Method and apparatus for terminating the charge of storage batteries

Abstract

Abstract A storage battery cell has positive and negative plates flooded by electrolyte. When the battery is charged, gas bubbles are produced in the electrolyte. Baffles are arranged to segregate the hydrogen gas bubbles evolved by a portion of the negative plates from oxygen bubbles formed by the positive plates. A hydrogen gas consuming electrode is submerged in the electrolyte and is located so that a stream of hydrogen bubbles impinges thereon. The gas electrode produces an electric current as a result of the presence of hydrogen and the current is approximately proportional to the quantity of gas impinging on the electrode. When the cell reaches a fully charged state, there is a rapid increase in the rate of gas evolution from the negative plate. This causes a similar increase in the current produced by the electrode. A current sensitive device is used to monitor the current flow and initiate a charge termination sequence when the battery reaches a fully charged state as indicated by the gas electrode. An oxygen consuming electrode may be arranged in a similar fashion to sense the oxygen evolution of the positive plates. A pre-selected rise in current flow from positive gas electrode to negative gas electrode can likewise be used to indicate that both positive and negative plates are fully charged.

Inventors

• 👤 Joseph C Duddy

Bibliographic Details