RAPID CHARGING OF BATTERIES

• US 3,614,583 A
• Filed: 10/20/1969
• Issued: 10/19/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert V. Jackson, Wilford B. Burkett
• Original Assignee: Robert V. Jackson, Wilford B. Burkett
• Inventors: Burkett, Wilford B., Jackson, Robert V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, J. D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gunther, John M.
• Application Number:
  US04/867,838
• Time in Patent Office: 729 Days
• Field of Search: 320/DIG.12,4,22-24,39,40,35,36,46,5,20,21
• US Class Current: 320/129
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00711 with introduction of pulses during the charging process
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 320/17 Sensing of "gassing" voltage

Abstract

Batteries, having one or more cells, are charged by applying a charging current, either continuous direct current or pulsating direct current, having an average value during flow in excess of the nominal 1 hour rate of the cells as rated by the manufacturer. The batteries are intermittently discharged to depolarize the battery to enhance the chargeability of the battery. This discharging is at a rate also in excess of the nominal 1 hour rate, with the occurrence of the discharging being dependent upon the occurrence of a selected value of either battery terminal voltage, battery pressure, or battery temperature, one of which is monitored.

Claims

1. A method of rapid charging batteries having one or more cells comprising the steps of applying a charging current at the maximum possible rate permitted by the size, structure, and materials of the battery whereby the parameters of terminal voltage, pressure and temperature of the battery change;

sensing the change in one of the parameters;

interrupting the charging current in response to the occurrence of a critical valve in the sensed parameter;

depolarizing the electrodes of the battery by discharging at a high rate and repeating the above steps.

2. A method of rapid charging batteries having one or more cells comprising the steps of applying a charging current in excess of the nominal 1-hour rate of the cells of the battery whereby the parameters of terminal voltage, pressure and temperature of the battery change;

sensing the change in one of the parameters;

applying a discharge path in response to the occurrence of a selected value in the sensed parameter; and

repeating the above steps to effect charging.

3. A method of rapid charging batteries having one or more cells comprising the steps of applying a charging current at a rate in excess of the nominal 1-hour rate of the cells of the battery whereby the parameters of terminal voltage, pressure and temperature of the battery change;

sensing the change in one of the parameters;

discharging the battery in response to the occurrence of a selected value in the sensed parameter; and

repeating the above steps to effect charging.

4. A method in accordance with claim 3 wherein the sensed parameter is the battery terminal voltage.

5. A method in accordance with claim 4 wherein the terminal voltage on open circuit is sensed.

6. A method in accordance with claim 4 wherein the terminal voltage while the charge current is applied is sensed.

7. A method of rapid charging batteries having one or more cells comprising the steps of applying a charging current at a rate in excess of the nominal 1-hour rate of the cells of the battery whereby the parameters of terminal voltage, pressure and temperature of the battery change;

sensing the change in one of the parameters;

depolarizing the battery in response to the occurrence of a selected value in the sensed parameter; and

repeating the above steps to effect charging.

8. A method of rapid charging batteries having one or more cells comprising the steps of applying a charging current in excess of the nominal one-hour rate of the cells of the battery and intermittently interrupting the application of charging current and discharging at a high rate with the interruptions and discharging becoming more frequent with time.

9. A method of rapid charging batteries having one or more cells to impose an increasing charge on the battery comprising the steps of applying a charging current in excess of the nominal 1-hour rate of the cells of the battery and intermittently discharging at a rate in excess of the nominal 1-hour rate with the discharging becoming more frequent with time.

10. A method of rapidly charging a battery having one or more cells comprising the steps of alternately charging and discharging a battery to attain an increasing charge on the battery;

and effecting said charging with charge current exceeding the nominal 1-hour rate of the cells battery.

11. A method of rapidly charging a battery having one or more cells comprising the steps of alternately charging and discharging a battery to attain an increasing charge on the battery and effecting said charging with charge current in excess of five times the nominal 1-hour rate of the cells of the battery.

12. A method of rapidly charging a battery having one or more cells comprising the steps of alternately charging and discharging a battery to attain an increasing charge on the battery and effecting said charging with charge current in excess of five times the nominal 1-hour rate of the cells of the battery.

13. A method of rapidly charging a battery having one or more cells comprising the steps of alternately charging and discharging a battery until the battery is charged to its effective capacity and effecting said charging with charge current exceeding the nominal 1-hour rate of the cells of the battery.

14. A method of rapidly charging a battery having one or more cells comprising the steps of alternately charging and discharging a battery until the battery is charged to at least 95 percent of its effective capacity and effecting said charging with charge current exceeding the nominal 1-hour rate of the cells of the battery.

15. A method of rapidly charging a battery having one or more cells comprising the steps of alternately charging and discharging a battery until the battery is charged to its effective capacity effecting said charging with charge current in excess of twice the nominal 1-hour rate of the cells of the battery

16. A method of rapidly charging a battery having one or more cells comprising the steps of alternately charging and discharging a battery until the battery is charged to its effective capacity and effecting said charging with charge current in excess of five tiMes the nominal 1-hour rate of the cells of the battery.

17. A method of rapidly charging a battery having one or more cells comprising the steps alternately charging and discharging a battery until the battery is charged to at least 95 percent of its effective capacity and effecting said charging with charge current in excess of twice the nominal 1-hour rate of the cells of the battery.

18. A method of rapidly charging a battery having one or more cells comprising the steps of alternately charging and discharging a battery until the battery is charged to at least 95 percent of its effective capacity and effecting said charging with charge current in excess of five times the nominal 1-hour rate of the cells of the battery.

19. An apparatus for rapid charging a battery having one or more cells comprising a direct current source for supplying charging current in excess of the nominal one-hour rate of the cells of the battery coupled to a battery to be charged, means connected across the battery for sensing the terminal voltage, means connected between the source and the battery responsive to the sensing means for intermittently interrupting the charging current to the battery for limited intervals of time, and means for intermittently discharging the battery during said interval of time.

20. An apparatus for rapid charging a battery in accordance with claim 19 wherein the apparatus includes a load, and means responsive to said terminal voltage sensing means for simultaneously interrupting charging current and applying said load across the battery.

21. An apparatus for rapid charging a battery in accordance with claim 19 wherein the apparatus includes a load, and means responsive to said terminal voltage-sensing means for simultaneously interrupting charging current and applying said load across said battery and for simultaneously reapplying charging current and removing the load after a selected period of time.

22. An apparatus for rapid charging a battery in accordance with claim 19 wherein the apparatus includes a load and means for selectively applying the load across said battery.

23. An apparatus for rapid charging a battery having one or more cells comprising a direct current source for supplying charging current in excess of the nominal 1-hour rate of the cells of the battery coupled to the battery to be charged, means associated with the battery for sensing the change in one of the parameters of the battery that varies during the application of charging current, and means responsive to the sensing means for applying a discharge path across the battery for an interval of time.

24. An apparatus in accordance with claim 23 wherein the direct current source comprises an alternating current source and at least one rectifier connected across the output of the alternating current source to produce a pulsating direct current voltage/

25. A battery-charging circuit comprising a source of charging current greater than the nominal 1-hour rate of a battery;

a load; and

circuit means for alternately connecting said source and said load to said battery to impose on an increasing charge on said battery.

26. A method of charging batteries having one or more cells comprising the steps of applying a charging current to the battery whereby the parameters of terminal voltage, temperature, and pressure of the battery change;

sensing the change in one of the parameters; and

intermittently, in response to the attainment of a selected value of the sensed parameter, depolarizing the battery by reversing the current through the battery.

27. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the cells of the battery are sealed cells.

28. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the cells of the battery are nickel cadmium cells.

29. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the cells of the battery are alkaline cells.

30. A method of charging batteries having one or more cells comprising the steps of applying a charGing current to the battery whereby the parameters of terminal voltage, temperature, and pressure of the battery change;

sensing the change in one of the parameters; and

intermittently, in response to the attainment of a selected value of the sensed parameter, depolarizing the battery by reversing the current through the battery for a selected period of time.

31. A method of charging batteries having one or more cells comprising the steps of applying a charging current to the battery whereby the parameters of terminal voltage, pressure, and temperature of the battery change;

sensing the change in one of the parameters; and

intermittently, in response to the attainment of a selected value of the sensed parameter, removing the detrimental polarization effects of charging by reversing the current through the battery.

32. A method of rapid charging batteries having one or more cells comprising the steps of applying charging current pulses having a first repetition rate and applying a discharge path to the battery between charge pulses at a second repetition rate that is less than the first rate.

33. A method of rapid charging batteries having one or more cells comprising the steps of charging the battery with direct current pulses at a first repetition rate and polarizing the battery between charging current pulses at a second repetition rate that is less than the first rate.