Method for sequentially charging batteries in situ

• US 6,198,251 B1
• Filed: 08/10/1998
• Issued: 03/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fluor Enterprises Incorporated (Fluor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fluor Corporation
• Inventors: Landon, Frank L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Peter S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TIBBITS, PIA FLORENCE
• Application Number:
  US09/131,428
• Time in Patent Office: 939 Days
• Field of Search: 320/109, 320/124, 320/129, 320/130, 320/119, 320/120, 320/116, 361/684, 361/686
• US Class Current: 320/124
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/36 Temperature of vehicle components or parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

A plurality of batteries located in battery-operated devices by a charger through a distributor where there is no communication between the distributor and the batteries in the battery operated devices are charged in automated sequence in situ by a charger through a distributor where there is no communication between the distributor and the batteries, preferably using pulsed charge technology. In preferred embodiments the pulsed charge technology includes both forward and reverse pulses.

Claims

1. A method of sequentially charging a plurality of battery operated devices, comprising:

providing a plurality of independently operable battery operated devices, each of the devices having at least one battery,

providing a charger; and

electrically connecting the charger to the at least one battery of each of the devices through a distributor, the distributor sequentially distributing electrical energy to the batteries without removing the batteries from the devices, and without providing any means for data communication between the distributor and the batteries.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the electrical energy comprises pulsed charges.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the pulsed charges comprise forward and reverse charges.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising modulating the electrical energy using pulse width modulation.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the devices comprise electric vehicles.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the devices comprise golf carts.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of sequentially distributing electrical energy comprises the distributor automatically sequencing charging of the batteries.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality comprises at least three batteries.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality comprises at least five batteries.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the electrical energy comprises forward and reverse charges, and the devices comprise at least three electric vehicles.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of electrically connecting the charger to the batteries comprises connecting the distributor to the batteries via flexible cables.