Abstract: An improved battery structure permitting facilitated replacement of an air supply tube through an air lift pump. The air lift pump includes, as guide means, a funnel portion receiving the inserted distal end of the replacement air supply tube for automatically guiding the distal end downwardly therethrough and into the passage of a depending barrel in which percolation of the electrolyte of the battery is effected by the bubbling of air downwardly through the air supply tube into the barrel. The upper end of the barrel is provided with an outlet tube extending downwardly into the electrolyte, thereby avoiding splashing of the electrolyte, such as against the flash arrester vent of the battery, thereby reducing maintenance and permitting long, troublefree life of the battery. The air supply tube and outlet tube may be formed of a transparent synthetic resin, permitting observation of the air flow during operation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a compound (22) in each of the cell spaces of a multicell battery case (10). The compound comprises a bituminous material delivered to a plurality of the cell spaces concurrently through a plurality of nozzles (25) of a dispensing head (24). The battery case (10) is accurately positioned against a back stop (45) and a forward stop (36). A sensor (49) determines the accurate alignment of the battery case (10) in the fill position and cooperates with a controller (81) for controlling operation of the automatic dispenser (23). In the dispensing operation, the nozzles (25) are moved along a first plurality of cells. The nozzles are then retracted and moved lengthwise of the case to be aligned with a second group of cells. The nozzles are then moved along the case cells while dispensing compound to the second group of cells.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for assembling battery components including a battery case (10) having a plurality of divider walls (32) defining a plurality of side-by-side cell spaces (26,27,28,29,30,31) opening through a top portion of the case. A plurality of intermediate cell elements (34,35,36,37) are provided in the cell spaces intermediate the end cell spaces (26,31) and end cell elements (38,39) having terminal post portions (101) are inserted in the end cell spaces (26,31). The apparatus effects an automatic pickup of the cell elements at one or more insert stations from delivery conveyors (19,20) suitably positions the picked-up cell elements for proper polarity relationship in the inserted disposition within the battery case, and after moving the picked-up cell elements to overlying relationship with the battery case, inserts the cell elements automatically into the proper cell spaces.

Abstract: A transducer (14) including an optical fiber core (15) having a first refractive index profile, and an optical cladding (16) encircling the core and having a second refractive index profile different from that of the profile of the optical core. At least one of the core and cladding is formed of a photoresponsive material providing a variable difference between the refractive indices of the core and cladding as a function of a physical effect applied to the transducer. Light may be propagated through the core from a suitable light source (18) and the light which is lost from the core to the cladding may be detected by a suitable detector (22,23) providing an output signal corresponding to the force applied to the transducer. In one form, the detector receives light from the end (21) of the transducer, and in another form, the detector (23) receives light through the outer surface (24) of the transducer.

Abstract: An improved wear member for use in an earthworking implement having a sidewall member defining a bottom edge portion to which the wear member is secured is disclosed. The wear member comprises a U-section member defining a bottom bight portion and spaced legs defining a channel receiving the lower end of the sidewall member.

Abstract: A throwaway thermometer structure (10,110) comprising essentially a synthetic resin wall member (13,113) having a thin gas impermeable layer (11,111) defining the inner capillary bore (12,112) thereof. The outer wall member effectively defines a jacket and the inner layer effectively defines a core tube. Interlock structure (20,120) is provided for effectively accurately maintaining the longitudinal disposition of the jacket and core tube. Such maintained disposition provides effective accurate maintained disposition of a scale (17) or the like, provided on the jacket portion of the thermometer. In one form, the interlock (20) may be directly between the jacket and the core tube. In an alternate form, the interlock (120) is indirectly between the jacket and core tube, being effectively provided between the reservoir bulb (114) and the core tube (111), with the reservoir bulb being fixedly secured to the jacket.