Remote battery cell specific gravity and electrolytic level monitor using floats and optical couplers
First Claim
1. A system for remotely monitoring the state of the condition of the electrolyte within each one of a plurality of batteries defining a power source, comprising:
- a plurality of sensor means, one sensor means being associated with each battery of said plurality of batteries, for simultaneously and independently sensing and differentiating between a predetermined low level of said electrolyte within each one of said batteries and a predetermined low specific gravity value of said electrolyte disposed within each one of said batteries, and for independently generating a first electrical signal responsive to said predetermined low specific gravity value of said electrolye disposed within each one of said batteries, and a second electrical signal responsive to said predetermined low level of said electrolyte disposed within each one of said batteries, wherein each one of said plurality of sensor means includes;
(a) probe means mounted upon said associated battery and having a portion thereof immersed within said electrolyte of said associated battery;
(b) a first ball track defined within said portion of said probe means immersed within said electrolyte of said associated battery;
(c) a first ball disposed within said first ball track and having a predetermined specific gravity value such that said first ball will be disposed at a predetermined position within said first ball track when the specific gravity of said electrolyte disposed within said associated battery achieves a predetermined low specific gravity value;
(d) a second ball track defined within said portion of said probe means immersed within said electrolyte of said associated battery and disposed above said first ball track;
(e) a second ball disposed within said second ball track and having a predetermined specific gravity value which is less than that of said first ball such that said second ball is substantially independent of said specific gravity value of said electrolye disposed within said associated battery and is responsive to the level of said electrolyte disposed within said associated battery so as to be disposed at a predetermined position within said second ball track when the level of said electrolyte disposed within said associated battery achieves a predetermined low level;
(f) a first light source, for generating a first light beam, and a first light detector, for receiving said first light beam, disposed upon opposite sides of said first ball track at said predetermined position defining said low specific gravity value of said electrolyte disposed within said associated battery so as to generate said first electrical signal, indicative of said low specific gravity value of said electrolyte disposed within said associated battery, when said first ball is disposed at said predetermined position within said first ball track and is therefore interposed between said light source and said first light detector so as to block transmission of said first light beam from said first light source to said first light detector; and
(g) a second light source, for generating a second light beam, and a second light detector, for receiving said second light beam, disposed upon opposite sides of said second ball track at said predetermined position defining said low electrolyte level within said associated battery so as to generate said second electrical signal, indicative of said low electrolyte level within said associated battery, when said second ball is disposed at said predetermined position within said second ball track and is therefore interposed between said second light source and said second light detector so as to block transmission of said second light beam from said second light source to said second light detector; and
electrical circuit means coupled to each one of said plurality of sensor means for receiving said first electrical signal and said second electrical signal from each one of said plurality of sensor means, for generating separate low electrolyte level and low specific gravity value alarm signals in response to each one of said first electrical signals and said second electrical signals, and for indicating which one of said plurality of batteries is associated with said first and second electrical signals received.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and sensor for remotely monitoring the state of the condition of the electrolyte within each of the battery cells of a power supply is disclosed. The system includes a sensor having a dual ball-float and track arrangement for shuttering a pair of light sources and so as to independently detect and differentiate predetermined low electrolyte specific gravity and a low level of the electrolyte. Two multiplexing units receive the sensor signals and display separate indications of each battery and the states detected. The detector uses a gravity responsive ball disposed within a track that shutters one light source at a predetermined low specific gravity and a second level responsible ball within a second track located above the gravity track and ball. The level ball has a specific gravity which is less than that of the specific gravity responsive ball and shutters the second light source at a predetermined low electrolyte level independently of changes in the specific gravity of the electrolyte.
36 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for remotely monitoring the state of the condition of the electrolyte within each one of a plurality of batteries defining a power source, comprising:
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a plurality of sensor means, one sensor means being associated with each battery of said plurality of batteries, for simultaneously and independently sensing and differentiating between a predetermined low level of said electrolyte within each one of said batteries and a predetermined low specific gravity value of said electrolyte disposed within each one of said batteries, and for independently generating a first electrical signal responsive to said predetermined low specific gravity value of said electrolye disposed within each one of said batteries, and a second electrical signal responsive to said predetermined low level of said electrolyte disposed within each one of said batteries, wherein each one of said plurality of sensor means includes; (a) probe means mounted upon said associated battery and having a portion thereof immersed within said electrolyte of said associated battery; (b) a first ball track defined within said portion of said probe means immersed within said electrolyte of said associated battery; (c) a first ball disposed within said first ball track and having a predetermined specific gravity value such that said first ball will be disposed at a predetermined position within said first ball track when the specific gravity of said electrolyte disposed within said associated battery achieves a predetermined low specific gravity value; (d) a second ball track defined within said portion of said probe means immersed within said electrolyte of said associated battery and disposed above said first ball track; (e) a second ball disposed within said second ball track and having a predetermined specific gravity value which is less than that of said first ball such that said second ball is substantially independent of said specific gravity value of said electrolye disposed within said associated battery and is responsive to the level of said electrolyte disposed within said associated battery so as to be disposed at a predetermined position within said second ball track when the level of said electrolyte disposed within said associated battery achieves a predetermined low level; (f) a first light source, for generating a first light beam, and a first light detector, for receiving said first light beam, disposed upon opposite sides of said first ball track at said predetermined position defining said low specific gravity value of said electrolyte disposed within said associated battery so as to generate said first electrical signal, indicative of said low specific gravity value of said electrolyte disposed within said associated battery, when said first ball is disposed at said predetermined position within said first ball track and is therefore interposed between said light source and said first light detector so as to block transmission of said first light beam from said first light source to said first light detector; and (g) a second light source, for generating a second light beam, and a second light detector, for receiving said second light beam, disposed upon opposite sides of said second ball track at said predetermined position defining said low electrolyte level within said associated battery so as to generate said second electrical signal, indicative of said low electrolyte level within said associated battery, when said second ball is disposed at said predetermined position within said second ball track and is therefore interposed between said second light source and said second light detector so as to block transmission of said second light beam from said second light source to said second light detector; and electrical circuit means coupled to each one of said plurality of sensor means for receiving said first electrical signal and said second electrical signal from each one of said plurality of sensor means, for generating separate low electrolyte level and low specific gravity value alarm signals in response to each one of said first electrical signals and said second electrical signals, and for indicating which one of said plurality of batteries is associated with said first and second electrical signals received. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A sensor for sensing the state of the condition of an electrolyte disposed within a battery cell, comprising:
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a body having opposite ends wherein one end of said body is adapted to be mounted upon said battery within a opening leading into said battery cell; a substantially elongated probe mounted coaxially with respect to said body and extending from said one end, and including means mounted proximate to a free end of said probe for simultaneously, independently detecting and differentiating between a predetermined low level of said electrolyte and a predetermined low specific gravity value of said electrolyte disposed within said battery cell; and means for adjusting the axial position of said detecting and differentiating means relative to said one end of said body between a fully retracted position and a fully extended position. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A sensor for sensing the state of the condition of an electrolyte within a battery cell, comprising:
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probe means mounted upon said battery cell and having a portion thereof immersed within said electrolyte of said battery cell; a first ball track defined within said portion of said probe means immersed within said electrolyte of said battery cell; a first ball disposed within said first ball track and having a predetermined specific gravity value such that said first ball will be disposed at a predetermined position within said first ball track when the specific gravity of said electrolyte achieves a predetermined low specific gravity value; a second ball track defined within said portion of said probe means immersed within said electrolyte of said battery cell and disposed above said first ball track; a second ball disposed within said second ball track and having a predetermined specific gravity value which is less than that of a said first ball such that said second ball is substantially independent of said specific gravity value of said electrolyte disposed within said battery cell and is reponsive to the level of said electrolyte disposed within said battery cell so as to be disposed at a predetermined position within said second ball track when the level of said electrolyte disposed within said battery cell achieves a predetermined low level; a first light source, for generating a first light beam, and a first light detector, for receiving said first light beam, disposed upon opposite sides of said first ball track at said predetermined position defining said low specific gravity value of said electrolyte so as to generate a first signal, indicative of said low specific gravity value of said electrolyte disposed within said battery cell, when said first ball is disposed at said predetermined position within said first ball track and is therefore interposed between said first light source and said first light detector so as to block transmission of said first light beam from said first light source to said first light detector; and a second light source, for generating a second light beam, and a second light detector, for receiving said second light beam, disposed upon opposite sides of said second ball track at said predetermined position defining said low electrolyte level within said battery cell so as to generate a second signal, indicative of said low electrolyte level within said battery cell, when said second ball is disposed at said predetermined position within said second ball track and is therefore interposed between said second light source and said second light detector so as to block transmission of said second light beam from said second light source to said second light detector. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification