Patent ID: 6228525
Filing Date: 2001-05-08
Classification: H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
A cell plug for maintaining the electrolyte level in a wet cell battery, the cell plug comprising:a hollow float chamber housing having a top opening and a bottom opening, an annular wall defining an inner chamber, a pair of vent openings being defined in the upper wall surface;a hollow float container vertically movable within the chamber housing, the container being filled with styrofoam packing to prevent condensation;an elongated float needle having a bullet shaped upper section, a slotted bottom section for friction fit engagement with the float container, whereby the float needle will reactively move in a vertical up or down direction in response to the movement of the float container;a hollow needle housing for guiding the movement of the float needle, the needle housing having a lower opening and an upper opening, a vent chamber disc molded about the housing, a plurality of vent guide ribs defined in the surface of the chamber disc;a rubber seat seal being insertable into the lower opening of the needle housing for receiving the float needle;a locating ferrule biased against the bottom of the seat seal to maintain the seat seal in proper position within the housing tube;a vent chamber barrier having an indented lower surface engaging with the guide ribs of the chamber disc to form a vent chamber;a cell cap having a hollow transition unit molded to its underside, a passageway extending therethrough for receiving the assembly comprising the housing tube, the rubber seat seal, the vent chamber disc and the locating ferrule, all being insertable through a bottom entry of the passageway, the nose cone section of the float needle extending through a bottom opening in the cell cap, the transition unit having means to connect the cell cap with the float chamber housing;a rubber gasket forming a liquid impermeable seal between the cell cap and the battery cell;a fill inlet cover having a chamber within, the chamber having a circular opening with means for connecting the cover to the housing tube, a fill inlet line for bringing in water from a reservoir, whereby the battery cell upon being filled to the proper level will cause the float container to rise, thereby raising the needle nose cone, which then forms a fluid seal with the seat seal shutting off the flow of water when the cell electrolyte has been replenished.