Venting system for electric storage batteries

Abstract

A multi-cell, lead-acid electric storage battery of the wet or absorbed electrolyte type is provided. The battery comprises one or more manifolding apertures in one or more partition walls, which apertures are of a size which allows passage of gases and in wet batteries minimizes passage of electrolyte and which define one or more sets of manifolded cells; a single trapping chamber associated with each set of manifolded cells; one or more vent apertures for wet battery applications or a pressure release valve for absorbed electrolyte battery applications is disposed between each set of manifolded cells and its respective trapping chamber, which vent apertures are of a size which allows passage of gases and in wet batteries minimizes passage of electrolyte. Additionally, for wet batteries there is provided one or more drain/vent apertures between each set of manifolded cells and its respective trapping chamber, which drain apertures are of a size which allow drainage of electrolyte from the trapping chamber to the manifolded cells and minimize passage of electrolyte from the cells to the trapping chamber and a single exhaust port associated with each of said trapping chambers, which exhaust ports allow passage of gas from the trapping chambers to the ambient. Also, battery spacers are provided to make the batteries compatible with mounting devices for larger batteries, and/or to make the batteries stackable.