GB2031218A

GB2031218A - Filling batteries

Info

Publication number: GB2031218A
Application number: GB7901940A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Chloride Group Ltd
Current assignee: Chloride Group Ltd
Priority date: 1978-10-09
Filing date: 1979-01-19
Publication date: 1980-04-16
Also published as: DE2905820A1; ZA795370B

Abstract

This invention is a battery cell filler consisting of a reservoir 42 for acid, conduits 44, 48 and 50 for leading acid from the reservoir to a number of battery cells 12 one after the other and a vacuum air pump 49 in the conduit downstream of the cells for drawing acid from the reservoir through the conduit to fill the cells. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Battery filler This invention relates to a battery filler for example for filling a number of electric storage battery cells with acid or distilled water from a reservoir and one object of the invention is to provide a filler which tends to make spillage of acid unlikely in spite of slight leaks that might occur in the system.

According to the invention a battery filler comprises a reservoir, conduit means for leading fluid from the reservoir to one or more cells and a pump coupled to the conduit means downstream of the cells for drawing the fluid from the reservoir to the cells.

If there are a number of cells, they are conveniently connected one after the other along the conduit means. It is possible to provide a filler for each cell which cuts off the supply of liquid to that cell when it is full and allows the acid from the reservoir to be used to fill the next cell.

The pump reduces the pressure in the conduit means from the atmospheric pressure in the reservoir and tends to prevent any loss of acid from the cells through any slight leaks in the conduit means.

Preferably there is a sump downstream of the cells and upstream ofthe pump in which liquid drawn through after the cells have all been filled can be collected, which liquid can then be returned to the reservoir by opening a valve in a connection from the sump to the reservoir.

The invention may be carried into practice in various ways, and one embodiment will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings; in which Figure 1 is a diagramaticviewofa battery filling arrangement embodying the invention.

Figure2 is a detail of Figure 1 to an increased scale.

The fluid filling device is for maintaining fluid at a desired level in one or more battery cells 12. There is for each cell 12 a filling member 16 which can be removably inserted into the cell lid openings of any conventional lead acid battery.

Each member 16 has an inlet and outlet 28 (which are similar to one another) and the outlet of one cell is connected to the inlet of the next cell by means of short flexible tube 40.

Each member 16 defines a liquid chamber 30 into which the inlet and outlet 28 enter at diametrically opposite points. The chamber has in its bottom a central hole from the margin of which a filling tube 35 projects upwards. A vent tube 36 extends up co-axially through the filling tube so as to leave round it an annular space for liquid to flow down.

The filling tube is provided with a cap and skirtto provide a liquid trap. This is carried by the venting tube and takes the form of an outwardly projecting flange 37 from which a skirt 38 projects down between the filling tube and the wall of the chamber 30.

The top 39 of the vent tube extends very close to the domed top 40 of the chamber 30 and is surrounded by a tubular baffle 41 which on the one hand forms an airlock preventing liquid from trick -ling down the vent tube, and at the same time forces any liquid flowing from the inlet to the outlet to follow a tortuous path round one or other of the semi-circular channels surrounding the baffle 41.

At its lower end the vent tube is provided with an enlarged bell 43. The vent tube is located in the chamber by means of a number of webs (not shown) Iying in radial planes and projecting from it so as to engage the inner periphery and upper edge of the filling tube 35.

When it is desired to top up the battery, water flows into the inlet of the first cell. It flows down the bottom of the chamber, thence over the filling tube 35 and down through the annular space between the filling tube and the venting tube. The cell being sealed, air simultaneously flows out through the vent tube, over its upper edge 39 under the baffle 41 and out through the outlet. As soon as the liquid in the cell rises to the level of the bottom edge 45 of the bell 43, further escape of air is prevented and a head of liquid will build up in the bell 43. A similar head of liquid will build up in the chamber 30 causing a corresponding difference of level between the liquid outside and inside the skirt 38 until ultimately the chamber becomes almost filled with liquid and further liquid flows on through the outlet to the next cell.

Conduits 40 are provided for connecting together the passage 28 in series. A reservoir 42 for acid or distilled water is connected by a conduit 44 to the inlet of an end of one of the series of connected passsges 28 for affording fluid flow through the passage 28 and into the battery cells 12.

A pump 46 is connected by a conduit 48 to the outlet of the remaining end one of the series of connected passage 28. A conduit 50 leads from the sump 46 to the reservoir 42 and contains a pump 49.

A conduit 52 containing a valve 54 leads from the sump 46 to the reservoir 42.

During filling of the cells, the valve 54 is closed and the pump 49 is started so that air is drawn from the cells and from the line 44 through the sump 46, and liquid is then drawn from the reservoir 42 into the line 44 and into the cells 12.

The fluid fills each of the battery cells 12 until the fluid level in each battery cell rises the general level of the lower openirig 45 of the fluid level control tube as described above.

Then when all the battery cells have been filled, so long as there is fluid in the reservoir 42, the level of fluid in the battery cells 12 will automatically be maintained at the desired level provided the pump 49 continues to rum.

After all the cells 12 are full, liquid flows into the sump 46, and then the pump can be switched off and the valve 54 opened to allow liquid in the sump to fall to the reservoir.

Valves may be included in the conduits 44 and 48 to allow a filled battery to be easily removed after filling.

The pump 12 tends to prevent dripping of acid from any leak, because if there is a leak in a conduit or in a connection, the pump tends to work harder to draw the liquid past the leak.

Filling or topping up can performed whilst the battery is on a vehicle and the conduits 44 and 48 could subsequently be connected to suitable venting outlets which could include explosion minimising devices.

Claims

1. A battery filler comprising a reservoir (42) conduit means (44,48,50) for leading fluid from the reservoir to one or more cells (12) and characterised by a pump (49) coupled to the condiut means downstream of the batteries for drawing fluid from the reservoir to the cells.

2. A battery filler as claimed in Claim 1 including a sump (46) in the conduit means between the cells and the pump.

3. A battery filler as claimed in Claim 2 including a conduit from the sump to the reservoir which conduit includes a valve (54).

4. A battery filler as claimed in any of the preceding claims arranged to fill a number of cells each having a filling device which prevents further liquid entering the cell when a certain level has been reached, a conduit means connected to the filling devices one after the other.