Battery fluid dispenser integrated into battery charging connector
First Claim
1. An integrated electrical and watering connector for use in a battery charging and watering system, comprising:
- a first half having a fluid inlet port and an electrical input port; and
a second half having a fluid outlet port and an electrical output port, wherein, when the first and second halves are connected, the fluid inlet port of the first half is configured to receive fluid and direct the received fluid to the fluid outlet port of the second half, and the electrical input port is in electrical contact with the electrical output port.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A watering connection is integrated with a battery charging connector to form an integrated charging and watering connector. The integrated charging and watering connector selectively couples fluid from a fluid supply and a charging voltage from a battery charger to one or more batteries of a battery pack. At an appropriate time, such as after charging or equalization of the batteries of the battery pack, the charger transmits a control signal to a fluid supply control valve. The control signal opens the control valve, thereby allowing cells of the batteries of the battery pack to be replenished. Check valves coupled to the cells of the batteries of the battery pack can be used to halt the filling of cells. Alternatively, a fluid level detector monitors the fluid level in the cells. If not adequately filled, the fluid level detector transmits a sense signal back to the charger. The charger then issues a control signal to open the fluid supply control valve. Fluid is then allowed to fill the cells until the fluid level detector determines that the cells are adequately filled.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. An integrated electrical and watering connector for use in a battery charging and watering system, comprising:
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a first half having a fluid inlet port and an electrical input port; and
a second half having a fluid outlet port and an electrical output port, wherein, when the first and second halves are connected, the fluid inlet port of the first half is configured to receive fluid and direct the received fluid to the fluid outlet port of the second half, and the electrical input port is in electrical contact with the electrical output port. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of charging and watering one or more batteries, comprising:
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electrically coupling electrical terminals of one or more batteries to a first electrical port of a first half of an integrated charging and watering connector;
coupling a fluid distribution section between a fluid inlet port of said one or more batteries and a fluid outlet port of the first half of the connector;
connecting a second half of the connector to the first half of the connector so that, when connected, the fluid outlet port of the first half is coupled to a fluid inlet port of the second half, and a second electrical port of the second half is in electrical contact with the first electrical port of the first half. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An integrated battery charging and watering system, comprising:
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a battery charger;
one or more batteries; and
a connector including a first half and a second half, the first half having an electrical distribution port electrically coupled to the battery charger and a fluid inlet port configured to selectively receive fluid from a fluid supply, and the second half having an electrical receiving port electrically coupled to terminals of the one or more batteries and a fluid outlet port configured to selectively distribute fluid to cells of the one or more batteries. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification