Battery maintenance apparatus
First Claim
1. A battery maintenance apparatus for maintaining charge in a battery connected across a source of battery charging current, comprising:
- (a) means for monitoring a sum current comprised of battery drain current and float charging current of the battery;
(b) means for controlling repetitive recharging of the battery at a high charging rate for first predetermined time periods in the event the monitored sum current is greater than a predetermined level; and
(c) means for controlling recharging of the battery for a second predetermined time period which is much greater than any of the first predetermined time periods in the event the battery has been recharged a predetermined number of times for said predetermined first time periods.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus is disclosed for automatic control of battery maintenance including fast recharge and equalizing of the voltages on individual cells of the battery. The charging current through a resistance in series with the battery is monitored, and in response, a control circuit energizes a relay which controls the output voltage of a power supply used to charge the battery and drive a load. The control circuit includes a clock, connected to a recharge counter, which effects the recharge process for a predetermined period of time. The recharge counter is connected to the relay which regulates the output voltage of the power supply. The control circuit also includes a battery current sensor, which monitors the charging current of the battery, and a second counter, which provides an enabling signal to the relay for initiating a longer cycle which equalizes the charges on individual cells of the battery if the battery has been recharged from a severely discharge state.
22 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A battery maintenance apparatus for maintaining charge in a battery connected across a source of battery charging current, comprising:
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(a) means for monitoring a sum current comprised of battery drain current and float charging current of the battery; (b) means for controlling repetitive recharging of the battery at a high charging rate for first predetermined time periods in the event the monitored sum current is greater than a predetermined level; and (c) means for controlling recharging of the battery for a second predetermined time period which is much greater than any of the first predetermined time periods in the event the battery has been recharged a predetermined number of times for said predetermined first time periods. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A battery maintenance apparatus for maintaining charge in a battery, comprising:
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(a) a source of battery charging current for said battery having a voltage control input for causing a high current battery charging rate if enabled and a lower current float charging rate if not enabled; (b) resistance means for connection in series with said battery and a load; and (c) a control circuit, including current sensing means connected to said resistance means for monitoring the sum of a float charging current and a drain current of the battery, for enabling said source of battery charging current for a first predetermined period of time, constituting a recharge cycle, in the event the float charging current is higher than a predetermined threshold, and for enabling said source of battery charging current to provide an equalize cycle for a second predetermined period of time significantly longer than the first predetermined period of time in the event a predetermined number of recharge cycles have occurred. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for automatic control of battery maintenance comprised of:
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(a) applying a nominal charging current to a battery, (b) monitoring the sum of a float charging current and a drain current of the battery to determine if it is in excess of a predetermined threshold, indicating a discharged battery, (c) providing a recharge cycle if the battery is discharged, consisting of charging the battery at a high voltage for a first predetermined period of time, and (d) providing an equalize cycle for unifying the voltages on the individual cells if a predetermined number of recharge cycles have been performed, consisting of applying said high voltage to the battery for a period of time longer than that of the recharge cycle. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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Specification