Circuit assembly for charging an accumulation battery with pulsating direct current

• US 4,494,062 A
• Filed: 06/04/1982
• Issued: 01/15/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gebruder Zehnder AG
• Original Assignee: Gebruder Zehnder AG
• Inventors: Harri, Kurt
• Primary Examiner(s): Shoop, William M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ault, Anita M.
• Application Number:
  US06/384,948
• Time in Patent Office: 956 Days
• Field of Search: 320/30, 320/39, 320/40, 320/43, 320/57, 320/59, 320/60, 320/DIG. 1, 320/ DIG. 2, 363/86, 323/265, 323/282
• US Class Current: 320/141
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00711 with introduction of pulses during the charging process
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007182 in response to battery voltage

Abstract

The charging device contains a two-part conductor bar (18'"'"', 18"), the two parts of which can be connected by means of a contact pair (32). When the contact pair is closed, the conductor bar connects a connecting terminal (15) for the accumulator battery (16) to be charged with the primary winding of a firing transformer (37) and with a device (33, 34, 36) for energizing the firing transformer as a function of the voltage of the battery. When the contact pair is opened, the primary winding of the firing transformer and the aforementioned device are separated from the connecting terminal. In addition a control circuit (31) for the contact pair is provided, which receives a first input signal from a timer (26) and a second input signal from a series resistor (12) in the charging circuit. The control circuit contains means which close the contact pair during the period determined by the timer, so that the firing transformer is energized as a function of the voltage of the battery, and open the contact pair after expiry of the predetermined period as soon as the charging current exceeds a presettable value. In this manner it is possible to charge a battery and/or to maintain a limited maintaining charge during a period of any desired length and to interrupt the charging operation when a battery does not reach the set-point of its voltage in the predetermined period.

Claims

1. A device for charging an accumulator type battery comprising:

a current source for providing a charging current;

terminal means for connecting said device to said battery;

a controllable current valve means connected between said current source and said battery for controlling said charging current to said battery;

a series resistor connected to said current source for providing a reference voltage proportional to said charging current;

a control pulse generating means connected to said terminal means and said controllable current valve means for generating control pulses to said controllable valve means in relationship to the voltage of said battery;

electrically actuated switch means connected to said control pulse generating means for electrically connecting and disconnecting said control pulse generating means and said controllable current valve means; and

energizing means connected to said electrically actuated switch means including presettable timer means for supplying a deenergizing signal to said electrically actuated switch at a preset time after a predetermined delay, said delay resets upon said charging current generating a predetermined reference voltage in said series resistor.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said presettable timer is an electronic component, one input of which is connected with a circuit which generates a switching-on pulse when said battery is connected and the other input of which is connected with a circuit which generates a switching-off pulse when the voltage of the battery exceeds a preset value.

3. A Device according to claim 1 wherein said control pulse generating means comprises at least one oscillator the output signal of said oscillator controls a transistor situated in the primary circuit of a firing pulse transformer, and a circuit which blocks said transistor when the voltage of said battery exceeds a predetermined value.