Lead acid battery rejuvenator

• US 5,491,399 A
• Filed: 07/16/1993
• Issued: 02/13/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pulsetech Products Corporation
• Original Assignee: William E. Gregory
• Inventors: Allen, Chester C. Jr., Gregory, William E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Peter S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KRISHNAN, ADITYA
• Application Number:
  US08/092,515
• Time in Patent Office: 942 Days
• Field of Search: 320/2, 320/21, 320/61, 323/906, 363/18, 363/19, 363/20, 363/21
• US Class Current: 320/102
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0069 Charging or discharging for charge maintenance, battery initiation or rejuvenation
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00711 with introduction of pulses during the charging process
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 with light sensitive cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 136/293 Circuits
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 323/906 Solar cell systems

Abstract

A combination rejuvenator and trickle charger for lead acid batteries powered by a multi-solar cell unit and/or a rectified a.c. source, the output of which is applied to a capacitor. The output of the capacitor is in turn connected across the primary of an auto transformer. A switching circuit, including a transistor, connects and disconnects the primary coil to and from the capacitor to produce in the secondary coil of the transformer a fast rise time current pulse for application to a battery. A positive temperature coefficient resistor is connected in series with an output terminal of the rejuvenator to protect the rejuvenator components in the event the out, put terminals, through accident or mistake, are connected to battery terminals of opposite polarity.

Claims

1. A rejuvenator for lead acid batteries comprising:

a first source of d.c. voltage,

a capacitor connected across said source,

a transformer having a primary coil and a secondary coil, said primary coil connected across said capacitor, and

a switching circuit including a first transistor which connects and disconnects said primary coil to and from said capacitor to produce in said secondary coil fast rise time current pulses occurring at a rate of 8.333 KHz for application to a battery.

2. The rejuvenator of claim 1 including means for connecting said first source in parallel with an alternate second source of d.c. voltage to be connected and used in lieu of said first source.

3. The rejuvenator of claim 1 including a second transistor responsive to voltage across said capacitor for turning said first transistor on and off, both transistors being on and off at the same time.

4. The rejuvenator of claim 1 including output terminals and a solid state positive temperature coefficient resistor having a step function characteristic in series with one of said terminals to protect the rejuvenator from high current surges in the event said terminals are connected to battery terminals of opposite polarity.

5. The rejuvenator of claim 4 including a light emitting diode connected in series with said positive temperature coefficient resistor to visually signal operation of the rejuvenator.

6. The rejuvenator of claim 1 including at least four (4) solar cells connected in series.

7. The rejuvenator of claim 2 wherein said second source comprises an a.c. to d.c. converter.

8. A solar powered rejuvenator for lead acid batteries comprising:

a bank of four (4) solar cells connected in series,

an a.c. to d.c. convertor connected in parallel with said solar cells and to be connected to a source of a.c. as an alternative to said solar cells,

a capacitor connected across said bank of solar cells

a transformer having a primary coil and a secondary coil, said primary coil connected across said capacitor

a switching circuit including a first transistor having a collector connected to said primary coil and an emitter connected to ground to connect and disconnect said primary coil to and from said capacitor to produce in said secondary coil fast rise time current pulses for application to a battery, a second transistor having an emitter connected to said capacitor and a collector connected to a base of said first transistor connected to sense voltage values of said capacitor to turn said first transistor on and off, both first and second transistors being turned on and off at substantially the same time,

a pair of output terminals for connection to terminals of the battery,

an LED connected in series with one of said terminals to visually signal the operability of said rejuvenator, and

a positive temperature coefficient resistor having a step function characteristic connected in series with said one of said terminals and said LED to protect the rejuvenator in the event said output terminals are connected to of opposite polarities of the terminals of the battery.

9. The rejuvenator of claim 8 including a plurality of serially connected diodes connected in parallel with said LED to provide a low impedance path to protect said LED in the event said output terminals are connected to battery terminals of opposite polarity.