CA1192947A - Low silhouette venting system for electric storage battery - Google Patents
Low silhouette venting system for electric storage batteryInfo
- Publication number
- CA1192947A CA1192947A CA000427838A CA427838A CA1192947A CA 1192947 A CA1192947 A CA 1192947A CA 000427838 A CA000427838 A CA 000427838A CA 427838 A CA427838 A CA 427838A CA 1192947 A CA1192947 A CA 1192947A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- sump
- electrolyte
- floor
- innards
- canted
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
- 238000013022 venting Methods 0.000 title abstract description 45
- 239000003792 electrolyte Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 176
- 238000010992 reflux Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 59
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 claims description 58
- 238000005192 partition Methods 0.000 claims description 53
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 claims description 8
- 230000000153 supplemental effect Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000002401 inhibitory effect Effects 0.000 claims 17
- 230000033001 locomotion Effects 0.000 abstract description 3
- 239000000945 filler Substances 0.000 description 6
- 230000009977 dual effect Effects 0.000 description 4
- 239000002253 acid Substances 0.000 description 3
- 230000002093 peripheral effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000013461 design Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000000465 moulding Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000012360 testing method Methods 0.000 description 2
- 102100026933 Myelin-associated neurite-outgrowth inhibitor Human genes 0.000 description 1
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 210000001217 buttock Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000007797 corrosion Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000005260 corrosion Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001351 cycling effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 108010024043 drainin Proteins 0.000 description 1
- 230000005484 gravity Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000009545 invasion Effects 0.000 description 1
- 150000002500 ions Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 238000012423 maintenance Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000013011 mating Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 description 1
- NWONKYPBYAMBJT-UHFFFAOYSA-L zinc sulfate Chemical compound [Zn+2].[O-]S([O-])(=O)=O NWONKYPBYAMBJT-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H01M50/00—Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the non-active parts of electrochemical cells other than fuel cells, e.g. hybrid cells
- H01M50/60—Arrangements or processes for filling or topping-up with liquids; Arrangements or processes for draining liquids from casings
- H01M50/668—Means for preventing spilling of liquid or electrolyte, e.g. when the battery is tilted or turned over
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H01M50/00—Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the non-active parts of electrochemical cells other than fuel cells, e.g. hybrid cells
- H01M50/30—Arrangements for facilitating escape of gases
- H01M50/35—Gas exhaust passages comprising elongated, tortuous or labyrinth-shaped exhaust passages
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H01M50/00—Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the non-active parts of electrochemical cells other than fuel cells, e.g. hybrid cells
- H01M50/30—Arrangements for facilitating escape of gases
- H01M50/383—Flame arresting or ignition-preventing means
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H01M50/00—Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the non-active parts of electrochemical cells other than fuel cells, e.g. hybrid cells
- H01M50/30—Arrangements for facilitating escape of gases
- H01M50/394—Gas-pervious parts or elements
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
- Y02E60/10—Energy storage using batteries
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02P—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
- Y02P70/00—Climate change mitigation technologies in the production process for final industrial or consumer products
- Y02P70/50—Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
Landscapes
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
- Electrochemistry (AREA)
- General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Gas Exhaust Devices For Batteries (AREA)
Abstract
LOW SILHOUETTE VENTING SYSTEM
FOR ELECTRIC STORAGE BATTERY
Abstract of the Disclosure A low silhouette horizontal-type venting system for an electric storage battery including an electrolyte drainage aperture(s) at one end of the system, an exhaust port at the other end of the system and an electrolyte trapping and refluxing chamber between the aperture(s) and port wherein the chamber is divided into an antechamber and a sump chamber having oppositely sloping floors lead-ing downwardly to the drainage aperture. A narrow electrolyte upflow restricting slot(s) communicates the antechamber with the sump chamber. Baffles are provided in the sump chamber to inhibit electrolyte movement therethrough. Narrow channels are provided at the slot(s) and drainage aperture(s) for capillarily refluxing electrolyte back to the sump and cell, respectively.
FOR ELECTRIC STORAGE BATTERY
Abstract of the Disclosure A low silhouette horizontal-type venting system for an electric storage battery including an electrolyte drainage aperture(s) at one end of the system, an exhaust port at the other end of the system and an electrolyte trapping and refluxing chamber between the aperture(s) and port wherein the chamber is divided into an antechamber and a sump chamber having oppositely sloping floors lead-ing downwardly to the drainage aperture. A narrow electrolyte upflow restricting slot(s) communicates the antechamber with the sump chamber. Baffles are provided in the sump chamber to inhibit electrolyte movement therethrough. Narrow channels are provided at the slot(s) and drainage aperture(s) for capillarily refluxing electrolyte back to the sump and cell, respectively.
Description
2~
C-3~3 D-6,470 LOW SILHOUETTE VEN~ING SYSTEM
FOR ELECTRIC~STORAGE BATTEP~Y
- This invention relates -to electric storage batteries and more speciflcally to venting systems therefor.
Background of the Invention Pb-acid storage batteries, among others, generate gases during cycling. These gases are vented from the ba-tter~ innards to the ambient via venting systems designed to permit ~as passage bu-t inhibit the outflow of electrolyte (i.e~ from innards to ambient) there-through, The trapped electrolyte is then drained back into the battery cells from whence it came.
There are essentially two types of battery venting systems c~mmon ly in use. These types can be classified as either vertical-type or hori20ntal-type depending on the orientation of the chamber used to trap the electrolyte. In this regard, both types typically include an electrolyte trapping chamber which islocated between a ven-t/drainage aperture that leads to the battery's electrochemical innards (i.e., plates, electrodes, separators, etc.) and an exhaust port which leads to the atmosphere.
The venting/drainage aperture usually passes through the floor of the electrolyte trapping chamber and is sized to allow gas passage while m;n;m; zing entry of electrolyte splash into the trapping chamberO
Nonetheless, the trapping chambers are commonly invaded by electrolyte passing up through the venting/
drainage aperture as a result of excessive overcharging, sloshing, splashing, etc. (i.e., due to mishandlingt vibration, til-ting, or the like) To substantially prevent electrolyte from exiting the battery, trapping chambers are typically equipped with a variety of baffles or the like to inhibit electrolyte mobility and substantially prevent its reaching the exhaust port and escaping to the ambient. Sloping c~amh~r floors are typically used to ~acilitate draining bac~ (i.e., refluxing) of the ~lectrolyte into the ~ell through the same aperture from whence it came.
Discrete vent plugs ~ound on many batteries exemplify ~ertical-type vent syst~ms. The plugs typically inc~ude a deep, cylindrical chamber which fits tightly into the filler well of the battery.
Separation of t~e electrolyte ~rom the ~as ~ccurs primarily by gra~i~y as the gases rise ~ertically through the cylindrical chamber and the heavier electrolyte falls to the ch~mher floor. The floor of the chamber slopes toward a central aperture through which the gases c~n pass upwardly and the electrolyte can drain back into the cell. The top o the chamber has an exhaust port for discharying the gases to the atmosphere. The chamber may also contain a variety of internal baffles to prevent electrolyte from reaching the exhaust port.
Horizontal type ~ent syst~ms~ on t~e other hand, are most frequently fo- -~ in egrally with the battery cover and typically include an elongated ~h~mh~r extending horizontally cross at least part 2~ of the top of the battery. The vent/drainage aperture is usually located laterally and eleva-tionally remote from the ex~aust port, and the ~ases passing through the vent/drainage aperture horizon-tally traverse much of the length of the ch3mber before discharge t~ the Embient. Such designs ~requently employ a mani~olding arrangement whereby several trapping chambers share a single exhaust port. One such horizontal-type system is disclosed in my copending United States patent No.
4,409,302, issued October 11, 1983 and is assi~ned to the assignee of the present invention.
~,;
Horizontal-~ype venting systems are generally more susceptible to electrolyte leakage than vertical systems, In th~s re~ard r the substantial loss of the benefits of gravity, the wettability of the surfaces defining the electrolyte - trapping chamber, and the ability of the electrolyte to move more readily through horizontal chambers (i.e., incident to vibra-tion, jostling and surface tension affects) substan-tially increase the ~isk of electrolyte reaching and escaping the exhaust port. In order to m;ni~;ze this leakage, the trappin~ chambers have been made relatively deep and thereby add non-producti~e height to the battery. Unnecessarily tall SLI
batteries are particularly undesirable in modern times ~here the trend toward smaller vehicles dictates the need for smaller batteries. ~ike~ise more leak proof SLI ~atterles are desirable not only to conserve electrolyte and prevent corrosion o~
vehicular parts, but also to permit location of the battery in a vehicle at sites not readily available for convenient battery maintenance.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a low-silhouette/ horizontal-type venting system having manifestly improved elec-trolyte trapping and refluxing characteristics, This and other objects and advantages of the presen-t invention will become more readily apparent from the detailed description thereof which follows.
Brief Description of the Invention The present invention comprehends an elec-tric storage battery having a low silhouette, horizontal-type, compartmentalized, electrolyte--trapping, battery gas venting system formed integrally with the battery container's cover. The venting system includes a gas exhaust port at one end, an electrolyte vent/drainage aperture at the other end, J L,~ 7 a dual compartment electroly-te trapping/refluxing chamber therebetween, and an electrolyte outflow restricting opening joining the two compartments.
~he compartmented trapping/refluxing chamber includes an antechamber proximate the exhaust port, a sump proxima~e tIle ven-t~drainage aperture, a plurality of substantially vertical partitions separating -the sump from the antecham~er and a narrow, electrolyte-restrictive ~i.e. outflowwise) opening or openings in the partition(s~ to provide gas/electrolyte flow communication between the antechamber and the sump.
The antechamber is defined in part by a canting ~loor which slopes downwardly away from the exhaust port and to~ard the sump. ~t substan-tially the low point of the canting floor, a small openin~(s) [preferably a narrow ~extical slot(s)] is/are provided ~,. . .."~
in the partitionts~ separating the antechamber from the sump. The slo-t~s) concurxently permit(s) gases to flow-from the sump to the antechamber and electro-lyte to ~low from the antechamber back -to the sump but restricts electrolyte entry into the antechamber from the sump. Preferably two such slotts) are located in opposed paxtitions lying substantially perpendicular to t~e floor of the antechamber and paxallel to direct~on that the floor slopes. Not only does two ~2~ slots more quickly remove accumu-lated electrolyte for reduced sloshing in the ante-chamber, but when located in the slope-paralleling partitions J any electrolyte that might pass up through the slot~s) must first make a sharp turn (i.e., 90) before it can traverse the antechamber toward the exhaust port~
The sump is defined by an inclined floor as well as by the portions of ~he parti~ions which separate it from the antechamber. The inclined floor lies beneath -the antechamber floor and slopes in a substantially differen-t (preferably opposite) direction to -tha-~ oE the canting antechamber floor. The ante-chamber and sump floors are so spaced apart at the restrictive opening(s~ as to provide a riser there-between which still further impedes electrolytepassage from the sump to the ~n-techamber. A
venting/drainage aperture(sl at subs-tantially the low point of -the inclined floor communicate(s~ the sump with the innards o the cell. For maximum protection against leakag~, there will be two (2) aperture(s~
(preferably vertical slots) in the opposing vertical partition(s) separating the sump from -the innards.
The two slots not only drain the sump more quickly to reduce sloshing there~n but their positioning in the vertical part~tions (i.e. in contrast to through the floor~ even further reduces entry of electrolyte into the sump ~hrough the apertures.
The combination of two separate compartments (i e~, antechamber and sump~ having floors sloping in different directions and communicating one with the other only by means of an electrolyte restrictive opening ~e.g. a narrow vertical sl~t) alone substan-tially impedes the movement of electrolyte from the drainage aperture to the exhaust port, In a pre-ferred embodiment, however, a baffle(s~ will also bepositioned in the sump transverse the direction of electrolyte flow from the dra~nage aperture to the res-trictive opening between the sump and the ante-chamber in order to de~lect/divert the electrolyte and thereby further de-ter any electrolyte from making the journey from the aperture to the antechamber~
sump slot(s).
In accordance with a further feature of the present invention, the aforesaid compartmented venting system will also include means for capillarily refluxing electrolyte from the antechamber to the sump and/or from the sump to the innards. The addition of capillary refluxing means to the ante~
chamber-sump slot(s) and the sump~innards aperture(s) provides better drainage for the respective floors ev~n when relatively narrow slots and vertically elongated aperture(s) are used. By way of contrast, very small symmetrical opening(s)~aperture(s) are not normally conducive to optimum drain back of the electrolyte, In this regard, the surface tension between the electrolyte and the edges of the symmetri cal opening~s~aperture(s~ tends to create a liquid plug which holds back the electrolyte until such time as a sufficient head of electrolyte can accumulate on the floor to overcome that surface tension. The use of capillary refluxers at the opening~s)/aper-ture~s) alleviates this pro~lem and the use of verti-cally oriented slots or elongated apertures therewith virtually eliminates the problem. Hence and in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, narrow capillary refluxing channels are positioned cont~guous the innards-side of the sump-to-antechamber slotCsl and/or the sump-to-innards aperture(~s). This refluxing channel, like a capillary tube, uses surface tensions to effectively pull or draw the electrolyte through the slot(s) or aperture(s) and discharge it at its low end to the sump or innards respectively -- hence the term "capillarily refluxing" the electrolyte. At the antechamber-to-sump slot(s) the capillary refluxing channel extends ~rom the floor of the antechamber to the floor of the sump along the riser between the floors.
In one particularly effective construction, the sump is provided with two opposing vertical drainage slots, one in each of the opposed vertical partitions defining the sump and separating it from the innards. Each drainage slot is provided with its own vertical capillary reflu~ing channel on the innards side of the aperture and the lowermost ends of these channels are joined together by a horizontal ~2~
channel having substantially the same width as the vertical channels. The horizontal channel enhances the refluxing action of the two vertical channels by capillarily consolidatin~ their respective flows into a single droplet for quicker return to the innards than would otherwise occur i~ two separate droplets were formed.
Det~ailed-Description of Specific Embodiments This invention may be be-tter understood when considered in the light of the following detailed description of certain specific embodiments thereof, which description is given in conjunction with the several drawings in which:
Figure 1 is an isometric view of a battery having two, horizontal-type, venting manifolds each servicing three of the batteryls six cells;
Figure 2 is an~eniar~ed, part~ally broken away, plan view of one o the venting manifolds of Figure l;
20Figure 3 is a side, sectioned view taken in the direction 3-3 of Figure 2;
Figure 4 is a bottom, sectioned view taken in the direction 4-4 of Figure 3;
Figure 5 is a front, sectioned view taken in the direction 5-5 of Figure 3;
Figure 6 is a front, sectioned ~iew taken in the direction 6-6 of Figure 3;
Figure 7 is a front, sectioned view taken in the direction 7-7 of Figure 3;
30Figure 8 is a front, sectioned view taken in the direction 8-8 oE Figure 3;
Figure 9 is a front, sectioned view taken in the direction 9-9 of Figure 3;
Figure 10 is an exploded, isometric view of the venting system of Figures 1-9;
Fi~ure 11 is an isometric view of the under-side of the venting sys-tem of Figures 1-10;
Figure 12 is an enlarged,partially broken away, plan view like that of Figure 2, but o~ another, and preferred, embodiment of the invention;
Figure 13 is a side, sectioned vie~, taken in the direction 13 13 of Figure 12;
Figure 14 is a bottom, sectioned view taken in the direction 14Y14 of Figure 13; and Figure 15 is an exploded, isometric view~
li~e that o~ Figure 10, but of the embodimen-t of Figures 12-15.
Structure coI~mon to both embodiments (i.e., Figures 1-11 and Figures 12-15~ descri~ed herein are designated by the same n~erals in all Figures.
Yigure I depict^s~a lead-acid,SLI battery 2 having a container 4 r an intermediate cover 6 and final covers g each enclosing three separate venting systems molded into the intermediate cover 6. The container 4 defines six individual cell compartments each housing one of six series connected cells for providing a 12-volt potential a-t the terminals 10. Each cell has its own individual ven-ting system, though the several systems are manifolded -together, in sets of three,and share a common flame arrestor 26.
Figures 2-llshow one embodiment of a venting system made in accordance wi-th the present invention.
The intermedia-te cover 6 includes an upstanding wall 30 which defines the periphery of a rectangular enclo-sure for housing three of thebattery~s ven-ting systems 12, 14 and 16. The wall 30 is heat sealed to depending peripheral flange 36 on the final cover 8 to complete the enclosure. Ridges 22 upstanding from the inter-media-te cover divide the enclosure into -three sec-tions 28 each overlying an individual cell. In this regard and as ~est shown in Figures 2 and 3, each cell has its own venting system 12, 14 or 16 which e~tends horizontally across the -top of its associated cell. The several systems each exhaust and co~municate, one with -the other and the flame arrestor 26, via small notches 18 formed in the depending ridges 20 of cover 8. During assembly r the ridges 20 are heat sealed to the upstanding ridges 22 on the intermediate cover 6 and together define septums which separate the individual venting systems one from the other. The notches 18 remain unsealed and insure that the three otherwise separate venting systems 12, 14 and 1~ may all share a common atmos-pheric exhaust port 24 contiguous the flame arrestor 26, Short wall segments 32,between the ridges 22 and the peripheral wall 3Q, divide the sections 28 into an electroly~e filler-~ortion 33 and a venting system portion 42 (hereafter "antechamber") of the venting chamber. Transverse ridges 38 on final cover 8 are heat sealed atop the ridges 32 to totally isolate the electrolyte filler portion 33 from the antechamber 42. The electrolyte filler portion 33 includes a hole 34 through which electrolyte is added to the battery before assembly of the final cover 8. A semi-cylindrical skirt 40 depends from the intermediate cover 6 adjacent the ~iller hole 34 to m;n;m; ze electrolyte splash-back into -the filler portion 33 especially during filling.
The dual compartment venting chamber comprises an antechamber 42 and a sump 44 separated one from the other by a frontal partition 46 and lateral partitions 52. The antechamber 42 has a canting floor 48 which slopes downwardly toward the sump 44. Narrow,electrolyte out~low restric-ting slots 50 are provided in the opposed la-teral partitions 52 which lie substantially parallel -to the direction the canting floor 48 slopes. These slots 50 are located at substantially the low point 54 of the canting floor 48 to return any electrolyte in the antechamber back to the sump while still permitting the gases to concurrently vent therethrough. ~he slots 50 are preferably about 2.5 mm wide. The sump 44 lies beneath the antechamber 42, is defined by the partitions 46 and 52 and also includes an inclined floor 56 which slopes in the opposite direction to the can-ting floor a8. At the slots 50, the inclined floor 56 is spaced from -the canting floor 48 by a short distance so as to provide a riser 62 in the opposed lateral partitions 52.
Narrow venting/draining slots 58 are provided in the lateral partitions 52 at substantially the low point 60 of the floor 56 to vent the gases and return any electrolyte in the s~ump back to th~e innards.
The narrow vertically oriented slots 50 and 58 are pre-ferred to small isome-tric openings~apert~res since, under normal usage, gases may escape through the top of the slots while elec-trolyte refluxes through the bottom thereof without substantially plugging the slots with liquid.
An integral, H-shaped baffle 6~idepends from the final cover 8 into the sump 44 and into close proximity to the inclined floor 56. Flange portions 66 and 68 of the H-shaped baffle 6~ lie transverse the direction that the floor 56 slopes and serve to divert or deflect the upward flow of splashing or sloshing electrolyte in the sump 44.
An air-bleed system (as best shown in Figure 9) lies adjacent -the sump 44. The air-bleed system includes a trough 70 having a sloping floor 72 which -terminates in an air-bleed hole 74 at its low end, A ven-t hole 76 above the trough opens into the sump 44. The air-bleed system allows gas/air -to escape from the cell compartment while electrolyte is refluxing through the apertures 58 or the battery is being filled~ Any electrolyte that might splash into the -trough 70 will drain down -the sloping floor 72 and back to the cell through the air-bleed hole 7~.
A depending baffle 78 is provided immediately adjacent the air-bleed hole 7~1 -to minimi ze electro-lyte entry into the air-bleed trough 70 from the innards of the battery.
Opposed walls 82 and 8~ are provided immediately adjacent the antechamber~s~p slots 50 and define capillary reflux channels 80. The opposed walls 82 and 84 are spaced sufficiently close together (i.e., about 2.5 mm) to capillarily draw any electro-lyte from atop the floor 48 downwardly to the floor 56 of the sump 44. These walls 82, 84 extend the full height of the vertical slots 50, down along the riser portion 62 of the partition 52 and into engagement with the floorJ56.- Similarly~ th~
venting/drainin~ slots 58 each have a narrow vertical capillary reflux channel 85, defined by closely spaced (i.e., 2 mm) opposed walls 86 and 88 on the innards-side of the drainaye slots 58. The lower discharge ends 91 of the vertical capillary reflux channels 85 are joined by a horizontal capillary reflux channel 90 which is formed between depending flanges 93 and 95 and serves to consolida-te the reflux from the -two vertical capillary reflux channels 86 into a single droplet. A pair of flat depending baffles 32 are provided immediately opposite, and closely spaced to, the slots 58 and serve to reduce entry of splashing/sloshing electro-lyte into the apertures 58.
Figures 12-15 illustrate a preferr~d embodi-ment of the invention. This embodiment is essentially the same as that shown in Figures 2-11 but with certain significan-t differences., Only the differences are described hereafter~ The flat depending baffles 92 of the prior embodiment ~see Figures 4 and 11~ are replaced with ~-shaped baffles 94 (see Figure 14) for improved protection o~ the venting/draining slots 58 against electrolyte invasion. Moreover, the ~-shaped baffle 64 (see Figure 10) of the previous embodiment is replaced with a two-part baffle 96a and 96b. The lower part 96a of the baffle 96 is integral with, and upstands from, the inclined floor 56 of the sump 44, while the upper part 96b of the baffle 96 is integral with the final cover 8. The respective upper and lower partsjoin at the parting line between the inte, ?~i~te and final covers and are thereat heat-sealed together.
Being integral with the sump floor ~6 elim;nates any electrolyte creepage that might otherwise have occurred beneath the H-shaped baffle. Moreover, the new baffle 96 is V-shaped so as to offer a lesser impedi-ment to electrolyte back flow toward the drainage slots 58. Still further, converging walls 98 are provided at the mouth of the sump 44 where the electro-lyte flows back into the s~mp 44 from the antechamber 42. The converging walls 98 unnel the electrolyte toward a narrow gap 100 between the ends of the walls 98 which further ;nh;hits electrolyte escape from the sump 44 into antechamber 42.
By utilizing the principles of the present invention it has been possible: to produce venting systems which are at least 10 mm shallower than used in the assigneP's prior commercial products; and at the same time to xeduce the tendency of the battery to leak by ~t least 10 times (i.e., based on standard shaker and vibration tests of batteries tilted 20 toward the flame arrestor).
~' 2~
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE
The foregoing sets forth a low silhouette horizontal-type venting system for an electric storage battery which includes an electrolyte drainage aperture(s) at one end of the system, an exhaust port at the other end of the system and a dual compartment electrolyte trapping and refluxing chamber between the aperture(s) and port. The trapping/refluxing chamber comprises an antechamber proximate the exhaust port and a sump chamber proximate the drainage aperture~s). The chambers have oppositely sloping floors leading downwardly to the drainage aperture. Narrow electrolyte upflow restricting slot(s) communicate the antechamber with the sump chamber. The slot(s) and the drainage aperture(s) may also be provided with means for capillarily refluxin~ electrolyte back to the sump and cell.
Figure 16 is a partially broken away, plan view of a battery like that shown in Figure 1, but having a single, horizontal-type venting system serving all six cells of the battery. Figure 17 is a side, sectioned view taken in the direction 17-17 of Figure 16. Figures 18-20 are front, sectioned views taken in the directions 18-18, 19-19 and 20-20 respectively of Figure 16. Figure 21 is an exploded, isometric view of the venting system of Figures 16-20.
Figures 16-21 depict still another, and most preferred, embodiment wherein a lead-acid, SLI battery has an intermediate cover 6 and a final cover 8 defining six ~eparate venting systems therebetween.
The battery container 4 is partitioned (i.e., 5) so as to define six individual cell compartments 7 ea~h housing one of six series connected cells for providing a 12-volt potential at the terminals 10. Each cell has its own individual venting system which i5 manifolded together with the other ive systems so as to share common porous flame arrestors 26.
The intermediate cover 6 is sealed atop the container 4 and includes an upstanding wall 30 which defines the periphery of a rectangular enclosure for housinq the battery's six venting systems ~e.g., 14 and 16 shown~. The wall 30 is heat sealed to depending peripheral flange 36 on the final cover 8 to complete the enclosure. Ridges 22 upstanding from the intermediate cover 6 divide the enclosure into six sections 28 each defining a separate venting system 14 16, etc. and overlying an individual cell compartment 7. The several systems 14, 16, etc. each exhaust, and communicate one with the other, via notches 18 formed in the depending ridges 20 of cover 8. The depending ridges 20 are heat sealed (i.e., except for the notches 18 ) to the upstanding ridges 22 on the intermediate cover 6 and together define septums which separate the individual venting systems 14, 16, etc. one from the other. The several venting systems share ~i.e., via the several notches 181 ~wo atmospheric exhaust ports 24 which are contiguous the porous flame arrestors 26.
Short upstanding hollow cylinders 33 define filler openings 34 and are heat sealed to mating depending cylinders 39 on final cover 8 to totally seal close the electrolyte filler openings 34 (i.e., after filling) and thereby isolate them from the antechamber portions 42 of each venting system 14, 16, etc.
According to the Figures 16-21 embodiment, the dual compartment venting chamber comprises the antechamber 42 separated from a sump 44 by frontal partition 46 and lateral partition 52. The antechamber 42 has a canting floor 48 which slopes downwardly toward the sump 44O A narrow (i.e., about 2 ~m wide) electrolyte-outflow-restricting slot 50 is provided in the lateral partition 52 which itself lies substantially parallel to the direction the canting floor 48 slopes. The slot 50 is located at substantially the low point 54 of the canting floor 48 to return any electrolyte in the antechamber 42 back to the sump 44 while still permitting the gases from the innards to concurrently vent therethrough counter-current to the back flow of electrolyte. The sump 44: lies beneath the antechamber 42; is defined in part by the partitions 46 and 52; and includes an inclined floor 56 which slopes in the opposite direction to the canting floor 48 and away from the slot 50 toward a hole 51 at the low point thereof. At the slot 50, the inclined floor 56 is spaced from the canting floor 48 by a short distance so as to provide a riser 62 in the opposed lateral partition 52.
A tubular (i.e., cylindrical, rectangular, triangular, etc.) baffle 53 depends from the final cover 8 and extends into close fitting relation to, and slightly beneath, the hole 51. In this regard, an interference or near-interference fit is preferred between the baffle 53 and the rim of the hole 51 though a small clearance 55 is acceptable so long as it is not so large as to permit electrolyte from the innards to splash back therethrough. Narrow venting/draining .,, apertures/slots 58 are provided in the sides of the baffle 53 at substantially the low point of the floor 56 and 90 degrees from the direction of downward flow of electrolyte from the slot 50 and serve to vent the gases from the innards while refluxing any electrolyte in the sump back thereto. The slots 58 are preferably about 1.7 mm wide at the rim of the hole 51 or of such other narrow width as will capillarily draw electrolyte from the inclined floor 56 down into the cell compartment 7. The Figures 16-21 design greatly simplifies the molding operation and reduces the incidence of molding flash formation at the several apertures~slots which can impede the back flow of electrolyte.
An air-bleed system ~as best shown in Figures 18) lies adjacent the sump 44. The air-bleed system includes a trough 70 having floor 72 which slopes in two directions toward air-bleed holes 74 at the lower ends thereof. A vent hole 76 above the trough 70 opens into the sump 44. The air-bleed system allows gas~air to escape from the cell compartment while electrolyte is refluxing through the drainage slots 58 or the battery is being filled. Any electrolyte that might perchance splash into the trough 70 will drain down the sloping floor 72 and back to the cell through the air-bleed holes 74.
A first wall 102 is provided immediately opposite the antechamber-sump slot 50 and serves not only as an electrolyte baffle means but also to define 30 a capillary reflux channel 80 with the riser 62 for capillarily drawing any electrolyte from atop the floor 48 downwardly to the floor 56 of the sump 44.
Additional vertical baffles 104 and 106 are spaced apart by a narrow opening 108 and serve to restrict the movement of electrolyte upwardly from the drainage apertures 58 toward the antechamber-sump slot 50.
By utilizin~ the principles of the present invention it has been possible: to produce venting systems which are at least 10 mm shallower than used in the assignee's prior commercial products; and at the same time to reduce the tendency of the battery to leak by at least 10 times (i.e., based on standard shaker and vibration tests of batteries tilted 20 toward the flame arrestor).
While this invention has been disclosed primarily in terms of specific embodiments thereof it is not intended to be limited thereto but rather only to the extent set forth in the claims which follow.
C-3~3 D-6,470 LOW SILHOUETTE VEN~ING SYSTEM
FOR ELECTRIC~STORAGE BATTEP~Y
- This invention relates -to electric storage batteries and more speciflcally to venting systems therefor.
Background of the Invention Pb-acid storage batteries, among others, generate gases during cycling. These gases are vented from the ba-tter~ innards to the ambient via venting systems designed to permit ~as passage bu-t inhibit the outflow of electrolyte (i.e~ from innards to ambient) there-through, The trapped electrolyte is then drained back into the battery cells from whence it came.
There are essentially two types of battery venting systems c~mmon ly in use. These types can be classified as either vertical-type or hori20ntal-type depending on the orientation of the chamber used to trap the electrolyte. In this regard, both types typically include an electrolyte trapping chamber which islocated between a ven-t/drainage aperture that leads to the battery's electrochemical innards (i.e., plates, electrodes, separators, etc.) and an exhaust port which leads to the atmosphere.
The venting/drainage aperture usually passes through the floor of the electrolyte trapping chamber and is sized to allow gas passage while m;n;m; zing entry of electrolyte splash into the trapping chamberO
Nonetheless, the trapping chambers are commonly invaded by electrolyte passing up through the venting/
drainage aperture as a result of excessive overcharging, sloshing, splashing, etc. (i.e., due to mishandlingt vibration, til-ting, or the like) To substantially prevent electrolyte from exiting the battery, trapping chambers are typically equipped with a variety of baffles or the like to inhibit electrolyte mobility and substantially prevent its reaching the exhaust port and escaping to the ambient. Sloping c~amh~r floors are typically used to ~acilitate draining bac~ (i.e., refluxing) of the ~lectrolyte into the ~ell through the same aperture from whence it came.
Discrete vent plugs ~ound on many batteries exemplify ~ertical-type vent syst~ms. The plugs typically inc~ude a deep, cylindrical chamber which fits tightly into the filler well of the battery.
Separation of t~e electrolyte ~rom the ~as ~ccurs primarily by gra~i~y as the gases rise ~ertically through the cylindrical chamber and the heavier electrolyte falls to the ch~mher floor. The floor of the chamber slopes toward a central aperture through which the gases c~n pass upwardly and the electrolyte can drain back into the cell. The top o the chamber has an exhaust port for discharying the gases to the atmosphere. The chamber may also contain a variety of internal baffles to prevent electrolyte from reaching the exhaust port.
Horizontal type ~ent syst~ms~ on t~e other hand, are most frequently fo- -~ in egrally with the battery cover and typically include an elongated ~h~mh~r extending horizontally cross at least part 2~ of the top of the battery. The vent/drainage aperture is usually located laterally and eleva-tionally remote from the ex~aust port, and the ~ases passing through the vent/drainage aperture horizon-tally traverse much of the length of the ch3mber before discharge t~ the Embient. Such designs ~requently employ a mani~olding arrangement whereby several trapping chambers share a single exhaust port. One such horizontal-type system is disclosed in my copending United States patent No.
4,409,302, issued October 11, 1983 and is assi~ned to the assignee of the present invention.
~,;
Horizontal-~ype venting systems are generally more susceptible to electrolyte leakage than vertical systems, In th~s re~ard r the substantial loss of the benefits of gravity, the wettability of the surfaces defining the electrolyte - trapping chamber, and the ability of the electrolyte to move more readily through horizontal chambers (i.e., incident to vibra-tion, jostling and surface tension affects) substan-tially increase the ~isk of electrolyte reaching and escaping the exhaust port. In order to m;ni~;ze this leakage, the trappin~ chambers have been made relatively deep and thereby add non-producti~e height to the battery. Unnecessarily tall SLI
batteries are particularly undesirable in modern times ~here the trend toward smaller vehicles dictates the need for smaller batteries. ~ike~ise more leak proof SLI ~atterles are desirable not only to conserve electrolyte and prevent corrosion o~
vehicular parts, but also to permit location of the battery in a vehicle at sites not readily available for convenient battery maintenance.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a low-silhouette/ horizontal-type venting system having manifestly improved elec-trolyte trapping and refluxing characteristics, This and other objects and advantages of the presen-t invention will become more readily apparent from the detailed description thereof which follows.
Brief Description of the Invention The present invention comprehends an elec-tric storage battery having a low silhouette, horizontal-type, compartmentalized, electrolyte--trapping, battery gas venting system formed integrally with the battery container's cover. The venting system includes a gas exhaust port at one end, an electrolyte vent/drainage aperture at the other end, J L,~ 7 a dual compartment electroly-te trapping/refluxing chamber therebetween, and an electrolyte outflow restricting opening joining the two compartments.
~he compartmented trapping/refluxing chamber includes an antechamber proximate the exhaust port, a sump proxima~e tIle ven-t~drainage aperture, a plurality of substantially vertical partitions separating -the sump from the antecham~er and a narrow, electrolyte-restrictive ~i.e. outflowwise) opening or openings in the partition(s~ to provide gas/electrolyte flow communication between the antechamber and the sump.
The antechamber is defined in part by a canting ~loor which slopes downwardly away from the exhaust port and to~ard the sump. ~t substan-tially the low point of the canting floor, a small openin~(s) [preferably a narrow ~extical slot(s)] is/are provided ~,. . .."~
in the partitionts~ separating the antechamber from the sump. The slo-t~s) concurxently permit(s) gases to flow-from the sump to the antechamber and electro-lyte to ~low from the antechamber back -to the sump but restricts electrolyte entry into the antechamber from the sump. Preferably two such slotts) are located in opposed paxtitions lying substantially perpendicular to t~e floor of the antechamber and paxallel to direct~on that the floor slopes. Not only does two ~2~ slots more quickly remove accumu-lated electrolyte for reduced sloshing in the ante-chamber, but when located in the slope-paralleling partitions J any electrolyte that might pass up through the slot~s) must first make a sharp turn (i.e., 90) before it can traverse the antechamber toward the exhaust port~
The sump is defined by an inclined floor as well as by the portions of ~he parti~ions which separate it from the antechamber. The inclined floor lies beneath -the antechamber floor and slopes in a substantially differen-t (preferably opposite) direction to -tha-~ oE the canting antechamber floor. The ante-chamber and sump floors are so spaced apart at the restrictive opening(s~ as to provide a riser there-between which still further impedes electrolytepassage from the sump to the ~n-techamber. A
venting/drainage aperture(sl at subs-tantially the low point of -the inclined floor communicate(s~ the sump with the innards o the cell. For maximum protection against leakag~, there will be two (2) aperture(s~
(preferably vertical slots) in the opposing vertical partition(s) separating the sump from -the innards.
The two slots not only drain the sump more quickly to reduce sloshing there~n but their positioning in the vertical part~tions (i.e. in contrast to through the floor~ even further reduces entry of electrolyte into the sump ~hrough the apertures.
The combination of two separate compartments (i e~, antechamber and sump~ having floors sloping in different directions and communicating one with the other only by means of an electrolyte restrictive opening ~e.g. a narrow vertical sl~t) alone substan-tially impedes the movement of electrolyte from the drainage aperture to the exhaust port, In a pre-ferred embodiment, however, a baffle(s~ will also bepositioned in the sump transverse the direction of electrolyte flow from the dra~nage aperture to the res-trictive opening between the sump and the ante-chamber in order to de~lect/divert the electrolyte and thereby further de-ter any electrolyte from making the journey from the aperture to the antechamber~
sump slot(s).
In accordance with a further feature of the present invention, the aforesaid compartmented venting system will also include means for capillarily refluxing electrolyte from the antechamber to the sump and/or from the sump to the innards. The addition of capillary refluxing means to the ante~
chamber-sump slot(s) and the sump~innards aperture(s) provides better drainage for the respective floors ev~n when relatively narrow slots and vertically elongated aperture(s) are used. By way of contrast, very small symmetrical opening(s)~aperture(s) are not normally conducive to optimum drain back of the electrolyte, In this regard, the surface tension between the electrolyte and the edges of the symmetri cal opening~s~aperture(s~ tends to create a liquid plug which holds back the electrolyte until such time as a sufficient head of electrolyte can accumulate on the floor to overcome that surface tension. The use of capillary refluxers at the opening~s)/aper-ture~s) alleviates this pro~lem and the use of verti-cally oriented slots or elongated apertures therewith virtually eliminates the problem. Hence and in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, narrow capillary refluxing channels are positioned cont~guous the innards-side of the sump-to-antechamber slotCsl and/or the sump-to-innards aperture(~s). This refluxing channel, like a capillary tube, uses surface tensions to effectively pull or draw the electrolyte through the slot(s) or aperture(s) and discharge it at its low end to the sump or innards respectively -- hence the term "capillarily refluxing" the electrolyte. At the antechamber-to-sump slot(s) the capillary refluxing channel extends ~rom the floor of the antechamber to the floor of the sump along the riser between the floors.
In one particularly effective construction, the sump is provided with two opposing vertical drainage slots, one in each of the opposed vertical partitions defining the sump and separating it from the innards. Each drainage slot is provided with its own vertical capillary reflu~ing channel on the innards side of the aperture and the lowermost ends of these channels are joined together by a horizontal ~2~
channel having substantially the same width as the vertical channels. The horizontal channel enhances the refluxing action of the two vertical channels by capillarily consolidatin~ their respective flows into a single droplet for quicker return to the innards than would otherwise occur i~ two separate droplets were formed.
Det~ailed-Description of Specific Embodiments This invention may be be-tter understood when considered in the light of the following detailed description of certain specific embodiments thereof, which description is given in conjunction with the several drawings in which:
Figure 1 is an isometric view of a battery having two, horizontal-type, venting manifolds each servicing three of the batteryls six cells;
Figure 2 is an~eniar~ed, part~ally broken away, plan view of one o the venting manifolds of Figure l;
20Figure 3 is a side, sectioned view taken in the direction 3-3 of Figure 2;
Figure 4 is a bottom, sectioned view taken in the direction 4-4 of Figure 3;
Figure 5 is a front, sectioned view taken in the direction 5-5 of Figure 3;
Figure 6 is a front, sectioned ~iew taken in the direction 6-6 of Figure 3;
Figure 7 is a front, sectioned view taken in the direction 7-7 of Figure 3;
30Figure 8 is a front, sectioned view taken in the direction 8-8 oE Figure 3;
Figure 9 is a front, sectioned view taken in the direction 9-9 of Figure 3;
Figure 10 is an exploded, isometric view of the venting system of Figures 1-9;
Fi~ure 11 is an isometric view of the under-side of the venting sys-tem of Figures 1-10;
Figure 12 is an enlarged,partially broken away, plan view like that of Figure 2, but o~ another, and preferred, embodiment of the invention;
Figure 13 is a side, sectioned vie~, taken in the direction 13 13 of Figure 12;
Figure 14 is a bottom, sectioned view taken in the direction 14Y14 of Figure 13; and Figure 15 is an exploded, isometric view~
li~e that o~ Figure 10, but of the embodimen-t of Figures 12-15.
Structure coI~mon to both embodiments (i.e., Figures 1-11 and Figures 12-15~ descri~ed herein are designated by the same n~erals in all Figures.
Yigure I depict^s~a lead-acid,SLI battery 2 having a container 4 r an intermediate cover 6 and final covers g each enclosing three separate venting systems molded into the intermediate cover 6. The container 4 defines six individual cell compartments each housing one of six series connected cells for providing a 12-volt potential a-t the terminals 10. Each cell has its own individual ven-ting system, though the several systems are manifolded -together, in sets of three,and share a common flame arrestor 26.
Figures 2-llshow one embodiment of a venting system made in accordance wi-th the present invention.
The intermedia-te cover 6 includes an upstanding wall 30 which defines the periphery of a rectangular enclo-sure for housing three of thebattery~s ven-ting systems 12, 14 and 16. The wall 30 is heat sealed to depending peripheral flange 36 on the final cover 8 to complete the enclosure. Ridges 22 upstanding from the inter-media-te cover divide the enclosure into -three sec-tions 28 each overlying an individual cell. In this regard and as ~est shown in Figures 2 and 3, each cell has its own venting system 12, 14 or 16 which e~tends horizontally across the -top of its associated cell. The several systems each exhaust and co~municate, one with -the other and the flame arrestor 26, via small notches 18 formed in the depending ridges 20 of cover 8. During assembly r the ridges 20 are heat sealed to the upstanding ridges 22 on the intermediate cover 6 and together define septums which separate the individual venting systems one from the other. The notches 18 remain unsealed and insure that the three otherwise separate venting systems 12, 14 and 1~ may all share a common atmos-pheric exhaust port 24 contiguous the flame arrestor 26, Short wall segments 32,between the ridges 22 and the peripheral wall 3Q, divide the sections 28 into an electroly~e filler-~ortion 33 and a venting system portion 42 (hereafter "antechamber") of the venting chamber. Transverse ridges 38 on final cover 8 are heat sealed atop the ridges 32 to totally isolate the electrolyte filler portion 33 from the antechamber 42. The electrolyte filler portion 33 includes a hole 34 through which electrolyte is added to the battery before assembly of the final cover 8. A semi-cylindrical skirt 40 depends from the intermediate cover 6 adjacent the ~iller hole 34 to m;n;m; ze electrolyte splash-back into -the filler portion 33 especially during filling.
The dual compartment venting chamber comprises an antechamber 42 and a sump 44 separated one from the other by a frontal partition 46 and lateral partitions 52. The antechamber 42 has a canting floor 48 which slopes downwardly toward the sump 44. Narrow,electrolyte out~low restric-ting slots 50 are provided in the opposed la-teral partitions 52 which lie substantially parallel -to the direction the canting floor 48 slopes. These slots 50 are located at substantially the low point 54 of the canting floor 48 to return any electrolyte in the antechamber back to the sump while still permitting the gases to concurrently vent therethrough. ~he slots 50 are preferably about 2.5 mm wide. The sump 44 lies beneath the antechamber 42, is defined by the partitions 46 and 52 and also includes an inclined floor 56 which slopes in the opposite direction to the can-ting floor a8. At the slots 50, the inclined floor 56 is spaced from -the canting floor 48 by a short distance so as to provide a riser 62 in the opposed lateral partitions 52.
Narrow venting/draining slots 58 are provided in the lateral partitions 52 at substantially the low point 60 of the floor 56 to vent the gases and return any electrolyte in the s~ump back to th~e innards.
The narrow vertically oriented slots 50 and 58 are pre-ferred to small isome-tric openings~apert~res since, under normal usage, gases may escape through the top of the slots while elec-trolyte refluxes through the bottom thereof without substantially plugging the slots with liquid.
An integral, H-shaped baffle 6~idepends from the final cover 8 into the sump 44 and into close proximity to the inclined floor 56. Flange portions 66 and 68 of the H-shaped baffle 6~ lie transverse the direction that the floor 56 slopes and serve to divert or deflect the upward flow of splashing or sloshing electrolyte in the sump 44.
An air-bleed system (as best shown in Figure 9) lies adjacent -the sump 44. The air-bleed system includes a trough 70 having a sloping floor 72 which -terminates in an air-bleed hole 74 at its low end, A ven-t hole 76 above the trough opens into the sump 44. The air-bleed system allows gas/air -to escape from the cell compartment while electrolyte is refluxing through the apertures 58 or the battery is being filled~ Any electrolyte that might splash into the -trough 70 will drain down -the sloping floor 72 and back to the cell through the air-bleed hole 7~.
A depending baffle 78 is provided immediately adjacent the air-bleed hole 7~1 -to minimi ze electro-lyte entry into the air-bleed trough 70 from the innards of the battery.
Opposed walls 82 and 8~ are provided immediately adjacent the antechamber~s~p slots 50 and define capillary reflux channels 80. The opposed walls 82 and 84 are spaced sufficiently close together (i.e., about 2.5 mm) to capillarily draw any electro-lyte from atop the floor 48 downwardly to the floor 56 of the sump 44. These walls 82, 84 extend the full height of the vertical slots 50, down along the riser portion 62 of the partition 52 and into engagement with the floorJ56.- Similarly~ th~
venting/drainin~ slots 58 each have a narrow vertical capillary reflux channel 85, defined by closely spaced (i.e., 2 mm) opposed walls 86 and 88 on the innards-side of the drainaye slots 58. The lower discharge ends 91 of the vertical capillary reflux channels 85 are joined by a horizontal capillary reflux channel 90 which is formed between depending flanges 93 and 95 and serves to consolida-te the reflux from the -two vertical capillary reflux channels 86 into a single droplet. A pair of flat depending baffles 32 are provided immediately opposite, and closely spaced to, the slots 58 and serve to reduce entry of splashing/sloshing electro-lyte into the apertures 58.
Figures 12-15 illustrate a preferr~d embodi-ment of the invention. This embodiment is essentially the same as that shown in Figures 2-11 but with certain significan-t differences., Only the differences are described hereafter~ The flat depending baffles 92 of the prior embodiment ~see Figures 4 and 11~ are replaced with ~-shaped baffles 94 (see Figure 14) for improved protection o~ the venting/draining slots 58 against electrolyte invasion. Moreover, the ~-shaped baffle 64 (see Figure 10) of the previous embodiment is replaced with a two-part baffle 96a and 96b. The lower part 96a of the baffle 96 is integral with, and upstands from, the inclined floor 56 of the sump 44, while the upper part 96b of the baffle 96 is integral with the final cover 8. The respective upper and lower partsjoin at the parting line between the inte, ?~i~te and final covers and are thereat heat-sealed together.
Being integral with the sump floor ~6 elim;nates any electrolyte creepage that might otherwise have occurred beneath the H-shaped baffle. Moreover, the new baffle 96 is V-shaped so as to offer a lesser impedi-ment to electrolyte back flow toward the drainage slots 58. Still further, converging walls 98 are provided at the mouth of the sump 44 where the electro-lyte flows back into the s~mp 44 from the antechamber 42. The converging walls 98 unnel the electrolyte toward a narrow gap 100 between the ends of the walls 98 which further ;nh;hits electrolyte escape from the sump 44 into antechamber 42.
By utilizing the principles of the present invention it has been possible: to produce venting systems which are at least 10 mm shallower than used in the assigneP's prior commercial products; and at the same time to xeduce the tendency of the battery to leak by ~t least 10 times (i.e., based on standard shaker and vibration tests of batteries tilted 20 toward the flame arrestor).
~' 2~
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE
The foregoing sets forth a low silhouette horizontal-type venting system for an electric storage battery which includes an electrolyte drainage aperture(s) at one end of the system, an exhaust port at the other end of the system and a dual compartment electrolyte trapping and refluxing chamber between the aperture(s) and port. The trapping/refluxing chamber comprises an antechamber proximate the exhaust port and a sump chamber proximate the drainage aperture~s). The chambers have oppositely sloping floors leading downwardly to the drainage aperture. Narrow electrolyte upflow restricting slot(s) communicate the antechamber with the sump chamber. The slot(s) and the drainage aperture(s) may also be provided with means for capillarily refluxin~ electrolyte back to the sump and cell.
Figure 16 is a partially broken away, plan view of a battery like that shown in Figure 1, but having a single, horizontal-type venting system serving all six cells of the battery. Figure 17 is a side, sectioned view taken in the direction 17-17 of Figure 16. Figures 18-20 are front, sectioned views taken in the directions 18-18, 19-19 and 20-20 respectively of Figure 16. Figure 21 is an exploded, isometric view of the venting system of Figures 16-20.
Figures 16-21 depict still another, and most preferred, embodiment wherein a lead-acid, SLI battery has an intermediate cover 6 and a final cover 8 defining six ~eparate venting systems therebetween.
The battery container 4 is partitioned (i.e., 5) so as to define six individual cell compartments 7 ea~h housing one of six series connected cells for providing a 12-volt potential at the terminals 10. Each cell has its own individual venting system which i5 manifolded together with the other ive systems so as to share common porous flame arrestors 26.
The intermediate cover 6 is sealed atop the container 4 and includes an upstanding wall 30 which defines the periphery of a rectangular enclosure for housinq the battery's six venting systems ~e.g., 14 and 16 shown~. The wall 30 is heat sealed to depending peripheral flange 36 on the final cover 8 to complete the enclosure. Ridges 22 upstanding from the intermediate cover 6 divide the enclosure into six sections 28 each defining a separate venting system 14 16, etc. and overlying an individual cell compartment 7. The several systems 14, 16, etc. each exhaust, and communicate one with the other, via notches 18 formed in the depending ridges 20 of cover 8. The depending ridges 20 are heat sealed (i.e., except for the notches 18 ) to the upstanding ridges 22 on the intermediate cover 6 and together define septums which separate the individual venting systems 14, 16, etc. one from the other. The several venting systems share ~i.e., via the several notches 181 ~wo atmospheric exhaust ports 24 which are contiguous the porous flame arrestors 26.
Short upstanding hollow cylinders 33 define filler openings 34 and are heat sealed to mating depending cylinders 39 on final cover 8 to totally seal close the electrolyte filler openings 34 (i.e., after filling) and thereby isolate them from the antechamber portions 42 of each venting system 14, 16, etc.
According to the Figures 16-21 embodiment, the dual compartment venting chamber comprises the antechamber 42 separated from a sump 44 by frontal partition 46 and lateral partition 52. The antechamber 42 has a canting floor 48 which slopes downwardly toward the sump 44O A narrow (i.e., about 2 ~m wide) electrolyte-outflow-restricting slot 50 is provided in the lateral partition 52 which itself lies substantially parallel to the direction the canting floor 48 slopes. The slot 50 is located at substantially the low point 54 of the canting floor 48 to return any electrolyte in the antechamber 42 back to the sump 44 while still permitting the gases from the innards to concurrently vent therethrough counter-current to the back flow of electrolyte. The sump 44: lies beneath the antechamber 42; is defined in part by the partitions 46 and 52; and includes an inclined floor 56 which slopes in the opposite direction to the canting floor 48 and away from the slot 50 toward a hole 51 at the low point thereof. At the slot 50, the inclined floor 56 is spaced from the canting floor 48 by a short distance so as to provide a riser 62 in the opposed lateral partition 52.
A tubular (i.e., cylindrical, rectangular, triangular, etc.) baffle 53 depends from the final cover 8 and extends into close fitting relation to, and slightly beneath, the hole 51. In this regard, an interference or near-interference fit is preferred between the baffle 53 and the rim of the hole 51 though a small clearance 55 is acceptable so long as it is not so large as to permit electrolyte from the innards to splash back therethrough. Narrow venting/draining .,, apertures/slots 58 are provided in the sides of the baffle 53 at substantially the low point of the floor 56 and 90 degrees from the direction of downward flow of electrolyte from the slot 50 and serve to vent the gases from the innards while refluxing any electrolyte in the sump back thereto. The slots 58 are preferably about 1.7 mm wide at the rim of the hole 51 or of such other narrow width as will capillarily draw electrolyte from the inclined floor 56 down into the cell compartment 7. The Figures 16-21 design greatly simplifies the molding operation and reduces the incidence of molding flash formation at the several apertures~slots which can impede the back flow of electrolyte.
An air-bleed system ~as best shown in Figures 18) lies adjacent the sump 44. The air-bleed system includes a trough 70 having floor 72 which slopes in two directions toward air-bleed holes 74 at the lower ends thereof. A vent hole 76 above the trough 70 opens into the sump 44. The air-bleed system allows gas~air to escape from the cell compartment while electrolyte is refluxing through the drainage slots 58 or the battery is being filled. Any electrolyte that might perchance splash into the trough 70 will drain down the sloping floor 72 and back to the cell through the air-bleed holes 74.
A first wall 102 is provided immediately opposite the antechamber-sump slot 50 and serves not only as an electrolyte baffle means but also to define 30 a capillary reflux channel 80 with the riser 62 for capillarily drawing any electrolyte from atop the floor 48 downwardly to the floor 56 of the sump 44.
Additional vertical baffles 104 and 106 are spaced apart by a narrow opening 108 and serve to restrict the movement of electrolyte upwardly from the drainage apertures 58 toward the antechamber-sump slot 50.
By utilizin~ the principles of the present invention it has been possible: to produce venting systems which are at least 10 mm shallower than used in the assignee's prior commercial products; and at the same time to reduce the tendency of the battery to leak by at least 10 times (i.e., based on standard shaker and vibration tests of batteries tilted 20 toward the flame arrestor).
While this invention has been disclosed primarily in terms of specific embodiments thereof it is not intended to be limited thereto but rather only to the extent set forth in the claims which follow.
Claims (17)
1. An electric storage battery comprising a case for housing the battery's active elements, a cover secured to said case and a horizontal-type vent system formed in said cover for relieving gases from the innards of the battery while inhibiting electrolyte escape therefrom wherein said vent system comprises:
an electrolyte drainage aperture for refluxing electrolyte to said innards;
an exhaust port for passing said gases to the ambient;
an antechamber adjacent said exhaust port, said antechamber being defined in part by a canted floor sloping downwardly from said port in a first direction toward a sump;
a sump at substantially the low point of said canted floor, said sump being defined in part by an inclined floor lying beneath said canted floor and sloping downwardly toward said aperture in a direction substantially different than said first direction;
partition means extending from and above said inclined and canted floors, said partition means further defining said sump and separating it from said antechamber and said innards; and a substantially vertical slot in said partition means at substantially said low point of said canted floor for providing flow communication between said sump and said antechamber, said slot being sufficiently narrow as to permit egress of gas from said sump and regress of electrolyte to said sump but inhibit egress of electrolyte from said sump;
whereby any electrolyte invading said sump from said innards must first travel upwardly in one direction along said inclined floor, traverse said slot, and then travel upwardly along said canted floor in a substantially different direction before sufficiently nearing said exhaust port to permit possible escape therethrough.
an electrolyte drainage aperture for refluxing electrolyte to said innards;
an exhaust port for passing said gases to the ambient;
an antechamber adjacent said exhaust port, said antechamber being defined in part by a canted floor sloping downwardly from said port in a first direction toward a sump;
a sump at substantially the low point of said canted floor, said sump being defined in part by an inclined floor lying beneath said canted floor and sloping downwardly toward said aperture in a direction substantially different than said first direction;
partition means extending from and above said inclined and canted floors, said partition means further defining said sump and separating it from said antechamber and said innards; and a substantially vertical slot in said partition means at substantially said low point of said canted floor for providing flow communication between said sump and said antechamber, said slot being sufficiently narrow as to permit egress of gas from said sump and regress of electrolyte to said sump but inhibit egress of electrolyte from said sump;
whereby any electrolyte invading said sump from said innards must first travel upwardly in one direction along said inclined floor, traverse said slot, and then travel upwardly along said canted floor in a substantially different direction before sufficiently nearing said exhaust port to permit possible escape therethrough.
2. An electric storage battery comprising a case for housing the battery's active elements, a cover secured to said case and a horizontal-type vent system formed in said cover for relieving gases from the innards of the battery while inhibiting electrolyte escape therefrom wherein said vent system comprises:
an electrolyte drainage aperture for refluxing electrolyte to said innards;
an exhaust port for passing said gases to the ambient;
an antechamber adjacent said exhaust port, said antechamber being defined in part by a canted floor sloping downwardly from said port in a first direction toward a sump;
a sump at substantially the low point of said canted floor, said sump being defined in part by an inclined floor lying beneath said canted floor and sloping downwardly toward said aperture in a direction substantially different than said first direction;
partition means extending from and above said inclined and canted floors, said partition means further defining said sump and separating it from said antechamber and said innards;
a substantially vertical slot in said partition means at substantially said low point of said canted floor for providing flow communication between said sump and said antechamber, said slot being sufficiently narrow as to permit egress of gas from said sump and regress of electrolyte to said sump but inhibit egress of electrolyte from said sump; and baffle means transverse said sump between said aperture and said slot to deflect electrolyte moving between said aperture and said slot;
whereby any electrolyte invading said sump from said innards via said aperture must first travel upwardly in one direction along said inclined floor, circumvent said baffle means, traverse said slot, and then travel upwardly along said canted floor in a substantially different direction before sufficiently nearing said exhaust port to permit possible escape therethrough.
an electrolyte drainage aperture for refluxing electrolyte to said innards;
an exhaust port for passing said gases to the ambient;
an antechamber adjacent said exhaust port, said antechamber being defined in part by a canted floor sloping downwardly from said port in a first direction toward a sump;
a sump at substantially the low point of said canted floor, said sump being defined in part by an inclined floor lying beneath said canted floor and sloping downwardly toward said aperture in a direction substantially different than said first direction;
partition means extending from and above said inclined and canted floors, said partition means further defining said sump and separating it from said antechamber and said innards;
a substantially vertical slot in said partition means at substantially said low point of said canted floor for providing flow communication between said sump and said antechamber, said slot being sufficiently narrow as to permit egress of gas from said sump and regress of electrolyte to said sump but inhibit egress of electrolyte from said sump; and baffle means transverse said sump between said aperture and said slot to deflect electrolyte moving between said aperture and said slot;
whereby any electrolyte invading said sump from said innards via said aperture must first travel upwardly in one direction along said inclined floor, circumvent said baffle means, traverse said slot, and then travel upwardly along said canted floor in a substantially different direction before sufficiently nearing said exhaust port to permit possible escape therethrough.
3. An electric storage battery comprising a case for housing the battery's active elements, a cover secured to said case and a horizontal-type vent system formed in said cover for relieving gases from the innards of the battery while inhibiting electrolyte escape therefrom wherein said vent system comprises:
an electrolyte drainage aperture for refluxing electrolyte to said innards;
an exhaust port for passing said gases to the ambient;
an antechamber adjacent said exhaust port, said antechamber being defined in part by a canted floor sloping downwardly from said port in a first direction toward a sump;
a sump at substantially the low point of said canted floor, said sump being defined in part by an inclined floor lying beneath said canted floor and sloping downwardly toward said aperture in a direction substantially different than said first direction;
partition means extending substantially vertically from and above said inclined and canted floors to further define said sump and separate it from said antechamber and said innards, said partition means including portions lying in planes substantially parallel to said first direction; and a substantially vertical slot in each of said portions at substantially said low point of said canted floor for providing flow communication between said sump and said antechamber, said slots being sufficiently narrow as to permit egress of gas from said sump and regress of electrolyte to said sump but inhibit egress of electrolyte from said sump;
whereby any electrolyte invading said sump from said innards must first travel upwardly in one direction along said inclined floor, change direction to traverse said slots, and then travel upwardly along said canted floor in still another direction before sufficiently nearing said exhaust port to permit possible escape therethrough.
an electrolyte drainage aperture for refluxing electrolyte to said innards;
an exhaust port for passing said gases to the ambient;
an antechamber adjacent said exhaust port, said antechamber being defined in part by a canted floor sloping downwardly from said port in a first direction toward a sump;
a sump at substantially the low point of said canted floor, said sump being defined in part by an inclined floor lying beneath said canted floor and sloping downwardly toward said aperture in a direction substantially different than said first direction;
partition means extending substantially vertically from and above said inclined and canted floors to further define said sump and separate it from said antechamber and said innards, said partition means including portions lying in planes substantially parallel to said first direction; and a substantially vertical slot in each of said portions at substantially said low point of said canted floor for providing flow communication between said sump and said antechamber, said slots being sufficiently narrow as to permit egress of gas from said sump and regress of electrolyte to said sump but inhibit egress of electrolyte from said sump;
whereby any electrolyte invading said sump from said innards must first travel upwardly in one direction along said inclined floor, change direction to traverse said slots, and then travel upwardly along said canted floor in still another direction before sufficiently nearing said exhaust port to permit possible escape therethrough.
4. An electric storage battery comprising a case for housing the battery's active elements, a cover secured to said case and a horizontal-type vent system formed in said cover for relieving gases from the innards of the battery while inhibiting electrolyte escape therefrom wherein said vent system comprises:
an electrolyte drainage aperture for refluxing electrolyte to said innards;
an exhaust port for passing said gases to the ambient;
an antechamber adjacent said exhaust port, said antechamber being defined in part by a canted floor sloping downwardly from said port in a first direction toward an electrolyte outflow restricting slot at substantially the low point of said canted floor for communicating said antechamber with a sump;
a sump depending from said canted floor between said aperture and said slot, said sump being defined in part by an inclined floor which slopes downwardly toward said aperture in a direction substantially different than said first direction;
partition means extending from and above said inclined and canted floors to further define said sump and separate it from said antechamber and said innards, said partition means including a riser portion between said slot and said inclined floor;
whereby any electrolyte invading said sump from said innards must first travel upwardly in one direction along said inclined floor, climb said riser in another direction, traverse said slot in still a third direction, and finally travel upwardly along said canted floor in but a forth direction before sufficiently nearing said exhaust port to permit possible escape therethrough.
an electrolyte drainage aperture for refluxing electrolyte to said innards;
an exhaust port for passing said gases to the ambient;
an antechamber adjacent said exhaust port, said antechamber being defined in part by a canted floor sloping downwardly from said port in a first direction toward an electrolyte outflow restricting slot at substantially the low point of said canted floor for communicating said antechamber with a sump;
a sump depending from said canted floor between said aperture and said slot, said sump being defined in part by an inclined floor which slopes downwardly toward said aperture in a direction substantially different than said first direction;
partition means extending from and above said inclined and canted floors to further define said sump and separate it from said antechamber and said innards, said partition means including a riser portion between said slot and said inclined floor;
whereby any electrolyte invading said sump from said innards must first travel upwardly in one direction along said inclined floor, climb said riser in another direction, traverse said slot in still a third direction, and finally travel upwardly along said canted floor in but a forth direction before sufficiently nearing said exhaust port to permit possible escape therethrough.
5. An electric storage battery comprising a case for housing the battery's active elements, a cover secured to said case and a horizontal-type vent system formed in said cover for relieving gases from the innards of the battery while inhibiting electrolyte escape therefrom wherein said vent system comprises:
an electrolyte drainage aperture for refluxing electrolyte to said innards;
an exhaust port for passing said gases to the ambient;
an antechamber adjacent said exhaust port, said antechamber being defined in part by a canted floor sloping downwardly from said port in a first direction toward an electrolyte outflow restricting opening at substantially the low point of said canted floor for communicating said antechamber with a sump;
a sump depending from said canted floor between said aperture and said opening, said sump being defined in part by an inclined floor which slopes downwardly toward said aperture in a direction substantially different than said first direction;
partition means extending from and above said inclined and canted floors, to separate said sump from said antechamber and said innards, said partition means including a riser portion extending between said opening and said inclined floor; and means associated with said opening and said riser for capillarily refluxing any electrolyte on said canted floor at said low point back into said sump for ultimate return to said innards through said aperture.
an electrolyte drainage aperture for refluxing electrolyte to said innards;
an exhaust port for passing said gases to the ambient;
an antechamber adjacent said exhaust port, said antechamber being defined in part by a canted floor sloping downwardly from said port in a first direction toward an electrolyte outflow restricting opening at substantially the low point of said canted floor for communicating said antechamber with a sump;
a sump depending from said canted floor between said aperture and said opening, said sump being defined in part by an inclined floor which slopes downwardly toward said aperture in a direction substantially different than said first direction;
partition means extending from and above said inclined and canted floors, to separate said sump from said antechamber and said innards, said partition means including a riser portion extending between said opening and said inclined floor; and means associated with said opening and said riser for capillarily refluxing any electrolyte on said canted floor at said low point back into said sump for ultimate return to said innards through said aperture.
6. An electric storage battery comprising a case for housing the battery's active elements, a cover secured to said case and a horizontal-type vent system formed in said cover for relieving gases from the innards of the battery while inhibiting electrolyte escape therefrom wherein said vent system comprises:
an electrolyte drainage aperture for refluxing electrolyte to said innards;
an exhaust port for passing said gases to the ambient;
an antechamber adjacent said exhaust port, said antechamber being defined in part by a canted floor sloping downwardly from said port in a first direction toward a sump;
a sump at substantially the low point of said canted floor, said sump being defined in part by an inclined floor lying beneath said canted floor and sloping downwardly toward said aperture in a direction substantially different than said first direction;
partition means extending from and above said inclined and canted floors to further define said sump and separate it from said antechamber and said innards;
a substantially vertical slot in said partition means at substantially said low point of said canted floor for providing flow communication between said sump and said antechamber, said slot being sufficiently narrow as to permit egress of gas from said sump and regress of electrolyte to said sump but inhibit egress of electrolyte from said sump; and means associated with said aperture for capillarily refluxing any electrolyte in said sump back into said innards.
an electrolyte drainage aperture for refluxing electrolyte to said innards;
an exhaust port for passing said gases to the ambient;
an antechamber adjacent said exhaust port, said antechamber being defined in part by a canted floor sloping downwardly from said port in a first direction toward a sump;
a sump at substantially the low point of said canted floor, said sump being defined in part by an inclined floor lying beneath said canted floor and sloping downwardly toward said aperture in a direction substantially different than said first direction;
partition means extending from and above said inclined and canted floors to further define said sump and separate it from said antechamber and said innards;
a substantially vertical slot in said partition means at substantially said low point of said canted floor for providing flow communication between said sump and said antechamber, said slot being sufficiently narrow as to permit egress of gas from said sump and regress of electrolyte to said sump but inhibit egress of electrolyte from said sump; and means associated with said aperture for capillarily refluxing any electrolyte in said sump back into said innards.
7. An electric storage battery comprising a case for housing the battery's active elements, a cover secured to said case and a horizontal-type vent system formed in said cover for relieving gases from the innards of the battery while inhibiting electrolyte escape therefrom wherein said vent system comprises:
an electrolyte drainage aperture for refluxing electrolyte to said innards;
an exhaust port for passing said gases to the ambient;
an antechamber adjacent said exhaust port, said antechamber being defined in part by a canted floor sloping downwardly from said port in a first direction toward an electrolyte outflow restricting opening at substantially the low point of said canted floor for communicating said antechamber with a sump;
a sump depending from said canted floor between said aperture and said opening, said sump being defined in part by an inclined floor which slopes downwardly toward said aperture in a direction substantially different than said first direction;
partition means extending from and above said inclined and canted floors to separate said sump from said antechamber and said innards, said partition means including a riser extending between said opening and said inclined floor;
means associated with said opening and said riser for capillarily refluxing any electrolyte on said canted floor at said low point back into said sump; and means associated with said aperture for capillarily refluxing any electrolyte in said sump back into said innards.
an electrolyte drainage aperture for refluxing electrolyte to said innards;
an exhaust port for passing said gases to the ambient;
an antechamber adjacent said exhaust port, said antechamber being defined in part by a canted floor sloping downwardly from said port in a first direction toward an electrolyte outflow restricting opening at substantially the low point of said canted floor for communicating said antechamber with a sump;
a sump depending from said canted floor between said aperture and said opening, said sump being defined in part by an inclined floor which slopes downwardly toward said aperture in a direction substantially different than said first direction;
partition means extending from and above said inclined and canted floors to separate said sump from said antechamber and said innards, said partition means including a riser extending between said opening and said inclined floor;
means associated with said opening and said riser for capillarily refluxing any electrolyte on said canted floor at said low point back into said sump; and means associated with said aperture for capillarily refluxing any electrolyte in said sump back into said innards.
8. An electric storage battery comprising a case for housing the battery's active elements, a cover secured to said case and a horizontal-type vent system formed in said cover for relieving gases from the innards of the battery while inhibiting electrolyte escape therefrom wherein said vent system comprises:
an electrolyte drainage aperture for refluxing electrolyte to said innards;
an exhaust port for passing said gases to the ambient;
an antechamber adjacent said exhaust port, said antechamber being defined in part by a canted floor sloping downwardly from said port in a first direction toward a sump;
a sump at substantially the low point of said canted floor, said sump being defined in part by an inclined floor lying beneath said canted floor and sloping downwardly toward at least two said apertures in a direction substantially different than said first direction;
partition means extending substantially vertically from and above said inclined and canted floors for further defining said sump and separating it from said antechamber and said innards, said partition means including a pair of opposed walls each lying in a plane substantially parallel to said first direction and having a said aperture therein at substantially the low point of said inclined floor and an electrolyte outflow restricting vertical slot therein at substantially the low point of said canted floor for communicating said antechamber with said sump; and means substantially vertically associated with each of said apertures and said opposed walls for capillarily refluxing any electrolyte in said sump back into said innards.
an electrolyte drainage aperture for refluxing electrolyte to said innards;
an exhaust port for passing said gases to the ambient;
an antechamber adjacent said exhaust port, said antechamber being defined in part by a canted floor sloping downwardly from said port in a first direction toward a sump;
a sump at substantially the low point of said canted floor, said sump being defined in part by an inclined floor lying beneath said canted floor and sloping downwardly toward at least two said apertures in a direction substantially different than said first direction;
partition means extending substantially vertically from and above said inclined and canted floors for further defining said sump and separating it from said antechamber and said innards, said partition means including a pair of opposed walls each lying in a plane substantially parallel to said first direction and having a said aperture therein at substantially the low point of said inclined floor and an electrolyte outflow restricting vertical slot therein at substantially the low point of said canted floor for communicating said antechamber with said sump; and means substantially vertically associated with each of said apertures and said opposed walls for capillarily refluxing any electrolyte in said sump back into said innards.
9. An electric storage battery comprising a case for housing the battery's active elements, a cover secured to said case and a horizontal-type vent system formed in said cover for relieving gases from the innards of the battery while inhibiting electrolyte escape therefrom wherein said vent system comprises:
an electrolyte drainage aperture for refluxing electrolyte to said innards;
an exhaust port for passing said gases to the ambient;
an antechamber adjacent said exhaust port, said antechamber being defined in part by a canted floor sloping downwardly from said port in a first direction toward a sump;
a sump at substantially the low point of said canted floor, said sump being defined in part by an inclined floor lying beneath said canted floor and sloping downwardly toward at least two of said apertures in a direction substantially different than said first direction;
partition means extending substantially vertically from and above said inclined and canted floors for further defining said sump and separating it from said antechamber and said innards, said partition means including a pair of opposed walls each lying in a plane substantially parallel to said first direction and having an elongated vertical aperture therein at substantially the low point of said inclined floor and an electrolyte outflow restricting vertical slot therein at substantially the low point of said canted floor for communicating said antechamber with said sump;
means substantially vertically associated with each of said apertures and said opposed walls for capillarily refluxing any electrolyte in said sump back into said innards, said capillary refluxing means having an inlet end at said aperture and a discharge end below said aperture; and means extending substantially horizontally between said discharge ends for capillarily consolidating the reflux from said apertures into single droplet for return to the innards.
an electrolyte drainage aperture for refluxing electrolyte to said innards;
an exhaust port for passing said gases to the ambient;
an antechamber adjacent said exhaust port, said antechamber being defined in part by a canted floor sloping downwardly from said port in a first direction toward a sump;
a sump at substantially the low point of said canted floor, said sump being defined in part by an inclined floor lying beneath said canted floor and sloping downwardly toward at least two of said apertures in a direction substantially different than said first direction;
partition means extending substantially vertically from and above said inclined and canted floors for further defining said sump and separating it from said antechamber and said innards, said partition means including a pair of opposed walls each lying in a plane substantially parallel to said first direction and having an elongated vertical aperture therein at substantially the low point of said inclined floor and an electrolyte outflow restricting vertical slot therein at substantially the low point of said canted floor for communicating said antechamber with said sump;
means substantially vertically associated with each of said apertures and said opposed walls for capillarily refluxing any electrolyte in said sump back into said innards, said capillary refluxing means having an inlet end at said aperture and a discharge end below said aperture; and means extending substantially horizontally between said discharge ends for capillarily consolidating the reflux from said apertures into single droplet for return to the innards.
10. An electric storage battery comprising a case for housing the battery's active elements, a cover secured to said case and a horizontal-type vent system formed in said cover for relieving gases from the innards of the battery while inhibiting electrolyte escape therefrom wherein said vent system comprises:
an electrolyte drainage aperture for refluxing electrolyte to said innards;
an exhaust port for passing said gases to the ambient;
an antechamber adjacent said exhaust port, said antechamber being defined in part by a canted floor sloping downwardly from said port in a first direction toward a sump;
a sump at substantially the low point of said canted floor, said sump being defined in part by an inclined floor lying beneath said canted floor and sloping downwardly toward said aperture in a direction substantially different than said first direction;
partition means extending from and above said inclined and canted floors to further define said sump and separate it from said antechamber and said innards;
an opening in said partition means at substantially said low point of said canted floor for providing flow communication between said sump and said antechamber, said opening being sufficiently small as to permit egress of gas from said sump and regress of electrolyte to said sump but inhibit egress of electrolyte from said sump; and means associated with said aperture for capillarily refluxing any electrolyte in said sump back into said innards.
an electrolyte drainage aperture for refluxing electrolyte to said innards;
an exhaust port for passing said gases to the ambient;
an antechamber adjacent said exhaust port, said antechamber being defined in part by a canted floor sloping downwardly from said port in a first direction toward a sump;
a sump at substantially the low point of said canted floor, said sump being defined in part by an inclined floor lying beneath said canted floor and sloping downwardly toward said aperture in a direction substantially different than said first direction;
partition means extending from and above said inclined and canted floors to further define said sump and separate it from said antechamber and said innards;
an opening in said partition means at substantially said low point of said canted floor for providing flow communication between said sump and said antechamber, said opening being sufficiently small as to permit egress of gas from said sump and regress of electrolyte to said sump but inhibit egress of electrolyte from said sump; and means associated with said aperture for capillarily refluxing any electrolyte in said sump back into said innards.
11. An electric storage battery comprising a case for housing the battery's active elements, a cover secured to said case and a horizontal-type vent system formed in said cover for relieving gases from the innards of the battery while inhibiting electrolyte escape therefrom wherein said vent system comprises:
an electrolyte drainage aperture for refluxing electrolyte to said innards;
an exhaust port for passing said gases to the ambient;
an antechamber adjacent said exhaust port, said antechamer being defined in part by a canted floor sloping downwardly from said port in a first direction toward a sump;
a sump at substantially the low point of said canted floor, said sump being defined in part by an inclined floor lying beneath said canted floor and sloping downwardly toward at least two said apertures in a direction substantially different than said first direction;
partition means extending substantially vertically from and above said inclined and canted floors for further defining said sump and separating it from said antechamber and said innards, said partition means including a pair of opposed walls each lying in a plane substantially parallel to said first direction and having an elongated said aperture vertically disposed therein at substantially the low point of said inclined floor and an electrolyte outflow restricting vertical slot therein at substantially the low point of said canted floor for communicating said antechamber with said sump; and means substantially vertically associated with each of said elongated apertures and said opposed walls for capillarily refluxing any electrolyte in said sump back into said innards.
an electrolyte drainage aperture for refluxing electrolyte to said innards;
an exhaust port for passing said gases to the ambient;
an antechamber adjacent said exhaust port, said antechamer being defined in part by a canted floor sloping downwardly from said port in a first direction toward a sump;
a sump at substantially the low point of said canted floor, said sump being defined in part by an inclined floor lying beneath said canted floor and sloping downwardly toward at least two said apertures in a direction substantially different than said first direction;
partition means extending substantially vertically from and above said inclined and canted floors for further defining said sump and separating it from said antechamber and said innards, said partition means including a pair of opposed walls each lying in a plane substantially parallel to said first direction and having an elongated said aperture vertically disposed therein at substantially the low point of said inclined floor and an electrolyte outflow restricting vertical slot therein at substantially the low point of said canted floor for communicating said antechamber with said sump; and means substantially vertically associated with each of said elongated apertures and said opposed walls for capillarily refluxing any electrolyte in said sump back into said innards.
12. An electric storage battery comprising a case for housing the battery's active elements, a cover secured to said case and a horizontal-type vent system formed in said cover for relieving gases from the innards of the battery while inhibiting electrolyte escape therefrom wherein said vent system comprises:
an electrolyte drainage aperture for refluxing electrolyte to said innards;
an exhaust port for passing said gases to the ambient;
an antechamber adjacent said exhaust port, said antechamber being defined in part by a canted floor sloping downwardly from said port in a first direction toward a sump;
a sump at substantially the low point of said canted floor, said sump being defined in part by an inclined floor lying beneath said canted floor and sloping downwardly toward at least two said apertures in a direction substantially different than said first direction;
partition means extending substantially vertically from and above said inclined and canted floor to further define said sump and separate it from said antechamber and said innards, said partition means including a pair of opposed walls each lying in a plane substantially parallel to said first direction and having one of said apertures therein; and a substantially vertical slot in each of said opposed walls at substantially said low point of said canted floor for providing flow communication between said sump and said antechamber, said slot being sufficiently narrow as to permit egress of gas from said sump and regress of electrolyte to said sump but inhibit egress of electrolyte from said sump;
whereby any electrolyte invading said sump from said innards must first travel upwardly in one direction along said inclined floor, change direction to traverse said slot, and then travel upwardly along said canted floor in still another direction before sufficiently nearing said exhaust port to permit possible escape from said battery therethrough.
an electrolyte drainage aperture for refluxing electrolyte to said innards;
an exhaust port for passing said gases to the ambient;
an antechamber adjacent said exhaust port, said antechamber being defined in part by a canted floor sloping downwardly from said port in a first direction toward a sump;
a sump at substantially the low point of said canted floor, said sump being defined in part by an inclined floor lying beneath said canted floor and sloping downwardly toward at least two said apertures in a direction substantially different than said first direction;
partition means extending substantially vertically from and above said inclined and canted floor to further define said sump and separate it from said antechamber and said innards, said partition means including a pair of opposed walls each lying in a plane substantially parallel to said first direction and having one of said apertures therein; and a substantially vertical slot in each of said opposed walls at substantially said low point of said canted floor for providing flow communication between said sump and said antechamber, said slot being sufficiently narrow as to permit egress of gas from said sump and regress of electrolyte to said sump but inhibit egress of electrolyte from said sump;
whereby any electrolyte invading said sump from said innards must first travel upwardly in one direction along said inclined floor, change direction to traverse said slot, and then travel upwardly along said canted floor in still another direction before sufficiently nearing said exhaust port to permit possible escape from said battery therethrough.
13. An electric storage battery comprising a case for housing the battery's active elements, a cover secured to said case and a horizontal-type vent system formed in said cover for relieving gases from the innards of the battery while inhibiting electrolyte escape therefrom wherein said vent system comprises:
an electrolyte drainage aperture for refluxing electrolyte to said innards;
an exhaust port for passing said gases to the ambient;
an antechamber adjacent said exhaust port, said antechamber being defined in part by a canted floor sloping downwardly from said port in a first direction toward an electrolyte outflow restricting opening at substantially the low point of said canted floor for communicating said antechamber with a sump;
a sump depending from said canted floor between said aperture and said opening, said sump being defined in part by an inclined floor which slopes downwardly toward said aperture in a direction substantially different than said first direction;
partition means extending from and above said inclined and canted floors to separate said sump from said antechamber and said innards, said partition means including a riser portion extending between said opening and said inclined floor; and means extending along said opening and down said riser to define a narrow channel for capillarily refluxing any electrolyte on said canted floor at said low point back into said sump for ultimate return to said innards through said aperture.
an electrolyte drainage aperture for refluxing electrolyte to said innards;
an exhaust port for passing said gases to the ambient;
an antechamber adjacent said exhaust port, said antechamber being defined in part by a canted floor sloping downwardly from said port in a first direction toward an electrolyte outflow restricting opening at substantially the low point of said canted floor for communicating said antechamber with a sump;
a sump depending from said canted floor between said aperture and said opening, said sump being defined in part by an inclined floor which slopes downwardly toward said aperture in a direction substantially different than said first direction;
partition means extending from and above said inclined and canted floors to separate said sump from said antechamber and said innards, said partition means including a riser portion extending between said opening and said inclined floor; and means extending along said opening and down said riser to define a narrow channel for capillarily refluxing any electrolyte on said canted floor at said low point back into said sump for ultimate return to said innards through said aperture.
14. An electric storage battery comprising a case for housing the battery's active elements, a cover secured to said case and a horizontal-type vent system formed in said cover for relieving gases from the innards of the battery while inhibiting electrolyte escape therefrom wherein said vent system comprises:
an electrolyte drainage aperture for refluxing electrolyte to said innards;
an exhaust port for passing said gases to the ambient;
an antechamber adjacent said exhaust port, said antechamber being defined in part by a canted floor sloping downwardly from said port in a first direction toward an electrolyte outflow restricting opening at substantially the low point of said canted floor for communicating said antechamber with a sump;
a sump depending from said canted floor between said aperture and said opening, said sump being defined in part by an inclined floor which slopes downwardly toward said aperture in a direction substantially different than said first direction;
partition means extending from and above said inclined and canted floors to separate said sump from said antechamber and said innards, said partition means including a riser extending between said opening and said inclined floor;
means extending along said opening and down said riser to define a narrow channel for capillarily refluxing any electrolyte on said canted floor at said low point back into said sump; and means flanking said aperture to define a narrow channel on the innards side of said wall for capillarily refluxing any electrolyte in said sump back into said innards.
an electrolyte drainage aperture for refluxing electrolyte to said innards;
an exhaust port for passing said gases to the ambient;
an antechamber adjacent said exhaust port, said antechamber being defined in part by a canted floor sloping downwardly from said port in a first direction toward an electrolyte outflow restricting opening at substantially the low point of said canted floor for communicating said antechamber with a sump;
a sump depending from said canted floor between said aperture and said opening, said sump being defined in part by an inclined floor which slopes downwardly toward said aperture in a direction substantially different than said first direction;
partition means extending from and above said inclined and canted floors to separate said sump from said antechamber and said innards, said partition means including a riser extending between said opening and said inclined floor;
means extending along said opening and down said riser to define a narrow channel for capillarily refluxing any electrolyte on said canted floor at said low point back into said sump; and means flanking said aperture to define a narrow channel on the innards side of said wall for capillarily refluxing any electrolyte in said sump back into said innards.
15. An electric storage battery comprising a case for housing the battery's active elements, a cover secured to said case and a horizontal-type vent system formed in said cover for relieving gases from the innards of the battery while inhibiting electrolyte escape therefrom wherein said vent system comprises:
an electrolyte drainage aperture for refluxing electrolyte to said innards;
an exhaust port for passing said gases to the ambient;
an antechamber adjacent said exhaust port, said antechamber being defined in part by a canted floor sloping downwardly from said port in a first direction toward a sump;
a sump at substantially the low point of said canted floor, said sump being defined in part by an inclined floor lying beneath said canted floor and sloping downwardly toward said aperture in a direction substantially different than said first direction;
partition means extending substantially vertically from and above said inclined and canted floors to further define said sump and separate it from said antechamber and said innards, said partition means including at least one wall lying in a plane substantially parallel to said first direction and having said aperture therein;
an opening in said wall at substantially said low point of said canted floor for providing flow communication between said sump and said antechamber, said opening being sufficiently small as to permit egress of gas from said sump and regress of electrolyte to said sump but inhibit egress of electrolyte from said sump; and means flanking said aperture to define a narrow channel on the innards side of said wall for capillarily refluxing any electrolyte in said sump back into said innards.
CLAIMS SUPPORTED BY SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE
an electrolyte drainage aperture for refluxing electrolyte to said innards;
an exhaust port for passing said gases to the ambient;
an antechamber adjacent said exhaust port, said antechamber being defined in part by a canted floor sloping downwardly from said port in a first direction toward a sump;
a sump at substantially the low point of said canted floor, said sump being defined in part by an inclined floor lying beneath said canted floor and sloping downwardly toward said aperture in a direction substantially different than said first direction;
partition means extending substantially vertically from and above said inclined and canted floors to further define said sump and separate it from said antechamber and said innards, said partition means including at least one wall lying in a plane substantially parallel to said first direction and having said aperture therein;
an opening in said wall at substantially said low point of said canted floor for providing flow communication between said sump and said antechamber, said opening being sufficiently small as to permit egress of gas from said sump and regress of electrolyte to said sump but inhibit egress of electrolyte from said sump; and means flanking said aperture to define a narrow channel on the innards side of said wall for capillarily refluxing any electrolyte in said sump back into said innards.
CLAIMS SUPPORTED BY SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE
16. An electric storage battery comprising a case for housing the battery's active elements, a first cover secured to said case, a second cover secured to said first cover and a horizontal-type vent system formed in between said covers for relieving gases from the innards of the battery while inhibiting electrolyte escape therefrom wherein said vent system comprises:
an exhaust port for passing said gases to the ambient;
an antechamber adjacent said exhaust port, said antechamber being defined in part by canted floor sloping downwardly from said port in a first direction toward an electrolyte outflow restricting opening at substantially the low point of said canted floor for communicating said antechmaber with a sump;
a sump depending from said canted floor said sump being defined in part by an inclined floor which slopes downwardly away from said opening in a direction substantially different than said first direction;
a hole at substantially the low point of said inclined floor;
a tubular baffle depending from said second cover and extending in close-fitting relation through said hole so as to project into said innards from beneath said sump;
an electrolyte drainage slot in said baffle adjacent said hole for refluxing electrolyte to said innards;
partition means extending from and above said inclined and canted floors to separate said sump from said antechamber and said innards, said partition means including a riser extending between said opening and said inclined floor; and means associated with said opening and said riser for capillarily refluxing any electrolyte on said canted floor at said low point back into said sump.
an exhaust port for passing said gases to the ambient;
an antechamber adjacent said exhaust port, said antechamber being defined in part by canted floor sloping downwardly from said port in a first direction toward an electrolyte outflow restricting opening at substantially the low point of said canted floor for communicating said antechmaber with a sump;
a sump depending from said canted floor said sump being defined in part by an inclined floor which slopes downwardly away from said opening in a direction substantially different than said first direction;
a hole at substantially the low point of said inclined floor;
a tubular baffle depending from said second cover and extending in close-fitting relation through said hole so as to project into said innards from beneath said sump;
an electrolyte drainage slot in said baffle adjacent said hole for refluxing electrolyte to said innards;
partition means extending from and above said inclined and canted floors to separate said sump from said antechamber and said innards, said partition means including a riser extending between said opening and said inclined floor; and means associated with said opening and said riser for capillarily refluxing any electrolyte on said canted floor at said low point back into said sump.
17. An electric storage battery comprising a case for housing the battery's active elements, a first cover secured to said case, a second cover secured to said first cover and a horizontal-type vent system formed in between said cover for relieving gases from the innards of the battery while inhibiting electrolyte escape therefrom wherein said vent system comprises:
an exhaust port for passing said gases to the ambient;
an antechamber adjacent said exhaust port, said antechamber being defined in part by canted floor sloping downwardly from said port in a first direction toward an electrolyte outflow restricting opening at substantially the low point of said canted floor for communicating said antechamber with a sump;
a sump depending from said canted floor said sump being defined in part by an inclined floor which slopes downwardly away from said opening in a direction substantially different than said first direction;
a hole at substantially the low point of said inclined floor;
a tubular baffle depending from said second cover and extending in close-fitting relation through said hole so as to project into said innards from beneath said sump;
an electrolyte drainage slot in said baffle adjacent said hole said slot being so sized as to capillarily reflux any electrolyte on said inclined floor back into said innards;
partition means extending from and above said inclined and canted floors to separate said sump from said antechamber and said innards, said partition means including a riser extending between said opening and said inclined floor; and means associated with said opening and said riser for capillarily refluxing any electrolyte on said canted floor at said low point back into said sump.
an exhaust port for passing said gases to the ambient;
an antechamber adjacent said exhaust port, said antechamber being defined in part by canted floor sloping downwardly from said port in a first direction toward an electrolyte outflow restricting opening at substantially the low point of said canted floor for communicating said antechamber with a sump;
a sump depending from said canted floor said sump being defined in part by an inclined floor which slopes downwardly away from said opening in a direction substantially different than said first direction;
a hole at substantially the low point of said inclined floor;
a tubular baffle depending from said second cover and extending in close-fitting relation through said hole so as to project into said innards from beneath said sump;
an electrolyte drainage slot in said baffle adjacent said hole said slot being so sized as to capillarily reflux any electrolyte on said inclined floor back into said innards;
partition means extending from and above said inclined and canted floors to separate said sump from said antechamber and said innards, said partition means including a riser extending between said opening and said inclined floor; and means associated with said opening and said riser for capillarily refluxing any electrolyte on said canted floor at said low point back into said sump.
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US43731282A | 1982-10-28 | 1982-10-28 | |
| US437,312 | 1982-10-28 | ||
| US06/591,108 US4486516A (en) | 1982-10-28 | 1984-03-19 | Low silhouette venting system for electric storage battery |
| US591,108 | 1984-03-19 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1192947A true CA1192947A (en) | 1985-09-03 |
Family
ID=27031266
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000427838A Expired CA1192947A (en) | 1982-10-28 | 1983-05-10 | Low silhouette venting system for electric storage battery |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US4486516A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1192947A (en) |
Families Citing this family (24)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4670564A (en) * | 1985-03-14 | 1987-06-02 | Pfizer Inc. | Preparation of thieno-imidazole derivatives |
| US4614694A (en) * | 1985-08-09 | 1986-09-30 | Teledyne Industries, Inc. | Electrolyte battery anti-splash system |
| US4613550A (en) * | 1985-08-30 | 1986-09-23 | Gnb Incorporated | Venting system for electric storage batteries |
| US4891270A (en) * | 1985-08-30 | 1990-01-02 | Gnb Incorporated | Pressure release system for electric storage batteries |
| USD352498S (en) | 1986-02-12 | 1994-11-15 | Exide Corporation | Combined storage battery cover and movable handle |
| US4851305A (en) * | 1988-02-18 | 1989-07-25 | Gnb Incorporated | Cover assemblies for electric storage batteries and batteries utilizing such cover assemblies |
| US5132175A (en) * | 1989-06-12 | 1992-07-21 | Globe-Union Inc. | Battery vent cap |
| US5199341A (en) * | 1990-05-10 | 1993-04-06 | Numerical Concepts, Inc. | In-line, adjustable gap cutting sheeter for printed webs |
| JPH0822815A (en) * | 1994-07-07 | 1996-01-23 | Yuasa Corp | Exhaust mechanism of storage battery |
| US5683830A (en) | 1997-02-06 | 1997-11-04 | Douglas Battery Manufacturing Company | Leak resistant battery cover |
| US5731100A (en) * | 1997-02-06 | 1998-03-24 | Doulgas Battery Manufacturing Company | Battery cover |
| US6468318B1 (en) * | 2000-01-25 | 2002-10-22 | Delphi Technologies, Inc. | Case partition design for continuous plate strap batteries |
| US20060166081A1 (en) * | 2003-01-06 | 2006-07-27 | Tulip Corporation | Battery manifold vent |
| CN100576606C (en) * | 2005-05-30 | 2009-12-30 | 株式会社杰士汤浅 | lead battery |
| JP5115199B2 (en) * | 2006-08-04 | 2013-01-09 | 株式会社Ｇｓユアサ | Lead acid battery |
| CN100557854C (en) * | 2008-05-19 | 2009-11-04 | 王宝根 | Liquid-free lead-acid battery with evaporative gas water filtration and separation, evaporative water cooling and reflux |
| CN100557855C (en) * | 2008-05-19 | 2009-11-04 | 王宝根 | Evaporative water cooling and return device for liquid-free lead-acid battery |
| TWD159636S (en) * | 2013-02-08 | 2014-04-01 | 戴健郎 | Lead-acid battery cover |
| ITVI20130298A1 (en) * | 2013-12-17 | 2015-06-18 | Biasin S R L | COVER FOR ELECTRIC ACCUMULATOR WITH GAS BREATHER CHAMBER |
| KR101775453B1 (en) | 2015-07-28 | 2017-09-07 | 세방전지(주) | Integral type battery cover for preventing electrolyte leakage |
| JP6973039B2 (en) * | 2017-12-25 | 2021-11-24 | 株式会社Ｇｓユアサ | Lead-acid battery |
| JP7327454B2 (en) * | 2017-12-25 | 2023-08-16 | 株式会社Ｇｓユアサ | lead acid battery |
| JP7470490B2 (en) | 2018-07-27 | 2024-04-18 | 株式会社Ｇｓユアサ | Lead-acid battery |
| AT524121B1 (en) * | 2020-12-17 | 2022-03-15 | Banner Gmbh | battery cover |
Family Cites Families (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3879227A (en) * | 1973-04-26 | 1975-04-22 | Globe Union Inc | Battery vent plug |
| JPS5748289Y2 (en) * | 1978-03-04 | 1982-10-22 | ||
| JPS55100648A (en) * | 1979-01-26 | 1980-07-31 | Furukawa Battery Co Ltd:The | Manufacturing method of heat sealed storage battery |
| US4306002A (en) * | 1980-05-02 | 1981-12-15 | General Battery Corp. | Multiple cell vent cap for a storage battery |
| US4371591A (en) * | 1980-05-05 | 1983-02-01 | General Battery Corporation | Manifold vented battery cover |
-
1983
- 1983-05-10 CA CA000427838A patent/CA1192947A/en not_active Expired
-
1984
- 1984-03-19 US US06/591,108 patent/US4486516A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| US4486516A (en) | 1984-12-04 |
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| MKEC | Expiry (correction) | ||
| MKEX | Expiry |