BATTERY TERMINAL LEAK DETECTOR

• US 3,793,876 A
• Filed: 08/10/1972
• Issued: 02/26/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: GNB Batteries, Inc. (Transdigm Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Thomas L. Oswald
• Inventors: Oswald, Thomas L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Myracle, Jerry W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Roskos, Joseph W.
• Application Number:
  US05/279,377
• Time in Patent Office: 565 Days
• Field of Search: 73/46,49.7,49.8,40,49.2 340/242 136/182,135
• US Class Current: 73/46
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/26 by measuring rate of loss or gain of fluid, e.g. by pressure-responsive devices, by flow detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/32 for containers, e.g. radiators
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/3263 using a differential pressure detector G01M3/3245, G01M3/3272 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4228 Leak testing of cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/48 Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/543 Terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A leak detector including a head with a resilient lip that is fitted closely around a battery container terminal assembly that is connected by a line to a source of vacuum. A pair of valves in the lines are opened to evacuate the head and pull the lip into sealing engagement with the periphery of the terminal assembly, and then both valves are closed and the pressure differential, if any, across the valve closest to the head is sensed. A leak is evidenced by development of a pressure differential across the first valve, and if the differential exceeds a predetermined value for a given time interval an alarm or reject circuit is actuated.

Claims

1. A detector for sensing leaks in a through-the-wall battery terminal comprising, in combination, a head having an extending flexible resilient lip sized to surround said terminal, a line coupled to said head connecting the interior of said lip to a source of vacuum, a pair of valves connected in said line for selectively closing the line to air flow at two spaced points, a pressure differential sensor connected to said line on either side of the valve of said pair that is closest to said head so as to measure the air pressure differential across that valve, means for opening said valves while said lip surrounds said terminal so that atmospheric pressure flexes said lip and tightly clamps the lip in sealing relation around the terminal and for thereafter closing said valves to maintain a vacuum in said line between said valves and to establish a vacuum in the line between said head and the closest valve, and means for generating a control signal if said sensor detects a pressure differential increase of more than a predetermined amount during a given time interval.

2. The combination of claim 1 in which said terminal is shielded in a cylindrical ring integral with the battery wall, said lip being annular and sized to slip closely over said ring so that, when said valves are opened, a substantial, airtight, cylindrical sealing area is established between the lip and the ring.