Measurement apparatus and process for sorting used batteries and accumulators

• US 5,429,889 A
• Filed: 09/25/1992
• Issued: 07/04/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Detra SA, Titalyse SA
• Original Assignee: Detra SA, Titalyse SA
• Inventors: Tu Xuan, Mai, Wia, Jean P., Schwab, Michel, Nguyen, Thinh T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shah, Mukund J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Grumbling, Matthew V.
• Application Number:
  US07/927,287
• Time in Patent Office: 1,012 Days
• Field of Search: 324/239, 429/90
• US Class Current: 429/90
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/72 by investigating magnetic variables
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/385 Arrangements for measuring battery or accumulator variables for monitoring G01R31/382
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/48 Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/54 Reclaiming serviceable parts of waste accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 30/84 Recycling of batteries or fuel cells

Abstract

Apparatus and process for sorting used batteries and accumulators on the basis of their chemical constitution based on the analysis of the inductive effect produced by the substances which are contained in the battery or accumulator, and whose ferromagnetic properties differ according to their chemical constitution. The measurement process in which the apparatus is used is based on the consecutive application to the excitation circuit of at least two different voltage amplitudes at the same frequency or two different frequencies at the same voltage amplitude.

Claims

1. An apparatus for sorting used batteries or accumulators comprising:

at least one battery sorting device controlled by an output signal of a measuring device for analyzing ferromagnetic properties of the used batteries or accumulators, said measuring device comprising;

at least one variable voltage source;

an excitation circuit composed of at least one coil supplied by said at least one variable voltage source for producing a flux through a ferromagnetic mass of the battery or accumulator to be analyzed;

an inductive sensor coupled with said excitation circuit; and

treatment elements for processing electrical signals from said inductive sensor and supplying said output signal as a function of constitution and ferromagnetic mass of the battery or accumulator.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one variable voltage source applies to said excitation circuit at least one of (i) two different amplitudes of voltage at the same frequency, and (ii) one amplitude of voltage at two different frequencies.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said at least one variable voltage source applies to said excitation circuit two different amplitudes of voltage at the same frequency.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said at least one variable voltage source applies to said excitation circuit one amplitude of voltage at two different frequencies.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said inductive sensor comprises at least one coil.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said inductive sensor comprises Hall-effect probes.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said treatment elements comprise at least one of (i) at least one voltage amplifier and (ii) at least one filter.

8. A process for sorting used batteries or accumulators using the apparatus of claim 1, comprising:

applying at least one variable voltage through the excitation circuit composed of at least one coil supplied by the at least one variable voltage source for producing a flux through a ferromagnetic mass of at least one battery and accumulator;

processing electrical signals from the inductive sensor with the treatment elements to provide the output signal as a function of constitution and ferromagnetic mass of the battery or accumulator; and

controlling sorting of the batteries and accumulators as a function of the output signal.

9. The process of claim 8, wherein the applying at least one variable voltage comprises applying to the excitation circuit at least one of (i) two different amplitudes of voltage at the same frequency, and (ii) one amplitude of voltage at two different frequencies.

10. The process of claim 9, wherein the applying at least one variable voltage comprises applying to the excitation circuit two different amplitudes of voltage at the same frequency.

11. The process of claim 9, wherein the applying at least one variable voltage comprises applying to the excitation circuit one amplitude of voltage at two different frequencies.

12. The process of claim 8, wherein the controlling sorting comprises codifying the output signal by a computer program.

13. The process of claim 8, wherein the batteries and accumulators are selected from the group consisting of zinc-carbon batteries, alkaline batteries, mercury batteries, silver batteries, zinc-air batteries, and nickel-cadmium accumulators.