Battery terminal

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021005870-A1
Application number	US-202017029604-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 23, 2020
Priority date	Mar 5, 2018
Publication date	Jan 7, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

Disclosed is a battery having a conductive terminal extending beyond a surface of a battery cover, the conductive terminal having an internal portion and an external surface, wherein the internal portion comprises lead and external surface comprises a non-lead conductive material. Further disclosed is a method for producing such a battery.

First claim

1 . A lead acid battery comprising no exposed lead, the lead acid battery comprising:
a housing having an exterior and an interior, wherein the housing includes a cover; a positive terminal composed of lead extending through the housing or the cover from the interior of the housing to the exterior of the housing; a negative terminal composed of lead extending through the housing or cover from the interior of the housing to the exterior of the housing; wherein the positive terminal comprises a lead-free coating on the positive terminal, the lead-free coating covering the entire positive terminal on at least the exterior of the housing; wherein the negative terminal comprises a lead-free coating on the negative terminal, the lead-free coating covering the entire negative terminal on at least the exterior of the housing; and wherein the lead-free coating on the positive terminal and the negative terminal form a lead acid battery having lead terminals and comprising no exposed lead on the exterior of the battery.

2 . The lead acid battery of claim 1 , wherein the lead-free coating is selected from the group consisting of tin, zinc, brass, copper, stainless steel, nickel, and alloys thereof.

3 . The lead acid battery of claim 1 , wherein the lead-free coating is an arc-sprayed conductive surface comprising zinc or tin.

4 . The lead acid battery of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the positive terminal or negative terminal comprises a concave depression on a top surface thereof.

5 . The lead acid battery of claim 4 , wherein the lead-free coating is provided in the concave depression.

6 . The lead acid battery of claim 5 , wherein the coating in the concave depression is non-conductive.

7 . The lead acid battery of claim 6 , wherein the coating is selected from the group consisting of epoxy resin and polymer.

8 . The lead acid battery of claim 1 , wherein the lead-free coating on the positive terminal and the negative terminal comprises a conductive coating on the sides of the positive and negative terminals and a non-conductive coating on the top of the positive and negative terminals.

9 . A battery terminal for a lead acid battery, the battery terminal composed of lead and comprising a lead-free coating covering the entire terminal on at least an exposed surface of the terminal when placed on the lead acid battery, wherein the lead-free coating on at least a side of the battery terminal is conductive.

10 . The battery terminal of claim 9 , wherein the conductive lead-free coating covers at least a portion of the top of the battery terminal.

11 . The battery terminal of claim 9 , wherein the lead-free coating on at least a portion of a top of the terminal is non-conductive.

12 . The battery terminal of claim 9 , wherein the lead-free conductive coating is selected from the group consisting of tin, zinc, brass, copper, stainless steel, nickel, and alloys thereof.

13 . The battery terminal of claim 9 , wherein the lead-free conductive coating is an arc-sprayed conductive surface comprising zinc or tin.

14 . A battery terminal bushing for a lead acid battery, the battery terminal bushing composed of lead and comprising a lead-free conductive coating covering the entire terminal bushing on at least an exposed surface of the terminal bushing when placed on the lead acid battery.

15 . The battery terminal of claim 14 , wherein the lead-free conductive coating is selected from the group consisting of tin, zinc, brass, copper, stainless steel, nickel, and alloys thereof.

16 . The battery terminal of claim 14 , wherein the lead-free conductive coating is an arc-sprayed conductive surface comprising zinc or tin.

17 . A lead acid battery comprising no exposed lead, the lead acid battery comprising:
a housing having an exterior and an interior, wherein the housing includes a cover; a positive terminal composed of lead extending through the housing or the cover from the interior of the housing to the exterior of the housing; a negative terminal composed of lead extending through the housing or cover from the interior of the housing to the exterior of the housing; wherein the positive terminal comprises a lead-free conductive coating on a side of the positive terminal, and a lead-free non-conductive coating on a top of the positive terminal; wherein the negative terminal comprises a lead-free conductive coating on a side of the negative terminal, and a lead-free non-conductive coating on a top of the negative terminal; and wherein the lead-free coating on the positive terminal and the negative terminal form a lead acid battery having lead terminals and comprising no exposed lead on the exterior of the battery.

18 . The lead acid battery of claim 17 , wherein the lead-free conductive coating and lead free non-conductive coating in combination cover the entire positive terminal on at least the exterior of the housing; and the lead-free conductive coating and lead free non-conductive coating in combination cover the entire negative terminal on at least the exterior of the housing.

19 . The lead acid battery of claim 17 , wherein the lead-free conductive coating is selected from the group consisting of tin, zinc, brass, copper, stainless steel, nickel, and alloys thereof.

20 . The lead acid battery of claim 17 , wherein the coating is selected from the group consisting of epoxy resin and polymer.

Assignees

• Clarios Germany Gmbh & Co Kgaa
• Cps Tech Holdings Llc

Inventors

• Koop Michael J
• Caldwell Donald J
• Fuhr Jason D
• Troxel Jeffrey L

Classifications

• Y02E60/10

  Energy storage using batteries · CPC title

• H01M10/06 Primary

  Lead-acid accumulators (semi-lead accumulators H01M10/20) · CPC title

• H01M50/571 Primary

  Methods or arrangements for affording protection against corrosion; Selection of materials therefor · CPC title

• H01M2220/20

  Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane · CPC title

• H01M50/561

  Hollow metallic terminals, e.g. terminal bushings · CPC title