Quick Change Battery Clamp With Hinged Segmented Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing battery clamps face challenges with corrosion buildup, making them difficult to install and remove from battery posts, requiring time-consuming cleaning and tool-assisted processes, especially when replacing batteries.

Innovation Solution

A quick change battery clamp with a hingedly connected first and second clamp body, featuring polygonal apertures and ridges for improved grip and reduced mechanical stress, allowing easy attachment and detachment without tools, and ambidextrous functionality for use on either battery pole.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a standard yoke-type battery clamp is used with bolt and nut, then the clamp can securely hold the battery post, but corrosion buildup between the bolt and nut and between the clamp and post makes removal difficult and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecure connectionVSAvoidremoval time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The clamp body is divided into two separable halves that can be easily detached from each other, allowing the clamp to be quickly removed from the battery post without breaking corrosive seals. The two halves can be separated by simply pulling them apart rather than undoing threaded fasteners.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using a traditional bolt-and-nut fastening system that creates a sealed connection difficult to break, the invention uses a friction-fit system where the clamp halves are pressed together to hold the post. This inverted approach eliminates the threaded connection that causes corrosion-related removal difficulties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Reliability

If corrosion-resistant materials and tight sealing are used to prevent corrosion, then the electrical connection remains reliable, but the clamp becomes difficult to remove when battery replacement is needed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical connection reliabilityVSAvoidease of removal
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The clamp transitions from a static, permanently sealed connection to a dynamic, easily adjustable connection. The two halves can be quickly separated and repositioned, allowing the clamp to be removed and reinstalled on new batteries without tools or forceful breaking of seals.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The harmful element of permanent sealing is extracted from the design. Instead of creating a sealed connection that must be broken, the clamp uses a friction-fit interface that naturally allows easy separation without requiring breaking of corrosive seals.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Device complexity

If a traditional battery clamp design is used, then the structure is simple, but the clamp cannot be easily removed for battery replacement or cleaning operations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoidease of installation and removal
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The clamp is segmented into two halves that can be easily separated, transforming a complex removal process into a simple pulling-apart action. This segmentation maintains structural simplicity while dramatically improving ease of operation for installation and removal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Power

If the clamp is designed to fit tightly on the battery post for secure connection, then power transmission is efficient, but the clamp cannot be easily removed without breaking the corrosive seal

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower transmission efficiencyVSAvoidcleaning and removal time
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The connection transitions from a static, permanent seal to a dynamic, easily reversible friction fit. The clamp maintains tight contact for efficient power transmission during use, but can be quickly removed by separating the two halves without breaking corrosive seals.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS11509076B2Quick change battery clamp
Publication Date: 2022.11.22 BIL-MAR TOOL CONSULTANTS INC
  • US11509076B2 patent drawing
  • US11509076B2 patent drawing
  • US11509076B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A quick change battery clamp includes a first clamp body, a second clamp body, and a handle assembly. The second clamp body is coupled to the first clamp body. The handle assembly is selectively disposed through each of the first clamp body and the second clamp body. Each of the first clamp body and the second clamp body define an aperture having a substantially polygonal cross-section configured to receive a battery post. Each of the first clamp body and the second clamp body have an internal wall with a plurality of ridges configured to selectively abut the battery post. The first clamp body and the second clamp body are hingedly connected.