MONITOR FOR FRONT TERMINAL BATTERIES

• US 20110218747A1
• Filed: 03/01/2011
• Published: 09/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Franklin Grid Solutions, LLC (EBW, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Bertness, Kevin I.
• Granted Patent: US 9,425,487 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/63
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/385 Arrangements for measuring battery or accumulator variables for monitoring G01R31/382
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4207 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4285 Testing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A battery monitoring device configured to monitor a storage battery. The battery monitoring device includes Kelvin connectors configured to couple to the terminals of the storage battery. The battery monitoring device is configured to receive data from a second battery monitoring device. Further, the battery monitoring device is configured to measure a parameter of the storage battery. The measured parameter and the data received from the second battery monitoring device are communicated to a receiving station.

Claims

1. A battery tester module configured to monitor a storage battery, comprising:

a battery tester housing configured to house circuitry of the battery tester module;

Kelvin connections configured to couple to terminals of the storage battery and affixed to the housing;

battery test circuitry configured to perform a battery test on the storage battery through the Kelvin connectors;

a first data connection configured to communicate with a second battery module; and

a second data connection configured to communicate data from the battery tester module and the second battery test module.

2. The battery tester module of claim 1, wherein the battery tester module includes a microprocessor configured to compute a battery test result.

3. The battery tester module of claim 1 including a forcing function source coupled to the Kelvin connectors and wherein the measurement data relates to a dynamic parameter of the battery.

4. The battery tester module of claim 1 wherein the second data connection is configured to transmit data from the battery tester module and the second battery tester module to a third battery tester module.

5. The battery tester module of claim 1 wherein the second data connection is configured to communicate data from the battery tester module and the second battery tester module to a receiving station.

6. The battery tester module of claim 1 including a tester access point configured to provide an external connection to the Kelvin connectors.

7. The battery tester module of claim 1 including a phase change material configured to receive heat from circuitry of the battery tester module.

8. The battery tester module of claim 7 including a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of the phase change material.

9. The battery tester module of claim 8 wherein circuitry of the battery tester module is controlled based upon a sensed temperature of the change material.

10. The battery tester module of claim 1 wherein the Kelvin connectors comprise first and second rings each having first and second connectors, the first and second rings configured to mount to the terminals of the storage battery.

11. The battery tester module of claim 1 including a display configured to display information.

12. The battery tester module of claim 1 wherein the second data connection comprises a wireless connection.

13. The battery tester module of claim 1 wherein the second data connection comprises a wired connection.

14. A receiving station configured to couple to the battery tester module of claim 1 to receive data through the second data connection from the battery tester module.

15. The receiving station of claim 14 further configured to receive data from the second battery tester module.

16. The battery test module of claim 1 including an electrical connection to a terminal of an adjacent battery and wherein the battery test circuitry is configured to test an intercell connection.

17. A method for measuring parameters of a plurality of storage battery, comprising:

measuring a parameter of a first storage battery with a first battery test module mounted to a first storage battery;

transmitting the measured first transmitter to a second battery test module mounted to a second storage battery;

measuring a second parameter of a second storage battery using the second battery test module; and

transmitting the first measured parameter and a second measured parameter from the second battery test module to a receiving station.

18. The method of claim 17 including applying a forcing function to the first battery through Kelvin connectors and measuring a dynamic parameter of the first battery.

19. The method of claim 17 including providing a tester access point configured to provide an external connection to Kelvin connectors.

20. The method of claim 17 including providing a phase change material configured to receive heat from circuitry of the battery tester module.

21. The method of claim 17 including coupling to the first battery with Kelvin connectors comprising first and second rings each having first and second connectors, the first and second rings configured to mount to the terminals of the storage battery.