Battery Terminal Clamp Conical Ring Spring Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing battery pole clamps are inefficient due to high required tightening torque and insufficient clamping forces, often resulting in the connection remaining clamped due to deformation and wedging of inclined surfaces.

Innovation Solution

A battery pole clamp design featuring a conical ring section with a clamping element, screw element, and spring element, where the inner diameter is reduced through a screw connection, requiring a vertical force to compress the spring element for effective clamping, ensuring reliable and robust electrical contact.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Force

If a screw connection with inclined surfaces is used to clamp the battery pole, then the clamping force is applied, but the required tightening torque is comparatively large and the actual clamping forces at the pole are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclamping forceVSAvoidtightening torque
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the conventional inclined surfaces with a conical ring section that has a continuously curved surface. This conical geometry allows the clamping element to gradually reduce the inner diameter of the ring section along the axial direction, distributing the clamping force more efficiently and reducing the peak tightening torque required compared to abrupt inclined surfaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the geometric parameters of the clamping mechanism by introducing a conical ring section with a specific angle of inclination. This parameter optimization allows for a more favorable force transmission path, reducing the mechanical advantage ratio between tightening torque and clamping force, thereby requiring less tightening torque to achieve the same clamping force.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If the screw is loosened, then the connection terminal should open from the pole, but the connection terminal remains clamped to the pole due to deformation and wedging of inclined surfaces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveopening operationVSAvoidconnection release
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a spring element that provides dynamic elasticity to the clamping mechanism. The spring element can be compressed along the axial direction during tightening and automatically expands to push the clamping element away from the battery pole when the screw is loosened, ensuring reliable opening without permanent deformation or wedging effects.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The spring element serves as a self-service mechanism that automatically resets the clamping element to its initial position after the screw is loosened. This eliminates the need for manual intervention to separate the terminal from the pole and prevents the terminal from remaining clamped due to deformation or wedging of traditional inclined surfaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If multiple individual parts are used to construct the battery pole clamp, then the clamping function can be achieved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclamping functionVSAvoidnumber of parts
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the ring section and the clamping element into a single integrated component - the conical ring section. This unified structure performs both the clamping function and the force transmission function that would otherwise require separate parts, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining reliable clamping performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The conical ring section serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as the clamping element, provides the inclined surface for force transmission, and works in conjunction with the spring element to enable both tightening and releasing operations. This multi-functionality reduces the total number of parts needed in the system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The design achieves reliable and robust electrical contact with reduced torque requirements and enhanced clamping forces, preventing the connection from remaining clamped after loosening.

Implementation Method 1

a spring element (6) which is designed and interacts with the screw element (4) and/or the screw counter element (5) in such a way that for screwing the screw element (4) and the screw counter element (5), in addition to an action of force around the axis of rotation of the screw element (4) and the screw counter element (5), a force acting on the spring element (6) along the axis of rotation of the screw element (4) and the screw counter element (5) is required

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3352304B1Battery terminal for reliable assembly
Publication Date: 2020.09.09 CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
  • EP3352304B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3352304B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3

AI summary

Battery terminal clamp (1) for electrically contacting an axially conical battery terminal (11), in particular a motor vehicle battery, wherein the battery terminal clamp (1) comprises an axially conical annular section (2), wherein the battery terminal clamp (1) comprises a clamping element (3), a screw element (4), and a screw counter element (5), wherein the inner diameter of the annular section (2) can be changed by clamping with the clamping element (3), wherein the clamping can be effected by a screw connection using the screw element (4) and the screw counter element (5), wherein the clamping element (3) is connected to and/or interacts with the screw element (4) and the screw counter element (5), and wherein the clamping element (3), the screw element (4), and the screw counter element (5) are designed and/or arranged such that, during a screwing operation in the closing direction, the inner diameter of the annular section (2) can be reduced.wherein the screw element (4) has an external thread, wherein the screw counter element (5) has an internal thread, wherein an axis of rotation of the screw element (4), an axis of rotation of the screw counter element (5) and an axis of rotation of the ring section (2) are formed substantially parallel to each other, particularly in an assembled state, wherein the battery terminal clamp (1) comprises a spring element (6) which is designed and interacts with the screw element (4) and/or the screw counter element (5) such that, in order to screw the screw element (4) and the screw counter element (5) together, in addition to a force acting about the axis of rotation of the screw element (4) and/or the screw counter element (5), a force acting along the axis of rotation (7) of the screw element (4) and/or the screw counter element (5) on the spring element (6) is required.