US2813142A

US2813142A - Self-closing venting devices for electric storage batteries and the like

Info

Publication number: US2813142A
Application number: US340531A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lindberg Erik Olof Henning
Original assignee: Svenska Ackumulator Jungner AB
Current assignee: Svenska Ackumulator Jungner AB
Priority date: 1952-03-08
Filing date: 1953-03-05
Publication date: 1957-11-12
Anticipated expiration: 1974-11-12
Also published as: NL176648A; NL84834C; GB728945A

Description

Nov. 12, 1957 E o H. LINDBERG 2,813,142

SELF-CLOSING VENTING DEVICES FOR ELECTRIC STORAGE BATTERIES AND THE LIKE Filed March 5, 1953 /0 g /7 I2 1 \6 I, /5

' INV NTO i BY United States Patent fitice SELF-CLOSING VENTING DEVICES FOR ELEC- TRIC STORAGE BATTERlES AND THE LIKE Erik Olof Henning Lindberg, Oskarshamn, Sweden, assignor to Svenska Ackumulator Aktiebolaget Jungner, Stockholm, Sweden, a corporation of Sweden The present invention refers to electric storage batteries and the like with vessels containing a liquid and provided with filling openings, vent passages or the like, and the invention has for its object to provide suitable venting device of the type adapted automatically to close the filling opening and the vent passage, respectively, if the vessel takes a position deviating too much from the normal position. The valve shall thus prevent the liquid from flowing out of the vessel, if the latter is inclined so that the filling opening or the. mouth of the vent passage is no longer directed upwardly, thus incurring the risk that the liquid might flow or splash out.

A further object of the invention is to provide a selfclosing venting device for electric storage batteries which provides for an eitective tightening of a valve body at the corresponding seat independent upon the direction to which the device is tilted.

A still further object is to provide a self-closing venting device with a splash guard adapted to reduce the quantity of the liquid contents of the storage vessel from splashing up into the valve housing of the device.

Another object of the invention is to provide valve means allowing the gases generated in the storage battery to escape from the battery also in the closed state of the venting device proper.

With these and other objects in view the self-closing venting device for electric storage battery comprises the combination of parts and combination of elements hereinafter more particularly described by way of example, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical axial section of the device in its normal or vertical position, and

Fig. 2 is a similar section of the same device in an inclined position, in which the venting valve is closed.

In the drawing, 1 designates a valve housing with a threaded socket 2 for screwing the same into the filling hole or vent opening of a storage battery vessel or similar container in which the valve is to be used. Axially within the socket 2, the valve housing is formed with a tubular member 3 having a downwardly directed valve seat 4, a valve body 5 being provided for cooperation with said valve seat. The valve body is connected by means of a valve rod 6 to a device which is sensitive to alterations of the position of the valve and adapted to move the valve body to cause the same to bear on the seat at a deviation of the position of the valve from the normal one exceeding a certain value given beforehand. In the construction shown, the device in consideration comprises a lever body 7 supported in a manner to subject the same to an overturning moment, when the valve is tilted from its normal vertical position (Fig. 1), by reason of which said lever body is displaced and brings the valve body 5 along with it.

The lever body 7 is substantially shaped on the lines of a body of revolution, or is at any rate symmetrical with respect to a central axis, and is supported in a Patented Nov, 12, 1957 widened upper portion of the surrounding valve housing 1 along a circle or points of or parts of a circle, the diameter of which is considerably smaller than the greatest diameter of the lever body, the center of gravity of the latter being situated above said supporting line or supporting points in the normal position shown in Fig. l. The upper widened part of the valve housing is provided with .an inclined bottom surface 8, and the lever body 7 is formed on the lower side thereof with an abutment 9 having a circumferentially extending corner edge 10 adapted to form said supporting line. A flange 11 protruding down into the tubular member 3 contributes toward centering the lever body in the valve housing.

The upper end of the valve rod 6 is provided with a ball 12 retained in a corresponding bearing aperture closed at the top by a threaded plug 13. Owing to the ball and socket joint thus formed the lever body 7 is permitted to turn relatively to the valve rod 6,

The valve body 5 has a spherical or substantially spherical tightening surface 14 for cooperation with the valve seat 4, whereby small oblique positions of the valve body when set up against the seat do not jeopardize the tightening fit.

i The valve body 5 is preferably adjustable with respect to its distance from the lever body. In the construction shown, this adjustability has been provided for by the fact that the end of the valve r0d'6 connected to the valve body is threaded into the latter.

The space between the threaded socket 2 of the valve housing and the inner tubular member 3 thereof is open inwardly toward the storage battery vessel and communicates, above the tightening surface 15 of the valve housing against the vessel, with the atmosphere through a number of lateral passages 16. The mouths of these passages are covered by a snrrounding elastic valve ring 17 of rubber, for example. This arrangement permits releasing of gas out of the vessel should a certain pressure above atmospheric occur in the same. A packing 18 may be provided on the tightening surface 15 of the valve housing.

The valve housing is provided at the top with a cover 19 provided with a central aperture, in which is secured a tubular piece 20 opening into a relatively large central recess 21 in the lever body 7. A channel 22 extends obliquely downwardly from said recess to lead off liquid that might have found its way up into the recess 21.

The valve housing is provided with a splash guard reaching down toward or into the contents of the vessel (the electrolyte in storage battery vessels), said splash guard being adapted to bring down that quantity of liquid which at movements of the vessel might splash up into the valve housing. This splash guard is shown in the drawing in the form of a tube 23 surrounding the valve seat, said tube being thrust onto the lower end of the tubular member 3. The tube 23 is advantageously made from a material which is easily wetted by the electrolyte in the storage battery vessel, such material being ebonite, for example, whereas the valve body consists of a material which is not wetted by the electrolyte or is wetted with difficulty only, such material being polystyrol or polyethylene. Hereby electrolyte entering the valve housing will then, when flowing back into the storage battery vessel down the walls of the valve housing, follow the inside of the tube 23 but not keep the valve body moist. Any drops appearing on the valve body will be shaken loose. Hereby the formation of salt incrustations on the valve body and untight spots in consequence thereto at the pressing of the valve body against the valve seat will be prevented.

The mode of operation of the valve described is broadly as follows:

When the valve takes its vertical position, as in Fig. 1,

the communication between the vessel and the atmosphere is open past the valve seat and through the tube 20. When the valve is tilted by a certain angle, such as 30", the lever body 7 is subjected to an overturning moment with respect to that point, It) in Fig. 2, at which the abutment 9 thereof bears on the bottom 8 of the valve housing. The body 7 will thus turn over, so that the ball and socket joint 12 is caused to move upwardly, the same then taking the valve rod 6 and the valve body 5 along with it, so that the latter is pressed against the valve seat 4. The valve is then kept closed, no matter what position the valve takes the outside the limit angle in consideration, such as 30. If the storage battery with the valve has been turned upside down, a small quantity of liquid might have found its Way up into the valve housing. A portion of such liquid flows down into the recess 21 and through the channel 22 back to the storage battery vessel, when the latter is again turned into its proper position. In order that the liquid shall then be permitted to pass the abutment 9 more readily, one or more radial apertures or slits may be provided in the same. If the storage battery is turned into another position for a longer time, and particularly if it is being charged at the same time, the pressure might grow to dangerous values on account of the development of gas. This is prevented, however, by the valve formed by the rubber ring 17 and the apertures 16, inasmuch as the valve is then opened, so that gas or liquid is released, until the pressure thereof has fallen sutficiently.

It is possible to provide the storage battery with a self-closing valve according to the invention at the top and with another similar valve at the bottom, such valves being then directed in opposite directions. In that case the risk of any liquid finding its way out is reduced.

The object of the splash guard 23 is, above all, to reduce the risk of the valve body 5 being acted upon by splashes of the liquid in the storage battery vessel and to prevent flocks, that might under certain circumstances be found on the surface of the liquid, from penetrating in between the valve seat and the valve body. The tube 23 may preferably be closed at the bottom save for a small outlet aperture for draining off liquid.

What I claim is:

1. A self-closing venting device for electric storage batteries comprising a valve housing with a bottom and a tubular portion extending centrally downward from said bottom, a valve seat, a valve-body adapted to cooperate with said seat, a lever body in said housing formed as a body of revolution with a large diameter upper portion and lower portion including an arcuate abutment of substantially smaller diameter than said upper portion contacting the bottom of said valve housing to constitute a universal pivotal support for said lever body and means extending into the top mouth of said tubular portion below said contacting portion to center said lever body on the bottom of said valve housing, said centering means comprising a neck having an essentially smaller diameter than that of the lever body, and means connecting the valve body with the lever body whereby the lever body operates to open and close the valve at deviations of the valve position from the normal one exceeding a pre' determined value.

2. A self-closing venting device as claimed in claim 1 and further characterized by the fact that the neck of the lever body is provided with a passage for gas and liquid.

3. A self-closing venting device as claimed in claim 1, and further characterized by an articulate joint in the connection between the lever body and the valve body.

4. A self-closing venting device for electric storage batteries, comprising a valve housing with a supporting bottom surface having a central passage therethrough, a lever body having an upper portion of relatively large diameter carried tiltably by said bottom surface at a circumferential edge of relatively small diameter, said lever body having a centering neck extending into said central passage below said circumferential edge, a valve seat in said housing, a valve body with a substantially spherical tightening surface for engagement with said seat, and means for articulate connection of said valve body and said lever body, whereby the lever body will operate to engage the valve body with the seat at deviations of the valve position from the normal one exceeding a predetermined value.

5. A self-closingventing device for'storage batteries, comprising a valve housing with a tubular portion adapted to open into the battery, a valve seat located in said tubular portion, a valve body for cooperation with said valve seat, a tiltable lever body adapted to operate said valve body for opening and closing the valve in dependence upon the position of the venting device, a splash guard surrounding the valve body to preclude liquid in the battery from splashing up into the valve housing, the external portion of said housing comprising a screw threaded socket to be screwed into the wall of the storage battery vessel and a passage for communication with the interior of the storage battery, a seat at the circumference of the housing outside said screw threaded socket, and resilient valve means for cooperation with said seat to release gases generated in the storage battery.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Duncan June 29, 1954