Device indicating the time remaining of the useful life of a battery

• US 4,625,175 A
• Filed: 07/14/1983
• Issued: 11/25/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/1983
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Stearns, Inc. (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Recreational Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Smith, Leonard S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tokar, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US06/513,604
• Time in Patent Office: 1,230 Days
• Field of Search: 324/425, 324/426, 324/427, 324/429, 324/431, 324/435, 324/441, 324/62, 324/63, 324/64, 324/430, 324/74, 324/130, 324/131, 307/310, 368/113, 368/114, 320/48
• US Class Current: 324/430
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3646 for indicating electrical conditions or variables, e.g. visual or audible indicators
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/379 for lead-acid batteries
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3835 involving only voltage measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/392 Determining battery ageing or deterioration, e.g. state of health

Abstract

This invention relates to a device which when connected to a storage battery of a type which is a prime power source, such as a lead acid storage battery, measures the open circuit voltage condition of the battery to give a reading in increments of time of the remaining useful life of the battery for a given use up to the point of full discharge of the battery.

Claims

1. A device for a battery in open circuit condition measuring in increments of time, the remaining useful life of a storage battery to the point of full discharge where the battery is used as a prime source of power, having in combination

a series circuit connected in parallel to a storage battery in an open circuit condition,

means included in said series circuit indicating the entire useful range of the open circuit voltage excursion of said battery on a full scale in increments of time, and

said means including means indicating in increments of time the remaining useful life of said battery for any particular use.

2. A device for a battery in an open circuit condition measuring in increments of time, the useful life of a storage battery to the point of full discharge where the battery is used as a prime source of power, having in combination

a series circuit connected in parallel to a storage battery in an open circuit condition,

a scale having indicia thereon included in said series circuit indicating in increments of time, across the full extent thereof, the entire useful range of the voltage excursion of said battery,

means indicating the reading on said scale of the time of use remaining of the useable charge of said battery for a particular use, and

means in said circuit calibrated to influence said last mentioned means to indicate a reading on said scale with said battery in an open circuit condition.

3. A device for a battery in an open circuit condition measuring in increments of time, the remaining useful life of a storage battery to the point of full discharge of the battery, having in combination

a series circuit connected in parallel to a storage battery in an open circuit condition comprising

means included in said circuit calibrated to provide a zero voltage reading at the point of full discharge of the useable charge of said battery,

means included in said circuit calibrated to provide a reading of the total useable charge of said battery,

a scale in connection with said circuit,

said scale bearing indicia giving said first and second mentioned readings and like readings therebetween in increments of time,

means in said circuit in parallel with said scale shunting voltage which is in excess of the safe limit of voltage impressed across said scale, and

a switch in said circuit.

4. A device for a battery in an open circuit condition measuring in increments of time, to the point of full discharge, the useful life of a storage battery used as a prime source of power, having in combination

a series circuit connected to a storage battery in an open circuit condition,

a scale in connection with said circuit bearing indicia giving a full scale reading in increments of time of the useable range of voltage excursion of said battery,

means included in said circuit calibrated to provide a reading on said scale of the remaining useable charge of said battery for a particular use, and

a shunt included in said circuit limiting the amount of voltage impressed across said scale to be read thereon to be not more than that of the maximum allowable current rating of said scale.

5. A device for a storage battery in an open circuit condition indicating to the point of full discharge, the useful life of a storage battery used as a prime source of power, having in combination

a series circuit connected in parallel to a storage battery in an open circuit condition,

a scale in connection with said circuit bearing indicia which provide readings in increments of time,

means included in said circuit calibrated to provide scale readings from a reading on said scale indicating a full charge in said battery to a reading indicating a full discharge of the remaining useful charge of said battery,

means included in said circuit in parallel with said scale limiting the voltage that can be impressed across said scale, and

means opening said circuit to obtain a reading on said scale.

6. A device with a battery in open circuit condition indicating in increments of time, the remaining useable charge of a storage battery for a particular use where the battery is the prime source of power, having in combination

a series circuit connected in parallel to a battery in open circuit condition,

a scale included in said circuit bearing indicia which give a voltage reading of the useable charge in said battery in increments of time,

means indicating a reading on said scale,

a resistor calibrated to cause said means to indicate a zero voltage reading at the point of the discharge of the useable charge in said battery at one end of said scale,

a second resistor calibrated to cause said means to indicate a voltage reading at the point indicating a full useable charge in said battery at the other end of said scale, whereby

said first and second mentioned resistors define the extent of said scale across which the range of said battery'"'"'s voltage excursion extends.