FR2703836A3 - Improved float device for checking the level of distilled water in electric batteries - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for checking the level of liquid in electric batteries, having a float (5) floating on the liquid in the battery, comprises the signalling means consisting of a metallic mass (20) held in a chamber placed above the battery, and a rod (4), which is fixed to the float (5) and the upper end of which controls the displacement of the said metallic mass (20) between two positions, respectively corresponding to a minimum level and a maximum level of the liquid in the battery, the said metallic mass (20) acting on a proximity switch (21) controlled by induction or by magnetism, so as to activate an electrical signalling circuit. The said signalling switch (21) is fixed to the wall of the said chamber in a position corresponding to the minimum level position of the said signalling means and optionally also to its maximum level position.

Description

Improved float device for checking
the level of distilled water in the electric batteries
The present invention relates to a float device allowing precise checking of the liquid level in the batteries or accumulators while filling them with distilled water.

 As is known, electric batteries occasionally need to be filled or that distilled water is added by introducing a correctly proportioned amount of water so as to always maintain a preset level. A water level that is too low or too high will actually prevent proper battery operation. This necessity is particularly felt in the case of traction batteries, where the high vaporization effect of water is produced during their operation, which determines the need for frequent addition.

 Such filling or addition is normally carried out manually, by removing the plug from the mouthpiece placed above each battery element and pouring water into it. This operation is known to be difficult, particularly because it is always necessary, as said above, to check the exact level of water in the hermetically sealed battery chamber.

 To solve this problem, the applicant had already proposed, in the French utility certificate N "8903167 deposited on March 10, 1989, a provision making it possible to fill batteries with distilled water and to check the water level comprising, for each battery element, a floating system indicating said level. More specifically, the arrangement comprises a funnel leading inside the opening of the battery element and incorporating, on one side, a float floating on the water of the battery and operating said stop valve as well as a signal device indicating the position of said valve. Said signal device consists of a red button, which becomes visible through a transparent wall of the funnel when the valve is in the closed position.

 The previously mentioned device performs its function in a perfect way and thus represents a considerable improvement over the previous technique. However, said device can be improved still further so as to be able, on the one hand to indicate a minimum or insufficient water level, and, on the other hand, to provide a clearer indication of the maximum water level , so as to overcome the disadvantage of an illegible signal when the battery is used in a dusty environment, or subject to fouling by which the wall through which the signal becomes visible but loses its transparency.

 The object of the present invention is thus to improve the device for signaling the French utility certificate cited above No. 8903167, by introducing the characteristics indicated above, as well as other advantages. reached due to the fact that said device, having a float floating on the battery liquid, comprises the signal means housed in a chamber placed above the battery, and a rod fixed to the float and the upper end of which controls moving said signal means between two positions corresponding to a minimum and, respectively, a maximum level of the liquid in the battery, said signal means being capable of operating an electrical signaling circuit.

 According to a preferred embodiment, said signal means consists of a metallic mass, and to the wall of said chamber there is attached at least one proximity switch controlled by induction or by magnetism, capable of being activated by said metallic mass so as to control said electrical signaling circuit.

 Preferably also, said proximity switch is fixed to the wall of said chamber in a position corresponding to the minimum level position of said signal means, and / or to its maximum level position, said electrical signaling circuit being able to be associated to an electrical or electronic circuit for automatic control of the supply of distilled water to the battery.

 Additional characteristics and advantages of the device according to the present invention will in any case be more evident from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of it, and given by means of the example and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, which is a sectional view of said device along the vertical axis.

 As shown, the device comprises, in a manner already known from the document cited NO 8903167, a main body 1, having its bottom fixed to the upper wall of the battery, or rather by engaging in the mouth of the top (not shown) of a battery element, with the interposition of a seal 2, by replacing a simple plug.

 In the body 1 is inserted a box 3, which can also be formed in one piece with the body 1, capable of accommodating a water supply chamber, a valve for controlling the water intake, and an indicator level.

These elements are described only briefly below, and for a more detailed description of them, reference should be made to the document cited above.

 A movable rod 4 extends downward through the bottom of the body 1 and of the box 3, said rod supporting the float 5 floating on the liquid contained in the battery. The bottom of the body 1 comprises an orifice for guiding the rod 4, and slots 8 intended to discharge the added water into the battery.

 The chamber 9 for supplying distilled water is formed in the upper part of the box 3 and is connected to a transverse conduit 10 common to all the chambers of the series of battery cells. The bottom of the chamber 9 includes a tubing opening 11 to allow water to enter the lower part of the box 3.

 Under the chamber 9 there is mounted a lever 12 articulated on a pivot 13, said lever supporting, in a position just below the tubing 11, a small rubber disc 14 performing the valve function to close the tubing 11.

 The other end of the lever 12 is articulated on a pivot 15, supported by a crosspiece 4a placed above the rod 4 supporting the float 5. When said float rises, to move from the minimum level position shown in solid lines , in the raised position of the maximum level shown in dotted lines, it also pushes upward the pivot 15, which lifts the corresponding end of the lever 12; the latter consequently pivots on the pivot 13 so as to move from the position shown in solid lines, in which the tube 11 is open and discharges downwards the water coming from the chamber 9, to the position shown in dotted lines, in which the valve 14 closes the outlet of the pipe 11.

Above the pivot 15, the crosspiece 4a supports a red signaling button 16: when the rod 4 is raised to the maximum level position, said button can be seen through the transparent dome-shaped wall or window 17
According to the present invention, the device described above is associated first of all with a minimum level signaling system: this comprises, on one side, a metallic mass 20 associated with the button 16 and, on the other side, a proximity switch 21, fixed with its head 21a on the wall of the body 1, in correspondence with the minimum level position of the button 16.

 The switch 21 controls, via a line 22, the input 23 of a warning light 24. The operation is obvious: when the float 5 is at its minimum level position, the mass 20 is positioned opposite the head 21a of the switch 21 and thus controls the closing thereof. The input circuit 23 therefore closes and the warning light 24 lights up. This therefore indicates that the liquid in the battery is at its minimum level position and draws the attention of operators to the need to add it.

 The proximity switch 21 can be of the inductive type, in which case the metallic mass 20 will be made of steel; or alternatively, said switch 21 can be of the magnetic type, in which case said mass 20 will consist of a magnet.

 According to a different embodiment, a second proximity switch could be placed in correspondence with the position of maximum level of the button 16 and of the mass 20, for example near the dome-shaped window 17, or in replacement of this one. this. This second switch could then command the ignition of a second warning lamp, which in this case could be green, while the warning lamp 24 specified above could be red, thereby completely solving any problem by relationship with the transparency of the window 17.

 Another particular advantage of such an arrangement with two switches, one for signaling a minimum level and the other for signaling a maximum level of the liquid, resides in the fact that the electrical signals emitted by the two switches can be used in a system. to automatically control the supply of distilled water to the battery. Such a system could be of particular interest in installations located in areas of difficult access, where distilled water could be added to the storage batteries, an operation required very frequently, for example in desert areas, without any maintenance personnel intervention.

 It must in any case be borne in mind that the present invention is not limited to the particular embodiment described and illustrated so far, but extends to any other technically equivalent construction variant.

Claims (8)

 1. Device for checking the level of liquid in the batteries, having a float (5) floating on the battery liquid, characterized in that it comprises the signal means housed in a chamber placed above the battery, and a rod (4) fixed to the float (5) and the upper end of which controls the movement of said signal means between two positions corresponding to a minimum, respectively, maximum level of the liquid in the battery, said signal means being capable of operate an electrical signaling circuit.  2. Device according to claim 1, wherein said signal means consists of a metallic mass (20), and to the wall of said chamber is fixed at least one proximity switch (21), able to be operated by said mass metallic (20) so as to control said electrical signaling circuit.  3. Device according to claim 2, wherein said proximity switch (21) is of the inductive type and said metallic mass (20) is made of steel.  4. Device according to claim 2, wherein said proximity switch (21) is of magnetic type and said metallic mass is a magnet.  5. Device according to claim 2, wherein said proximity switch (21) is fixed to the wall of said chamber in a position corresponding to the position of the minimum level of said signal means.  6. Device according to claim 2, wherein two proximity switches (21) are fixed to the wall of said chamber, in positions corresponding to the positions of the minimum level and, respectively, of the maximum level of said signal means.  7. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, incorporated in an arrangement for filling or adding the liquid to a battery comprising, inside the chamber of each battery element, a handling funnel extending in the conduit. water inlet fitted with a closing valve (14), characterized in that said rod 4 operated by the float controls both said signal means and said closing valve (14).  8. Device according to claims 1 and 7, wherein said electrical signaling circuit is associated with an electrical and electronic circuit for automatically controlling the supply of distilled water to the battery.