Battery charger

• US 6,806,678 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2003
• Issued: 10/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Emergent Power Inc. (Plug Power Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Relion Incorporated (Plug Power Inc.)
• Inventors: Holmes, David D.
• Primary Examiner(s): TIBBITS, PIA FLORENCE
• Application Number:
  US10/371,855
• Publication Number:
  US 20040164702A1
• Time in Patent Office: 607 Days
• Field of Search: 320/101, 320/138, 429/22, 429/23, 429/13, 429/12, 701/22, 701/60, 701/65, 702/57, 702/60, 702/62, 702/63
• US Class Current: 320/101
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/44 Methods for charging or discharging circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 16/006 of fuel cells with rechargeable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/30 The power source being a fuel cell
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0068 Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply H02J7/0013 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/061 for DC powered loads
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/10 Applications of fuel cells in buildings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/40 Fuel cell technologies in production processes

Abstract

A battery charger for use with a battery, and which is provided with a first charging current to substantially maintain the electrical charge of the battery is described and which includes a plurality of fuel cell modules which supply a second charging current for substantially maintaining the charge of the battery; and a controller electrically coupled with the plurality of fuel cell modules, and wherein upon interruption of the first charging current, the controller operably delivers the second charging current to the battery.

Claims

1. A battery charger comprising:

a battery to be charged;

a source of AC power which is electrically coupled with the battery charger;

an AC to DC converter electrically coupled to the AC power source and which produces a first charging circuitry which is supplied to the battery to be charged;

a housing defining a cavity and which further includes an air plenum which is coupled in fluid flowing relation relative the cavity;

an electrical bus borne by the housing and which is positioned in the cavity of the housing;

a source of a fuel gas coupled in fluid flowing relation relative to the cavity;

a plurality of fuel cell modules which produce a second charging current which is supplied to the battery, and heat energy, and wherein the plurality of fuel cell modules are received within the cavity of the housing and are individually electrically coupled with the electrical bus, and disposed in fluid flowing relation relative to the source of fuel gas, and wherein the individual fuel cell modules may be selectively electrically decoupled from the electrical bus and removed from the housing while the remaining fuel cell modules continue in operation;

an air movement assembly borne by the housing and which is coupled in fluid flowing relation relative to the air plenum, and wherein the air plenum delivers a cathode air stream to the respective fuel cell modules by way of the air plenum, and wherein the cathode air stream removes a preponderance of the heat energy generated during operation of the plurality of fuel cells;

a controller borne by the housing and which is controllably electrically coupled with the plurality of fuel cell modules, the electrical bus and the air movement assembly, and wherein the controller is electrically coupled with the AC power source, and is further disposed in controlling relation relative to the source of fuel gas; and

a communications device electrically coupled to the controller and which is responsive to an electrical signal sent from a remote location, and wherein the controller operably delivers the second charging current to the battery upon substantial termination of the first charging current as occasioned by the interruption of the AC power source.

2. A battery charger as claimed in claim 1, and wherein the controller is enclosed within an enclosure which is mounted on the housing.

3. A battery charger as claimed in claim 2, and wherein the air movement assembly is enclosed within a second enclosure which is mounted on the housing.

5. A battery charger as claimed in claim 1, and wherein the controller includes a multiple system controller which is electrically coupled to a plurality of battery chargers, and wherein the plurality of battery chargers collectively produce the second charging current.

6. A battery charger as claimed in claim 1, and wherein the second charging circuit generated by the plurality of fuel cell modules can be adjusted.

7. A battery charger as claimed in claim 1, and wherein the communication device is a receiver, and wherein the electrical signal received by the controller causes the delivery of the second charging current to the battery.

8. A battery charger as claimed in claim 1, and wherein the interruption of the AC power source is a substantially complete elimination of the AC power source.

9. A battery charger as claimed in claim 1, and wherein the interruption of the AC power source is a reduction of the AC power source.

10. A battery charger as claimed in claim 1, and wherein the communications device includes a transmitter and a receiver, and wherein the controller is operable by way of the transmitter to send an electrical signal to a remote location and which indicates an operational condition of the battery charger.

4. A battery charger as claimed in 3, and wherein the first and second enclosures are releasably coupled to the housing.