Cycling type of electronic battery charger

• US 4,039,920 A
• Filed: 02/10/1975
• Issued: 08/02/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Union Switch & Signal, Inc. (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation
• Inventors: Popp, Ralph
• Primary Examiner(s): Hickey, Robert J.
• Application Number:
  US05/548,422
• Time in Patent Office: 904 Days
• Field of Search: 320/22-25, 320/13, 320/14, 320/21, 320/19, 320/39, 320/40
• US Class Current: 320/146
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/20 Charging or discharging characterised by the power electronics converter
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007182 in response to battery voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/02 for charging batteries from ac mains by converters
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 320/28 Regulating transformer, e.g. high leakage, ferro-resonant
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 320/29 Transformer having plural secondaries

Abstract

This disclosure relates to a cycling type of a constant current electronically controlled battery charger having a reactive transformer, a full-wave rectifier, a series regulator and a sensing and control circuit for alternately supplying a low and high charging rate to a rechargeable battery whereby the battery is constantly "worked" in order to prevent accelerated deterioration of the battery.

Claims

1. A cycling type of electronically controlled battery charger comprising, reactive transformer means connected to a source of alternating current, said reactive transformer including an adjustable core block member for varying the magnetic coupling between the windings, rectifier means connected to said reactive transformer means, regulator means connected to said rectifier means, sensor and control means connected to said regulator means for sensing the value of the battery voltage and for causing said regulator means to assume a high charging rate when the battery voltage falls below a first predetermined value which is slightly less than the average load plus the circuit losses and for causing said regulator means to assume a low charging rate when the battery voltage rises above a second predetermined value which is greater than the average load plus the circuit losses, and said sensor and control means including hysteresis means for requiring the battery voltage to be raised to said second predetermined value before said regulator means assumes said low charging rate thereby causing a battery to be worked to prevent sulphation and to avoid the need of providing a periodic equalizing charge.

2. A cycling type of electronically controlled battery charger as defined in claim 1, wherein said regulator means includes a variable impedance device and a fixed impedance device.

3. A cycling type of electronically controlled battery charger as defined in claim 2, wherein said variable impedance device is a semiconductive element which furnishes the high charging rate to the battery.

4. A cycling type of electronically controlled battery charger as defined in claim 2, wherein the fixed impedance device is an electrical resistor which furnishes the low charging rate to the battery.

5. A cycling type of electronically controlled battery charger as defined in claim 1, further including a low charging rate monitoring circuit which is connected to said control means for rendering said high charging rate of said regulator means ineffective during periods of monitoring.

7. A cycling type of electronically controlled battery charger as defined in claim 1, further including a diode which is connected across said sensor means to provide protection against reverse polarity battery connection.

8. A cycling type of electronically controlled battery charger as defined in claim 1, wherein said rectifier means is a full-wave bridge rectifier.

6. A cycling type of electronically controlled battery charger as defined in claim 12, wherein said sensor and control means includes a voltage divider circuit and a reference potential circuit as well as an integrated circuit amplifier, a driver and a switching semiconductive device.

9. A cycling type of electronically controlled battery charger as defined in claim 6, further including a hysteresis circuit which provides a delaying action on said integrated circuit amplifier.