Battery state of charge indicator
First Claim
1. An electric storage battery comprising a container and a cover, said container and cover having a plurality of walls for enclosing the electrolyte and other electrochemical components of said battery, said electrochemical components comprising positive plates including lead dioxide (PbO2), negative plates including lead (Pb), and said electrolyte including sulfuric acid, said battery further comprising a state of charge indicating device for monitoring the acid concentration of said electrolyte during the charge and discharge cycles of said battery, the indicating device comprising a porous solid support, at least one dye and an acid carried by said support, said dye being sensitive to the concentration of the acid carried by the support, said dye exhibiting a first color in accordance with a first acid concentration, said dye exhibiting a second color in accordance with a second acid concentration, the acid carried by the support exhibiting a change in concentration corresponding to a change in the acid concentration of the electrolyte by an exchange of water, whereby the dye exhibits a change in color in accordance with the change in the concentration of the acid carried by the support as the acid concentration of the electrolyte changes due to a change in the charge of the battery, said indicating device further comprising means in one of said walls for viewing the color of the dye from the exterior of the battery.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In combination with an electric storage battery having a container and a cover, and having a plurality of walls for enclosing the electrolyte and other electrochemical components of the battery, a state of charge indicating device for monitoring the concentration of the electrolyte during the charge and discharge cycles of the battery. The indicating device is made of a porous solid support and an acid concentration sensitive dye which exhibits a change in color in accordance with the acid concentration of the electrolyte. The indicating device also includes a viewport located in one of the walls of the battery for viewing the color of the dye. The color may then be correlated to a reference scale to determine the state of charge of the battery.
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Citations
27 Claims
- 1. An electric storage battery comprising a container and a cover, said container and cover having a plurality of walls for enclosing the electrolyte and other electrochemical components of said battery, said electrochemical components comprising positive plates including lead dioxide (PbO2), negative plates including lead (Pb), and said electrolyte including sulfuric acid, said battery further comprising a state of charge indicating device for monitoring the acid concentration of said electrolyte during the charge and discharge cycles of said battery, the indicating device comprising a porous solid support, at least one dye and an acid carried by said support, said dye being sensitive to the concentration of the acid carried by the support, said dye exhibiting a first color in accordance with a first acid concentration, said dye exhibiting a second color in accordance with a second acid concentration, the acid carried by the support exhibiting a change in concentration corresponding to a change in the acid concentration of the electrolyte by an exchange of water, whereby the dye exhibits a change in color in accordance with the change in the concentration of the acid carried by the support as the acid concentration of the electrolyte changes due to a change in the charge of the battery, said indicating device further comprising means in one of said walls for viewing the color of the dye from the exterior of the battery.
- 2. An electric storage battery comprising a container and a cover, said container and cover having a plurality of walls for enclosing the electrolyte and other electrochemical components of said battery, and a state of charge indicating device for monitoring the acid concentration of said electrolyte during the charge and discharge cycles of said battery, the indicating device comprising a porous solid support, at least one dye and an acid carried by said support, said dye being sensitive to the concentration of the acid carried by the support, said dye exhibiting a first color in accordance with a first acid concentration, said dye exhibiting a second color in accordance with a second acid concentration, the acid carried by the support exhibiting a change in concentration corresponding to a change in the acid concentration of the electrolyte by an exchange of water, whereby the dye exhibits a change in color in accordance with the change in the concentration of the acid carried by the support as the acid concentration of the electrolyte changes due to a change in the charge of the battery, said indicating device further comprising means in one of said walls for viewing the color of the dye from the exterior of the battery, said means for viewing the color of the dye comprising a transparent member mounted in said one of said walls, the solid support being attached to one end of said transparent member, the other end of said transparent member extending through said wall and being in sealing engagement therewith.
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3. An electric storage battery comprising a container and a cover, said container and cover having a plurality of walls for enclosing the electrolyte and other electrochemical components of said battery, and a state of charge indicating device for monitoring the acid concentration of said electrolyte during the charge and discharge cycles of said battery, the indicating device comprising a porous solid support, at least one due and an acid carried by said support, said at least one dye being selected from the group consisting of malachite green, methyl violet 2B, and crystal green, said dye being sensitive to the concentration of the acid carried by the support, said dye exhibiting a first color in accordance with a first acid concentration, said dye exhibiting a second color in accordance with a second acid concentration, the acid carried by the support exhibiting a change in concentration corresponding to a change in the acid concentration of the electrolyte by an exchange of water, whereby the dye exhibits a change in color in accordance with the change in the concentration of the acid carried by the support as the acid concentration of the electrolyte changes due to a change in the charge of the battery, said indicating device further comprising means in one of said walls for viewing the color of the dye from the exterior of the battery.
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4. An electric storage battery comprising a container and a cover, said container and cover having a plurality of walls for enclosing the electrolyte and other electrochemical components of said battery, and a state of charge indicating device for monitoring the acid concentration of said electrolyte during the charge and discharge cycles of said battery, the indicating device comprising a porous solid support, at least one dye and an acid carried by said support, the porous solid support being selected from the group consisting of glass microfilter mat and polypropylene irradiated film, said dye being sensitive to the concentration of the acid carried by the support, said dye exhibiting a first color in accordance with a first acid concentration, said dye exhibiting a second color in accordance with a second acid concentration, the acid carried by the support exhibiting a change in concentration corresponding to a change in the acid concentration of the electrolyte by an exchange of water, whereby the dye exhibits a change in color in accordance with the change in the concentration of the acid carried by the support as the acid concentration of the electrolyte changes due to a change in the charge of the battery, said indicating device further comprising means in one of said walls for viewing the color of the dye from the exterior of the battery.
- 5. An electric storage battery comprising a container and a cover, said container and cover having a plurality of walls for enclosing the electrolyte and other electrochemical components of said battery, and a state of charge indicating device for monitoring the acid concentration of said electrolyte during the charge and discharge cycles of said battery, the indicating device being removable to allow access to the interior of said battery, the indicating device comprising a porous solid support, at least one dye and an acid carried by said support, said dye being sensitive to the concentration of the acid carried by the support, said dye exhibiting a first color in accordance with a first acid concentration, said dye exhibiting a second color in accordance with a second acid concentration, the acid carried by the support exhibiting a change in concentration corresponding to a change in the acid concentration of the electrolyte by an exchange of water, whereby the dye exhibits a change in color in accordance with the change in the concentration of the acid carried by the support as the acid concentration of the electrolyte changes due to a change in the charge of the battery, said indicating device further comprising means in one of said walls for viewing the color of the dye from the exterior of the battery.
Specification