Battery refill indicator

• US 4,184,011 A
• Filed: 05/08/1978
• Issued: 01/15/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Edward R. Strazewski
• Original Assignee: Edward R. Strazewski
• Inventors: Strazewski, Edward R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Skapars, Anthony
• Application Number:
  US05/903,757
• Time in Patent Office: 617 Days
• Field of Search: 429/91, 429/90, 73/290 R, 73/305, 73/306, 73/319, 73/322, 73/322.5, 73/309, 73/311, 73/122
• US Class Current: 429/91
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/58 using mechanically actuated indicating means
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/484 for measuring electrolyte level, electrolyte density or electrolyte conductivity
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A battery refill indicator including a cap having a screw type base and an enlarged cover including a central opening and a float-type liquid level indicator supported by said cap and including a stem extending outwardly through said central opening in said cap and a float connected to the stem in a position to be suspended within the electrolyte in the battery cell. The stem is limited in its upward travel to a height less than the height of the battery cables and the float is adapted to be adjusted in length to accomodate different size batteries. A guide disc is provided in the cap which limits the upward travel of the indicator and also acts as a splash guard.

Claims

1. A battery refill comprising:

a cap,

a liquid level indicator supported by said cap, said indicator including means extending above said cap to indicate the proper level of electrolyte in the battery and means responding to the level of the electrolyte in the battery, said cap includes a base portion having a splash guard in the form of a flat washer mounted in the lower portion thereof for controlling the motion of the indicating means whereby the height of the indicating means above the cap indicates whether the proper level of electrolyte is present in the battery.

2. The indicator according to claim 1 wherein said splash guard is located to limit the upward movement of the indicating means to a height less than the height of a battery cable.

3. The indicator according to claim 1 wherein said level responsive means comprises a hollow cylinder closed at one end and having a plurality of ribs on the outer surface thereof, the ribs at the upper end of the hollow cylinder being releasably connected to said indicating means.

4. The indicator according to claim 3 wherein said indicating means includes a stem and a hollow enlarged section having an internal groove, the rib on said hollow cylinder being snapped into said grove.

5. The indicator according to claim 4 wherein said number of ribs on the hollow cylinder is determined by the size of the battery.

6. A battery refill indicator comprising a cap adapted to be mounted in the vent openings of a battery, said cap including an enlarged upper portion having a central opening and a vent opening, and a hollow screw-type base, and a liquid level indicator supported in the central opening in the cap and having an upper portion and a lower portion, said upper portion including an indicator stem projecting through said central opening and an enlarged hollow section at the lower end, said lower portion including a hollow tubular member having one end inserted into said hollow section and the other end closed to define a sealed chamber, and means in said cap for limiting the upward movement of the indicator to a height less than the height of the battery cables, said limiting means located in the bottom of said base to act as a splash guard and to define a vent passage in the inside wall of said base.