GB2330959A

GB2330959A - Battery charging rack

Info

Publication number: GB2330959A
Application number: GB9822872A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kenneth Brook-Chrispin
Original assignee: BROOK CHRISPIN KENNETH
Current assignee: BROOK CHRISPIN KENNETH
Priority date: 1997-10-31
Filing date: 1998-10-21
Publication date: 1999-05-05
Also published as: GB9822872D0; GB9722890D0

Abstract

A battery charging rack has a cabinet 10 with a plurality of closeable bays 11 each arranged to receive one or more rechargeable batteries 2, and charging means coupleable to one or more batteries 2 in each bay 11. Each bay 11 has a door 16 which seals against a door frame 17 when closed. Any gas build up during charging is removed via a ventilation passage 12 linked to ducts 14 through an exterior wall 1 of a building, and a ventilation fan may be turned on by a gas sensor and/or when a liquid spill is sensed by a detector 15. Each door 16 may be hinged along a lower edge so as to form a horizontal platform when open as an aid to battery loading/unloading. Alternatively, each door may be hinged at a vertical side edge and may have a battery receiving tray (162, Figs.4,5) fixed to it. Each door 16 may also have an interlock switch such that power is only supplied to a battery when the door is closed. A coin release mechanism may be associated with each bay (Fig.3). A battery charging control unit (182, Fig.5) may control charging in response to a payment mechanism.

Description

BATTERY CHARGING RACK The present invention relates to a rack for holding rechargeable batteries, such as while the batteries are being charged.

Rechargeable batteries are commonly used to power electric vehicles and unmanned load carriers including, for example, a golf cart or golf trolley. Often, the battery must be removed from the vehicle for charging and known charging arrangements include open wooden racking for holding batteries during charging, wherein the batteries may be coupled to a multi-charging unit.

However, due to the potential build up of gases, in particular where a battery is overcharged or leaks charging, the open racking must be provided in a well ventilated area or room, requiring relatively large amounts of space.

In the example of a golf trolley, users often leave the trolley itself at a golf club and take the battery home for charging. The inconvenience of having to manually move the battery into a car to take it home for charging and returning with a charged battery each time significantly counteracts the convenience of an electric golf trolley as opposed to pulling a manual golf trolley.

An aim of at least preferred embodiments of the present invention is to provide a charging rack for charging and storing rechargeable batteries conveniently and securely.

According to the present invention, there is provided a charging rack for rechargeable batteries, comprising: a housing having a plurality of closeable bays, each said bay for receiving one or more rechargeable batteries; and charging means associated with each of said plurality of bays, said charging means being coupleable to one or more rechargeable batteries within each said bay.

In the preferred embodiment, the housing comprises a closed cabinet which is preferably sealed to inhibit any gas build up from the batteries escaping from the cabinet into the immediate surrounding area. Ideally, the cabinet is provided with ventilation means for venting the cabinet to external atmosphere, which may include vent pipes and a fan.

Preferably, each bay is provided with closing means allowing access to the bay for inserting or removing a battery, preferably comprising a door sealed to the housing when closed. Ideally the door is hingedly coupled to the housing.

In a first embodiment the door is hinged at a lower edge and when open forms a platform substantially horizontal and co-planar with a lower surface of the respective bay to form a convenient platform for loading and unloading.a battery.

In a second embodiment the door is hinged at a side edge and is provided with a tray arranged to lie substantially horizontally when the door is opened, the tray being arranged in use to support one or more rechargeable batteries.

The lower surface of each bay is preferably provided with an open grid shelf for ventilation.

Preferably, the open shelves are located above a solid sloped drip tray. Preferably, each drip tray is arranged to run toward a spill detector, preferably arranged in a bottom portion of the cabinet. The spill detector, upon detecting an acid leak from, for example, lead acid batteries, is coupled such as to operate said ventilation means and/or raise an alarm.

Preferably, the cabinet comprises a ventilation passage such as at the rear or side of the cabinet coupled to each bay by ventilation ports, such ventilation passage providing efficient ventilation to the entire cabinet.

Any suitable charging means may be employed. In a first embodiment, a multiple charging unit is provided having a central transformer arrangement coupled to power supply leads provided in each bay. In a second embodiment the charging means comprises a plurality of individual charging units, each individual charging unit being associated with a respective one of the plurality of bays and comprising a transformer arrangement coupled to power supply leads provided in that bay. Preferably, each power supply lead is terminated with a keyed connection to ensure that correct polarity is maintained, the keyed connection being coupleable to one of a plurality of tail leads selected according to the manufacturer's predetermined arrangement for the battery employed.

For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how embodiments of the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a sectional side view of a first embodiment of a battery charging rack; Figure 2 is a schematic plan view of the battery charging rack of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective front and side view of a second embodiment of the charging rack; Figure 4 is a partial sectional side view of a third embodiment of the charging rack; and Figure 5 is a cross sectional plan view of the charging rack of Figure 4.

With reference to Figure 1, a battery charging rack of a first preferred embodiment comprises a cabinet 10 having a plurality of bays 11 arranged one above the other in a column. Many other configurations of the bays are possible including bays arranged side by side in a row or a plurality of bays arranged in a grid. The cabinet 10 is intended to be provided in a building at any convenient location, ideally adjacent an external wall 1.

The cabinet 10 is provided with ventilation means including a venti'ation passage 12 at the rear of the cabinet and coupled to bays 11 by ventilation ports 13.

Ventilation passage 12 is coupled to ducts 14 in this example shown at the top and bottom of the cabinet 10 for externally venting the cabinet through wall 1. The ventilation system is preferably passive during normal use, and forced such as by using a fan when additional ventilation is desired. For example, the ventilation may be forced when a build up of gas is detected by a gas detector, and/or when a liquid spill is detected by a liquid detector such as detector 15 located at the bottom of the cabinet 10.

Each bay is provided with a door 16 providing a gas seal against a door frame 17 of the cabinet. Each door is ideally hinged at a lower edge thereof to the cabinet and arranged to form a substantially horizontal platform when lowered convenient for loading or unloading a battery 2 in the bay 11. In particular, it is convenient that the battery 2 be rested on the door 16 while the flying lead 18 from the charging means (not shown) is attached or detached.

In the preferred embodiment, each door 16 is provided with an interlock switch such that power is only supplied to a battery 2 when the door is closed, and power is removed once the door is open, for safety. The interlock switch may be provided as a position switch on the door 16 or frame 17, or on a locking handle on the door 16.

A cabinet as shown in Figure 1 may be coupled to an adjacent cabinet, such as in row or column form, and conveniently the ventilation passage 12 of each cabinet is coupled together so that a single set of ducts 14 may be used.

Conveniently, the cabinet 10 may be provided with a pull out step or seat 19 to provide easy access to the upper bays of the cabinet.

Figure 2 shows a sectional schematic plan view of the cabinet 10 showing a battery 2 located on an open grid shelf 20 of a bay 11 with the ventilation passage 12 at the rear of the cabinet and a cable run 21 at the side of the cabinet. As shown schematically, the battery 2 is coupled by a flying lead 18 to a keyed connection 23 in this example mounted in a wall between cable run 21 and bay 11. The cable run 21 houses a control unit 24 of a charging arrangement such as a multi-charging unit, preferably with a status indicator such as ammeter 22 positioned to be visible to the user such as in the front wall of the cabinet 10.

Figure 3 shows a second embodiment of the charging rack having a wiring duct to one side of the bays 11. In this embodiment, the bays 11 are sized sufficient to allow two or more batteries to be received in each bay. This embodiment comprises a coin release mechanism associated with each bay.

A third preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to Figures 4 and 5.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional side view of a cabinet 10 showing one of a plurality of bays 11. Like reference numerals will be used to refer to corresponding or equivalent elements to those in the embodiments described above.

As shown in Figure 4, the bay 11 is provided with a door 16 closeable in a sealed relationship against the housing 10 by means of a sealing door gasket 161. In this embodiment the door is hinged to one side thereof and rotates about a substantially vertical axis of rotation.

The door 16 is provided with a tray 162 arranged substantially horizontally for supporting one or more batteries 2. The tray 162 is suitably fixedly mounted to the door 16. The tray 162 is suitably a stainless steel drip tray and may comprise spacer means (not shown) for raising the bottom of the battery 2 clear of any liquid collected by the drip tray 162.

Figure 4 shows the door 16 in a closed position.

Conveniently, the interior edge of the tray 162 is supported on a security bar 201. The security bar 201 inhibits user access or interference from one bay 11 to the next. The security bar is suitably an open grid or a plurality of bars arranged across the interior of the cabinet 10.

In this embodiment the cabinet 10 is provided with a single ventilation duct 14 suitably arranged at or near a top portion thereof. A shown in Figure 4 the top of the cabinet 10 and the ventilation duct 14 slope upwardly to aid the evacuation of gases such as hydrogen that are lighter than air.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the third embodiment. In this embodiment two columns of bays 11 are provided, arranged side by side. A common ventilation passage 12 is provided therebetween giving a compact configuration and minimising the depth of the cabinet 10. Conveniently, the cabinet is modular allowing further columns of bays 11 to be arranged side by side, each pair of columns being separated by a common ventilation passage 12.

The or each ventilation passage 12 is provided with a ventilation duct 14 having a fan 141 providing active ventilation in response, for example, to the detection of flammable gases.

At least one wiring passage 183 is provided running vertically through the cabinet 10. Each bay 11 is associated with a charging unit comprising a transformer 181 a control unit 182 and power leads 18 coupleable to a battery 2. The control unit 182 controls charging of the battery 2 in response to user operation and, if desired, a payment mechanism.

In the arrangement of Figure 5 the left hand bay 11 is shown with a battery 2 in place, whereas the right hand bay 11 is shown without so that the drip tray 162 of the door 16 is visible. The door is conveniently coupled to the cabinet 10 using a 1800 hinge 163 at one side thereof, allowing the user easy access to the tray 162 for placing and moving a battery 2. The power leads 18 are coupled through a channel in the door 16 to be readily available when the door is in the open position.

The charging rack described herein has many advantages in that it is compact, stores batteries securely, and provides a safe charging environment avoiding build up of dangerous gases. The charging rack finds application in many different fields and environments including, for example, batteries for electric wheelchairs, electric trollies and unmanned carts, and two or four wheeled electric vehicles.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment (s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A charging rack for rechargeable batteries, comprising: a housing having a plurality of closeable bays, each said bay for receiving one or more rechargeable batteries; charging means associated with each of said plurality of bays, said charging means being coupleable to one or more rechargeable batteries within each said bay.
2. A charging rack as claimed in claim 1, wherein said housing is a closed cabinet.
3. A charging rack as claimed in claim 2, wherein said closed cabinet is sealed to inhibit the escape of gas therefrom.
4. A charging rack as claimed in claim 3, further comprising ventilation means for venting said cabinet to external atmosphere.
5. A charging rack as claimed in claim 4, wherein said ventilation means comprises a fan associated with a ventilation duct.
6. A charging rack as claimed in claim 5, wherein said ventilation duct is arranged to be located through an external wall of a building.
7. A charging rack as claimed in claim 6, wherein said ventilation duct is arranged to slope upwardly proceeding away from said cabinet.
8. A charging rek as claimed in any of claims 4 to 7, comprising a gas detector and control means for operating said ventilation means in response to a gas detection event.
9. A charging rack as claimed in claim 8, wherein said gas detector detects hydrogen gas.
10. A charging rack as claimed in any of claims 1 to 9, wherein each of said plurality of bays is associated with one of a respective plurality of closing means.
11. A charging ra-k as claimed in claim 10, wherein said closing means comprises a door locatable in a sealed closed relationship with said housing.
12. A charging rack as claimed in claim 11, wherein said door is hingedly coupled to said housing and provided with sealing means for sealing said door against said housing when in a closed position.
13. A charging rack as claimed in claim 12, wherein said door comprises means for supporting a battery when said door is in an open position.
14. A charging rack as claimed in claim 13, wherein said door is hingedly coupled to said housing along a lower edge of said door, and said battery support means maintains said door in a substantially horizontal position when open.
15. A charging rack as claimed in claim 13, wherein said door is hingedly coupled to said housing along a side edge of said door, and said support means comprises a tray arranged to lie substantially horizontally when said door is in an open position.
16. A charging rack as claimed in any of claims 1 to 15, wherein said charging means comprises a plurality of individual charging units, each being associated with a respective one of said bays.
17. A charging rack as claimed in claim 16, wherein each said charging unit comprises transformer means and one or more power supply leads coupleable to the or each battery received by said bay.
18. A charging rack substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.
19. A charging rack substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.
20. A charging rack as substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.