Warning device for indicating critical condition of starter batteries in vehicles

• US 4,061,839 A
• Filed: 10/06/1972
• Issued: 12/06/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Daimler-Benz AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Daimler-Benz AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Kohler, Werner
• Primary Examiner(s): Walton, Donald L.
• Application Number:
  US05/295,489
• Time in Patent Office: 1,887 Days
• Field of Search: 136/182, 73/453, 73/452, 73/322.5, 73/305, 73/444, 73/441, 429/91, 429/92, 429/93
• US Class Current: 429/93
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3647 for determining the ability of a battery to perform a critical function, e.g. cranking
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/392 Determining battery ageing or deterioration, e.g. state of health
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/484 for measuring electrolyte level, electrolyte density or electrolyte conductivity
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A warning system for indicating a critical charge condition of starter batteries in vehicles, especially in motor vehicles which operate according to the hydrometer principle; a specially constructed float is movably arranged on the inside of an areometer housing connected with the inside of the battery housing by way of apertures in such a manner that a warning signal is adapted to be triggered when the float sinks to a predetermined height corresponding to a predetermined acid concentration.

Claims

1. A warning installation for indicating a critical charge condition of starter batteries in vehicles, especially in motor vehicles, according to the areometer principle, characterized by an areometer housing means connected with the interior space of a battery housing means by way of aperture means, float means movable in said areometer housing means, a coil disposed in said areometer housing means and protected against the battery acid, warning means connected to said coil, a core of magnetizable material connected with said float means, said float means being arranged for sinking in said areometer housing when the acid concentration falls below a predetermined level so that said core is immersed within said coil, said coil being responsive to the immersing of said core therein for changing the inductance thereof and triggering said warning means to provide at least one of an acoustic and optical warning signal indicating that the acid concentration of the battery is below the predetermined level, the coil forming part of a tuned circuit of an oscillator means connected thereto, said tuned circuit being tuned to resonance upon immersion of the core into the coil, thereby causing the oscillator means to generate a signal with a frequency corresponding to the resonance of the tuned circuit, the signal being amplified in an amplifier connected in the output of the oscillator means and the amplified signal triggering a warning signal in an indicating means connected to the amplifier, a delay means being connected in front of the indicating means which prevents the triggering of a warning signal as a result of a sinking of the float means caused by vibrations.

2. A warning installation according to claim 1, characterized in that the connections leading to the coil are constructed as plug connections.

3. A warning installation according to claim 1, characterized in that only a single winding coil is disposed in said areometer housing means.

4. A warning installation according to claim 1, characterized in that the oscillator means generates a signal with a frequency corresponding to the resonance of the tuned circuit only when the core immerses in the coil for causing the tuned circuit to be tuned to resonance.

5. A warning installation for indicating a critical charge condition of starter batteries in vehicles, especially in motor vehicles, according to the areometer principle, characterized by an areometer housing means connected with the interior space of a battery housing means by way of aperture means, float means movable in said areometer housing means, a coil disposed in said areometer housing means and protected against the battery acid, warning means connected to said coil, a core of magnetizable material connected with said float means, said float means being arranged for sinking in said areometer housing when the acid concentration falls below a predetermined level so that said core is immersed within said coil, said coil being responsive to the immersing of said core therein for changing the inductance thereof and triggering said warning means to provide at least one of an acoustic and optical warning signal indicating that the acid concentration of the battery is below the predetermined level, and a delay means connected in front of an indicating means which prevents the triggering of a warning signal as a result of a sinking of the float means caused by vibrations.

6. A warning installation according to claim 5, characterized in that the connections leading to the coil are constructed as plug connections.

7. A warning installation for indicating a critical charge condition of starter batteries in vehicles, especially in motor vehicles, according to the areometer principle, characterized by an areometer housing means connected with the interior space of a battery housing means by way of aperture means, float means movable in said areometer housing means, said float means being arranged for triggering a warning signal when the float means sinks in said areometer housing means to a predetermined height corresponding to a predetermined acid concentration, and a delay means being connected in front of an indicating means for the warning signal for preventing the triggering of the warning signal as a result of a sinking of the float means caused by vibrations.

8. A warning installation according to claim 7, characterized in that the areometer housing means is disposed inside said battery housing means.

9. A warning installation according to claim 7, characterized in that the areometer housing means is disposed outside of said battery housing means.

10. A warning installation according to claim 7, characterized in that the indicating means produces an acoustical as well as optical warning signal.

11. A warning installation according to claim 7, characterized in that the coil is an air-core coil and the core is an iron core.

12. A warning installation according to claim 7, characterized in that a core of magnetizable material is connected with the float means in such a manner that with a sinking float means the core immerses into a coil disposed in the areometer housing means and protected against the battery acid and thereby changes the inductance thereof.

13. A warning installation according to claim 12, characterized in that only a single winding coil is disposed in said areometer housing means and said warning signal is provided when the acid concentration is below the predetermined level, the warning installation providing a continuous monitoring of the predetermined level.

14. A warning installation according to claim 13, characterized in that the warning signal is provided by a light being energized when the acid concentration is below the predetermined level.

15. A warning installation according to claim 12, characterized in that the coil forms part of a tuned circuit of an oscillator means connected thereto, said tuned circuit being tuned to resonance upon immersion of the core into the coil, thereby causing the oscillator means to generate a signal with a frequency corresponding to the resonance of the tuned circuit, the signal being amplified in an amplifier connected in the output of the oscillator means and the amplified signal triggering a warning signal in the indicating means coupled to the amplifier.

16. A warning installation according to claim 7, characterized in that a light barrier means is so mounted at a predetermined height of the areometer housing means that the light beam is adapted to be interrupted by the float means when sinking in the battery acid.

17. A warning installation according to claim 16, characterized in that the light barrier means includes a light receiver means producing a signal which triggers a warning signal in the indicating means when the light beam is interrupted by the sinking float means.

18. A warning installation according to claim 17, characterized in that the warning signal is at least one of acoustical and optical warning signals.

19. A warning installation according to claim 18, characterized in that the connections leading to the light barrier means are constructed as plug connections.

20. A warning installation according to claim 7, characterized in that said areometer housing means and said float means having different cross sectional shapes to minimize the danger of undue friction during movements of the float means.

21. A warning installation according to claim 20, characterized in that said areometer housing means has a substantially square cross section and the float means has a substantially circular cross section with a diametric dimension at most near equal to one side of the square.

22. A warning installation according to claim 20, characterized in that said areometer housing means is disposed inside said battery housing means.

23. A warning installation according to claim 20, characterized in that said areometer housing means is disposed outside of said battery housing means.

24. A warning installation according to claim 20, characterized in that a core of magnetizable material is connected with the float means in such a manner that with a sinking float means the core immerses into a coil disposed in the areometer housing means and protected against the battery acid and thereby changes the inductance thereof.

25. A warning installation according to claim 24, characterized in that the coil forms part of a tuned circuit of an oscillator means connected thereto, said tuned circuit being tuned to resonance upon immersion of the core into the coil, thereby causing the oscillator means to generate a signal with a frequency corresponding to the resonance of the tuned circuit, the signal being amplified in an amplifier connected in the output of the oscillator means and the amplified signal triggering a warning signal in an indicating means connected to the amplifier.