Method and apparatus for manufacturing a battery terminal with undercut rings
AssigneeTulip Corporation
InventorBernard N. Spiegelberg
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus utilizing a radial rolling process to cold form rings on a lead battery terminal with undercuts or overhangs to improve the sealing properties of the rings. The apparatus includes a fixture configured to securely position the battery terminal beneath a rolling station. The rolling station includes a radial rolling spindle having a plurality of cam shaped rollers configured to transform at least one ring on the battery terminal from having an initial rectangular cross-sectional shape into a desired arrowhead cross-sectional shape when the terminal and cold metal forming member are rotated relative to each other. A drive assembly is configured to rotate the battery terminal and radial rolling head relative to each other.
Claims27
An apparatus for forming at least one ring with an undercut or overhang on a battery terminal, the apparatus comprising:
- a fixture configured to securely position the battery terminal;
- a rolling station including a cold metal forming member configured to transform at least one ring on the battery terminal from having a first shape including a generally rectangular cross-section into a second different shape including an undercut or overhang when the battery terminal and cold metal forming member are rotated relative to each other;
- and
- a drive assembly configured to rotate the battery terminal and cold metal forming member relative to each other.
A method for forming at least one ring with an undercut or overhang on a battery terminal, the method comprising:
- securing the battery terminal within a fixture;
- engaging a cold metal forming member with an outer surface of the battery terminal while the cold metal forming member and the battery terminal are rotating relative to each other;
- and
- transforming at least one ring on the battery terminal from having a first shape including a generally rectangular cross-section into a second different shape including an undercut or overhang.
A method for forming at least one ring with an undercut or overhang on a battery terminal, the method comprising:
- securing the battery terminal within a fixture;
- engaging a cold metal forming member with an outer surface of the battery terminal while the cold metal forming member and the battery terminal are rotating relative to each other, wherein the engaging step includes contacting the outer surface of the battery terminal with a plurality of rollers positioned at equally spaced locations around the outer surface of the battery terminal, and further wherein the plurality of rollers are configured to revolve about the battery terminal at a first rate of speed while each roller is configured to rotate about its own axis at a second rate of speed;
- and
- transforming at least one ring on the battery terminal from having a first shape into a second different shape with an undercut or overhang.
A method for forming a finished battery terminal with at least one sealing ring having an undercut or overhang, the method comprising:
- securing a partial-finished battery terminal within a fixture, the partial-finished battery terminal including at least one sealing ring having a generally rectangular cross-sectional shape;
- and
- engaging a cold metal forming member with the at least one sealing ring of the partial-finished battery terminal while the cold metal forming member and the partial-finished battery terminal are rotating relative to each other;
- and
- reshaping the at least one sealing ring on the partial-finished battery terminal into a sealing ring on the finished battery terminal having a different cross-sectional shape including an undercut or overhang without substantially removing any material.
A method for forming a finished battery terminal with at least one sealing ring having an undercut or overhang, the method comprising:
- securing a partial-finished battery terminal within a fixture, the partial-finished battery terminal including at least one sealing ring lacking an undercut or overhang;
- engaging a cold metal forming member with the at least one sealing ring of the partial-finished battery terminal while the cold metal forming member and the partial-finished battery terminal are rotating relative to each other;
- and
- reshaping the at least one sealing ring on the partial-finished battery terminal into a sealing ring on the finished battery terminal having an undercut or overhang without substantially removing any material, wherein the reshaping step comprises radial rolling corners of the at least one sealing ring on the partial-finished battery terminal to push the lead alloy material outward and backward towards a base diameter surface of the battery terminal, and wherein the radial rolling step produces a pair of undercuts on the at least one sealing ring with each undercut having a radius of curvature between about 0.10 and about 0.30 inches.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.