CA1324813C - Battery systems - Google Patents
Battery systemsInfo
- Publication number
- CA1324813C CA1324813C CA000610188A CA610188A CA1324813C CA 1324813 C CA1324813 C CA 1324813C CA 000610188 A CA000610188 A CA 000610188A CA 610188 A CA610188 A CA 610188A CA 1324813 C CA1324813 C CA 1324813C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- battery
- cell
- cells
- positive
- plates
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
Links
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H01M10/00—Secondary cells; Manufacture thereof
- H01M10/42—Methods or arrangements for servicing or maintenance of secondary cells or secondary half-cells
- H01M10/44—Methods for charging or discharging
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60R16/00—Electric or fluid circuits specially adapted for vehicles and not otherwise provided for; Arrangement of elements of electric or fluid circuits specially adapted for vehicles and not otherwise provided for
- B60R16/02—Electric or fluid circuits specially adapted for vehicles and not otherwise provided for; Arrangement of elements of electric or fluid circuits specially adapted for vehicles and not otherwise provided for electric constitutive elements
- B60R16/04—Arrangement of batteries
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H01M10/00—Secondary cells; Manufacture thereof
- H01M10/06—Lead-acid accumulators
- H01M10/12—Construction or manufacture
- H01M10/122—Multimode batteries
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H01M4/00—Electrodes
- H01M4/02—Electrodes composed of, or comprising, active material
- H01M4/14—Electrodes for lead-acid accumulators
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
- Y02E60/10—Energy storage using batteries
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02P—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
- Y02P70/00—Climate change mitigation technologies in the production process for final industrial or consumer products
- Y02P70/50—Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02T—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
- Y02T10/00—Road transport of goods or passengers
- Y02T10/60—Other road transportation technologies with climate change mitigation effect
- Y02T10/70—Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
Abstract
Abstract The battery of the present invention comprises a container having a plurality of cells including at least two positive terminal cells and at least one negative terminal cell. Each cell of the battery contains a plurality of alternating positive and negative electrode plates containing active material. The positive electrode plates of each positive terminal cell are electrically connected to their associated positive terminal. The negative electrode plates of both cells are connected to a common negative terminal. The thickness of each of the positive plates in each of the cells is varied to achieve different discharge characteristics at each positive terminal output. The battery described above is connected via a set of switches and cables to the electrical system of an automobile. One of the positive terminals of the battery is connected to the starter system while the other is connected to the auxiliary power circuits of the automobile such that the battery power to the starter and to the auxiliary circuits are electrically isolated from each other. Thus, if the user drains one portion of the battery by running the auxiliary circuits, the other portion of the battery connected to the starter will maintain its charge. The generator is connected to both portions of the battery to simultaneously charge both cells of the battery when the engine is running.
Description
Background Of The Invention This invention relates to Electric Storage Batteries. It has particular but not sole application to Automotive Starting, Lighting & Igrudon Batteries, hereinafter referred to as SU Batteries.
The convendonal automodve SLI battéry consists generally of six 2.2 volt Lead Acid cells cor~nected in series. It is a primary funcdon of the automo-tive battery to provide sufficient high electric current at short intervals to cra~k the internal combustdon engine in order that it may start. The bat-tery must also provide current to the coil in order to supply ignidon at the spark plugs~
~o Another important funcdon which must also be provided is that of reserve current to provide lighting and ignition for the vehicle if the vehicle's gen-erator is notvrorking~
.
The Qlrrent requuements of the starter motor are vastly different from those of the ~rehide's auxiliaries, such as ignition and lighting. On the one - hand, crank;ng reqnires large amounts of current for a relatively short duradon as the starter motor cranks the internal combustion eng~ne against the compression of the cylinders. Ignition and other vehicle au~dliaries, however, require lower current rates but for longer periods of time~
20 The conventional SLl battery system is therefore designed first to provide .
,'. ~:. :' , . ' 132481~
sufficient cranl~ng power, secondly to provide current to the ignition and coil and thirdly to provide current to the vehicle's auxiliaries whilst the generator is not working. One other function is to act as a voltage load leveller as part of the vehicle's electrical circuits whilst the generator is operating.
The conventional SLI battery systern is an advanced version of the original Plante reversible cell. During it'S development, the basic principles util-ized by Plante bave still been retained up to the present time. That is, the battery consists of a series of cells having t vo opposing electrodes. The o cells produce 2.2 volts generally~ This configuration has proved to be suitable as a starter battery~
When batteries were first adapted for the supply of starting current, the automobile was quite different to what it is at present. lndeed, the motor vehicle has changed quite markedly in comparison to the battery. It is no longer as important to supply jùst cranking current for the vehicle. The modern vehicle is equipped with rnany dectrical and electronic devices whic~ present a major contrast in au~liary current requirements for the ; battery.
.
Vehicle manufacturers, whilst incorporating the various extra auxiliaries 10 into the vehicle, are merely responding to consumer demands. These extra almlianes place h~rther demands on a battery system which is be-coming more and more obsolete because it was always designed primarily as a starting ~attery. Indeed, the starting function is still the major fimc-~324813 tion of the battely but it is now obvious that changes in automobDe designs must also demand changes in battery design to keep pace with con-sumer demands for more au~liary power.
Attempts to overcome these problerns have been made by a number of people. Thus US patent specification 4068~ in the name Dey shows a bat-tery which is divided into two cell groups by an internal dividing plate. US
patent specification 1924959 in the name of Patterson shows four cells two of which are in series and two of which can be between parallel or series combinadons by the throwing of a switch. The cells are total~y separate.
0 US patent sI>ecification 3029301 in the name of Strider shows a construc-tdon in which t~o battery parts are provided in series so that six and twelve volt voltage sources can be provided. US specification 3242009 in the name of Schilke shows the construction in which two battery parts are provided but these are used to provide a number of different voltages. US
patent speci;fication 3475221 in the name of Jordan shows two separate batteries in one container.
US patent specification 3758345 in the name of Toth shows a construction inwhich a small au~lia~y battery is provided in a shaped recess formed in the main plate~ US patent specification 3883368 in tbe name of Kordesch 20 shows a construction inwhich two or more current rates are provided by the use of different types of electrode and, US patent specification 4684S80in the name of Cramer shows a constructionwherein the casing for the battery has a pocket or recess into which a second or au~dliary bat-tery can be provided~ None of these specifications show a construction wherein the problerns of the large but short duration current required for ' ~: ~ '. ` . .
. . :
`- 1324813 cranking and the lower but longer duration demand required by the auxiliaries is able to be coped with in a single battery construction.
Specification 3883368 does indicate a battely which is able to cope with differing current rates but this is only achieved by the use of different types of electrodes~ Such an approach is impractical as a SII batte~y.
Specification 4684~80 in the name of Cramer could provide a construction in.which different current draw offs are provided but this is achieved only by the use of two quite separate and distinct batteries, one of which is able to be mounted on the other. Such double battery constructions require ex-o tensive changes to be made to the vehicle electrical architecture, and areexpensive to manufacture.
It is thereforc an object of the present invention to provide a battely which will obviate or minimize the foregoing disadvantages or which will at least provide the public with a useful choice.
SummaIy Of The Invention Accordingly, in one aspect thc invention consists in a battery including a container, one or more cells in said container, the or each said cell having therein at least one positive plate and at least one negative plate, at least some said plates being formed by layers of active material.
In a further aspect, the invention consists of a battery comprising a con-~o tainer having a plurality of oells, said plurality of cells including at least - two positive terminal oells and at least one negative tenninal ceD, each cell containing a plurality of altemating positive and negativc dectrode p1ates separated from each other and constituting a cell element stack each of said plates including active material, the positive electrode plates of t~e cell element stack in each positive terminal cell being electrically connected to a positive terminal, tbe negative electrode plates of the cell element stack in the or each negative terminal cell being electrically con-nected to a siDgle negative terminal, eaeh electrode plate of eacb cell ele-ment other than a said terminal cell being electrically connected in series to the electrode plate of opposite polarity in an adjoining cell, the cells of each series of eonnections being eleetrically eonneeted to one comrnon negative terminal but having separate positive tenninals; and an o electro~te in eontact witb the posidve and negative electrode plates in eaeh eell~
In a still further aspect, the invention consists in an automobile eleetrical system eomprising a batteIywilih first a hean/y current conductor cable con-nected to the battely negative terminal and earthed to said automobile, second a eurrent eonduetor eable eoDnee~ed to one or more positive ter-minals of said bane~y and eonneeted to a eurrent first switeh, said eurrent switeh being conneeted to the eleetrie starter motor of said automobile, tbird a a~rrent eonduetor eable eonneeted to one or more of the battery's positive terminals and to the au~dliary eireuits of said automobile, fourth a 20 eurrent eleetr.ieal eonduetor eaUe conneeted to one positive terminal not `: engaged by said seeond eurrent eonneetor eable, said fourth current con-duetor eable being in eommon e;rcuit with the generator eireuit line of said automobile, then to a seeond sv~ite~, fifth a eurrent conduetor eable from said seeond switeh eonneeted to said terminal engaged by said first current conduetor eable.
- Page S -The present invention also consists of a Battery eomprising a eontainer having a plurslity of cells including positive snd negative terminsl cells, each cell contailung a plurality of alternating positive and negative electrode plates separated by means of a separator and consdtuting a cell element stsclL Eaeh of said plates is comprised of a ~id having active - material pasted thereon~ The positive electrode plates of the cells are con-neeted electrically. Similar}y, the negative electrode plates of the eell are conne~ed eleetrically. The electrode plates of each cell are electrically connected in series parallel. That is, an even number of eells are con-lO neeted in series, parallel to annther even number of cells also connected in series but shanng the same negative elec~ical connection at the nega-tive terminal. Half of the cells eontain thieker positive electrode plates whilst the other half have thinner positive electrode plates~
This invention therefore provides for a battely having t vo sets of eeUs ar-ranged in series parallel, thus providing dual or multi current vaIiations at the positive terminals. That series of eells having the thinner positive plates provide high c~rrent from the conneeted positive terminal for sbort duradons. Ibe other series of eells, haviDB thieker positive plates, have less plates per ~ralume spaee, b~wever tbe eurrent eapaeity is equal to the ~o cells having thinner plates, during longer slower discharges of the battery~
.
In a further aspect, the invention eonsists of a battery wherein at least one ceU eonsists of lead eleetro~des and at least one eell eonsists of any other metalUe eleetrodes eonneeted in eleetrieal parallel to the said lead electrode eell(s).
, ~ 3~48 1 ~
According to another aspect of this invention there is provided a battery comprising a single housing having a plurality of electrochemical cells therein, said plurality of cells including a first set of cells electrically connected in series to a first positive terminal cell and associated first positive terminal, a second set of cells electrically connected in series to a second positive terminal cell and associated second positive terminal, and a common negative terminal cell and associated terminal to which both the first and second sets of cells are connected in parallel, each said cell having a plurality of positive and negative electrode plates and an electrolyte in contact with said plates wherein the first set of cells has ; different discharge characteristics than the second set of cells.
~a , ~ .
~, ' ~`:
The present invention therefore pro~ides the vehicle manufacturers and owner with a dual or multi current battery that for cranking purposes will provide high current flows through the cells having thin positive plates with this high current available for shorter durations. A lower but longer current flow is also available from the cells having thicker positive plates.
Whilst both sets of cells can be connected electrically for cran)~ng pur-poses, only the cells having the thicker plates are connected electrically to the automobiles au~liary circuits, thus providing for slower and longer dis-charge periods.
~o During recharging of the ceUs, all cells are connected electrically and thus the reverse cyclc is occurring as in a conventional storagc Battery. This is made possible because all cells share a cormnon negative tenninal to earth.
To those few sl~llcd in the art to which the invention relates, mar~y chan-ges in construction and wide~r differin embod~nents and applicadons of the invention will suggest thcmsehres without departing from the scope of the invention as de~ined in the appended claims. The disclosures and the descriptions herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limi~ng.
The convendonal automodve SLI battéry consists generally of six 2.2 volt Lead Acid cells cor~nected in series. It is a primary funcdon of the automo-tive battery to provide sufficient high electric current at short intervals to cra~k the internal combustdon engine in order that it may start. The bat-tery must also provide current to the coil in order to supply ignidon at the spark plugs~
~o Another important funcdon which must also be provided is that of reserve current to provide lighting and ignition for the vehicle if the vehicle's gen-erator is notvrorking~
.
The Qlrrent requuements of the starter motor are vastly different from those of the ~rehide's auxiliaries, such as ignition and lighting. On the one - hand, crank;ng reqnires large amounts of current for a relatively short duradon as the starter motor cranks the internal combustion eng~ne against the compression of the cylinders. Ignition and other vehicle au~dliaries, however, require lower current rates but for longer periods of time~
20 The conventional SLl battery system is therefore designed first to provide .
,'. ~:. :' , . ' 132481~
sufficient cranl~ng power, secondly to provide current to the ignition and coil and thirdly to provide current to the vehicle's auxiliaries whilst the generator is not working. One other function is to act as a voltage load leveller as part of the vehicle's electrical circuits whilst the generator is operating.
The conventional SLI battery systern is an advanced version of the original Plante reversible cell. During it'S development, the basic principles util-ized by Plante bave still been retained up to the present time. That is, the battery consists of a series of cells having t vo opposing electrodes. The o cells produce 2.2 volts generally~ This configuration has proved to be suitable as a starter battery~
When batteries were first adapted for the supply of starting current, the automobile was quite different to what it is at present. lndeed, the motor vehicle has changed quite markedly in comparison to the battery. It is no longer as important to supply jùst cranking current for the vehicle. The modern vehicle is equipped with rnany dectrical and electronic devices whic~ present a major contrast in au~liary current requirements for the ; battery.
.
Vehicle manufacturers, whilst incorporating the various extra auxiliaries 10 into the vehicle, are merely responding to consumer demands. These extra almlianes place h~rther demands on a battery system which is be-coming more and more obsolete because it was always designed primarily as a starting ~attery. Indeed, the starting function is still the major fimc-~324813 tion of the battely but it is now obvious that changes in automobDe designs must also demand changes in battery design to keep pace with con-sumer demands for more au~liary power.
Attempts to overcome these problerns have been made by a number of people. Thus US patent specification 4068~ in the name Dey shows a bat-tery which is divided into two cell groups by an internal dividing plate. US
patent specification 1924959 in the name of Patterson shows four cells two of which are in series and two of which can be between parallel or series combinadons by the throwing of a switch. The cells are total~y separate.
0 US patent sI>ecification 3029301 in the name of Strider shows a construc-tdon in which t~o battery parts are provided in series so that six and twelve volt voltage sources can be provided. US specification 3242009 in the name of Schilke shows the construction in which two battery parts are provided but these are used to provide a number of different voltages. US
patent speci;fication 3475221 in the name of Jordan shows two separate batteries in one container.
US patent specification 3758345 in the name of Toth shows a construction inwhich a small au~lia~y battery is provided in a shaped recess formed in the main plate~ US patent specification 3883368 in tbe name of Kordesch 20 shows a construction inwhich two or more current rates are provided by the use of different types of electrode and, US patent specification 4684S80in the name of Cramer shows a constructionwherein the casing for the battery has a pocket or recess into which a second or au~dliary bat-tery can be provided~ None of these specifications show a construction wherein the problerns of the large but short duration current required for ' ~: ~ '. ` . .
. . :
`- 1324813 cranking and the lower but longer duration demand required by the auxiliaries is able to be coped with in a single battery construction.
Specification 3883368 does indicate a battely which is able to cope with differing current rates but this is only achieved by the use of different types of electrodes~ Such an approach is impractical as a SII batte~y.
Specification 4684~80 in the name of Cramer could provide a construction in.which different current draw offs are provided but this is achieved only by the use of two quite separate and distinct batteries, one of which is able to be mounted on the other. Such double battery constructions require ex-o tensive changes to be made to the vehicle electrical architecture, and areexpensive to manufacture.
It is thereforc an object of the present invention to provide a battely which will obviate or minimize the foregoing disadvantages or which will at least provide the public with a useful choice.
SummaIy Of The Invention Accordingly, in one aspect thc invention consists in a battery including a container, one or more cells in said container, the or each said cell having therein at least one positive plate and at least one negative plate, at least some said plates being formed by layers of active material.
In a further aspect, the invention consists of a battery comprising a con-~o tainer having a plurality of oells, said plurality of cells including at least - two positive terminal oells and at least one negative tenninal ceD, each cell containing a plurality of altemating positive and negativc dectrode p1ates separated from each other and constituting a cell element stack each of said plates including active material, the positive electrode plates of t~e cell element stack in each positive terminal cell being electrically connected to a positive terminal, tbe negative electrode plates of the cell element stack in the or each negative terminal cell being electrically con-nected to a siDgle negative terminal, eaeh electrode plate of eacb cell ele-ment other than a said terminal cell being electrically connected in series to the electrode plate of opposite polarity in an adjoining cell, the cells of each series of eonnections being eleetrically eonneeted to one comrnon negative terminal but having separate positive tenninals; and an o electro~te in eontact witb the posidve and negative electrode plates in eaeh eell~
In a still further aspect, the invention consists in an automobile eleetrical system eomprising a batteIywilih first a hean/y current conductor cable con-nected to the battely negative terminal and earthed to said automobile, second a eurrent eonduetor eable eoDnee~ed to one or more positive ter-minals of said bane~y and eonneeted to a eurrent first switeh, said eurrent switeh being conneeted to the eleetrie starter motor of said automobile, tbird a a~rrent eonduetor eable eonneeted to one or more of the battery's positive terminals and to the au~dliary eireuits of said automobile, fourth a 20 eurrent eleetr.ieal eonduetor eaUe conneeted to one positive terminal not `: engaged by said seeond eurrent eonneetor eable, said fourth current con-duetor eable being in eommon e;rcuit with the generator eireuit line of said automobile, then to a seeond sv~ite~, fifth a eurrent conduetor eable from said seeond switeh eonneeted to said terminal engaged by said first current conduetor eable.
- Page S -The present invention also consists of a Battery eomprising a eontainer having a plurslity of cells including positive snd negative terminsl cells, each cell contailung a plurality of alternating positive and negative electrode plates separated by means of a separator and consdtuting a cell element stsclL Eaeh of said plates is comprised of a ~id having active - material pasted thereon~ The positive electrode plates of the cells are con-neeted electrically. Similar}y, the negative electrode plates of the eell are conne~ed eleetrically. The electrode plates of each cell are electrically connected in series parallel. That is, an even number of eells are con-lO neeted in series, parallel to annther even number of cells also connected in series but shanng the same negative elec~ical connection at the nega-tive terminal. Half of the cells eontain thieker positive electrode plates whilst the other half have thinner positive electrode plates~
This invention therefore provides for a battely having t vo sets of eeUs ar-ranged in series parallel, thus providing dual or multi current vaIiations at the positive terminals. That series of eells having the thinner positive plates provide high c~rrent from the conneeted positive terminal for sbort duradons. Ibe other series of eells, haviDB thieker positive plates, have less plates per ~ralume spaee, b~wever tbe eurrent eapaeity is equal to the ~o cells having thinner plates, during longer slower discharges of the battery~
.
In a further aspect, the invention eonsists of a battery wherein at least one ceU eonsists of lead eleetro~des and at least one eell eonsists of any other metalUe eleetrodes eonneeted in eleetrieal parallel to the said lead electrode eell(s).
, ~ 3~48 1 ~
According to another aspect of this invention there is provided a battery comprising a single housing having a plurality of electrochemical cells therein, said plurality of cells including a first set of cells electrically connected in series to a first positive terminal cell and associated first positive terminal, a second set of cells electrically connected in series to a second positive terminal cell and associated second positive terminal, and a common negative terminal cell and associated terminal to which both the first and second sets of cells are connected in parallel, each said cell having a plurality of positive and negative electrode plates and an electrolyte in contact with said plates wherein the first set of cells has ; different discharge characteristics than the second set of cells.
~a , ~ .
~, ' ~`:
The present invention therefore pro~ides the vehicle manufacturers and owner with a dual or multi current battery that for cranking purposes will provide high current flows through the cells having thin positive plates with this high current available for shorter durations. A lower but longer current flow is also available from the cells having thicker positive plates.
Whilst both sets of cells can be connected electrically for cran)~ng pur-poses, only the cells having the thicker plates are connected electrically to the automobiles au~liary circuits, thus providing for slower and longer dis-charge periods.
~o During recharging of the ceUs, all cells are connected electrically and thus the reverse cyclc is occurring as in a conventional storagc Battery. This is made possible because all cells share a cormnon negative tenninal to earth.
To those few sl~llcd in the art to which the invention relates, mar~y chan-ges in construction and wide~r differin embod~nents and applicadons of the invention will suggest thcmsehres without departing from the scope of the invention as de~ined in the appended claims. The disclosures and the descriptions herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limi~ng.
2~ Brief Description Of The Drawings In the foUowing more detailed descripdon of the invention, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings in which;
132~813 Fig 1 is a side elevation of the ~oattery sectioned through two cell compart-ments.
Fig 2 is a perspective view of the monobloc injection moulding of the bat-tery shov ing internal partitions.
Fig 3 is an enlargement of the cells having thidcer layered but less posidve plates showing intercell connectioDs~
Figurc 4 is an end elevation of the battely sectioned throuBh the positive terminals~
Fig ~ is a end elevation of the battery sectioned t~rough the negative ter-o minah `:
` Fig 6 is a top plane view of the battery with lid removed showing cells ar-ranged in scries paralld~
Fig 7 is a perspective illustration of a layered electrode plate structure~
Fig 8A is a diagrammatic view of an electrical layout usable with the bat-tery of the invention~
:
.
'` ' ~ `,' '~
~ . .
-1324:81~ .
Fig 8B is a diagrarnmatic view of an alternative electrical layout.
Detailed Description Of Preferred Embodiment While the invention will be described in connection with preferred em-bodiments, it will be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to the preferred embodiments. On the contrary, all alte~natives, modifications and equivalents as may be included vvithin the spirit and scope of the present inventionwill be defined in the appended claims.
~hus, w~ile the present inventionwill be described in conjunctionwith an SLI Automotive Battery, it should be appreciated that the invention is equally applicable to any othcr s~orage Battery application. Indeed, the present im~ention can be adapted to use with an absorbed elcctrolyte type of battery as opposed to the ~ooded-elcctrolyte battery illustrated herein~
Use of the present invendon will be particularly advantageous in applica-tions which requirc hiih rapid dischargc combined with longer and slower power draw off encased witbin one casing and having dimensions equ~cnt to comrentional SLI batteries~
;
In general, the prcsent invendon is predicated on the discovery that, by a unique combination of physical parametcrs, as will be discussed hcreinafter, a storage batte~y can be provided which is characterized by 2 o dual or multiple or sin~e cl~rrent flow with the ability to maintain a mini-mum required rapid discha rge capac;ty during use and or after prolonged use of au~ùliary circuits which require lower and slower current flow -characteristics.
This performance characteristic can be provided for within the physical parameters of a convendonal battely as set forth herein. The convenffonal SLI battery, as previously mendoned, requires a resene capacity to comp-ly with International standards. The reserve capacity o the convendonal ba~tery is calculated on the basis that should a battery's capacity drop by 25% of nonnal, it must still ~e capable of cranking the internal com~us-tion eDgine.
The prcsent invention thercfore sets out to ovcrcome the problem of longer slower dischargesusingup the a~ailable high discharge capacity re-quired~ The present in~endon hereinafter desc~ibes how by weight and volume it is possible, by "opdmùed configuradon to achieve a dual or multi current systemwithin standar~ized battery container sizes~ In this in-stance, adsantages of the prescnt invention are in cost sa~rings and com-patibili~witb convendonal battenes.
The present im~ention can aso be charactenzed in relation to Total Capaci~when by electrical switching, it is possible to obtain full use of all active material within thc battery for usual day to day use as a convention-al SLI battery. By electrical circuit design, it is also possible to isolate that 20 section of the battery characterized by plate design described herein as bcst suited for slower and longer current drawoff than cranlùng requires.
~y switch or circuit design, the present invention also prevents use of the rapid discharge capauty by the auxiliary circuits within an automobile~
.
;' ~`
' The present invention will show that battery durability is increased sub-stantially by distinguishing specific current requiremeDts within the op-timized configuration.
Tuming now to a more detailed description of the present invention, there is sbown in Figurcs 1 to S a preferred embodianent of a 12 volt 12 cell battery of the present invention.
Figure 1 shows a battely (1) with a premoulded container, (2) with cover (3) li~ted which will be attached to the container by suitable meaa~s. (4) is a negative teIminal postwhile both (5) and (5a,obscured) are positive ter-alunal p~sts~ Whilc the terminal posts are illustrated as top terminals, side teraninals or other tenninal configllrations could l~cewise be employed.
Each celL as ilh~s~ate~d by figure 1, bas a pluaality of indcpendent, alter-natehJr disposed, positive dectrode plates (10) and negad~e electrode plates (11). The plates (10) and (11) are disposed generally perperldic~ar-~r and parallel to the partitions ~7) but may also be at right angles.
i3:
Ihe container, as best seen in a';gure 2, is divided into a plurality of cell compartments by integrally formed partitdon walls (7) which lie essendally parallel to the end walls (6~ of container (2) and at right angles ~o a fur-ther pardtdon (9) whicb runs parallel to walls (8) thus pro~iding 12 cell compartments~nthin the container. Whilst illustrated as 12 cells running in parallel to walls (8), other configurations could likewise be employed~
. .
' '' .
. . . ,~
Wall (9), for example"s not required when "absorbed~ electrolyte is employed. Wall (9) is essential when flooded electrolyte is employed.
Figure 3 sets forth an example of alternative layered positive electrode plates (10) from end on and conventional negative electrode plates (11).
A series connection through wall (7) is also illustrated by use of conven-tional lead straps (12). Separators (13) are also illustrated as in conven-tional flooded electro~te cel~ However, absorbed electrolyte may also be used as separators in a fi~er aspect~
Figure 4 shows a sectioD through the positive terminals (S) and (5a) of the o preseDt invention in a dual current configluation as separate from a multi-cu~rent coDfiguration and indieates positive terminals (5) and (Sa) in close ` pr~umity~
Figure S shows a section through the negative terminal (4) of the present invention and indicates common negative terminal connections through partition (7) by strap (40)~
~, Figur,e 6 is an owrhead view of the cell compartments indicating parti-tions (7)~(9), intercell CoDnCCtiOnS (12) and positi~e connections (5) and (Sa) and negative connection (4) which indicate a series parallel arrange-ment of cells~
~.
:' . ,~ .
b In accordance with the present invention, cells (a) to (f) of figure 6 have three layered positive electrode plates (10) and convendonal negative electrode plates (11). Cells (g) through (I) have four conventional posidve electrode plates (13) and five convendonal negadve plates (11). Cells (a) to (f) are connected in series and parallel to cells (g) to (I) by straps (12)~ !
Cell (f) is cor~nected through the partition to cell (1~ by strap (40) at the negative terrninaL Cells (a) and ~g) show separate positive post to ter-minal (S) and (5a) of figure 1~ Cell ~1) shows a single negative post to ter-- ~unal connection (4) of figure 1. Partition (9) as indicated previously is ~o not required when absorbed electrolyte is used~ Whilst it is shown here that layered electrodes are used in cells (a) to (f) inclusive, such electrodes may be used in any oell combination witbin the structure.
Figure 7 is a perspective view of a layered electrode plate structure which indicates a secdon of active materials removed for clarity of illustradon. A
frame (14) has a similar appearance to conventional plate structures but consisS of t~vo or morc frame structures placed aga~st each other and having grids (15) wbich provide current paths which also restrain the ac~
tive material (16). A glass fibre mat (17) is also illustrated which is placed between the f~ames (14) and grids (15) prior to "pasting" over from either ~o side of plate ~ames with acdve materials~
Capillary action, enhanced by vebicle modon, allows electrolyte acces-sibility to the inner depths of the active material~
Whilst it is appreciated that greater surface area of active material directly 132~813 increase ~y proportion the high current performance of a conventional battery, the present invention provides, by use of dual or multiple layered positive electrode plates, not only high rapid discharge current when re-quired but also longer lasting but lower electrical current when being used for auxiliary loads. The use of layeNd positive plates provide greater resis-tance to damage as a result of deep discharges that occur when the auxiliary cireuits are opersted for longer periods of tirne. The discharge /
recharge cycle of a storage battery places pressure on the positive pla~es in particular. A conventional SLI batte~y is in effect a design trade-off be-tween a deep cycle battery, which uses thick posidve plates to counter the effects of deep discharges and recharge cycles, and a battery having a gNater number of thinner plates to provide the ma~urnum high current for cran~ng but for relatdvely short priods of time.
When an internal combustion engine is being eranked, the eurrent re-- quirements are so great that rapid discharge oeeurs~ However, because the discharge is so rapid, generally oDly the deetrons at the plate surfaee are used. Elee~ons deeper into the aetive material may not be available until the cranl~ng draw off is stopped for a period. A second attempt at crank-ing urill produce a ~rther flow of current. Thicker plates require more ~; ~ o spaee ~ume to provide larger surfaee area for eranldng power~ Thicker plates also require longer rec~arge eycles.
The present invention overcomes the problems of plate stress eaused by longer or deeper discharges resulting from prolonged au~dliary use. It is also ef~ective in providing surfaee current for rapid diseharges~
.
~324813 The use of layered positive plates also places less recharge strain on the ` vehicle's generator/alternator which would be the case if thick plates are used. Thick platcs as previously mentioned provide for deeper and longer discharges but also require deepcr and longer recharges.
Tkin layered positive plates as in the prcscnt invcntion not only provide for greater strength than a thick plate of equal dimensions, but also makes it easier for the electrolyte to penetrate into the active mateAal of the plates, by capillary action~
The ccll configuration shown in figure 6 is only exempla~y and many other ~o coDfi~urations could be uscd as the particular design is not crucial.
Similarly, other multiples of plateswithin each oell may be employed depending on overall capacity requirements of the specifications. lhe co~nbinadon of layercd plates also may include all cells dependiDg on the spccification req~rements, or more or less oells than indicated in Figure 6.
lhe use of thiclc, dcep ~yclc plates, eithcr in combination with layered plates or thin plates, can also be used to provide altemative current ~.
The usc of layered electrodcs as illustrated in Fig 7 also helps overcome - the problcm of active mass ~all off causcd by vibration dunng movement 20 of a vehicle in which a battery is installed~ It should be understood that the prescnt invention is not restricted to the use of layered structures as indi-.
cated by Fig 7. Indeed, folded structures may accomplish the same cffect provided that the electrode is constructed as a single unit which is electri-cally connected yet allows electrolyte penetration to deep within the struc-ture by capillary assisted defussion~ That is, the structure, in order to provide correct electrochemical reaction within the cell, must be con-structed electrically as one electrode and must also provide electrolyte ac-cessability to deep within the structure by providing suitable capillaIy tracking between each layer and by providing defussion through perfora-tions orpores throughout dle active matensl.
10 It should also be understood that although describcd herein as positive electrodes~ the said layered electrodes are able to be used as negative electrodes. The number of layers is not restricted and can be deterrnined by specification~
.
` Turning now to manufacturing costs~ l~e present invention, as previously mentioned, is generally housed within the same dimensional parameters as an equivalent con~rendonal SLI battery~ Because thc convendonal bat-tery is designed primarily as a cranking baKery, emphasis has been directed to heavy interccU connectors so as to reduce resistance and thus enhance pcrformance~ The present invendon, however, can provide a com-2.0 promise by providing duaVmulti currents at positive terminals in close proximity as indicated in Figure 3~ The intercell connectors may be com-paratively reduced inweight as by circuit design it is possible to avoid a voltage drop at the ignidon coil, resulting in a larger igrudon spark and thereby reducing the required crankiDg capacity~
132~813 ;
The active material used in the present invention is equal in weight and volume to 8 conventional SLI battery of the same dimensions. The grids used in the present invention are, in the case of the layered configuration, moulded ~rom pure lead. The layers of the plateS as previously discussed, creates a stronger structure thus reducing the need for additives such as antimony or calùurn~ In this regard, the gassing problems created by the lead additives are reduced and the present invention, though able to "deep cyclen, is also able to be manufactured as a "Maintenance Free" type bat-tery.
0 The eliminadon of complexvendng plugs is therefore provided forwith the present invention which utilizcs an isotonic design of cell breathing system~ That is, nt) cap is provided over thc tapered fillin~alnd br$"~hing inlet which is covered by a microporous element such as t~tape held - in place by adhcsi tape as illustratcd at Fig 1~
The MonoblQc Injection Moulded casulg, figure 2, shows one extra parti-tion (9) as compared to a conventional battery~ This parddon is required in the flooded electro~te ~ersion of the battery~ lbe partition, although apparent~ re~iriDg more plasdc materiaL has in fact created a saving by weight of material used~ Parddon (9) strengthens the casirg by providing ~o lateral support. This then allows a rcduction in wall and pardtion thiclc-nesses. For e~ample, a convendonal batterywould have extcmal walls measuring betwecn æ75 mm and 3.25 mm. Internal parddons on conven-tional battcrics of similar size measure between L75 mm and 2~75 mm~
The present invention, in wet fomq, because of the lateral support provided by partidon (9), reduces the required thickness of the external .
.
walls (6) and (8) of figure 2 to between 2.0 mm and 2.75 mm. Similarly, the internal partitions can be reduced to between 1.50 and 1.75 mm~ The additional plastic or polypropylene required for partition (9) is more than compensated for by the reduction in the thickness of all walls and pard-tions.
Calculations of m~nufi~uring costs also must include plant alterations, etc~ Ihe presen~ inYcntion is designcd to overcome the need for any plan~
~o alteration~ Indeed, the battery can be manufactured by any well estab-lished storage battery mamlfacturerwithout any nodceable or major plant alterations~ The injection mouldin~ of the casing and lid would differ from `those used for conventional batteries. The injection moulding operation is nonnally separated from the assemblyprocedures, so there are no problerns of integradon~ The present invention's injection moulding re-quires no new material by weight or volume, and would not cost more than between 10% and 20% of the cost of manufactunng a conventional battery~ When compari~g it vnth the practice of using two batteries in an automobile~, it is of course f~ar cheaper~
. ~ .
Figure 8A refers to a battery (1) of the type described herein as provided~
The battery is earthed through earth connector (18)~ 'rhe batteryprovides lO two positive leads (19) and (20). Posidve lead (19) is applicd to the com-mon tenninal (21) of ignition switch (22)~ The ignition switch (22) may provide a spare terminal (23) which can be contacted by for example a reverse turn of the key fromwhich extends electrical conductor (25) which may be used for example to allow a radio to play while the key is out~ That is to say it can provide an electrical connection when the key is in an un-.
locked position. Lead (36) extending from terminal (26) is utilized for the alLYiliaries and ignition circuits of the motor vehicle in which the battery (1) is to be used. The generator is connected directly to lead (19). Ter-minal (27) provides current through lead (28) to the solenoid (31) which is then activated to provide current to the starter motor (30) through lead (38). L:ead (32) is an option and fur~her high eurren~ lead from the second positive terminal. If this lead is provided it effectively connects the two pirts of the battery in parallel thereby providlng additional current capacity to the starter motor (30). When lead (3V is not provided a ther-0 mal cut offswitch (33) is desirably pro~vided. A solenoid swi~eh can beprovided in lead (34) whieb extends bet~veen a furtber terminal (35) in the ignition switcb (æ) and the p~sitive lead (20). A trip switeb (39) may be provided which is able to be operated by for example movement of the ac-eelerator of the vehicle, the oil pressure switeh, the voltage regulator, or some other item with the desired ;tem being the accelerator so that the switch beeomes elosed as the aceelerator is pressed. Switeh (39) must be provided to allow for reeharging of the battery in use eliminating the need for a diode in the cireuit. Lead (24) is the general aeeessory lead whieb supplies eurrent to vehiele aeeessories independent of the igDition switeh.
10 Figure 8B shows the eoDstmction of the battery (1) being provided in sub-stantially the same manner along with ignition switch (æ) and pos;tive leads (19) and (20). Between the positive leads (19) and (20) is eonnected a diode (37) which allows for recharging of the two parts of the ba~tery during standard use in substantially the known manner and without the need to provide switeb (36) or lead (3V of Figure 8.
1 3248 1 ~
-Thus it can be seen that at least in the pre&rred form of the inve~tion, a battery ;s pro~ided in which by combination of thicker and thinner electrode plates, the thickness determined by morc or less layers, ar-ranged in cell structures that share a common earth terminal but have one or more positive te~ninals, which thereby provide through electncal scheme plan a discharge management capability of said cells and accord-ing to a current characteristic which is variable by choice of plate structure - thickness~lhe use of either dry dectrolyte or flooded electrolyte or a com-bination of both is also provided~
,,~
-' .
132~813 Fig 1 is a side elevation of the ~oattery sectioned through two cell compart-ments.
Fig 2 is a perspective view of the monobloc injection moulding of the bat-tery shov ing internal partitions.
Fig 3 is an enlargement of the cells having thidcer layered but less posidve plates showing intercell connectioDs~
Figurc 4 is an end elevation of the battely sectioned throuBh the positive terminals~
Fig ~ is a end elevation of the battery sectioned t~rough the negative ter-o minah `:
` Fig 6 is a top plane view of the battery with lid removed showing cells ar-ranged in scries paralld~
Fig 7 is a perspective illustration of a layered electrode plate structure~
Fig 8A is a diagrammatic view of an electrical layout usable with the bat-tery of the invention~
:
.
'` ' ~ `,' '~
~ . .
-1324:81~ .
Fig 8B is a diagrarnmatic view of an alternative electrical layout.
Detailed Description Of Preferred Embodiment While the invention will be described in connection with preferred em-bodiments, it will be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to the preferred embodiments. On the contrary, all alte~natives, modifications and equivalents as may be included vvithin the spirit and scope of the present inventionwill be defined in the appended claims.
~hus, w~ile the present inventionwill be described in conjunctionwith an SLI Automotive Battery, it should be appreciated that the invention is equally applicable to any othcr s~orage Battery application. Indeed, the present im~ention can be adapted to use with an absorbed elcctrolyte type of battery as opposed to the ~ooded-elcctrolyte battery illustrated herein~
Use of the present invendon will be particularly advantageous in applica-tions which requirc hiih rapid dischargc combined with longer and slower power draw off encased witbin one casing and having dimensions equ~cnt to comrentional SLI batteries~
;
In general, the prcsent invendon is predicated on the discovery that, by a unique combination of physical parametcrs, as will be discussed hcreinafter, a storage batte~y can be provided which is characterized by 2 o dual or multiple or sin~e cl~rrent flow with the ability to maintain a mini-mum required rapid discha rge capac;ty during use and or after prolonged use of au~ùliary circuits which require lower and slower current flow -characteristics.
This performance characteristic can be provided for within the physical parameters of a convendonal battely as set forth herein. The convenffonal SLI battery, as previously mendoned, requires a resene capacity to comp-ly with International standards. The reserve capacity o the convendonal ba~tery is calculated on the basis that should a battery's capacity drop by 25% of nonnal, it must still ~e capable of cranking the internal com~us-tion eDgine.
The prcsent invention thercfore sets out to ovcrcome the problem of longer slower dischargesusingup the a~ailable high discharge capacity re-quired~ The present in~endon hereinafter desc~ibes how by weight and volume it is possible, by "opdmùed configuradon to achieve a dual or multi current systemwithin standar~ized battery container sizes~ In this in-stance, adsantages of the prescnt invention are in cost sa~rings and com-patibili~witb convendonal battenes.
The present im~ention can aso be charactenzed in relation to Total Capaci~when by electrical switching, it is possible to obtain full use of all active material within thc battery for usual day to day use as a convention-al SLI battery. By electrical circuit design, it is also possible to isolate that 20 section of the battery characterized by plate design described herein as bcst suited for slower and longer current drawoff than cranlùng requires.
~y switch or circuit design, the present invention also prevents use of the rapid discharge capauty by the auxiliary circuits within an automobile~
.
;' ~`
' The present invention will show that battery durability is increased sub-stantially by distinguishing specific current requiremeDts within the op-timized configuration.
Tuming now to a more detailed description of the present invention, there is sbown in Figurcs 1 to S a preferred embodianent of a 12 volt 12 cell battery of the present invention.
Figure 1 shows a battely (1) with a premoulded container, (2) with cover (3) li~ted which will be attached to the container by suitable meaa~s. (4) is a negative teIminal postwhile both (5) and (5a,obscured) are positive ter-alunal p~sts~ Whilc the terminal posts are illustrated as top terminals, side teraninals or other tenninal configllrations could l~cewise be employed.
Each celL as ilh~s~ate~d by figure 1, bas a pluaality of indcpendent, alter-natehJr disposed, positive dectrode plates (10) and negad~e electrode plates (11). The plates (10) and (11) are disposed generally perperldic~ar-~r and parallel to the partitions ~7) but may also be at right angles.
i3:
Ihe container, as best seen in a';gure 2, is divided into a plurality of cell compartments by integrally formed partitdon walls (7) which lie essendally parallel to the end walls (6~ of container (2) and at right angles ~o a fur-ther pardtdon (9) whicb runs parallel to walls (8) thus pro~iding 12 cell compartments~nthin the container. Whilst illustrated as 12 cells running in parallel to walls (8), other configurations could likewise be employed~
. .
' '' .
. . . ,~
Wall (9), for example"s not required when "absorbed~ electrolyte is employed. Wall (9) is essential when flooded electrolyte is employed.
Figure 3 sets forth an example of alternative layered positive electrode plates (10) from end on and conventional negative electrode plates (11).
A series connection through wall (7) is also illustrated by use of conven-tional lead straps (12). Separators (13) are also illustrated as in conven-tional flooded electro~te cel~ However, absorbed electrolyte may also be used as separators in a fi~er aspect~
Figure 4 shows a sectioD through the positive terminals (S) and (5a) of the o preseDt invention in a dual current configluation as separate from a multi-cu~rent coDfiguration and indieates positive terminals (5) and (Sa) in close ` pr~umity~
Figure S shows a section through the negative terminal (4) of the present invention and indicates common negative terminal connections through partition (7) by strap (40)~
~, Figur,e 6 is an owrhead view of the cell compartments indicating parti-tions (7)~(9), intercell CoDnCCtiOnS (12) and positi~e connections (5) and (Sa) and negative connection (4) which indicate a series parallel arrange-ment of cells~
~.
:' . ,~ .
b In accordance with the present invention, cells (a) to (f) of figure 6 have three layered positive electrode plates (10) and convendonal negative electrode plates (11). Cells (g) through (I) have four conventional posidve electrode plates (13) and five convendonal negadve plates (11). Cells (a) to (f) are connected in series and parallel to cells (g) to (I) by straps (12)~ !
Cell (f) is cor~nected through the partition to cell (1~ by strap (40) at the negative terrninaL Cells (a) and ~g) show separate positive post to ter-minal (S) and (5a) of figure 1~ Cell ~1) shows a single negative post to ter-- ~unal connection (4) of figure 1. Partition (9) as indicated previously is ~o not required when absorbed electrolyte is used~ Whilst it is shown here that layered electrodes are used in cells (a) to (f) inclusive, such electrodes may be used in any oell combination witbin the structure.
Figure 7 is a perspective view of a layered electrode plate structure which indicates a secdon of active materials removed for clarity of illustradon. A
frame (14) has a similar appearance to conventional plate structures but consisS of t~vo or morc frame structures placed aga~st each other and having grids (15) wbich provide current paths which also restrain the ac~
tive material (16). A glass fibre mat (17) is also illustrated which is placed between the f~ames (14) and grids (15) prior to "pasting" over from either ~o side of plate ~ames with acdve materials~
Capillary action, enhanced by vebicle modon, allows electrolyte acces-sibility to the inner depths of the active material~
Whilst it is appreciated that greater surface area of active material directly 132~813 increase ~y proportion the high current performance of a conventional battery, the present invention provides, by use of dual or multiple layered positive electrode plates, not only high rapid discharge current when re-quired but also longer lasting but lower electrical current when being used for auxiliary loads. The use of layeNd positive plates provide greater resis-tance to damage as a result of deep discharges that occur when the auxiliary cireuits are opersted for longer periods of tirne. The discharge /
recharge cycle of a storage battery places pressure on the positive pla~es in particular. A conventional SLI batte~y is in effect a design trade-off be-tween a deep cycle battery, which uses thick posidve plates to counter the effects of deep discharges and recharge cycles, and a battery having a gNater number of thinner plates to provide the ma~urnum high current for cran~ng but for relatdvely short priods of time.
When an internal combustion engine is being eranked, the eurrent re-- quirements are so great that rapid discharge oeeurs~ However, because the discharge is so rapid, generally oDly the deetrons at the plate surfaee are used. Elee~ons deeper into the aetive material may not be available until the cranl~ng draw off is stopped for a period. A second attempt at crank-ing urill produce a ~rther flow of current. Thicker plates require more ~; ~ o spaee ~ume to provide larger surfaee area for eranldng power~ Thicker plates also require longer rec~arge eycles.
The present invention overcomes the problems of plate stress eaused by longer or deeper discharges resulting from prolonged au~dliary use. It is also ef~ective in providing surfaee current for rapid diseharges~
.
~324813 The use of layered positive plates also places less recharge strain on the ` vehicle's generator/alternator which would be the case if thick plates are used. Thick platcs as previously mentioned provide for deeper and longer discharges but also require deepcr and longer recharges.
Tkin layered positive plates as in the prcscnt invcntion not only provide for greater strength than a thick plate of equal dimensions, but also makes it easier for the electrolyte to penetrate into the active mateAal of the plates, by capillary action~
The ccll configuration shown in figure 6 is only exempla~y and many other ~o coDfi~urations could be uscd as the particular design is not crucial.
Similarly, other multiples of plateswithin each oell may be employed depending on overall capacity requirements of the specifications. lhe co~nbinadon of layercd plates also may include all cells dependiDg on the spccification req~rements, or more or less oells than indicated in Figure 6.
lhe use of thiclc, dcep ~yclc plates, eithcr in combination with layered plates or thin plates, can also be used to provide altemative current ~.
The usc of layered electrodcs as illustrated in Fig 7 also helps overcome - the problcm of active mass ~all off causcd by vibration dunng movement 20 of a vehicle in which a battery is installed~ It should be understood that the prescnt invention is not restricted to the use of layered structures as indi-.
cated by Fig 7. Indeed, folded structures may accomplish the same cffect provided that the electrode is constructed as a single unit which is electri-cally connected yet allows electrolyte penetration to deep within the struc-ture by capillary assisted defussion~ That is, the structure, in order to provide correct electrochemical reaction within the cell, must be con-structed electrically as one electrode and must also provide electrolyte ac-cessability to deep within the structure by providing suitable capillaIy tracking between each layer and by providing defussion through perfora-tions orpores throughout dle active matensl.
10 It should also be understood that although describcd herein as positive electrodes~ the said layered electrodes are able to be used as negative electrodes. The number of layers is not restricted and can be deterrnined by specification~
.
` Turning now to manufacturing costs~ l~e present invention, as previously mentioned, is generally housed within the same dimensional parameters as an equivalent con~rendonal SLI battery~ Because thc convendonal bat-tery is designed primarily as a cranking baKery, emphasis has been directed to heavy interccU connectors so as to reduce resistance and thus enhance pcrformance~ The present invendon, however, can provide a com-2.0 promise by providing duaVmulti currents at positive terminals in close proximity as indicated in Figure 3~ The intercell connectors may be com-paratively reduced inweight as by circuit design it is possible to avoid a voltage drop at the ignidon coil, resulting in a larger igrudon spark and thereby reducing the required crankiDg capacity~
132~813 ;
The active material used in the present invention is equal in weight and volume to 8 conventional SLI battery of the same dimensions. The grids used in the present invention are, in the case of the layered configuration, moulded ~rom pure lead. The layers of the plateS as previously discussed, creates a stronger structure thus reducing the need for additives such as antimony or calùurn~ In this regard, the gassing problems created by the lead additives are reduced and the present invention, though able to "deep cyclen, is also able to be manufactured as a "Maintenance Free" type bat-tery.
0 The eliminadon of complexvendng plugs is therefore provided forwith the present invention which utilizcs an isotonic design of cell breathing system~ That is, nt) cap is provided over thc tapered fillin~alnd br$"~hing inlet which is covered by a microporous element such as t~tape held - in place by adhcsi tape as illustratcd at Fig 1~
The MonoblQc Injection Moulded casulg, figure 2, shows one extra parti-tion (9) as compared to a conventional battery~ This parddon is required in the flooded electro~te ~ersion of the battery~ lbe partition, although apparent~ re~iriDg more plasdc materiaL has in fact created a saving by weight of material used~ Parddon (9) strengthens the casirg by providing ~o lateral support. This then allows a rcduction in wall and pardtion thiclc-nesses. For e~ample, a convendonal batterywould have extcmal walls measuring betwecn æ75 mm and 3.25 mm. Internal parddons on conven-tional battcrics of similar size measure between L75 mm and 2~75 mm~
The present invention, in wet fomq, because of the lateral support provided by partidon (9), reduces the required thickness of the external .
.
walls (6) and (8) of figure 2 to between 2.0 mm and 2.75 mm. Similarly, the internal partitions can be reduced to between 1.50 and 1.75 mm~ The additional plastic or polypropylene required for partition (9) is more than compensated for by the reduction in the thickness of all walls and pard-tions.
Calculations of m~nufi~uring costs also must include plant alterations, etc~ Ihe presen~ inYcntion is designcd to overcome the need for any plan~
~o alteration~ Indeed, the battery can be manufactured by any well estab-lished storage battery mamlfacturerwithout any nodceable or major plant alterations~ The injection mouldin~ of the casing and lid would differ from `those used for conventional batteries. The injection moulding operation is nonnally separated from the assemblyprocedures, so there are no problerns of integradon~ The present invention's injection moulding re-quires no new material by weight or volume, and would not cost more than between 10% and 20% of the cost of manufactunng a conventional battery~ When compari~g it vnth the practice of using two batteries in an automobile~, it is of course f~ar cheaper~
. ~ .
Figure 8A refers to a battery (1) of the type described herein as provided~
The battery is earthed through earth connector (18)~ 'rhe batteryprovides lO two positive leads (19) and (20). Posidve lead (19) is applicd to the com-mon tenninal (21) of ignition switch (22)~ The ignition switch (22) may provide a spare terminal (23) which can be contacted by for example a reverse turn of the key fromwhich extends electrical conductor (25) which may be used for example to allow a radio to play while the key is out~ That is to say it can provide an electrical connection when the key is in an un-.
locked position. Lead (36) extending from terminal (26) is utilized for the alLYiliaries and ignition circuits of the motor vehicle in which the battery (1) is to be used. The generator is connected directly to lead (19). Ter-minal (27) provides current through lead (28) to the solenoid (31) which is then activated to provide current to the starter motor (30) through lead (38). L:ead (32) is an option and fur~her high eurren~ lead from the second positive terminal. If this lead is provided it effectively connects the two pirts of the battery in parallel thereby providlng additional current capacity to the starter motor (30). When lead (3V is not provided a ther-0 mal cut offswitch (33) is desirably pro~vided. A solenoid swi~eh can beprovided in lead (34) whieb extends bet~veen a furtber terminal (35) in the ignition switcb (æ) and the p~sitive lead (20). A trip switeb (39) may be provided which is able to be operated by for example movement of the ac-eelerator of the vehicle, the oil pressure switeh, the voltage regulator, or some other item with the desired ;tem being the accelerator so that the switch beeomes elosed as the aceelerator is pressed. Switeh (39) must be provided to allow for reeharging of the battery in use eliminating the need for a diode in the cireuit. Lead (24) is the general aeeessory lead whieb supplies eurrent to vehiele aeeessories independent of the igDition switeh.
10 Figure 8B shows the eoDstmction of the battery (1) being provided in sub-stantially the same manner along with ignition switch (æ) and pos;tive leads (19) and (20). Between the positive leads (19) and (20) is eonnected a diode (37) which allows for recharging of the two parts of the ba~tery during standard use in substantially the known manner and without the need to provide switeb (36) or lead (3V of Figure 8.
1 3248 1 ~
-Thus it can be seen that at least in the pre&rred form of the inve~tion, a battery ;s pro~ided in which by combination of thicker and thinner electrode plates, the thickness determined by morc or less layers, ar-ranged in cell structures that share a common earth terminal but have one or more positive te~ninals, which thereby provide through electncal scheme plan a discharge management capability of said cells and accord-ing to a current characteristic which is variable by choice of plate structure - thickness~lhe use of either dry dectrolyte or flooded electrolyte or a com-bination of both is also provided~
,,~
-' .
Claims (27)
1. A battery comprising a container having a plurality of cells, said plurality of cells including at least two positive terminal cells and at least one negative terminal cell, each cell containing a plurality of alternating positive and negative electrode plates separated from each other and constituting a cell element stack, each of said plates including active material, the positive electrode plates of the cell element stack in each positive terminal cell being electrically connected to a positive terminal, the negative electrode plates of the cell element stack in the or each negative terminal cell being electrically connected to a single negative terminal, each electrode plate of each cell element other than a said terminal cell being electrically connected in series to the electrode plate of opposite polarity in an adjoining cell, the cells of each series of connections being electrically connected to one common negative terminal but having separate positive terminals; and an electrolyte in contact with the positive and negative electrode plates in each cell.
2. A battery as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said positive terminals are in close proximity.
3. A battery as claimed in Claim 1 wherein a combination of multiple thinner plate cells are in electrical parallel connection with multiple thicker plate cells.
4. A battery as claimed in Claim 1 wherein at least some said plates comprise two or more laminations.
5. A battery as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said electrolyte in each cell comprises (one of) an absorbed electrolyte (or dry electrolyte and a flooded electrolyte).
6. A battery as set forth in Claim 1 wherein said plates are separated by a separator and said separators are impregnated with electrolyte and placed in dry form.
7. A battery as set forth in Claim 4 wherein each lamination includes a lead grid, reinforcing material being provided between each lamination so that the lead structures within each cell require a minimum or no strengthening additives.
8. A battery as claimed in Claim 1 having venting holes from each cell, said venting holes being covered with teflon to prevent liquid escape but to allow gas escape and/or recombination.
9. A battery as claimed in Claim 4 wherein each said lamination includes a grid, said grid being of radial design.
10. An automobile electrical system comprising a battery according to Claim 1 with first a heavy current conductor cable connected to the battery negative terminal and earthen to said automobile, second a current conductor cable connected to one or more positive terminals of said battery and connected to a current first switch, said current switch being connected to the electric starter motor of said automobile, third a current conductor cable connected to one or more of the battery's positive terminals and to the auxiliary circuits of said automobile, fourth a current electrical conductor cable connected to one positive terminal not engaged by said second current connector cable, said fourth current conductor cable being in common circuit with the generator circuit line of said automobile, then to a second switch, fifth a current conductor cable from said second switch connected to said terminal engaged by said second current conductor cable.
11. An automobile electrical system as claimed in Claim 10 wherein said second switch is turned on by depression of the accelerator of said automobile.
12. An automotive electrical circuit as claimed in Claim 10 including a blocking diode between said positive terminals with current flow in the direction away from said generator line circuit.
13. An electrical circuit as claimed in Claim 10 having a (thermal or other suitable) current overload circuit breaking switch between said positive terminals.
14. An electrical circuit as claimed in Claim 10 wherein an extra contact is incorporated into the heavy starter motor switch, such switch being supplied with current from more than one positive terminal of said battery.
15. An electrical system as claimed in Claim 10 wherein said electrical system includes an ignition switch, and a further terminal is included in said ignition switch which further terminal provides a connection between said positive terminals.
16. An electrical circuit as claimed in Claim 13 wherein said current overload circuit breaking switch is a thermal current overload circuit breaking switch.
17. A battery as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said electrolyte in each cell comprises a dry electrolyte.
18. A battery as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said electrolyte in each cell comprises a flooded electrolyte.
19. A battery as claimed in Claim 17 wherein adjacent said plates are separated by a separator, said separators being impregnated with an electrolyte placed in dry form.
20. A battery as claimed in Claim 17 wherein each lamination includes a lead grid, reinforcing material being provided between each lamination so that lead structures within each cell require minimum or no strengthening additives.
21. A battery comprising a single housing having a plurality of electrochemical cells therein, said plurality of cells including a first set of cells electrically connected in series to a first positive terminal cell and associated first positive terminal,a second set of cells electrically connected in series to a second positive terminal cell and associated second positive terminal, and a common negative terminal cell and associated terminal to which both the first and second sets of cells are connected in parallel, each said cell having a plurality of positive and negative electrode plates and an electrolyte in contact with said plates wherein the first set of cells has different discharge characteristics than the second set of cells.
22. A battery as claimed in Claim 21 wherein at least two cells are provided, at least some plates in one said cell having a greater number of laminator than the plates in at least one of the other said cells.
23. A battery as claimed in claim 21 wherein said electrolyte in each cell comprises one of an absorbed or dry electrolyte and a flooded electrolyte.
24. A battery as claimed in claim 21 wherein adjacent said plates are separated by a separator and said separators are impregnated with an electrolyte and placed in dry form.
25. A battery as set forth in Claim 21 wherein each laminator includes a lead grid, reinforcing material being provided between each lamination so that the lead structures within each cell require a minimum or no strengthening additives.
26. A battery as claimed in claim 24 wherein each said laminator includes a grid, said grid being of radial design.
27. The battery of Claim 21, wherein some of the plates in the first set of cells are thicker than the plates in the second set of cells.
Priority Applications (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US07/248,715 US4883728A (en) | 1987-03-03 | 1988-09-26 | Battery systems |
| CA000610188A CA1324813C (en) | 1987-03-03 | 1989-09-01 | Battery systems |
| US07/487,730 US5169735A (en) | 1987-03-03 | 1990-03-02 | Automotive battery and electrical system |
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| NZ22373087 | 1987-03-03 | ||
| NZ222123A NZ222123A (en) | 1987-10-12 | 1987-10-12 | Lead-acid battery with high current and long discharge cells |
| NZ222936A NZ222936A (en) | 1987-10-12 | 1987-12-16 | Lead-acid battery with high current and long discharge cells |
| CA000610188A CA1324813C (en) | 1987-03-03 | 1989-09-01 | Battery systems |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1324813C true CA1324813C (en) | 1993-11-30 |
Family
ID=27426707
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000610188A Expired - Fee Related CA1324813C (en) | 1987-03-03 | 1989-09-01 | Battery systems |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US4883728A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1324813C (en) |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5169735A (en) * | 1987-03-03 | 1992-12-08 | Pita Witehira | Automotive battery and electrical system |
| US5175484A (en) * | 1988-09-26 | 1992-12-29 | Power Beat International, Ltd. | Electrical power distribution |
| NZ229179A (en) * | 1989-05-17 | 1992-09-25 | Pita Witehira | Dual battery power distribution system for cars |
| NZ226656A (en) * | 1988-10-21 | 1990-10-26 | Pita Witehira | Laminated electrode plate with electrolyte channels |
| US5045415A (en) * | 1988-12-13 | 1991-09-03 | Pita Witehira | Electrode plate structure |
| US5162164A (en) * | 1989-06-12 | 1992-11-10 | Globe-Union Inc. | Dual battery system |
| US5002840A (en) * | 1989-06-12 | 1991-03-26 | Globe-Union Inc. | Switched emergency battery system |
| JP2519576B2 (en) * | 1990-06-04 | 1996-07-31 | 日本電池株式会社 | Storage battery with spare battery |
| US5204610A (en) * | 1991-02-15 | 1993-04-20 | Globe-Union, Inc. | Long lived dual battery with automatic latching switch |
| DE4115941A1 (en) * | 1991-05-16 | 1992-11-19 | Bosch Gmbh Robert | ACCUMULATOR BATTERY FOR MOTOR VEHICLES |
| US5164273A (en) * | 1991-07-19 | 1992-11-17 | Andras Szasz | Pseudo dual circuit battery and circuit for use |
| US5223351A (en) * | 1991-11-14 | 1993-06-29 | Globe-Union Inc. | Dual battery system |
| AU3650293A (en) * | 1992-02-28 | 1993-09-13 | Pita Witehira | Automotive power distribution and switching system |
| AU688269B2 (en) * | 1992-08-18 | 1998-03-12 | Glorywin International Group Limited | 3-pole battery switches |
| US5455638A (en) * | 1993-09-10 | 1995-10-03 | Comdisco, Inc. | Electrochromic eyewear |
| US5835185A (en) * | 1993-09-10 | 1998-11-10 | Kallman; William R. | Spring-hinged frame for eyeware |
| US5900720A (en) * | 1993-09-10 | 1999-05-04 | Kallman; William R. | Micro-electronic power supply for electrochromic eyewear |
| US5455637A (en) * | 1993-09-10 | 1995-10-03 | Comdisco, Inc. | Electrochromic eyewear system, rechargeable eyewear and external charger therefor |
| NZ270723A (en) * | 1995-03-15 | 1998-06-26 | Glorywin Int Group Ltd | Auxiliary and cranking batteries in same box |
| CA2179577C (en) * | 1995-06-22 | 2000-08-01 | Iain Wallace Waugh | Vehicle dual battery controller utilizing motion sensor |
| US5993983C1 (en) * | 1997-03-14 | 2001-09-18 | Century Mfg Co | Portable power supply using hybrid battery technology |
| TW466790B (en) * | 1999-03-25 | 2001-12-01 | Sanyo Electric Co | Rectangular battery |
| US6372382B2 (en) * | 1999-08-21 | 2002-04-16 | Gnb Technologies, Inc. | Low profile front terminal lead-acid battery |
| US8013611B2 (en) | 2006-07-14 | 2011-09-06 | Reserve Power Cell, Llc | Vehicle battery product and battery monitoring system |
| US7339347B2 (en) * | 2003-08-11 | 2008-03-04 | Reserve Power Cell, Llc | Apparatus and method for reliably supplying electrical energy to an electrical system |
| US7567057B2 (en) * | 2003-08-11 | 2009-07-28 | Reserve Power Cell, Llc | Multiple battery management system, auxiliary battery attachment system, and network controlled multiple battery system |
| US7598700B2 (en) * | 2005-03-30 | 2009-10-06 | Reserve Power Cell, Llc | Tamper resistant battery and battery warranty and performance tracking system |
| DE102005021904B4 (en) * | 2005-05-12 | 2009-02-05 | Vb Autobatterie Gmbh & Co. Kgaa | lead-acid battery |
| US10886517B2 (en) | 2014-02-11 | 2021-01-05 | Ford Global Technologies, Llc | Battery cell spacer |
| US9947497B2 (en) * | 2014-09-30 | 2018-04-17 | Johnson Controls Technology Company | Integrated connector having sense and switching conductors for a relay used in a battery module |
| US9821737B2 (en) | 2015-04-30 | 2017-11-21 | Cnh Industrial Americal Llc | Isolation of auxiliary electronics battery from starting battery |
| CN116190878A (en) | 2017-01-27 | 2023-05-30 | Cps 科技控股有限公司 | Battery case |
| US11936032B2 (en) | 2017-06-09 | 2024-03-19 | Cps Technology Holdings Llc | Absorbent glass mat battery |
| CN117393868A (en) | 2017-06-09 | 2024-01-12 | Cps 科技控股有限公司 | Lead-acid battery |
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| US3242009A (en) * | 1961-11-21 | 1966-03-22 | Gen Motors Corp | Battery |
| US3434883A (en) * | 1966-05-23 | 1969-03-25 | Bell Telephone Labor Inc | Cylindrical lead acid cell |
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| US3973991A (en) * | 1973-02-13 | 1976-08-10 | Nl Industries, Inc. | Light-weight lead-acid battery with laminated electrodes |
| US4173066A (en) * | 1977-06-30 | 1979-11-06 | Polaroid Corporation | Methods for making laminar cells |
| US4204036A (en) * | 1979-03-29 | 1980-05-20 | Polaroid Corporation | Multiple duty battery |
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| US4769299A (en) * | 1986-06-27 | 1988-09-06 | Gates Energy Products, Inc. | High rate sealed lead-acid battery with ultrathin plates |
| US4770954A (en) * | 1987-10-16 | 1988-09-13 | Halliburton Company | Switching power supply and method |
-
1988
- 1988-09-26 US US07/248,715 patent/US4883728A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
1989
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Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| US4883728A (en) | 1989-11-28 |
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