Charging system with multiple attachable cellholder modules

• US 4,319,178 A
• Filed: 02/04/1980
• Issued: 03/09/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Congress Financial Corporation (Wells Fargo & Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Sugalski, Raymond K.
• Primary Examiner(s): HICKEY, ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US06/118,119
• Time in Patent Office: 764 Days
• Field of Search: 320/2-4, 320/15, 429/9, 429/96, 429/99, 429/100
• US Class Current: 320/110
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/46 Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/213 adapted for cells having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic H01M50/209, H01M50/216 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A charging system for alternatively charging cells having different physical sizes and/or electrical characteristics comprising a charge current source, a plurality of cellholder charging modules and interconnection means on said charger and said modules for selective alternative connection of each of said modules to the charger. An improved charging module utilizes resilient loading tabs and an upper resilient arm radiating from the central axis of the module.

Claims

1. In a charging system comprising:

a. a source of charge current comprising (1) a housing, (2) a transformer having a secondary winding disposed in said housing, and (3) first, second and third source terminals, said first and third source terminals connected to said winding, said second source terminal connected to said winding at a point intermediate of the connections of said first and third source terminals to said winding;

b. a first cellholder charging module comprising (1) first, second and third module terminals for selective connection to said first, second and third source terminals, respectively;

(2) compartment means for holding a plurality of cells for charging;

(3) circuit means connecting at least one cell in series between said first and second module terminals and between said second and third module terminals, respectively; and

c. a second charging module comprising (1) compartment means for holding at least one cell of a physical size different from said compartment means of said first module and (2) having only first and second module terminals for connection, respectively, to said first and third source terminals,

the improvement which comprises charging modules which contain compartments for holding said cells wherein each of said compartments is defined by one or two pair of resilient side wall loading tab means, a pair of partition walls which partially separate adjacent compartments, an end wall in the base of said module, and an upper resilient arm radiating from the central axis of the module, which forms the upper end of said compartment, wherein said resilient loading tabs and resilient upper arm restrict the opening of said compartment to a dimension less than that of the cell type to be accommodated in said compartment but which tabs and arm are capable of being deflected in a manner increasing the dimensions of the opening to allow a cell to be introduced and removed from the compartment.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein each compartment of said charging modules contain two pair of resilient side wall loading tab means.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said upper resilient arm is composed of an acetal homopolymer.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising a discharge limitation means for limiting the magnitude of a discharge current flow from said module terminals.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said discharge limitation means further functions to rectify charge current from said charger.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein said discharge limitation means is a diode connected in circuit with said circuit means.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said first module circuit means is for connecting a first pair of cells in series with said first and second module terminals and is for connecting a second pair of cells in series with said second and third module terminals.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein said current source supplies charge current in a first direction between said first and second terminals of said first module in a second direction, opposite to said first direction, between said third and second terminals of said first module;

and wherein the polarities of said first pair of cells arranged in circuit opposite to the polarities of said second pair of cells thereby to prevent high rate discharge by short circuiting across a cell of said first pair and a cell of said second pair.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said first module further comprises discharge limitation means for limiting a discharge current flow through the respective terminals of each said module.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said discharge limitation means additionally functions for full wave rectification of the charge current from said source.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein said compartment means accommodate said first pair of cells in a side by side relationship with the polarities thereof physically aligned in opposite direction and accommodates said second pair of cells in side by side relationship with the polarities thereof physically aligned in opposite directions, said first and second pairs in a back to back relationship, said discharge limitation means comprise a first diode connected in circuit between said first pair of cells and a second diode connected in circuit between said second pair of cells.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein an eyelet is present in the upper resilient arm which forms an electrical contact with the terminal of the cell adjacent thereto.

13. In a charging system comprising:

a. a source of charge current comprising (1) a housing, (2) a transformer having a secondary winding disposed in said housing, and (3) first, second and third source terminal, said first and third source terminals connected to said winding, said second source terminal connected to said winding at a point intermediate of the connections of said first and third source terminals to said winding;

b. a cellholder charging module comprising (1) first, second and third module terminals for selective connection to said first, second and third source terminals, respectively;

(2) compartment means for holding a first pair of cells in a side by side relationship with the polarities thereof physically aligned in opposite directions and a second pair of cells in side by side relationship with the polarities thereof physically aligned in opposite directions, said first and second pairs in a back to back relationship; and

(3) circuit means connecting said first pair of cells in series with said first and second module terminals and a second pair of cells in series with said second and third module terminals, the polarities of said first pair of cells arranged in circuit opposite to the polarities of said second pair of cells thereby to prevent high rate discharge by short circuiting across a cell of said first pair and a cell of said second pair, said circuit means comprising a first diode connected in circuit between said first pair of cells and a second diode connected in circuit between said second pair of cells,

the improvement which comprises charging modules which contain compartments for holding said cells wherein each of said compartments is defined by one or two pair of resilient side wall loading tab means, a pair of partition walls which partially separate adjacent compartments, an end wall in the base of said module, and an upper resilient arm radiating from the central axis of the module which forms the upper end of said compartment, wherein said resilient loading tabs and resilient upper arm restrict the opening of said compartment to a dimension less than that of the cell type to be accommodated in said compartment but which tabs and arm are capable of being deflected in a manner increasing the dimensions of the opening to allow a cell to be introduced and removed from the compartment.

14. In a cellholder charging module useful in a charging system for rechargeable electrical cells wherein said module comprises:

a. compartment means for accommodating a first pair of cells in a side-by-side relationship with the polarities thereof physically aligned in opposite directions and a second pair of cells in side-by-side relationship with the polarities thereof physically aligned in opposite directions, said first and second pairs of cells in a back-to-back relationship;

b. first, second and third module terminals for selective connection to the terminals of an outside source; and

c. circuit means for connecting said first pair of cells in series with said first and second module terminals and for connecting said second pair of cells in series with said second and third module terminals,

the improvement which comprises compartment means wherein each of said compartment means are defined by one or two pair of resilient side wall loading tab means, a pair of partition walls which partially separate adjacent compartments, an end wall in the base of said module, and an upper resilient arm radiating from the central axis of the module which forms the upper end of said compartment, wherein said resilient loading tabs and resilient upper arm restrict the opening of said compartment to a dimension less than that of the cell type to be accommodated in said compartment but which tabs and arm are capable of being deflected in a manner increasing the dimensions of the opening to allow a cell to be introduced and removed from the compartment.

15. The cellholder charging module of claim 14 further comprising a discharge limitation means for limiting the magnitude of a discharge current flow from said module terminals.

16. The cellholder charging module of claim 15 wherein said discharge limitation means further functions to rectify charge current from said charger.

17. The cellholder charging module of claim 15 wherein said discharge limitation means is a diode connected in circuit with said circuit means.

18. The cellholder charging module of claim 15 wherein an eyelet is present in the upper resilient arm which forms an electrical contact with the terminal of the cell adjacent thereto.