DE4216020C2 - Battery heating controller for automotive starter batteries - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a battery heating controller for Automotive starter batteries according to the preamble of claim 1.

It is known that the current carrying capacity of a starter battery is significantly improved when the electrolyte and active mass are heated, because the Battery internal resistance is lower when heated and therefore the cold starting ability is significantly improved. At the same time Automotive starter battery, which is preheated, much faster reloaded and thus reaches the ge again in no time desired performance.

Various battery heaters have therefore been developed worldwide the capacity of the battery increases with falling temperature improve.

For example, DE 78 08 951 U1 Battery heating control known, the one the temperature of the battery sensing sensor has and thus a regulation the battery temperature. The heating energy is the Battery removed.

However, a comprehensive bat is missing for all these heating systems Series heating controller that regulates the battery heating so that the Battery is loaded as little as possible and the heating in the loading may switch on with a time delay.  

The acid-filled and Manufactured by a starter battery, as already at is common to the automobile manufacturer.

It does not make sense to have the starter battery in the factory Dealer or to heat up in automobile production, since the Consumers then get a tension over an extended period of time weakened starter battery.

The battery heating controller must recognize the following conditions and react accordingly:

• - The battery filled and charged at the factory may not yet be used be heated after completion of the manufacturing process.
• - The battery supplied by the manufacturer to the dealer may Do not heat up this, even if it is after a long time Storage time is reloaded by the dealer.
• - The one supplied by the manufacturing plant to the automotive industry Starter battery may be there, even after starting the Vehicle and when it is delivered, its battery heating do not activate yet.

The previously known battery heaters have appeared on the market not enforced as they have an electronic battery heater regulator circuit is missing, which only on and at certain times switches off, regardless of the temperature control.

The object of the invention is therefore with as little effort as possible electrical energy sufficient heating to ensure the battery.  

This task is characterized by the characteristics of claim 1 solved.

The subclaims contain advantageous refinements the invention.

The circuit can be used with commercially available integrated modules (e.g. IC-4011) and if necessary in one integrated module combined or in a storable integrated module can be saved. It works as follows:

• - When the new battery is put into operation by the end user the heating is activated after an hour, so the battery gets enough capacity again before the Battery heater is turned on.
• - If the battery heating is activated at the end consumer, then this condition is maintained until the car battery is below one Voltage drops by 12 volts and the heating at approx. 11.9 volts switches off.
• - Is there a deep discharge of the battery at the end consumer (e.g. due to inadvertent lighting being switched on when the Motor) occurs and the voltage drops below 11.5 volts, so the heating can only again after an hour Charging phase of the battery can be activated.
• - If the battery voltage only drops below 12 volts, then at approx. 11.9 volts the heating activation is switched off and thereby protecting the battery capacity.
• - If the battery voltage is still in the normal voltage range of 12-13.3 volts and the battery internal temperature has dropped below 15 degrees and there is a vehicle start, so the heating is activated until the desired one Temperature range in the battery is reached so the Battery is warmed up faster and thereby the supplies the required capacity.
• - Is the battery in the normal voltage range and Internal temperature of the battery has dropped below 15 degrees and the vehicle is started, so the activated one turns Battery heater off for 30 sec., So that the Heating power is not switched on and thus the starting current unaffected.

The battery controller recognizes all of the previously described conditions due to the voltage conditions at the battery in connection with 2 timers and reacts accordingly its output potential, then the battery heater is activated.

The circuit works with four voltage inputs and one positive voltage output.

The four voltage inputs are with the different Battery voltage values driven, such as. B. with a Window discriminator circuit is made possible. That means it lies Only one voltage at and at the four voltage inputs the other voltage inputs remain free.

After different voltage values have been applied, one Switching combination reached, which ultimately the voltage output activated and there z. B. a temperature via a transistor controlled battery heater.

The four voltage inputs are divided as follows:

• - Undervoltage 1: 11.4 volts and less
• - Undervoltage 2: 11.9 volts
• - Normal voltage: 12-13.3 volts
• - Overvoltage: 13, 3 volts and more

These values result from the voltage values, one in the factory filled and charged automotive starter battery in their respective Situation.

In the factory, the filled battery is charged with approx. 18 volts (Overvoltage), then the battery is temporarily stored. Here the voltage slowly drops and reaches the value 13.3 volts and  fewer.

Now there are two options:

• A) The battery is sold as a retrofit battery to a dealer sold.
• B) The battery is delivered to an automobile manufacturer.

A) results in the following voltage state:
The battery retains an average value of approx. 12.6 volts (normal voltage) at the dealer or a voltage drop is generated due to storage for too long and the battery voltage drops below 11.4 volts (undervoltage 1). If the battery is recharged at the dealer, the voltage of the battery rises again to the normal voltage and to overvoltage if it is charged for a long time. Then the battery returns to normal voltage.

If a customer now buys this battery from the dealer, he builds it into his vehicle and generated on the battery after the first Starting process via the alternator an overvoltage (14 volts). Now the vehicle will be the first time at least an hour driven, the MMV is activated and after an hour's drive the voltage output for heating activation is occupied.

If the vehicle is now parked and the battery inside temperature drops (e.g. below 15 degrees), the temperature-controlled Heating can be activated.

If the vehicle is now parked for a long time and the heating continuously active, the battery voltage drops below 12 volts (Undervoltage 2) and at the circuit output the control potential switched off. This also turns on the battery heater switched off.

The next time you start, the heating will be delayed by 30 seconds activated so as not to load the starting current. Then will  the heating is active again until a desired battery inside temperature (e.g. 15 degrees) is reached again.

The battery is therefore still heated up after the starting process to achieve a suitable charging temperature as quickly as possible and thus to reach their capacity again faster.

If the light (headlights) turned on and forgot to turn off, the battery becomes strong loaded and the voltage gradually drops below 11.4 volts (Undervoltage 1). If the battery is then recharged, so the output voltage at the battery heating controller is only after Activated twice the vehicle engine (2 times over voltage) to enter sufficient charge capacity into the battery.

The battery heater can now work temperature controlled. This Operation is canceled when the battery has a voltage value reached below 12 volts (undervoltage 2). The battery sinks tension still further, e.g. B. below 11.5 volts (sub voltage 1), the heating can only be started after the second start Alternator can be activated (ie 2 times overvoltage).

The following voltage state results from B):
The battery retains an average voltage value of approximately 12.6 to 12.8 volts (normal voltage) at the automobile manufacturer until it is installed in a motor vehicle. After the first start of the fully assembled vehicle, the battery has a voltage of 14 volts, which is emitted by the alternator (overvoltage). Now the vehicle is moved to the loading position, parked and reloaded and parked again. The astable multivibrator with a switching time of 60 minutes does not switch through, but is only activated and then drops again when the car battery has returned to normal voltage after a short standstill. As a result, there can be no voltage at the circuit output of the battery heater controller and the heater is not activated.

If the customer puts the new vehicle into operation for the first time, he must Drive at least 1 hour to turn the battery heater on for the first time activate. This will also ensure sufficient loading capacity in the Battery worried.

The following are exemplary embodiments of the invention explained using a block diagram.

Eight linked bi-stable flip-flop circuits ( 1 - 8 ) and two linked monostable flip-flop circuits ( 9 - 10 ), of which one with 60 minutes switching time ( 10 ) and one with 30 seconds switching time ( 9 ).

The input voltages of the circuit are 12 volts ( 12 ) and various input voltages ( 11 ), of which are
11.4 volts (undervoltage 1)
12-13.3 volts (normal voltage)
13.4 volts (overvoltage)
11.9 volts (undervoltage 2)
and a positive voltage output ( 13 ) of approx. 5 volts, which is used to control a temperature-controlled heating circuit.

The four voltage inputs can be seen through a window discriminator or Komperatur circuit are generated, then each the voltage range of the battery as negative potential in the Enter circuit.

The various flip-flop circuits can be tran sistor or an integrated circuit are built and are well known in its structure and mode of operation. Becomes use a negative output at the voltage output of these circuits tigt, so the generally positive voltage output, z. B. by an inverter circuit, converted into a negative potential.  

This temporary necessary voltage conversion was not discussed in more detail because they are responsible for the logic flow of the circuit Function is not important and in the flip-flop circuit can be entered as required.

The capacitors in the block diagram ( Fig. 1) indicate the quiescent position of the bi-stable flip-flop circuits. In the case of the monostable flip-flop circuit (60 min. ( 10 )), the capacitor serves as a switch-on pulse control and with the monostable flip-flop circuit (30 sec. ( 9 )), the capacitor also serves as a switch-on pulse control.

The different voltage states of the battery are determined by the Circuit recognized and evaluated as follows:

The vehicle starter battery is filled and charged by the manufacturer, this happens with approx. 18 volt voltage (overvoltage). As a result, the negative voltage (overvoltage) emanating from the voltage input is applied to the flip-flop circuits ( 2 , 4 and 9 a). Circuit ( 2 ) receives a plus potential via circuit ( 1 d) and gives this via ( 2 b) to circuit ( 3 ).

Circuit ( 9 ) does not yet react to the negative potential because the plus voltage supply is missing. The circuits ( 3 ) and ( 4 ) are still in the idle state.

After the battery charge has ended, the battery voltage slowly drops to 13.3 volts and below. The voltage input of the normal voltage (12-13.3 volts) is occupied and gives a potential on circuit ( 3 a) and ( 10 c). Circuit ( 3 b) can now switch a plus to circuit ( 4 ). Circuit ( 10 ) is not active because the plus potential is missing.

The battery now reaches the dealer and there reaches an average voltage of 12.6 volts (normal voltage). If the battery is stored for too long and is not sold, the battery voltage drops below 11.5 volts (undervoltage 1) and thus the voltage input undervoltage 1 (minus 11.4 volts) is activated and switches a potential to circuit ( 1 a). This removes the plus potential from circuit ( 2 ).

If the battery is recharged at the dealer, the battery voltage rises to normal voltage and then to overvoltage (over 13.4 volts). Now the circuit ( 2 a) is reactivated and after switching off the charging voltage, the battery returns to the normal voltage range. Here circuit ( 3 a) is now activated and switches a plus potential after circuit ( 4 ).

If the battery is now sold to the customer and installed in a vehicle, the circuit ( 4 a) switches through after the first starting process and has a plus potential ( 4 b). The circuits 5 , 10 and 7 receive a plus potential. Circuit ( 10 ) starts the 60-minute cycle and switches a potential after circuit ( 5 a). Here a potential is switched to circuit ( 6 ) via ( 5 b). After 60 minutes, circuit ( 10 ) returns to the idle position and switches a potential from ( 10 d) to circuit ( 6 a). Now a potential can be switched to circuit ( 7 a) via ( 6 b). A plus potential for circuit ( 9 ) is now applied via ( 7 b). Circuit ( 9 d) sets a plus potential after circuit ( 8 ). Circuit ( 8 ) now switches a plus potential via ( 8 d) to the circuit output, which is now used to deactivate the temperature-controlled heating.

If the vehicle is operated for less than 60 minutes, the battery voltage drops to normal voltage after a few minutes after switching off the engine and a negative potential is applied to the circuit ( 10 c). As a result, the clock cycle of 60 minutes of the circuit is interrupted prematurely (since the capacitor in the circuit which regulates the time period is discharged) and at the same time a potential is applied to ( 5 c). This switches off the plus potential of ( 5 b). Circuit ( 6 ) cannot switch through and no potential is applied to circuit output ( 13 ). The heating cannot be activated if the switch ( 10 ) is switched back within 60 minutes.

If the battery is not sold to an intermediary, but delivered to the automotive industry, it follows the voltage state on the battery and switching state on the battery heating controller:

The battery heating control circuit has detected overvoltage once due to the internal charging of the battery and activated circuit ( 2 ). Then the voltage drops back into the normal range and activates the circuit ( 3 a). A positive potential is applied to circuit ( 4 ) via circuit ( 3 b). Is now moved by the vehicle finishing the vehicle to a loading dock, the overvoltage switch circuit (4 b), the circuits (10, 5 and 6) are activated, as previously described, but after the engine (turning off the overvoltage) reverses the Battery back to normal voltage, which then prevents a plus potential of ( 6 b) from switching through via ( 10 c) and ( 5 c).

Only when the customer has driven his new vehicle for an hour the battery heater is activated as previously described.

With an undervoltage 2 below 12 volts, the positive pole for heating control is only interrupted, since a negative potential is switched via ( 8 a). If the battery voltage rises again to the normal range, the heating circuit is activated further.

If the battery heater is active for a longer period of time and the vehicle is restarted, a negative pulse is given to the circuit ( 9 a) by the upstream capacitor, which interrupts the plus potential to circuit ( 8 ) and thus switches off the heating control. This switches off the heating for 30 seconds so that the starting process is not additionally stressed when the battery heating is switched on.

Then the battery is over the temperature-controlled heating warms until it reaches its desired final temperature (approx. 15 degrees) Has. This will make the car battery after the vehicle starts briefly heated to the desired temperature and can therefore quickly reach the required capacity again.

Claims (4)

1.Battery heater controller for motor vehicle starter batteries, for controlling a heater which is operated with electrical energy from the starter battery and is regulated as a function of the battery temperature, characterized in that the function of the heater is released for the first time when the battery voltage is above an upper one for a predetermined period of time Limit value (e.g. 13.4 volts). 2. Battery heater controller for automotive starter batteries after Claim 1, characterized, that the heating when a lower limit of Battery voltage (e.g. 11.9 volts) is switched off. 3. Battery heater controller for automotive starter batteries after Claim 1 or 2, characterized, that the entire circuit is combined into an integrated circuit or stored in a programmable integrated circuit becomes. 4. Battery heater controller for automotive starter batteries after Claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized, that the circuit with an epoxy resin or plastic mixture potted or welded into a plastic film and so acid-tight at any point in the battery can.