Device for charging accumulators
First Claim
1. A device for charging accumulators comprising;
- input means for removable conductive connection to an accumulator to be charged for sensing the terminal voltage thereof;
initial charging means conductively connected to said input means to supply a substantially constant dc-charging current to the accumulator in response to the initially sensed terminal voltage during a first charging interval until a predetermined voltage level is attained as the sensed terminal voltage such predetermined voltage level being substantially lower than a voltage level for said accumulator when fully charged;
sequential charging means conductively connected to said input means for further charging said accumulator in a predetermined number of subsequent different time intervals subsequent to said first charging interval with differently decreasing dc-charging currents in each time interval, respectively, and said sequential charging means including means for mutually independently setting both each time interval and the decreasing rate of each decreasing dc-charging current to permit a minimum gasification of water from the accumulator and a minimum duration charging time.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device for charging accumulators or batteries provides a substantially constant charging current for a first charging interval until a voltage level which is less than that of a fully charged accumulator is reached. At this time, the device continues charging in a sequence of subsequent time intervals with charging currents which decrease at different rates in each interval until the accumulator is fully charged. The duration of each of the subsequent time intervals and the rates at which the charging currents decrease may be adjusted to shorten charging time while minimizing gasification of water in the accumulator. The device can also be used to maintain the accumulator charged at a given float voltage.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. A device for charging accumulators comprising;
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input means for removable conductive connection to an accumulator to be charged for sensing the terminal voltage thereof; initial charging means conductively connected to said input means to supply a substantially constant dc-charging current to the accumulator in response to the initially sensed terminal voltage during a first charging interval until a predetermined voltage level is attained as the sensed terminal voltage such predetermined voltage level being substantially lower than a voltage level for said accumulator when fully charged; sequential charging means conductively connected to said input means for further charging said accumulator in a predetermined number of subsequent different time intervals subsequent to said first charging interval with differently decreasing dc-charging currents in each time interval, respectively, and said sequential charging means including means for mutually independently setting both each time interval and the decreasing rate of each decreasing dc-charging current to permit a minimum gasification of water from the accumulator and a minimum duration charging time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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Specification