METHOD FOR TESTING STORAGE BATTERIES FOR INTERNAL LEAKAGE USING A CHEMICALLY TREATED TEST STRIP

• US 3,764,893 A
• Filed: 11/10/1971
• Issued: 10/09/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Warren E. Weigand
• Original Assignee: Warren E. Weigand
• Inventors: Weigand, Warren E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Corcoran, Robert J.
• Application Number:
  US05/197,399
• Time in Patent Office: 699 Days
• Field of Search: 324/29.5 136/182 320/48 340/249
• US Class Current: 324/432
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/378 specially adapted for the type of battery or accumulator
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4228 Leak testing of cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/488 Cells or batteries combined with indicating means for external visualization of the condition, e.g. by change of colour or of light density
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/505 Cells combined with indicating means for external visualization of the condition, e.g. by change of colour or of light intensity
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A device for and method of testing the available potential energy or operational capability of an electric storage battery; and a method of making the testing device which comprises a strip of paper having sufficient length to extend between and firmly engage the positive and negative terminals of a battery. The strip is impregnated with an indicator substance such as phenolphthalein responsive to the presence of a basic solution to provide color indicia representative of the concentration thereof and it is further impregnated with an electrolytic solution effective when electrolyzed to produce the basic solution to which the indicator substance is responsive. The method of preparing the test strip includes the steps of impregnating the same with both the indicator substance and electrolyte; and the method of testing a battery to determine its available potential energy includes: first, the step of pressing the strip against the negative terminal of the battery; and second, the step of pressing the strip against each of the terminals of the battery to effect a current flow through the electrolytic solution carried by the strip. After each such step the strip is inspected to observe any color change about the area of the strip in engagement with the negative terminal. A color change after the first test step is an index of a defective battery occasioned by internal current leakage, and the aggregate intensity or concentration of any such color is an index of the magnitude of the leakage. A color change after the second test step establishes that the battery has available potential energy, and the intensity or concentration of the color change is an index of the magnitude of the potential energy then available.

Claims

2. The method of claim 1 in which said test strip is pressed into engagement with the negative terminal of the battery.

3. The method of claim 1 in which said indicator substance is phenolphthalein and the electrolytic solution constitutes a water solution of sodium chloride, and in which said test strip is pressed into engagement with the negative terminal of the battery.