US3752173A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Nonspill battery vent plug
Assignee: Teledyne Inc
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Filing: 1971-12-10
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Granted: 1973-08-14
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Expires: 1991-12-10
Abstract
Abstract A nonspill battery vent plug is disclosed which includes a tiltable member which lifts a valve stem to close the plug whenever it is tilted. Improved means of connecting the valve stem and the weight member is provided to prevent fouling and malfunction.
Inventors
- 👤 D Karpal
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 05:36
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M50/00; H01M50/30; H01M50/308; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
308 words
A nonspill battery vent plug, comprising, in combination: a housing assembly including a body member in which said body member comprises a tubular side wall having an inwardly projecting shoulder member defining an upper interior portion and a lower interior portion and a bottom surface having a first axial opening therein; a weight member positioned in said upper interior portion of said housing assembly and resting freely on said shoulder member, said weight member being adapted to tilt relative to said housing assembly whenever the axis of the plug is tilted beyond a predetermined angle from vertical, said weight member including a cavity in its bottom surface and an inwardly projecting lip member separating said cavity from said lower interior portion of said housing assembly and defining a second axial opening between said cavity and said lower interior portion of said housing assembly; a valve stem member having a head portion and a stem portion, said head portion being positioned in said cavity, having an outer diameter greater than the diameter of said second axial opening and having a lower support surface which rests on said lip member, said lower support surface being substantially a frusto-conical surface having a radius of curvature at its points of contact with said lip member which is substantially greater than the radius of curvature of said lip member, said stem portion extending axially through said second axial opening into said lower interior portion of said housing assembly and through said axial opening, whereby said valve stem member is lifted upward relative to said housing assembly by said weight member whenever said weight member tilts relative to said housing assembly; and sealing means responsive to upward movement of said valve stem member relative to said housing assembly to close said first axial opening whenever said weight member tilts relative to said housing assembly.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
308 words
A nonspill battery vent plug, comprising, in combination: a housing assembly including a body member in which said body member comprises a tubular side wall having an inwardly projecting shoulder member defining an upper interior portion and a lower interior portion and a bottom surface having a first axial opening therein; a weight member positioned in said upper interior portion of said housing assembly and resting freely on said shoulder member, said weight member being adapted to tilt relative to said housing assembly whenever the axis of the plug is tilted beyond a predetermined angle from vertical, said weight member including a cavity in its bottom surface and an inwardly projecting lip member separating said cavity from said lower interior portion of said housing assembly and defining a second axial opening between said cavity and said lower interior portion of said housing assembly; a valve stem member having a head portion and a stem portion, said head portion being positioned in said cavity, having an outer diameter greater than the diameter of said second axial opening and having a lower support surface which rests on said lip member, said lower support surface being substantially a frusto-conical surface having a radius of curvature at its points of contact with said lip member which is substantially greater than the radius of curvature of said lip member, said stem portion extending axially through said second axial opening into said lower interior portion of said housing assembly and through said axial opening, whereby said valve stem member is lifted upward relative to said housing assembly by said weight member whenever said weight member tilts relative to said housing assembly; and sealing means responsive to upward movement of said valve stem member relative to said housing assembly to close said first axial opening whenever said weight member tilts relative to said housing assembly.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The invention of claim 1 which further comprises deflection means for deflecting away from said second axial opening any stream of gases and solid particles carried by such gases which enter said first axial opening.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The invention of claim 2 in which said deflection means comprises an enlarged diameter portion of said valve stem member which includes an outwardly curved deflecting surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
141 words
The invention of claim 3 in which said sealing means comprises a sealing washer including a primary sealing portion having an outside diameter greater than the diameter of said first axial opening, a neck portion having a diameter smaller than the diameter of said first axial opening and a third axial opening whose diameter is greater than the diameter of said stem portion of said valve stem member, with said sealing washer being positioned co-axially with said stEm portion of said valve core member with said neck portion positioned in said first axial opening, said primary sealing portion positioned beneath the bottom surface of said housing assembly and said valve stem member including a retaining portion at its bottom end whose diameter is greater than the diameter of said third axial opening to retain said sealing washer in said co-axial position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
78 words
The invention of claim 4 in which said weight member comprises an assembly of a weight element and a fulcrum element secured to the bottom of said weight element, said fulcrum element including a washer-shaped portion whose inner surface is said lip member and whose central opening is said second axial opening, said fulcrum having a plurality of channels therein to provide communicating passages between the lower interior portion and the upper interior portion of said housing assembly.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
The invention of claim 5 in which said fulcrum element further includes a cylindrical portion which forms the side walls of said cavity and in which said housing assembly and said fulcrum element are formed from the same electrolytic material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The invention of claim 4 in which said housing assembly further comprises a cap member which is frangibly secured across the top end of said body member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
67 words
The invention of claim 7 which further comprises means responsive to pressure in excess of a predetermined maximum pressure to force said retaining portion of said valve stem member through said third axial opening to allow said weight member to rise in response to excess pressure to force said cap member from the top end of said body member, thereby venting any excess pressure to the atmosphere.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
110 words
The invention of claim 8 in which said weight member comprises an assembly of a weight element and a fulcrum element secured to the bottom of said weight element, said fulcrum element including a washer-shaped portion whose inner surface is said lip member and whose central opening is said second axial opening, said fulcrum having a plurality of channels therein to provide communicating passages between the lower interior portion and the upper interior portion of said housing assembly, said fulcrum element further including a cylindrical portion which forms the side walls of said cavity, said fulcrum element and said housing assembly both being formed from the same electrolytic resistant material.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-08-13 | 1977-02-12 | 1977-08-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-08-13 | 1981-02-12 | 1981-08-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-08-13 | 1985-02-12 | 1985-08-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |