US2661463A - Battery terminal clamp - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 1,1953 J. M. JOHNSON 2,661,463

BATTERY TERMINAL CLAMP Filed Sept. 20, 1951 4 I I II J J Mix 5 v24 INVENTOR.

Etg (9. qo/m M Job/7.60

/) TORNEH Patented Dec. 1, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENTiiOFFICE John M. Johnson, Shawnee, Kans., assignor of one-half to Ratio R. Beane, Kansas City, Mo.

Application September 20, 1951', Serial No. 247,451 I This invention relates to battery terminal clamps and refers more particularly to clamps of the type. used on storage batteries employed in automotive vehicles, aircraft, tractors, motor boats, and other instances 'employingflinternal combustion engines or batteries for ignition, power, communication or control.

An object of this invention is to provide a clamp of simple construction which may easily be made to engage and disengage a battery terminal.

Another object is to provide an improved type of battery clamp which is not bulky or complicated.

A further object is to provide a clamp the jaws of which are automatically spread to disengage the clamp from the terminal when the clamping bolt or screw is loosened.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of the instant specification and are to be read in conjunction therewith there are shown embodiments of the invention and in the various views, reference numerals are used to indicate various parts:

Fig. 1 is a, top view of a preferred type of clamp or fitting which embodies the invention and shows the clamping arms gripped around the battery terminal,

Fig. 2 is a top view of the type shown in Fig. 1 with parts in section showing the clamping arms spread,

Fig. 3 is a side view of the clamp in Fig.1,

Fig. 4 is a view of the clamp shown in Fig. 1 taken along the lines 44 of Fig. 3 in the direction of the arrows,

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view showing the spreading band encircling the bolt and before being seized thereon,

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines 6-6 of Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows showing the manner of seizing the band to the bolt,

Fig. '7 is a. top view of a modified type of fitting showing the clamping arms contracted around the terminal,

Fig. 8 is a top view of the modified type of fitting showing the clamping arms expanded, and

Fig. 9 is a side view of the, modified type of fitting taken along the line 99 of Fig. 7 in the direction of the arrows.

The invention as hereinafter described in its preferred form consists of an ordinary electrical cable I to the end of which is attached a clamp 2 used to fasten the cable to a battery terminal 3, said clamp having clamping arms 4 and 5. Near the ends of the arms are registering holes 6 and I, one of which is internally threaded. As is 1 Claim. (Cl. 339'-226) seen in Fig. 4, the clamping arms are drawn together' about the terminal by means'of the threaded bolt 8 which fits the registering holes with the headend 8a abutting the outside surface of the unthreaded arm-4. Seized or otherwise fixedly at- I tac'hed to the bolt shaft between the clamping arms, a metal ring 9 is loosely placed on the bolt.

The threads of the bolt 8 then engage the threaded hole in arm 5 and the bolt is screwed in until the clamping arms are drawn into tight engagement with the battery post. The metal ring is then fixedly seized to the bolt between the clamping arms as shown in Fig. 6. To remove the preferred type of battery fitting after the ring has been seized on the bolt, the bolt is backed off or unscrewed. In the unscrewing operation the metal ring 9 abuts the inner surface of unthreaded arm 4 and the clamping arms are thereby spread releasing the battery terminal and permitting easy removal of the clamp from the terminal.

The fitting shown in Figs. 7, 8, and 9 illustrates a modified form, differing from the foregoing in that the metal ring 9 is in this type seized to the bolt end outside the threaded arm 5. On the inner face of the unthreaded arm 4 is a cavity ll into which the end of pin 12 sets. This pin also fits a hole drilled through arm 5 parallel and im mediately adjacent to the bolt. The head [2a is located to abut the underside of ring 9 when the bolt is unscrewed.

To position the modified form of fitting on a battery post, the clamping arms of the fitting are first positioned around the post. The bolt is inserted through unthreaded arm 4 and its end is screwed through the threaded arm 5. The fitting is then tightened until the clamping arms tightly engage the battery post. The pin 12 is then inserted through the hole in arm 5 and its tip is seated in the cavity l l. The ring 9 is then seized to the bolt so its inside surface will abut the pin head I 2a when the bolt is unscrewed. To remove the fitting from the battery post, the bolt is unscrewed. In the unscrewing operation ring 9 abuts the pin head l2a and in doing so spreads the arms of the clamp. The clamp may then be easily removed from the terminal.

Thus there is provided a battery terminal It will be understood that certain features and 3 sub-combinations are of utllitrandmaybe-"employed without reference to 'otherfteaturesand subcombinations. This is contemplated .by and is within the scope of the claim.

As many possible embodiments maytbezma'de of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth-or shown in the-accompanying drawings is' to be interpreted as. illustrativeand not in alimiting:sense.

Having thus described; my invention l claim:

A batteryterminal:clamp comprising atsplit 25 "2,154,507

'4 arm fitting with registering holes therein, one of said holes internally threaded, a bolt adapted to draw the arms into electrical contact with the battery terminal, said bolt threaded to engage the threaded hole in one of said arms, means operable with the unscrewing of the bolt adapted to exert an expanding force against the inside suriace' of the unthreadedwarm 'to spread the arms, said=meanscomprising a ring seized to the bolt outside the threaded arm, a pin having an enlarged head, said pin piercing the threaded arm adjacent the bolt with its opposite and bearing against the inside surface of the unthreaded "-arm, said'pin headengaged by the ring seized to the'bolt-on unscrewing of the bolt to spread said arms.

JOHN M. JOHNSON.

"References Gited :in the file of' this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Goldman .Nov. 6, 71934 Hunefeld .Apr. 18, 1939 Number

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