GB1151844A - Improvements relating to Topping-Up Electric Storage Batteries. - Google Patents

Abstract

1,151,844. Topping-up device. ELECTRIC POWER STORAGE Ltd. 4 July, 1967 [5 April, 1966; 10 June, 1966], Nos. 15139/66 and 25984/66. Heading H1B. The invention comprises a device for topping- up a battery to a predetermined level in which the upper part of each cell above the desired liquid level is divided by a depending partition into a vented compartment from which air can escape and an air-locked compartment connected through a filling tube including an airlock to a filling duct common to all cells so that when the liquid surface rises above the bottom of the partition further rise in the air-locked compartment is prevented and pressure heads build up in the vented compartment and filling duct, characterized in that the liquid in the duct when filling is complete may flow through a constricted passage into one of the cells referred to as "the drain cell" Fig. 1. illustrates a 3 cell lead-acid battery having 3 covers each extending over all 3 cells. Cover 11 is moulded to form trough 14 surrounded by wall 19 and sloping at the bottom to drain 15 constricted by float indicator 32 and leading to the central drain cell. Filling openings 16 for each cell project upward into the trough, the opening of the drain cell projecting above the other two. Each cell is also provided with a vent 22, the lower end of which opens into the cell and the upper end of which (not shown) opens into the upper part of trough 14. A second cover 12 fits over trough 14 and from it depend annular partitions 17 which with projections 16 form air-locks to each cell and clips 20 which hold the cover in position. A third cover 13 covers the whole of top of the battery except terminals 28 and filler cap 25 which holds it in position. When filling is required, as indicated by float indicator 30 visible through window 34 in the cap, the cap is unscrewed and water poured into trough 14. From here it will flow into the outer two cells until the lower ends of the two vents are covered when the level will rise in the trough until it begins to fill the centre cell. When filling is complete as indicated by a rise in indicator 30 the cap is replaced and the liquid in the trough slowly drains through constricted passage 15 into the central cell. Further drain constrictions are shown in Figs. 2 and 3. In the former the valve 42 is normally depressed by cap 25 so that water can drain into the central cell. However during filling cap 25 is removed and the valve is raised by spring 44 to close the drain. In Fig. 3 the valve 52 is raised and lowered by the indicator float to which it is connected by a lost motion joint.