Patent ID: 6338368
Filing Date: 2002-01-15
Classification: H01M,Y02E,Y10T

Abstract:
A battery refill system in combination with an electric golf car, the system comprising:the golf car having a seat capable of being raised into an upright position, the seat having an underside; a plurality of wet cell batteries disposed in a battery frame, the batteries arranged in pairs and in-series relationship to each other; a reservoir mounted to the underside of the seat for communicating water, by gravity, to the batteries, wherein the reservoir comprises: a top surface and a side surface, an inlet opening disposed on the top surface for allowing the operator to replenish the reservoir with water, a drain opening disposed on the lower section of one of the sides of the reservoir for allowing water to flow by gravity to the valve assembly, a fill cap for covering the inlet opening, a drain cap attached to the drain opening, the drain cap having means for connecting to the valve assembly, and a vent unit disposed on the upper section of the side surface of the reservoir for allowing excess water to be drained out of the reservoir when the seat is lowered into its normal position on the golf car; a valve assembly attached in fluid communication between the reservoir and the batteries, the valve assembly having means for controlling the flow of water to each pair of batteries, wherein the valve assembly comprises: a plurality of hollow cylinders, each integrally connected to the other, a channel transposing through the cylinders, each cylinder having an upper opening and a lower opening, a cup section having an intake port defined therein on one side of the assembly, a fastening loop on the opposite side of the assembly, a plurality of piston rods, each piston rod of a size and shape for insertion through the lower opening of one of the cylinders, each piston rod having: an insertion end having split prongs, a passageway transposed therein, a middle section defining a spool having semi-circular cavitation about its diameter for aligning within the channel of one of the cylinders, a pair of circular cavities defined on either side of the spool, and a pair of O-rings, each one disposed on one of the cavities for providing a water tight seal; a plurality of control caps, each one friction fitted onto the upper opening of one of the cylinders, each control cap having means for friction fitting with the split prongs of one of the piston rods, whereby the operator can control the flow of water through the cylinder assembly by the manipulation of the control caps which operate the piston rods into an either open or close position; a plurality of generally hollow cylinder distribution caps, each having: means for snap fitting over the lower opening of one of the cylinders, and an exit port connected to a distribution line for transporting water to the batteries; a cylindrical interconnector having opposing sides, one side connecting the cup section of the assembly, the other side with the drain cap of the reservoir, and a valve support bracket having means for fastening to the underside of the seat, the bracket having a resilient penetrating head for snap-fitting into the fastening loop; distribution lines in fluid communication with the reservoir, the valve assembly and the batteries for delivering water; each of the batteries having a plurality of cells; a cell plug associated with each of the cells, the cell plug having means for preventing cells overfill; the cell plug having means for communicating flow of water to next cell; and an overflow cell plug associated with a last cell of the plurality of cells, the overflow cell plug being adapted to indicate when the batteries are saturated, whereby an operator can then close the associated distribution line to stop the flow of water.