Fluent material handling – with receiver or receiver coacting mea – Fluent charge impelled or fluid current conveyed into receiver
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-25
2002-01-29
Jacyna, J. Casimer (Department: 3751)
Fluent material handling, with receiver or receiver coacting mea
Fluent charge impelled or fluid current conveyed into receiver
C141S382000, C137S209000, C222S400800
Reexamination Certificate
active
06341628
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to providing a battery filling system. More particularly, this invention concerns a battery filling system for use in efficiently adding water to, for example, those lead-acid batteries which are located in inconvenient or hard-to-reach places.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Typically, the electrolyte levels in the cells of lead-acid batteries will decrease over time, necessitating occasional replenishment in order to restore the battery to an efficient operating condition. The process of replenishing electrolyte levels typically consists of adding distilled water to the subject cells until a pre-determined level is achieved. In some cases, the battery is in a relatively convenient location thereby allowing the owner/operator to easily add the distilled water with little if any inconvenience. In other cases, however, the battery is not readily accessible. In these cases it is often necessary that the battery either be removed from the machinery in order to add the distilled water or some other creative solution must be found in order to perform the necessary battery maintenance.
Applicant is aware of a number of prior art attempts for providing battery water-topping devices. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,803,138, 4,386,141, and 4,353,968 issued to, respectively, Oschmann et al, Weidner et al., and Boyle all teach battery water-filling systems which remain on the battery and which utilize float/valve arrangements for monitoring and automatically filling the cells of a battery. Though these systems may perform adequately, the fact that they require not only sufficient space adjacent the battery for unit attachment, but also sufficient space for a water container and the necessary water transfer tubing may make these systems impracticable for those machines having limited free space, such as a snowmobile or riding lawn mower. In addition, these devices may not be cost effective for those owners/operators who desire an inexpensive and simple method of providing water to hard-to-reach batteries. Thus, it is believed by the applicant that none of the prior art referred to herein will effectively accomplish the purpose of the present invention.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
A primary object of the present invention is to fulfill the above-mentioned need by the provision of a battery filling system. A further primary object of the present invention is to provide such a system which is efficient, easy to use, easy to manufacture, inexpensive, and handy. Other objects of this invention will become apparent with reference to the following invention descriptions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, this invention provides a battery filling system for use with an external source of air pressure and a vessel containing water, comprising, in combination: a first conduit means for transferring such water from such vessel to such battery; a second conduit means for providing such vessel with a quantity of such air pressure sufficient to force such water into such first conduit means; and an attachment means for attaching such first conduit means and such second conduit means to such vessel. This invention further provides such a battery filling system wherein such attachment means comprises sealing means structured and arranged for substantially preventing, when such attachment means is applied to such vessel, loss of such air pressure from such vessel proximate such attachment means.
In addition, this invention provides for such a battery filling system wherein such first conduit means comprises a flexible first tube long enough to extend from a location of a such vessel to a location of a such battery; and, further, wherein such second conduit means comprises a flexible second tube having a first end and a second end, such first end being structured and arranged for coupling to such external source of such air pressure and such second end being structured and arranged for placement within such vessel. And, still further, it provides such a battery filling system wherein such attachment means comprises a cap structured and arranged for attachment to an opening in such vessel, such cap comprising: a first aperture structured and arranged to snugly receive such first conduit means; and a second aperture structured and arranged to snugly receive such second conduit means.
Additionally, it provides such a battery filling system wherein: such first conduit means comprises a flexible first tube long enough to extend from a location of a such vessel to a location of a such battery; and such second conduit means comprises a flexible second tube having a first end and a second end, such first end being structured and arranged for coupling to such external source of such air pressure and such second end being structured and arranged for placement within such vessel. And, the present invention provides such a battery filling system wherein: such first tube comprises at least one terminus cut at an angle, with respect to a longitudinal direction of such first tube at such terminus of such first tube, sufficient to assist a user in inserting such terminus of such first tube through such first aperture of such cap; and such second tube comprises at least one terminus cut at an angle with respect to a longitudinal direction of such second tube at such terminus of such second tube sufficient to assist a user in inserting such terminus of such second tube through such second aperture of such cap. And, still further, it provides such a battery filling system wherein: such first conduit means comprises an essentially plastic flexible first tube having a length of about four feet and having an outer diameter of about ¼ inch; such second conduit means comprises an essentially plastic flexible second tube having a length of about two feet and having an outer diameter of about ¼ inch; such first aperture having a diameter of about {fraction (1/16)} inch less than the outer diameter of such first tube; and such second aperture having a diameter of about {fraction (1/16)} inch less than the outer diameter of such second tube.
Even further, in accordance with a preferred embodiment thereof, this invention provides for a battery filling system, for use with an external source of air pressure and a battery having a cell opening, comprising, in combination: a storage means for holding water, such storage means comprising an interior portion and an opening; a quantity of water provided in such interior portion; an external source of air pressure; a first conduit means for transferring such water from such storage means to such battery; a second conduit means for providing such vessel with a quantity of such air pressure sufficient to force such water into such first conduit means; and an attachment means for attaching such first conduit means and such second conduit means to such vessel. And, it provides such a battery filling system wherein such attachment means comprises sealing means structured and arranged for substantially preventing, when such attachment means is applied to such vessel, loss of such air pressure from such vessel proximate such attachment means; also, it provides such a battery filling system wherein such first conduit means comprises a flexible first tube long enough to extend from such vessel to such cell of such battery; and, further, wherein such second conduit means comprises a flexible second tube having a first end and a second end, such first end being structured and arranged for coupling to such external source of such air pressure and such second end being structured and arranged for placement within such vessel.
In addition, this invention provides for such a battery filling system wherein such attachment means comprises a cap structured and arranged for attachment to such opening in such vessel, such cap comprising: a first aperture structured and arranged to snugly receive such first conduit means; and a second aperture structured and arranged to snug
Jacyna J. Casimer
Stoneman Martin L.
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