Self limiting battery charger

• US 5,095,260 A
• Filed: 12/24/1990
• Issued: 03/10/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Century Manufacturing Co. (Pentair Plc (Ireland))
• Original Assignee: Century Manufacturing Incorporated
• Inventors: Whiting, John S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stephan, Steven L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Peckman, Kristine
• Application Number:
  US07/633,305
• Time in Patent Office: 442 Days
• Field of Search: 320/20, 320/21, 320/22, 320/23, 320/31, 320/32, 320/39, 320/40
• US Class Current: 320/150
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00302 Overcharge protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007182 in response to battery voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/02 for charging batteries from ac mains by converters

Abstract

A battery charger which senses the percent of charge in a battery, selects automatically on a continuous basis a constant output charging voltage by switching between two different taps of a transformer, limiting the output voltage not to exceed 17.5 volts to protect the electronic components of the vehicle having the battery therein, against the adverse effects resulting from overcharging and compensating for changes in temperature to maintain a constant level of voltage in continuously charging a battery to the point of being fully charged.

Claims

1. A battery charger circuit controlling the safe charging of a lead acid storage battery, having in combination,

a transformer embodied in a battery charger circuitry,

means in said circuitry producing a DC charging voltage for a battery,

said transformer having a high tap and a low tap,

a voltage sensing means signals for a shifting from said high tap of said transformer to said low tap of said transformer when the charging voltage reaches 17.45 volts and signals for a shifting from the low tap to the high tap when the voltage is below 13.6 volts,

means sensing the temperature at said battery, and

means varying the charging voltage to compensate for temperature increases and temperatures decreases.

2. The structure of claim 1, including

means causing a short period of delay in switching from the low tap to the high tap of said transformer to keep the battery charger from cycling rapidly.

3. The structure of claim 1, wherein

said transformer has its center tap connected to a current meter, and

said meter is connected to a charger clamp on said battery indicating the amount of current being delivered to the battery.

4. The structure of claim 1, wherein

said sensing means comprising comparator circuits which with regard to a reference voltage determine which tap of the transformer should be used to provide a constant level of said charging voltage to the battery.

5. The structure of claim 1, including

a diode in circuit with said battery for charging purposes, and

said diode conducting only when connected to the positive terminal of the battery.

6. The structure of claim 1, including

means which upon said circuitry switching taps on said transformer causes the charging voltage to slowly rise from zero and thus prevents power surges and voltage spikes.

7. A battery charger circuit controlling the safe charging of a lead acid storage battery, having in combination

a transformer embodied in a battery charger circuitry,

means in said circuitry producing a DC charging voltage for a battery,

said transformer having a high tap and a low tap,

means upon sensing the charging voltage at a high level signalling for a switch from said high tap to said low tap of said transformer,

means upon sensing the charging voltage at a low level signalling for a switch from said low tap to said high tap of said transformer,

means responsive to said signalling for switching said circuitry from one tap to the other tap,

said sensing means consist of comparator circuits which with regard to a reference voltage determine which tap of the transformer should be used to provide a constant level of charging voltage to the battery,

means sensing the temperature at said battery, and

means varying the charging voltage to compensate for temperature increases and temperature decreases.