US 4,229,687 AGranted

Temperature maintained battery system

AssigneeUtah Research & Development Co., Inc.

InventorWilliam A. Newman

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A chassis contains a battery charger connected to a multi-cell battery. The charger receives direct current from an external direct current power source and has means to automatically selectively charge the battery in accordance with a preselected charging program relating to temperature adjusted state of discharge of the battery. A heater device is positioned within the chassis which includes heater elements and a thermal switch which activates the heater elements to maintain the battery above a certain predetermined temperature in accordance with preselected temperature conditions occurring within the chassis. A cooling device within the chassis includes a cooler regulator, a temperature sensor, and peltier effect cooler elements. The cooler regulator activates and deactivates the peltier cooler elements in accordance with preselected temperature conditions within the chassis sensed by the temperature sensor. Various vehicle function circuitry may also be positioned within the chassis. The contents of the chassis are positioned to form a passage proximate the battery in communication with an inlet and outlet in the chassis to receive air for cooling purposes from an external source.

Claims25

Dependent claims

A battery system comprising:

a chassis;
a battery positioned within said chassis and removably conductively connectable to an external direct current load;
a battery charger positioned within said chassis and removably conductively connectable to an external source of direct current power and conductively connected to said battery, said charger having means to automatically selectively charge said battery when said battery is in a preselected state of discharge;
heater means positioned within said chassis and removably conductively connectable to an external source of power, said heater means including heater element means and switch means, said switch means being conductively connected to said external AC source and said heater element means and operative between conductive and nonconductive conditions to activate and deactivate said heater element means in accordance with preselected temperature conditions within said chassis;
cooling means positioned within said chassis comprising:
a cooler regulator removably conductively connectable to receive power from an external source,
first temperature sensing means conductively connected to said cooler regulator to supply chassis interior temperature reflective signals thereto,
at least one peltier effect cooler element positioned within said chassis and conductively connected to said cooler regulator, wherein
said cooler regulator activates and deactivates said cooler element in accordance with preselected temperature conditions within said chassis sensed by said temperature sensing means, and
heat removal means associated with said cooler element to transfer heat from interior to exterior said chassis.

7 more elements

In combination with a vehicle having a direct current bus operative to act selectively as a source of direct current power and to act as a direct current load and having a source of alternating current power and vehicle controls,

a battery system comprising:
a chassis;
a battery positioned within said chassis and removably conductively connectable to said bus to supply power thereto when said bus is a load;
a battery charger positioned within said chassis and removably conductively connectable to said bus to receive power therefrom when said bus is an external source of direct current power and conductively connected to said battery, said charger having means to automatically selectively charge said battery when said battery is in a preselected state of discharge;
heater means positioned within said chassis and removably conductively connectable to said source of alternating current (AC) power, said heater means including heater element means and switch means, said switch means being conductively connected to said external AC source and said heater element means, and said switch means being operative between conductive and nonconductive conditions to activate and deactivate said heater element means in accordance with preselected temperature conditions within said chassis;
cooling means positioned within said chassis comprising:
a cooler regulator removably conductively connectable to receive power from an external source of direct current power,
first temperature sensing means conductively connected to said cooler regulator to supply chassis interior temperature reflective signals thereto,
at least one peltier effect cooler element positioned within said chassis and conductively connected to said cooler regulator, wherein
said cooler regulator activates and deactivates said cooler element in accordance with preselected temperature conditions within said chassis sensed by said temperature sensing means, and
heat removal means associated with said cooler element to transfer heat from interior to exterior said chassis.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 06/036,363Filed 7 May 1979
Granted: 21 Oct 1980
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification12 codes

H01M 10/44
Methods or arrangements for servicing or maintenance of secondary cells or secondary half-cells: methods for charging or discharging
G05D 23/1919
Characterised by the use of electric means: characterised by the type of controller
G05D 23/24
With sensing elements having variation of electric or magnetic properties with change of temperature: the sensing element having a resistance…
H02J 7/65
Including safety or protection arrangements: against overtemperature