Lead Acid Battery Cell Connecting Assembly

Abstract

A lead acid battery comprises a plurality of cells provided in an odd number arrangement greater than one in only a single row, a plurality of outer cell connectors connecting the plurality of cells to provide a single series electrical current path, and a pair of inner cell connectors. Each cell has a plurality of plates of differing polarity. Each of the outer cell connectors is positioned in an alternating manner on opposite sides of a longitudinal centerline of the plurality of cells. The plurality of outer cell connectors include a plurality of flags positioned on opposite sides of the longitudinal centerline of the plurality of cells. The inner cell connectors are connected to each other along the longitudinal centerline of the plurality of cells.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A lead acid battery, comprising:
 a plurality of cells provided in an odd number arrangement greater than one in only a single row, each cell having a plurality of plates of differing polarity;   a plurality of outer cell connectors connecting the plurality of cells to provide a single series electrical current path, each of the plurality of outer cell connectors positioned in an alternating manner on opposite sides of a longitudinal centerline of the plurality of cells, the plurality of outer cell connectors include a plurality of flags positioned on opposite sides of the longitudinal centerline of the plurality of cells; and   a pair of inner cell connectors connected to each other along the longitudinal centerline of the plurality of cells.   
     
     
         2 . The lead acid battery according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of outer cell connectors include a plurality of straps connecting all the plurality of plates with the same polarity within each cell. 
     
     
         3 . The lead acid battery according to  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of outer cell connectors include a first set of flags of the plurality of flags positioned on a first side of the longitudinal center line that are aligned along a length of the cells. 
     
     
         4 . The lead acid battery according to  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of outer cell connectors include a second set of flags of the plurality of flags positioned on a second side of the longitudinal center line opposite to the first side that are aligned along the length of the cells. 
     
     
         5 . The lead acid battery according to  claim 4 , wherein the pair of inner cell connectors includes a pair of inner flags positioned on the longitudinal centerline of the cells and connected to a pair of inner straps positioned on opposite sides of the longitudinal centerline of the cells. 
     
     
         6 . The lead acid battery according to  claim 5 , wherein the pair of inner cell connectors are diagonally offset from each other. 
     
     
         7 . The lead acid battery according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of outer cell connectors include a first strap and a last strap positioned on a common side with respect to the longitudinal centerline of the cells. 
     
     
         8 . The lead acid battery according to  claim 7 , wherein the first strap and the last strap connect to a pair of posts positioned on an opposite side of the longitudinal centerline with respect to the common side. 
     
     
         9 . The lead acid battery according to  claim 5 , wherein the pair of inner straps include a first inner strap aligned along the longitudinal direction with the first set of flags of the outer cell connectors and a second inner strap aligned along the longitudinal direction with the second set of flags of the outer cell connectors. 
     
     
         10 . The lead acid battery according to  claim 9 , wherein each of the inner straps is positioned offset from the inner flags in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. 
     
     
         11 . The lead acid battery according to  claim 10 , wherein each of the inner cell connectors further includes a link positioned between and connecting the inner strap with the inner flag. 
     
     
         12 . A lead acid battery, comprising:
 a housing having sidewalls;   a plurality of cells provided in an odd number arrangement greater than one in only a single row, each of the plurality of cells having a plurality of positive plates and negative plates electrically isolated from each other by a plurality of separators;   a plurality of partitions separating each of the plurality of cells;   a plurality of outer straps positioned in the plurality of cells and including a first outer strap connecting the plurality of positive plates and a second outer strap connecting the negative plates, the first outer strap and second outer strap are positioned on opposite sides of a center line along a length of the battery;   a plurality of outer flags positioned on opposite sides of the center line and connecting the plurality of outer straps; and   a plurality of inner flags centrally positioned along the center line and connecting a pair of straps diagonally opposite from each other.   
     
     
         13 . The lead acid battery according to  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of outer straps include the first outer strap and a last outer strap positioned on a common side with respect to the center line along the length of the battery. 
     
     
         14 . The lead acid battery according to  claim 13 , wherein the first outer strap and the last outer strap connect to a pair of posts positioned on an opposite side of the center line with respect to the common side. 
     
     
         15 . The lead acid battery according to  claim 12 , further comprising a plurality of inner straps including a first inner strap aligned along the longitudinal direction with the first outer strap and a second inner strap aligned along the longitudinal direction with the second outer strap. 
     
     
         16 . The lead acid battery according to  claim 15 , wherein each of the inner straps is positioned offset from the inner flags in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. 
     
     
         17 . The lead acid battery according to  claim 16 , further comprising a link positioned between and connecting the inner strap with the inner flag.