Automatic electric battery charging apparatus
First Claim
1. Apparatus for supervising the switching off of an electric battery charger and providing a topping-up charge, comprising a clock programmer giving digital signals on an output thereof for long periods and short periods alternately, a bistable latch having set and reset inputs, of which the set input is connected to the programmer output to force the latch into its set condition during the said short periods, an initial reset signal source, the reset input is connected to the initial reset signal source, a gate connected to be controlled by the programmer output and by the latch for controlling the switching on and off of charging current, the gate switching on the charging current when either the latch is in its reset condition or the programmer is providing a set signal to the latch, so that the said charging current is allowed to be switched on, because the latch is reset, during a first long period at the end of which the latch is set, without switching off the charging current until the end of the ensuing short period, and at the end of each subsequent long period the charging current is switched on again, and at the end of each subsequent short period the charging current is switched off again.
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Abstract
A controller for incorporation in a battery charger to limit the overall length of the charge, and also to provide short topping-up charges at intervals after the main charge has been completed, if the battery is left connected to the charger. The controller allows the limit on the length of the charge to be set to either 10 or 141/2 hours; the subsequent topping-up charges then start at intervals for 10 or 141/2 hours, and last for about 40 or about 55 minutes, depending on the setting of the main charge time limit. The controller is illustrated in conjunction with a charger control circuit which terminates the main charge when the rate of rise of battery voltage falls below a predetermined value, and this is normally expected to occur before 10 (or 141/2) hours have elapsed, leaving the time limit set by the controller as a safeguard.
14 Citations
10 Claims
- 1. Apparatus for supervising the switching off of an electric battery charger and providing a topping-up charge, comprising a clock programmer giving digital signals on an output thereof for long periods and short periods alternately, a bistable latch having set and reset inputs, of which the set input is connected to the programmer output to force the latch into its set condition during the said short periods, an initial reset signal source, the reset input is connected to the initial reset signal source, a gate connected to be controlled by the programmer output and by the latch for controlling the switching on and off of charging current, the gate switching on the charging current when either the latch is in its reset condition or the programmer is providing a set signal to the latch, so that the said charging current is allowed to be switched on, because the latch is reset, during a first long period at the end of which the latch is set, without switching off the charging current until the end of the ensuing short period, and at the end of each subsequent long period the charging current is switched on again, and at the end of each subsequent short period the charging current is switched off again.
Specification