GB1591401A - Lids for electric storage batteries - Google Patents

Description

(54) LIDS FOR ELECTRIC STORAGE BATTERIES (71) We, LUCAS INDUSTRIES LIMITED, a British Company, of Great King Street, Birmingham, B19 2XF, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a Patent will be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to lids for electric storage batteries.

A lid, according to the invention, is provided with at least one carrying handle including an elongated flexible member which at its opposite ends projects through respective apertures in the lid, and a pair of retaining members engaged with the ends respectively of the elongated member to prevent withdrawal of said ends from their respective apertures, one of the two components defined by each retaining member and the associated end of the elongated member extending at least partly around the other of said two components and presenting to the wall of the associated aperture in the lid an outwardly flared portion, the external dimensions of the flared portion being such that applying a lifting force to the handle urges said flared portion against said wall so that said one component applies a gripping force to the other component.

Conveniently, said elongated member is hollow, at least at its ends, and said retaining members are defined by plugs which are a press fit in said ends respectively and which are shaped so as to deform said ends to define said flared portions.

Preferably, each plug includes a body portion which is received in the associated end of the elongated member, and an outer flexible collar surrounding the body portion and shaped so that, in use, said wall urges the collar against said end of the elongated member to aid retention of the handle by the lid.

Preferably, said collar is provided with external ribs adapted to engage the wall of the associated aperture to provide an acid-tight seal between the handle and said wall.

Preferably, said elongated member is defined by a length of hollow, synthetic resin tubing.

Alternatively, each end of the elongated member is solid and is received in an opening in the respective retaining member, the part of the retaining member formed with said opening being flexible and defining said outwardly flared portion at its external surface.

Preferably, said part of the retaining member is defined by a pair of spaced, flexible fingers which taper inwardly at their free ends and define said opening therebetween.

Preferably, the wall of each aperture defines an inclined surface complementary with the outwardly flared portion of the associated retaining member.

Preferably, said elongated member is defined by a length of braided, synthetic resin rope.

Preferably, the lid includes a pair of said carrying handles located adjacent opposite external edges of the lid.

The invention also resides in an electric storage battery including a battery box having battery plates therein and closed by a lid as described in the preceding paragraphs.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a sectional view of part of a lid according to a first example of the invention; Figure 2 is a sectional view of a retaining member according to a modification of the first example, and Figure 3 is a sectional view of part of a lid according to a second example of the invention.

Referring to Figure 1, the lid of the first example is intended for use in a lead-acid battery and is moulded in generally rectangular form in a resin rubber material. Formed in the lid are a plurality of filling and venting orifices (not shown) which open into a common filling trough (not shown) and which, in use, communicate with the cell coinpartments respectively of the associated oattery. Aaccnt each shorter side, the lid carries a lead or lead alloy bush for providing one of the battery terminals and is also formed with a pair of spaced apertures 11 (only one shown) in which a carrying handle 12 for the associated battery is mounted.

Each aperture 11 is extended inwardly of the lid in the form of an integral sleeve 13 and is stepped to define a narrow portion 14 and a wide portion 15. The narrow portion 14 communicates with the external surface of the lid, while the wide portion 15 is defined within the sleeve 13 and along the majority of its length tapers outwardly towards the free end of the sleeve 13.

Each handle 12 is defined by a length of flexible, synthetic resin tubing 16 and a pair of retaining members 17 adapted for insertion in the opposite ends respectively of the tubing 16.

Each member 17 is moulded in a flexible synthetic resin material and includes a solid, generally cylindrical body which is stepped to define a narrow portion 18 joined to a wide portion 19 by a flared portion 21. At its free end, the portion 18 is chamfered to define a lead-in to aid insertion into the tubing 16, while the opposite end of the portion 19 is formed with an integral, flexible collar 22. The collar 22 extends around the portion 19 to define an annular space which, when the collar is in its unflexed condition, is of sufficient radial thickness to receive the tubing 16.

Formed on the external surface of the collar 22 are a plurality of spaced, annular ribs 23 which decrease in height towards the free end of the collar 22 and which are shaped at their ends so as to be complementary with the inclined surface defined by the wide portion 15 of each aperture 11. Moreover, each member 17 is pierced at its end remote from the lead-in to define a blinde bore 24 which, in use, can receive an inserting tool to facilitate introduction of the member 17 into the tubing 16.

To secure the handle 12 to the lid shown in Figure 1, the ends of the tubing 16 are initially pushed through the respective apertures 11, the dimensions of each narrow portion 14 being substantially equal to the external diameter of tubing 16; The lid is then inverted so as to expose the underside of the lid formed with the sleeves 13 and the members 17 are inserted into the ends respectively of the tubing 16, with the narrow portions 18 leading, until each end of the tube is received within the annular space defined between the respective collar 22 and wide portion 19. The portions 19 are arranged to have diameters greater than the internal diameter of the tubing 16 and thereby deform the tubing to define outwardly flared portions at the respective ends of the tubing. Each member 17 is then pushed into its associated sleeve 13 until the free end of the wide portion 19 lies flush with or inside the free end of the sleeve. The deformed portion of the tubing 16 is thereby urged against the step in the respective aperture 11, while the ribs 23 are urged by the inclined surface of the portion 15 to flex the collar 22 against the tubing. Thus, in use, if a lifting force is applied to the handle 12, the deformed portion at each end of the tubing 16 is urged against the step in the associated aperture 11.

This not only prevents withdrawal of the tubing 16 from the aperture 11, but also urges the deformed portion of the tubing to apply a gripping force to the member 17 so as to retain the member 17 within the tubing. Moreover, the collar 22 is flexed against the tubing 16 by the inclined surface of the wide portion 15 so that the tubing is trapped between the collar 22 and the member 17, thereby aiding retention of the tubing by the member 17. In addition, it is to be appreciated that the provision of the ribs 23 on each collar 22 provide the added effect of producing an acid-tight seal between the handle 12 and the wall of each aperture 11.

Referring now to Figure 2, the modification shown therein differs from that of the preceding example in that it employs a simpler form of retaining member. Thus the retaining member of this modification includes a generally frustoconical body 31 which is chamfered at its narrower end to define a lead-in portion 32.

As before, each retaining member is inserted into one end of the tubing 16 to deform the tubing so as to produce an outwardly flared portion which prevents the tubing being withdrawn from the associated aperture 11 and causes the tubing to grip the retaining member.

Referring to Figure 3, in the second example the lid is moulded in polypropylene and each handle 12 is defined by a length of flexible, braided polypropylene rope 41. The ends of the handle 41 are secured in respective apertures 42 which are moulded in the lid and which are again extended internally to define sleeves 43. Each aperture 42 includes a first portion 44 which tapers inwardly towards the external surface of the lid, and a second portion 45 of generally constant diameter which extends to the free end of the sleeve 43.

Each of the individual rope handles 41 is held in its respective aperture 42 by a retaining member 46 which includes a cylindrical body 47 formed at one end with a pair of spaced, flexible fingers 48. Each finger 48 is formed at its free end with an external ramp surface 49 complementary with the wall of the respective aperture portion 44 and with an internal, part-cylindrical groove (not shown) for receiving the rope 41. The spacing between the fingers 48 is such that the rope 41 can freely pass therebetween when the fingers are in their unflexed condition.

As in the first example, each handle 41 is secured to the lid by initially inserting the ends of the rope into the respective apertures 42, the minimum dimensions of each portion 44 being arranged to be substantially equal to the external diameter of the rope. Then, with the lid inverted, the retaining members 46 are inserted into the sleeves 42 respectively whereby the free ends of each pair of fingers 48 pass over the respective end of the rope 41. Each member 46 is then pushed further into its associated sleeve 42 whereby the ends of the fingers 48 are flexed inwardly by the wall of the aperture portion 44 so as to grip the respective end of the rope 41. Again, therefore, the retaining members 46 prevent withdrawal of the handles 41 from the lid.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A lid for an electric storage battery, wherein the lid is provided with at least one carrying handle including an elongated flexible member which at its opposite ends projects through respective apertures in the lid, and a pair of retaining members engaged with the ends respectively of the elongated member to prevent withdrawal of said ends from their respective apertures, one of the two components defined by each retaining member and the associated end of the elongated member extending at least partly around the other of said two components and presenting to the wall of the associated aperture in the lid an outwardly flared portion, the external dimensions of the flared portion being such that applying a lifting force to the handle urges said flared portion against said wall so that said one component applies a gripping force to the other component.

2. A lid as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said elongated member is hollow, at least at its ends, and said retaining members are defined by plugs which are a press fit in said ends respectively and which are shaped so as to deform said ends to define said flared portions.

3. A lid as claimed in Claim 2, wherein each plug includes a body portion which is received in the associated end of the elongated member, and an outer flexible collar suriounding the body portion and shaped so that, in use, said wall urges the collar against said end of the elongated member to aid retention of the handle by the lid.

4. A lid as claimed in Claim 3, wherein said collar is provided with external ribs adapted to engage the wall of the associated aperture to provide an acid-tight seal between the handle and said wall.

5. A lid as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein said elongated member is defined by a length of hollow, synthetic resin tubing.

6. A lid as claimed in Claim I,wherein 1, wherein each end of the elongated member is solid and is received in an opening in the respective retaining member, the part of the retaining member formed with said opening being flexible and defining said outwardly flared portion at its external surface.

7. A lid as claimed in Cairn 6, wherein said part of the retaining member is defined by a pair of spaced, flexible fingers which taper inwardly at their free ends and define said opening therebetween.

8. A lid as claimed in Claim 6 or Claim 7, wherein the wall of each aperture defines an inclined surface complementary with the outwardly flared portion of the associated retaining member.

9. A lid as claimed in any one of Claims 6 to 8, wherein said elongated member is defined by a length of braided, synthetic resin rope.

10. A lid as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims and including a pair of said carrying handles located adjacent opposite external edges of the lid.

11. A lid for an electric storage battery comprising the combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figure 1, Figure 2 or Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.

12. An electric storage battery including a battery box having battery plates therein and closed by a lid as claimed in any one of the

Claims (1)

1. preceding Claims.