Flushing pump for sea water batteries

• US 3,959,023 A
• Filed: 06/23/1975
• Issued: 05/25/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sanders Associates, INC. (BAE Systems Plc)
• Original Assignee: Sanders Associates, INC. (BAE Systems Plc)
• Inventors: La Garde, Ivan
• Primary Examiner(s): Walton, Donald L.
• Application Number:
  US05/589,500
• Time in Patent Office: 337 Days
• Field of Search: 136/100 M, 136/160
• US Class Current: 429/120
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/70 Arrangements for stirring or circulating the electrolyte
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/34 Immersion cells, e.g. sea-water cells

Abstract

A power supply system including a sea water battery for supplying a light load and/or a heavy load. A pump is actuated concurrently with the energization of the heavy load and is hydraulically connected to pump sea water electrolyte through the battery.

Claims

1. A power supply system, comprising, a sea water battery including a housing formed to define an electrolyte inlet and an electrolyte outlet and a pump hydraulically connected for pumping sea water into said inlet, characterized in that said system includes a light electrical load and a heavy electrical load, means for selectively energizing said loads from said battery, and means for actuating said pump concurrently with the energization of said heavy load, whereby, upon such actuation, sea water enters said battery through said inlet and is expelled through said outlet.

2. A system in accordance with claim 1 in which said battery housing is formed to define an auxiliary electrolyte inlet and which includes a check valve cooperating therewith to permit circulation of electrolyte by convection when said pump is not actuated.

3. A system in accordance with claim 2 in which said check valve is a hinged flapper valve within said housing permitting entrance but preventing exit of electrolyte through said auxiliary inlet.

4. A system in accordance with claim 1 in which said means for energizing and said means for actuating includes means for establishing electrical connections from said battery to said heavy load and to said pump simultaneously.

5. A system in accordance with claim 4 in which said last named means includes means for connecting said pump in parallel with said heavy load.

6. A system in accordance with claim 1 in which said battery includes first and second electrical terminals, and in which said means for selectively energizing includes an electrical connection from said second terminal to both of said loads and also includes first and second switches electrically connected between said first terminal and said light and heavy loads respectively and also includes a selector for actuating said switches.

7. A system in accordance with claim 1 in which said pump is an electrically operated reciprocating pump.

8. A system in accordance with claim 7 in which said pump includes a plunger for reciprocation through alternating pumping and retracting strokes and also includes a solenoid for actuating said plunger through said pumping stroke when energized.

9. A system in accordance with claim 8 including a timing circuit electrically connected between said solenoid and said heavy load for alternately energizing and deenergizing said solenoid whereby said plunger reciprocates through said pumping and retraction strokes.

10. A system in accordance with claim 9 in which said pump includes a spring positioned to urge said plunger in the direction of said retracting stroke.

11. A system in accordance with claim 1 in which said means for selectively energizing includes means for energizing either one or the other of said loads at all times.

12. A system in accordance with claim 11 including means responsive to the continuous energization of said light load for a first predetermined period of time for actuating said pump for a second predetermined period of time.

13. A system in accordance with claim 12 in which said first predetermined period of time is much longer than said second predetermined period of time.

14. A system in accordance with claim 13 in which said means responsive to the continuous energization of said light load includes a timing circuit energized concurrently with the energization of said light load for actuating said pump for said second predetermined period of time beginning after the elapse of said first predetermined period of time.