# US 4,399,200 A · Device for controlling a pump in a storage battery > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 4,399,200 A - Document ID: US4399200A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 06/318,468 - Filed: 1981-11-05 - Granted: 1983-08-16 - Earliest claimed: 1981-11-05 - Assignees: Energy Development Associates, Inc. - Inventors: James H. Galloway - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4399200A ## CPC - H01M 10/4214: {Arrangements for moving electrodes or electrolyte} - H01M 12/085: {Zinc-halogen cells or batteries} - H01M 10/613: Cooling or keeping cold - H01M 10/6556: Solid parts with flow channel passages or pipes for heat exchange (closed pipes H01M10/6552) - H01M 10/6567: Liquids - H01M 50/77: with external circulating path - Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries - H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract In a system for controlling the flow rates in a storage battery of the type having at least one pump driven at a controlled speed by a motor driven at a speed determined by the average applied voltage and the load experienced by the pump, which system includes a circuit for applying an average voltage to the motor and means for generating a reference signal for controlling the general magnitude of the average applied voltage to drive the pump at the desired speed, there is provided an improvement. This improvement comprises means for supplying a main voltage level of a given magnitude, means for alternately switching the main voltage level across the pump driving motor wherein the switching means has a first condition with the voltage level applied across the motor and a second condition with the voltage level isolated from the motor, and signal generating means normally responsive to a voltage control signal controlled at least in part by the reference signal for creating a signal to change the relative time the switching means is in the first condition compared to the time the switching means is in the second condition. ## Claims ### Claim 1 In a system for controlling flow rates in a storage battery of the type having at least one pump driven at a controlled speed by a motor driven at a speed determined by the average applied voltage and the load experienced by the pump, said system including a circuit for applying an average voltage to said motor and means for generating a reference signal for controlling the general magnitude of said average applied voltage to drive said pump at a desired speed, the improvement comprising: means for supplying a main voltage level of a given magnitude; means for alternately switching said main voltage level across said motor; said switching means having a first condition with said voltage level applied across said motor and a second condition with said voltage level generally isolated from said motor; and, signal generator means normally responsive to a voltage control signal controlled at least in part by said reference signal for creating a signal to change the relative time said switching means is in said first condition compared to the time said switching means is in said second condition. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The improvement as defined in the system of claim 1 including means for sensing the general magnitude of the average voltage applied across said motor; means for creating a feedback signal based upon said sensed general magnitude; means for electrically combining said feedback signal with said reference signal for creating said voltage control signal. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The improvement as defined in the system of claim 2 wherein said electrical combining means is a means for algebraically summing said feedback signal and said reference signal. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The improvement as defined in the system of claim 3 including means for sensing the speed of said motor and means for changing said reference signal when said motor speed exceeds a preselected value. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The improvement as defined in the system of claim 2 including means for sensing the speed of said motor and means for changing said reference signal when said motor speed exceeds a preselected value. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The improvement as defined in the system of claim 1 including means for sensing the speed of said motor and means for changing said reference signal when said motor speed exceeds a preselected value. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The improvement as defined in the system of claim 2 including means for creating an output voltage feedback signal in accordance with said voltage level and means for comparing said combined signal and said output voltage feedback signal to produce said voltage control signal. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The improvement as defined in the system of claim 3 including means for creating an output voltage feedback signal in accordance with said voltage level and means for comparing said combined signal and said output voltage feedback signal to produce said voltage control signal. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The improvement as defined in the system of claim 1 including means for creating an output voltage feedback signal in accordance with said voltage level and means for comparing said reference signal with said output voltage feedback signal to produce said voltage control signal. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The improvement as defined in the system of claim 9 including means for sensing current flow in said motor, means creating a current controlled signal which varies in accordance with said sensed current and means for controlling said signal generating means by said current controlled signal when said current controlled signal exceeds a preselected value. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The improvement as defined in the system of claim 10 including discriminating means for creating an output signal to control said signal generating means, said discrimination including means for creating said output signal by said current controlled signal when said current controlled signal exceeds said preselected value and for otherwise creating said output signal by said voltage controlled signal. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The improvement as defined in the system of claim 11 including means for creating a flag signal when said current controlled signal exceeds a given value. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The improvement as defined in the system of claim 12 wherein said given value is generally equal to said preselected value. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The improvement as defined in the system of claim 11 including means for creating a flag signal when said current controlled signal exceeds a given value. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The improvement as defined in the system of claim 14 wherein said given value is generally equal to said preselected value. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The improvement as defined in the system of claim 1 including means for sensing current flow in said motor, means creating a current controlled signal which varies in accordance with said sensed current and means for controlling said signal generating means by said current controlled signal when said current controlled signal exceeds a preselected value. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The improvement as defined in the system of claim 16 including discriminating means for creating an output signal to control said signal generating means, said discrimination including means for creating said output signal by said current controlled signal when said current controlled signal exceeds said preselected value and for otherwise creating said output signal by said voltage controlled signal. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The improvement as defined in the system of claim 17 including means for creating a flag signal when said current controlled signal exceeds a given value. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The improvement as defined in the system of claim 16 including means for creating a flag signal when said current controlled signal exceeds a given value. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The improvement as defined in the system of claim 1 wherein said main voltage level supply means includes means for providing a fixed first D.C. voltage level controlled by an auxiliary source separate from said storage battery, means for providing a second D.C. voltage level controlled by said storage battery and variable between a lower level and a higher generally fixed level, and comparing means for using said first voltage level to control said main voltage level when said second voltage level exceeds a preselected level. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The improvement as defined in the system of claim 20 wherein said preselected level is generally said first level. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The improvement as defined in the system of claim 21 including means for disconnecting said first level from said comparing means after said second level exceeds a given level. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) The improvement as defined in the system of claim 20 including means for disconnecting said first level from said comparing means after said second level exceeds a given level. ### Claim 24 (depends on 16) The improvement as defined in the system of claim 16 wherein said main voltage level supply means includes means for providing a fixed first D.C. voltage level controlled by an auxiliary source separate from said storage battery, means for providing a second D.C. voltage level controlled by said storage battery and variable between a lower level and a higher generally fixed level, and comparing means for using said first voltage level to control said main voltage level when said second voltage level exceeds a preselected level. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The improvement as defined in the system of claim 24 wherein said preselected level is generally said first level. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) The improvement as defined in the system of claim 24 including means for disconnecting said first level from said comparing means after said second level exceeds a given level. ### Claim 27 In a system for controlling flow rates in a storage battery of the type having at least one pump driven at a controlled speed by a motor driven at a speed determined by the average applied voltage and the load experienced by the pump, said system including: (a) a circuit for applying an average voltage to said motor; (b) means for generating a signal for controlling the general magnitude of said average applied voltage to drive said pump at a desired speed; the improvement comprising: (c) means for sensing the current flow in said motor; and creating a current controlled signal representative of said motor current flow; and, (d) means for controlling said signal generating means and thence said general magnitude of said average applied voltage by said current controlled signal when said current controlled signal exceeds a preselected value. ### Claim 28 In a system for controlling flow rates in a storage battery of the type having at least one pump driven at a controlled speed by a motor driven at a speed determined by the average applied voltage and the load experienced by the pump, said system including a circuit for applying an average voltage to said motor and means for generating a signal for controlling the general magnitude of said average applied voltage to drive said pump at a desired speed, the improvement comprising: means for creating a main supply voltage level for said motor, said supply means including means for providing a first fixed D.C. voltage level by an auxiliary source separate from said storage battery, means for providing a second D.C. voltage level by said storage battery and variable between a lower level and a higher generally fixed level and means for creating said main voltage level by said first voltage level until said second voltage level exceeds a given level.