Rapid activation and checkout device for batteries

• US 3,912,541 A
• Filed: 06/27/1974
• Issued: 10/14/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: William A. Boshers, William J. Britz
• Original Assignee: William A. Boshers, William J. Britz
• Inventors: Boshers, William A., Britz, William J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilbur, Maynard R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Berger, Richard E.
• Application Number:
  US05/483,857
• Time in Patent Office: 474 Days
• Field of Search: 136/90,114,162,181,182
• US Class Current: 429/118
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/682 accommodated in battery or cell casings
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/38 by mechanical means
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/50 Methods or arrangements for servicing or maintenance, e.g. for maintaining operating temperature 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 6/5011 for several cells simultaneously or successively

Abstract

An apparatus for activating a battery by inserting an electrolyte into the cells thereof while concurrently making voltage measurements on each cell. The battery has a planar top with vertically extending passages extending therethrough providing access to the cells. It also has test points adjacent each cell. A housing is mounted on top of the battery for supplying an electrolyte through sealed passages into the cells while simultaneously checking the voltage of the cells. The electrolyte is forced by pressure into the battery.

Claims

1. AN APPARATUS FOR ACTIVATING A BATTERY BY INSERTING AN ELECTROLYTE INTO THE CELLS THEREOF WHILE CONCURRENTLY MAKING VOLTAGE MEASUREMENTS ON EACH CELL, SAID BATTERY HAVING A PLANAR TOP WITH VERTICALLY EXTENDING PASSAGES EXTENDING THERETHROUGH PROVIDING ACCESS TO CELLS OF SAID BATTERY, ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE TEST POINTS PROVIDED ON SAID BATTERY FOR EACH OF SAID CELLS, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING:

A. AN ENCLOSED HOUSING CONTAINING SAID ELECTROLYTE WHICH IS TO BE INSERTING INTO SAID CELLS FOR ACTIVATING SAID CELLS, B. SAID ENCLOSED HOUSING HAVING A PLANAR BOTTOM SO THAT SAID HOUSING CAN BE POSITIONED ON SAID PLANAR TOP OF SAID BATTERY, C. TUBULAR MEMBERS CARRIED IN SAID BOTTOM OF SAID HOUSING FOR COVEYING SAID ELECTROLYTE FROM SAID HOUSING TO SAID CELLS OF SAID BATTERY, D. MEANS FOR PROVIDING A SEALED COUPLING BETWEEN SAID TUBULAR MEMBERS AND PASSAGES WHEN SAID HOUSING IS POSITIONED ON SAID BATTERY, E. PLURALITY OFDOWNWARDLY EXTENDING ELECTRICAL TEST PROBES CARRIED BY SAID BOTTOM OF SAID HOUSING FOR ENGAGEMENT SAID TEST POINTS ON SAID BATTERY, AND F.ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR MEANS COUPLED TO SAID ELECTRICAL TEST PROBES FOR CONVEYING VOLTAGE SIGNALS FROM SAD TEST PROBES EXTERNAL OF SAID HOUSING, WHEREBY CONCURRENTYL WITH SAID ELECTROLYTE BEING SUPPLIED TO SIAD CELLS FROM SAID HOUSING ELECTRICAL VOLTAGE MEASUREMENTS CAN BE MADE OF EACH CELL.

2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further comprising:

a. an hermetically sealed top carried on said housing;

b. a vacuum pump connected to said housing for evacuating air from said cells and said housing; and

c. valve means for selectively exposing an upper portion of said housing to atmospheric pressure, for forcing said electrolyte into said cells.

3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

a. a plurality of compartments are carried in said housing;

b. each of said tubular members communicating with a respective compartment; and

c. said electrolyte being carried in said compartments for insertion into said cells of said battery.

4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

a. said means for providing a sealed coupling between said tubular members and passages is a resilient strip which extends around said tubular members.

5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

a. said tubular members are arranged in the bottom of said housing in the same configuration as said passages to said cells of said battery so that when said housing is placed on top of said battery communication is provided between respective passages and tubular members.

6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 2 further comprising:

a. a vacuum guage carried by said housing and operably connected to the exterior thereof for indicating the pressure within said housing.