Patent US4193025A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4193025A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic battery analyzer
Assignee: Johnson Controls Inc
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Filing: 1977-12-23
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Granted: 1980-03-11
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Expires: 1997-12-23
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for automatically testing automotive-type, lead acid storage batteries are disclosed in which three separate tests are made and the results thereof compared to predetermined standards in a specified order to maximize the information obtained about the battery. The three tests measure (1) whether the battery meets its cold cranking rating by drawing a predetermined load current therefrom for a predetermined period of time and determining whether the battery terminal voltage is above a specified level at the end of that period, (2) whether the battery terminal voltage is above another specified level at the end of a predetermined period of time following the completion of the first test, and (3) whether the internal resistance is acceptably low. If the battery passes the first test, it is known to be acceptable. If the battery fails the first test and passes the second test, it is known to be unacceptable. If the battery fails the first and second tests, the third test is performed. If the battery then passes the third test, it is known to be acceptable but to require a recharge, whereas if the battery then fails the third test the acceptability of the battery is then not yet determined and it must be recharged and retested.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles E. Frailing
- 👤 Thomas J. Dougherty
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 23:10
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R31/00; G01R31/36; G01R31/378; G01R31/379; G01R31/385; G01R31/389; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S320/00; Y10S320/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
119 words
Apparatus for determining the acceptability of a storage battery under test and comprising: first circuit means for coupling to the battery under test and performing a load test on said battery; second circuit means for coupling to the battery under test and performing a voltage bounce back test on said battery; third circuit means for coupling to the battery under test and performing a test of an internal circuit parameter of said battery; and fourth circuit means coupled to said first, second, and third circuit means for controlling the sequence in which the tests of said first, second, and third circuit means are performed and providing a readout responsive to outputs of said first, second, and third testing means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
119 words
Apparatus for determining the acceptability of a storage battery under test and comprising: first circuit means for coupling to the battery under test and performing a load test on said battery; second circuit means for coupling to the battery under test and performing a voltage bounce back test on said battery; third circuit means for coupling to the battery under test and performing a test of an internal circuit parameter of said battery; and fourth circuit means coupled to said first, second, and third circuit means for controlling the sequence in which the tests of said first, second, and third circuit means are performed and providing a readout responsive to outputs of said first, second, and third testing means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
71 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said fourth circuit means comprises means to provide that said load test is the first of said tests to be performed on the battery under test, said voltage bounce back test is the second of said tests to be performed on the battery under test, and said internal circuit parameter test is the third of said tests to be performed on the battery under test.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said fourth circuit means further comprises means to provide a readout that the battery under test is acceptable if said load test is passed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said fourth circuit means further comprises means to prevent the occurrence of said voltage bounce back test and said internal circuit parameter test if said load test is passed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said fourth circuit means further comprises means to provide a readout that the battery under test is unacceptable if said voltage bounce back test is passed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said fourth circuit means further comprises means to prevent the occurrence of said internal circuit parameter test if said voltage bounce back test is passed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said fourth circuit means further comprises means to provide a readout that the battery under test should be recharged and retested if said internal circuit parameter test is failed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said fourth circuit means further comprises means to provide a readout that the battery under test is acceptable but should be recharged if said internal circuit parameter test is passed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said internal circuit parameter is the internal resistance of the battery under test.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
55 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first circuit means further comprises means for maintaining a constant current load on said battery and determining whether the battery terminal voltage is above a first predetermined level at the end of a first predetermined time period following the application of said constant current load to said battery.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second circuit means further comprises means for determining whether the battery terminal voltage is above a second predetermined level at the end of a second predetermined time period following the removal of a load from said battery.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said second circuit means further comprises means for determining whether the battery terminal voltage is above a second predetermined level at the end of a second predetermined time period following the removal of said constant current load from said battery.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
173 words
Apparatus for determining the acceptability of a storage battery under test and comprising: first circuit means for coupling to the battery under test; second circuit means coupled to said first circuit means for maintaining a load on said battery and providing an output signal responsive to the battery terminal voltage at the end of a first predetermined time period following the application of said load to said battery; third circuit means coupled to said first circuit means and providing an output signal responsive to the battery terminal voltage at the end of a second predetermined time period following the removal of said load from said battery; fourth circuit means coupled to said first circuit means and providing an output signal responsive to the value of an internal circuit parameter of said battery; and fifth circuit means coupled to said second, third, and fourth circuit means and controlling the sequence in which said output signals are generated and providing a readout indicative of the acceptability of said battery in response to said output signals.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
173 words
Apparatus for determining the acceptability of a storage battery under test and comprising: first circuit means for coupling to the battery under test; second circuit means coupled to said first circuit means for maintaining a load on said battery and providing an output signal responsive to the battery terminal voltage at the end of a first predetermined time period following the application of said load to said battery; third circuit means coupled to said first circuit means and providing an output signal responsive to the battery terminal voltage at the end of a second predetermined time period following the removal of said load from said battery; fourth circuit means coupled to said first circuit means and providing an output signal responsive to the value of an internal circuit parameter of said battery; and fifth circuit means coupled to said second, third, and fourth circuit means and controlling the sequence in which said output signals are generated and providing a readout indicative of the acceptability of said battery in response to said output signals.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
356 words
Apparatus for determining the acceptability of a battery under test and comprising: first circuit means for coupling to the battery under test; second circuit means coupled to said first circuit means for maintaining a constant current load on said battery for a first predetermined period of time and providing a first output signal having a first state when the battery terminal voltage at the end of a first predetermined time period following the application of said constant current load is above a first predetermined level and a second state when the battery terminal voltage at the end of said first predetermined time period following the application of said constant current load is below said first predetermined level; third circuit means coupled to said first circuit means and providing a second output signal having a first state when the battery terminal voltage at the end of a second predetermined time period following the removal of said constant current load is above a second predetermined level and a second state when the battery terminal voltage at the end of said second predetermined time period following the removal of said constant current load is below said second predetermined level; fourth circuit means coupled to said first circuit means and providing a third output signal having a first state when an internal circuit parameter is above a third predetermined level and a second state when said internal circuit parameter is below said predetermined level; and fifth circuit means coupled to said second, third, and fourth circuit means and controlling the sequence in which said output signals are generated and providing a first output indicating that the battery under test is acceptable when said first output signal is in said first state, a second output indicating that the battery under test is unacceptable when said first output signal is in said second state and said second output signal is in said first state, and a third output indicating whether said battery should be retested in response to said third output signal when said first output signal is in said second state and said second output signal is in said second state.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
356 words
Apparatus for determining the acceptability of a battery under test and comprising: first circuit means for coupling to the battery under test; second circuit means coupled to said first circuit means for maintaining a constant current load on said battery for a first predetermined period of time and providing a first output signal having a first state when the battery terminal voltage at the end of a first predetermined time period following the application of said constant current load is above a first predetermined level and a second state when the battery terminal voltage at the end of said first predetermined time period following the application of said constant current load is below said first predetermined level; third circuit means coupled to said first circuit means and providing a second output signal having a first state when the battery terminal voltage at the end of a second predetermined time period following the removal of said constant current load is above a second predetermined level and a second state when the battery terminal voltage at the end of said second predetermined time period following the removal of said constant current load is below said second predetermined level; fourth circuit means coupled to said first circuit means and providing a third output signal having a first state when an internal circuit parameter is above a third predetermined level and a second state when said internal circuit parameter is below said predetermined level; and fifth circuit means coupled to said second, third, and fourth circuit means and controlling the sequence in which said output signals are generated and providing a first output indicating that the battery under test is acceptable when said first output signal is in said first state, a second output indicating that the battery under test is unacceptable when said first output signal is in said second state and said second output signal is in said first state, and a third output indicating whether said battery should be retested in response to said third output signal when said first output signal is in said second state and said second output signal is in said second state.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
78 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said fifth circuit means further includes means coupled to said second circuit means for disabling operation of said third circuit means and said fourth circuit means when said first output signal is in said first state and means coupled to said third circuit means for disabling operation of said fourth circuit means when said first output signal is in said second state and said second output signal is in said first state.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
76 words
The method of determining the acceptability of an electrical storage battery comprising: the first step of performing an electrical load test on said battery; the second step of performing a voltage bounce back test on said battery; the third step of performing a test responsive to the magnitude of an internal circuit parameter of said battery; the fourth step of determining from the results of said first, second, and third steps the acceptability of said battery.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
76 words
The method of determining the acceptability of an electrical storage battery comprising: the first step of performing an electrical load test on said battery; the second step of performing a voltage bounce back test on said battery; the third step of performing a test responsive to the magnitude of an internal circuit parameter of said battery; the fourth step of determining from the results of said first, second, and third steps the acceptability of said battery.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
119 words
The method of determining the acceptability of an electrical storage battery comprising: the first step of placing a load on said battery, determining whether the battery terminal voltage is above a first predetermined level after a first predetermined period of time, and removing said load from said battery; the second step of determining whether the battery terminal voltage is above a second predetermined level after a second predetermined period of time following the removal of said load from said battery; the third step of determining whether an internal circuit parameter of said battery is above a third predetermined value; the fourth step of determining from the results of said first, second, and third steps whether said battery is acceptable.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
119 words
The method of determining the acceptability of an electrical storage battery comprising: the first step of placing a load on said battery, determining whether the battery terminal voltage is above a first predetermined level after a first predetermined period of time, and removing said load from said battery; the second step of determining whether the battery terminal voltage is above a second predetermined level after a second predetermined period of time following the removal of said load from said battery; the third step of determining whether an internal circuit parameter of said battery is above a third predetermined value; the fourth step of determining from the results of said first, second, and third steps whether said battery is acceptable.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 17 wherein said first, second, and third steps are performed in the order recited.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
130 words
The method of claim 18 wherein said fourth step further comprises the steps of: generating an indication that the battery under test is acceptable when the battery terminal voltage is above said first predetermined level after said first period of time; generating an indication that the battery under test is unacceptable when the battery terminal voltage is below said first predetermined level after said first period of time and above said second predetermined level after said second period of time; and generating an indication that the battery under test should be retested in response to the results of said third step when the battery terminal voltage is below said first predetermined level after said first period of time and below said second predetermined level after said second period of time.
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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) | 1983-03-11 | 1983-09-10 | 1984-03-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-03-11 | 1987-09-10 | 1988-03-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-03-11 | 1991-09-10 | 1992-03-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |