Storage battery state-of-charge indicator

• US 5,496,658 A
• Filed: 07/25/1994
• Issued: 03/05/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Exide Corporation
• Original Assignee: Exide Corporation
• Inventors: Cronrath, Scott J., Hein, Edward R., Bear, John F., Hudack, Gerald D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bell, Bruce F.
• Application Number:
  US08/279,798
• Time in Patent Office: 589 Days
• Field of Search: 429/61, 429/90, 429/91, 429/92, 429/163, 429/175, 429/176, 429/177, 429/174, 320/30, 320/43, 340/500, 340/501, 340/514, 340/540, 340/635, 340/636, 116/202
• US Class Current: 429/93
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/364 Battery terminal connectors with integrated measuring arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/385 Arrangements for measuring battery or accumulator variables for monitoring G01R31/382
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/06 Lead-acid accumulators semi-lead accumulators H01M10/20
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/488 Cells or batteries combined with indicating means for external visualization of the condition, e.g. by change of colour or of light density
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 320/21 State of charge of battery

Abstract

A storage battery is provided which includes a casing and a cover secured to the casing. The cover includes a body having a top surface and a peripheral skirt; the top surface having a plurality of vent apertures, at least one negative terminal and at least one positive terminal, and an elongated recess having a bottom, four side walls and an open top. The negative and positive terminals have extensions exposed at opposite ends of the recess, and a state-of-charge indicator assembly is mounted in the recess and electrically connected to the negative and positive terminal extensions. The state-of-charge indicator assembly is sealed in the recess by relatively thin adhesive seal or membrane applied over the open top and adhered to the top surface of the cover. The membrane is provided with percent charge and test switch indicia thereon.

Claims

1. In a battery cover including a body having a plurality of vent apertures, at least one negative terminal and at least one positive terminal, the improvement comprising a recess in the cover opening to a top surface thereof;

a battery condition indicator assembly including at least one display light secured within said recess, and a thin seal adhered to said cover overlying said recess and sealing said indicator assembly therein, said indicator assembly activated through said film, and with said display light visible through said seal.

2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said battery condition indicator assembly includes a plurality of indicator lights, and said seal includes a substantially transparent window overlying, said indicator lights.

3. The improvement of claim 2 wherein said battery condition indicator assembly comprises an elongated housing having an upper surface with a switch aperture and a plurality of indicator light apertures formed therein;

and a circuit board assembly mounted in said housing and including a push button switch and said plurality of indicator lights thereon.

4. The improvement of claim 3 wherein said circuit board includes a pair of terminal wires attached to respective extensions of said negative and said positive terminals.

5. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said battery condition indicator is a state-of-charge indicator.

6. The improvement of claim 5 wherein said battery condition indicator displays state-of-charge, and has five indicator lights to indicate, incrementally, 0-25-50-75-100 percent charge.

7. A battery cover including a body having a top surface and a peripheral skirt;

said top surface having a plurality of vent apertures, at least one negative terminal and at least one positive terminal, and an elongated recess having a bottom, four side walls and an open top;

said negative and positive terminals having extensions exposed at opposite ends of said recess;

a state-of-charge- indicator assembly mounted in said recess and electrically connected to said negative and positive terminals;

said state-of-charge indicator assembly being sealed in said recess by a membrane applied over said open top and adhered to the top surface, said membrane having percent charge and test switch indicia thereon, and wherein said state-of-charge indicator is activated by pressure applied through said film.

8. The battery cover of claim 7 wherein said state-of-charge indicator assembly includes a plurality of display lights and a test button.

9. The battery cover of claim 7 wherein said state-of-charge indicator includes a circuit board mounting a Zener diode, a test switch, a pair of microprocessor chips, and a plurality of display lights and associated resistors.

10. The battery cover of claim 9 and further including terminal connection wires extending from opposite ends of the board and soldered to said terminal extensions.

11. The battery cover of claim 10 wherein said board is seated within a housing having a top wall and a peripheral side wall, said housing top wall having an aperture for receiving a button actuator of said test switch and a plurality of display apertures overlying said display lights.

12. The battery cover of claim 11 wherein said housing is ultrasonically fastened within said recess.

13. The battery cover of claim 11 wherein said top wall includes a pair of integrally hinged extensions at opposite ends thereof, overlying said terminal connection wires.

14. A storage battery including a casing and a cover secured to the casing, the cover including a body having a top surface and a peripheral skirt;

said top surface having a plurality of vent apertures, at least one negative terminal and at least one positive terminal, and an elongated recess having a bottom, four side walls and an open top;

said negative and positive terminals having extensions exposed at opposite ends of said recess;

a battery condition indicator assembly mounted in said recess and electrically connected to said negative and positive terminals;

said battery condition indicator assembly sealed in said recess by a membrane applied over said open top and adhered to said top surface.

15. The battery of claim 14 wherein said battery condition indicator assembly includes a plurality of indicator lights which displays battery state-of-charge in terms of percent.

16. The battery of claim 15 wherein said state-of-charge indicator assembly includes a test button.

17. The battery of claim 15 wherein said state-of-charge indicator includes a circuit board mounting a Zener diode, a test switch, a pair of microprocessor chips, and a plurality of display lights and associated resistors.

18. The battery of claim 17 and further including terminal connection wires extending from opposite ends of the board and soldered to said terminal extensions.

19. The battery of claim 17 wherein said board is seated within a housing having a top wall and a peripheral side wall, said housing top wall having an aperture for receiving a button actuator of said test switch and a plurality of display apertures overlying said display lights;

and wherein said housing is ultrasonically fastened within said recess.

20. A battery cover having an elongated recess therein, said recess having an open upper end;

a battery condition indicator assembly mounted in said elongated recess and including a button switch actuator; and

a thin adhesive seal covering said recess and adhered to said, such that said button switch is activated by applying force through said seal.