EP3363065A1

EP3363065A1 - Vertical battery charging station with acid circulation

Info

Publication number: EP3363065A1
Application number: EP16810499.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Mohsin ALI; Ahmet Yavuz SARICAM; Philip Martin LARKIN
Original assignee: Zesar Kalipcilik Sanayi Ve Ticaret Ltd Sti
Current assignee: Zesar Kalipcilik Sanayi Ve Ticaret Ltd Sti
Priority date: 2015-10-12
Filing date: 2016-10-07
Publication date: 2018-08-22
Also published as: WO2017065710A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system comprising at least one battery cassette (7) where batteries (1) to be charged are placed, elevator (9) by which said battery cassette (7) is carried, a shelf system (3) to which the batteries (1) present on said elevator (9) and on the battery cassette (7) are placed, at least one charging shelf (3a) in said shelf system (3) to which the battery cassette (7) is placed, a moving device (15) provided in said battery cassette (7), a moving filling pipe (16) and moving discharge pipe (17) disposed on said moving device (15), nozzle (22) and nozzle connections (23) in communication with said moving filing pipe (16) and moving discharge pipe (17), a stationary filling pipe (18) and stationary discharge pipe (19) which can be connected to and disconnected from said moving filling pipe (16) and said moving discharge pipe (17) by a drive device (14) and moving device (15), an acid pipe Z (4a), an acid pipe X (5a) and acid discharge pipe Y (6a) in communication with the stationary filling pipe (18) and stationary discharge pipe (19), acid tank Z (4), acid tank X (5), upper acid tank Z (4b), upper acid tank X (5b), acid tank Y (6) in communication with said pipes, and a computer supported or automatic control system for the management of said system.

Description

VERTICAL BATTERY CHARGING STATION WITH ACID CIRCULATION

Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a vertical battery charging station design with acid circulation. The present invention particularly relates to a vertical battery charging station which makes it possible to automatically charge a plurality of batteries at the same time in a relatively narrow vertical multi-storey area, particularly in the production of car batteries.

Prior Art

Charging stations which is a significant stage in the production of car batteries is an important production procedure for charging the batteries. Maintaining the general battery working principles, they may have different shapes and sizes. However, filling the batteries with acid and electrically charging them is a quite important operation in the battery production. A high quality and rapid battery charging operation influences both the quality of the batteries produced and the production costs.

In the production of batteries according to the prior art, all components of a battery are first assembled and the necessary quality controls are made and then delivered to a battery charging station. In the battery charging area, the batteries are arranged side by side in a pool-like volumetric area and the batteries arranged side by side are filled with acid; after they are brought to this area and filled with acid, electricity is connected to their positive (+) and negative (-) poles for charging purposes. As a result of the electrical connection, the batteries are supplied with electrical current and they are charged accordingly. However, heat build-up issues may occur during the charging operation. In order to prevent the batteries from heating, cold water is supplied to the pool in which the batteries are charged such that cool water contacting the outer wall of the batteries drops down the temperature. Thus, the heating problem is typically eliminated by charging the batteries in a cold water pool. Albeit eliminating the heating problem, however, this method substantially reduces the production speed. Since the battery charging pools in which the batteries are charged according to the prior are typically water-cooled pools, the batteries are to be brought here, charged accordingly and they have to be waited for until they cool down while they are charged. This waiting period leads to loss of time, and different battery charging pools must be formed to increase the production speed. This, in turn, gives rise to additional production areas and increases the labor costs.

In order to charge the batteries in battery charging pools according to the prior art, first the batteries are filled with acid, and then the battery poles are electrically energized for charging purposes. In this operation, however, the acid content of the battery is reduced at the end of the charging operation, as well as their concentration and quality are changed. This, in turn, requires additional charging of the batteries following the charging operation. This approach increases the quality of the acid in the battery to some extent, but fails in providing perfect results. Additionally, this approach to increase the acid quality in the battery also lengthens labor and production time.

Object and Description of Invention

As a result of designing a vertical battery charging station with acid circulation according to the present invention, it is aimed to provide an automated and computer-controlled system, wherein a plurality of batteries are placed in shelves vertically one over the other and are supplied with acid, and at the same time, acid present in batteries is removed so that any heat build-up in batteries is avoided.

An advantageous of the vertical battery charging station according to the present invention is that the cooling procedure is carried out by means of circulating the acid present in the batteries. Instead of introducing acid into a battery and cooling the battery externally according to the prior art, acid is circulated here during charging so that the acid and therefore the batteries are protected from heating. Thus, no cold water pools will be required for cooling down the batteries.

Another advantage of the vertical battery charging station according to the present invention is that the procedures requiring manpower are only limited to carrying the batteries to battery carrier cassettes and to providing acid and electrical connections at the battery carrier cassettes. At the end of the procedure, it only requires the removal of said connections. Thus, the manpower requirement is minimized. Another advantage of the vertical battery charging station according to the present invention is that once the batteries are loaded onto battery carrier cassettes, they are transferred to charging shelves arranged top on top, and after the charging procedure is completed, they are removed from the shelves using automatic control systems so that a huge gain is obtained in terms of operation and production area.

A further advantage of the battery charging station according to the present invention is that automatic distribution systems are used, wherein acid is taken and distributed from acid tanks with different concentrations and different qualities in order to carry out the acid circulation procedure which takes place by respectively introducing and removing acid into/from the batteries standing on the shelves.

Still a further advantage of the vertical battery charging station according to the present invention is that the procedures of sending the batteries to shelves, making their acid and electrical connections there, supplying acid and electricity, circulating the acid, removing the connections following the charging procedure and sending the batteries to an operator can be performed in an automatic manner. This automation will naturally require a design which includes some mechanical, electronic, hydraulic, pneumatic and similar systems as will be described below.

Description of Figures Figure 1 is a perspective schematic view showing the general concept of the vertical battery charging station according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective schematic view of a battery cassette loading section of the vertical battery charging station according to the present invention.

Figure 3 is a schematic projection view from the side of the vertical battery charging station according to the present invention.

Figure 4 is a schematic projection view of a lower section of an elevator system used in the vertical battery charging station according to the present invention.

Figure 5 is a perspective schematic view of the elevator system in the vertical battery charging station according to the present invention when the elevator system is approaching to load a battery cassette to a shelf. Figure 5a is a detailed schematic view of a sensor mechanism in the case when the elevator system is approaching to load a battery cassette to a shelf in the vertical battery charging station according to the present invention.

Figure 5b is a perspective schematic view of a cassette-pushing shelf moving a battery cassette in the elevator system in the vertical battery charging station according to the present invention.

Figure 6 is a perspective schematic view of the elevator system in the vertical battery charging station according to the present invention when there is a battery cassette in the shelf. Figure 6a is a detailed schematic view of a sensor system used in the elevator system in the vertical battery charging station according to the present invention when there is a battery cassette in the shelf.

Figure 6b is another detailed schematic view from a different angle of the sensor system used in the elevator system in the vertical battery charging station according to the present invention when there is a battery cassette in the shelf.

Figure 6c is a schematic projection view from the front of the elevator system used in the vertical battery charging station according to the present invention when there is a battery cassette in the shelf.

Figure 6d is a detailed schematic projection view of the sensor system used in the elevator system in the vertical battery charging station according to the present invention when there is a battery cassette in the shelf.

Figure 7 is a perspective schematic view of a battery cassette connection drive system in the vertical battery charging station according to the present invention.

Figure 7a is a perspective schematic view of the battery cassette connection drive system in the vertical battery charging station according to the present invention when the battery cassette connection drive system is in an advanced position.

Figure 7b is a perspective schematic view showing the case when the battery cassette is opened (pipes are not connected) in an acid filling device in the vertical battery charging station according to the present invention. Figure 7c is a perspective schematic view showing the case when the battery cassette is closed (pipes are connected) in the acid filling device in the vertical battery charging station according to the present invention.

Figure 7d is a perspective schematic view from another angle of an actuating mechanism of the battery cassette connection device in the vertical battery charging station according to the present invention.

Figure 8 is a perspective schematic view of a battery cassette in the vertical battery charging station according to the present invention.

Figure 8a is a schematic projection view from the front of the battery cassette in the vertical battery charging station according to the present invention.

Figure 8b is a schematic projection view from the top of the battery cassette in the vertical battery charging station according to the present invention.

Figure 8c is a schematic projection view from the side of the battery cassette in the vertical battery charging station according to the present invention. Figure 8d is a schematic projection view from the top showing the case when the battery cassette is opened (not connected to the pipes in the filling device) in the vertical battery charging station according to the present invention.

Figure 8e is a schematic projection view from the top showing the case when the battery cassette is closed (connected to the pipes in the filling device) in the vertical battery charging station according to the present invention.

Figure 9 is a schematic projection view from the front of wheels in a battery cassette moving system in the vertical battery charging station according to the present invention.

Figure 9a is a schematic projection view from the side of the wheels in the battery cassette moving system in the vertical battery charging station according to the present invention.

Figure 9b is a perspective schematic view of the wheels in a battery cassette moving system in the vertical battery charging station according to the present invention. Figure 10 is a representative perspective schematic view showing how batteries are loaded to a battery cassette in the vertical battery charging station according to the present invention.

Figure 11 is a perspective schematic view showing the case when the battery cassette and the moving system are disengaged from each other in the vertical battery charging station according to the present invention.

Figure 12 is a perspective schematic view showing the case when the battery cassette and the moving system are coupled to each other in the vertical battery charging station according to the present invention. Figure 12a is a detailed perspective schematic view showing how nozzles are connected to introduce acid into a battery when the battery cassette and the moving system are coupled to each other in the vertical battery charging station according to the present invention.

Figure 2b is a detailed perspective schematic view showing how nozzles are connected to introduce acid into a battery and how the electrical connection is made on a battery post when the battery cassette and the moving system are coupled to each other in the vertical battery charging station according to the present invention.

Figure 13 is a perspective schematic view of a battery cassette in a shelf in the vertical battery charging station according to the present invention when the filling system is opened (connection pipes are not connected).

Figure 13a is a detailed schematic view of nozzle connections in a battery cassette in the vertical battery charging station according to the present invention.

Reference Numbers of Parts and Sections in Figures Illustrating the Present Invention

1 Battery

2 Frame

3- Shelf system

3a- Charging shelf

3b- Shelf wheels - Acid tank Z

4a- Acid pipe Z

4b- Upper acid tank Z

4c- Acid return pipe Z

- Acid tank X

5a- Acid pipe X

5b- Upper acid tank X

5c- Acid return pipe X

- Acid tank Y

6a- Acid discharge pipe Y- Battery cassette

7a- Table

7b- Wheel

7c- Stationary edge

7d- Stationary shaft

- Conveyor

- Elevator

9a- Elevator table

9b- Elevator wheels

9c- Cassette-pushing piston

9d- Piston

9e-Sensor counterpart0- • Elevator - shelf sensor 1- - Battery cassette - shelf sensor2- ■ Stopper

3- - Drive device

4 - Drive piston

5- - Moving device

6 - Moving filling pipe

7 - Moving discharge pipe 8 - Stationary filling pipe

9 - Stationary discharge pipe 0 - Flow control valves

1 - Flow control sensors

2 - Nozzle 23- Nozzle connection

24- Electrical connection

25- Moving wheel

26- Stationary edge rail

26a- Rail bed

27- Spring

(m-n) working direction of moving device

h- Gap

Detailed Description of Invention

The vertical battery charging system with acid circulation according to the present invention is basically a complete system having a plurality of devices and mechanisms, which run with minimum operator intervention in a minimum area in shelves arranged one on top of the other in an automatic manner, preferably under computer control or under the control of other automatic control systems for charging batteries, and which is formed to generate a circulation by supplying the batteries with acid and simultaneously draining out acid from the batteries, and at the same time to charge the batteries with electricity. Said system can be operated by maintaining the basic principles, but making variations on the devices. For instance, the hydraulic means can be replaced by pneumatic, mechanic means or by means comprising a drivetrain. Similarly, sensors can be electronic sensors, ultrasonic sensors, mechanic stoppers or any other alternative means or machinery elements. Accordingly, the following detailed description will be based on the basic principle, and some details and alternative embodiments will be given when deemed necessary. In this context, representative figures will be used to make clear the system according to the present invention. The figures, however, should not be construed as binding particularly in terms of the construction and design of the mechanics.

The basic construction of the vertical battery charging system with acid circulation according to the present invention is illustrated in figure 1 , figure 2, and figure 3. In the construction illustrated here, batteries (1) which have arrived to the charging stage in a normal production procedure are taken from a conveyor (8) and are brought to a bench (2) where their connections for acid inlet-outlet and electricity are made on a battery cassette (7) by an operator as described below. A battery cassette (7) is basically an intermediary device, which, once they are arranged side by side and their relevant connections are made thereon, simplifies the supply of batteries (1) to a place (i.e. shelves) where they are to be charged. A battery cassette (7) is transferred from the conveyor (8) to said bench (2), and then to said shelves (3) by means of an elevator (9). Batteries (1) placed on a battery cassette (7) to be delivered to the shelves will be supplied with acid and subjected to acid circulation, and at the same time be charged electrically. For acid circulation, an acid tank Z (4) containing a type of acid of a certain quality, as well as an acid tank X (5) containing another type of acid of another quality are provided. The amount of acid tanks will be at least one, but can also be more than one according to the acid requirement and to the charging technology employed. Here, two acid tanks are preferred. The acid tank Z (4) and acid tank X (5) are preferably located to a place which is close to the shelf system (3). The batteries present in the shelf system (3) are supplied with acid preferably using the force of gravity. However, the supply of acid to the shelves can naturally be made using pumps or other transferring means. For this reason, an upper acid tank Z (4b) and an upper acid tank X (5b) are provided above the shelf system (3), and these tanks (4b, 5b) are supplied with acid from the acid tank Z (4) and from the acid tank X (5) separately by means of an acid pipe Z (4a) and an acid pipe X (5a), respectively. When acid is delivered to the shelves (3) by means of pumps or by means of other similar means, it may not be necessary to use the acid tank Z (4) and the acid tank X (5). From that point, acid will be delivered back to a stationary filling pipe (18) by the same type of pipes, namely the acid pipe Z (4a) and the acid pipe X (5a). If only one acid tank is used alternatively, only one pipe will be used from the tank to the stationary filling pipe (18) in place of said acid pipe Z (4a) and acid pipe X (5a). As can be seen in figure 8, figure 12, and figure 13, acid will be transferred from the stationary filling pipe (18) to a moving filling pipe (16) and then to the batteries (1) disposed on the battery cassette (7) by means of a special connection. Here, the special connection means that the moving filling pipe (16) is moved and connected, and then disconnected under computer control or using other automated means. After acid is circulated within a battery (1), it is delivered to the moving discharge pipe (17), and then to a stationary discharge pipe (19) by means of a special connection and then to the acid tank Y (6) by means of a special connection via an acid discharge pipe Y (6a). If, during return, the quality of acid is not at a desired level, it is delivered to the acid tank Y (6) by means of the acid discharge pipe Y (6a). If it is at a desired quality level, it will be delivered back to the acid tank Z (4) and acid tank X (5) by means of an acid return pipe Z (4c) and an acid return pipe X (5c). If there is only one acid tank used, it will be returned using a single pipe in place of using the acid return pipe Z (4c) and the acid return pipe X (5c). The acid flow within the stationary filling pipe (18), the moving filling pipe (16), stationary discharge pipe (19) and the moving discharge pipe (17) will be controlled by means of flow control valves (20) and flow control sensors (21) provided on the respective pipes. After the batteries (1) are placed on the battery cassette (7), and after the connections are made for the respective acid flow and electricity, they are transferred to the respective charging shelf (3a) in the shelf system (3) by means of the elevator (9). Here, the moving device (15) is activated by means of a drive device (13) on the battery cassette (7) and the moving filling pipe (16) is coupled to the moving discharge pipe (17) and the stationary filling pipe (18) is coupled to the stationary discharge pipe (19) so that acid is passed to the batteries (1). Thus, the electrical and acid connections of a battery (1) is made on any charging shelf (3a) in the shelf system (3), acid is filled and circulated, and then the system is energized and the battery is charged accordingly. After the charging procedure is completed, the connections are removed, the battery (1) is taken from the respective charging shelf (3a) and transferred to the station by the elevator (9) and then to the respective production place by means of conveyor (8). The basic principle of said system is as described. In terms of the basic principle and the basic mechanism, the battery cassette (7) to which a battery (1) to be charged is placed and the mechanism used to carry the battery cassette (7) to the elevator, as well as the relevant sensors will be described below. Devices and sensors (these will be described in detail when the respective machine part is described) are provided to transfer a battery to a particular charging shelf (3a) of the shelf system (3) by means of the elevator (9). The moving device (15) provided in the battery cassette (7) is equipped with the moving filling pipe (16) and the moving discharge pipe (17). Said moving filling pipe (16) and moving discharge pipe (17) are provided with nozzles (22) and nozzle connections (23). These connections provide the acid inlet and outlet of a battery (1). The stationary filling pipe (18) and stationary discharge pipe (19) can be connected to and disconnected from said moving filling pipe (16) and moving discharge pipe (17) by means of a drive device (14) and moving device (15). The acid pipe Z (4a), acid pipe X (5a), and the acid discharge pipe Y (6a) are in communication with said stationary filling pipe (18) and stationary discharge pipe (19). Said pipes are in communication with acid tank Z (4), acid tank X (5), upper acid tank Z (4b), upper acid tank X (5b) and acid tank Y (6). The operation of said system is carried out by means of sensors providing data on which the control is based. The operation of said system is also based on a computer program in communication with a server and on a system on which the computer program is run. The computer-controlled operation of the vertical battery charging system with acid circulation according to the present invention will not be elaborated here. However, it should be emphasized that the system can also be operated using mechanic or electronic control systems, or any combination of these, besides said computer control.

Figure 4 is a schematic projection view of a lower section of an elevator system used in the vertical battery charging station according to the present invention. Here, a part of the shelf system (3) is shown, which is one of the significant features. In basic terms, the shelf system (3) comprises different shelves in a vertical fashion and a battery cassette (7) with batteries (1) arranged thereon side by side is moved or held stationary on a charging shelf (3a) in said shelves. The battery cassette (7) is constructed so as to be moved freely or under the control of at least one piston or motor in the bench (2), on the elevator (9) and in the charging shelf (3a). For this reason, the shelf system (3) has a construction of stages arranged one on the top of the other. If desired, this vertical arrangement of the stages can also be turned into a horizontal arrangement depending on the size of area and of production. The shelf system (3) may be oval or circular. The geometry of the shelf system (3) is not subjected to any limitation. In the construction shown in figure 1 , figure 2, and figure 3, the bench (2) is disposed under the first shelf system (3). However, the bench (2) may naturally disposed in another place. Here, it will suffice to provide an easy transfer from the bench (2) to the elevator (9).

As can be seen in figure 3, figure 4, and figure 5, the elevator (9) is disposed between two shelf systems (3), or to the side of a shelf system (3), at the same time to the side of the bench (2). This is because the basic function of the elevator (9) is to raise a battery cassette (7) with batteries (1) thereon taken from the bench (2) to the level of the charging shelf (3a), which is anyone of the shelves in the shelf system (3), and to push the battery cassette (7) with batteries (1) thereon onto the charging shelf (3a). Thereafter, the battery cassette (7) will be taken from the charging shelf (3a) and pushed to the elevator (9) in a similar manner. The elevator (9) basically comprises an elevator table (9a) and a piston (9d) lifting or lowering the elevator table (9a). The piston (9d) may be hydraulic or pneumatic, but the lifting and lowering system may also use other mechanic lifting systems such as ropes, chains, etc. according to the prior art, in place of hydraulic and pneumatic systems. Elevator wheels (9b) are provided on the elevator table (9a) to let the batteries (1) easily move and advance thereon. The elevator wheels (9b) may be in the form of cylindrical wheels or in the form of chain pulleys. As can be seen in figure 5b, a cassette-pushing piston (9c) is provided on the elevator table (9b) of the elevator (9) to push and pull the battery cassette (7). The cassette-pushing piston (9c) pushes or pulls the battery cassette (7) and therefore the batteries (1 ) on the cassette to/from the charging shelf (3a) and bench (2). The cassette-pushing piston (9c) can be at least one, or more than one, and may be pneumatic or hydraulic. It is alternatively possible to use an electric motor driving the elevator wheels, in place of the cassette-pushing piston (9c), for pulling the battery cassette (7) from the bench (2) and pushing or pulling it to/from the charging shelves (3a). It is even possible to provide the electric motor also at the charging shelf, not only at the elevator. In the system described here, the cassette-pushing piston (9c) is designed so as to push or pull the battery cassette (7) by means of a coupling at the respective end of the piston on the elevator table (9a).

Figure 5 and figure 6 illustratively show the way the elevator (9) and a battery cassette (7) thereon are introduced and removed into/from a charging shelf (3a) in the shelf system (3). As illustrated in figure 5 and figure 5a, an elevator-shelf sensor (10) is disposed in the shelf system (3) to detect that the elevator (9) is in front of the charging shelves (3a) at the level of the respective charging shelf (3a) (at the same level), and signalizes it to the respective automatic control or data processing system accordingly. A sensor counterpart (9e) is disposed against the elevator/shelf sensor (10), at one edge of the elevator table (9a). Thus, when the elevator table (9a) comes to the same level with the charging shelf (3a), the elevator-shelf sensor (10) sees the sensor counterpart (9e) so that the elevator's motion is stopped. Thus, the data processing management or automatic control system triggers the cassette-pushing piston (9c) so that the battery cassette (7) is displaced on the elevator wheels (9b) and moved to the charging shelf (3a). It should be emphasized here that the elevator-shelf sensor (10) can also be disposed on the elevator table (9a) in place of the charging shelf (3a) and that the sensor counterpart (9e) can be placed on the charging shelf (3a). Sensor systems can be used both for the movement of the elevator (9), and for the movement of the battery cassette (7) on the elevator (9) and/or on the charging shelf (3a). It is obviously possible to locate these sensors at different places. The important point here is the detection of the battery cassette (7) and signalizing it to respective units. Sensors which may be used here can be motion detecting sensors, light sensors or ultrasonic sensors.

As can be seen in figure 6, figure 6a, figure 6b, figure 6c and figure 6d, the placement of the battery cassette (7) to the charging shelf in the shelf system (3) or removing it there from when the charging procedure is complete can be performed by means of mechanisms and sensors provided in the charging self (3a) and in the elevator table (9a). The charging shelf (3a) is provided with shelf wheels (3b) for advancing and returning the battery cassette (7) in an easy manner. The shelf wheels (3b) are in the form of cylindrical wheels or in the form of cylindrical chain pulleys and function to simplify the movement of an object they carry. Therefore, in place of wheels, it is also possible to use alternative mechanisms with different designs such as a sliding surface, which will enable to horizontally move the battery cassette (7) carried thereon. There is also provided a battery cassette-shelf sensor (11) which detects that the battery cassette (7) is completely placed to the charging shelf (3a) and signalizes it to the respective unit. The complete approaching of the battery cassette (7) to the charging shelf (3a) is detected by means of a mechanic or electro-mechanic stopper (12). The complete approaching or docking of the battery cassette (7) to the charging shelf (3a) is an accurate procedure which should be properly managed. Therefore, the charging shelf is provided with the battery cassette- shelf sensor (11) and the stopper (12). The important point here is that the moving connection (15) in the battery cassette (7) should be able to perform the ideal complete movements and that the restricted movement of the battery cassette (7) is detected from a complete placement to take place. Here, the battery cassette-shelf sensor (11) and stopper (12) can be of electronic, electro-mechanic, ultrasonic nature.

The construction of the machine parts on the battery cassette (7) on the vertical battery charging system according to the present invention are illustrated in figure 7, figure 7a, figure 7b, figure 7c and figure 7d. The general structure of the battery cassette (7) is illustrated in figure 8 in perspective. Here are provided a table (7a) to align the batteries (1) side by side, as well as cylindrical wheels (7b) which facilitate the lateral movement of the batteries on this table (7a) under the control of an operator. Here is also provided a stationary edge (7c), on the rear side of which the batteries are leaned and on the upper side of which are disposed the moving device (15), nozzle (22), nozzle connection (23) and electrical connections (24). The nozzle (22), nozzle connection (23) are in connection with the moving filling pipe (16) and the moving discharge pipe (17) on the moving device (15). The moving filling pipe (16) and the moving discharge pipe (17) are disposed on the moving device (15) placed on the stationary edge (7c) on the rear side of the battery cassette (7) so as to be movable horizontally (this placement will be described below in detail). It is desired here on the moving device ( 5) to connect, as well as to disconnect when necessary, the moving filling pipe (16) with/from the stationary filling pipe (18) and the stationary discharge pipe (19). The stationary filling pipe (18) and the stationary discharge pipe (19) are situated preferably on the edge of the charging shelf (3a) on the shelf system (3). As a result of this connection and disconnection, it is aimed to supply the acid from the stationary filling pipe (18) to the moving filling pipe (16) and then to the batteries (1 ) by means of nozzles (22) and nozzle connections (23), and during and after the charging procedure, to transfer the circulated acid via the nozzles (22) and the nozzle connections (23) to the moving discharge pipe (17) and then to the stationary discharge pipe (19) which is coupled to the moving discharge pipe to be delivered to the respective units. For this purpose, the moving device (15), which is situated on the stationary edge (7c) so as to be able to make a lateral displacement, should be enabled to make a lateral partial motion. The drive device (13) situated on one side of the stationary edge (7c) on the battery cassette (7) comprises a drive piston (14). The drive piston (14) can be hydraulic or pneumatic. This piston can even be a mechanical actuator. The end of the drive piston (14) is coupled to the moving device (15), and itself, in turn, is coupled to the drive device (13). When the drive piston (14) coupled to the drive device (13) is set in motion, the moving device (15) similarly starts moving in its operation direction (m-n) so that a gap (h) is produced in between. This gap (h) is actually the stroke of the moving device (15). The extent of this stroke is controlled by the drive piston (14) or by motion sensors (not illustrated here). Figure 7b illustrates the case when the moving filling pipe (16) and the moving discharge pipe (17) are not coupled with (i.e. disengaged from) the stationary filling pipe (18) and the stationary discharge pipe (19) on the moving device (15). Figure 7c, in turn, illustrates the case when the moving filling pipe (16) and the moving discharge pipe (17) are coupled (i.e. engaged) with the stationary filling pipe (18) and the stationary discharge pipe (19) on the moving device (15). Here, the stationary filling pipe (18) and the stationary discharge pipe (19) are situated at a place close to the shelf system (3), preferably on the edge of the shelf system, as illustrated in figure 1 , figure 2, and figure 3. The stationary filling pipe (18) is equipped with flow control valves (20) which control the flow rate and with flow control sensors (21) which signalize flow rate-related data to a central unit (data processing or automatic control system). The stationary filling pipe (18) is coupled to the acid pipe Z (4a) and acid pipe X (5a). The stationary discharge pipe (19), in turn, is coupled to the acid return pipe Z (4c) and acid return pipe X (5c) when the used acid is to be taken back into the tanks. Or if desired, it is transferred to acid tank Y (6) via the acid discharge pipe Y (6a) of the stationary discharge pipe (19) under computer control or using an automatic control system. The acid tank Y (6) is that tank in which the acids which are considered improper for use in the same system are collected.

Figure 8a, figure 8b, figure 8c, figure 8d and figure 8e, provide schematic views from different angles and directions of the battery cassette and its connections. Figure 7d, figure 9, figure 9a and figure 9b provide schematic views from different angles of the stationary edge (7) of the battery cassette (7) and the moving device (15) connected thereto. Here, two vertical stationary shafts (7d) are provided on the stationary edge (7c), and over said stationary shaft (7d) are disposed rail beds (26a) on the tips of stationary edge rail (26) so as to be movable in the vertical direction. The spring beds (26a) enable the stationary edge rail (26) to move up and down. This movement is made possible with springs (27) which are connected to the stationary shaft (7d) and which limit the rail beds (26a) from the side. Moving wheels (25) are disposed on the moving device (15) on the stationary edge rail (26). The moving wheels (25) can move horizontally on the stationary edge rail (26). Thus, machine parts such as the moving filling pipe can also move horizontally on the moving device (15) on which the moving wheels (25) are disposed.

Figure 10 is a representative schematic view showing the placement of the batteries (1) on the battery cassette, figure 11 is a schematic view showing the moving device (15) in the battery cassette (7) in a disengaged form, figure 12, figure 12a and figure 12b, in turn, provide schematic views of the complete placement of a battery (1) in the battery cassette (7) and of the connection of the nozzles (22) which provide the acid flow. Here, the nozzles (22) supply the acid which it takes from the moving filling pipe (16) into the battery by means of a flexible nozzle connection (23). In the same manner, it transfers the acid which is circulated in the battery and which is to be discharged to the moving discharge pipe (17) by means of the same nozzle connections (23). The nozzles (22) may be of different various types. The type of nozzles will not be described here in detail. However, the nozzles (22) should be capable to provide sealing, acid resistance, and fluid flow. The nozzles (22) are coupled to openings and pipes providing fluid flow on different types of batteries. In the same manner, the electrical connection (24) is made with the battery posts and with the proper places on the stationary edge (7c) on the battery cassette (7). Together with the nozzle connections (23), the electrical connections (24) of the nozzles (22) with the battery (1) is made on the bench (2) by an operator. Battery's (1) acid inlet, acid return and electrification are conducted on the charging shelf (3a) in an automatic manner. Figure 13 gives a perspective schematic view showing the pipe connections when the battery cassette (7) is removed from the elevator table (9a). Figure 13a, in turn, provides schematic views of nozzles (22) of a different design than those connected to the batteries which are proper for the moving filling pipe (16) and moving discharge pipe (17). It should be emphasized that these schematic views are given only to make clear the general concept of the system, and that the designs and sizes given in these figures are subject to alteration.

The vertical battery charging station with acid circulation according to the present invention is particularly for use in battery production. The management and operation of the station may either be computer controller, or be carried out by electronically, electro- mechanically or mechanically designed automatic control systems. The materials used in said battery charging station can be metallic, plastic, composite materials, etc. which have adequate resistance against acidic medium. Devices necessary to collect any acid drops and leaks in the battery charging system, as well as necessary air circulation fans to remove acid steams or to provide air circulation and additional cooling systems may be added to the system. The entirety of such a complete system, or a part thereof can be used in any kind of battery production systems.

Claims

1. A vertical battery charging station, characterized by comprising at least one battery cassette (7) where batteries (1) to be charged are placed, at least one elevator (9) by which said battery cassette (7) is carried, a shelf system (3) to which the batteries (1) present on said elevator (9) and on the battery cassette (7) are placed, at least one charging shelf (3a) in said shelf system (3) to which (3a) the battery cassette (7) is placed, a moving device (15) provided in said battery cassette (7), a moving filling pipe (16), a moving discharge pipe (17), nozzles (22), nozzle connection (23) and electrical connection (24) disposed on said moving device (15), a stationary filling pipe (18) and stationary discharge pipe (19) which are disposed on said shelf system and which can be coupled to said moving filling pipe (16) and to said moving discharge pipe (17) by a lateral displacement of the moving device (15), flow control valves (20) and flow control sensors (21) provided on said stationary filling pipe (18) and on the stationary discharge pipe (19), an acid pipe Z (4a) and an acid pipe X (5a) in communication with the stationary filling pipe (18), an acid return pipe Z (4c) and an acid return pipe X (5c) in communication with said stationary discharge pipe (19), an acid tank Z (4) and an upper acid tank Z (4b) in communication with said acid pipe Z (4a) and acid return pipe Z (4c), an acid tank X (5) in communication with said acid pipe X (5a) and acid return pipe X (5c), and an acid tank Y (6) and an acid discharge pipe Y (6a) which is at the same time in communication with the stationary discharge pipe (19).

2. The vertical battery charging station according to claim 1 , characterized by comprising a different number of acid tanks with different properties in place of said acid tank Z (4), acid tank X (5), and acid tank Y (6).

The vertical battery charging station according to claim 1 , characterized in that said upper acid tank Z (4b) and said upper acid tank X (5b) are preferably disposed on said shelf system, but can also be placed at a different higher location so as to supply acid to the charging shelves in the shelf system

(3), or if acid is supplied using flow pumps, they are not used in the system.

4. The vertical battery charging station according to claim 1 , characterized in that said shelf system (3) preferably comprises vertically different shelves and a charging shelf (3a) among said shelves, that said shelf system (3) comprises shelves which are arranged one on top of the other or side by side, and that these shelves may optionally be arranged in a circular fashion or in a different geometry.

5. The vertical battery charging station according to claim 1 , characterized in that a bench (2) is provided below or next to the shelf system (3), that said bench can optionally be placed to another location, and that at least one conveyor (8) is comprised by which the batteries (1) at said bench are placed to the battery cassette (7) and carried accordingly.

6. The vertical battery charging station according to claim 1 , characterized by comprising an elevator (9), on which the battery cassette (7) is carried, next to or in between said shelf system (3) and at the same time next to the bench (2), an elevator table (9a) on an upper side of said elevator (9) onto which (9a) the battery cassette (7) is placed, a piston (9d) on a lower side of said elevator (9) raising or lowering said elevator table (9a), elevator wheels (9b) on said elevator table (9a) to simplify the movement of the battery cassette (7), at least one cassette pushing- piston (9c) on said elevator table (9a) to slide the battery cassette (7) to the side, and a sensor counterpart (9a) that signalizes when said elevator (9) comes against the charging shelf (3a) or against another shelf.

7. The vertical battery charging station according to claim 1 , characterized by comprising an elevator-shelf sensor (10) disposed in the shelf system (3) to detect that the elevator (9) is in front of the charging shelves (3a) at the level of the respective charging shelf (3a) (at the same level), and signalizes it to the respective automatic control or data processing system accordingly, and a sensor counterpart (9e) at the edge of the elevator table (9a), against said elevator-shelf sensor (10).

8. The vertical battery charging station according to claim 1 , characterized by comprising shelf wheels (3b) to easily advance and return the battery cassette (7) on the charging shelf (3a), a battery cassette-shelf sensor (11) to detect that the battery cassette (7) is completely placed to the charging shelf (3a) and to signalize it to the respective units, a stopper (12) that stops the advancement of the battery cassette (7) on the charging shelf (3a), and the stationary filling pipe (18) and the stationary discharge pipe ( 9) on the edge of said charging shelf (3a).

9. The vertical battery charging station according to claim 1 , characterized by comprising a table (7a) in the battery cassette (7) to arrange the batteries (1) side by side, rotating cylindrical wheels (7b) to simplify the movement of the batteries (1) on said tables, a stationary edge (7c) to which the batteries (1) lean on at the rear side of said battery cassette (7), a moving device ( 5) disposed in a movable manner on said stationary edge (7c), the moving filling pipe (16), moving discharge pipe (17), and electrical connections on said moving device (15), and nozzle (22) and nozzle connections (23) on said moving filling pipe (16) and moving discharge pipe (17).

10. The vertical battery charging station according to claim 1 or claim 9, characterized in that a drive device (13) and drive piston (14) are comprised on the edge of the stationary edge (7c) on the battery cassette (7), that the end of said drive device (14) is coupled to the moving device (15) and itself (14) is coupled to the drive device (13), and that said drive device (13) is such a device that enables the moving device (15) to move on the working directions (m-n) of the moving device when the drive piston (14) coupled to the drive device (13) is set in motion.

11. The vertical battery charging station according to claim 1 , characterized by comprising the stationary filling pipe (18) and the stationary discharge pipe (19) preferably at the edge of the charging shelf (3a) in the shelf system (3), as well as flow control valves (20) to control the flow rate and flow control sensors (21) to signalize flow rate-related data to a central unit (data processing unit or automatic control system) on said stationary filling pipe (18) and stationary discharge pipe

(19).

12. The vertical battery charging station according to claim 1 and claim 11 , characterized in that the stationary filling pipe (18) is coupled to the acid pipe Z (4a) and acid pipe X (5a), that the stationary discharge pipe (19) is coupled to the acid return pipe Z (4c) and acid return pipe X (5c), and that the stationary discharge pipe (19) is at the same time coupled to the acid discharge pipe Y (6a).

13. The vertical battery charging station according to claim 1 and claim 12, characterized in that the acid pipe Z (4a) is coupled to the acid tank Z (4) and upper acid tank Z (4b) and that the acid pipe X (5a) is coupled to the acid tank X (5) and upper acid tank X (5b).

14. The vertical battery charging station according to claim 1 or claim 12, characterized in that the acid return pipe Z (4c) is coupled to the acid tank Z (4), the acid return pipe X (5c) is coupled to the acid tank X (5) and the acid discharge pipe Y (6a) is coupled to the acid tank Y (6).

15. The vertical battery charging station according to claim 1 , claim 9 or claim 10, characterized in that two vertical stationary shafts (7d) are comprised on the stationary edge (7c) at the battery cassette (7), and over said stationary shaft (7d) are disposed rail beds (26a) on the tips of stationary edge rails (26) so as to be movable in the vertical direction, that a spring (27) is provided over the stationary shafts (7d) to restrict the rail beds (26a) from the side, and that moving wheels (25) are disposed on the moving device (15) on said stationary edge rail (26).

16. The vertical battery charging station according to claim 1 or claim 6, characterized in that the elevator (9) lifting system alternatively comprises a lifting system comprising mechanical, chain or rope systems expect hydraulic or pneumatic means.

17. The vertical battery charging station according to claim 1 or claim 7, characterized in that an elevator-shelf sensor (10) is comprised to signalize when the elevator (9) reaches the level of the charging shelf (3a), and the sensor counterpart (9e) is disposed on the elevator (9) or charging shelf (3a), and in that said sensors can be ultrasonic sensors, mechanic sensors, electro-mechanic sensors or motion sensors.

18. The vertical battery charging station according to claim 1 or claim 8, characterized in that the battery cassette-shelf sensor (11) restricts the movement of the battery cassette (7) on the charging shelf (3a), and the stopper (12) is in the form of a motion sensor and limiter mechanic, electronic, electro-mechanic and ultrasonic sensors.

19. The vertical battery charging station according to claim 1 or claim 9, characterized in that separate from the present assembly which provides an easy coupling of the moving filling pipe (16) and moving discharge pipe (17) with the stationary filling pipe (18) and stationary discharge pipe (19) on the moving device (15) disposed on the stationary edge (7c) on the battery cassette (7), a rail system sliding one over the other, or a piston system passing through a ring can be comprised.