A sealed lead-acid secondary cell of the type that absorbs oxygen by the negative electrode, is characterized in that a porous member impregnated with a liquid substance is disposed within or outside of a safety valve, or in contact with the bottom of said safety valve.

A submersible flame-retardant vent plug is adapted for use in storage batteries of the type containing liquid electrolyte. The plug has inlet and outlet slots and a hollow portion providing a gas communication path. A porous flame arrester is positioned in the path. A check valve is positioned in the path between the flame arrester and the outlet slots and is adapted to be opened by gas pressure from the battery's interior and to be closed by water pressure from the battery's exterior.

A water by-passing, submersible, flame retardent vent plug is adapted for use in storage batteries of the type containing liquid electrolyte. The plug has inlet and outlet slots and a hollow portion providing a gas communication path. A porous flame arrester is positioned in the path. A circular raised seat is positioned in the path between the flame arrester and the outlet slots to allow water from the battery's exterior which enters the outlet slots, to exit the vent plug without entering the battery.

A wet, multicell, lead-acid electric storage battery is provided for. The battery comprises a container, a cover, one or more partition walls dividing the space within the container and cover into two or more cell cavities. The cover defines generally cylindrically shaped process holes associated with each cell cavity. The battery further comprises a venting system. The venting system comprises a manifold defined by the cover, the manifold having at least one opening in each process hole and at least one opening in the cover. The manifold is adapted to provide gaseous communication between the process holes and the ambient. The venting systems also comprises a venting plug associated with each process hole and adapted for insertion therein. The venting plugs have a generally cylindrical side wall, a closed upper end, an open lower end, and a central cavity. A vent aperture is located in the side wall of the venting plug and is in gaseous communication with the manifold and the venting plug central cavity. A baffle is positioned within the venting plug central cavity between the vent aperture and the lower end of the venting plug. The baffle is adapted to allow the passage of gases and to retard the passage of electrolyte from the cell cavity through the venting plug central cavity.