Other Stopper, Cap Or Plug Type Patents (Class 429/89)
  • Patent number: 7985501
    Abstract: An integral cap assembly comprising a top cap mounted as a base plate to an opening of a battery can and a cap subassembly including a protective circuit module and the like integrally mounted on the top cap, a method for manufacturing a secondary battery comprising the same, and a secondary battery manufactured thereby are disclosed. The cap assembly is provided as an integral member comprising the top cap acting as the base plate, and the cap subassembly having the protective circuit module provided thereon, thereby simplifying a manufacturing process of the battery while minimizing frequency of defective products. Additionally, the integral cap assembly is manufactured through insert injection molding, thereby providing notable advantages over the conventional technology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyungchan Kim, Hee gyu Kim, Yong-ho Cho, Jae sik Chung
  • Patent number: 7981534
    Abstract: A rechargeable battery includes a housing, a plurality of cells within the housing, and a cover which closes the housing. The battery also includes a plurality of filling openings arranged in the cover separated from one another by a distance and a plurality of plugs. Each of the plurality of plugs is configured to close one of the plurality of filling openings. A flexible connecting element connects at least two of the plugs. The flexible connecting element is configured such that the distance between the plugs which are connected to one another can be variably matched to the distance between their associated filling openings by rotating at least one of the plugs connected by the flexible connecting element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: VB Autobatterie GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Gerolf Richter, Peter Streuer
  • Patent number: 7951474
    Abstract: A gas release valve to be mounted in an access port of a battery cell includes a housing, the upper side of which is closed by a lid. The lower side of the lid has an opening leading into the battery cell and is in communication, via degassing passageways closed by an elastic sealing element, with at least one vent provided in the lid. The elastic sealing element is a preloaded non-return element, the inner surface of which is urged into sealing contact with a seat provided in the housing by it s own elasticity and, in addition, by a pressure differential with the outer pressure that acts through the vent against the outer surface of the sealing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Abertax Reserach & Development Ltd
    Inventors: George Schembri, Joseph Pule', Joseph Cilia, Werner Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20110111274
    Abstract: The present application is directed to embodiments of a flooded battery vent cap. The vent cap may include an internal vent well and an external mounting flange. The internal vent well may be comprised of a hollow cylindrical tube sized to accept a watering gun nozzle therein. The internal vent well may include a variety of elements that limit an insertion depth of the watering gun nozzle. In one embodiment, the internal vent well may comprise at least a first section and a second section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2009
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Inventor: Thomas Foushee
  • Publication number: 20100323229
    Abstract: A battery vent cap capable of push-in installation and turn-out removal. The cap includes bayonet tabs. The tabs in turn each include a ramp portion to facilitate movement of the cap bayonet tabs past bayonet tabs in a battery vent port as the vent cap is inserted into the port axially without substantial rotation. The interfitting bayonet tabs retain the vent cap within the vent port and also permit the vent cap to be unscrewed and removed from the vent port. In a preferred embodiment, the vent cap includes a swivel connector to which a watering hose may be connected. The swivel enables the vent cap to be unscrewed from the vent portion without having to remove the watering hose from the swivel connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2009
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: Flow-Rite Controls, Ltd.
    Inventor: Daniel N. Campau
  • Patent number: 7855007
    Abstract: A battery assembly may include a battery and a battery housing. The battery may include an electrolyte vent to provide a pressurized electrolyte discharge during an electrolyte discharge event. The battery housing may contain the battery and may include an electrolyte control member to dissipate energy from and inhibit dispersion of the pressurized electrolyte discharge from the electrolyte vent during the electrolyte discharge event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Cobasys, LLC.
    Inventors: Oliver J. Gross, Jozef Gorog
  • Patent number: 7851082
    Abstract: An accumulator, particularly a lead accumulator, has a housing, which encloses multiple cells, and a block cover, which terminates the housing, including a bottom cover (1) and a top cover (2), between which a gas chamber for acid separation is implemented, which is divided into multiple cavities (3-8), corresponding to the number of cells, and which has at least one vent opening, a fill opening (9-14) being provided for each cell in the bottom cover (1). In order to improve an accumulator of this type, a gas outlet (15-20), which discharges into the associated cavity (3-8), is provided for each cell at a distance from the fill opening (9-14) in the bottom cover (1), its size being dimensioned so that in the event of brief tipping of the accumulator, no more acid may escape from the cell than is received by the cavity (3-8) assigned thereto (FIG. 2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignees: Akkumulatorenfabrik Moll GmbH & Co. KG, Banner GmbH
    Inventors: Manfred Gelbke, Richard Kermas, Peter Schumann, Peter Holzleitner, Norbert Maleschitz, Thomas Bawart
  • Patent number: 7851079
    Abstract: The present invention includes a plurality of battery cells, each provided with a gas discharge valve. A housing accommodates the battery cells and has a gas opening. The housing does not melt at an inside temperature of the battery pack increased by gas discharged from the gas discharge valve. A blocking member blocks the gas opening and melts at the inside temperature of the battery pack increased by the gas discharged from the gas discharge valve, breaching the gas opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenshin Yonemochi, Seita Horikoshi
  • Patent number: 7785732
    Abstract: Lithium rechargeable batteries having functional center pins are provided. A lithium rechargeable battery has a center pin whose top and bottom ends are blocked by a thermal cut-off composition to reduce the void volume inside a bare cell during initial overcharge. The thermal cut-off composition melts at a temperature within a specific temperature range, e.g. between about 80 and about 250° C. This prevents the battery from exploding and igniting. Thus, the inventive lithium rechargeable batteries have improved thermal stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seok Gyun Chang, Yoo Eup Hyung, Jung Seog Kim, Young Eun Yun
  • Patent number: 7749642
    Abstract: Lithium rechargeable batteries having functional center pins are provided. A lithium rechargeable battery has a center pin having a compressed compression spring positioned within a thermal cut-off composition to reduce the void volume inside a bare cell during initial overcharge. The thermal cut-off composition melts at a temperature within a specific temperature range, e.g. between about 80° C. and about 250° C. This prevents the battery from exploding and igniting. Thus, the inventive lithium rechargeable batteries have improved thermal stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seok Gyun Chang, Yoo Eup Hyung, Jung Seog Kim, Young Eun Yun
  • Patent number: 7648797
    Abstract: An integral cap assembly comprising a top cap mounted as a base plate to an opening of a battery can and a cap subassembly including a protective circuit module and the like integrally mounted on the top cap, a method for manufacturing a secondary battery comprising the same, and a secondary battery manufactured thereby are disclosed. The cap assembly is provided as an integral member comprising the top cap acting as the base plate, and the cap subassembly having the protective circuit module provided thereon, thereby simplifying a manufacturing process of the battery while minimizing frequency of defective products. Additionally, the integral cap assembly is manufactured through insert injection molding, thereby providing notable advantages over the conventional technology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyungchan Kim, Hee gyu Kim, Yong-ho Cho, Jae sik Chung
  • Patent number: 7641705
    Abstract: An electrochemical cell including a cell enclosure, a fill tube, a ball, a closing button, an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte. The cell enclosure defines an internal volume and includes a cover forming a fillport through hole. The fill tube is separately formed, and defines a leading section, a trailing section, and a passageway. The leading section is secured within the fillport through hole. The ball is sealingly secured within the passageway. The closing button is also separately formed, and is sealingly secured within the fillport through hole adjacent the leading section of the fill tube. The anode, cathode, and electrolyte are maintained within the internal volume. By configuring the fill tube such that the leading section thereof is secured within the fillport through hole, an overall extension of the fill tube relative to the internal volume is greatly reduced, thereby maximizing a volumetric efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventor: Bernard Frank Heller, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7638235
    Abstract: A bipolar plate for a fuel cell including pores extending between cooling fluid flow channels and reactant gas flow channels defined by the plate. Pervaporation membranes cover the pores and selectively allow water in the cooling fluid flowing down the cooling fluid flow channels to pervaporate through the membrane and humidify the reactant gas flowing down the reactant gas flow channels. In one embodiment, the bipolar plate includes two stamped unipolar plates secured together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Volker Druenert, George R. Woody, Annette M. Brenner
  • Patent number: 7504175
    Abstract: A battery includes a housing having a plurality of cell vessels and a plurality of positive and negative electrode plates provided within the cell vessels. The battery also includes a lower cover configured to close the cell vessels with a seal, the lower cover having openings for the cell vessels. The battery further includes a degassing channel system which is coupled to the lower cover by at least one member, the openings of the lower cover opening into the degassing channel system. Annular projections are integrally formed on each of the openings of the lower cover adjacent to the lower cover, and the at least one member is configured to couple the degassing channel system to the lower cover such that the projections seal the openings to the degassing channel system by surface pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: VB Autobatterie GmbH & Co. KGAA
    Inventor: Hans Mühe
  • Patent number: 7479347
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a prismatic battery having an electrode assembly mounted in a prismatic battery case, wherein an electrolyte injection hole formed in a base plate mounted to an open upper end of the battery case is constructed such that an inside upper end of the electrolyte injection hole is formed in a downward taper (incline) structure, and a metal ball is forcibly inserted into the electrolyte injection hole such that the metal ball is plastically deformed to seal the electrolyte injection hole. The prismatic battery according to the present invention provides high coupling force between the metal ball and the electrolyte injection hole due to the plastic deformation and forced insertion of the metal ball and high sealability of the electrolyte injection hole. Also, the formation of a groove at the upper end of the forcibly inserted metal ball and the generation of cracks at the interface between the metal ball and the inside surface of the electrolyte injection hole are effectively prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chang-Sin Yeo, Sung Ryul Kwon, Hyunjin Kim, Seung Tae Lee, Jin-Woo Jeon
  • Publication number: 20080220321
    Abstract: The present invention includes a plurality of battery cells, each provided with a gas discharge valve. A housing accommodates the battery cells and has a gas opening. The housing does not melt at an inside temperature of the battery pack increased by gas discharged from the gas discharge valve. A blocking member blocks the gas opening and melts at the inside temperature of the battery pack increased by the gas discharged from the gas discharge valve, breaching the gas opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2008
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Inventors: Kenshin Yonemochi, Seita Horikoshi
  • Patent number: 7381494
    Abstract: An energy storage device, such as an electrical storage battery, having a unique terminal structure, sealing arrangement and an S-shaped mandrel for the electrode assembly. The battery generally includes a case in which an electrode assembly is dispose, and a cover provided with a fill hole and fill plug, and a terminal structure that forms a battery terminal. The terminal hole and the fill hole have counter bore structure to provide tighter sealing. A nickel layer is provided on the aluminum fill plug to facilitate electrical contact with the external circuit. A mandrel is provided for the rolled electrode assembly, and is electrically coupled to the terminal structure via a push-in tab inserted into a space in the S-shape of the mandrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Quallion LLC
    Inventors: Wendy Fong, Mikito Nagata, Andrew Szyszkowski, Hisashi Tsukamoto
  • Patent number: 7258949
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a bipolar battery, especially a NiMH battery, having: a sealed housing, a negative end terminal, a positive end terminal, and at least one biplate assembly comprising a biplate, a positive and a negative electrode. A separator is arranged between each negative and positive electrode forming a battery cell, said separator includes an electrolyte. An inner barrier of a hydrophobic material is arranged around at least one electrode, whereby said inner barrier prevents an electrolyte path from one cell to another cell, and a frame is present to provide predetermined cell spacing between each biplate and/or biplate and end terminal. The frame is attached in such a way to each biplate to permit ambient gas to pass between adjacent cells, thereby creating a common gas space for all cells in the battery. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a bipolar battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Nilar International AB
    Inventors: Lars Frederiksson, Neil H. Puester
  • Patent number: 7101640
    Abstract: A venting plug for a wet, lead-acid storage battery, a battery containing the same, a method of molding the venting plug body, and a mold for molding the venting plug body are disclosed. The sealing surfaces of the venting plug do not include a mold parting line along which acid from inside of the battery could seep between the seal and sealing surfaces. The venting plug body, however, includes a coupling structure that includes a mold parting line. The sealing surfaces of the venting plug body are molded by a single plate such that no mold parting line results along the sealing surfaces, while the coupling structure is molded by plurality of mold components such that a mold parting line results in the vicinity of the coupling structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Exide Technologies
    Inventors: William H. Kump, Steven R. Peterson
  • Patent number: 7094495
    Abstract: An alkaline cell having a flat housing, preferably of cuboid shape. The cell can have an anode comprising zinc and a cathode comprising MnO2. The housing can have a relatively small overall thickness, typically between about 5 and 10 mm. Cell contents can be supplied through an open end in the housing and an end cap assembly inserted therein to seal the cell. The end cap assembly includes a vent mechanism which can activate, when gas pressure within the cell reaches a threshold level typically between about 100 and 300 psig (6.89×105 and 20.69×105 pascal gage). The cell can have primary and supplemental vent mechanisms such as welded or thinned regions on the surface of the housing which may activate at different pressure levels. The cathode can be formed of a plurality of stacked slabs having aligned hollow centers with an elongated opening for anode material to be inserted therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: The Gillette Company
    Inventors: David Anglin, Mark Ashbolt, Anthony Malgioglio, Alexander Shelekhin, Steven J. Specht, Matthew Sylvestre, Philip Trainer, Robert A. Yoppolo
  • Patent number: 6890681
    Abstract: A leak resistant automotive battery comprising a housing containing cells having filling plugs; a battery cover sealed to an opened top end of the housing and having filling holes overlying the respective cells; at least one partition wall provided in the battery cover to divide the battery cover into at least two vent chambers, each vent chamber overlying a set of the cells, to prevent flow of electrolyte from one set of cells to an adjacent set of cells when the battery is tilted; a common vent line in the battery cover connecting the spaces above the cells in each set of cells, each of the common vent line being sealed at one end and connected at its other end through a vent chamber to one end of each of parallel vent lines having at its other end a vent cap assembly which permits escape of vented gases from the cells in each set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignees: Exide Industries Ltd., Shin-Kobe Electric Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Surendra Kumar Mittal, Debashish Mazumdar, Partha Dasgupta
  • Patent number: 6887615
    Abstract: A microvalve (10) for controlling fluid flow, including a body portion (14) having at least one opening (18) formed therein, a shutter (12) located adjacent to and substantially parallel with the body portion, and a drive mechanism (20, 22) for causing the shutter to pivot with resect to the body portion so that the shutter is brought into and out of alignment with the opening of the body portion, wherein the microvalve is in a closed position and an open position, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Faiz Feisal Sherman, Vladimir Gartstein, Daniel Jonathan Quiram
  • Patent number: 6844106
    Abstract: An electrochemical cell including a cell enclosure, a fill tube, a ball, a closing button, an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte. The cell enclosure defines an internal volume and includes a cover forming a fillport through hole. The fill tube is separately formed, and defines a leading section, a trailing section, and a passageway. The leading section is secured within the fillport through hole. The ball is sealingly secured within the passageway. The closing button is also separately formed, and is sealingly secured within the fillport through hole adjacent the leading section of the fill tube. The anode, cathode, and electrolyte are maintained within the internal volume. By configuring the fill tube such that the leading section thereof is secured within the fillport through hole, an overall extension of the fill tube relative to the internal volume is greatly reduced, thereby maximizing a volumetric efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventor: Bernard Frank Heller, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6838207
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a sealed battery that includes a gas release valve formed on the closure cap by covering a gas release hole with a thin film that rarely breaks even if the battery is dropped. For this object, the external casing of the sealed battery includes a shielding member passing no drop of the electrolyte between the thin film and the generator element so as to form a gas channel from the internal space of the external casing to the gas release hole. When the sealed battery is dropped, electrolyte drops are pushed out of the generator element at the side opposed to the thin film. The thin film, however, is prevented from being directly hit by the drops due to the presence of the shielding member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Nobuaki Sugita
  • Patent number: 6763591
    Abstract: The invention relates to a waterproof housing (1) of an apparatus, for example an electrically rechargeable shaving device, which housing (1) is provided with at least one opening (3a,3b) in a wall (1a), which opening is sealed off by means of a foil (4) permitting the equalization of a pressure difference between the inside of the housing and the outer atmosphere. In order to provide means for the equalization of a pressure difference suitable for all kinds of apparatuses, which means are not susceptible of contamination and at the same time are capable of equalizing pressure differences, the foil (4) is elastically deformable and provided with at least one incision (8,9) of which the cutting edges can yield owing to a pressure difference across said foil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventor: Mattheus Jacobus Van Der Meer
  • Publication number: 20040137316
    Abstract: A rechargeable battery includes a housing comprising at least two cells that can be filled with an electrolyte. The rechargeable battery includes a cover and a degassing system having openings provided therein. The cover and the degassing system are arranged such that the openings provided in the cover and the degassing system are located above the cells of the rechargeable battery. A sealing plug is provided in each of the openings, the sealing plug having an upper part and a lower part having a splash basket. The upper part covers the openings on the outside of the cover and the lower part extends in the direction of the cells. The splash basket surrounds a cavity and has slots distributed over its circumference, the slots continuing as far as a free end of the splash basket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Publication date: July 15, 2004
    Applicant: VB Autobatterie GmbH
    Inventor: Peter Streuer
  • Patent number: 6756151
    Abstract: A draining device including a threaded portion, the threaded portion depending outwardly from an annular portion and having an inner opening in fluid communication with a pair of openings in the annular portion, where said pair of openings provides a pathway for draining.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Shijian Zhou, Timothy H. Kline, Donald F. Turner, James R. Nowakowski
  • Patent number: 6746795
    Abstract: A battery cap is provided for engagement in a fill port of a cell of a deep cycle, lead-acid electrical storage battery. The battery cap is formed of a hollow, tubular body having an upper end with an expansive mouth opening, and a lower end at which a transverse floor extends radially inwardly. The floor includes a central, annular convex downwardly projecting portion that defines a central fluid passage opening. The interior of the tubular wall defines a radially inwardly projecting flame arrester seat spaced from both the upper and lower ends of the body. A pair of gas escape ports are defined in the tubular wall between the flame arrester seat and the mouth opening. A diverter is located in the lower portion of the tubular body beneath a disc shaped micropore filter that serves as the flame arrester and which is seated on the flame arrester seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Inventor: William R. Schwarz
  • Publication number: 20040086778
    Abstract: An exhaust structure is provided on an upper part of a storage battery. In the structure, an exhaust chamber is formed with an inlet, through which gas generated from a cell chamber of the storage battery is introduced, a first outlet, arranged in an upper portion of the exhaust chamber and through which the gas is exhausted to an exterior of the storage battery, a second outlet, arranged in a bottom portion of the exhaust chamber and communicated with the cell chamber, side walls and a bottom wall defining the exhaust chamber. The bottom wall is slanted toward the second outlet. A plurality of plate members, which intercepts liquid contained in the gas. Each of the plate members is extended from one of the side walls such that a distal end portion faces another one of the side walls while defining a gap therebetween, and is slanted toward the second outlet so that the intercepted liquid is guided to the second outlet and returned to the cell chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2003
    Publication date: May 6, 2004
    Applicant: The Furukawa Battery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Nakano, Shyuichi Yabuki, Hisashi Ouchi, Ichiro Sano
  • Publication number: 20040076873
    Abstract: A rechargeable battery allowing replenishment of electrolytes and a safety vent therefor. The battery includes a metal jacket, a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a cover, a base, a sealing member, and a compressing member. The metal jacket is filled with electrolytes. The positive electrode and the negative electrode are disposed in the metal jacket and immersed in the electrolytes. The cover has an opening therein and connects to the metal jacket. The cover and the metal jacket encase the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The base has a through-hole and an exhaust communicating therewith. The through-hole communicates with the opening of the cover. The sealing member is disposed in the through-hole. The compressing member is disposed in the through-hole. The compressing member presses the sealing member to seal the opening of the cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2003
    Publication date: April 22, 2004
    Inventor: Chih-Jung Chiu
  • Patent number: 6723465
    Abstract: A nonaqueous electrolyte batter includes: an electrode body having at least a positive electrode and a negative electrode; a cylindrical container with its bottom closed, in which the electrode body and a nonaqueous electrolytic solution are contained; and a lid body for closing an opening portion of the container. The lid body has a lid portion which constitutes a peripheral edge portion of the lid body, a projecting portion which constitutes a central portion of the lid body, and a stepped portion which has a vent hole and is positioned between the lid portion and the projecting portion. A metal plate having a through-hole is disposed between the lid body and the electrolyte body. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent the movement of the battery by a motive force generated when a decomposition gas generated in an abnormal state is discharged to the outside of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Ken Segawa, Akira Toda, Yoshinori Ito, Emi Yamada, Yukio Miyaki, Takashi Tomita, Sam Huy
  • Patent number: 6682846
    Abstract: A charging element device comprises a positive electrode terminal and a negative electrode terminal which are located at one end of a cylindrical battery case having a positive electrode and a negative electrode equipped therein and which are respectively connected to the positive electrode and the negative electrode, with an electrolyte solution charging opening being formed at the other end of the battery case. The electrolyte solution charging opening is sealed by a plug having a safety valve, and the safety plug reduces an inner pressure of the battery case when the inner pressure is not less than a predetermined pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Matsuoka, Kenji Matsumoto, Harumi Takedomi, Osamu Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 6677075
    Abstract: The invention concerns a plug arrangement for gas-tight closure of a cell vent of a storage battery. To provide a plug arrangement that to the greatest possible extent prevents acid from running out when a storage battery is tipped or turned and at the same time permits sufficient degassing and can also be produced economically, is easy to install and can be adjusted to different battery designs, this invention purposes a plug arrangement for gas-tight closure of a cell vent of a storage battery including a plug that can be used for a seal in the cell vent, an inside of the cell is connected by fluid mechanics to a hollow space made between upper and lower covers of a housing cover for acid deposition through a plug vent in a generating surface of the plug that has a two-way sealed membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Accumulatorenwerke Hoppecke Carl Zoellner & Sohn GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Wilhelm Cramer
  • Publication number: 20030157401
    Abstract: An accumulator, particularly a lead accumulator, has a housing, which encloses multiple cells, and a block cover, which terminates the housing, including a bottom cover (1) and a top cover (2), between which a gas chamber for acid separation is implemented, which is divided into multiple cavities (3-8), corresponding to the number of cells, and which has at least one vent opening, a fill opening (9-14) being provided for each cell in the bottom cover (1). In order to improve an accumulator of this type, a gas outlet (15-20), which discharges into the associated cavity (3-8), is provided for each cell at a distance from the fill opening (9-14) in the bottom cover (1), its size being dimensioned so that in the event of brief tipping of the accumulator, no more acid may escape from the cell than is received by the cavity (3-8) assigned thereto (FIG. 2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2002
    Publication date: August 21, 2003
    Inventors: Manfred Gelbke, Richard Kermas, Peter Schumann, Peter Holzleitner, Norbert Maleschitz, Thomas Bawart
  • Publication number: 20030059679
    Abstract: An electric accumulator battery, comprising a recipient which is closed by means of a lid composed of a lower lid and an upper lid joined together, delimiting an intermediate chamber. The lower lid has filling holes (15), in which closing stoppers with a gas outlet valve are assembled, which end in the chamber defined between the two lids. The upper lid has openings (10) for the passage of the connection terminals (3), and at least one gas outlet hole (12). The two lids have facing ventilation openings (7-7′).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventors: Rafael Ruiz Rodriguez, Antonio Ripoll Anton, Ernesto Collado Parra
  • Publication number: 20030059676
    Abstract: An electric accumulator battery, constituted of a series of independent modules, each of which comprises a recipient with a lid subdivided into cells in which positive and negative helically wound electrodes and an intermediate separator are housed. The recipient of each module comprises an outer wall, of straight rectangular prismatic shape, and an inner wall which defines three cylindrical cells (9) of coplanar axes, tangent to each other and closed on the lower base. Axial ventilation passages are defined between these two walls, which pass through the base through openings (5 and 6).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Applicant: S.E. Acumulador Tudor, S.A.
    Inventors: Rafael Ruiz Rodriguez, Antonio Ripoll Anton, Ernesto Collado Parra
  • Publication number: 20030017381
    Abstract: A leak resistant automotive battery comprising a housing containing cells having filling plugs; a battery cover sealed to an opened top end of the housing and having filling holes overlying the respective cells; at least one partition wall provided in the battery cover to divide the battery cover into at least two vent chambers, each vent chamber overlying a set of the cells, to prevent flow of electrolyte from one set of cells to an adjacent set of cells when the battery is tilted; a common vent line in the battery cover connecting the spaces above the cells in each set of cells, each of the common vent line being sealed at one end and connected at its other end through a vent chamber to one end of each of parallel vent lines having at its other end a vent cap assembly which permits escape of vented gases from the cells in each set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2002
    Publication date: January 23, 2003
    Inventors: Surendra Kumar Mittal, Debashish Mazumdar, Partha Dasgupta
  • Patent number: 6472096
    Abstract: A secondary battery includes a can into which an electrode assembly is inserted, a cap assembly mounted to an opening of the can; and an electolyte injection hole formed on at least one of the can and cap assembly, and safety member to close the electolyte injection hole. The electolyte injection hole is formed on a negative portion of the cap assembly. The safety member is inserted into and welded on the electolyte injection hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Un-Sick Park, Young-Bae Song
  • Patent number: 6432573
    Abstract: The invention relates to a battery plug for closing battery cells. The plug is formed of an essentially cylindrical housing which is open at the bottom and which can be inserted into the opening of the cell. The housing has an upper opening which can be closed by a lid. The plug has a collector mechanism located in the area of this upper opening for receiving gases which have risen and condensed. The collector mechanism may consist of a labyrinth insert whose top is provided with holes and pins extending downwards from the top.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Inventor: Elke Oschmann
  • Patent number: 6376119
    Abstract: This invention concerns a plug system for capping cell vents (26, 27) of a storage battery, consisting of a plug body (1) that can be inserted in a cell vent (26, 27), holding a plug (2) and a valve element (3), thus providing a normally closed fluidic connection between the inside (30) of the cell and the atmosphere surrounding the storage battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignees: Accumulatorenwerke Hoppecke Carl Zoellner, Sohn GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Eberhard Nann, Ulrich Wulf
  • Patent number: 6326100
    Abstract: A cylindrical secondary battery includes a case, a cathode plate and an anode plate installed in the case, and a separator interposed therebetween, a cap on the case and a cap cover coupled to the cap and having a vent hole, and a one-way valve installed in the vent hole. The one-way valve includes a hollow body portion inserted in the vent hole of the cap cover, gas passing grooves at the outer circumferential surface of the hollow body, an upper flange at the outer circumferential surface of the hollow body, disposed above the cap cover, a lower flange at the outer circumferential surface of the hollow body, disposed under the cap cover, a spring elastically supported between the upper flange and the cap cover, and a fragile portion closing an upper portion of the hollow body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Se-jong Han, Yun-seok Choi
  • Publication number: 20010041286
    Abstract: The invention concerns a plug arrangement for gas-tight closure of a cell vent (2) of a storage battery. To provide a plug arrangement that to the greatest possible extent prevents acid from running out when a storage battery is tipped or turned and at the same time permits sufficient degassing and can also be produced economically, is easy to install and can be adjusted to different battery designs, this invention proposes a plug arrangement for gas-tight closure of a cell vent (2) of a storage battery composed of a plug (4) that can be used to seal the cell vent (2), whereby the inside (3) of the cells is connected by fluid mechanics to a hollow space (5) between the upper and lower covers (6, 7) of the housing cover (17) for acid deposition through a vent (10) in the generating surface (11) of the plug (4) that has a two-way sealed membrane (12).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2001
    Publication date: November 15, 2001
    Inventor: Wilhelm Cramer
  • Publication number: 20010031390
    Abstract: A battery cap is provided for engagement in a fill port of a cell of a deep cycle, lead-acid electrical storage battery. The battery cap is formed of a hollow, tubular body having an upper end with an expansive mouth opening, and a lower end at which a transverse floor extends radially inwardly. The floor includes a central, annular convex downwardly projecting portion that defines a central fluid passage opening. The interior of the tubular wall defines a radially inwardly projecting flame arrester seat spaced from both the upper and lower ends of the body. A pair of gas escape ports are defined in the tubular wall between the flame arrester seat and the mouth opening. A diverter is located in the lower portion of the tubular body beneath a disc shaped micropore filter that serves as the flame arrester and which is seated on the flame arrester seat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2001
    Publication date: October 18, 2001
    Inventor: William R. Schwarz
  • Patent number: 6277517
    Abstract: A battery of the type having electrolyte therein, comprising a case defining at least one electrolyte containing cell, and a primary cover bonded to the case. The primary cover has a barrel extending into the electrolyte cell. A secondary cover is bonded to the primary cover top, and includes an aperture concentric with the primary cover barrel. A baffling plug is disposed in the secondary cover aperture and extends into the barrel. The baffling plug has a lid with a bottom, an inner tubular splash guard extending away from said lid bottom, an outer splash guard concentrically spaced from said inner tubular splash guard. A retaining member formed part of the plug base retains the plug in the aperture, and seals the aperture to prevent the escape of the electrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Brian J. Thomas, William J. Ross
  • Patent number: 6261719
    Abstract: A battery-connecting plate for connecting batteries in series. The batteries, each with a positive and a negative electrodes at opposite ends, are assembled in a row with the positive and negative electrodes reversed in an alternating manner. The battery-connecting plate includes a base plate of synthetic resin; connection portions each having a busbar provided on the base plate, the busbar having a predetermined number of holes for passing therethrough of a corresponding number of the electrodes for connection therewith; and a pitch adjusting means provided on the base plate at every predetermined number of the connection portions for adjusting a deviation in position between the electrodes and the holes of the busbars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignees: Yazaki Corporation, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomohiro Ikeda, Satoshi Saito
  • Patent number: 6254841
    Abstract: For an improved recombination system serving to catalytically recombine hydrogen and oxygen, which form in a storage battery, into water and incorporating an adapter union assembly for the gas-tight connection of the system to a storage battery, a container which is gas-impermeable to the outside and which houses a recombination assembly, as well as a conduit for the loss-less gas intake from the adapter union to the container and water return flow in the opposite direction, whereby even in the event of an overload the hazard of escaping gas can be avoided and the efficacy of the catalytic unit can be maintained while at the same time the system can be produced at low cost and in a way as to be easily assembled and maintenance-free, this invention proposes to provide next to the conduit an expansion section which is open toward the outside but delimited by an ignition suppressor, and to connect the conduit with the expansion section by way of a gating aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: Accumulatorenwerke Hoppecke Carl Zoellner & Sohn GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Heinrich Kesper, Norbert Lahme, Ute Vielhaber
  • Patent number: 6255013
    Abstract: A sealed storage battery includes a battery case containing a group of electric power-generating elements each comprising a positive electrode, a negative electrode and a separator, a battery case lid closing an opening in the battery case to seal the battery case, and a safety valve of the assembling type mounted on the battery case lid. The safety valve is welded to the battery case lid. With this construction, a hermetic seal at an area of contact between the safety valve and the battery case lid is enhanced, and also the reliability of the safety valve is enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuhei Marukawa, Hiroshi Inoue, Shinji Hamada, Munehisa Ikoma
  • Publication number: 20010002300
    Abstract: A cylindrical metal-air cell has a cylindrical housing, an axially extending cylindrical air cathode adjacent an interior surface of the housing, and a plurality of elongate plenums defined between the oxygen electrode and the interior surface of the housing. Isolating passageway are positioned between the ambient environment and each of the plenums, and an air moving device is operable to force air through the isolating passageways and into at least one of the plenums. The air moving device may be a micromachined blower controlled by a circuit integrated into the housing of the blower.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2001
    Publication date: May 31, 2001
    Applicant: AER Energy Resources, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence A. Tinker, R. Dennis Bentz
  • Patent number: 6235419
    Abstract: A sealed storage battery includes a battery case containing a group of electric power-generating elements each comprising a positive electrode, a negative electrode and a separator, a battery case lid closing an opening in the battery case to seal the battery case, and a safety vent of the assembling type mounted on the battery case lid. The safety vent is welded to the battery case lid. With this construction, a hermetic seal at an area of contact between the safety vent and the battery case lid is enhanced, and also the reliability of the safety vent is enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuhei Marukawa, Hiroshi Inoue, Shinji Hamada, Munehisa Ikoma
  • Patent number: 6203937
    Abstract: A closed container is filled through a metal fill port which is then sealed with a rigid metal ball press fitted into the port passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert E. Kraska