Automatic battery fluid reminder system for vehicles with flooded lead acid batteries and method thereof
First Claim
1. A battery fluid level monitoring system comprising:
- a battery having an internal fluid;
a fluid level monitoring system in operative communication with the battery, wherein the fluid level monitoring system calculates consumption of the internal fluid based on a parameter,wherein the fluid level monitoring system determines a level of the internal fluid based on the consumption of the internal fluid and compares the level with a predetermined level,wherein when the level of the internal fluid is equal to or less than the predetermined level the fluid monitoring system communicates a warning; and
a battery charger in operative communication with the battery, and wherein when the level of the internal fluid is greater than the predetermined level the fluid level monitoring system instructs the battery charger to begin charging the battery, andwherein the fluid level monitoring system measures a duration of the warning and compares the duration with a predetermined duration, wherein when the duration of the warning is greater than the predetermined duration the fluid level monitoring system alters a charge cycle of the battery to reduce the consumption of the internal fluid.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An automatic battery fluid level monitoring system is provided. The automatic monitoring system includes a fluid consumption algorithm, programmed into a microprocessor based motor controller, connected through a communications link to a microprocessor based battery charger. The battery charger is electrically connected to a flooded type battery as well as a power connection such as being plugged into an outlet, the electrical connection from an alternator, or the like. Once the fluid consumption algorithm indicates that the fluid level is too low, a battery fluid indicator is activated utilizing a visual and/or audio display. After the battery is refilled, a fluid added reset is triggered, which deactivates the battery fluid indicator. Additional embodiments include utilizing a wired or wireless connection to a remote fleet management system, as well as alternative vehicle performance rules wherein the vehicle performance parameters can be purposefully altered to effect the ongoing performance of the vehicle.
-
Citations
17 Claims
-
1. A battery fluid level monitoring system comprising:
-
a battery having an internal fluid; a fluid level monitoring system in operative communication with the battery, wherein the fluid level monitoring system calculates consumption of the internal fluid based on a parameter, wherein the fluid level monitoring system determines a level of the internal fluid based on the consumption of the internal fluid and compares the level with a predetermined level, wherein when the level of the internal fluid is equal to or less than the predetermined level the fluid monitoring system communicates a warning; and a battery charger in operative communication with the battery, and wherein when the level of the internal fluid is greater than the predetermined level the fluid level monitoring system instructs the battery charger to begin charging the battery, and wherein the fluid level monitoring system measures a duration of the warning and compares the duration with a predetermined duration, wherein when the duration of the warning is greater than the predetermined duration the fluid level monitoring system alters a charge cycle of the battery to reduce the consumption of the internal fluid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A method of monitoring a fluid level in a battery, the method comprising:
-
calculating by an algorithm a consumption of the internal fluid of a flooded-type battery based on a parameter; comparing a level of the internal fluid based on the consumption with a predetermined level; communicating a warning when the level of the internal fluid is equal to or less than the predetermined level; instructing a battery charger to begin to charge the flooded-type battery when the level of the internal fluid is greater than the predetermined level; measuring a duration of the warning and comparing the duration with a predetermined duration; and altering a charge cycle of the battery to reduce the consumption of the internal fluid when the duration of the warning is greater than the predetermined duration. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
-
Specification