Abstract: An automatic shut-off valve suitable for watering of batteries is disclosed. The valve is formed by a chamber having an inlet and an outlet. A seat surrounds the outlet. A spring biased piston within the cylinder is movable into and out of sealing engagement with the seat to open and close the valve. A flow deflecting surface is positioned between the inlet and the piston. Water flow is directed around the piston to eliminate drag that would force the piston into engagement with the seat. A second deflector surface directs flow against the piston to bias it open. An actuator cup, fed by a nozzle extending from the outlet, draws the piston into engagement with the seat when the cup is sealed by engagement with the electrolyte surface. The valve may also employ a float actuator connected to the piston.

Abstract: A catalyst device for use with battery cells to recombine oxygen and hydrogen gas and thereby improve the performance and life of such cells. The catalyst device has the ability to filter out catalyst poisons and control the temperature of the recombination reactions. A container houses the catalyst within a chamber. A catalyst poison filter is provided in the chamber with the catalyst. The movement of gas and vapor to and from the chamber is controlled by a microporous section of the device. The pore size is chosen to allow gas and vapor to pass, but not liquids, and to also prevent a flame from passing through. Within these parameters the pore size can also be chosen to control and or limit the amount of gas that can pass through to the catalyst in a given time period. Preferably, the microporous section is formed as a disc that seals an opening in the chamber.

Abstract: A method and device for filling a container with liquid up to a predetermined level. The device includes a cylinder and a piston movable within the cylinder between a rest position and a fill position. A supply of liquid for filling the container is provided to a first end of the piston at alternating pressures to cycle the piston back and forth between the rest and fill positions. Each time the piston reaches its fill position, supply liquid is added to the container. With each cycle the device draws fluid from the container and then attempts to compress the drawn fluid with a second end of the piston. When the fluid drawn is gas, the piston can compress the gas to continue moving to the fill position. When the drawn fluid is liquid, the piston can not compress the liquid and thus is stopped to prevent further filling.

Abstract: An electrolyte level monitor used in combination with a battery having multiple cells. The monitor includes a circuit having an indicator which operates when the electrolyte level is at or above the minimum acceptable electrolyte level. The circuit is connected across cells of the battery to provide a potential to operate the monitor.