Apparatus for indicating chronic storage battery undercharge

Abstract

Abstract 971, 128. Testing batteries GLOBEUNION Inc. May 18, 1962, No. 19193/62. Heading G1U. In an apparatus for indicating undercharge of a storage battery 10 a voltage sensitive relay 26 in series with a switch 16 is connected across the battery, normally closed contacts 28 operated by the relay are connected in series with the switch and in parallel with the relay and connected in series with an indicator lamp 20, and a temperature compensating means consisting of a thermister 30 in parallel with a resistance 32 is connected in series with the relay to compensate at least partly for variations in the operating voltage of the relay with temperature. The arrangement is such that the voltage sensitive relay is energized on closing the switch 16 only if the battery voltage is above a predetermined amount, otherwise the contacts 28 remain closed and the indicator light is illuminated to show an under-charged condition- The apparatus is particularly applicable for use with a battery in the ignition circuit of an internal combustion engine having a generator 12 and a regulator 14 and as described may also include an arrangement for dissipating surface charge on the plates of the battery prior to making the test so as to avoid errors due to this cause. An additional set of contacts 34 operated by the relay are included, and a thermal switch 58 energized by the generator 12. With the engine running, the thermal switch 58 is closed, but the contacts 34 will be open. If the switch 16 is now opened to switch off the engine, the contacts 34 close and the surface charge on the battery plates discharges through the thermal switch, until this has cooled sufficiently to open, into the 75 watt resistor 38. With the surface charge thus dissipated, operation of the switch 16 will enable the true electrochemical condition of the battery to be determined.

Inventors

• 👤 Ronald M Fiandt
• 👤 Edwin T Sherwood

Bibliographic Details