US6492745B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Battery disconnect system
Assignee: Vertiv Energy Systems Inc
•
Filing: 2000-07-17
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Granted: 2002-12-10
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Expires: 2020-07-17
Abstract
Abstract A battery control system for controlling the connection of a plurality of batteries to a load is provided. The system comprises a plurality of switches and a plurality of controllers. Each switch is operable to connect or disconnect one of the batteries from the load. Each controller is operatively coupled to one of the switches. Each controller is operative to cause one of the switches to disconnect one of the batteries from the load. Each controller has an input and an output for communicating with another controller wherein the controllers communicate with each other to limit the number of batteries that can be disconnected from the loads
Inventors
- 👤 William C. Colley, III
- 👤 James A. Giancaterino
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 03:58
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02J; H02J7/00; H02J7/36; H02J7/50; H02J7/585; H02J9/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 51
Claim 1
Independent Claim
123 words
A battery control system for controlling the connection of a plurality of batteries to a load comprising: a plurality of switches each of which is operable to connect or disconnect one of the batteries from the load; and a plurality of controllers each of which is operatively coupled to one of said switches, each of said controllers being operative to cause one of said switches to disconnect one of the batteries from the load, each of said controllers having an output for communication with another of said controllers, each of said controllers also having an input for communication with another of said controllers, wherein said controllers communicate with each other to limit the number of batteries that can be disconnected from the load.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
123 words
A battery control system for controlling the connection of a plurality of batteries to a load comprising: a plurality of switches each of which is operable to connect or disconnect one of the batteries from the load; and a plurality of controllers each of which is operatively coupled to one of said switches, each of said controllers being operative to cause one of said switches to disconnect one of the batteries from the load, each of said controllers having an output for communication with another of said controllers, each of said controllers also having an input for communication with another of said controllers, wherein said controllers communicate with each other to limit the number of batteries that can be disconnected from the load.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of controllers are arranged in a ring configuration such that the output of the first of said controllers is coupled to the input of the second of said controllers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 2 wherein the input of the first of said controllers is coupled to the output of the second of said controllers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 2 wherein the input of the first of said controllers is coupled to the output of another of said controllers that is not the first or second of said controllers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 2 wherein only one of the batteries that is coupled to a controller in the ring via a switch can be disconnected from the load at a given time.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of controllers are arranged in a plurality of ring configurations wherein only one of the batteries that is coupled to a controller in each ring via a switch may be disconnected from the load at a given time.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 1 wherein each controller further comprises a status indicator, the status indicators being operative to indicate whether the switch coupled to that controller has disconnected one of the batteries from the load.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 7 wherein the status indicator comprises a light indication.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 1 wherein each controller further comprises a remote indicator for indicating to a remote monitoring system the state of the switch coupled to that controller.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
64 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the output of each of said controllers communicates information regarding the battery connection state of the battery coupled to that controller to another of said controllers and wherein the input of each of said controllers receives a communication from another of said controllers regarding the battery connection state of the battery coupled to that other of said controllers.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
63 words
The system of claim 1 wherein each of said controllers further comprises a disconnect switch and a reconnect switch, each of said disconnect switches being operative to communicate the desire to disconnect the battery coupled to that controller from the load, each of said reconnect switches being operative to communicate the desire to reconnect the battery coupled to that controller to the load.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 1 wherein each of said controllers further comprises an emergency stop input, said controller being responsive to said emergency stop input to cause the battery coupled thereto to be disconnected from the load.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 1 wherein each of said controllers further comprises a control circuit that comprises a logic circuit that uses said inputs for controlling the activation of said outputs.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 13 wherein said control circuits includes an S-R latch circuit in their logic circuits.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said switches are coupled in series between the batteries and the load.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising a power bus coupled between the load and the batteries and wherein said switches are coupled in series between the batteries and said power bus.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
122 words
An UPS system having a plurality of batteries for providing backup power to a load comprising: a plurality of switches each of which is operable to connect or disconnect one of the batteries from the load; and a plurality of controllers each of which is operatively coupled to one of said switches, each of said controllers being operative to cause one of said switches to disconnect one of the batteries from the load, each of said controllers having an output for communication with another of said controllers, each of said controllers also having an input for communication with another of said controllers, wherein said controllers communicate with each other to limit the number of batteries that can be disconnected from the load.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
122 words
An UPS system having a plurality of batteries for providing backup power to a load comprising: a plurality of switches each of which is operable to connect or disconnect one of the batteries from the load; and a plurality of controllers each of which is operatively coupled to one of said switches, each of said controllers being operative to cause one of said switches to disconnect one of the batteries from the load, each of said controllers having an output for communication with another of said controllers, each of said controllers also having an input for communication with another of said controllers, wherein said controllers communicate with each other to limit the number of batteries that can be disconnected from the load.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 17 wherein said plurality of controllers are arranged in a ring configuration such that the output of the first of said controllers is coupled to the input of the second of said controllers.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 18 wherein the input of the first of said controllers is coupled to the output of the second of said controllers.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 18 wherein the input of the first of said controllers is coupled to the output of another of said controllers that is not the first or second of said controllers.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 18 wherein only one of the batteries that is coupled to a controller in the ring via a switch can be disconnected from the load at a given time.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
46 words
The system of claim 17 wherein said plurality of controllers are arranged in a plurality of ring configurations wherein only one of the batteries that is coupled to a controller in each ring via a switch may be disconnected from the load at a given time.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 17 wherein each controller further comprises a status indicator, the status indicators being operative to indicate whether the switch coupled to that controller has disconnected one of the batteries from the load.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 23 wherein the status indicator comprises a light indication.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 17 herein each controller further comprises a remote indicator for indicating to a remote monitoring system the state of the switch coupled to that controller.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
64 words
The system of claim 17 wherein the output of each of said controllers communicates information regarding the battery connection state of the battery coupled to that controller to another of said controllers and wherein the input of each of said controllers receives a communication from another of said controllers regarding the battery connection state of the battery coupled to that other of said controllers.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
63 words
The system of claim 17 wherein each of said controllers further comprises a disconnect switch and a reconnect switch, each of said disconnect switches being operative to communicate the desire to disconnect the battery coupled to that controller from the load, each of said reconnect switches being operative to communicate the desire to reconnect the battery coupled to that controller to the load.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 17 wherein each of said controllers further comprises an emergency stop input, said controller being responsive to said emergency stop input to cause the battery coupled thereto to be disconnected from the load.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 17 wherein each of said controllers further comprises a control circuit that comprises a logic circuit that uses said inputs for controlling the activation of said outputs.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 29 wherein said control circuits includes an S-R latch circuit in their logic circuits.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 17 wherein said switches are coupled in series between the batteries and the load.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 17 further comprising a power bus coupled between the load and the batteries and wherein said switches are coupled in series between the batteries and said power bus.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
164 words
A power plant system for providing power to a load comprising: a source of AC power; an AC to DC power converter for converting the AC power to DC power and for supplying the DC power to the load; an UPS system for providing backup DC power to the load, the UPS system comprising a plurality of batteries; a plurality of switches each of which is operable to connect or disconnect one of said batteries from the load; and a plurality of controllers each of which is operatively coupled to one of said switches, each of said controllers being operative to cause one of said switches to disconnect one of the batteries from the load, each of said controllers having an output for communication with another of said controllers, each of said controllers also having an input for communication with another of said controllers, wherein said controllers communicate with each other to limit the number of batteries that can be disconnected from the load.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
164 words
A power plant system for providing power to a load comprising: a source of AC power; an AC to DC power converter for converting the AC power to DC power and for supplying the DC power to the load; an UPS system for providing backup DC power to the load, the UPS system comprising a plurality of batteries; a plurality of switches each of which is operable to connect or disconnect one of said batteries from the load; and a plurality of controllers each of which is operatively coupled to one of said switches, each of said controllers being operative to cause one of said switches to disconnect one of the batteries from the load, each of said controllers having an output for communication with another of said controllers, each of said controllers also having an input for communication with another of said controllers, wherein said controllers communicate with each other to limit the number of batteries that can be disconnected from the load.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 33 wherein said plurality of controllers are arranged in a ring configuration such that the output of the first of said controllers is coupled to the input of the second of said controllers.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 34 wherein the input of the first of said controllers is coupled to the output of the second of said controllers.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 34 wherein the input of the first of said controllers is coupled to the output of another of said controllers that is not the first or second of said controllers.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 34 wherein only one of the batteries that is coupled to a controller in the ring via a switch can be disconnected from the load at a given time.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
46 words
The system of claim 33 wherein said plurality of controllers are arranged in a plurality of ring configurations wherein only one of the batteries that is coupled to a controller in each ring via a switch may be disconnected from the load at a given time.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 33 wherein each controller further comprises a status indicator, the status indicators being operative to indicate whether the switch coupled to that controller has disconnected one of the batteries from the load.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 39 wherein the status indicator comprises a light indication.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 33 wherein each controller further comprises a remote indicator for indicating to a remote monitoring system the state of the switch coupled to that controller.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
64 words
The system of claim 33 wherein the output of each of said controllers communicates information regarding the battery connection state of the battery coupled to that controller to another of said controllers and wherein the input of each of said controllers receives a communication from another of said controllers regarding the battery connection state of the battery coupled to that other of said controllers.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
63 words
The system of claim 33 wherein each of said controllers further comprises a disconnect switch and a reconnect switch, each of said disconnect switches being operative to communicate the desire to disconnect the battery coupled to that controller from the load, each of said reconnect switches being operative to communicate the desire to reconnect the battery coupled to that controller to the load.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 33 wherein each of said controllers frrther comprises an emergency stop input, said controller being responsive to said emergency stop input to cause the battery coupled thereto to be disconnected from the load.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 33 wherein each of said controllers further comprises a control circuit that comprises a logic circuit that uses said inputs for controlling the activation of said outputs.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 45 wherein said control circuits includes an S-R latch circuit in their logic circuits.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 33 wherein said switches are coupled in series between the batteries and the load.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 33 further comprising a power bus coupled between the load and the batteries and wherein said switches are coupled in series between the batteries and said power bus.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3609504A
Cited
US6049141A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-12-09 | 2006-06-10 | 2006-12-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-12-09 | 2010-06-10 | 2010-12-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-12-09 | 2014-06-10 | 2014-12-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |