POLARITY-MATED RECHARGEABLE BATTERY AND CHARGING UNIT

• US 3,665,285 A
• Filed: 05/27/1970
• Issued: 05/23/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gates Energy Products, Inc. (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: Ferdinand H. Mullersman, Robert E. Rockey
• Inventors: Mullersman, Ferdinand H., Rockey, Robert E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, J. D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hickey, Robert J.
• Application Number:
  US05/041,002
• Time in Patent Office: 727 Days
• Field of Search: 320/2,25,26,46,52 339/185 312/111,223 D26/15.2
• US Class Current: 320/112
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/46 Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 320/19 Charger status, e.g. voltmeter

Abstract

A novel charging system is disclosed wherein a battery pack and a battery charger are interconnected to provide predetermined desired charging rates to the cells in the battery pack. A plurality of means carried by the pack and the charger cooperate to allow insertion of the pack into the charger in only one way thus assuring proper polarity.

Claims

1. A system for charging a rechargeable battery, comprising battery charger means including a first casing having means therein for dissipating heat therefrom, rechargeable battery means including a second casing, means within said casings providing a high current charge rate and a low current charge rate, and means for interconnecting said battery charger means with said rechargeable battery means, said interconnecting means comprising:

a. electrical coupling means including a male plug member having a plurality of metal prongs and a female socket member, one of said members being carried by said charger means and the other of said members being carried by said rechargeable battery means, said male plug member being recessed into one of said casings an amount equal to or slightly in excess of the length of said prongs and said female socket being sufficiently raised on the other of said casings to be received in said recess, said recess conforming geometrically to the outer configuration of said raised female socket;

b. lug means on one of said casings and matching recess means in the other of said casings, said lug means and said recess means being spaced parallel and offset to said plug and socket members so that said lug means are slideably received in said recess means when said plug on one of said casings is oriented properly to said socket on the other of said casings, and c. mating means on said casings including lateral projections on one of said casings slideably received in matching recesses in the other of said casings, said lateral projections being normal to said lug means, said mating means cooperating to guide said battery means into electrically coupled relationship with said charger means and to maintain said battery means and said charger means in said relationship.

2. A system for charging a rechargeable battery, comprising battery charger means including a first casing, rechargeable battery means including a second casing, and a plurality of means for interconnecting said battery charger means with said rechargeable battery means, said interconnecting means comprising:

A. electrical coupling means including a male plug member having at least three metal prongs, and a female socket member having a corresponding number of openings therein in a predetermined pattern to interconnect a plurality of circuits from the charger to the battery, including at least a high charge rate circuit and a low charge rate circuit, one of said members being carried by said charger means and the other of said members being carried by said rechargeable battery means, said male plug member being recessed into one of said casings an amount substantially equal to the length of said prongs and said female socket being sufficiently raised on the other of said casings to be received in said recess, said recess conforming geometrically to the outer configuration of said raised female socket;

B. a pair of lugs on one of said casings and matching recess means in the other of said casings, said lugs and said recess means being spaced parallel and offset to said plug and socket members so that said lugs are slideably received in said recess means only when said plug on one of said casings is oriented properly to said socket on the other of said casings; and

C. mating means on said casings including a pair of parallel, spaced apart, ribs on one of said casings slideably received in matching grooves in the other of said casings, said ribs and grooves being normal to said lug means, and offset from a plane parallel to said ribs and grooves passing centrally through said plug member, said mating means cooperating to guide said battery means into electrically coupled relationship with said charger means and to maintain said battery means and said charger means in said relationship.

3. The charging system of claim 7 further comprising current limiting means within one of said casings to limit the flow of charge current through the low charge rate circuit, and switch means in the other of said casings responsive to a pressure buildup in one of said cells to disconnect said high charge rate circuit.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein said charger contains means for dissipating heat generated during charging including vent means to provide air flow from beneath the charger and through openings in said casing.