State of charge sensing means
First Claim
1. State of charge sensing means for the sensing of the state of charge of a rechargable battery cell having a liquid electrolyte the density of which varies in response to the state of charge, comprising:
- an electrolyte recirculating circuit comprising an inlet conduit the mouth of which opens into the cell below the electrolyte level, a container, a return conduit extending from the container back to the cell, and a pump operable to recirculate said electrolyte through said circuit,a hydrometer float in said container having an upwardly extending opaque neck the height of which above electrolyte level is a function of electrolyte density,a light source assembly on one side of the opaque neck and a light receiving assembly on the other side of the opaque neck, arranged so that light energy from the light source assembly received by the receiving assembly is a function of said height of the neck,and slave means connected to and controlled by the light receiving assembly.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Electrolyte from a battery cell is circulated by pump, through a container which contains a hydrometer float, and back to the cell. The float has an opaque neck which interrupts light passing from a light source assembly to a light receiving assembly, and the receiving assembly controls slave means, which can be an illuminated sign, as for example a group of visible light emitting diodes, the number of which illuminated indicating the density of the electrolyte. The slave means can alternatively be a volt meter, or a battery charger, the rate of charge of which is controlled by a voltage signal.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. State of charge sensing means for the sensing of the state of charge of a rechargable battery cell having a liquid electrolyte the density of which varies in response to the state of charge, comprising:
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an electrolyte recirculating circuit comprising an inlet conduit the mouth of which opens into the cell below the electrolyte level, a container, a return conduit extending from the container back to the cell, and a pump operable to recirculate said electrolyte through said circuit, a hydrometer float in said container having an upwardly extending opaque neck the height of which above electrolyte level is a function of electrolyte density, a light source assembly on one side of the opaque neck and a light receiving assembly on the other side of the opaque neck, arranged so that light energy from the light source assembly received by the receiving assembly is a function of said height of the neck, and slave means connected to and controlled by the light receiving assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification