Terminal rivet and a method for fastening the same to a terminal for a secondary cell

Abstract

A terminal rivet for a terminal is described, wherein the terminal rivet comprises: a first shaft portion configured to extend through a through-hole of a terminal plate of the terminal, and a first flange comprising a protruding portion extending a distance above a remaining surface portion of the first flange, the protruding portion being configured to extend into the terminal plate in a riveted state. A method for fastening the terminal rivet to the terminal is also described, including at least the steps of inserting the first shaft portion through a through-hole of the terminal plate; and deforming the flange and the terminal plate such that the flange extends into a surface of the terminal plate.

1 . A terminal rivet for a terminal, wherein the terminal rivet comprises:
 a first shaft portion configured to extend through a through-hole of a terminal plate of the terminal, and   a first flange comprising a protruding portion extending a distance above a remaining surface portion of the first flange, the protruding portion being configured to extend into the terminal plate in a riveted state.   
     
     
         2 . The terminal rivet of  claim 1 , wherein the protruding portion is plastically deformed in the riveted state. 
     
     
         3 . The terminal rivet of  claim 2 , wherein the deformation is such that an outer circumferential surface of the portion extending through the through-hole of the terminal plate is inclined radially outwards with respect to a central longitudinal axis of the terminal rivet. 
     
     
         4 . The terminal rivet of  claim 1 , wherein the protruding portion is annular in shape. 
     
     
         5 . The terminal rivet of  claim 4 , wherein the protruding portion consists of several discrete parts. 
     
     
         6 . The terminal rivet of  claim 4 , wherein the protruding portion extends continuously around a circumference of the first flange. 
     
     
         7 . The terminal rivet of  claim 4 , wherein the protruding portion is positioned at a radially outer edge of the first flange. 
     
     
         8 . The terminal rivet of  claim 1 , wherein, in the riveted state, the protruding portion is positioned radially outside a portion of the terminal plate with respect to a central axis of the terminal rivet. 
     
     
         9 . The terminal rivet of  claim 1 , wherein the protruding portion is positioned at a radial distance spaced from the inner circumference of the first flange. 
     
     
         10 . The terminal rivet of  claim 1 , further comprising a second shaft portion that forms at least a portion of the first flange. 
     
     
         11 . The terminal rivet of  claim 10 , further comprising a second flange configured to abut against a gasket of the terminal through which the second shaft portion extends. 
     
     
         12 . The terminal rivet of  claim 10 , wherein the first and second shaft portions are made from the same material. 
     
     
         13 . The terminal rivet of  claim 10 , wherein the first and second shaft portions are made of copper or a copper alloy. 
     
     
         14 . The terminal rivet of  claim 1 , further comprising a second flange configured to abut against a gasket of the terminal. 
     
     
         15 . The terminal rivet of  claim 1 , wherein the rivet consists of a single integral piece of material. 
     
     
         16 . The terminal rivet of  claim 15 , wherein the terminal rivet is made of copper or a copper alloy. 
     
     
         17 . A method of fastening a terminal rivet to a terminal plate to form a battery terminal of a secondary cell, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a terminal rivet comprising a first shaft portion and a flange, the flange comprising a protruding portion extending a distance above a remaining surface of the flange;   inserting the first shaft portion through a through-hole of the terminal plate; and   deforming the flange and the terminal plate such that the flange extends into a surface of the terminal plate.