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Battery maintenance device with thermal buffer

  • US 9,419,311 B2
  • Filed: 06/18/2010
  • Issued: 08/16/2016
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2010
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A battery maintenance device configured to maintain a storage battery, comprising:

  • an electrical connection configured to couple to a storage battery;

    maintenance circuitry located externally to the battery configured to couple to the battery through the electrical connection and perform maintenance on the battery, the maintenance circuitry including an electrical load comprising at least one resistor configured to draw an electrical current from the storage battery, the electrical current causing the electrical load to heat; and

    a container comprising;

    a lower enclosure having a cavity that includes a phase change material, the phase change material having a specific heat index which has a non-linear relationship to temperature; and

    a top cover having an outer side and an inner side, which faces the cavity of the lower enclosure;

    wherein;

    the at least one resistor is attached to the inner side of the top cover and includes fins in direct physical contact with the phase change material; and

    the maintenance circuitry comprises battery test circuitry configured to perform a battery test based upon current drawn from the battery by the load.

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