Hydraulic seal battery terminal

Claim 1

A self sealing battery terminal for use on a nickel-hydrogen cell and the like, said terminal comprising a hydroformed outer case having an upwardly extending open ended dome shaped sleeve, a low shear strength sealant material substantially filling the sleeve portion of said hydroformed outer case, a central post extending vertically through said sealant material, said central post having threads on the uppermost end thereof and having a shoulder portion near the lower end thereof, a lower ceramic washer positioned in the lower end of the sleeve around said central post between the shoulder portion thereof and said sealant material, an upper ceramic washer positioned around said central post, the underside of said upper ceramic washer being in contact with the uppermost end surface of the upwardly extending sleeve, a pair of opposite facing Belleville washers positioned on the upper side of said upper ceramic washer, and a nut engaging the threads on said central post for applying a preload tension force to the post whereby the lower ceramic washer acts like a piston to compress the sealant and the Belleville washers maintain the tension above a minimum value.