FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to prevention from reverse layout of cells in lead
acid battery container at the time of assembly.
5 BACKGROUND ART
[0002] The battery container has partitions for placement of battery cell in them. They are
connected by welding the straps of the two adjacent cells through the hole on the walls of
the partition. The round hole for connection and the cell material are kept very close so as
to reduce the usage of lead for making the terminals and also to reduce the leakage in the
10 adjacent partition which in turns leads to low resistance at the terminals. However, the
problem arises while placing the cells in the container for welding. Since the distance
between the centre of the partition wall to the metal straps of both electrodes are equal,
it becomes impossible to determine as to which strap constitutes to which electrode.
[0003] In this connection, it is noted that in Chinese patent application number (CN
15 103682237 B), a lead acid storage battery is disclosed to prevent reverse polarity into the
groove of the testing device. The invention describes prevention of reverse polarity
during connection of a battery with a testing device. However, it does not disclose reverse
layout prevention during battery assembly operation, when cells are dropped in the
battery container. The Inter cell welding of positive with negative, as desired, will only
20 take place and positive-positive or negative-negative cell welding will be prevented as
disclosed in the present invention.
[0004] U.S. patent application number (US4883728) relates to batteries and battery
systems. In particular, a battery is described which comprises a container which houses a
25 plurality of cells. Each of the cells share a common negative terminal. Two or more
positive terminal cells are provided. The specification also describes the use of such
batteries to power the cranking and auxiliary circuits according to a cell discharge
management scheme. Methods of forming such batteries are disclosed in which alternate
positive and negative electrode plates are provided and methods of forming such plates
30 are disclosed in which laminated grids are provided and by varying the number of
3
laminations thick and thin plates can be provided with different discharge characteristics.
However, it does not mention any reverse polarity or reverse layout of cells in batteries.
5 [0005] Chinese patent application number (CN 103824993A) discloses a reverse polarity
prevention structure for a lead-acid storage battery. A small bump is arranged on the
outer side of the cylinder bottom of a positive lead pole of the battery. A limiting strip is
arranged on one side of the inner end face of a negative pole mounting hole of an upper
cover of the battery. The reverse polarity prevention structure is used for an assembly
10 part of the poles and the upper cover of the lead-acid storage battery, and if the upper
cover of the battery is reversely arranged, the small bump is pressed against the limiting
strip, and the upper cover cannot be matched with a cartridge body, so that the
phenomenon of reverse polarity in an assembly process of the battery is completely
eradicated, the scrap of the battery is reduced, and the manufacturing cost of the battery is
15 lowered. However, it does not describes the prevention of reverse placement of top cover
of the battery on the battery container. The present invention describes prevention of
reverse layout of cells in battery containers by varying the distance of Inter cell welding
hole from the container side.
20 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] A battery container to prevent reverse layout of cells in container comprising a
negative plate, a positive plate, a flap, a post strap, a battery top cover, and hole centre
characterized in that a distance of the post strap from a hole centre is not equal to the
distance of the hole centre from the other post strap.
25
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of certain embodiments of
30 the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following description taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
4
Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of inside view of a battery container from a side of a
container.
Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of inside view of the battery container from the top of the
container.
5 Figure 3(a) is a schematic diagram of placement of electrodes in a conventional
container.
Figure 3(b) is a schematic diagram of placement of electrodes in the container of the
present invention.
10 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention is now described based on the embodiments shown in the
accompanying drawings.
[0009] The battery system of figure 1 is made by joining battery cell (8) in series to
15 obtain a desired output. For example, a 12 volt battery is made by joining 6 cells in
series. This is achieved by using a container specifically made for a battery for a
particular output.
[0010] The battery container (1) of figure 1 has partitions; for example, the container as
mentioned above has 6 partitions for each of the 6 battery cells (8). They are connected
20 by welding the flap (2) of the two adjacent cells through the hole on the walls of the
partition. The round hole for connection and the cell material are kept very close so as to
reduce the usage of lead for making the terminals and also to reduce the leakage in the
adjacent partition which in turns leads to low resistance at the terminals .
[0011] Connections through the hole between the adjacent partitions are made by using
25 resistance welding with a part of the post strap (7, 10) facing each partition. As shown in
figure 2, the portion highlighted by thin lines of the post straps (7, 10) are connected in
vertical position and the bold portion of the post straps (7, 10) are connected in horizontal
position. One side of the post strap (7, 10) has short projection through the hole in the
5
partition. With special fixture, the two opposite post straps (7, 10) are clamped by air
pressure with the partition between them and electrically welded for a few seconds. A
short time interval permits the weld to solidify and cool, when the clamped welding
fixture is removed.
5
[0012] As shown in figure 3(a), in a conventional battery container the distance of hole
centre from the partition wall remains uniform and similar for both the ends. This may
result into reverse boxing which will lead to parallel connection between two elements
instead of desired series connection. It is absolutely impossible to detect the reverse
10 boxing during the subsequent step of inter cell (5) welding. Such defective batteries can
be charged without any detectable issue and can remain functional for a period of few
months but cannot sustain up to the period of warranty and as well as electrical output
could be less than the rated output.
0
15 [0013] In the present invention the distance of hole centre from the partition wall are
made different and therefore even if the cell is boxed in a reverse manner it will not fit
collinear with the adjacent strap and as well as will not match with the partition hole.
Thus due to this improper fitting of the cell, welding cannot be done and hence the defect
would be detected immediately before the inter cell (5) welding.
20 [0014] Referring to figure 3(b), the distance from hole to anyone of the extended strap
has been reduced whereas the distance from the hole to the remaining strap remains
unchanged. Due to this arrangement and unequal distance from the centre of the hole to
the strap, the reverse layout of the battery cell (8) is prevented.

We claim:
1. A battery container (1) to prevent reverse layout of cells in container comprising:
a negative plate (4),
5 a positive plate (3),
a flap (2),
a post strap (7, 10),
a battery top cover (6), and
hole centre (9) characterized in that a distance of the post strap (7) from a hole centre is not
10 equal to the distance of the hole centre from the other post strap (10).
2. The battery container (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two opposite post straps (7,10)
are vertically clamped by air pressure with partition between them and electrically welded
together.
15
3. The battery container (1) comprises the post strap (7, 10) as claimed in claim 1.