Apparatus for charging and desulfating lead-acid batteries

• US 6,184,650 B1
• Filed: 11/22/1999
• Issued: 02/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pulse Technologies International, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Synergistic Technologies, Inc. (AZCAR Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gelbman, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward H.
• Application Number:
  US09/444,668
• Time in Patent Office: 442 Days
• Field of Search: 320/100, 320/129, 320/130, 320/131, 320/139, 320/141, 320/145, 320/FOR.103
• US Class Current: 320/100
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0069 Charging or discharging for charge maintenance, battery initiation or rejuvenation

Abstract

Apparatus for charging and desulfating lead-acid batteries provides a DC electrical charging current to the battery terminals to charge the battery to a fully charged voltage during a bulk charge mode. When the battery reaches a fully charged voltage, the apparatus switches to a float charge mode where the battery voltage decreases to a float voltage less than the fully charged voltage and is maintained at this level. When the apparatus is in the float charge mode, the battery charging current is turned rapidly on and off to maintain the battery at the float voltage and to desulfate the battery. When the battery voltage drops to a predetermined value below the float voltage, the bulk charge mode is reentered.

Claims

1. Apparatus for charging and desulfating a battery, said apparatus comprising:

means for electrically connecting said apparatus to said battery;

first electrical circuit means for connecting with a source of AC electrical power to provide DC current;

second electrical circuit means connected in electrical circuit relationship with said first circuit means and with said connecting means for providing DC charging current to charge said battery to a first predetermined voltage; and

third electrical circuit means connected in electrical circuit relationship with said first and second circuit means and with said connecting means for automatically pulsing said charging current on and off to maintain said battery at a second predetermined voltage less than said first predetermined voltage and to desulfate said battery.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the rise time of said pulsed charging current is substantially from 200-500 nanoseconds for effectively desulfating the battery.

3. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said pulsed charging current is a nonsymmetrical waveform whereby said current is on longer than said current is off.

4. Apparatus as in claim 3 wherein said nonsymmetrical waveform provides for said charging current to be off for substantially 1-2 microseconds during each pulse cycle.

5. Apparatus as in claim 3 wherein said pulsed charging current is pulsed at substantially 20,000 times per second.

6. Apparatus as in claim 3 wherein said pulsed charging current provides substantially at least 1 amp pulses to said battery.

7. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said second electrical circuit means includes an electrical switch in electrical circuit relationship with said connecting means for providing said DC charging current to said battery when said battery is connected to said connecting means and when said switch is switched on.

8. Apparatus as in claim 7 wherein said second electrical circuit means further includes means in electrical circuit relationship with said switch for switching off said switch when said battery reaches said first predetermined voltage.

9. Apparatus as in claim 8 wherein said second electrical circuit means further includes a first indicator light and an oscillator in electrical circuit relationship with said switching-off means and with said first indicator light for flashing said first indicator light when said battery reaches said first predetermined voltage.

10. Apparatus as in claim 8 wherein said third electrical circuit means includes means in electrical circuit relationship with said electrical switch for switching on said switch when said battery voltage drops below substantially said second predetermined voltage.

11. Apparatus as in claim 10 wherein said third electrical circuit means further includes means in circuit relationship with said switch for pulsing said switch on and off to automatically pulse said charging current on and off.

12. Apparatus as in claim 11 wherein the rise time of said pulsed charging current is substantially from 200-500 nanoseconds for effectively desulfating the battery.

13. Apparatus as in claim 12 wherein said pulsed charging current is a nonsymmetrical waveform whereby said current is on longer than said current is off.

14. Apparatus as in claim 13 wherein said nonsymmetrical waveform provides for said charging current to be off for substantially 1-2 microseconds during each pulse cycle.

15. Apparatus as in claim 13 wherein said pulsed charging current is pulsed at substantially 20,000 times per second.

16. Apparatus as in claim 13 wherein said pulsed charging current provides substantially at least 1 amp pulses to said battery.

17. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said third electrical circuit means include fourth means in operative relationship with said second electrical circuit means for automatically ceasing said pulsing of said charging current and for reinstating said DC charging current to said battery when said battery voltage drops to a third predetermined voltage less than said second predetermined voltage.

18. Apparatus as in claim 17 wherein said third electrical circuit means further include a first indicator light which is continually lighted when said DC charging current is applied to said battery.

19. A method for charging and desulfating a battery having positive and negative terminals, said method comprising the steps of:

providing DC electrical charging current to said battery terminals to charge said battery to a first predetermined voltage; and

pulsing said charging current on and off to said battery terminals to maintain said battery at a second predetermined voltage less than said first predetermined voltage and to desulfate said battery.

20. A method as in claim 19 wherein the rise time of said pulsed charging current is substantially from 200-500 nanoseconds for effectively desulfating the battery.

21. A method as in claim 19 wherein said pulsed charging current is a nonsymmetrical waveform whereby said current is on longer than said current is off.

22. A method as in claim 21 wherein said nonsymmetrical waveform provides for said charging current to be off for substantially 1-2 microseconds during each pulse cycle.

23. A method as in claim 21 wherein said pulsed charging current is pulsed at substantially 20,000 times per second.

24. A method as in claim 21 wherein said pulsed charging current provides substantially at least 1 amp pulses to said battery.

25. A method as in claim 19 further including the step of ceasing said pulsing of said charging current and reinstating said DC charging current to said battery when said battery voltage drops to a third predetermined voltage less than said second predetermined voltage.

26. A method as in claim 25 further including the step of continually lighting a first indicator light when said DC charging current is applied to said battery.