Battery cap with electrolyte level indicator

• US 4,562,127 A
• Filed: 03/29/1984
• Issued: 12/31/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mangone
• Original Assignee: Domingo Mangone
• Inventors: Mangone, Pascuale
• Primary Examiner(s): Skapars, Anthony
• Application Number:
  US06/594,937
• Time in Patent Office: 642 Days
• Field of Search: 429/71, 429/72, 429/82, 429/83, 429/89, 429/91, 73/293, 73/322.5, 73/327, 137/558, 137/559
• US Class Current: 429/89
• 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

The indicator cap (22 or 80) is formed of a base connected to a transparent tube (46) forming a cylindrical cavity (48) receiving a colored or opaque float (70). The position of the float (70) within the tube (46) indicates the level of the electrolyte in the cell (20) of the battery (10). The float contains an upper collar (74) which cooperates with top vent (60) or side vent (92) to seal the cell. The collar (74) engages the annular disc (76) or apertured collar (86) to prevent the float (70) from falling into the cell (20) when the cap (22 or 80) is removed from the aperture (24).

Claims

1. A battery cap with an electrolyte level indicator comprising in combination:

a hollow body member having a base for sealingly engaging an opening in the top wall of a cell of a battery, and a long cylindrical hollow tube portion having an upper transparent section with a closed upper end extending above said base and a lower section with an open lower end depending downwardly into the battery cell, both said sections being connected to the base and together forming an elongated, constant diameter, cylindrical hollow cavity;

a closed, constant diameter cylindrical colored float member having an enlarged top collar mounted in the hollow cavity; and

a stop member attached to the open lower end of said lower section having an opening smaller than the collar but larger than the diameter of the float for preventing the float from falling through said opening when the cap is removed from the cell.

2. A battery cap according to claim 1 in which the stop member comprises an inverted lid member attached to the end of said lower section and said lid has a cylindrical aperture having a diameter smaller than the collar but larger than the float.

3. A battery cap according to claim 1 in which the body member includes gripping means.

4. A battery cap according to claim 3 in which the gripping means comprises a plurality of vertical vanes attached to the tube portion of the body member.

5. A battery cap according to claim 1 in which the base includes a closure means.

6. A battery cap according to claim 1 in which the opening has screw threads and the closure means comprises a set of mating threads.

7. A battery cap according to claim 1 in which the opening includes a rim and the closure means comprise surfaces for frictionally engaging the rim and the opening.

8. A battery cap according to claim 1 in which the upper tube portion further includes a vent.

9. A battery cap according to claim 8 in which the vent is positioned on top of the tube portion.

10. A battery cap according to claim 8 in which the vent is positioned on the side of the tube portion.

11. A battery cap according to claim 10 in which the walls of the vent are downwardly facing.

12. A battery cap according to claim 11 in which the vent is positioned on the side of the tube portion near the top of the tube portion.

13. A battery cap according to claim 2 in which the top lid member has a lip engaging the outer surface of the end of the lower section.