Abstract: A reduced maintenance, explosion damage resistant storage battery (10), having internal means for both recombining evolved gases and for protecting the battery against damage due to evolved gas ignition whether from external or internal sources is disclosed. In a first embodiment of the invention, a honeycomb-like member (60) of electrolyte-resistant material substantially fills the space within the battery above the battery electrodes, dividing this volume into a plurality of small volumes (76), surrounded by cooling surfaces, so that ignition of one small volume (76) by an external spark or by failure of an internal battery component will not cause damage. A small space (20) is left above the honeycomb member (60), and a planar catalytic recombination element (78) is provided, substantially filling this space.

Abstract: An apparatus that provides a fluid seal between a battery post and battery cover. A first stuffing box is located around the battery post. This stuffing box contains an O-ring and a gland fitting which is screwed into the stuffing box for the purpose of squeezing the O-ring to create a fluid seal relationship between the stuffing box and the battery post. A second stuffing box is formed integrally with the battery case. This stuffing box is concentric with the first stuffing box. An O-ring is provided to create a fluid seal between the two stuffing boxes. Movement of the battery post with respect to the battery case is accommodated by movement between the two stuffing boxes.

Abstract: A battery cell characterized by a plurality of cell plates housed in a container that includes a window adjacent to the edges of several plates. A triangular member of resilient material is attached at its base to the edge of at least one of the plates. The sides of the member contain two lands and the tip of the member contacts the window. The interface between the tip and the window is visible through the window as a single line. As the plate increases in size, the edges of the lands contact the window producing additional lines; the number of lines representing the gradual diminution in the cell life.

Abstract: An electrical insulator for covering interconnected terminals of adjacent batteries includes a pair of terminal cover members each covering a battery post along with a portion of a conductor bolted to the battery posts and an intermediate cover member having an inverted trough-shaped configuration for receiving the length of the conductor extending between the pair of terminal covers and overlapping a portion of the terminal cover members, thereby enabling the length of the insulator to be adjusted to cover battery terminals interconnected with different lengths of conductors. The insulator is fastened to the battery connection by providing the intermediate cover with inwardly extending flanges and forming it from a resilient material so that it will yieldingly flex as it is placed into position, whereupon the flanges are resiliently urged beneath the interconnecting conductor to secure the insulator to the battery connection.