Battery Exercising Device for Golf Cart Charge Maintenance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Rechargeable batteries used in applications like golf carts and mining machinery often sit idle, leading to gradual charge loss due to lack of use, and existing chargers struggle to maintain optimal charge levels as they require constant power and temperature-dependent float charging, which is disrupted during power outages.

Innovation Solution

A battery exercising device that periodically charges and discharges batteries using a control unit with a real-time clock, fan for cooling, and modular processing components to manage charge and discharge cycles, ensuring batteries remain at optimal levels even during power outages by using a standalone recharging device or renewable energy sources.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a float charge is continuously applied to maintain battery charge, then the battery charge level is maintained, but the device requires constant external power and cannot operate during power outages

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery charge maintenanceVSAvoidconstant external power requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The battery charger is designed to charge the battery using power drawn from the battery itself during discharge cycles, creating a self-sustaining system that does not require constant external power. The controller manages charge and discharge cycles where the battery serves as both the power source and the object being charged.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of continuous float charging, the system implements periodic charge and discharge cycles. The controller alternates between charging the battery from external power sources and discharging it through a load, maintaining battery health through cyclic exercise rather than constant connection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

2Measurement precision

If temperature sensing and internal logic are added to dynamically adjust float charge, then charge accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecharge level accuracyVSAvoidinternal logic and temperature sensing components

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The controller incorporates temperature sensing and voltage monitoring to dynamically adjust charging parameters. The system continuously monitors battery state and modifies charge current accordingly, ensuring accurate charge maintenance while adapting to temperature variations without requiring overly complex external control systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of operation

If the battery is left idle for extended periods, then no active maintenance is needed, but the battery gradually drains and loses charge

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveno active maintenance requiredVSAvoidbattery charge retention

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary charging actions before the battery is needed, maintaining it in a ready state through periodic exercise cycles. The controller schedules charge and discharge events to keep the battery healthy and charged without requiring user intervention or constant monitoring.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Adaptability or versatility

If power is interrupted during charging, then the system can operate independently, but the battery begins discharging and loses voltage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperation during power outagesVSAvoidbattery voltage stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system builds up charge reserves and maintains the battery in a charged state through periodic exercise before power outages occur. The controller ensures the battery is fully charged and ready to serve as an independent power source, cushioning against the effects of power interruption by having adequate charge stored in advance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Data Source

PatentUS10177589B2Battery exercising device

Publication Date: 2019.01.08 JOHNSON INDS INC

AI summary

The disclosure relates to a battery exercising device configured to discharge and charge a rechargeable battery. The battery exercising device is configured to receive electrical power from a power source and periodically transfer this power into a rechargeable battery connected to the battery exercising device. A battery assessment may be performed on the rechargeable battery to determine whether to charge the battery after the battery assessment. The rechargeable battery may be desulfated during the battery assessment in an effort to restore or increase the cranking power and/or the charge timing of the rechargeable battery. A solar panel may be provided as the power source and may be used in conjunction with a bank battery to store collected solar power until needed to recharge the battery.