Abstract: An electrochemical device for providing a visual indication of the remaining life of a battery, the device comprising an electrode pair with a layer therebetween, the layer comprising a mixture of a photographic color coupler dispersion, an antioxidant and a photographic color developer in a binder.

Abstract: A method for encasing a battery with a label containing an integral test circuit device that is thermally insulated from the battery and is activated by depressing a selected area of the label whereupon a thermally sensitive material associated with the test circuit displays whether the battery has capacity. The battery so produced with the test circuit device is also disclosed.

Abstract: A two-level detector for an electrically conductive liquid having a common electrode serving as a potential reference and situated at a low level, a high electrode situated at a high level, and a low electrode situated at the low level, the electrodes being connected by conductors to electronic apparatus for detecting the liquid at said two levels by means of currents flowing through the liquid. The high and low electrodes are made of metals that have different electrode potentials. A first conductor and a second conductor interconnect the electrodes to constitute an electrical primary cell that is short-circuited when both electrodes are simultaneously in contact with the liquid. The second conductor is extended to connect the electrode assembly to a signal terminal of the electronic apparatus. The common electrode is made of a metal whose electrode potential is different by about 0.

Abstract: A metal-air battery leakage detector is disclosed which uses a wicking material to absorb and propagate leaking electrolyte to a leak detection means so that the detection means is activated regardless of whether the leak is occurring in the vicinity of the detection means. In a first embodiment a substance that chemically reacts with electrolyte to change color is impregnated into the wicking material as the leak detection means. In the second embodiment electrodes are embedded in the wicking material and wired to an electrical circuit that is responsive to the presence of electrolyte as the leak detection means. In either case, a user has immediate knowledge of an electrolyte leak occurring inside a battery casing so that the battery can be removed from service before the leaking electrolyte can cause harm.

Abstract: A detachable battery package is used for a portable apparatus, and comprises a secondary nickel-cadmium battery housed in a case for supplying electric power to the portable apparatus, and a volatile memory circuit storing an integrated value indicative of electric power consumption used in the portable apparatus so that an integrating electric power meter exactly indicates residual electric power of the secondary nickel-cadmium battery.

Abstract: An infusion pump is powered either from an ac line, a disposable battery or a rechargeable battery. The pump automatically differentiates between disposable and rechargeable batteries, and it includes an alarm activated when the pump senses that the battery has been depleted in accordance with the kind of battery in use.

Abstract: A sulfuric acid concentration sensor including a sensor body comprising a high molecular compound having a property to react with sulfuric acid and a property to change an electric conductivity in such a way as one-valued function with a change in sulfuric acid concentration, in which an electric current is flown through the sensor body impregnated in sulfuric acid solution to obtain the electric conductivity of sensor body so as to know the sulfuric acid concentration. Since the electric conductivity of high molecular compound changes corresponding to the sulfuric acid concentration, the sulfuric acid concentration can be known when the electric conductivity of the sensor body i.e. the high molecular compound is obtained, so that the concentration of sulfuric acid can be measured easily.

Abstract: A fuse holder is adapted to be connected to a charge/discharge line which connects to a storage battery, a charge line for charging the storage battery and a discharge line for discharging the storage battery. The fuse holder includes a holder casing having mutually confronting first and second walls which define a cavity within the holder casing, a first contact provided on the first wall of the holder casing and electrically connected to the charge/discharge line, a second contact provided on the second wall of the holder casing, where the second contact has first and second parts which are mutually isolated and are exposed at a surface confronting the first contact, the first part is electrically connected to the charge line and the second part is electrically connected to the discharge line, and a fuse having a first end connected to the first contact and a second end connected to the second contact.

Abstract: An battery comprises an battery unit and a life time indicator for indicating the life time of said battery unit. The life time indicator includes an indication element having a characteristic which indication of the indication element changes according to a voltage impressed onto the same. When voltage drop is caused in the battery unit, the indication of the indication element changes accordingly.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, voltage control system and method which include providing voltage sensing and control circuitry which measures the output voltage of a battery and provides an output signal to a flow control valve to cause the flow control valve to reduce the rate of flow of electrolyte when the output voltage of the battery is below a desired level and to cause the flow control valve to increase the rate of flow of electrolyte when the output voltage of the battery is above a desired level. The flow control valve may be a binary controlled solenoid valve responsive to a pulse-width-modulated signal from the sensing and control circuitry.

Abstract: A battery system includes a battery pack having a plurality of batteries and electronic circuitry for monitoring battery parameters and producing an analog output signal related to the state of the charge in the batteries. An attachment is detachably mounted on the battery pack and produces a display indicating the state of charge in the batteries using the analog output signal from the battery pack. The attachment which includes a bracket and a display unit also serves as connector for connecting the battery pack to the device which is to be powered by the battery pack.

Abstract: A battery cap sensor probe including a generally hollow body having an interior chamber through which a conductive probe passes. The probe has a first end adapted for emersion into the electrolyte of a battery cell and a second end adapted for electrical connection to an electrical circuit. The second end is preferably a terminal portion crimped to the remaining portion of the conductive probe.

Abstract: An emergency battery monitor is adapted for use with at least one storage battery. The battery has first and second output terminals across which an output voltage is produced, the battery, when in normal operation, exhibiting an output voltage falling within a nominal value range having predetermined maximum and minimum values. The battery has at least one cell which contains a liquid electrolyte. The electrolyte, when the battery is in normal operation, has a predetermined minimum level in the cell. The monitor includes a member associated with the cell, which is electrically conductive when the level of the electrolyte is at least equal to the minimum level and is electrically non-conductive when the level of the electrolyte falls below the minimum level. Integrated circuits coupled to the output terminals and the member produce a first signal designating normal battery operation when the member is conductive and the value of the output voltage falls within the nominal value range.

Abstract: A polarity indicator adapted to be mounted on a vehicle battery. A light emitting diode mounted on an elongated non-conductive strip and electrically connected to two poles having conductive surfaces at each end of the strip. The poles are intended to be oriented to correspond to the polarity of the battery terminals. When the battery is depleted and needs to be boosted, the booster cables are first connected to the poles which can identify the direction of the flow of current coming from the booster cables, the later being subsequently switch to the proper terminals of the battery.

Abstract: A battery monitors by which an individual cell in a wet cell battery may be monitored for variations in the level of electrolyte contained in the cell. More specifically, the invention relates to a universal electrolyte level indicator which may be attached to, and made part of, battery powered mobile equipment of all types for the purposes of providing a warning indication to the operator of the equipment that water needs to be added to the batteries contained therein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a battery pack for supplying power to a portable radiotelegraphic unit. The battery pack comprises a rechargeable battery whose voltage varies with time in such a manner that is residual capacity can be estimated from the detected voltage of the battery, a voltage detector for detecting the voltage of the battery, and an indicator for visibly displaying the voltage detected by the voltage detector. With the above construction, the battery can be recharged when the battery voltage reaches a lower value and the discharging of the battery can be stopped when the battery voltage reaches an upper value. As a result, the battery is prevented from the overcharging and overdischarging, and the life and reliability of the battery are increased.

Abstract: The disclosed control unit for a hybrid power generating system including a fuel cell and a storage battery backup includes an auxiliary controller for the fuel cell itself, and an output current controller for controlling the output current drawn from the fuel cell, whereby the storage battery can be charged for recovery within the shortest possible time to reach a target remaining charge capacity under charging conditions that do not cause deterioration of performance of the battery. The system is useful as the power supply in applications subject is sudden load fluctuations such as are encountered in a fork lift truck, for example.

Abstract: A rechargeable battery having a housing storing a rechargeable battery means and including a battery charge transfer measuring circuit within the battery housing. The battery means and the measuring circuit are sealed in the housing and are connectable to an external power pack for charging the discharged battery means. The measuring circuit controls signaling means visible from outside of the housing for signaling a charging condition to a fully charged condition of the housed battery means.

Abstract: A system for depassivating a passivated lithium battery in a battery powered microprocessor controlled device by successively and momentarily drawing current from the passivated battery after a turn on of the device while monitoring the power delivery condition of the battery under a load condition until salt crystals on an electrode of the battery are dissipated and the battery is returned to a useful power delivery condition or until a predetermined period of time has elapsed without the battery returning to the useful power delivery condition, whichever is sooner.

Abstract: Sodium sulphur cells are commonly connected in parallel. It is a problem with such arrangements that if one cell sustains a short circuit failure, the parallel connected cells discharge through it. In an embodiment disclosed, a switch series connected to a cell or series of cells, goes open circuit should current in excess of a predetermined value and consequently associated with the failure of a cell, flow through the switch. The switch comprises a conducting rod separated into two portions and placed within a beta alumina tube containing sodium: the level of the sodium determines whether an electrical circuit is completed between the portions rendering the switch "on". Sodium, contained within an outer conducting tube, also surrounds the inner beta alumina tube, there being an electrical connection from the outer tube, via a resistor, to one portion of the rod.

Abstract: A pole terminal is formed as an intermediate piece and has toward the bottom a clamping piece for fastening to a conventional battery pole and toward the top a pole body to which a conventional battery terminal can be fastened. In the pole terminal there are a Hall element and an evaluation electronics so that the current flow through the pole body can be measured.

Abstract: The electrochemical cell comprises an outer conductive housing, a cathode having one major surface in contact with the conductive housing, an insulative separator adjacent to the other major surface of the cathode, and a lithium anode having a major surface adjacent to the insulative separator. The lithium anode comprises three lithium plates, each having a major surface in contact with the other. Two of these major surfaces are formed with stepped portions to thereby form gaps between adjacent lithium plates. A first electrical sensing conductor is positioned within the gap between the surfaces of the first and second lithium anodes and is electrically connected to the first lithium anode and insulated from the second lithium anode. A second electrical sensing conductor is positioned within the gap between the surfaces of the second and third lithium anodes and is electrically connected to the second lithium anode and insulated from the third lithium anode.

Abstract: A lithium cell which includes an outer conductive housing, a cathode having one major surface in contact with the conductive housing, an insulative separator adjacent to the other major surface of the cathode, and a lithium anode having a major surface adjacent to the insulative separator. The lithium anode is comprised of two lithium plates, each having a major surface in contact with the other. One of these major surfaces is formed with a stepped portion to thereby form a gap between the lithium plates. A conductive sensing element is positioned within the gap and is in electrical contact with one of the lithium plates and is electrically isolated from the other lithium plates. With this arrangement an electrical potential which exists between the conductive sensor and the outer conductive housing falls to zero volts when the lithium plate in contact with the conductive sensor has become consumed to thereby provide an indication of predetermined level of discharge of the cell.

Abstract: A transducer and battery performance indicator which senses various levels of specific gravity and other conditions of a liquid or electrolyte of varying degrees of translucency and converts the measurements into electrical analog signals which are fed to an indicator read-out. The device may include temperature and level sensors, as well as an agitator for circulating electrolyte, and a number of them are used remotely to monitor a bank of batteries.

Abstract: A rechargeable battery pack includes at least a power cell and a substantially sealed housing adapted to permit venting therefrom of increased internal housing pressure while normally maintaining a substantially air-tight closure. A novel charge status indicator for integration with the battery pack provides a positive indication of the substantially fully charged status of the power cell.

Abstract: A battery electrolyte level indicator for indicating when the electrolyte of a wet cell battery has fallen below a minimum acceptable level. A probe pair is disposed in each cell of the battery to a depth corresponding to the minimum acceptable level of the electrolyte contained therein. The probe pairs are connected in series with a light emitting diode connected between the probe pairs in the end battery cells. The series connected probe pairs and the light emitting diode form a complete circuit loop. Current limiting resistors bridge each probe pair such that when the electrolyte level in any one cell is below the minimum acceptable level, the current limiting resistor replaces the probe pair in the complete circuit loop, thus turning off the light emitting diode.