Lead acid battery separator and lead acid battery

Abstract

A separator for a battery is disclosed. The separator is an envelope separator. At least one aperture is provided in any of the first sealed edge, second sealed edge, and third sealed edge of the envelope separator, wherein the at least one aperture forms an electrolyte conduit which assists in the reduction of acid stratification. A battery and a plate and separator assembly are also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A separator for a battery comprising:
 a first separator segment having a first edge, a second edge, a third edge, and a fourth edge;   a second separator segment having a first edge, a second edge, a third edge, and a fourth edge, the second separator segment sealed to the first separator segment along the first edge of the first separator segment and the first edge of the second separator segment thereby forming a first sealed edge, the second edge of the first separator segment and the second edge of the second separator segment thereby forming a second sealed edge, and the third edge of the first separator segment and the third edge of the second separator segment thereby forming a third sealed edge;   the first sealed edge and the second sealed edge each being side edges opposite one another and separated by the third sealed edge; and   each of the first sealed edge and the second sealed edge having an acid stratification reducer, with the acid stratification reducer being an aperture comprising vents for an electrolyte transfer.   
     
     
         2 . The separator of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of acid stratification reducers, the plurality of acid stratification reducers in one of the first sealed edge and the second sealed edge. 
     
     
         3 . The separator of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of acid stratification reducers, the plurality of acid stratification reducers in one of the first sealed edge, the second sealed edge, or the third sealed edge. 
     
     
         4 . The separator of  claim 1 , wherein at least one first acid stratification reducer being located in at least one of the first sealed edge, the second sealed edge, or the third sealed edge, and at least one second acid stratification reducer being positioned with a sealed corner of the separator between the at least one first acid stratification reducer and the at least one second acid stratification reducer. 
     
     
         5 . The separator of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one first acid stratification reducer and the at least one second acid stratification reducer are positioned spaced apart along at least one of the first sealed edge, the second sealed edge, and the third sealed edge, and extended at least substantially parallel to the respective sealed edge. 
     
     
         6 . The separator of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one first acid stratification reducer and the at least one second acid stratification reducer of at least one of the first sealed edge and the second sealed edge are spaced from the fourth edge and a sealed corner between the third sealed edge and one of the first sealed edge and the second sealed edge. 
     
     
         7 . A battery comprising the separator of  claim 1  therein. 
     
     
         8 . A battery comprising:
 a battery housing, the battery housing having a cell compartment;   a battery cell received within the cell compartment, the battery cell having a plurality of battery plates, each plate of the plurality of battery plates comprising a grid and an active material;   an envelope separator surrounding a plate from the plurality of battery plates, with the envelope separator being defined by opposite sealed edges;   the envelope separator having an acid stratification reducer on each of the opposite sealed edges of the envelope separator;   electrolyte in the battery housing; and   the acid stratification reducer comprises vents, with each vent being an electrolyte transfer location.   
     
     
         9 . The battery of  claim 8 , further comprising a plurality of acid stratification reducers on each of the opposite sealed edges of the envelope separator. 
     
     
         10 . The battery of  claim 9 , wherein each plate of the plurality of battery plates is positioned within a respective envelope separator formed by a first sealed edge, a second sealed edge, and a third sealed edge, and with the plurality of acid stratification reducers being located in any one or more of the first sealed edge, the second sealed edge, and the third sealed edge of the respective envelope separator. 
     
     
         11 . The battery of  claim 10 , wherein at least one first acid stratification reducer being located in at least one of the first sealed edge, the second sealed edge, or the third sealed edge, and at least one second acid stratification reducer being positioned with a sealed corner of the envelope separator between the at least one first acid stratification reducer and the at least one second acid stratification reducer. 
     
     
         12 . The battery of  claim 8 , wherein the acid stratification reducer comprises two spaced apart acid stratification reducers along the sealed edge. 
     
     
         13 . The battery of  claim 11 , wherein two spaced apart acid stratification reducers are positioned along at least one of the first sealed edge, the second sealed edge, and the third sealed edge, and extended at least substantially parallel to the respective sealed edge. 
     
     
         14 . A plate and separator assembly for a lead-acid battery comprising:
 a battery plate comprising a grid and active material thereon;   an envelope separator surrounding the battery plate, with the envelope separator being defined by opposite sealed edges;   the envelope separator having at least one aperture positioned through at least one of the opposite sealed edges of the envelope separator, with the opposite sealed edges separated by a bottom edge of the enveloped separator; and   the at least one aperture having vents for an electrolyte conduit transfer location.   
     
     
         15 . The assembly of  claim 14 , further comprising a plurality of apertures on a sealed edge of the envelope separator. 
     
     
         16 . The assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the envelope separator comprises a first sealed edge, a second sealed edge, and a third sealed edge having the battery plate contained within an envelope formed by the first sealed edge, the second sealed edge, and the third sealed edge, and the plurality of apertures being located in any one or more of the first sealed edge, the second sealed edge, and the third sealed edge. 
     
     
         17 . The assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one aperture comprises at least one first aperture being located in at least one of a first sealed edge, a second sealed edge, and a third sealed edge, and at least one second aperture being positioned with a sealed corner of the envelope separator between the at least one first aperture and the at least one second aperture. 
     
     
         18 . The assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one aperture comprises two spaced apart apertures along a sealed edge of the envelope separator. 
     
     
         19 . The assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the first aperture and the second aperture are distal with respect to a top edge and the third sealed edge. 
     
     
         20 . A battery having the assembly of  claim 14 .