Claims
- 1. A venting system for venting gas from a plurality of batteries, said system comprising:
- at least a first battery including:
- a. a first battery container;
- b. a plurality of first battery cells housed within said first battery container; and
- c. a first battery container opening located in said first battery container, wherein said first battery container opening is in fluid communication with each of said plurality of first battery cells;
- at least a first vent manifold including:
- a. a first vent manifold first opening;
- b. a first vent manifold second opening in fluid communication with said first vent manifold first opening; and
- c. a first vent manifold third opening in fluid communication with said first vent manifold first opening and said first vent manifold second opening;
- wherein said first vent manifold is attached to said first battery container; and
- wherein said first vent manifold first opening is in fluid communication with said first battery container opening.
- 2. The system of claim 1 and further comprising:
- at least a second battery including:
- a. a second battery container;
- b. a plurality of second battery cells housed within said second battery container; and
- c. a second battery container opening located in said second battery container, wherein said second battery container opening is in fluid communication with each of said plurality of second battery cells;
- wherein said first vent manifold second opening is in fluid communication with said second battery container opening.
- 3. The system of claim 2 and further comprising:
- at least a third battery including:
- a. a third battery container;
- b. a plurality of third battery cells housed within said third battery container; and
- c. a third battery container opening located in said third battery container, wherein said third battery container opening is in fluid communication with each of said plurality of third battery cells;
- wherein said first vent manifold third opening is in fluid communication with said third battery container opening.
- 4. The system of claim 3 and further comprising:
- at least a second vent manifold including:
- a. a second vent manifold first opening;
- b. a second vent manifold second opening in fluid communication with said second vent manifold first opening; and
- c. a second vent manifold third opening in fluid communication with said second vent manifold first opening and said second vent manifold second opening;
- wherein said second vent manifold is attached to said second battery container;
- wherein said second vent manifold first opening is in fluid communication with said second battery container opening; and
- wherein said second vent manifold second opening is in fluid communication with said first vent manifold second opening.
- 5. The system of claim 4 and further comprising:
- at least a third vent manifold including:
- a. a third vent manifold first opening;
- b. a third vent manifold second opening in fluid communication with said third vent manifold first opening; and
- c. a third vent manifold third opening in fluid communication with said third vent manifold first opening and said third vent manifold second opening;
- wherein said third vent manifold is connected to said third battery container;
- wherein said third vent manifold first opening is in fluid communication with said third battery container opening; and
- wherein said third vent manifold second opening is in fluid communication with said first vent manifold third opening.
- 6. The system of claim 1 and further comprising a flame arrester operatively associated with said first battery container opening.
- 7. The system of claim 6 wherein said flame arrester is attached to said first battery container.
- 8. The system of claim 7 wherein said flame arrester is at least partially located within at least a portion of said at least a first vent manifold.
- 9. The system of claim 1 wherein said first vent manifold first opening has a first opening area, said first vent manifold second opening has a second opening area and said first vent manifold third opening has a third opening area and wherein said first opening area is substantially larger than said second opening area and said third opening area.
- 10. The system of claim 9 wherein:
- said first vent manifold first opening is substantially circular and has a diameter of about 0.82 inches; and
- said first vent manifold second opening is substantially circular and has a diameter of about 0.16 inches.
- 11. A method of venting fluid produced by a plurality of batteries away from the vicinity of said plurality of batteries, said method comprising:
- providing at least a first battery, said at least a first battery including:
- a. a first battery container;
- b. a plurality of first battery cells housed within said first battery container; and
- c. a first battery container opening located in said first battery container, wherein said first battery container opening is in fluid communication with each of said plurality of first battery cells;
- providing at least a first vent manifold connected to said first battery container, said at least a first vent manifold including:
- a. a first vent manifold first opening;
- b. a first vent manifold second opening in fluid communication with said first vent manifold first opening; and
- c. a first vent manifold third opening in fluid communication with said first vent manifold first opening and said first vent manifold second opening;
- providing at least a second battery, said second battery including:
- a. a second battery container;
- b. a plurality of second battery cells housed within said second battery container; and
- c. a second battery container opening located in said second battery container, wherein said second battery container opening is in fluid communication with each of said plurality of second battery cells;
- establishing fluid communication between said first vent manifold second opening and said second battery container opening.
- 12. The method of claim 11 and including the further steps of:
- providing at least a third battery, said at least a third battery including:
- a. a third battery container;
- b. a plurality of third battery cells housed within said third battery container; and
- c. a third battery container opening located in said third battery container, wherein said third battery container opening is in fluid communication with each of said plurality of third battery cells;
- establishing fluid communication between said first vent manifold third opening and said third battery container opening.
- 13. The method of claim 12 and including the further steps of:
- providing at least a second vent manifold connected to said second battery container, said at least a second vent manifold including:
- a. a second vent manifold first opening;
- b. a second vent manifold second opening in fluid communication with said second vent manifold first opening; and
- c. a second vent manifold third opening in fluid communication with said second vent manifold first opening and said second vent manifold second opening;
- establishing fluid communication between said second vent manifold first opening and said second battery container opening; and
- establishing fluid communication between said second vent manifold second opening and said first vent manifold second opening.
- 14. The method of claim 13 and including the further steps of:
- providing at least a third vent manifold connected to said third battery container, said at least a third vent manifold including:
- a. a third vent manifold first opening;
- b. a third vent manifold second opening in fluid communication with said third vent manifold first opening; and
- c. a third vent manifold third opening in fluid communication with said third vent manifold first opening and said third vent manifold second opening;
- establishing fluid communication between said third vent manifold first opening and said third battery container opening; and
- establishing fluid communication between said third vent manifold second opening and said first vent manifold third opening.
- 15. The method of claim 11 and including the further step of operatively associating a flame arrester with said first battery container opening.
- 16. The method of claim 15 wherein said step of operatively associating includes attaching said flame arrester to said first battery container.
- 17. The method of claim 15 wherein said step of operatively associating includes at least partially locating said flame arrester within at least a portion of said at least a first vent manifold.
CONTRACTUAL ORIGIN OF THE INVENTION
The Government of the United States of America has rights in this invention pursuant to sub-contract ZCB-4-13032-10 (sub-sub-contract TCB01613) awarded by the U.S. Department of Energy.
US Referenced Citations (25)
Non-Patent Literature Citations (1)
Entry |
U.S. application No. 08/853,377, Olson, filed May 8, 1997. |