Battery gang vent system

Abstract

A multiple vent plug assembly for vent ports of an electrical storage battery, the assembly includes a gang vent insert having a base wall and an upstanding peripheral rim defining a pair of side walls and a pair of end walls; an overcap including an inner rib for engagement with the upstanding peripheral rim of the gang vent insert; the insert including first and second parallel partitions extending between the pair of side walls to thereby divide the insert into three vent chambers including end chambers on either side of a center chamber, each chamber having a hollow vent barrel extending downwardly from the base wall and terminating at a drain hole. Third and fourth partitions extend partially between the pair of side walls and a fifth partition extends between and perpendicular to the third and fourth partitions to create, in cooperation with a portion of one of the side walls, a frit area for supporting a flame arrestor of glass frit material, the frit area having a slot therein which opens to atmosphere. The first, second, third and fourth partitions are formed with passageway openings arranged to permit air at atmospheric pressure to enter the center chamber from the end chambers and from the frit area, to thereby create an air lock preventing battery electrolyte from escaping through the drain holes and the frit area vent aperture in the event the battery is tilted to a position where battery electrolyte is at a level above the battery vent ports.