Chemistry: electrical current producing apparatus – product – and – Current producing cell – elements – subcombinations and... – Cell enclosure structure – e.g. – housing – casing – container,...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-24
2001-03-06
Maples, John S. (Department: 1745)
Chemistry: electrical current producing apparatus, product, and
Current producing cell, elements, subcombinations and...
Cell enclosure structure, e.g., housing, casing, container,...
C429S087000, C429S176000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06197447
ABSTRACT:
This invention relates to a battery container.
When used in certain circumstances, for example as the power source for a vehicle, lead acid batteries are located in containers to provide protection against objects such as tools being dropped on to the terminals or connectors (thereby causing an electrical short or a spark) or against material such as water in the form of a spray or jet. The battery container according to the present invention is intended to meet the requirements of the degree of protection regulations IP 23 according to IEC Publication No. 529 (1989-11).
However, when in use, and therefore discharging, lead acid batteries emit hydrogen gas. When this hydrogen is mixed with oxygen present in the air, and the amount exceeds 4% by volume, there is danger of a fire or explosion. In order to eliminate these dangers, especially if the vehicle is used in an environment such as in a mine where other flammable or explosive gases are likely to be present, the containers have to be well ventilated. To allow a safety margin, containers are constructed to ensure that the amount of hydrogen in the air immediately adjacent the batteries is less than 2%, thus meeting the requirements of BSEN 50014 and BSEN 50019.
Previously known containers, constructed to meet the above-mentioned regulations, have comprised rectangular boxes made of sheet steel eg 3 mm thick. The tops of these boxes are unbroken, i.e. devoid of any aperture, and vents in the form of elongated rectangular openings have been provided at the top of each side immediately below the lid. Sometimes for convenience part of each side has been attached to the lid and the vents located in these parts.
However it has been found that when using the previously known containers the height of the lid above the battery terminals, required to ensure that the vents have sufficiently large cross-sectional area, is a disadvantage since the vehicles to which these containers and batteries are fitted have to be modified. For example a fork-lift truck used in a factory environment where the aforementioned regulations do not apply can be fitted with batteries without the need for containers as described above. If the same truck is used in a mine, or a Zone
1
area, according to European IEC classification, where explosive or flammable gases or vapours occur and where the regulations do apply, then the batteries must be in containers and the fork-lift trucks have to be modified. Since the driver's seat is usually above the space reserved for the batteries, the modification is extensive and therefore expensive.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a battery container which substantially overcomes the effect of the above disadvantages.
In accordance with the invention a container for at least one battery comprises a box having a rectangular base, four vertical rectangular sides and a rectangular lid, each side comprising a ventilation opening, the total open area of the openings measured in a vertical plane parallel to the respective side being at least 1320 mm
2
per kilowatt hour of the total capacity of the battery within the container, each opening having a maximum width of 12 mm, and the lid comprising a plurality of apertures and at least one drainage channel having upwardly-directed edges beneath the apertures, the vertical distance between each edge and the lid being a maximum of 12 mm, and the total open area, measured vertically between the edges and the lid, being at least 850 mm
2
per kilowatt hour of the total capacity of the battery within the container.
The total area of the ventilation openings in the sides and of the apertures in the lid meets the requirements of BSEN 50014 and BSEN 50019 since it is found that the percentage by volume of hydrogen gas within the space immediately above the battery in the container in accordance with the invention is less than 2% and of the order of 1.6%.
The ventilation openings, either in part of the sides attached to the lid or in the sides themselves, meet the degree of protection regulations IP 23 according to IEC publication No. 529 (1989-11). Preferably at least one louvre is provided defining a boundary of an opening, the louvre being tilted so that any water landing on the upper surface thereof flows away to the exterior of the container.
The lid is preferably formed with a plurality of apertures, eg rectangular in shape, arranged in rows in a rectangular matrix. Supported below each row of apertures, by support means such as rods, is the drainage channel having upwardly directed edges. The channel may be of any suitable cross-sectional form having at least one end positioned either above a louvre or at any other suitable position to ensure that water in the channel flows away to the exterior of the container. Preferably the channel has a small slope from one end to the other and the lower end directs any water to the exterior of the container. The position of the channel in relation to the apertures in the lids meet the requirements of the degree of protection regulations referred to above.
The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1537818 (1979-01-01), None
patent: 2061599 (1981-05-01), None
patent: 2077027 (1981-12-01), None
patent: 2081495 (1982-02-01), None
Downing Mark
Purdy Geoffrey William
Maples John S.
Myers Bigel & Sibley & Sajovec
Oldham Crompton Batteries Limited
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