초록 ▼

A terminal post seal arrangement for lead acid batteries is provided which may be used both as a moveable post seal or as a static post seal. In a first aspect of the subject invention, a battery is provided with an elastomeric sealing member rigidly fixed to both the cover of the battery and a bush

A terminal post seal arrangement for lead acid batteries is provided which may be used both as a moveable post seal or as a static post seal. In a first aspect of the subject invention, a battery is provided with an elastomeric sealing member rigidly fixed to both the cover of the battery and a bushing about a terminal post. Preferably, the sealing member includes a slack portion between its rigid connections which allows for relative movement between the bushing and the cover. In a second aspect of the subject invention, a collar is formed in the cover to bound the terminal post. The collar and/or the sealing member are formed at least partially tapered such that relative movement between the collar and the sealing member causes interferent engagement. It is preferred that interference between the collar and the sealing member become greater with increasing extent of relative movement.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A lead acid battery comprising:a cover having at least one aperture formed therethrough;a bushing formed to receive a terminal post, said bushing disposed in registration with said aperture; and,an elastomeric sealing member which includes first and second portions, said first portion being rigid

1. A lead acid battery comprising:a cover having at least one aperture formed therethrough;a bushing formed to receive a terminal post, said bushing disposed in registration with said aperture; and,an elastomeric sealing member which includes first and second portions, said first portion being rigidly fixed to said cover and said second portion being rigidly fixed to said bushing, and a slack portion extending between said first and second portions which allows for relative movement between said first and second portions. 2. A battery as in claim 1, wherein said slack portion is initially in an unstressed condition. 3. A battery as in claim 1, wherein said slack portion is formed with a predetermined length exceeding range of movement of a terminal post. 4. A battery as in claim 1, further including a sealing ring joined to said cover, said sealing ring applying compressive force to said first portion to rigidly fix said first portion to said cover. 5. A battery as in claim 4, wherein said sealing ring is hermetically sealed to said cover. 6. A battery as in claim 4, wherein a seal bead protrudes from said first portion. 7. A battery as in claim 6, wherein at least one bead retention ring is formed on said cover to be adjacent to said seal bead. 8. A battery as in claim 6, wherein at least one bead retention ring is formed on said sealing ring to be adjacent to said seal bead. 9. A battery as in claim 1, wherein a plurality of interdigitated ribs are defined by said bushing and said second portion to at least partially rigidly fix said second portion to said bushing. 10. A battery as in claim 9, wherein a sealing rib extends from said sealing member to at least partially overlap a lower surface of said bushing. 11. A battery as in claim 1, wherein said sealing member includes an exterior surface in at least partial contact with an interior surface of said aperture. 12. A battery as in claim 11, wherein a top portion of said exterior surface extending from one end of said sealing member is formed with a predetermined length exceeding range of movement of a terminal post. 13. A battery as in claim 11, wherein at least one bead protrudes from said exterior surface. 14. A battery as in claim 11, wherein at least one of said interior surface and said exterior surface is at least partially tapered such that relative movement between said aperture and said sealing member causes increasing interferent engagement. 15. A battery as in claim 11, wherein said interior surface is convergently tapered in a direction away from an interior of the battery. 16. A battery as in claim 1, wherein said sealing member is of a different material from said cover. 17. A lead acid battery comprising:a cover having at least one aperture formed therethrough, and a collar protruding from said cover which at least partially bounds said aperture;a bushing formed to receive a terminal post; and,a sealing member disposed at least partially between said bushing and said collar, at least one of an interior surface of said collar and an exterior surface of said sealing member being at least partially tapered such that relative movement between said collar and said sealing member causes increasing interferent engagement. 18. A battery as in claim 17, wherein said sealing member includes first and second portions, said first portion being rigidly fixed to said cover and said second portion being rigidly fixed to said bushing. 19. A battery as in claim 18, wherein said sealing member further includes a slack portion extending between said first and second portions which allows for relative movement between said first and second portions. 20. A battery as in claim 19, wherein said slack portion is initially in an unstressed condition. 21. A battery as in claim 19, wherein said slack portion is formed with a predetermined length exceeding range of movement of a terminal post. 22. A battery as in claim 18, wherein said first and second portions are directly connected. 23. A battery as in claim 18, further including a sealing ring joined to said cover, said sealing ring applying compressive force to said first portion to rigidly fix said first portion to said cover. 24. A battery as in claim 23, wherein said sealing ring is joined to said collar. 25. A battery as in claim 23, wherein said sealing ring is hermetically sealed to said cover. 26. A battery as in claim 23, wherein a seal bead protrudes from said first portion. 27. A battery as in claim 26, wherein at least one bead retention ring is formed on said cover to be adjacent to said seal bead. 28. A battery as in claim 27, wherein said at least one bead retention ring is formed on said collar. 29. A battery as in claim 26, wherein at least one bead retention ring is formed on said sealing ring to be adjacent to said seal bead. 30. A battery as in claim 18, wherein a plurality of interdigitated ribs are defined by said bushing and said second portion to at least partially rigidly fix said second portion to said bushing. 31. A battery as in claim 30, wherein a sealing rib extends from said sealing member to at least partially overlap a lower surface of said bushing. 32. A battery as in claim 17, wherein said sealing member includes an exterior surface in at least partial contact with an interior surface of said collar. 33. A battery as in claim 32, wherein a top portion of said exterior surface extending from one end of said sealing member is formed with a predetermined length exceeding range of movement of a terminal post. 34. A battery as in claim 32, wherein at least one bead protrudes from said exterior surface. 35. A battery as in claim 17, wherein said interior surface is convergently tapered in a direction away from an interior of the battery. 36. A battery as in claim 17, wherein said sealing member is formed of an elastomer. 37. A lead acid battery comprising:a cover having at least one aperture formed therethrough;a bushing formed to receive a terminal post, said bushing disposed in registration with said aperture;an elastomeric sealing member at least partially disposed between said bushing and said cover; and,a sealing ring joined to said cover, said sealing ring applying compressive force to a first portion of said sealing member to rigidly fix said first portion to said cove. 38. A battery as in claim 37, wherein said sealing member further includes a second portion rigidly fixed to said bushing. 39. A battery as in claim 38, wherein said sealing member further includes a slack portion extending between said first and second portions which allows for relative movement between said first and second portions. 40. A battery as in claim 39, wherein said slack portion is initially in an unstressed condition. 41. A battery as in claim 39, wherein said slack portion is formed with a predetermined length exceeding range of movement of a terminal post. 42. A battery as in claim 38, wherein said first and second portions are directly connected. 43. A battery as in claim 37, wherein said sealing ring is hermetically sealed to said cover. 44. A battery as in claim 37, wherein a seal bead protrudes from said first portion. 45. A battery as in claim 43, wherein at least one bead retention ring is formed on said cover to be adjacent to said seal bead. 46. A battery as in claim 44, wherein at least one bead retention ring is formed on said sealing ring to be adjacent to said seal bead. 47. A battery as in claim 38, wherein a plurality of interdigitated ribs are defined by said bushing and said second portion to at least partially rigidly fix said second portion to said bushing. 48. A battery as in claim 47, wherein a sealing rib extends from said sealing member to at least partially overlap a lower surface of said bushing. 49. A battery as in claim 37, wherein said sealing member includes an exterior surface in at least partial contact with an interior surface of said aperture. 50. A battery as in claim 49, wherein a top portion of said ex terior surface extending from one end of said sealing member is formed with a predetermined length exceeding range of movement of a terminal post. 51. A battery as in claim 49, wherein at least one bead protrudes from said exterior surface. 52. A battery as in claim 49, wherein at least one of said interior surface and said exterior surface is at least partially tapered such that relative movement between said aperture and said sealing member causes increases interferent engagement. 53. A battery as in claim 49, wherein said interior surface is convergently tapered in a direction away from an interior of the battery.