted to connect to a second connector of the Kelvin clamp.

2. The Kelvin connector adapter of claim 1 including an insulating layer covering at least a portion of the adapter.

3. The Kelvin connector adapter of claim 1 wherein the first Kelvin connection pad and the threaded portion are formed by a single metal piece.

4. The Kelvin connector adapter of claim 1 wherein the second Kelvin connection pad and the side pad contact are formed by a single metal piece.

5. The Kelvin connector adapter of claim 1 including an insulating layer between the first Kelvin connection pad and the second Kelvin connection pad.

6. The Kelvin connector adapter of claim 1 wherein the first Kelvin connection pad and the second Kelvin connection pad have opposed faces.

7. The Kelvin connector adapter of claim 1 wherein the first Kelvin connection pad and the second Kelvin connection pad have ridged surfaces adapted for electrically connecting to a Kelvin clamp.

8. An electronic battery tester configured to electrically connect to a storage battery through a Kelvin connection made using the Kelvin connector adapter of claim 1.

9. A battery charger configured to electrically connect to a storage battery through a Kelvin connection made using the Kelvin connector adapter of claim 1.

17. A method of testing a storage battery using an electronic battery tester configured to electrically connect to the storage battery through a Kelvin connection made using the Kelvin connector adapter of claim 1.

18. A method of charging a storage battery using a battery charger connected to the storage battery through a Kelvin connection made using this Kelvin connector adapter of claim 1.

10. A method of electrically connecting to a storage battery using a Kelvin connector, comprising:

providing a conducted threaded portion adapted to be received in a threaded connector in a storage battery;

providing a side pad contact adapted to be electrically connected to a side pad of the threaded connector;

providing a first Kelvin connection pad electrically coupled to the threaded portion;

providing a second Kelvin connection pad electrically coupled to side pad contact; and

connecting to the first Kelvin connection pad and the second Kelvin connection pad using a Kelvin clamp.

11. The method of claim 10 including providing an insulating layer covering at least a portion of the adapter.

12. The method of claim 10 including forming the first Kelvin connection pad and the threaded portion with a single metal piece.

13. The method of claim 10 including forming the second Kelvin connection pad and the side pad contact with by a single metal piece.

14. The method of claim 10 including providing an insulating layer between the first Kelvin connection pad and the second Kelvin connection pad.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein the first Kelvin connection pad and the second Kelvin connection pad have opposed faces.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein the first Kelvin connection pad and the second Kelvin connection pad have ridged surfaces adapted for electrically connecting to a Kelvin clamp.