Filling pod for a battery, vehicle and method of supplying fluid to a battery

A vehicle comprising:

• a frame supported for movement over ground;
• a motor supported by the frame and for powering said vehicle;
• a battery supported by the frame and electrically connectable with the motor to supply power to the motor, the battery including
• a battery housing including a battery cover portion,
• a first cell supported by the battery housing and including an electrode submergible in the fluid,
• a second cell supported by the battery housing and including an electrode submergible in the fluid;
• and
• a filling pod for supplying fluid to the battery, the filling pod including a filling pod housing defining
• a filling pod port fluidly connectable to a fluid source for receiving fluid from the fluid source,
• a first fluid supply member fluidly connectable to the first cell and for supplying fluid from the filling pod port and to the first cell,
• a second fluid supply member fluidly connectable to the second cell and for supplying fluid from the filling pod port and to the second cell, and
• an integral channel in fluid communication between the filling pod port, the first fluid supply member, and the second fluid supply member, the channel including a first channel portion in fluid communication between the filling pod port and the first fluid supply member and a second channel portion in fluid communication between the filling pod port and the second fluid supply member, wherein, when fluid is supplied to the filling pod through the first filling pod port, a first amount of fluid flows through the first channel portion to the first fluid supply member and to the first cell, and a second amount of fluid flows through the second channel portion to the second fluid supply member and to the second cell,
• the filling pod housing including
• a base portion having a bottom surface engageable with the battery cover portion, the base portion defining the integral channel,
• an intermediate portion connectable with the base portion and defining the filling pod port,
• a top portion connectable with the intermediate portion, and
• a first fluid supply tube and a second fluid supply tube providing at least a portion of the first fluid supply member and the second fluid supply member, the first fluid supply tube and the second fluid supply tube being connectable with the base portion.

A method of assembling a combination for supplying fluid to a battery, the combination including the battery and a filling pod, said method comprising the acts of:

• providing a battery, the battery including a battery housing including a battery cover portion, a first cell supported by the battery housing and including an electrode submergible in the fluid, a second cell supported by the battery housing and including an electrode submergible in the fluid;
• and
• providing a filling pod for supplying the fluid to the battery, the filling pod including a filling pod housing defining a filling pod port fluidly connectable to a fluid source for receiving fluid from the fluid source, a first fluid supply member fluidly connectable to a fluid source for supplying fluid from the filling pod port to the first cell, a second fluid supply member fluidly connectable to the second cell and for supplying fluid from the filling pod port and to the second cell, and an integral channel in fluid communication between the filling pod port, the first fluid supply member, and the second fluid supply member, the channel including a first channel portion in fluid communication between the filling pod port and the first fluid supply member and a second channel portion in fluid communication between the filling pod port and the second fluid supply member, wherein, when fluid is supplied to the filling pod through the filling pod port, a first amount of fluid flows through the first channel portion to the first fluid supply member and to the first cell, and a second amount of fluid flows through the second channel portion to the second fluid supply member and to the second cell, the filling pod housing further including a base portion defining the integral channel, an intermediate portion defining the filling pod port, a top portion, and a first fluid supply tube and a second fluid supply tube providing at least a portion of the first fluid supply member and the second fluid supply member, respectively;
• supporting the base portion on the battery cover portion;
• supporting the intermediate portion on the base portion;
• supporting the top portion on the intermediate portion;
• and
• supporting the supply tubes on the battery cover portion.