Self-closing vent assembly for a sealed container

Claim 2

A vent assembly for a container subject to internal gas pressure, comprising: a closure member forming a seal across the top of the container, said closure member being provided with a through-going venthole terminating in a recess at the upper surface thereof; resilient plug means in said recess obstructing said vent hole; fastening means on said upper surface offset from said recess; and an elongate spring separate and independent of said plug means pivotAlly engaged by said fastening means for rotation about the latter, said spring normally overlying said recess in cantilever fashion and exerting downward pressure upon said plug means for resisting the escape of gases through said vent hole, rotation of said spring into an off-normal position enabling withdrawal of said plug means and filling of the container through said vent hole.

Claim 3

A vent assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said fastening means comprises a stem with a head rising from said closure member and resilient support means surrounding said stem, said spring being traversed by said stem and being clamped between said head and said support means.

Claim 4

A vent assembly as defined in claim 2 wherein said plug means projects above said recess in its uncompressed state, said spring bearing upon said plug means with sufficient pressure to come to rest against said upper surface outside said recess.

Claim 5

A vent assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said plug means has the shape of a disc substantially filling said recess.

Claim 6

A vent assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said plug means has the shape of a sphere substantially filling said recess.

Claim 7

A vent assembly for a battery casing subject to internal gas pressure, comprising: a closure member forming a seal across the top of the casing, said closure member being provided with a throughgoing vent hole terminating in a recess at the upper surface thereof and with a bore offset from said vent hole; resilient plug means in said recess obstructing said vent hole; a terminal stud passing through said aperture in conductive contact with a battery component in said casing, said stud having a head above said upper surface; an elastic ring surrounding said stud below said head; and an elongate spring separate and independent of said plug means traversed by said stud and clamped between said ring and said head while being rotatable about said stud, with elastic deformation of said ring to seal said bore, said spring normally overlying said recess in cantilever fashion and exerting downward pressure upon said plug means for resisting the escape of gases through said vent hole, rotation of said spring into an off-normal position enabling withdrawal of said plug means and filling of the casing through said vent hole.

Claim 8

A vent assembly for a battery casing subject to internal gas pressure, comprising: a closure member forming a seal across the top of the casing, said closure member being provided with a throughgoing vent hole terminating in a recess at the upper surface thereof and with a bore offset from said vent hole; resilient plug means in said recess obstructing said vent hole; a terminal stud passing through said aperture in conductive contact with a battery component in said casing, said stud having a head above said upper surface; an elastic ring surrounding said stud below said head; and an elongate spring separate and independent of said plug means traversed by said stud and clamped between said ring and said head while being rotatable about said stud, with elastic deformation of said ring to seal said bore, said spring normally overlying said recess in cantilever fashion and exerting downward pressure upon said plug means for resisting the escape of gases through said vent hole, rotation of said spring into an off-normal position enabling withdrawal of said plug means and filling of the casing through said vent hole.

Claim 9

A vent assembly as defined in claim 6 wherein said bore terminates at its upper end in an annular depression receiving said ring.

Claim 10

A vent assembly as defined in claim 7 wherein said plug means projects above said recess in its uncompressed state, said spring bearing upon said plug means with sufficient pressure to come to rest against said upper surface outside said recess while deforming said ring against the periphery of said depression.

Claim 11

A vent assembly for a container subject to internal gas pressure, comprising: a closure member forming a seal across the top of the container, said closure member being provided with a throughgoing vent hole terminating in a recess at the upper surface thereof; a resilient plug in said recess obstructing said vent hole, said plug having a concave underside overlying said vent hole and a peak rising above said vent hole slightly beyond the level of said upper surface; fastening means on said upper surface offset from said recess; and an elongate spring engaged by said fastening means, said spring overlying said recess in cantilever fashion and exerting downward pressure upon said peak for resisting the escape of gases rising from said vent hole and accumulating in said concave underside.

Claim 12

A vent assembly for a container subject to internal gas pressure, comprising: a closure member forming a seal across the top of the container, said closure member being provided with a throughgoing vent hole terminating in a recess at the upper surface thereof; a resilient plug in said recess obstructing said vent hole, said plug having a concave underside overlying said vent hole and a peak rising above said vent hole slightly beyond the level of said upper surface; fastening means on said upper surface offset from said recess; and an elongate spring engaged by said fastening means, said spring overlying said recess in cantilever fashion and exerting downward pressure upon said peak for resisting the escape of gases rising from said vent hole and accumulating in said concave underside.

Claim 13

A vent assembly as defined in claim 9, further comprising a resilient annular washer on the bottom of said recess, said plug being substantially hat shaped and provided with a crimped brim surrounding said vent hole and resting against the top of said washer.

Claim 14

A vent assembly for a battery casing subject to internal gas pressure, comprising: a closure member forming a seal across the top of the casing, saiD closure member being provided with a throughgoing vent hole terminating in a recess at the upper surface thereof and with a bore offset from said vent hole; a resilient plug in said recess obstructing said vent hole, said plug having a concave underside overlying said vent hole and a peak rising above said vent hole substantially to the level of said upper surface; a terminal stud passing through said aperture in conductive contact with a battery component in said casing, said stud having a head above said upper surface; an elastic ring surrounding said stud below said head; and an elongate spring traversed by said stud and clamped between said head and said ring with elastic deformation of the latter to seal said bore, said spring overlying said recess in cantilever fashion and exerting downward pressure upon said peak for resisting the escape of gases rising from said vent hole and accumulating in said concave underside.

Claim 15

A vent assembly for a battery casing subject to internal gas pressure, comprising: a closure member forming a seal across the top of the casing, saiD closure member being provided with a throughgoing vent hole terminating in a recess at the upper surface thereof and with a bore offset from said vent hole; a resilient plug in said recess obstructing said vent hole, said plug having a concave underside overlying said vent hole and a peak rising above said vent hole substantially to the level of said upper surface; a terminal stud passing through said aperture in conductive contact with a battery component in said casing, said stud having a head above said upper surface; an elastic ring surrounding said stud below said head; and an elongate spring traversed by said stud and clamped between said head and said ring with elastic deformation of the latter to seal said bore, said spring overlying said recess in cantilever fashion and exerting downward pressure upon said peak for resisting the escape of gases rising from said vent hole and accumulating in said concave underside.

Claim 16

A vent assembly as defined in claim 11 wherein said bore terminates at its upper end in an annular depression receiving said ring, the latter being elastically deformed against the periphery of said depression.

Claim 17

A vent assembly for a container subject to internal gas pressure, comprising: a closure member forming a seal across the top of the container, said closure member being provided with a throughgoing vent hole terminating in a recess at the upper surface thereof; a resilient plug in said recess obstructing said vent hole, said plug having a concave underside overlying said vent hole and a peak rising in line with said vent hole above said surface; fastening means on said upper surface offset from said recess; and an elongate spring pivotally engaged by said fastening means for rotation about the latter, said spring normally overlying said recess in cantilever fashion and exerting downward pressure upon said peak for resisting the escape of gases rising from said vent hole and accumulating in said concave underside.

Claim 18

A vent assembly for a container subject to internal gas pressure, comprising: a closure member forming a seal across the top of the container, said closure member being provided with a throughgoing vent hole terminating in a recess at the upper surface thereof; a resilient plug in said recess obstructing said vent hole, said plug having a concave underside overlying said vent hole and a peak rising in line with said vent hole above said surface; fastening means on said upper surface offset from said recess; and an elongate spring pivotally engaged by said fastening means for rotation about the latter, said spring normally overlying said recess in cantilever fashion and exerting downward pressure upon said peak for resisting the escape of gases rising from said vent hole and accumulating in said concave underside.

Claim 19

A vent assembly for a battery casing subject to internal gas pressure, comprising: a closure member forming a seal across the top of the casing, said closure member being provided with a throughgoing vent hole terminating in a recess at the upper surface thereof and with a bore offset from said vent hole terminating in an annular depression at said upper surface; a resilient plug in said recess obstructing said vent hole, said plug having a concave underside bounded by a crimped base surrounding said vent hole and a peak rising in line with said vent hole above said upper surface; a terminal stud passing through said aperture in conductive contact with a battery component in said casing, said stud having a head above said upper surface; an elastic ring around said stud received in said depression; and an elongate spring traversed by said stud and clamped between said ring and said head while being rotatable about said stud, with elastic deformation of said ring against the periphery of said depression to seal said bore, said spring normally overlying said recess in cantilever fashion and exerting downward pressure upon said peak for resisting the escape of gases rising from said vent hole and accumulating in said concave underside.

Claim 20

A vent assembly for a battery casing subject to internal gas pressure, comprising: a closure member forming a seal across the top of the casing, said closure member being provided with a throughgoing vent hole terminating in a recess at the upper surface thereof and with a bore offset from said vent hole terminating in an annular depression at said upper surface; a resilient plug in said recess obstructing said vent hole, said plug having a concave underside bounded by a crimped base surrounding said vent hole and a peak rising in line with said vent hole above said upper surface; a terminal stud passing through said aperture in conductive contact with a battery component in said casing, said stud having a head above said upper surface; an elastic ring around said stud received in said depression; and an elongate spring traversed by said stud and clamped between said ring and said head while being rotatable about said stud, with elastic deformation of said ring against the periphery of said depression to seal said bore, said spring normally overlying said recess in cantilever fashion and exerting downward pressure upon said peak for resisting the escape of gases rising from said vent hole and accumulating in said concave underside.