Gas removal means for storage batteries

Claim 1

A housing for a block of cells which together constitute a storage battery, the housing providing for the block of cells a casing and a lid, at least one of which has internal partitions between the adjacent ones of the cells, the housing being characterized by at least one aperture in each internal partition for the passage between cells of gas evolved in the storage battery, and coupling means in the outer wall of an end cell for connecting hose means for evacuating the gas evolved in all the cells, each aperture having a diameter of about 1.5 to 2.0 mm. that being such that evolved gas passage can readily take place without entraining excessive liquid fractions, whereas exchange of electrolyte in substantial quantities between cells is impeded, the coupling means having a liquid separator means connected ahead of it, the liquid separator means including a chamber having a sloping bottom with a slot through which liquid entrained in the gases and separated from them in the chamber can flow back downward into the battery, the slot being so dimensioned that during normal battery operation it retains a layer of the liquid which closes the slot, while permitting liquid to flow downwardly through the slot when additional liquid accumulates during greater-than-normal gas evolution.