BATTERY MAINTENANCE DEVICE WITH THERMAL BUFFER

• US 20110309800A1
• Filed: 06/18/2010
• Published: 12/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Bertness, Kevin I.
• Granted Patent: US 9,419,311 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/136
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3648 comprising digital calculation means, e.g. for performing an algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4285 Testing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/48 Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0016 using shunting, discharge or bypass circuits
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

A battery maintenance device configured to maintain a storage battery. An electrical connection couples the battery maintenance device to the storage battery. Maintenance circuitry couples to the battery through the electrical connection and performs maintenance on the battery. The maintenance circuitry includes an electrical load configured to draw an electrical current from the battery. The electrical current causes the electrical load to heat. A phase change material is thermally coupled to the load. The phase change material has a specific heat index which has a non-linear relationship to temperature to thereby reduce a rate of change in temperature of the electrical load.

Claims

1. A battery maintenance device configured to maintain a storage battery, comprising:

an electrical connection configured to couple to a storage battery;

maintenance circuitry configured to couple to the battery through the electrical connection and perform maintenance on the battery, the maintenance circuitry including an electrical load configured to draw an electrical current from the storage battery, the electrical current causing the electrical load to heat; and

a phase change material thermally coupled to the load, the phase change having a specific heat index which has a non-linear relationship to temperature to thereby reduce a rate of change in temperature of the electrical load.

2. The battery maintenance device of claim 1 wherein the maintenance circuitry comprises battery test circuitry configured to perform a battery test.

3. The battery maintenance device of claim 2 wherein the battery test comprises a load test.

4. The battery maintenance device of claim 2 wherein the battery test is based upon a dynamic parameter generated using a forcing function provided by the electrical load.

5. The battery maintenance device of claim 1 wherein the electrical load is carried in a container which includes the phase change material.

6. The battery maintenance device of claim 1 wherein the phase change material comprises paraffin wax.

7. The battery maintenance device of claim 1 wherein the electrical connection to the battery comprises a Kelvin connection.

8. The battery maintenance device of claim 1 wherein the maintenance circuitry comprises a battery charger.

9. The battery maintenance device of claim 1 wherein the phase change material transitions from a solid to a liquid during heating caused by heat from the electrical load.

10. A method for maintaining a storage battery, comprising:

electrically connecting battery maintenance circuitry to the storage battery;

performing maintenance on the storage battery using the battery maintenance circuitry and drawing an electrical current from the storage battery to an electrical load and thereby generating heat due to the electrical current through the electrical load;

coupling heat generated by the electrical load to a phase change material, the phase change material having a temperature profile which changes in a nonlinear manner due to applied heat as the phase change material transitions from one phase to another phase and thereby reducing a rate of change in temperature of the electrical load.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the maintenance circuitry comprises battery test circuitry configured to perform a battery test.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the battery test comprises a load test.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the battery test includes measuring a dynamic parameter generated using a forcing function provided by the electrical load.

14. The apparatus of claim 10 including placing the electrical load is in a container which includes the phase change material.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein the phase change material comprises paraffin wax.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein the electrical connection to a battery comprises a Kelvin connection.

17. The method of claim 10 wherein the battery maintenance circuitry comprises a battery charger.

18. The method of claim 10 wherein the phase change material transitions from a solid to a liquid during heating.