Patent Publication Number: US-9893440-B2

Title: Vertical type connecting terminal for storage battery

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit and priority of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2016-0027577 filed Mar. 8, 2016. The entire disclosure of the above application is incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a connecting terminal for a storage battery which is installed on a storage battery for an automobile and allows electric power to be supplied therethrough, and more particularly, to a vertical type connecting terminal for a storage battery, which is configured such that a tightening nut may be fastened from an upper side, and accordingly, a fastening operation may be carried out without interference with peripheral devices, and shapes of a tightening bolt and a washer member are optimized, thereby preventing deformation of a post terminal caused by excessive torque, and preventing a deterioration in tightening force caused by a washer slip. 
     BACKGROUND 
     This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art. 
     In general, an automobile is driven by an engine, but it is necessary to supply electric current in order to activate a drive motor for starting the engine, and to operate various types of electrical components, and a storage battery is installed to supply electric current. 
     Further, to supply electric power from the storage battery, a connecting terminal, which connects a post terminal of the storage battery and a terminal of a power source, is installed on the storage battery. In this case, the connecting terminal is manufactured in various shapes in consideration of a layout according to the arrangement of the storage battery. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a typical connecting terminal for a storage battery includes a fixing plate  120  which is formed in a plate shape and has a fastening hole formed at a center of the fixing plate  120  and having a predetermined size, a fixing member  130  which is vertically mounted to a fastening hole provided at a center of the fixing plate  120 , an insertion portion  140  which is provided at one side of the fixing plate  120 , and has a circular shape opened at one side thereof, such that a post terminal of a storage battery (not shown) is inserted into the insertion portion  140 , and tightening portions  150  which are formed at one side of the insertion portion  140  so as to be symmetrical about the horizontal axis. 
     The tightening portions  150  have tightening holes at front and rear sides thereof, such that a diameter of the insertion portion  140  may be adjusted by the tightening bolt  151  and the tightening nut  152 . In addition, in order to prevent the insertion portion  140  from being excessively deformed, a hollow fixing member may be provided to be interposed between the tightening bolt  151  and the tightening nut  152 . 
     Further, the connecting terminal for a storage battery  100  in the related art may include a terminal  170  in which connection wires (not illustrated), which are connected in series or parallel and allow electric power of the storage battery to be supplied into the automobile, are installed, and a cover  160  for protecting the terminal  170  and the connection wires. The terminal  170  has at one side a fastening hole into which the fixing member  130  is inserted, and a fixing nut  131  is fastened to the fixing member  130  with a washer  132  interposed between the fixing nut  131  and the fixing member  130 , such that the terminal  170  is installed on the fixing plate  120 . 
     However, in the case of the connecting terminal for a storage battery in the related art, because the tightening bolt is positioned at a lateral side of the storage battery, there are problems in that operators suffer from the difficulty of performing the fastening operation, and it is difficult to perform the operation because of interference caused by other components in the automobile when tightening tools are used. 
     In order to solve the problems with interference, connecting terminals for a storage battery have been developed in which a tightening bolt is installed inclinedly or vertically so as to make it easy to perform the operation of fastening the tightening nut by using the tightening tools. 
     However, in the case of the existing connecting terminal for a storage battery, there are problems in that the post terminal of the storage battery may be deformed or damaged by excessive tightening torque, or tightening force may deteriorate because of a washer slip phenomenon, and force for holding the post terminal may deteriorate because of movement of the tightening bolt and the like. 
     Meanwhile, as a result of searching document of related art associated with the present disclosure, a number of patent document are retrieved, and some of the documents will be introduced below. 
     Patent KR10-0821595 B1 discloses a battery terminal coupler for an automobile, in which a part of the body having sufficient rigidity is cut out, and an inclined surface is formed on an outer surface of a joint portion connected with the part of the body, and the joint portion may be fastened by moving vertically a clamp having an inclined surface as an inner surface, such that the battery terminal coupler for an automobile is tightened by a clamp. 
     Patent KR10-2010-0137921 A discloses a terminal coupler for a vehicle battery using a tightening nut that a joint portion having a cut-out portion extending along a cut-out portion of a body having a post coupling hole is tightened by using an inclined protrusion having a conical shape and a tightening nut having a groove formed in a bottom surface thereof, such that high coupling strength is maintained, and a structure is simple. 
     Patent KR10-2009-0063007 A discloses a cable terminal for a vehicle battery, in which an upper plate and a lower plate are integrated so that the upper plate and the lower plate cannot be moved, and a shape and a dimension between cut-out portions of the upper plate and the lower plate, which are tightened between the cut-out portions, are uniformly maintained when a fastening bracket is moved downward, thereby generating uniform rotation coupling force. 
     SUMMARY 
     This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features. 
     According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a vertical type connecting terminal for a storage battery includes: a body unit which includes an insertion portion which is formed in a cylindrical shape having a cut-out at one side and into which a post terminal of a storage battery is inserted, an electric power outlet which is formed opposite to the cut-out of the insertion portion, and a pair of elastic pieces which extends in a radial direction from both ends of the cut-out of the insertion portion and has inside thereof arc-shaped portions, respectively, in which the insertion portion, the electric power outlet, and the elastic pieces are integrally formed; and a fastening member which includes a washer member which has therein arc-shaped grooves into which the arc-shaped portions of the elastic piece are inserted such that the washer member is coupled to an upper portion of the elastic piece and adjusts an interval between the elastic pieces while moving vertically, a T-shaped tightening bolt which is positioned below the elastic piece and has a body to be inserted into a through hole formed in the washer member, and an elongated head, and a tightening nut which is fastened to the tightening bolt from an upper side of the washer member and allows the washer member to move vertically, in which a diameter of the insertion portion is changed by adjusting the interval between the elastic pieces, in which the tightening bolt has protruding portions which are formed at both ends of the head and each have an inner inclined surface so that a thickness of the protruding portion decreases upward, the protruding portions are disposed to transverse the elastic pieces in a width direction of the elastic pieces, and outer inclined surfaces, which correspond to the inner inclined surfaces of the protruding portions, are formed at both sides in a width direction of the washer member. 
     In addition, according to the vertical type connecting terminal for a storage battery according to the present disclosure, head grooves into which the head of the tightening bolt is inserted may be formed in bottom surfaces of the elastic pieces. 
     In addition, according to the vertical type connecting terminal for a storage battery according to the present disclosure, the protruding portions of the head may be inserted into grooves formed at both sides in the width direction of the washer member, and the outer inclined surfaces of the washer member may be formed as inner surfaces of the grooves. 
     In addition, according to the vertical type connecting terminal for a storage battery according to the present disclosure, inclined portions may be provided at outer sides of the elastic pieces, and the washer member may further have inner inclined surfaces which each have a width that increases downward so as to correspond to the inclined portion of the elastic piece accommodated in the washer member. 
     In addition, according to the vertical type connecting terminal for a storage battery according to the present disclosure, stoppers, which prevent the movement of the washer member, may be formed by bending ends of the elastic pieces outward. 
     In addition, according to the vertical type connecting terminal for a storage battery according to the present disclosure, the washer member may have raised portions formed on end surfaces directed toward the insertion portion, and inner surfaces of the raised portions may be formed as curved surfaces so as to come into surface-to-surface contact with an outer surface of the insertion portion, straight beads may protrude vertically from the outer surface of the insertion portion, and guide grooves, which are formed to be longer than the straight beads and into which the straight beads are inserted, may be provided in the washer member. 
     In addition, according to the vertical type connecting terminal for a storage battery according to the present disclosure, seating pieces, which are seated on an upper surface of a storage battery and have predetermined widths, may protrude from the outer surface at a lower end of the insertion portion. 
     In addition, according to the vertical type connecting terminal for a storage battery according to the present disclosure, the insertion portion may be formed to have a tapered structure having an inner diameter that increases downward. 
     In addition, according to the vertical type connecting terminal for a storage battery according to the present disclosure, the fastening member may further include a spring member which is inserted into the tightening bolt, and elastically supports the washer member. 
     In addition, according to the vertical type connecting terminal for a storage battery according to the present disclosure, the electric power outlet may have a structure in which a connecting bolt is fastened, a sensor having a shunt member is installed, or a sensor installation hole is formed. 
     Further aspects and areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be understood that various aspects of this disclosure may be implemented individually or in combination with one or more other aspects. It should also be understood that the description and specific examples herein are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
    
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
       The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 1  is a configuration diagram illustrating a connecting terminal for a storage battery in the related art. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating a vertical type connecting terminal for a storage battery according to the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the vertical type connecting terminal for a storage battery according to the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of the vertical type connecting terminal for a storage battery according to the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a left side view of the vertical type connecting terminal for a storage battery according to the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 6  is a bottom perspective view of a washer member which is a main part of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts or features throughout the several views of the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 to 6 , the vertical type connecting terminal for a storage battery according to the present disclosure includes: a body unit  10  which includes an insertion portion  11  which is formed in a cylindrical shape having a cut-out at one side and into which a post terminal of a storage battery is inserted, an electric power outlet  12  which is formed opposite to the cut-out of the insertion portion  11 , and a pair of elastic pieces  13  which extends in a radial direction from both ends of the cut-out of the insertion portion  11  and has therein arc-shaped portions  13 ′, respectively, in which the insertion portion  11 , the electric power outlet  12 , and the elastic pieces  13  are integrally formed; and a fastening member  20  which includes a washer member  21  which has therein arc-shaped grooves  21 ′ into which the arc-shaped portions  13 ′ of the elastic piece  13  are inserted such that the washer member  21  is coupled to an upper portion of the elastic piece  13  and adjusts an interval between the elastic pieces  13  while moving vertically, a T-shaped tightening bolt  22  which is positioned below the elastic piece  13  and has a body  22   a  to be inserted into a through hole  21   c  formed in the washer member  21 , and an elongated head  22   b , and a tightening nut  23  which is fastened to the tightening bolt  22  from an upper side of the washer member  21  and allows the washer member  21  to move vertically, in which a diameter of the insertion portion  11  is changed by adjusting the interval between the elastic pieces  13 . 
     Here, the tightening bolt  22  has protruding portions  22   c  which are formed at both ends of the head  22   b  and each have an inner inclined surface  22 ′ so that a thickness of the protruding portion  22   c  decreases upward, the protruding portions  22   c  are disposed to transverse the elastic pieces  13  in a width direction of the elastic pieces  13 , and outer inclined surfaces  21   a , which correspond to the inner inclined surfaces  22 ′ of the protruding portions  22   c , are formed at both sides in a width direction of the washer member  21 . 
     Therefore, when the tightening nut  23  is tightened in a state in which a position of the tightening bolt  22  is fixed, the washer member  21  is moved downward, and at the same time, inward pressing force is applied to the washer member  21  by the inclined contact between the inner inclined surfaces  22 ′ of the tightening bolt  22  and the outer inclined surfaces  21   a  of the washer member  21 . For this reason, diameters of the arc-shaped grooves  21 ′ formed inside the washer member  21  are decreased, which tightens the arc-shaped portions  13 ′ of the elastic pieces  13 , and accordingly, the interval between the elastic pieces  13  decreases. Further, as the interval between the elastic pieces  13  decreases, an inner diameter of the insertion portion  11  decreases, thereby tightening the post terminal of the storage battery. 
     In this case, head grooves  13 ″ into which the head  22   b  of the tightening bolt  22  is inserted may be formed in bottom surfaces of the elastic pieces  13 , and more particularly, the protruding portions  22   c  of the tightening bolt  22  may be inserted into grooves  21 ″ formed at both sides in the width direction of the washer member  21 , and the outer inclined surfaces  21   a  of the washer member  21  may be formed as inner surfaces of the grooves  21 ″. 
     The head grooves  13 ″ prevent the tightening bolt  22  from moving in a longitudinal direction of the elastic pieces  13  while the tightening nut  23  is tightened, thereby preventing a washer slip phenomenon in which the washer member  21 , which is moved downward by the tightening nut  23 , moves in the longitudinal direction of the elastic pieces  13  together with the tightening bolt  22 . In addition, the grooves  21 ″ formed in the washer member  21  prevent the washer member  21  from moving in the longitudinal direction of the elastic pieces  13  while the washer member  21  moves upward and downward in a state in which the tightening bolt  22  is fixed, thereby preventing the washer slip phenomenon, and allowing the washer member  21  to smoothly move relative to the tightening bolt  22 . 
     Further, inclined portions  13   a  are provided at outer sides of the elastic pieces  13 , and the washer member  21  may further have inner inclined surfaces  21   b  which each have a width that increases downward so as to correspond to the inclined portion  13   a  of the elastic piece  13  accommodated in the washer member  21 . The inclined portions  13 ′ of the elastic pieces  13  and the inner inclined surfaces  21   b  of the washer member  21  are in inclined contact with each other, and accordingly, the vertical movement of the washer member  21  adjusts the interval between the elastic pieces  13 , and a tightening function, which occurs by the inclined contact between the outer inclined surfaces  21   a  of the washer member  21  and the inner inclined surfaces  22 ′ of the tightening bolt  22 , is improved. 
     In addition, stoppers  14 , which prevent the movement of the washer member  21 , may be formed by bending ends of the elastic pieces  13  outward. The stoppers  14  prevent the washer slip phenomenon in which the washer member  21  moves in the longitudinal direction of the elastic pieces  13 , and maximally inhibit the movement of components, which is caused by manufacturing tolerance of the components, during the operation of tightening the tightening nut  23 . 
     Further, the washer member  21  has raised portions  21   d  formed at ends directed toward the insertion portion, and inner surfaces of the raised portions  21   d  are formed as curved surfaces so as to come into surface-to-surface contact with an outer surface of the insertion portion  11 , and to surround a part of the insertion portion  11 . The raised portions  21   d  are formed to surround approximately ⅓ of the insertion portion  11 . In addition, straight beads  11 ′ may protrude vertically from the outer surface of the insertion portion  11 , and guide grooves  21   e , which are formed to be longer than the straight beads  11 ′ and into which the straight beads  11 ′ are inserted, may be formed in surfaces of the washer member  21  which correspond to the straight beads  11 ′. In this case, the straight beads  11 ′ and the guide grooves  21   e  may be formed at positions, respectively, which are symmetrical about the cut-out of the insertion portion  11 . 
     Therefore, eccentric deformation does not occur and holding force is improved when the washer member  21  is moved downward and the diameter of the insertion portion  11  decreases, and the washer member  21  is moved downward without movement and slip when the washer member  21  is moved downward in a state in which the straight beads  11 ′ of the insertion portion  11  are inserted into the guide grooves  21   e  of the washer member  21 . 
     The structures, such as the head grooves  13 ″ provided in the elastic pieces  13 , the head  22   b  of the tightening bolt  22  which is inserted into the head grooves  13 ″, the grooves  21 ″ of the washer member  21 , the protruding portions  22   c  of the tightening bolt  22  which are inserted into the grooves  21 ″, the stoppers  14  provided on the elastic pieces  13 , the guide grooves  21   e  of the washer member  21 , and the straight beads  11 ′ of the insertion portion  11  which are inserted into the guide grooves  21   e , constitute a quadruple safety mechanism for preventing deformation of a terminal caused by excessive torque and a deterioration caused by a washer slip which were the problems in the related art, and serve to assuredly improve and maximize tightening force compared to the existing product. 
     Further, seating pieces  11 ″, which are seated on an upper surface of the storage battery and have predetermined widths, may protrude from the outer surface at a lower end of the insertion portion  11 . The seating pieces  11 ″ reinforce strength of a lower end portion of the insertion portion  11  which comes into contact with the upper surface of the storage battery, and serve to improve restoring force of the insertion portion  11 , and increase yield strength of the insertion portion  11  when excessive torque is applied, thereby preventing deformation of the post terminal of the storage battery as well as deformation of the insertion portion  11 . 
     In addition, the insertion portion  11  is formed to have a tapered structure having an inner diameter that increases downward, and particularly, the inner diameter is formed as a 1/9 tapered structure. Here, the 1/9 tapered structure means a tapered structure in which a ratio between a radius and a height is 1:9, and specifically, the 1/9 tapered structure means that a radius at 9 mm below an uppermost end of the insertion portion  11  is greater by 1 mm than a radius at the uppermost end. 
     Further, the inner inclined surfaces  22 ′ of the protruding portions  22   c , the outer inclined surfaces  21   a  of the washer member  21 , the outer surface inclined portions  13 ″ of the elastic pieces  13 , and the inner inclined surfaces  21   b  of the washer member  21  may have a 1/9 inclined structure. Here, because the 1/9 inclined structure means the same structure as the 1/9 tapered structure, a specific description thereof will be omitted. The reason why the 1/9 tapered structure and the 1/9 inclined structure are adapted to the inclined parts is to allow all of the parts to operate and move at the same angle when the washer member  21  is moved upward and downward by the tightening nut  23 . 
     However, the arc-shaped portions  13 ′ of the elastic pieces  13  and the arc-shaped grooves  21 ′ of the washer member  21  which correspond to the arc-shaped portions  13 ′ may have a structure different from the 1/9 tapered structure. The reason is to improve tightening force by the tightening nut  23 , and since the arc-shaped portions  13 ′ of the elastic pieces  13  and the arc-shaped grooves  21 ′ of the washer member  21  has an angle different from an angle of other parts, overall tightening force is maximized. 
     Meanwhile, the fastening member  20  may further include a spring member  24  which is inserted into the body  22   a  of the tightening bolt  22 , and elastically supports the washer member  21 . The spring member  24  serves to allow the washer member  21  to be naturally moved upward by spring force when the tightening nut  23  is released. Therefore, even in a case in which the post terminal of the storage battery is deformed by excessive torque as well as in a case in which the tightening nut  23  is repeatedly fastened by being tightened and released, the washer member  21  may be moved upward by spring force. In particular, the spring member  24  prevents the washer member  21  from being trapped and fixed by the post terminal of the storage battery by excessive torque, thereby allowing the washer member  21  to be easily coupled to and separated from the post terminal of the storage battery. 
     Here, the electric power outlet  12  may be configured in various shapes, that is, the electric power outlet  12  may have a structure in which a connecting bolt  12   a  is fastened like a typical connecting terminal as illustrated in  FIGS. 2 to 6 , a resistance sensor having a shunt member may be installed, or the electric power outlet  12  may have a structure in which a sensor installation hole is formed. 
     The vertical type connecting terminal for a storage battery according to the present disclosure, which is configured as described above, maximizes tightening force by using the tapered structures of the inner inclined surfaces of the T-bolt-shaped tightening bolt, the outer inclined surfaces of the washer member, the inclined portions of the elastic pieces, the inner inclined surfaces of the washer member, the arc-shaped portions of the elastic pieces, and the arc-shaped grooves of the washer member, and the tapered structures of the end surfaces of the elastic piece, which are directed toward the insertion portion, and the insertion portion, and the vertical type connecting terminal for a storage battery according to the present disclosure prevents the tightening bolt and the insertion portion from moving in the longitudinal direction of the elastic pieces, by using the head grooves of the elastic pieces into which the head of the tightening bolt is inserted, the grooves of the washer member into which the protruding portions of the tightening bolt are inserted, the guide grooves of the washer member into which the straight beads of the insertion portion are inserted, and the stoppers formed at the outer ends of the elastic pieces, thereby preventing deformation caused by excessive torque or a deterioration in tightening force caused by a washer slip, and assuredly improving and maximizing tightening force compared to the existing product. 
     The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure. 
     DESCRIPTION OF MAIN REFERENCE NUMERALS OF DRAWINGS 
     
         
         
           
               10 : Body unit 
               11 : Insertion portion 
               11 ′: Straight bead 
               11 ″: Seating piece 
               12 : Electric power outlet 
               12   a : Connecting bolt 
               13 : Elastic piece 
               13 ′: Arc-shaped portion 
               13 ″: Head groove 
               13   a : Inclined portion 
               14 : Stopper 
               20 : Fastening member 
               21 : Washer member 
               21 ′: Arc-shaped groove 
               21 ″: Groove 
               21   a : Outer inclined surface 
               21   b : Inner inclined surface 
               21   c : Through hole 
               21   d : Raised portion 
               21   e : Guide groove 
               22 : Tightening bolt 
               22   a : Body 
               22   b : Head 
               22   c : Protruding portion 
               22 ′: Inner inclined surface 
               23 : Tightening nut 
               24 : Spring member