Battery hot short control method and means

Claim 1

The method of controlling a high capacity battery cell which has developed an internal short comprising: flooding over the burnable material in said cell by introducing a non-electrolyte liquid into the cell; maintaining a continuous flow of said non-electrolyte to saiD cell at a rate sufficient to appreciably reduce the temperature of the electrolyte in said cell; and concurrently evacuating liquids from said cell at a rate which maintains a selected liquid level in said cell, said continuous supply to and removal of non-electrolyte operating to continuously dilute the electrolyte in said cell while constantly removing heat energy generated by said internal short until said short has been effectively controlled, said selected liquid level determined by the position of the orifice through which liquids are evacuated.

Claim 2

The method of controlling a high capacity battery cell which has developed an internal short comprising: flooding over the burnable material in said cell by introducing a non-electrolyte liquid into the cell; maintaining a continuous flow of said non-electrolyte to saiD cell at a rate sufficient to appreciably reduce the temperature of the electrolyte in said cell; and concurrently evacuating liquids from said cell at a rate which maintains a selected liquid level in said cell, said continuous supply to and removal of non-electrolyte operating to continuously dilute the electrolyte in said cell while constantly removing heat energy generated by said internal short until said short has been effectively controlled, said selected liquid level determined by the position of the orifice through which liquids are evacuated.

Claim 3

A device for rapidly cooling and controlling a high capacity battery cell which has developed an internal short circuit comprising: a unitary dual-passage fitting adapted to be received in close fit in an existing opening in the top of said cell; a pair of concentric passages in said fitting for continuously supplying liquids to said cell through the outer of said passages an concurrently evacuating gases and liquids from said cell through the inner of said passages; a supply of non-electrolyte liquid and means connecting said supply to the outer concentric passage; a reservoir adapted to contain electrolyte liquid and means connecting said reservoir to the inner concentric passage, the inner passage of said fitting terminating in an inverted head the upper surface of which is tapered to deflect supply liquid away from the fitting and the lower surface of which is provided with openings through which gases and liquids are drawn; and a deflector secured to and spaced from the conduit forming said inner passage intermediate said head and the end of the outer passage to further deflect supply liquid to areas of said cell remote from said fitting, said supply and said reservoir adapted to provide a continuous flow of non-electrolyte to and diluted electrolyte from said cell for a selected time interval after an initial filling to the level of the evacuating orifice of said fitting so that the gases and heat generated by said internal short are dissipated and said internal short is controlled, said control of said internal short precluding damage to adjacent cells of said battery.

Claim 4

A device for rapidly cooling and controlling a high capacity battery cell which has developed an internal short circuit comprising: a unitary dual-passage fitting adapted to be received in close fit in an existing opening in the top of said cell; a pair of concentric passages in said fitting for continuously supplying liquids to said cell through the outer of said passages an concurrently evacuating gases and liquids from said cell through the inner of said passages; a supply of non-electrolyte liquid and means connecting said supply to the outer concentric passage; a reservoir adapted to contain electrolyte liquid and means connecting said reservoir to the inner concentric passage, the inner passage of said fitting terminating in an inverted head the upper surface of which is tapered to deflect supply liquid away from the fitting and the lower surface of which is provided with openings through which gases and liquids are drawn; and a deflector secured to and spaced from the conduit forming said inner passage intermediate said head and the end of the outer passage to further deflect supply liquid to areas of said cell remote from said fitting, said supply and said reservoir adapted to provide a continuous flow of non-electrolyte to and diluted electrolyte from said cell for a selected time interval after an initial filling to the level of the evacuating orifice of said fitting so that the gases and heat generated by said internal short are dissipated and said internal short is controlled, said control of said internal short precluding damage to adjacent cells of said battery.