LOW COST UNIVERSAL BATTERY CHARGER FOR SMALL TYPE NICKEL-CADMIUM OR ALKALINE BATTERIES

• US 3,735,232 A
• Filed: 06/08/1971
• Issued: 05/22/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Karoly G. Fister
• Original Assignee: Karoly G. Fister
• Inventors: Fister, Karoly G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, J. D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hickey, Robert J.
• Application Number:
  US05/151,078
• Time in Patent Office: 714 Days
• Field of Search: 320/2,5,6,15-19,30,31,34,35,36,39,40
• US Class Current: 320/110
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/46 Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A low cost universal battery charger for recharging different size rechargable small batteries of the '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'A-A'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"', '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'C'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"', and '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'D'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' nickel-cadmium, alkaline or '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'dry cell'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' type directly from an automobile or other 6-12 volt battery source of direct current using only passive components. The battery charger comprises a molded insulating housing a plurality of separate different size compartments each dimensioned to receive respective different ones of the small batteries to be recharged. Internal contacts are secured within each of the compartments for physically engaging the terminals of the respective size batteries to be recharged in that compartment and to establish a closed electrical circuit through the battery. External contacts are mounted on the exterior of the insulating housing and are electrically connected to respective ones of the internal contacts for connecting the different size batteries disposed in the compartments in circuit relationship with a recharging direct current voltage source that preferably comprises an automobile battery of 6-12 volt rating. Conductors having readily detachable terminal connectors serve to connect the external contacts to the automobile battery serving as a recharging direct current voltage source to thereby energize the different size battery receiving compartments within the housing. A plurality of different value current adjusting (voltage dropping) resistors preferably are molded within the battery housing and means are provided for selectively connecting a desired value current adjusting resistor in circuit relationship with the automobile battery recharging direct current voltage source and the internal contact means of the different size battery receiving compartments for adjusting the value of the charging current supplied to each of the compartments to a preselected desired value in accordance with the rating of the small battery to be recharged in that compartment. Additionally, plug-in resistors and suitable receptacles are provided in certain forms of the invention for connecting additional resistors in parallel circuit relationship with the molded-in current adjusting resistors for appropriately adjusting the current value supplied to a given battery receiving compartment to a different current value whereby the battery receiving compartment can accommodate batteries of the same physical size but requiring different value recharging currents. Also, a second receptacle can be formed in the insulating housing for receiving detachable thermally sensitive switches which are connected in series circuit relationship with the internal contacts of at least one of the battery receiving compartments whereby the thermally sensitive switch physically senses the temperature of the battery being recharged and interrupts the recharging current upon an over-temperature condition being sensed. If desired the thermally sensitive switch can be permanently built into the battery recharger rather than making it in the form of a detachable attachment and preferably comprises a bimetal switch. In still a different form of the invention the plurality of different value current adjusting resistors are comprised by resistive cables which have different values of resistance and also serve as the conductor for Selectively connecting the external contacts to the automobile battery serving as a recharging direct current voltage source. In still another form of the invention, the plurality of different value current adjusting resistors is comprised by a single multitap resistor and a selector switch is provided for connecting a desired value of current adjusting resistance in circuit relationship with the automobile battery serving as the recharging direct current voltage source and the internal contacts of a selected one of the different size battery receiving compartments.

Claims

1. A low cost, universal battery charger for primarily recharging different size nickel-cadmium and alkaline rechargeable small batteries of the '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'AA'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"', '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'C'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' and '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'D'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' or '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'dry cell'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' type comprising a housing having a plurality of separate size compartments each dimensioned to receive respective different ones of the small batteries to be recharged, said housing and compartmentation partitions being fabricated from a molded electrical insulating material, internal contact means secured within each of the compartments for physically engaging the terminals of the respective size battery to be recharged in that compartment and to establish a closed electrical circuit therethrough, external contact means mounted on the exterior of the housing and electrically connected to respective ones of the internal contact means for connecting the different size batteries disposed in the compartments in circuit relationship with a recharging direct current voltage source, conductor means having readily detachable terminal connectors for selectively connecting the external contact means to a recharging direct current voltage source to thereby energize the different size battery receiving compartments, a plurality of different value current adjusting resistors, means for selectively correcting a desired value current adjusting resistor in circuit relationship with the recharging direct current, voltage source and the internal contact means of the different size battery receiving compartments for adjusting the value of the charging current supplied to the compartments to preselected desired values, the plurality of different value current adjusting resistors being integrally formed and molded within the walls of the electrically insulated housing and preformed interconnecting conductors electrically interconnecting respective different ones of the molded-in current adjusting resistors in series circuit relationship between the external contact means and the internal contact means of the respective battery receiving compartments.

2. A low cost universal battery charger according to claim 1 further including electric plug receptacle means formed in the insulating housing and connected to said preformed interconnecting conductors for receiving the terminals of at least one additional plug-in resistor, the receptacle mans serving to electrically connect the additional plug-in resistor in parallel circuit relationship with a molded-in current adjusting resistor for appropriately adjusting the current value supplied to a given battery receiving compartment to a different current value whereby the battery receiving compartment can accommodate batteries of the same physical size but requiring different recharging current values.

3. A low cost universal battery charger according to claim 2 further including second receptacle means formed in the insulating housing for receiving a detachable thermally sensitive element, said second receptacle means serving to connect the thermally sensitive element in circuit relationship with the internal contacts of at least one of the battery receiving compartments whereby the thermally sensitive element physically senses the temperature of a battery being recharged in order to interrupt or reduce the recharging current upon an over-temperature condition being sensed.

4. A low cost universal battery charger according to claim 1 wherein each of the different size battery receiving compartments are dimensioned to receive at least two batteries of the same physical size and voltage rating, the internal contact means electrically connect the same size batteries in each compartment in series circuit relationship to the external contact means through the respective molded in current adjusting resistors and preformed interconnecting conductors, there being at least three battery receiving compartments designed to receiver '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'AA'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"', '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'C'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' and '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'D'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' size batteries, respectively, the recharging direct current voltage source comprises an automobile battery or other similar convenient source of direct current voltage of suitable voltage and current rating, the readily detachable connectors comprise pressure clips, snap-on contacts, threaded stud and screw-on caps, mated male and female prong connectors, or the like, designed to attach directly to the terminals of the automobile, an automobile light outlet, or other similar convenient source of direct current voltage of suitable voltage and current rating.

5. A low cost universal battery charger according to claim 4 wherein the molded insulating housing further includes electric plug receptacle means formed in the insulated housing and connected to said preformed interconnecting conductors for receiving the terminals of an additional plug-in resistor, the receptacle means serVing to electrically connect at least one additional plug-in resistor in parallel circuit relationship with at least one of the molded-in current adjusting resistors for appropriately adjusting the charging current supplied to at least one of the battery receiving compartments to values suitable for recharging batteries of the same physical size but different current ratings.

6. A low cost universal battery charger according to claim 5 further including second electric plug receptacle means formed on the molded insulating housing and connected to said preformed interconnecting conductors for receiving a plug-in thermally sensitive element the second receptacle means serving to electrically connect the plug-in thermally sensitive element in circuit relationship with the recharging direct current voltage source in order to interrupt or reduce the recharging current supplied to a small battery being recharged in response to an overtemperature condition being sensed by the thermally sensitive element.

7. A low cost, universal battery charger for primarily recharging different size rechargeable small batteries of the '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'AA'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"', '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'C'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' and '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'D'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' of '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'dry cell'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' type comprising a housing having a plurality of separate sized compartments each dimensioned to receive respective different ones of the small batteries to be recharged, said housing and compartmentation portions being fabricated from a molded electrical insulating material, internal contact means secured within each of the compartments for physically engaging the terminals of the respective size battery to be recharged in that compartment and to establish a closed electrical circuit therethrough, external contact means mounted on the exterior of the housing and electrically connected to respective ones of the internal contact means for selectively connecting the different size batteries disposed in the compartments in circuit relationship with a recharging direct current voltage source in accordance with which external contact means is selectively connected to the recharging direct current source, conductor means having readily detachable terminal connectors for selectively connecting a desired set of external contact means to a recharging direct current voltage source to thereby selectively energize respective ones of the different size battery receiving compartments, a plurality of different value current adjusting resistors, means for selectively connecting a desired value current adjusting resistor in circuit relationship with the recharging direct current voltage source and the internal contact means of a selected one of the different size battery receiving compartments for adjusting the value of the charging current supplied to that compartment to a preselected desired value, the plurality of different value current adjusting resistors being integrally formed and molded within the walls of the electrically insulating housing and preformed interconnecting conductors interconnecting respective different ones of the current adjusting resistors in series circuit relationship between the external contact means and the internal contact means of the respective battery receiving compartments and one of the molded-in resistors serves as a common current adjusting resistor for two or more battery receiving compartments.

8. A low cost universal battery charger according to claim 7 further including electric plug receptacle means formed in the insulating housing and connected to said preformed interconnecting conductors for receiving the terminals of at least one additional plug-in-resistor, the receptacle means serving to electrically connect the additional plug-in resistors in parallel circuit relationship with a molded-in current adjusting resistor for appropriately adjusting the current value supplied to a given battery receiving compartment to a different current value whereby the battery receiving compartment can accommodate batteries of the same physical size but requiring different rechargiNg current values.

9. A low cost universal battery charger according to claim 8 further including second electric plug receptacle means formed in the insulating housing for receiving a detachable thermally sensitive element said second receptacle means serving to connect the thermally sensitive element in circuit relationship with the internal contacts of at least one of the battery receiving compartments whereby the thermally sensitive element physically senses the temperature of a battery being recharged in order to interrupt or reduce the recharging current upon an overtemperature condition being sensed.

10. A low cost universal battery charger according to claim 9 wherein at least one of the external contacts serves as a common contact for two or more compartments, each of the different sized battery receiving compartments are dimensioned to receive at least two batteries of the same physical size and voltage rating, the internal contact means electrically connect the same size batteries in each compartment in series circuit relationship to the external contact means through the respective molded-in current adjusting resistors and preformed interconnecting conductors, there being at least three battery receiving compartments designed to receive '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'AA'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"', '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'C'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' and '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'D'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' size batteries, respectively, the recharging direct current voltage source comprises an automobile battery or other similar convenient source of direct current voltage of suitable voltage and current rating, the readily detachable connectors comprise pressure clips, snap-on caps, mated male and female prong connectors, or the like designed to attach directly to the terminals of an automobile battery, a cigarette lighter or light outlet on the instrument panel of an automobile, or other similar convenient source of direct current voltage of suitable voltage and current rating.