Battery fluid supply system

A system for supplying fluid to a battery in a vehicle selectively powered by a first battery and a second battery, the vehicle including a frame supporting the first battery and the second battery, the first battery including a first battery cell, fluid being transmittable to the first battery cell, gas generated during charging of the first battery being transmittable out of the first battery cell, the second battery including a second battery cell, fluid being transmittable to the second battery cell, gas generated during charging of the second battery being transmittable out of the second battery cell, said system comprising:

• a tank for holding fluid;
• and
• a hydraulic circuit connecting the first battery and the second battery to the tank, the hydraulic circuit including
• a first inlet conduit between the tank and the first battery cell,
• a first outlet conduit between the first battery cell and the tank, gas produced during charging causing fluid flow through the first outlet conduit and to the tank,
• a second inlet conduit between the tank and the second battery cell, and
• a second outlet conduit between the second battery cell and the tank, gas produced during charging causing fluid flow through the second outlet conduit and to the tank.

A system for supplying fluid to a battery in a vehicle selectively powered by the battery, the vehicle including a frame supporting the battery, the battery including a battery cell, fluid being transmittable to the cell, gas generated during charging being transmittable out of the cell, said system comprising:

• a first tank for holding fluid;
• a second tank for holding fluid;
• and
• a hydraulic circuit connecting the battery to the first tank and to the second tank, the hydraulic circuit including
• a first conduit connectable between the first tank and the cell,
• a second conduit connectable between the cell and the second tank, and
• a third conduit connectable between the second tank and the first tank;
• wherein the second tank collects excess fluid supplied to the cell during fluid replenishment of the cell, and wherein the second tank collects gas produced during charging, the gas causing fluid to move from the second tank to the first tank.

A vehicle comprising:

• a frame supported for movement over ground;
• an electric motor supported by the frame and operable to selectively drive said vehicle;
• a battery supported by the frame and electrically connectable with the motor to selectively power the motor, the battery including a battery cell, fluid being transmittable to the cell, gas generated during charging of the battery being transmittable out of the cell;
• a tank for holding fluid;
• and
• a hydraulic circuit connecting the battery to the tank, the hydraulic circuit including
• an inlet conduit connectable between the tank and the cell, and
• an outlet conduit connectable between the cell and the tank, gas produced during charging causing fluid flow through the outlet conduit and to the tank.

A vehicle comprising:

• a frame supported for movement over ground;
• an electric motor supported by the frame and operable to selectively drive said vehicle;
• a first battery and a second battery supported by the frame and electrically connectable with the motor to selectively power the motor, the first battery including a first battery cell, the second battery including a second battery cell, fluid being transmittable to the first battery cell and to the second battery cell, gas generated during charging being transmittable out of the first battery cell and out of the second battery cell;
• a tank for holding fluid;
• and
• a hydraulic circuit connecting the first battery and the second battery to the tank, the hydraulic circuit including
• a first inlet conduit connectable between the tank and the first battery cell,
• a first outlet conduit connectable between the first battery cell and the tank, gas produced during charging causing fluid flow through the first outlet conduit and to the tank,
• a second inlet conduit connectable between the tank and the second battery cell, and
• a second outlet conduit connectable between the second battery cell and the tank, gas produced during charging causing fluid flow through the second outlet conduit and to the tank.

A vehicle comprising:

• a frame supported for movement over ground;
• an electric motor supported by the frame and operable to selectively drive said vehicle;
• a battery supported by the frame and electrically connectable with the motor to selectively power the motor, the battery including a battery cell, fluid being transmittable to the cell, gas generated during charging being transmittable out of the first cell;
• a first tank for holding fluid;
• a second tank for holding fluid;
• and
• a hydraulic circuit connecting the battery to the first tank and to the second tank, the hydraulic circuit including
• a first conduit connectable between the first tank and the cell,
• a second conduit connectable between the cell and the second tank, and
• a third conduit connectable between the second tank and the first tank;
• wherein the second tank collects excess fluid supplied to the cell during fluid replenishment of the cell, and wherein the second tank collects gas produced during charging, the gas causing fluid to move from the second tank to the first tank.

A tank for holding fluid in a fluid supply system, the fluid supply system supplying fluid to a battery in a vehicle selectively powered by the battery, the vehicle including a frame supporting the battery, the battery including a battery cell, fluid being transmittable to the cell, gas generated during charging being transmittable out of the cell, the fluid supply system including a hydraulic circuit, the hydraulic circuit including an inlet conduit connected to the cell and an outlet conduit connected to the cell, said tank comprising:

• a container for holding fluid and defining a tank outlet and a tank inlet, the tank inlet being below the tank outlet, the tank outlet being connected with the inlet conduit, the tank inlet being connected with the outlet conduit, the container having a bottom wall,
• a tube having an inlet end positioned adjacent the tank inlet and an outlet end positioned above the inlet end, the inlet end being spaced above the bottom wall, a portion of the outlet conduit extending into the inlet end, and
• a tray supported adjacent the outlet end of the tube and communicating with the tank outlet,
• wherein gas produced during charging of the battery flows from the outlet conduit into the tube, causing fluid to move from the tube into the tray, and wherein fluid in the tray flows into the inlet conduit.

A tank for holding fluid in a fluid supply system, the fluid supply system supplying fluid to a battery in a vehicle selectively powered by the battery, the vehicle including a frame supporting the battery, the battery including a battery cell, fluid being transmittable to the cell, gas generated during charging being transmittable out of the cell, the fluid supply system including a hydraulic circuit, the hydraulic circuit including an inlet conduit connected to the cell and an outlet conduit connected to the cell, said tank comprising:

• a container for holding fluid and defining a tank outlet, a vent outlet, and a tank inlet, the tank outlet being connected to the inlet conduit, the tank inlet being connected with the outlet conduit, the container including a container wall to provide a first container portion and a second container portion, the tank outlet being in the first container portion, the tank inlet and the vent outlet being in the second container portion, wherein, initially, a first container portion pressure and a second container pressure are substantially equal, and wherein, thereafter, gas produced during charging of the battery is vented from the second container portion causing a pressure differential of the second container portion pressure being less than the first container portion, the pressure differential causing fluid flow from the first container portion, through the hydraulic circuit and to the second container portion.

A method for supplying fluid to a battery in a vehicle selectively powered by the battery, the vehicle including a frame supporting the battery, the battery including a battery cell, fluid being transmittable to the cell, gas generated during charging of the battery being transmittable out of the cell, said method comprising the acts of:

• providing a system for supplying fluid to the battery, the system including a tank for holding fluid, and a hydraulic circuit connecting the battery to the tank, the hydraulic circuit including an inlet conduit connectable between the tank and the cell, and an outlet conduit connectable between the cell and the tank;
• supplying fluid to the tank;
• allowing fluid flow from the tank through the inlet conduit to the cell;
• charging the battery, the charging act including producing gas;
• and
• causing flow of fluid through the outlet conduit and to the tank, the causing act including using gas produced during the charging act to cause fluid flow through the outlet conduit and to the tank.

A method for supplying fluid to a battery in a vehicle selectively powered by a first battery and a second battery, the vehicle including a frame supporting the first battery and the second battery, the first battery including a first battery cell, fluid being transmittable to the first battery cell, gas generated during charging of the first battery being transmittable out of the first battery cell, the second battery including a second battery cell, fluid being transmittable to the second battery cell, gas generated during charging of the second battery being transmittable out of the second battery cell, said method comprising the acts of:

• providing a system for supplying fluid to the battery, the system including a tank for holding fluid, and a hydraulic circuit connecting the battery to the tank, the hydraulic circuit including a first inlet conduit connectable between the tank and the first battery cell, a first outlet conduit connectable between the first battery cell and the tank, a second inlet conduit connectable between the tank and the second battery cell, and a second outlet conduit connectable between the second battery cell and the tank;
• supplying fluid to the tank;
• allowing fluid flow from the tank through the first inlet conduit to the first battery cell;
• allowing fluid flow from the tank through the second inlet conduit to the second battery cell;
• charging the first battery and the second battery, the charging act including producing gas;
• and
• causing flow of fluid through the first outlet conduit and to the tank and through the second outlet conduit and to the tank, the causing act including using gas produced during the charging act to cause fluid flow through the first outlet conduit and to the tank and through the second outlet conduit and to the tank.

A method for supplying fluid to a battery in a vehicle selectively powered by the battery, the vehicle including a frame supporting the battery, the battery including a battery cell, fluid being transmittable to the cell, gas generated during charging of the battery being transmittable out of the cell, said method comprising the acts of:

• providing a system for supplying fluid to the battery, the system including a first tank for holding fluid, a second tank for holding fluid, and a hydraulic circuit connecting the battery to the first tank and to the second tank, the hydraulic circuit including a first conduit connectable between the first tank and the cell, a second conduit connectable between the cell and the second tank, and a third conduit connectable between the second tank and the first tank;
• supplying fluid to the first tank;
• allowing fluid flow from the first tank through the first conduit to the cell;
• allowing excess fluid to flow from through the second conduit and to the second tank;
• charging the battery, the charging act including producing gas;
• and
• causing flow of fluid from the second tank, through the third conduit and to the first tank, the causing act including using gas produced during the charging act to cause fluid flow through the third conduit and to the first tank.

A vehicle comprising:

• a frame supported for movement over ground;
• an electric motor supported by the frame and operable to selectively drive said vehicle;
• a fuel cell supported by the frame and operable to produce electricity to selectively power the motor, operation of the fuel cell producing water;
• a battery supported by the frame and electrically connectable with the motor, the battery including a battery cell, water being transmittable to the cell;
• a tank in fluid communication with the fuel cell and for holding water produced by the fuel cell during operation of the fuel cell;
• and
• a conduit connecting the battery to the tank, water being supplied from the tank through the conduit to replenish the battery cell.