Rechargeable battery pack

• US 5,949,214 A
• Filed: 11/04/1997
• Issued: 09/07/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Input/Output Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Input/Output Incorporated
• Inventors: Sprain, Alan, Broussard, Keith
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Peter S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHIN, KYUNG E
• Application Number:
  US08/964,055
• Time in Patent Office: 672 Days
• Field of Search: 320/108, 320/107, 320/112, 320/113
• US Class Current: 320/107
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/3817 Positioning of seismic devices

Abstract

A battery charging apparatus and method permits the recharging of the batteries of a seismic streamer depth control device or bird without access to the interior of the bird. In a preferred embodiment, a battery pack includes a coil within the bird that is capable of receiving a charging field from a charging unit by inductive coupling. The coil provides power to a regulated power supply comprising a voltage regulator and rectifier, and direct current is provided to charge battery cells. Thus, the batteries within the bird a charged by induction from outside the casing of the bird. Alternatively, the battery pack may be detached from the rest of the bird, but the battery pack remains scaled against the elements. The battery pack may include an electrical connector which attaches to the main body of the bird, and the electrical connector includes one or more pins for charging purposes. When the battery pack is detached from the main body of the bird and placed in a storage rack, the electrical connector of the battery pack mates with an outlet and the battery pack is charged through the regulated power supply.

Claims

1. A rechargeable battery module for a depth control device, the module comprising:

a. a first battery cell;

b. a regulated power supply coupled to the battery cell and capable of developing one or more regulated charging voltages;

c. a coil which serves as the secondary coil of a recharging transformer; and

d. a water-tight shell around the battery cell, the power supply, and the coil.

2. The battery module of claim 1 further comprising a connector assembly for attaching, the battery module to a depth control device.

3. The battery module of claim 1, wherein the module is formed as an integral part of the depth control device.

4. The battery module of claim 1, further comprising a second battery cell, and wherein the first and second battery cells maintain different voltage potentials.

5. A system for charging a battery module for a depth control device, the system comprising:

a. a rack adapted to receive a depth control device with a battery module mounted thereon;

b. a charging coil coupled to the rack;

c. a receiving coil sealed within a water-tight shell of the battery module;

d. a power supply electrically coupled to the receiving coil;

e. a battery cell charged from the power supply; and

f. an extension arm for coupling the charging coil to the rack.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the power supply is a regulated power supply capable of developing one or more regulated charging voltages.

7. The system of claim 5, further comprising a biasing means on the extension arm to bias the charging coil toward the receiving coil.

8. The system of claim 5 further comprising a support post extending from the rack to support the depth control device.

9. A system for charging a battery module for a depth control device, the system comprising:

a. a rack adapted to receive a battery module detached from a depth control device;

b. a charging coil coupled to the rack;

c. a receiving coil sealed within a water-tight shell of the battery module;

d. a power supply electrically coupled to the receiving coil;

e. a battery cell charged from the power supply; and

f. alignment means for aligning the charging coil with the receiving coil.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising a support chute projecting from the rack to support the battery module.

11. The system of claim 9, further comprising an extension arm for coupling the charging coil to the rack.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising a biasing means on the extension arm to bias the charging coil toward the receiving coil.

13. The system of claim 9 wherein the alignment means comprises an alignment pin.

14. A rechargeable battery module for a depth control device, the module comprising:

a. a first battery cell;

b. a regulated power supply coupled to the battery cell and capable of developing one or more regulated charging voltages;

c. a water-tight shell around the battery cell and the power supply; and

d. an electrical coupling through the water-tight shell to provide an electrical current path through the water-tight shell to the regulated power supply.

15. A system for charging a battery module for a depth control device, the system comprising:

a. a rack adapted to receive a battery module of a depth control device, the battery module including a water-tight shell encapsulating at least one battery cell;

b. a receptacle on the rack for receiving an electrical connector on the battery module;

c. a power supply electrically coupled to the receptacle; and

d. a support chute projecting from the rack to support the battery module.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising a regulated power supply coupled to the battery cell.