Description:FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[001] The present invention relates to the field of batteries. In particular, the present invention relates to a bipartite bottom bar for a tubular battery. The bipartite bottom bar of the present invention may be the self-locking type.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[002] Batteries have become a ubiquitous and indispensable element in our daily lives. They power a vast array of devices, ranging from vehicles and mobile phones to toys and other consumer electronics.
[003] A battery such as a tubular lead-acid battery consists of a container, wherein at least one positive electrode, at least one negative electrode, one or more separator membranes and electrolyte are housed.
[004] Usually, the positive electrode consists of a plurality of tube or tubular like portions. The tubes may be made of non-woven material and retain active material. The active material may be a material such as lead oxide. Further, a spine, made of lead, is received in each of the tubes. The spines extend along the length of the tubes. A common conducting bar is coupled to an upper end of each spine. The common conducting bar may be disposed over an upper end of the tubes.
[005] The lower end or bottom end of the tubes receives a plug or stopper with an integral bar attached thereto. The plug facilitates in preventing egress of the active material contained within the tubes by covering the lower end of the tubes. The plug or the stopper together with the bar is referred to as a bottom bar, which aids in fixing of the plugs easily in to the lower ends of the tubes.
[006] Further, the conventionally known plugs or stoppers are provided with a recession extending from a top surface of the plug or stopper. A second end of the spines is received in the depression or the hollow dip, which facilitates in holding the spines therein.
[007] The conventionally known bottom bar (referred to herein after as “the bar”) is a unipartite body consisting of a bar over which a plurality of plugs or the stoppers are integrally disposed. The bottom bar may be made of any non-conductive material that withstands the corrosive nature of the electrolyte to which the bottom bar is exposed to. For example, the bottom bar is made of plastic. However, the conventional unipartite bottom bar is observed to have certain drawbacks, which are described below.
[008] The conventional bottom bar with a hollow dip or depression may require an extra length of spine. The extra length of the spine adds to the material requirement.
[009] Further, the conventional bottom bar which have plugs on an upper end thereof. The plugs may have one or more engaging formations, which are configured to engage with the tube’s internal surface and remain intact therewith.
[0010] However, the engaging formations engage with the tube’s internal surface in a passive manner. The phrase passive manner herein may mean that the force with which the engaging formations engage with the tube’s internal surface may not be changed. For example, there may be tubes which may have an internal dimension which is a bit larger than the standard desired internal dimension. In such case the engaging formations may not engage with the tube with the same force as in the case of the with a standard dimension.
[0011] Further, while manufacturing a battery with different dimensions of the tube, with higher or lower dimensions, there is a requirement of a bottom bar which fits the tube dimensions well.
[0012] For such cases, it is mandatory to maintain an inventory of bottom bars with different sizes, particularly different sizes of the upper plug portion. This may increase the inventory and costs also.
[0013] There is, therefore, felt a need to provide a bottom bar for a tubular plate battery that overcomes one or more drawbacks discussed herein above associated with the conventionally known bottom bars.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0014] Some of the objects of the presently disclose invention, of which at the minimum one object is fulfilled by at least one embodiment disclosed herein, are as follows:
[0015] An object of the present invention is to provide an alternative, which overcomes at least one drawback encountered in the existing prior art.
[0016] Another object of the present invention is to provide a bottom bar.
[0017] Still another object of the present invention is to provide a bottom bar for a tubular battery.
[0018] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a self-locking type of bottom bar for a tubular battery.
[0019] Another object of the present invention is to provide a self-locking type of bottom bar for a tubular battery which does not mandate an extra length of spine and hence do away with extra material requirement.
[0020] Another object of the present invention is to provide a self-locking type of bottom bar for a tubular battery wherein the engaging formations engage with the tube’s internal surface in an active manner.
[0021] Another object of the present invention is to provide a self-locking type of bottom bar for a tubular battery which does not mandate to maintain an inventory of bottom bars with varied sizes, particularly different sizes of the upper plug portion.
[0022] Another object of the present invention is to provide a self-locking type of bottom bar for a tubular battery which does not increase inventory and cost.
[0023] Other objects and benefits of the present invention will be more apparent from the following description, which is not intended to bind the scope of the present invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0024] Disclosed is a bipartite bottom bar for a tubular battery, wherein the bipartite bottom bar may be the self-locking type. The bipartite bottom bar of the present invention overcomes one or more drawbacks encountered in the prior art.
[0025] The bipartite bottom bar, of the present invention, for a tubular battery, consists of two parts: a first part with an elongated bar-shaped body and upward-extending posts, and a second part with a bottom plate, an intermediate component with through holes and engaging formations surrounding the holes. The through holes receive the posts, which displace the engaging formations outward to engage with the internal wall of a gauntlet tube. The number of posts and through holes can vary, and they can be regularly or irregularly spaced. The posts can fit by interference or snap fit, with a height of 2-20 mm and width of 0.2-10 mm. The through holes have a width of 0.2-10 mm and height of 2-20 mm. The engaging formations have a flexible longitudinal member with a barb on the free end to engage with the gauntlet tube's internal wall, and the posts displace the free end outward. The bipartite bottom bar is made of plastic.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWING
[0026] The present invention will now be described with the help of the accompanying drawing, in which
[0027] FIG. 1A a schematic perspective view of the first part of a bipartite bottom bar for a tubular battery in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention.
[0028] FIG. 1B a schematic perspective view of the second part of a bipartite bottom bar for a tubular battery in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention.
[0029] FIG. 1C a schematic side view of a bipartite bottom bar for a tubular battery in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention.
[0030] FIG. 1D a schematic perspective view of the bipartite bottom bar for a tubular battery in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention.
LIST OF NUMERALS
100 – bipartite bottom bar
102 – first part
102p – posts
102s1 – top surface
102s2 – bottom surface
104 – second part
104b – body
104e – engaging formations
104e1 – flexible longitudinal member
104f – free end
104fb – barb
104h – through hole
104i – intermediate component
104p – bottom plate
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0031] All technical terms and scientific expressions used in the present invention have the same meaning as understood by a person skilled in the art to which the present invention belongs, unless and otherwise specified.
[0032] As used in the present specification and the claims, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
[0033] The term "comprising” as used in the present specification will be understood to mean that the list following is non-exhaustive and may or may not include any other extra suitable things, for instance one or more additional feature(s), part(s), component(s), process step(s), sub-step(s), and /or constituent(s) as applicable.
[0034] Further, the terms “about” and “approximately" used in combination with ranges of sizes of parts, particles, compositions of mixtures, and/or any other physical properties or characteristics, are meant to include small variations that may occur in the upper and/or lower limits of the ranges.
[0035] The present invention relates to the field of batteries and in particular, the present invention relates to a bipartite bottom bar for a tubular battery, wherein the bipartite bottom bar of the present invention may be the self-locking type.
[0036] The bipartite bottom bar of the present invention overcomes one or more drawbacks of the conventional bottom bars.
[0037] In accordance with the embodiments of the present invention, a bipartite bottom bar (100) for a tubular battery is disclosed. The bipartite bottom bar (100) comprises a first part (102) and a second part (104). The first part (102) and the second part (104) are two separate parts and are manufactured separately. The two parts are then coupled together in a manner described herein. The two parts together define or form the bipartite bottom bar (100) of the present invention.
[0038] In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the first part (102) and the second part (104) may be made of any material which is capable of withstanding the corrosive environment encountered within a typical lead-acid battery.
[0039] In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the first part (102) and the second part (104) may be made of plastic or polymers. The two parts may be molded or blow molded, or injection molded. Any other technique may be used to manufacture the two parts and the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned techniques of manufacturing the two parts.
[0040] In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the first part (102) comprises an elongated bar shaped body (102b). The elongated bar shaped body (102b) may have any cross-sectional shape. For example, the cross sectional shape of the elongated bar shaped body (102b) may be oval, rectangular, square etc.
[0041] Further, the elongated bar shaped body (102b) has a top surface (102s1), and a bottom surface (102s2). The bottom surface (102s2) preferably having a flat profile as the bottom surface (102s2) contacts with and is disposed on the bottom surface of the battery container. However, the present invention is not limited to the flat profile of the bottom surface (102s2). The top surface (102s1) may have any profile including flat profile, tapered profile or any other shape. The profile of the top surface (102s1) is limited only by the requirement that features which being placed over the top surface (102s1).
[0042] In accordance with the embodiments of present invention, a plurality of posts (102p) extends integrally in an upward direction from the top surface (102s1) of the elongated bar shaped body (102b). In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of posts (102p) are in the form of longitudinal vertical elongated rods or bars.
[0043] In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the height of the posts (102p) is in the range of 2 mm to 20 mm, and the width of the posts (102p) is in the range of 0.2 mm to 10 mm.
[0044] In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the second part (104) comprises a body (104b). The body (104b) comprises a bottom plate (104p), and an intermediate component (104i). A through holes (104h) is configured from the upper surface of the intermediate component (104i) and terminating in a lower surface of the bottom plate (104p).
[0045] Further, a plurality of engaging formations (104e) extend integrally from the upper surface of the intermediate component (104i) and surrounds the through hole (104h).
[0046] In accordance with one working configuration of the present invention, the through hole (104h) receives the posts (102p) therein, the posts (102p) displace the engaging formations (104e) in an outward direction, which facilitates in engagement of the engaging formations (102p) with a gauntlet tube’s internal wall.
[0047] In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the number of posts (102p) and the number of through holes (104h) is independently in the range of 2 to 100 and the posts (102p).
[0048] In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the posts and the through holes (104h) are independently spaced regularly or irregularly.
[0049] In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the posts (102p) are received within the through holes (104h) engaged by interference fit.
[0050] In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the posts (102p) fit by snap fit when received within the through holes (104h).
[0051] In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the width of the through holes (104h) is in the range of 0.2 to 10 mm, and the height of the through holes (104h) is in the range of 2 mm to 20 mm.
[0052] In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the engaging formations (104e) having a flexible longitudinal member (104e1) extending integrally from the upper surface of the intermediate component (104i), and a free end (104f) having a barb (104fb) formed on an outer surface thereof, the barb (104fb) engaging with the gauntlet tube’s internal wall.
[0053] In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the flexible longitudinal member (104e1) having an internal surface interacting with the posts (102p), the posts (102p) displacing the free end (104f) with the barb (104fb) in an outward direction.
[0054] In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the provision of two part bottom bar facilities in using the same first part with different second part. Thus, the same first part may be used with different designs and/or dimensions of the second part or vice-versa. In some embodiments, the same first part may be used to receive second part having different designs and/or dimensions, which was not possible in the prior art.
TECHNICAL ADVANCES AND ECONOMIC SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0055] The present invention provides various technical advantages and economic significance, wherein the bipartite bottom bar of the present invention:
- does not mandate an extra length of spine and hence do away with extra material requirement;
- the engaging formations engage with the tube’s internal surface in an active manner.
- does not mandate to maintain an inventory of bottom bars with varied sizes, particularly different sizes of the upper plug portion.
- does not increase inventory and cost.
, Claims:We claim:
1. A bipartite bottom bar (100) for a tubular battery, the bipartite bottom bar (100) characterized by having:
- a first part (102) having an elongated bar shaped body (102b), the elongated bar shaped body (102b) having a top surface (102s1), and a bottom surface (102s2), wherein posts (102p) extends integrally in an upward direction from the top surface (102s1) of the elongated bar shaped body (102b);
- a second part (104) having a body (104b), the body (104b) having a bottom plate (104p), and an intermediate component (104i);
o through holes (104h) configured from the upper surface of the intermediate component (104i) and terminating in a lower surface of the bottom plate (104p);
o engaging formations (104e) extending integrally from the upper surface of the intermediate component (104i) and surrounding the through hole (104h);
wherein the through hole (104h) receives the posts (102p) therein, the posts (102p) displacing the engaging formations (104e) in an outward direction, which facilitates in engagement of the engaging formations (102p) with a gauntlet tube’s internal wall.
2. The bipartite bottom bar (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the number of posts (102p) and the number of through holes (104h) is independently in the range of 2 to 100 and the posts (102p) and the through holes (104h) spaced regularly or irregularly.
3. The bipartite bottom bar (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the posts (102p) received within the through holes (104h) engage by interference fit.
4. The bipartite bottom bar (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the posts (102p) fit by snap fit when received within the through holes (104h).
5. The bipartite bottom bar (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the height of the posts (102p) is in the range of 2 mm to 20 mm, and the width of the posts (102p) is in the range of 0.2 mm to 10 mm.
6. The bipartite bottom bar (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the width of the through holes (104h) is in the range of 0.2 to 10 mm, and the height of the through holes (104h) is in the range of 2 mm to 20 mm.
7. The bipartite bottom bar (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the engaging formations (104e) having a flexible longitudinal member (104e1) extending integrally from the upper surface of the intermediate component (104i), and a free end (104f) having a barb (104fb) formed on an outer surface thereof, the barb (104fb) engaging with the gauntlet tube’s internal wall.
8. The bipartite bottom bar (100) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the flexible longitudinal member (104e1) having an internal surface interacting with the posts (102p), the posts (102p) displacing the free end (104f) with the barb (104fb) in an outward direction.
9. The bipartite bottom bar (100) as claimed in claim 1 is made of plastic.
Dated this 31 March 2023
For the Applicant

Abhishek Choudhury
The Applicant’s Patent Agent
IN/PA – 1578
To,
The Controller of Patents,
The Patent Office,
At Delhi