GB2434702A - Power supply and battery charging arrangement - Google Patents

Power supply and battery charging arrangement Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2434702A
GB2434702A GB0601830A GB0601830A GB2434702A GB 2434702 A GB2434702 A GB 2434702A GB 0601830 A GB0601830 A GB 0601830A GB 0601830 A GB0601830 A GB 0601830A GB 2434702 A GB2434702 A GB 2434702A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
arrangement
battery
battery unit
charger
unit
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB0601830A
Other versions
GB0601830D0 (en
GB2434702B (en
Inventor
Alan James Greenwood
Martin Graham Forknell
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Care Knight Ltd
Original Assignee
Care Knight Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Care Knight Ltd filed Critical Care Knight Ltd
Priority to GB0601830A priority Critical patent/GB2434702B/en
Publication of GB0601830D0 publication Critical patent/GB0601830D0/en
Publication of GB2434702A publication Critical patent/GB2434702A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2434702B publication Critical patent/GB2434702B/en
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02J—CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
    • H02J5/00—Circuit arrangements for transfer of electric power between ac networks and dc networks
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M10/00—Secondary cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M10/42—Methods or arrangements for servicing or maintenance of secondary cells or secondary half-cells
    • H01M10/46—Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M50/00—Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the non-active parts of electrochemical cells other than fuel cells, e.g. hybrid cells
    • H01M50/50—Current conducting connections for cells or batteries
    • H01M50/572—Means for preventing undesired use or discharge
    • H01M50/574—Devices or arrangements for the interruption of current
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02J—CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
    • H02J7/00—Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
    • H02J7/0029—Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries with safety or protection devices or circuits
    • H02J7/0031—Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries with safety or protection devices or circuits using battery or load disconnect circuits
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02J—CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
    • H02J7/00—Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
    • H02J7/02—Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries for charging batteries from ac mains by converters
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61G—TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES, OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS; OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES
    • A61G7/00—Beds specially adapted for nursing; Devices for lifting patients or disabled persons
    • A61G7/10—Devices for lifting patients or disabled persons, e.g. special adaptations of hoists thereto
    • A61G7/1001—Devices for lifting patients or disabled persons, e.g. special adaptations of hoists thereto specially adapted for specific applications
    • A61G7/1003—Devices for lifting patients or disabled persons, e.g. special adaptations of hoists thereto specially adapted for specific applications mounted on or in combination with a bath-tub
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02E60/10—Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A power supply arrangement for a load, particularly a bath lift, comprises a mains electricity connection 10, a battery charging circuit 12, a battery unit 14, controller circuitry 16 and an isolator switch 18. When the load is in use the battery is connected to the load and disconnected from the battery charger. When the load is not is use the battery is connected to the charger and disconnected from the load. This ensures that the battery is isolated from the mains when the load is in use. The isolator switch allows the user to manually switch between the two modes of operation. Circuitry may be included to ensure that that the battery can only be connected to the load when there is sufficient charge in the battery.

Description

<p>Electric Power Surrjly Arrangement This invention concerns electric
power supply arrangements, and particularly but not exclusively such arrangements for appliances such as bath lifts.</p>
<p>Bath lifts are used by a number of people for lowering and raising themselves in a bath. Otherwise such an operation may be difficult or impossible, and therefore bathing would not be possible without third party assistance. Such lifts are particularly used by the elderly and also handicapped persons.</p>
<p>Conventionally such lifts may be provided with a mains supply and a transformer providing an SELV (safety extra low voltage) supplied to the bath lift. The transformer will normally also be connected to a charger for back up batteries to enable a person to use the bath lift, and particularly to be lifted back out a bath, in the event of a power failure. Despite the SELV, such arrangements are often perceived as a mains powered bath lift, which could prove hazardous in view of the fact of the bath being filled with water.</p>
<p>According to the present invention there is provided an electric power supply arrangement for an appliance, the arrangement being connectable to a mains electric supply, the arrangement including a battery unit containing one or more batteries, a battery connection unit for connecting the battery unit to the appliance, a charger for the battery unit, and a control unit arranged so as to be selectively switchable between a first non operative condition wherein the charger is connected to the battery unit and the battery unit is disconnected from the battery connection unit, and a second operative connection in which the charger is disconnected from the battery unit, and the battery unit is connected to the battery connection unit, whereby the appliance can be powered by the battery unit.</p>
<p>The battery charger may be a trickle charger, and may have a working current of less than 500mA.</p>
<p>The control unit may include an isolator switch, which may operate a safety relay.</p>
<p>The control unit may include a first indication means to indicate whether the arrangement is in the operative condition. The control unit may 1 0 include a second indication means to indicate whether the control unit is operatively connected to a mains electric supply.</p>
<p>The arrangement may include measuring means for measuring the charge in the battery unit, and the arrangement may be configured such that the arrangement can only be in the operative condition if the measured battery unit charge is above a predetermined minimum.</p>
<p>The invention also provides an electric power supply arrangement for a bath lift, the arrangement being according to any of the preceding six paragraphs.</p>
<p>The invention still further provides a bath lift incorporating an electric power supply arrangement according to any of said preceding six paragraphs.</p>
<p>An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the single figure of the accompanying drawings which is a block diagram of an electric power supply arrangement according to the invention.</p>
<p>The drawing shows a power supply arrangement suitable for an appliance such as a bath lift. The arrangement includes a connection 10 to a mains supply. The arrangement also includes a charger circuit 12 for providing a trickle charge of less than 500mA to a 12V battery unit 14.</p>
<p>Controller circuitry 16 is provided operated by an isolator switch 1 8 with indicator lights 20, 22. The battery unit 14 is connectable to a bath lift. The isolator switch 18 operates a safety relay to provide for switching between first and second conditions as outlined below.</p>
<p>In use the arrangement is selectively switchable between a first non operative condition and a second operative condition. In the first condition the charger circuit 12 is connected to the battery unit 14. Using the switch 1 8 the arrangement can be switched to the second condition. In this condition the charger circuit 12 is disconnected from the battery unit 14, and the battery unit 14 is connectable to a bath lift. In the first condition the battery unit 1 4 cannot be connected to a bath lift.</p>
<p>The first indicator light 20 may be in a form of a green light which will be lit when the arrangement is in the second operative condition. It provides an indication that the bath lift can be operated, and in this condition the bath lift will be solely powered by the battery unit 14 which is disconnected from the charger circuit 12 and hence the electric mains.</p>
<p>The second indicator light 22 may be in the form of a red light which indicates if the arrangement is not operatively connected to a mains supply, for instance in the event of a fault or a power cut, and hence the battery unit 14 will not be charged when the arrangement is in the first non operative condition.</p>
<p>The controller circuitry 16 contains means for measuring the charge of the battery unit 14. The circuitry 1 6 is arranged such that the arrangement can only be in the second operative condition when there is sufficient charge in the battery unit 1 4. This avoids the possibility of a person using the bath lift and hence being in a bath, when there is insufficient power in the battery unit 14 to lift the person back out of the bath.</p>
<p>There is thus described an electric power supply arrangement usable for instance in a bath lift which provides a clear disconnection between the mains and the bath lift, during operation of the latter. It is quite clear that the bath lift itself is only battery operated. This can help to alleviate any fears or dangers as outlined above.</p>
<p>It is to be realised that a number of modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention, and the arrangement may be configured other than as shown. The arrangement may also include different components.</p>
<p>Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.</p>

Claims (2)

  1. <p>CLAIMS</p>
    <p>1. An electric power supply arrangement for an appliance, the arrangement being connectable to a mains electric supply, the arrangement including a battery unit containing one or more batteries, a battery connection unit for connecting the battery unit to the appliance, a charger for the battery unit, and a control unit arranged so as to be selectively switchable between a first non operative condition wherein the charger is connected to the battery unit and the battery unit is disconnected from the battery connection unit, and a second operative connection in which the charger is disconnected from the battery unit, and the battery unit is connected to the battery connection unit, whereby the appliance can be powered by the battery unit. * S. * S S *.S.</p>
    <p>.15
  2. 2. An arrangement according to claim 1, in which the battery charger is a 555.</p>
    <p>trickle charger.</p>
    <p>3. An arrangement according to claim 2, in which the battery charge has a 5....</p>
    <p>* 4. An arrangement according any of the preceding claims, in which the control unit includes an isolator switch.</p>
    <p>5. An arrangement according to claim 4, in which operates a safety relay.</p>
    <p>6. An arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, in which the control unit includes a first indication means to indicate whether the arrangement is in the operative condition.</p>
    <p>7. An arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, in which the control unit includes a second indication means to indicate whether the control unit is operatively connected to a mains electric supply.</p>
    <p>8. An arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, in which the arrangement includes measuring means for measuring the charge in the battery unit.</p>
    <p>9. An arrangement according to claim 8, in which the arrangement is configured such that the arrangement can only be in the operative condition if the measured battery unit charge is above a predetermined minimum.</p>
    <p>10. An electric power supply arrangement for a bath lift, the arrangement being according to any of the preceding claims.</p>
    <p>11. A bath lift incorporating an electric power supply arrangement according to any of claims I to 9. * ** * * * **..</p>
    <p>**...*1 5 12. An electric power supply arrangement substantially as hereinbefore I...</p>
    <p>described and with reference to the accompanying drawing.</p>
    <p>13. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter *::.* disclosed herein, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims. *</p>
GB0601830A 2006-01-31 2006-01-31 Electric power supply arrangement Expired - Fee Related GB2434702B (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0601830A GB2434702B (en) 2006-01-31 2006-01-31 Electric power supply arrangement

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0601830A GB2434702B (en) 2006-01-31 2006-01-31 Electric power supply arrangement

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB0601830D0 GB0601830D0 (en) 2006-03-08
GB2434702A true GB2434702A (en) 2007-08-01
GB2434702B GB2434702B (en) 2010-05-26

Family

ID=36061114

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB0601830A Expired - Fee Related GB2434702B (en) 2006-01-31 2006-01-31 Electric power supply arrangement

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2434702B (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2448900A (en) * 2007-05-02 2008-11-05 Care Knight Ltd A controller for controlling a bath lift

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5847540A (en) * 1997-08-13 1998-12-08 Burns Bros., Inc. Rechargeable flashlight with multi-position AC plug unit that controls load circuit and charging circuit connections and visual indicator
US5924147A (en) * 1998-02-02 1999-07-20 Safety Bath Corporation Bathtub lift

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
AU7941998A (en) * 1997-05-28 1998-12-30 Euston Holdings Limited Battery and battery controller

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5847540A (en) * 1997-08-13 1998-12-08 Burns Bros., Inc. Rechargeable flashlight with multi-position AC plug unit that controls load circuit and charging circuit connections and visual indicator
US5924147A (en) * 1998-02-02 1999-07-20 Safety Bath Corporation Bathtub lift

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2448900A (en) * 2007-05-02 2008-11-05 Care Knight Ltd A controller for controlling a bath lift
GB2448900B (en) * 2007-05-02 2012-12-05 Care Knight Ltd A controller for controlling a bath lift

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0601830D0 (en) 2006-03-08
GB2434702B (en) 2010-05-26

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PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20150131