Method and apparatus for charging a valve-regulated lead acid battery
First Claim
1. A method for charging a lead acid battery, comprising the steps of:
- performing primary constant-current charging at a predetermined current value;
continuing said primary constant-current charging for a predetermined extension time after a battery voltage reaches a predetermined change-over voltage; and
changing-over the charging to secondary constant-current charging using a smaller current value than that of said primary constant-current charging after said extension time has passed.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A charging method and a charging apparatus which can be used particularly for charging a valve-regulated lead acid battery using a Pb-Sb alloy grid as a positive electrode grid. Primary constant-current charging is performed with a predetermined current value. The primary constant-current charging is further continued for an extension time ta after the battery voltage reaches a change-over voltage Vc. After the extension time has passed, the charging is changed over to secondary constant-current charging using a current value smaller than that of the primary constant-current charging. The extension time for continuing the primary constant-current charging is preferably set so as to be shorter as the battery temperature is higher. Also a secondary charging time for executing the secondary constant-current charging is preferably set so as to be shorter as the battery temperature is higher.
125 Citations
10 Claims
-
1. A method for charging a lead acid battery, comprising the steps of:
-
performing primary constant-current charging at a predetermined current value;
continuing said primary constant-current charging for a predetermined extension time after a battery voltage reaches a predetermined change-over voltage; and
changing-over the charging to secondary constant-current charging using a smaller current value than that of said primary constant-current charging after said extension time has passed. - View Dependent Claims (2)
-
-
3. An apparatus for charging a lead acid battery, comprising:
-
a constant-current charging circuit for charging said lead acid battery with a constant current of a set value;
a voltage detecting circuit for detecting a battery voltage of said lead acid battery which is being charged;
a timer means for detecting expiration of a predetermined extension time by measuring time after the battery voltage detected by said voltage detecting circuit reaches a predetermined change-over voltage; and
a charging control means for controlling said constant-current charging circuit in response to a charging start operation so that said constant-current charging circuit starts primary constant-current charging using a predetermined current value, continues said primary constant-current charging until the time measured by said timer means reaches said extension time under a condition that the battery voltage detected by said voltage detecting means reaches said predetermined change-over voltage, and performs secondary constant-current charging using a current value smaller than that of said primary constant-current charging after said extension time has passed. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6)
a temperature sensor for detecting a battery temperature substantially; and
an extension time setting means for setting said extension time so as to be shorter as the temperature detected by said temperature sensor is higher.
-
-
5. An apparatus for charging a lead acid battery according to claim 3, further comprising:
-
a stop time timer means for measuring time after said charging control means starts said secondary constant-current charging, wherein said charging control means stops said secondary constant-current charging when said stop time timer means has measured a predetermined secondary charging time.
-
-
6. An apparatus for charging a lead acid battery according to claim 5, further comprising:
-
a temperature sensor for detecting a battery temperature substantially; and
a secondary charging time setting means for setting said secondary charging time so as to be shorter as the temperature detected by said temperature sensor is higher.
-
-
7. A charging apparatus for charging a valve-regulated lead acid battery using a Pb-Sb alloy grid as a positive electrode grid, comprising:
-
a constant-current charging circuit for charging said lead acid battery with a constant current of a set value;
a voltage detecting circuit for detecting a battery voltage of said lead acid battery which is being charged;
a timer means for measuring time after the battery voltage detected by said voltage detecting circuit reaches a predetermined change-over voltage to thereby detect expiration of a predetermined extension time; and
a charging control means for controlling said constant-current charging circuit in response to a charging start operation so that said constant-current charging circuit starts primary constant-current charging using a predetermined current value, continues said primary constant-current charging until the time measured by said timer means reaches said extension time under a condition that the battery voltage detected by said voltage detecting means reaches said predetermined change-over voltage, and performs secondary constant-current charging using a current value smaller than that of said primary constant-current charging after said extension time has passed. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
a temperature sensor for detecting a battery temperature substantially; and
an extension time setting means for setting said extension time so as to be shorter as the temperature detected by said temperature sensor is higher.
-
-
9. A charging apparatus for charging a valve-regulated lead acid battery using a Pb-Sb alloy grid as a positive electrode grid according to claim 7, further comprising
a stop time timer means for measuring time after said charging control means starts said secondary constant-current charging, wherein said charging control means stops said secondary constant-current charging when said stop time timer means has measured a predetermined secondary charging time. -
10. A charging apparatus for charging a valve-regulated lead acid battery using a Pb-Sb alloy grid as a positive electrode grid according to claim 9, further comprising:
-
a temperature sensor for detecting a battery temperature substantially; and
a secondary charging time setting means for setting said secondary charging time so as to be shorter as the temperature detected by said temperature sensor is higher.
-
Specification