Operation of multicell traction batteries

• US 3,906,330 A
• Filed: 10/01/1974
• Issued: 09/16/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Eberhard Zander, Heinrich Busch, Klaus Salamon
• Original Assignee: Eberhard Zander, Heinrich Busch, Klaus Salamon
• Inventors: Salamon, Klaus, Zander, Eberhard, Busch, Heinrich
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, J. D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hickey, Robert J.
• Application Number:
  US05/510,989
• Time in Patent Office: 350 Days
• Field of Search: 320/31,46 136/179,180 318/139 180/65
• US Class Current: 320/147
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/445 in response to gas pressure
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/52 Removing gases inside the secondary cell, e.g. by absorption vent plugs or other mechanical arrangements for facilitating escape of gases H01M50/30
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

Gas evolved from the storage batteries used in battery operated vehicles is treated in on-board recombination reactors while the batteries are subjected to no more than charge factor 1 charging, but is treated in a large-capacity central recombination reactor permanently installed at a charging station while the batteries are subjected to full or compensating charging.

Claims

1. A method of operating multi-cell storage batteries for battery operated vehicles, said method comprising:

carrying out only partial battery charging or charging to at most a charge factor of 1 while the batteries are in the vehicles; and

carrying out full and compensating charging while the batteries are in charging stations outside the vehicle, the comparatively small gas quantities evolved during charging and discharging in the vehicle being rendered harmless in a small recombination reactor associated with the vehicle or the battery, and the comparatively large quantities of charging gas evolved during full charging being recombined into water in a central recombination reactor permanently installed at the charging station, the central recombination reactor being supplied with the charging gases from the storage battery via a gas manifold, and the recombined water being returned to the central battery water refill arrangement.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the charging in the vehicle is controlled in response to the quantity of gas evolved.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the central recombination reactor is utilized to charge several batteries simultaneously during the entire charging period.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the central recombination reactor is connected to the battery only during the portion of the charging period having the most gas evolution.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the gases are drawn from the storage battery through the manifold, and wherein air is supplied to the individual battery cells to stir and cool the electrolyte.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein water losses are compensated from a central water container of the permanently installed charging station.

7. In a system for charging the battery of a battery operated vehicle which comprises on-board gas recombining means:

gas-recombining means permanently installed at a charging station, said last-named recombining means having adequate capacity to recombine gas evolved during full or compensating charging of said battery, while said on-board recombining means has adequate capacity only for gas evolved during charging below a charge factor of 1; and

means for coupling said battery to said permanently installed recombining means.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said coupling means comprises a three-way valve for directing said gas selectively to said on-board recombining means and to said permaNently installed recombining means.

9. The system of claim 7, further comprising central water refilling means for said battery, operative from either of said recombining means.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein said battery has a plurality of cells, each cell having an air inlet which terminates below the electrolyte surface, and further comprising pumping means associated with the permanently installed recombining means for removing gas from above said surfaces, whereby said air is caused to stir said electrolyte and to dilute the gas above said surface.