US2771101A - Storage battery filler - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 20, 1956 N. J. THOMPSON STORAGE BATTERY FILLER Filed March 12, 1954 IN V EN TOR. /V/L Es d. 7,2/o/v/Pso/V BY A TroRA/E Ks.

United States Patent O STORAGE BATTERY FILLER Niles J. Thompson, Williamsville, N. Y., assigner to Gould-National Batteries, Inc., St. Paul, Minn.

Application March 12, 1954, Serial N o. 415,882 Claims. (Cl. 141-57) This invention relates to storage battery filling apparatus for use, for example, in loading lead-acid type storage batteries with electrolyte at the factory or distributor shops or the like. More particularly the .invention relates to improvements in so-called vacuum-operated devices for the above stated purposes.

Whereas vacuum-operated filler nozzles have been previously developed for such purposes, one of the objects of the present invention is to provide an improved filler nozzle device for use in such systems, such as may be conveniently mounted upon a work bench in company with a series of similar nozzles for simultaneously filling a gang of storage batteries.

Another object is to provide an improved nozzle for the aforesaid purposes whereby a group of said nozzles may be separately connected to a vacuum sourceand manually set in electrolyte dispensing condition, whereupon they Will be automatically operable upon filling of the associated `batteries to stop the electrolyte dispensing operations at the proper times without further operation attention.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a vacuum-actuated filling nozzle device of the character described an improved vacuum cut-off arrangement, which cuts olf automatically upon filling of the container into which liquid is being dispensed Without operator attention.

Another object of the invention is to provide an irnproved vacuum-actuated dispensing nozzle device which is semi-automatic in operation, and is adapted to be set in liquid dispensing condition with improved facility and subsequently automatically cuts off the dispensing operation upon filling of the associated container.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved device as aforesaid which is relatively inexpensively manufactured, and which is extremely rugged :and fool-proof in operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device as aforesaid which is readily adjustable with respect t0 the level to which liquid will be dispensed in the associated container.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved device as aforesaid which may be readily fabricated from standard stock plastic tubing parts and rubber Washers and the like, without requiring use of threaded fittings 0r the like.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the specification hereinafter.

In the drawing:

Fig. l illustrates application of the invention to a typical battery assembly bench type electrolyte filling station, showing an improved dispensing nozzle arrangement of the present invention connected for actuation by a standard type water faucet vacuum generator;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the filling nozzle device of Fig. 1, showing the device in liquid dispensing or battery filling condition;

Fig. 3 is a view corresponding to Fig. 2 but showing ICC the nozzle device in inactive or non-dispensing condition;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the mechanism of Figs. 2-3; and

Fig. 5 is a section taken along line V-V of Fig. 2.-

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the device of the invention is shown as being embodied in a storage battery electrolyte filling apparatus including a work Vbench designated 10, upon which may be placed a series of storage battery cases such as is indicated at 12. Electrolyte supply jars may be conveniently stored under the work bench as indicated at 14, and a suitably acid-resistant tube as indicated at 16 is arranged to dip into each jar for sucking the electrolyte therefrom and dispensing it into the battery cell 12, as will be explained more fully hereinafter.

The filling nozzle of the present invention is indicated generally at 20, and as shown in Figs. 1-3 is arranged to be inserted at its lower end into the conventional filler opening 22 of the storage battery case. As shown in detail in Figs. 2-5, the filling nozzle device comprises a generally cylindrically shaped casing 24 into which is slip-fitted an inner tube 26. The outer casing 24 may be conveniently molded of semi-soft neoprene rubber or plastic or any other suitable acid-resistant material, whereas the inner tube member 26 may `be conveniently formed of some suitably acid-resistant but more rigidl material such as hard rubber or plastic or the like. The casing 24 is formed with a counterbore portion 27 at its upper end terminating in an overhanging flange 28 so as to retain therein a soft rubber washer 30 which is slip-fitted in place, for purposes to be explained hereinafter. The fit of the washer 30 under the flange 28 and in the counterbore portion is so loose as to provide a free communication between the central bore portion of the casing and the ambient atmosphere when washer 30 is in the position shown in Figure 3.

The casing 24 is also formed with a reduced throat portion 32 which intercommunicates the central bore portion of the casing and the counterbore portion 27 thereof; an-d the inner tube 26 is provided with a reduced collar portion 34 to complement the throat portion 32 of the casing. The inner tube 26 is also formed with a longitudinal passageway 36 in a sidewall portion of the tube, and the casing and tube members are both laterally apertured in relatively aligned positions so as to accommodate in slip-fitted connected relation therein short nipples as illustrated at 37-38.

The nipples 37-38 are also conveniently formed of some suitable acid resistant plastic material or the like, and particular attention is called to the fact that the nipple 37 is arranged in communication with the main central bore of the inner tube 26 and extends laterally from the device for a slip-fit connection with the electrolyte conveying hose 16. The nipple 38 intercommuni cates with the inner passageway 36 and extends laterally from the device for a slip-fit connection with a hose 40 leading to any suitable vacuum source. Thus, for example as shown in Fig. 1, the hose 40 may be coupled to the vacuum port of an inspirator device as indicated at 42 arranged to be operated by a water faucet or the like as indicated at 44. As shown in Fig. 1 the hose 40 may be broken and coupled into a catch basin device as ,indicated at 45 for trapping any electrolyte such as may gain access into the hose 40 from the filler nozzle; but it is to be understood that the inspirator or any other suitable source of vacuum may be otherwise suitably connected to the vacuum supply nipple 38 of the filler device, in lieu of the specific arrangement shown.

The inner bore of the main casing 24 is provided with inwardly extending pressure-sealing ring portions 46-47 straddling the position of inlet of the vacuum connection;

Patented Nov. 20, 1956v The inner tube 26 is dimensiorieclvv longitudinally so as to extend a substantial distance below the bottom end ofthe casing 24, and a soft sponge rubber washer or the like as indicated at 48 is slip-fitted overthe bottom end of the inner tube against the bottom of the casing'24 as shown in Figs. 2 3.. Thus, the filling nozzle device may be inserted at itslower end into the conventional lling port 22 of a storage battery case in such manner that the sponge rubber washer 48V rests upon the upper end of the lilling port while the inner tube member 26 extends downwardly into the interior of the battery cell. Then, upon generation of a vacuum in the hose 4t?, as may be obtained by opening the water faucet 44, the air inthe hose 40. is drawn through the inspiratorV 42, thus setting up. a partialI vacuum in the inner passageway 36 of: thenozzle device.

If atthis. time the soft rubberwasher 30' at the top of the. nozzleA device is manually pressed downwardly as to the position thereof shown in Fig. 2, the washer 30 will thereby close the neck portion 34 ofthe inner tube 26,

thus` cutting off any ingress, of air through the top of the nozzle device around the washer 30; Hence, a partial vacuum condition will be set up interiorly of the battery cell, whereby electrolyte` will be sucked up throughL the hose 1.6 and into the central bore portion of the nozzle device-and thence downwardly into the battery cell. Immediately upon such establishment of a vacuum condition resulting in electrolyte flow through the nozzle device, the controlwasher-30 may be released bythe attendant. The vacuum condition within the nozzle device thereupon opcrates to maintain the washer 30 downwardly in the portsealing position as shown in Fig.V 2, so that the attendant may then` move on to the next battery filling position for repetition of the. procedure on the other batteries of the series.

Upon lilling of the battery case, such. as to the level of. the electrolyte as indicated at 50 in Fig. 3, the closing of the bottom end of the passageway 36 by the electrolyte will cut off the supply of vacuum to the central bore whereby the control washer 30 willbe released andi will. thereupontend tospring upwardly to itsnormal or4 open positiony as illustrated inEig. 3. In fact, at thismoment the ow of electrolyte intoA the. nozzle device will' have attainedl suchy momentum, that it momentarily establishes a pressurized condition as distinguished from4 a partial vacuum condition withinthe inner bore of the device, thereby further facilitating, spring-back of theA control washer 30 to its open position. It will be appreciatedV ofcourse, that upon opening ofthe washer 30 thevacuum drawing the electrolyte from the bottle 14 will be disconf tinued, whereby the battery cell fillingl operatiorrisl automatically terminated without attention bythe station operator. The residue of electrolyteinthe central: bore is then syphoned back through the hose 161 into theV supply bottle; Any acid remaining` in thepassageway '36.wi11. besucked'A over into the catch jar 45 for periodic recovery.

By mounting the plastic hose. devices16-.40 through suitably apertured portionsof a back board52,extending vertically fromvthe workbench 10, as shown in Fig,l 1, the

hoses may thereby be supported so that the filling nozzles 2t)Vl are nottiltedsuch as Wouldoccur if the hoses were permitted` to droop. Such tiltingrwouldof course break the vacuum seal; Thus, a series of such hose and nozzle devices may be arranged at intervals along the work bench,l and a large number of battery cases may be loaded and` unloaded from the lling positions thereunder bya single attendant who merely presses down uponthe washer, 3:0`

of' each nozzle to simultaneously'mount the nozzle one. battery tilling port and startthe .electrolyte dispensingpoperation. The nozzle thereafter automatically cuts olii as the battery cells are successively filled while. the attendant is elsewhere loading or un1oading other batferite- I'claim:

l. A storage battery electrolyte filling apparatus comprisingra casing member having a vertical'inner. bore, a. dualj compartment tube member mounted, within. said bore, said casing member having an air passageway at its upper endl intercommunicating the ambient atmosphere with a first one compartment of said inner tube, a source of electrolyte liquid supply in open communication with said first compartment of said inner tube, a vacuum source in communication with the other of said compartments at its upper end, both of said compartments being open at their bottom ends in communication with the interior of a storage battery cell when said casing member is mounted upon the ller opening of said cell, and a spring washer carried by the upper endof-said casing and' adapted to be elastically deformed into compartment sealing contact with the upper end of said, passageway whereby vacuum forces within said other compartment will cause electrolyte to be drawn into said rst compartment and delivered therefrom into said battery cell until such time as the level of electrolyte in said cell reaches the bottom end of said other compartment whereupon the vacuum forces drawing electrolyteinto said' first compart-V ment willi be interrupted.

2. A storage battery electrolyte filling apparatus com,- prising a casing member havingV a vertical inner bore, a tube within said bore having a main compartment extendL ing therethrough and a short supplemental compartment extending from the lower end of the tube part way'up its length, said casing member having an air passageway at( its upper end intercommunicating the ambientl atmosphere with said main compartment of said-inner-tube, aY source of electrolyte liquid supply in open= communication with: said main compartmentl of said inner tube, a vacuumsource in communication with said supplemental' compartment at its upper end, both of' said compartments being open, at their bottom ends incommunicationy with the interior ofI a storage battery cell when saidcasing member is` mounted upon the ller opening of! said cell', a: gasket at the bottom end of said casing, and a. spring disc-carried by the upper end of saidcasing and. adaptedv to beelastically deformed into compartment-sealing Contact'. with the upper end of said passageway whereby vacuum forceswithfin said supplemental compartment' willY causel electrolyte to be drawn into said main compartment andldeliveredltherr-= frominto saidV battery cell until; such time as thelevel. ofelectrolyte inY said cellreachesthe bottoml end of said; supplementalA compartment whereupon theV vacuum forces. drawing electrolyte into said main compartment.v willbe interrupted.

3. A device for iillinga storage battery. withf electro; lyte comprising a body member having, dualboresjlead-y ing, thereintofrom an open end batteryy connection por-- tion thereof, said: body. member having anain passagewayl at its other end intercommunicating the ambient` atmosphere with. one of. the bores of saidbody memben, a source of electrolyte liquidl supply in; open communicafv tion with said' last mentioned borea vacuum sourcefincommunication with the other of said bores and a normally open resilient: valve memberl carried; by4 saidotherend of the body andadapted to` be manually. movablev into air passageway sealing position whereby' vacuumv forces within said bores will cause electrolyte; to be drawn into said device and delivered therefrom at the openendk thereof until such time as the. level of electrolytein said,Vv

battery reachesV the-bottom endsof saidbores whereupon theV vacuum forces drawing electrolyte into said device will be interrupted.

4. A storageA battery electrolyte lling apparatus comprising a casing memberhavingdual-verticalbores therein, said casing member having au air passageway at its upper end, intercommuuicatingV the ambientatmosphere with a rst one. ofsaidibores, alsource of electrolyte liquid supply in open, communication withA said firstv bore, avacuum source incommunicationwith.. the otherof said bores, both of said bores beingzopen at-their bottomeends" incomniunicationwiththe interior of a storage battery cell when said casing member. iszmounted'upon the tillerA opening of said cell, andvanormallyA openresilient:valve` membercarried by the upper end of' said casing` and adapted to be manually displaced against the resiliency of said valve member into air passageway sealing contact with the upper end of said passageway, whereby vacuum forces within said device will cause electrolyte to be drawn thereinto and delivered therefrom into said battery cell until such time as the level of electrolyte in said cell reaches the bottom end of said bores whereupon the vacuum forces drawing electrolyte into said rst compart-y ment will be interrupted and the Valve member will be released to return to open position.

5. A storage battery electrolyte filling apparatus comprising a casing member having a vertical inner bore, a dual compartment tube member mounted within said bore, said casing member having an air passageway at its upper end intercommunicating the ambient atmosphere with a rst one compartment of said inner tube, a source of electrolyte liquid supply in open communication with said iirst compartment of said inner tube, a vacuum source in communication with the other of said compartments at its upper end, both of said compartments being open at their bottom ends in communication with the interior of a storage battery cell when said casing member is mounted upon the iillei opening of said cell, and a normally open resilient valve member carried by the upper end of said casing and adapted to be manually displaced against the resiliency thereof into air passageway sealing contact with the upper end of said passageway, whereby vacuum forces within said device will cause said valve to be held in closed position and electrolyte to be drawn into said first compartment and delivered therefrom into said battery cell until such time as the level of electrolyte in said cell reaches the bottom end of said other compartment whereupon the vacuum forces drawing electrolyte into said frst compartment will be interrupted and the valve will be released to return to open position.

References Cited in the Ile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,415,559 Hickman May 9, 1922 1,956,968 Altmayer et al. May 1, 1934 2,001,210 Morse May 14, 1935 2,139,477 Townsend Dec. 6, 1938 2,274,118 Altmayer Feb. 24, 1942

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