Device for improving the current output of a chargeable battery at low outside temperature

• US 5,599,636 A
• Filed: 01/29/1996
• Issued: 02/04/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dieter Braun
• Original Assignee: Dieter Braun
• Inventors: Braun, Dieter
• Primary Examiner(s): Skapars, Anthony
• Application Number:
  US08/593,055
• Time in Patent Office: 372 Days
• Field of Search: 429/7, 429/51, 429/61, 429/62, 429/72, 429/81, 429/90, 429/96, 429/120, 429/176, 320/35, 320/39
• US Class Current: 429/7
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 2/34 composed of two or more spaced sheet-like parts E04C2/32 takes precedence; spacers for cavity walls E04B2/44
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 15/20 inflatable, e.g. shaped, strengthened or supported by fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 2015/202 with inflatable panels, without inflatable tubular framework
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 2015/205 made from two sheets with intermediate spacer means
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/615 Heating or keeping warm
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/654 located inside the innermost case of the cells, e.g. mandrels, electrodes or electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6571 Resistive heaters arrangements for heating the battery by its resistance to the internal current H01M10/637
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A battery heating device includes a temperature sensor and at least one heating element in a liquid and acid-proof arrangement inside the battery. The heating element is a power transistor secured to a cooling plate which is powered by the battery, the emitter of the power transistor being powered by a temperature control circuit when the battery temperature falls below a predetermined reference temperature and the battery voltage is higher than a lower threshold and lower than a higher threshold. A trigger circuit responds to a rise in battery voltage after the current in a load having a high current consumption is switched off. The trigger circuit actuates a timer circuit which conductively controls the power transistor for a set time if the battery voltage is under or at the lower threshold.

Claims

1. A device for improving the current output to a load of a chargeable battery at low outside temperatures, comprising a container for a plurality of batteries having walls, said walls including at least one wall which contains first wall segments spaced apart from each other, said first wall segments being hollow and subjected to overpressure and extending over an entire thickness of said at least one wall, said first wall segments having spaces therebetween;

wherein one portion of said spaces, starting at a wall exterior between said first wall segments, is filled with second wall segments which are hollow and subjected to overpressure, said second wall segments being connected with said first wall segments; and

wherein a different part of said spaces between said first wall segments is closed off by a wall which bridges said first wall segments on ends thereon at an inside of said wall and is subjected to underpressure.

2. A device for improving the current output to a load of a chargeable battery at low outside temperatures, comprising a container for a plurality of batteries having walls, said walls including at least one wall which contains two identically designed halves disposed on an inside and an outside, respectively, and having hollow first wall segments which are subjected to overpressure and are disposed respectively spaced apart;

and

wherein spaces between the first wall segments, starting at an outside of said wall, are partially filled with further hollow second wall segments which are subjected to overpressure and are connected with said first wall segments; and

wherein foils are pressed against the sides of said first wall segments which are facing away from the outsides of said wall by the underpressure in the spaces which are free of wall segments, said first wall segments of the two halves being disposed offset from each other by half the distance of said wall segments.

3. A device for improving the current output to a load of a chargeable battery at low outside temperatures, comprising at least one battery disposed in a housing having a wall with two plates having beads on an inside thereof, said beads being disposed offset from each other on both plates;

said device further comprising elastic cables of low thermal conductivity stretched over said beads, said beads being pressed against said cables by at least one of an underpressure and a vacuum in the hollow space between the plates.

4. A device for improving the current output to a load of a chargeable battery having at least one cell, comprising a U-shaped pipe disposed in said at least one cell of said battery, said U-shaped pipe having a bend which is located near the bottom of said at least one cell and has flow-through openings, said U-shaped pipe having legs which have openings, said openings of said legs of said U-shaped pipe being located close to an upper end of said at least one cell, said device further comprising means for generating a flow in said U-shaped pipe.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein said means for generating said flow comprise spheres which are movably disposed in said U-shaped pipe.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein said means for generating said flow comprise coils enclosing a lower part of said U-shaped pipe and which can be alternatingly and sequentially connected to an operating voltage of the battery, said device further comprising acid-proof encapsulated iron spheres disposed in said U-shaped pipe.

7. A device for improving the current output to a load of a chargeable battery at low outside temperatures, comprising:

a temperature sensor disposed fluid-proof and acid-proof in an interior of said battery, and

battery heating means for heating the battery;

wherein said temperature sensor releases a current flow to said battery heating means if the temperature of said battery is below a preselected temperature value and the voltage of said battery is greater than a lower threshold value and less than an upper threshold value, said device further comprising switch means for oscillatingly switching said battery heating means on and off, said current flow of said temperature sensor being adapted to the size and type of said battery.