Battery charger for aircraft emergency egress batteries

• US 7,679,335 B1
• Filed: 07/07/2006
• Issued: 03/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Phoenix Aviation Services, LLC
• Original Assignee: Greg N. Pierce, Ralph C. Collins
• Inventors: Collins, Ralph C., Pierce, Greg N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso; Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, ARUN C
• Application Number:
  US11/456,087
• Time in Patent Office: 1,348 Days
• Field of Search: 320/112, 320/116, 320/119, 320/124, 320/125, 320/126, 320/150, 320/157, 320/155, 320/165, 324/426
• US Class Current: 320/141
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/40 adapted for charging from various sources, e.g. AC, DC or multivoltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence

Abstract

A battery charger includes one or more channels for independently charging one or more batteries at different current levels. The battery charger also includes multiple modes for each channel for charging a battery with a continuous current or a pulse current. The battery charger supplies charging current by holding the voltage at a set value.

Claims

1. Battery charging apparatus comprising in combination:

means for providing a source of current;

a timer for setting a predetermining a length of time for charging the battery;

an amplitude voltage control circuit for providing a first mode of charging;

a pulse voltage control circuit for providing a second mode of charging;

a mode selector switch for selecting a mode of charging to the first mode of charging or to the second mode of charging;

means for setting a desired charging current;

a current meter for displaying the charging current;

means for connecting the charging current to the battery to be charged; and

an on-off switch for connecting the charging current to the battery to be charged for the predetermined length of time.

2. The battery charging apparatus of claim 1 in which the amplitude voltage control circuit holds the voltage substantially constant for the predetermined charge time.

3. The battery charging apparatus of claim 1 in which the pulse voltage control circuit provides pulses of substantially constant voltage for predetermined time periods.

4. The battery charging apparatus of claim 1 in which the means for providing a source of current includes a regulated power supply connected to the mode selector switch.

5. The battery charging apparatus of claim 4 which further includes means for indicating the charging status of the battery being charged.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 in which the means for indicating the charging status includes a plurality of light emitting diodes.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 in which the means for indicating the charging status is in parallel with the charging current to the battery being charged.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 which further includes means for calibrating the current meter.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 which further includes means for indicating reverse polarity between the charging current and the battery to be charged.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 which further includes means for detecting a load capability of the battery being charged.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 which further includes a computer interface for connecting the battery charging apparatus to a computer, wherein the computer interface performs at least one of the functions of switching the mode selector switch;

controlling the pulse voltage control circuit;

measuring battery conditions; and

recording data on the computer.

12. The battery charging apparatus of claim 1 in which the battery to be charged is an aircraft egress lighting battery.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 which further includes means for preventing current flowing from current flowing from the battery in a direction opposite of the charging current, electrically coupled to the means for connecting the charging current to the battery to be charged.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 in which the means for preventing current flowing from the battery in an opposite direction of the charging current is a diode.

15. Apparatus for charging a plurality of batteries comprising in combination:

means for providing a source of current;

a plurality of amplitude voltage control circuits;

means for independently controlling the amplitude of each circuit of the plurality of amplitude voltage control circuits and defining a first mode for charging the plurality of batteries;

a plurality of pulse voltage control circuits;

means for independently controlling the amplitude of the voltage of each circuit of the plurality of pulse voltage control circuits and defining a second mode for charging the plurality of batteries;

a mode selector switch for selecting a mode for charging the plurality of batteries to the first mode of charging or to the second mode of charging;

a timer for setting a predetermined length of time for charging the batteries;

means for setting a desired charging current for each battery of the plurality of batteries to be charged;

a plurality of meters for displaying the charging current to the plurality of batteries to be charged;

means for connecting the charging current to the plurality of batteries to be charged; and

an on-off switch for connecting the charging current to the plurality of batteries.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 in which the plurality of amplitude voltage control circuits holds the voltages substantially constant for the predetermined charge time.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 in which the plurality of pulse voltage control circuits provide pulses of substantially constant voltage for the predetermined charge time.

18. The apparatus of claim 15 in which the means for providing a source of current includes a regulated power supply connected to the mode selector switch.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 which further includes means for indicating the charging status of each battery of the plurality of batteries being charged.

20. The apparatus of claim 15 which further includes means for calibrating the plurality of meters for displaying the charging current for the batteries being charged.

21. The apparatus of claim 15 which further includes means for preventing current flowing from the plurality of batteries in a direction opposite of the charging current, electrically coupled to the means for connecting the charging current to the plurality of batteries to be charged.