BATTERY TERMINAL
A battery terminal including a fastener shaft and a non-parallel slot, which when compressed by the use of a fastener such as a rivet, creates an autogenous spring force in a direction outward from the slot. When an electrode assembly is attached to the battery terminal, the autogenous spring force acts to create a more secure and reliable connection between the battery terminal and the electrode assembly.
1 . A battery terminal, comprising:
a post;
a block in electrical communication with the post, the block having an external surface, a first end, and a second end that opposes the first end;
a fastener shaft formed in the block and extending from the first end to the second end, the fastener shaft having a longitudinal axis; and
a slot that extends from the external surface into the block and through at least a portion of the fastener shaft, the slot being non-parallel to the longitudinal axis.
2 . The battery terminal of claim 1 , wherein the slot is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis.
3 . The battery terminal of claim 1 , wherein the slot extends from the external surface of the block through at least half of a cross section of the fastener shaft.
4 . The battery terminal of claim 1 , wherein the slot extends from the external surface of the block through an entire cross section of the fastener shaft.
5 . The battery terminal of claim 1 , wherein the slot extends from the external surface of the block through a cross section of the fastener shaft and to a position of the block that is beyond the fastener shaft.
6 . The battery terminal of claim 1 , wherein the block has a width that is parallel to the longitudinal axis and a length that is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, and the slot extends across the entire length of the block.
7 . The battery terminal of claim 1 , wherein the block has a width that is parallel to the longitudinal axis and a length that is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, and the slot is located within the central 50 percent of the width of the block.
8 . The battery terminal of claim 1 , wherein the block has a width that is parallel to the longitudinal axis and a length that is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, and the slot is located within the central 25 percent of the width of the block.
9 . The battery terminal of claim 1 , wherein the fastener shaft has a longitudinal axis and the block has a width that is parallel to the longitudinal axis and a length that is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, and the slot bisects the width of the block.
10 . A battery cell, comprising:
an electrode assembly including at least one electrode layer;
a battery terminal having a post and a block in electrical communication with the post, the block having an external surface, a first end and a second end that opposes the first end, a fastener shaft formed in the block and extending from the first end to the second end, the fastener shaft having a longitudinal axis, and a slot that extends from the external surface into the block and that extends through at least a portion of the fastener shaft, the slot being oriented non-parallel to the longitudinal axis of the fastener shaft; and
a fastener that extends through the fastener shaft, secures the electrode assembly to the block, and provides an electrical connection between the electrode assembly and the block.
11 . The battery cell of claim 10 , further comprising a second electrode assembly secured to the opposite side of the block from the electrode assembly, the second electrode assembly being comprised of at least one electrode layer, the second electrode assembly being in electrical connection with the block.
12 . The battery cell of claim 10 , wherein the slot is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the fastener shaft.
13 . The battery cell of claim 10 , wherein the slot extends from the external surface of the block through at least half of a cross section of the fastener shaft.
14 . The battery cell of claim 10 , wherein the slot extends from the external surface of the block through an entire cross section of the fastener shaft.
15 . The battery cell of claim 10 , wherein the slot extends from the external surface of the block through a cross section of the fastener shaft and to a position of the block that is beyond the fastener shaft.
16 . The battery cell of claim 10 , wherein the block has a width that is parallel to the longitudinal axis and a length that is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, and the slot extends across the entire length of the block.
17 . The battery cell of claim 10 , wherein the block has a width that is parallel to the longitudinal axis and a length that is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, and the slot is located within the central 25 percent of the width of the block.
18 . The battery cell of claim 10 , wherein the block has a width that is parallel to the longitudinal axis and a length that is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, and the slot bisects the width of the block.
19 . The battery cell of claim 10 , wherein the fastener is a rivet.
20 . A method of attaching electrodes to a battery terminal having a block, the method comprising:
positioning a plurality of electrode layers between an end of a fastener and the block;
inserting the fastener into a fastener shaft formed in the block, the block including a slot formed therein that extends from an external surface through at least a portion of the fastener shaft; and
installing a fastener through the block in a manner that compresses the slot and retains the plurality of electrode layers between the end of the fastener and the block.