Patent US4110240B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3612979A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System for measuring transfer of electric charge
Assignee: Dual Lite Co Inc
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Filing: 1968-12-10
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Granted: 1971-10-12
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Expires: 1988-12-10
Abstract
Abstract A movable piston, or float, including a permanent magnet is driven from one end of a closed, liquid-filled tube to the other by the magnetic field of a coil wound around the tube and energized by current flowing in one direction or the other according to the transfer of an electric charge into or out of a charge-accumulating or charge-producing element, such as a storage battery. A light bulb adjacent the tube directs light through the tube to a photocell. The transfer of a predetermined quantity of charge in one direction causes the piston to move to one end of the tube and interfere with passage of light through the tube. Transfer or charge in the opposite direction causes the piston to move out of the light path. The photocell may be used to control a circuit connected to maintain a charge on a storage battery by replenishing any dissipated charge at a relatively high rate and thereafter maintain the battery in a fully charged condition by a trickle charge. Establishment of the high charge rate in the system occurs when the piston has been moved out of the light path by transfer of charge away from the fully charged battery. The charge rate drops to a trickle charge value when the piston moves back to interrupt the light path, indicating that the battery is substantially fully charged.
Inventors
- 👤 Wilfred Roth
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 02:15
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02J; H02J9/00; H02J7/00; H02J7/90; H02J7/94; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S320/00; Y10S320/18; Y10S320/21
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
In an electrical system in which an electric charge passes from one portion of said system to another portion, apparatus comprising: a magnet element; a coil element connectable to said system whereby said charge passes from said one portion to said other portion through said coil to produce a magnetic field that interacts with the field of said magnet; a container having a fluid of predetermined viscosity therein, one of said elements being movably supported in said fluid to move in response to the interaction of the field of said coil and the field of said magnet at a velocity proportional to the time derivation of said charge; and means responsive to the relative positions of said magnet and said coil to regulate the transfer of said electric charge.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
129 words
In an electrical system in which an electric charge passes from one portion of said system to another portion, apparatus comprising: a magnet element; a coil element connectable to said system whereby said charge passes from said one portion to said other portion through said coil to produce a magnetic field that interacts with the field of said magnet; a container having a fluid of predetermined viscosity therein, one of said elements being movably supported in said fluid to move in response to the interaction of the field of said coil and the field of said magnet at a velocity proportional to the time derivation of said charge; and means responsive to the relative positions of said magnet and said coil to regulate the transfer of said electric charge.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
71 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 in which said means responsive to the position of said magnet comprises: a light source directing light along an optical path intersecting the path of movement of one of said relatively movable elements; and a light detector to produce an electrical change corresponding to the change in light traveling along said optical path in response to the movement of said one of said elements.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 in which said magnet comprises a permanent magnet.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 in which said magnet is movable and said coil is fixed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 in which said apparatus comprises, in addition, a closed cylindrical container; and said magnet is longitudinally movable in said container.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The invention as defined in claim 5 in which said coil surrounds a portion of said cylinder.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The invention as defined in claim 6 comprising, in addition: float means supporting said magnet in said fluid, said float and said magnet comprising a floating system.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
189 words
The invention as defined in claim 7 in which said cylinder has a transparent portion through which said optical path passes, and said floating system comprises an opaque member movable across said transparent portion to close off said optical path when said floating system mOves in one direction in said cylinder in response to the interaction of the field of said magnet and the field of said coil. 9 Battery charging apparatus comprising an integrator connected to said battery; a light source; light-detecting means; a magnetically controlled and movable piston member located in the path of light from said source to said detecting means and positionable according to the charge of said battery; a source of charging current for said battery; a charging rate control circuit connecting said source of charging current to said light-detecting means to be controlled thereby and connected to said charging rate control to control the operation thereof to cause said battery to be charged at a relatively high rate when it has been discharged below a predetermined level and to be charged at a relatively low rate when it is charged above said level.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
107 words
The battery charging apparatus of claim 9 in which said integrator comprises a tube substantially filled with transparent silicone liquid and having a light path transversely through said tube; a float in said tube; a permanent magnet in said float, said float comprising said movable member; a coil around said tube and connected to said battery to be energized by the current through said battery to move said float in one direction or the other in accordance with the direction of flow of said current, said light source being on one side of said tube and said light-detecting means being on the other side of said tube.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
54 words
The battery charging apparatus of claim 9 in which said light-detecting means comprises a light-sensitive resistor and an amplifier circuit connected thereto to be controlled thereby and said charging rate control comprises a relay and a resistor connected to terminals of said relay, said relay being connected to said amplifier to be controlled thereby.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
87 words
The battery charging apparatus of claim 9 comprising, in addition: a transfer relay provided with input terminals to receive operating current from an external power source and comprising an armature, a normally closed contact, and a normally open contact, said armature and said normally closed contact being connected in series with said battery and said integrator; and an emergency lighting circuit connected in series with said battery and said armature and said normally closed contact of said relay to be energized when said relay is not energized.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-10-11 | 1975-04-12 | 1975-10-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-10-11 | 1979-04-12 | 1979-10-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-10-11 | 1983-04-12 | 1983-10-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |