Substitute power supply and battery charger for battery operated apparatus

• US 4,065,710 A
• Filed: 05/24/1976
• Issued: 12/27/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bernard J. Zytka
• Original Assignee: Bernard J. Zytka
• Inventors: Zytka, Bernard J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hickey, Robert J.
• Application Number:
  US05/689,581
• Time in Patent Office: 582 Days
• Field of Search: 320/2-5, 320/25, 320/26, 307/64, 307/65, 307/66, 307/150, 46/45, 339/152
• US Class Current: 320/103
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/44 Methods for charging or discharging circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/50 Methods or arrangements for servicing or maintenance, e.g. for maintaining operating temperature constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/5033 used as charging means for another battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

Terminal plates, connected to the opposite terminals of a direct current (DC) source, are mounted and/or formed to be engageable with the terminals of the operating batteries in a battery operated device. Two terminal plates are mounted on disc shaped insulation pieces or are formed into conducting discs to match the conventional battery shape. These terminal discs are inserted into the battery compartment at opposite ends of the normal batteries in series and with like polarities matching. Selection of the position of an insulating pad or disc surface results in the external source acting as a substitute power supply or as a charging source for rechargeable cells. In a special form, the terminal plates are mounted on opposite sides of a single insulation disc, connected to the DC source, and the disc inserted between tandem cells or between the end cell and compartment contactor to provide operating energy to the device.

Claims

1. An external power supply arrangement for battery operated apparatus, comprising in combination,

a. a first and a second contactor element, each formed for contacting a battery terminal when inserted within said battery operated apparatus,

b. a connecting means for coupling said first and second contactor elements to opposite polarity terminals of an external direct current source, and

c. an insulating means formed for inserting within said battery operated apparatus adjacent one of said first and second contactor elements,

d. energy being supplied by said source to operate said apparatus or to charge the operating batteries within said apparatus as said insulating means is selectively placed adjacent a first or a second surface, respectively, of said one contactor element.

2. A power supply arrangement as defined in claim 1 in which,

a. each contactor element is a conductive disc formed to fit against a different selected polarity battery terminal within said apparatus,

b. said connecting means connects each disc to the same polarity source terminal as the battery terminal that disc is formed to fit, and

c. said insulating means is shaped and sized to match the single selected one of said discs to which it is placed adjacent.

3. A power supply arrangement as defined in claim 2 in which,

a. each conductive disc is futher distinctly formed to fit over a particular battery terminal end to assure the proper polarity connections between said source and said batteries, and

b. said insulating means is a disc shaped piece of electrical insulation tape substantially the same size as the surface of said selected one disc and adapted to adhere to the disc surface selected for insulation to interrupt a selected circuit path within said apparatus.

4. A power supply arrangement as defined in claim 1 in which,

a. each contactor element is formed on a dielectric disc sized to fit within said apparatus in tandem with the operating batteries,

b. a contactor terminal is mounted on each surface of a selected one of said discs,

c. a contactor terminal is mounted on only one surface of the other disc,

d. said connector means connects both terminals on said one disc to opposite polarity terminals of said source and connects said single terminal on said other disc to a selected terminal on said one disc,

e. said insulation means comprises the surface of said other disc free of any terminal, and

f. said other disc is positioned so that the insulation surface interrupts the energy supply circuit to said apparatus or to the operating batteries as said source is to supply charging energy to said operating batteries or operating energy to said apparatus, respectively.

5. A circuit element for use in battery operated apparatus, comprising,

a. a conductive disc of a size enabling insertion within the battery compartment of said apparatus and having a formed terminal for coupling with a preselected terminal of the apparatus batteries,

b. a circuit connector means for connecting said disc to a preselected terminal of an external direct current source, and

c. an insulation pad of substantially the same size as said disc and selectively adhered to one surface of said disc for interrupting the coupling between said disc and said apparatus battery and to the other surface of said disc for interrupting the circuit between said disc and said apparatus.

6. A circuit element as defined in claim 5 in which,

a. said conductive disc is formed with a plurality of lugs at substantially right angles to the disc surfaces for clamping the disc to the end of a battery to couple with said selected terminal, and

b. said insulation pad is formed of electrical insulating tape having an adhesive surface to adhere the pad to the selected surface of the conductive disc.

7. A battery charging arrangement for battery operated apparatus, having normal operating batteries mounted in a compartment within the apparatus, comprising in combination,

a. a pair of contact devices, sized for insertion within said compartment in tandem with the operating batteries, and fitted to contact different terminals of said batteries when inserted in said compartment,

b. means for connecting said contact devices to opposite terminals of an external direct current source, and

c. an insulation disc, of the same size as each contact device, selectively positioned on one of said devices for interrupting the energy supply circuit to said apparatus, whereby energy from said source is supplied to charge the operating batteries.

8. A battery charging arrangement as defined in claim 7 in which,

a. each device is an electrically conductive disc of a size and shape matching the end terminal of the batteries in use in said apparatus and formed with a plurality of lugs substantially at right angles to the disc surfaces for clamping the disc to the end terminal of the battery,each disc of the pair also uniquely formed to designate the polarity of the battery terminal with which it is to be coupled, and

b. said insulation disc is formed of electrical insulating tape having an adhesive surface for securing the disc to the selected surface on said one conductive disc to interrupt the apparatus energy supply circuit.

9. A battery charging arrangement as defined in claim 8 in which, said insulation disc is secured instead to the opposite surface of said one conductive disc for interrupting the energy supply circuit from said operating batteries, whereby operating energy for said apparatus is then supplied by said source.

10. An energy supplying network for battery operated apparatus, comprising in combination,

a. a dielectric disc sized for insertion within the battery compartment of said apparatus in tandem with the operating battery cells and having a terminal on each surface positioned for contacting the adjacent battery and compartment terminals when inserted at one end of said compartment,

b. a second dielectric disc also sized for insertion within said battery compartment and having a terminal on only one surface,said second disc inserted at the other end of said battery compartment so positioned that said one terminal contacts the corresponding operating battery terminal and the other surface interrupts the energy supply circuit to said apparatus,

c. a circuit connector means connected to the terminal on said second disc and adapted for coupling to a selected terminal on said first disc,

d. an external source of direct current energy, and

e. each terminal on said first disc connected to a selected polarity terminal of said source for supplying charging energy to the operating batteries of said apparatus between the non-selected terminal of said first disc and the one terminal of said second disc.

11. An energy supply network as defined in claim 10 in which,

a. the positioning of said second disc as inserted at said other end of said battery compartment is reversed so that said one terminal contacts the corresponding apparatus load terminal and the other surface interrupts the circuit from said operating batteries, and

b. the positioning of said first disc as inserted in said compartment is also reversed so that energy from said source is directly supplied as operating energy to said apparatus.