GB2087134A - Electric storage batteries - Google Patents

Abstract

A recombinant electric storage battery includes a container 2 closed by a lid 4 and an inverted rectangular U section carrying handle 30. The cross- piece 32 of the carrying handle has a planar upper surface 36 and its limbs 34 each have an inwardly projecting shoulder 38. The carrying handle is movable between an upper position in which the shoulders 38 engage complementary shoulders 50 and the lid 4 and the handle may be used to carry the battery and a lower position in which the cross-piece 32 is received in recesses 28 in upstanding side formations 24 on the lid so that the upper surface of the carrying handle is coplanar with the upper surface of the side formations 24 and with the upper surface of upstanding corner formation 22 provided at each corner of the lid. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Electric storage batteries The present invention relates to electric storage batteries and in particular to automotive batteries of lead acid type.

Such batteries are conventionally provided on their upper surface with terminal posts which project upwards and with a vent for each cell. They are sometimes provided with one or more carrying handles also, but regardless of whether these handles are provided on the upper or side surfaces of the battery it is generally not possible to stack such batteries one on top of the other because of the irregular surface presented by the battery lids.

According to the present invention an electric storage battery includes a container closed by a lid and a carrying handle, the carrying handle having a substantially planar upper surface and being vertically movably connected to the lid, the lid and the handle carrying complementary laterally projecting shoulders and the handle being movable between a first upper position in which the complementary shoulders engage and the handle may be used to carry the battery and a second lower position in which the upper surface of the handle is substantially coplanar with at least a portion of the upper surface of the lid. Two or even more such carrying handles may be provided, but preferably there is only one situated vertically above the centre of gravity of the battery, extending across either the width or length of the battery.It will be appreciated that if the upper surface of the handle is flush with the surface of the surface along its entire length when in its lower position it may be difficult to grasp it to lift it to its upper position. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the lid includes two spaced upstanding side formations positioned adjacent respective opposed sides of the lid, each formation carrying a laterally projecting shoulder adapted to engage a complementary shoulder on the handle and having a substantially planar upper surface in which a recess is formed whose depth and width are substantially equal to those of the handle so that when the handle is in its lower position its upper surface is substantially coplanar with those of the upstanding formations.Thus, even when the handle is in its lower position the space between the two upstanding side formations will constitute a gap into which the user can place his fingers in order to enable him to lift the handle to its upper position.

The provision of a planar surface constituted by the upper surfaces of the side formations and the handle permits the possibility of stacking two or more batteries on top of one another. However the area of these surfaces may not be adequate to ensure the stability of a stack of batteries and the lid therefore preferably affords an upstanding corner formation adjacent each corner of the lid whose upper surface is substntially coplanar with those of the side formations. Preferably the upper surface of the corner formations and the lower surface of the container afford complementary recesses and projections to positively locate two or more such batteries stacked one above the other.

In the preferred embodiment the handle is of inverted substantially rectangular U shape, the cross-piece affording the substantially planar upper surface of the handle and each limb affording an inwardly projecting shoulder at its lower end adapted to engage the associated shoulder on the side formations. Preferably the outer side surface of each side formation affords a recess whose length, width and depth are substantially equal to those of the limbs of the handle whereby when the handle is in its lower position the outer side surface of each side formation is substantially planar.

Preferably the cross-piece of the handle has a depending flange associated with each limb and extending parallel to it and engaging the inner side surface of the associated side formation. This assists in guiding the vertical movement of the handle and restraining longitudinal movement of it relative to the lid. Preferably the cross-piece of the handle has a depending flange at each end extending perpendiculay to the associated limb and the recess in the upper surface of each side formation affords a complementary groove which receives this flange when the handle is in its lower position. This further assists in guiding the vertical movement of the handle and restraining transverse movement of it relative to the lid.

In the preferred embodiment the lower end of each limb of the handle has a ramped surface and the handle is positioned on the battery by placing these ramped surfaces against the edges of the recesses in the upper surfaces of the side formations and exerting a force, whereby the limbs are moved outwardly against their own resilience and the shoulders on the limbs pass down over the shoulders on the side formations.

Further features and details of the invention will be apparent from the following description of one specific embodiment which is given by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a partly cut-away perspective view of a 12 volt lead acid recombinant automotive battery in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a side elevation of the carrying handle seen in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a sectional elevation on the line 3-3 in Figure 2; and Figure 4 is a scrap sectional elevation of one side formation on the battery lid with the carrying handle removed.

The battery shown in Figure 1 has a container 2 closed by a lid 4, each being formed from a copolymer of polypropylene and polyethylene or some other plastics material. The container is divided into six equally sized cells by five integral intercell partitions 6 which do not extend up as far as the lid 4. Each cell contains alternating positive and negative plates 8 interleaved with highly absorbent microfine glass fibre separator material 10, and contains a reduced amount of electrolyte such that there is substantially no free unabsorbed electrolyte.

As mentioned above, the battery is of recombinant type, that is to say the gases evolved during operation or charging are substantially induced to recombine within the battery and are not vented to the atmosphere. Each end wall of the container parallel to the intercell partitions carries hold-down ledges 12 adapted to be engaged by battery retaining ledges in a car to retain the battery in position and the two side walls are provided with a different type of hold-down ledge 14 at a slightly different height for engagement by a different type of retaining ledge. Each plate has an upwardly projecting plate lug and the plate lugs of the same polarity in each cell are connected together by a plate strap 16, as is conventional.One plate strap 16 in each end cell is connected to a battery terminal 18 projecting through the lid 4, and the remaining plate straps extend over one intercell partition and connect together the positive lugs in one cell and the negative lugs in the adjacent cell and thus constitute intercell connectors.

The lid 4 is a one piece moulding having a depending skirt 20 which is firmly welded or otherwise secured to the upper edge of the container 2.

The lid 4 has a generally planar upper surface upstanding from which are six formations comprising four corner formations 22 situated at the corners of the lid and two elongate edge formations 24 extending along two opposed side edges of the lid and spaced from the associated corner formations 22. The upper surfaces of the six formations are flat and substantially coplanar, but each cornerformation is provided with a shallow circular projection 26 on its upper surface and each edge formation is provided with a shallow transverse recess 28 on its upper surface, the function of which will be described below.

The battery is provided with a rectangular U section carrying handle 30 (best seen in Figures 2 and 3) having a cross-piece 32 at each end of which there is a depending limb 34. The cross-piece 32 has a continuous planar upper surface 36 and it has a width and thickness of 25mm and Smm respectively and these dimensions are equal to the width and depth of the recesses 28 in the edge formations 24.

The lower end of each limb 34 is thickened, and this thickened portion affords an upwardly directed surface or shoulder 38 and a downwardly directed ramped surface 40. Spaced inwardly from each limb 34 by a distance equal to the width of the side formations 24, the cross-piece 32 is provided with a depending flange 42. Each flange 42 is connected to its associated limb 34 by a shallow flange 44 depending from the underside of the cross-piece 32.

As seen in Figures 1 and 4, each recess 28 in the side formations 24 is flat bottomed and the outer side surface of the side formations is provided with a recess 44, at the lower end of which there is a ramp surface 46 which extends downwardly and outwardliy to the skirt 20. The outer edge of the bottom of each recess 28 is rounded at 48, and the surface of the recess 44 is cut away below the rounded portion 48 to form a downwardly directed surface or shoulder 50. Extending centrally along the length of the recesses 28 is a channel 52 whose width and depth correspond to the dimensions of the flanges 44.

When assembling the battery, the handle 30 is placed in the position shown in Figure 1 and the ramp surfaces 40 on the handle engage the rounded portions 48 on the side formations. By applying downward pressure the limbs 34 bend outwardly, and the shoulders 32 then snap back inwardly under the action of the resilient force exerted by the limbs 34 behind the shoulders 50. The handle can then be pushed down until it reaches a lower position in which the ramp surfaces 40 engage the surfaces 46 and the upper surface 36 of the handle is substantially flush with the upper surface of the side formations. Whilst this is occurring the flanges 42 slide down the inner side surfaces of the side formations and the flanges 44 slide down into the channels 52.

The handle is thus positively guided down into its lower position and is restrained from longitudinal or transverse movement The upper surfaces of the six formations and the handle are now coplanar and another similar battery may be stacked on top of it.

For this purpose the underside of the battery is provided with four circular recesses (not shown) corresponding to the projections 26, and the latter fit into the recesses in the battery above it, thus locating the two batteries relative to one another.

The stacking ability is not impaired by the terminals 18 since these do not extend up from the lid as far as the formations 22 and 24.

If it should be desired to lift the battery the user merely places his fingers under the cross-piece 32 in the gap which is left by virtue of the fact that it is supported on the side formations 24 spaced from the remainder of the lid. The handle is moved upwardly until the shoulders 38 engage the shoulders 50, whereafter it will move no further and the battery is lifted.

Recombinant batteries do not require vents as they are normally understood since the gases are induced to recombine. However, a safety valve is conveniently provided to prevent an excessive internal pressure being generated, e.g. on overcharging, and it will be appreciated that, in view of the fact that all the cells are in communication underneath the battery lid and above the tops of the intercell partitions only one such vent is required. In this embodiment this vent is constituted by one of the projections 26, in this case the far right hand one as seen in Figure 1, and this may be of any appropriate construction and is provided with venting apertures 54.

Claims (11)

1. An electric storage battery including a container closed by a lid and carrying handle, the carrying handle having a substantially planar upper surface and being vertically movably connected to the lid, the lid and the handle carrying complementary laterally projecting shoulders and the handle being movable between a first upper position in which the complementary shoulders engage and the handle may be used to carry the battery and a second lower position in which the upper surface of the handle is substantially coplanar with at least a portion of the upper surface of the lid.

2. A battery as claimed in Claim 1 including a single handle situated vertically above the centre of gravity of the battery and extending across either the width or the length of the battery.

3. A battery as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which the lid includes two spaced upstanding side formations positioned adjacent respective opposed sides of the lid, each formation carrying a laterally projecting shoulder adapted to engage a complementary shoulder on the handle and having a substantially planar upper surface in which a recess is formed whose depth and width are substantially equal to those of the handle so that when the handle is in its lower position its upper surface is substantially coplanar with those of the upstanding formations.

4. A battery as claimed in Claim 3 in which the lid affords an upstanding corner formation adjacent each corner of the lid whose upper surface is substantially coplanar with those of the side formations.

5. A battery as claimed in Claim 4 in which the upper surface of the corner formations and the lower surface of the container afford complementary recesses and projections to positively locate two or more such batteries stacked one above the other.

6. A battery as claimed in any one of Claims 3 to 5 in which the handle is of inverted substantially rectangular U shape, the cross-piece affording the substantially planar upper surface of the handle and each limb affording an inwardly projecting shoulder at its lower end adapted to engage the associated shoulder on the side formations.

7. A battery as claimed in Claim 6 in which the outer side surface of each side formation affords a recess whose length, width and depth are substantially equal to those of the limbs of the handle whereby when the handle is in its lower position the outer side surface of each side formation is substantially planar.

8. A battery as claimed in Claim 6 or Claim 7 in which the cross-piece of the handle has a depending flange associated with each limb and extending parallel to it and engaging the inner side surface of the associated side formation.

9. A battery as claimed in any one of Claims 6 to 8 in which the cross-piece of the handle has a depending flange at each end extending perpendiculay to the associated limb and the recess in the upper surface of each side formation affords a complementary groove which receives this flange when the handle is in its lower position.

10. A battery as claimed in any one of Claims 6 to 9 in which the lower end of each limb of the handle has a ramped surface and the handle is positioned on the battery by placing these ramped surfaces against the edges of the recesses in the upper surfaces of the side formations and exerting a force, whereby the limbs are moved outwardly against their own resilience and the shoulders on the limbs pass down over the shoulders on the side formations.

11. An electric storage battery substantially as specifically herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.