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.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to a unidirectional draining device and more particularly to a unidirectional draining device for a battery storage housing.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Hybrid electric vehicles employ an internal combustion engine and an electric motor which can alternatively, or in conjunction, provide a driving force for a vehicle.  
           [0003]    There are several types of electric propulsion systems for vehicles. For example, a pure electric drive vehicle, a series hybrid system, a parallel hybrid system, and a combined series-parallel hybrid system are just a few of the designs currently being considered.  
           [0004]    One common factor of all these designs is that there is a need for a high-efficiency battery storage system. The battery storage system houses a plurality of batteries or an electric storage medium.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    The present invention includes a draining device having an engagement portion depending outwardly from an annular portion, the engagement portion having an inner opening in fluid communication with a pair of openings in the annular portion. The engagement portion is coupled to an opening of a housing. The annular portion extends outwardly from the engagement portion to define a shoulder portion. The shoulder portion contacts the housing when the engagement portion is engaged in the opening. The pair of openings provide a unidirectional pathway for fluid to pass from the interior of the housing to the exterior.  
           [0006]    A housing for an electric storage medium of a vehicle having a plurality of openings in a lower surface of the housing, a plurality of plug members each having a threaded portion, an annular member and a head portion are engaged into the openings of the housing. The annular member is disposed between the head portion and the threaded portion. The threaded portion of the plug member is configured to be received and engaged in one of the plurality of openings. Each plug member has an elongated opening disposed within the threaded portion, and the elongated opening is in fluid communication with a pair of openings in the annular member.  
           [0007]    The above-described and other features and advantages of the present invention will be appreciated and understood by those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, drawings, and appended claims. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]    [0008]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle having a housing for an electrical storage medium;  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a housing for a battery pack;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 3 is a view along lines  3 - 3  of FIG. 2;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of a draining device constructed in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 5 is a view along lines  5 - 5  of FIG. 4;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a draining device inserted into a housing; and  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a draining device constructed in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0015]    Referring now to FIG. 1, a vehicle  10  having an electrical storage medium  12  for providing electrical energy to a vehicle propulsion system is illustrated.  
         [0016]    Referring now to FIG. 2, electrical storage medium  12  is illustrated. Electrical storage medium  12  houses a plurality of batteries (e.g., NiMH or lead acid) for receiving, storing and supplying voltage to vehicle  10 .  
         [0017]    In order to maintain or control the temperature within electrical storage medium  12  and exchange the air within electric storage medium  12 , an air circulation system provides air to the internal compartment of electrical storage medium  12  through the use of air ducts  14 . Air ducts  14  are configured to be in fluid communication with the vehicle&#39;s heating, ventilating and air-conditioning system or alternatively or in combination with ambient air.  
         [0018]    In an exemplary embodiment, at least 10% of the air provided to the internal compartment of electrical storage medium  12  comprises ambient air. It is contemplated that the percentage of ambient air may be greater or less than 10%. Accordingly, and since a portion of the air flow into the internal compartment of the electrical storage medium consists of ambient air, the air flow will contain a percentage of moisture.  
         [0019]    In order to ensure that water or moisture does not accumulate within electrical storage medium  12 , a plurality of drain openings  16  are positioned in the lowest surface of electrical storage medium  12  in order to facilitate draining of any moisture. In an exemplary embodiment, four drain openings are located at each corner of the lower surface of electrical storage medium  12 . Alternatively, the number and location of drain openings  16  may vary. Preferably, drain openings  16  are located at the lowest point of the housing of electrical storage medium  12 . Each drain opening  16  is fitted with a draining device  18 .  
         [0020]    Referring now to FIGS.  3 - 7 , draining device  18  is illustrated. Draining device  18  has a threaded portion  20  for being meshingly engaged by a complementary threaded surface in drain opening  16 . Alternatively, draining device  18  is pressed fitted into drain opening  16 . A preferred material for draining device  18  is polystyrene. Of course, other materials capable of being easily molded are contemplated for use in manufacturing draining device  18 . Such materials include but are not limited to plastic, rubber, metal, etc.  
         [0021]    Threaded portion  20  includes an inner opening  22  which is in fluid communication with a pair of side openings  24 . Side openings  24  are disposed in an annular portion  26  of draining device  18 . Annular portion  26  includes a shoulder portion  28  that makes contact with a portion  30  of the housing of electrical storage medium  12 . Portion  30  is disposed about the periphery of drain opening  16 . Accordingly, once draining device  18  is fully inserted into drain opening  16 , shoulder portion  28  makes contact with portion  30 , thereby limiting the travel of draining device  18  into opening  16 . More particularly, portion  28  limits the travel of draining device  18  so that side openings  24  are positioned below opening  16  once draining device  18  is fully engaged into opening  16 .  
         [0022]    As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5 and in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, side openings  24  are positioned 180 degrees from each other. In addition, side openings  24  are orthogonally arranged with respect to inner opening  22 . It is contemplated that in accordance with an alternative embodiment side openings  24  are configured to be arranged at an angle greater than or less than 90 degrees. Thus, fluid may pass from the interior of the housing of electrical storage medium  12  to the exterior. Fluid communication is indicated by the arrows in FIG. 3. The configuration of side openings  24  and inner opening  22  allows fluid to pass out of the electric storage housing while limiting or preventing backwash of any fluid into the internal compartment of the electric storage medium.  
         [0023]    An exemplary draining device  18  includes two side openings  24  positioned 180 degrees from each other. As an alternative, multiple side openings are arrangable at various degrees from each other. For example, four side openings  24  are positioned 90 degrees for each other. Of course, other arrangements and configurations are contemplated in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0024]    Housing wall  32  is configured to have a protrusion or annular wall  34  surrounding the exterior portion of opening  16 . Annular wall  34  defines a receiving area  36  into which draining device  18  is inserted.  
         [0025]    Draining device  18  is configured to have a head portion  38  which in accordance with an exemplary embodiment extends radially outward from the center of draining device  18 . Head portion  38  is configured to extend outwardly from the center of draining device  18  further than annular portion  26 . Thus, a portion of head portion  38  extends over annular portion  26 . Accordingly, and once draining device  18  is inserted into opening  16 , a portion of head portion  38  provides a cover to side openings  24 .  
         [0026]    In addition, and in order to facilitate the securement of draining device  18  into opening  16 , head portion  38  has a slotted opening  40  for receipt of a tool such as a screwdriver in order to provide a rotational force to draining device  18  as it is inserted into opening  16 . As an alternative, slotted opening  40  is configured to receive a Phillips head screwdriver, Allen wrench, star driver, etc.  
         [0027]    In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the outer diameter or circumference of head portion  38  is slightly smaller than the inside diameter of receiving area  36 . Accordingly, a peripheral opening is positioned to allow for fluid communication between housing  32  and its exterior.  
         [0028]    In addition, and in order to prevent backflow or splashing of a fluid into the interior of housing  32 , annular wall  34  provides a blocking feature for direct fluid communication into side openings  24 . Moreover, the configuration between opening  22  and side openings  24  further prevents direct fluid communication from side opening  24  into inner opening  22  and ultimately the interior of housing  32 . Thus, the configuration of inner opening  22 , side openings  24 , annular wall  34  and the head portion  38  provide a means for allowing fluid to pass from the interior of housing  32  to the exterior without providing a path for backflow of fluids such as water.  
         [0029]    In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, draining device  18  is equipped with the following dimensions: head portion  38 , diameter 30 mm, height 3 mm and an extending portion of 3 mm radially; annular portion  26 , diameter 24 mm, height 4.4 mm; side openings  24 , diameter 4.2 mm; and inner opening  22 , diameter 13.9 mm, height 6.2 mm.  
         [0030]    Of course, and as applications may require, the aforementioned dimensions of draining device  18  may vary.  
         [0031]    It is also contemplated that draining device  18  may be used in conjunction with or without retaining wall  34 .  
         [0032]    While the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.