Charging device with stress stored by charging that is initiated by externally applied force, and that being eventually released by heat due to charging saturation

• US 6,819,082 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2003
• Issued: 11/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2001
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Tai-Her Yang
• Original Assignee: Tai-Her Yang
• Inventors: Yang, Tai-Her
• Primary Examiner(s): LUK, LAWRENCE W
• Application Number:
  US10/440,086
• Publication Number:
  US 20030197486A1
• Time in Patent Office: 547 Days
• Field of Search: 320/112, 320/107, 320/110, 320/113, 320/114, 320/115, 429/96, 429/97, 429/98, 429/99, 429/100
• US Class Current: 320/112
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/30 Nickel accumulators H01M10/34 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/46 Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2200/10 Temperature sensitive devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2200/101 Bimetal
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/50 Current conducting connections for cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/581 in response to temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/32 for charging batteries from a charging set comprising a non-electric prime mover rotating at constant speed
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/1027 assessing signal quality or detecting noise/interference for the received signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/71 Circuitry for evaluating the brightness variation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/104 Switchers or splitters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17309 Transmission or handling of upstream communications
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A secondary cell featuring a transient rise in temperature once charged to saturation is coupled and thereby forms a composite structure with a charging assembly by mutual engagement of conductive contacts provided on either part. The force of union generated by the coupling compresses a thermosetting prestressed means which is a spring or other prestressed element the coupling brings the contacts into conduction to initiate charging. The stress is released once charging in the secondary cell reaches its saturation, followed by cutoff of the charging current to the secondary cell.

Claims

1. A charging device, comprising:

a charging assembly including at least two charging assembly contacts;

a secondary battery set including at least two battery set contacts; and

a thermo-resetting bistable spring member,

wherein said at least two charging assembly contacts are arranged to engage said at least two battery set contacts,

wherein when said at least two charging assembly contacts and said two battery set contacts are pushed together by an external force, said thermo-resetting bistable spring member is pushed from a first position to a second position, said charging assembly and secondary battery set are electrically connected, and charging current is supplied from said charging assembly to said battery set,

wherein at least one battery in said battery set generates heat when charged to saturation,

wherein said thermo-resetting member is arranged to reset from said second position to said first position and break said electrical connection in response to heat generated by said battery, thereby cutting-off supply of charging current to said battery set; and

wherein said thermo-resetting member pushes said secondary battery set at least part way out of said charging assembly when the thermo-resetting member is reset in response to generation of heat upon saturation of said at least one battery in said secondary battery set.

2. A charging device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said thermo-resetting member is a bistable spring.

3. A charging device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said thermo-resetting member is mounted in said charging assembly at an interface between said charging assembly and said secondary battery set.

4. A charging device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said thermo-resetting member is mounted in said secondary battery set at an interface between said secondary battery set and said charging assembly.

5. A charging device as claimed in claims 1, further comprising an auxiliary contact and a resistor connected in series between said auxiliary contact and said power supply, wherein said auxiliary contact arranged to be electrically connected with one of the battery set contacts upon pushing of said secondary battery set at least part way out of said charging assembly and disengagement of said one of the battery set contacts from one of said charging assembly contacts, thereby supplying a reduced, charge-maintaining current to said battery set.

6. A charging device as claimed in claims 1, further comprising an elastic positioning tenon and complementary mortise for retaining said secondary battery set in said charging assembly until heat generated by charge saturation causes said secondary set to be pushed at least part way out of said charging assembly.

7. A charging device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a trigger switch arranged to turn on said power supply when said secondary battery set is pushed into said charging assembly.

8. A charging device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said thermo-resetting member is a helical spring.

9. A charging device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said thermo-resetting member is a plate spring.

10. A charging device, comprising:

a charging assembly including at least two charging assembly contacts;

a secondary battery set including at least two battery set contacts; and

a thermo-resetting bistable spring member,

wherein said at least two charging assembly contacts are arranged to engage said at least two battery set contacts,

wherein when said at least two charging assembly contacts and said two battery set contacts are pushed together by an external force, said thermo-resetting bistable spring member is pushed from a first position to a second position, said charging assembly and secondary battery set are electrically connected, and charging current is supplied from said charging assembly to said battery set,

wherein at least one battery in said battery set generates heat when charged to saturation,

wherein said thermo-resetting member is arranged to reset from said second position to said first position and break said electrical connection in response to heat generated by said battery, thereby cutting-off supply of charging current to said battery set, and

further comprising at least one permanent magnet arranged to retain said secondary battery set in said charging assembly until said thermo-setting member is reset upon charge saturation.

11. A charging device, comprising:

a charging assembly including at least two charging assembly contacts;

a secondary battery set including at least two battery set contacts; and

a thermo-resetting bistable spring member,

wherein said at least two charging assembly contacts are arranged to enrage said at least two battery set contacts,

wherein when said at least two charging assembly contacts and said two battery set contacts are pushed together by an external force, said thermo-resetting bistable spring member is pushed from a first position to a second position, said charging assembly and secondary battery set are electrically connected, and charging current is supplied from said charging assembly to said battery set,

wherein at least one battery in said battery set generates heat when charged to saturation,

wherein said thermo-resetting member is arranged to reset from said second position to said first position and break said electrical connection in response to heat generated by said battery, thereby cutting-off supply of charging current to said battery set, and

wherein said electrical connection is broken by disengaging one of said charging assembly contacts from one of said battery set contacts on one side of the charging assembly.

12. A charging device, comprising:

a charging assembly including at least two charging assembly contacts;

a secondary battery set including at least two battery set contacts; and

a thermo-resetting bistable spring member,

wherein said at least two charring assembly contacts are arranged to engage said at least two battery set contacts,

wherein when said at least two charging assembly contacts and said two battery set contacts are pushed together by an external force, said thermo-resetting bistable spring member is pushed from a first position to a second position, said charging assembly and secondary battery set are electrically connected, and charging current is supplied from said charging assembly to said battery set,

wherein at least one battery in said battery set generates heat when charged to saturation,

wherein said thermo-resetting member is arranged to reset from said second position to said first position and break said electrical connection in response to heat generated by said battery, thereby cutting-off supply of charring current to said battery set, and

wherein said electrical connection is broken by disengaging both of said charging assembly contacts from both of said battery set contacts.

13. A charging device, comprising:

a charging assembly including at least two charging assembly contacts; and

a secondary battery set including at least two battery set contacts;

wherein said at least two charging assembly contacts are arranged to engage said at least two battery set contacts,

wherein at least one of said charging assembly contacts or battery set contacts is a thermo-resetting member,

wherein when said secondary battery set is pushed into said recharging assembly are pushed together by an external force, said thermo-resetting member is pushed from a first position to a second position, said charging assembly and secondary battery set are electrically connected, and charging current is supplied from said charging assembly to said battery set,

wherein at least one battery in said battery set generates heat when charged to saturation,

wherein said thermo-resetting member is arranged to reset from said second position to said first position break said electrical connection in response to heat generated by said battery, thereby cutting-off supply of charging current to said battery set, and

further comprising a spring member positioned at an interface between said secondary battery set and said charging assembly and arranged to be stressed when said secondary battery set is pushed into said charging assembly and wherein one of said contacts serves as a mortise and said thermo-resetting member serves as a tenon to retain said secondary battery set in said charging assembly, said thermo-resetting member releasing said secondary battery set by disengaging said mortise in response to heat generated by said at least one battery, thereby causing said spring to push said secondary battery set at least part way out of said charging assembly.

14. A charging device as claimed in claims 13, further comprising an auxiliary contact and a resistor connected in series between said auxiliary contact and said power supply, wherein said auxiliary contact arranged to be electrically connected with one of the battery set contacts upon pushing of said secondary battery set at least part way out of said charging assembly and disengagement of said one of the battery set contacts from one of said charging assembly contacts, thereby supplying a reduced, charge-maintaining current to said battery set.

15. A charging device as claimed in claim 13, further comprising an elastic positioning tenon and complementary mortise for retaining said secondary battery set in said charging assembly until heat generated by charge saturation causes said secondary set to be pushed at least part way out of said charging assembly.

16. A charging device, comprising:

a charging assembly including at least two charging assembly contacts; and

a secondary battery set including at least two battery set contacts;

wherein said at least two charging assembly contacts are arranged to engage said at least two battery set contacts,

wherein at least one of said charging assembly contacts or battery set contacts is a thermo-resetting member,

wherein when said secondary battery set is pushed into said recharging assembly are pushed together by an external force, said thermo-resetting member is pushed from a first position to a second position, said charging assembly and secondary battery set are electrically connected, and charging current is supplied from said charring assembly to said battery set,

wherein at least one battery in said battery set generates heat when charged to saturation,

wherein said thermo-resetting member is arranged to reset from said second position to said first position break said electrical connection in response to heat generated by said battery, thereby cutting-off supply of charging current to said battery set, and

further comprising at least one permanent magnet arranged to retain said secondary battery set in said charging assembly until said thermo-setting member is reset upon charge saturation.

17. A charging device, comprising:

a charging assembly including at least two charging assembly contacts; and

a secondary battery set including at least two battery set contacts;

wherein said at least two charging assembly contacts are arranged to engage said at least two battery set contacts,

wherein at least one of said charging assembly contacts or battery set contacts is a thermo-resetting member,

wherein when said secondary battery set is pushed into said recharging assembly are pushed together by an external force, said thermo-resetting member is pushed from a first position to a second position, said charging assembly and secondary battery set are electrically connected, and charging current is supplied from said charring assembly to said battery set,

wherein at least one battery in said battery set generates heat when charged to saturation,

wherein said thermo-resetting member is arranged to reset from said second position to said first position break said electrical connection in response to heat generated by said battery, thereby cutting-off supply of charging current to said battery set, and

wherein said electrical connection is broken by disengaging one of said charging assembly contacts from one of said battery set contacts on one side of the charging assembly.

18. A charging device, comprising:

a charging assembly including at least two charging assembly contacts; and

a secondary battery set including at least two battery set contacts;

wherein said at least two charging assembly contacts are arranged to engage said at least two battery set contacts,

wherein at least one of said charging assembly contacts or battery set contacts is a thermo-resetting member,

wherein when said secondary battery set is pushed into said recharging assembly are pushed together by an external force, said thermo-resetting member is pushed from a first position to a second position, said charging assembly and secondary battery set are electrically connected, and charging current is supplied from said charging assembly to said battery set,

wherein at least one battery in said battery set generates heat when charged to saturation,

wherein said thermo-resetting member is arranged to reset from said second position to said first position break said electrical connection in response to heat generated by said battery, thereby cutting-off supply of charging current to said battery set, and

wherein said electrical connection is broken by disengaging both of said charging assembly contacts from both of said battery set contacts.