Method and apparatus for manufacturing a battery terminal with undercut rings
View Patent ↗A method and apparatus to cold form rings or a lead battery terminal with undercuts or overhangs to improve the sealing properties of the rings. The apparatus can be one of a segmented die device and a die device wherein one die member moves relative to the other die member. In either apparatus at least one ring on the battery terminal is transferred from having a first shape into a second different shape with an overhang.
1. An apparatus for forming at least one ring with an undercut or overhang on a lead battery terminal, the apparatus comprising:
a die station including a first die and a second die a spaced distance from the first die, each die configured in conjunction to transform at least one ring on the battery terminal from having a first shape into a second different shape with an undercut or overhang when the battery terminal is engaged by the second die and the first die wherein at least one die moves relative to the other die, wherein the second die is configured as a circular disc with a radius and the first die is configured as an arc with a radius proportional to the radius of the disc; and
a drive apparatus configured to move one of the die relative to the other die.
2. The apparatus for forming of claim 1 , wherein one of the first and second die is stationary.
3. The apparatus for forming of claim 1 , wherein the first shape of the ring includes an inner portion having a first width being at least as wide as a first width of an outer portion of the ring.
4. The apparatus for forming of claim 1 , wherein the second die is configured to move the battery terminal relative to the first die between the first die and the second die.
5. The apparatus for forming of claim 1 , wherein the second shape of the at least one ring is an arrowhead in cross-section.
6. The apparatus for forming of claim 1 , wherein the at least one ring is a pair of rings.
7. The method of forming at least one ring with an undercut or overhang on a battery terminal, the method comprising the steps of:
engaging the battery terminal with a first and second die members, wherein at least one ring on the battery terminal is transformed from having a first shape into a second different shape with an undercut or overhang, by moving one die relative to the second die, wherein the second die is configured as a circular disc with a radius and the first die is configured in an arc with a radius proportional to the radius of the disc.
8. The method of claim 7 , including the step of moving the battery terminal relative to the first die by the second die.
9. The method of claim 7 , including the step of fixing one of the first and second die in a stationary position.
10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the second shape of the at least one ring is an arrowhead in cross-section.
11. The method of claim 7 , wherein the at least one ring is a pair of rings.
12. An apparatus for forming at least one ring with an undercut or overhang on a battery terminal, the apparatus comprising:
a die station including a first die and a second die a spaced distance from the first die, each die configured in conjunction to transform the battery terminal from having a first cylindrical portion having a constant diameter into a second different shape with at least one ring having an undercut or overhang and an arrowhead cross-section when the battery terminal is engaged by the second die and the first die as at least one die is configured to move relative to the other die; and
a drive apparatus configured to move one of the die relative to the other die.
13. The apparatus for forming of claim 12 , wherein one of the first and second die is stationary.
14. The apparatus for forming of claim 12 , wherein the first die and second die are linear.
15. The apparatus for forming of claim 12 , wherein the second die is configured as a circular disc with a radius and the first die is configured in an arc with a radius proportional to the radius of the disc.
16. The apparatus for forming of claim 12 , wherein the battery terminal is moved relative to the first die along the length of the first die by the second die.
17. The apparatus for forming of claim 12 , wherein the at least one ring is a pair of rings.
18. The method of forming at least one ring with an undercut or overhang on a lead battery terminal, the method comprising the steps of:
engaging the battery terminal with a first and second die members, wherein the lead battery terminal is transformed from having a first cylindrical portion having a constant diameter into a second different shape with at least one ring including an undercut or overhang and an arrowhead cross-section, by moving the first die relative to the second die.
19. The method of claim 18 , including the step of moving the battery terminal relative to one of the die along the length of the first die by the second die.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the second die is configured as a circular disc with a radius and the first die is configured in an arc with a radius proportional to the radius of the disc.
21. The method of claim 19 , wherein the first and second die members are linear and spaced apart a predetermined distance.
22. The method of claim 18 , including the step of fixing one of the first and second die in a stationary position.
23. The method of claim 18 , wherein the at least one ring is a pair of rings.
24. An apparatus for forming at least one ring on a battery terminal from a first shape to a second shape, the apparatus comprising:
a die station including a first cold forming member and a second cold forming member configured to transform at least one ring on the battery terminal from a first shape having a first substantially symmetrical cross-section, the at least one ring including a first portion being a first distance from a longitudinal axis of the battery terminal and a second portion being a second distance from the longitudinal axis, the second distance being greater than the first distance, wherein the first portion has a first width being at least as wide as a first width of the second portion, into a second different shape having a second substantially symmetrical cross-section, wherein the second portion includes a second width greater than a second width of the first portion, when the first cold forming member is moved relative to the second cold forming member; and
at least one drive apparatus configured to move the first cold forming member relative to the second cold forming member.
25. The apparatus of 24 for forming at least one ring on a battery terminal from a first shape to a second shape, wherein the second die is configured as a circular disc with a radius and the first die is configured in an arc with a radius proportional to the radius of the disc.
26. The apparatus of 24 for forming at least one ring on a battery terminal from a first shape to a second shape, wherein the second substantially symmetrical cross-section is an arrowhead cross-section.
27. The apparatus of 24 for forming at least one ring on a battery terminal from a first shape to a second shape, wherein the second substantially symmetrical cross-section is a mushroom head cross-section.
28. The apparatus of 24 for forming at least one ring on a battery terminal from a first shape to a second shape, wherein the second shape includes a shoulder.
29. The apparatus of 24 for forming at least one ring on a battery terminal from a first shape to a second shape, wherein the at least one ring is two rings.
30. The apparatus of 24 for forming one or more rings on a battery terminal from a first shape to a second shape,
wherein the battery terminal includes a frustum and a splined ring located between the frustum and the at least one ring, the splined ring having substantially the same shape when the at least one ring is the first shape and when the at least one ring is the second shape.