US898633A - Filling apparatus for storage-battery jars, &c. - Google Patents

Description

T. A. EDISON. FILLING APPARATUS EORSTORAGE BATTERY JARS, 6w.

APPLICATION FILED DEG.10,1903.

Patented Sept. 15, 1908.

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THOMAS AJEDISON, OF LLEWELLYN PARK, ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO EDISON STORAGE BATTERY COMPANY, OF WEST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF N 11111 JERSEY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 15, 1908.

Application filed December 10, 1903. Serial No. 18%,691.

' from time to time as they become depleted,

due to evaporation or decom osition from gassing; but the device can e effectively used in connection with other liquids than Water, and for filling other receptacles than storage battery jars.

Heretofore, devices for the purpose have consisted generally of funnels provided with floats for giving a visual indication when the proper level is reached, but such devices have een practically objectionable in a numberof. respects. In the first place, the liquid flows very slowly since the pressure is extremely slight, and this objection is increased when the indicating devices are arranged within and partially obstruct the exit pipe or tube from the funnel. Furthermore, the use of a fioat indicator is unreliable and uncertain, while the index used is necessarilysmall and its movements are likely to be unobserved. Finally, the prior devices are more or less bulky, and hence can not be conveniently used for filling storage battery jars when the latter are in position in the bodies of automobiles.

The object of my present invention is to provide an apparatus for the purpose which shall be very simple and compact, by means of which the liquid may be introduced very rapidly, and wherein a very certain accurate notification will be given when the liquid has reached the desired level in the receptacle.

-In order that the invention may be better understood, attention is directed to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which,

Figure 1 is a vertical section on line 1-1 of Fig. 2 of a filling apparatus embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is a section on line 3'3 of Fig. 1.

In all of the above views corresponding parts are represented by the same numerals of reference.

The handle 1" is made of wood or rubber and is hollow and contains the supply tube 2 the receptacle an leading from a suitable tank in which the liquid is contained. When the valve arrangement is such that the supply of liquid is controlled by compressing andreleasing the tube 2, the latter should be made of rubber, but when a separate valve is employed, a metal pipe may be used. In order to compress the rubber tube 2 to control the flow of liquid therethrough, I make use of a yoke 3 arranged to slide in ways out inthe side of the handle shown, and provided with a central tongue 4 which projects through the handle and engages the tube as shown.

Bearing on the underside of the yoke 3 is a lever 5 pivoted between ears 6 on a plate 7 (Fig. 1) and normally pressed downwards by a spring 8 as shown. By elevating the lever 8 as indicated in dotted lines, Fig. 1; it will be obvious that the rubber tube will be uncompressed so as to permit a flow of liquid through the same. Communicating with the tube 2 and leading out from the handle 1- is a pipe 9 made preferably of glass whose intermediate portion is formed into a simple and well known form of injector as shown, comrising a suction chamber 11. This chamber has a contracted outlet in the form of an extension 12 which passes through a plug 13 carried by a bracket 14 secured to the handle 1 as shown. The lug 13 fits in an opening in (l is formed with a channel in its side to permit of the escape of air from the receptacle as will be understood. Extending through the plug 13 is a suction pipe 16, the upper end of which connects with the suction chamber 11. This suction pipe 16 is preferably formed with a gooseneck 17 so as to offer a better indication of the passage of air bubbles through it when in use. When the plug 13 is inserted in positionin the opening in the receptacle to which the liquid is to be introduced, the lower end of the suction tube 16 represents the level to which the liquid is to be supplied.

The operation of the device will be as follows :The lug 13 is inserted in the receptacle, and the ever 8 is elevated so as to permit the liquid to,fiow through the tube 2 into the discharge ipe 9 and thence through the sucartial vacuum in ence of these air bubbles passing-upwardly through the suction pipe offers a convenient and certain notification of the reaching of the right level of the liquid in the receptacle. It will of course be understood that the device may be modified in many respects without departing from the essential spirit of my invention which consists in so organizing the parts that the flow of liquid into the receptacle to be filled creates a suction and causes air bubbles or liquid to be drawn upwardly from the surface of the liquid in the receptacles when the level thereof reaches the desired point.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is I 1. In a filling apparatus, a supply pipe having a suction chamber with a. contracted outlet, a suction pipe of transparent material leading into sai chamber, the lower portion of said suction pipe being arranged substantially parallel to said supply pipe, substantially as set forth.

2. In a filling apparatus, a supply pipe.

having a suction chamber with a contracted outlet, a suction pipe leading into said cham-. ber, said suction pipe comprising a gooseneck of'transparent material and a lower portion arranged substantially parallel to said supply ipe, substantially as set forth.

3. In a fifiing apparatus, a supply pipe having a suction chamber with a contracted outlet, a suction pipe of transparent material leading into said chamber, and a plug, the lower portion of said suction plpe and of said supply pipe passing through said plug,

in substanti parallelism to each other, substantially as set forth.

4. In a filling apparatus, a supply plpe having a suction chamber with a' contracted outlet, a suction pi e of transparent materlal leading into said 0 amber, the lower portion of said suction pipe being arranged substan tially parallel to said supply pipe, and a flexible supply'tube .connected to t said supply ipe, substantlally as set forth.

5. In a ling apparatus, a supply pipe having a suction chamber with a contracted outlet, a suction pipe of transparent material leading into said chamber, t e lower portion of said suction pipe being arranged substantially parallel to said supply pipe, 2. flexible supply tube connected to the inlet end of said supply ipe, and means for controlling the flow of liquid through said supply pipe,

substantially as set forth.

This s ecification signed and witnessed this'Sth ay of Decr. 1903.

THOMAS A. EDISON. Witnesses:

FRANK L. DYER, HARRY G. WALTERS.

e inlet end of

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