JP2013055027A - Battery collective water supply system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a battery collective water supply system capable of automatically and collectively supplying water to each cell of a battery for a vehicle.SOLUTION: This system 1 is a battery collective water supply system for collectively supplying purified water to each cell 101 of a battery 10. The system comprises a purified water tank 2, a pump 3 for feeding the purified water, a water supply plug 4 for supplying the fed purified water to each cell, a liquid surface height detection sensor 6 for detecting a liquid surface height of battery liquid in the cell, and a control unit 7 for controlling an operation of the pump according to detection results of the liquid surface height detection sensor of each cell. The water supply plug is constituted to automatically start or stop the supply of the purified water by a float moving upward and downward according to the liquid surface height of the battery liquid in each cell. The control unit detects that the liquid surface height is not more than predetermined height by any of the plural liquid surface height detection sensors, and controls the pump to be actuated after such a condition continues for a predetermined time.

Description

  The present invention relates to a battery batch water supply system, and more particularly to a battery batch water supply system capable of automatically and collectively supplying water to each cell of a vehicle battery.

Conventionally, the amount of battery fluid has been managed as maintenance work for a vehicle battery used in a vehicle such as a passenger car, a truck, or a bus. In this liquid amount management, the water supply to each cell of the battery is usually performed by removing the liquid port plug inserted into the liquid port provided for each cell of the battery, and the liquid level of the battery liquid in each cell. The purified water is supplied from the liquid port until a predetermined liquid level is reached.
The decrease in battery fluid occurs due to the evaporation of moisture in the battery fluid. The evaporation of moisture is promoted when the temperature of the environment where the battery is placed in the vehicle is high or when the amount of heat generated by the battery itself is large.

  Here, normally, when the battery is used in a state where the battery does not reach full charge, so-called sulfation gradually degrades the performance of the battery. As the performance deteriorates, the electric resistance inside the battery increases, and if the battery is used with the electric resistance increased, the amount of heat generated by the battery itself also increases, which promotes the evaporation of the battery liquid. Moreover, if it continues using it in the state where the battery liquid is insufficient, the sulfuric acid concentration in the battery liquid increases with further evaporation of moisture. When the sulfuric acid concentration in the battery liquid rises, the metal parts and the like inside the battery are easily corroded, and eventually cause fatal internal damage such as dropping off of the electrode plate.

Therefore, in order to maintain the performance of the battery, the liquid amount management of the battery liquid is important, but as described above, the water supply operation is very complicated. In particular, in the case of a battery of a vehicle that repeats driving and stopping at a short distance, such as a vehicle used for home delivery work, it is particularly often used in a consumed state that does not reach full charge. For this reason, the amount of water evaporation of the battery liquid is large, requiring frequent water supply work, and reducing the work load has been demanded.
Further, as described above, a battery mounted on a vehicle or the like is generally constituted by a large number of cells, and the battery liquid amount management needs to be performed for each cell. However, in order to automatically manage the liquid amount for each cell, an expensive liquid amount sensor must be provided for each cell. For this reason, development of the practical system which can supply water automatically with respect to the battery which consists of many cells was calculated | required.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described present situation, and an object thereof is to provide a battery batch water supply system capable of automatically and collectively supplying water to each cell of a vehicle battery.

The present invention is as follows.
1. A battery batch water supply system that collectively supplies purified water to each cell of a battery mounted on a vehicle,
A purified water tank for storing the purified water;
A pump for sending purified water in the purified water tank to each cell;
A faucet provided for each cell and supplying the purified water delivered by the pump to each cell,
A liquid level detection sensor that is provided for each cell and detects the liquid level of the battery liquid in each cell, and
A control unit that performs control to operate the pump in response to detection results of a plurality of the liquid level detection sensors,
Each of the plurality of water taps has a float that moves up and down according to the liquid level of the battery liquid in each cell, and supplies or stops supplying the purified water according to the position of the float. Is configured to do automatically,
The control unit detects that the liquid level is equal to or lower than a predetermined height by any one of the plurality of liquid level detection sensors, and the liquid level is equal to or lower than a predetermined height. A battery batch water supply system characterized by performing control to operate the pump after a state where it is detected continues for a predetermined time.
2. A plurality of LEDs corresponding to the cells;
When the liquid level detection sensor detects that the liquid level of the battery liquid in any one of the cells is equal to or lower than a predetermined height, the control unit includes an LED corresponding to the cell. Control to turn on the above 1. The battery batch water supply system described.
3. A light emitting element and a switch circuit that receive power from the battery are provided corresponding to each cell,
Each liquid level detection sensor is connected to each switch circuit,
For each cell, when the liquid level is equal to or lower than a predetermined height, the switch circuit is turned on to turn on the light emitting element. The battery batch water supply system described.
4). 2. A second light emitting element that is supplied with power from the battery and is always lit in a color different from that of the light emitting element. The battery batch water supply system described.
5. Further comprising a display,
When the liquid level detection sensor detects that the liquid level of the battery liquid in any one of the cells is equal to or lower than a predetermined height, the control unit sets the number of the cell. 1. Display on the display. The battery batch water supply system described.
6). The control unit performs control for stopping the operation of the pump after a predetermined time has elapsed. To 5. The battery batch water supply system as described in any one of.

  According to the battery batch water supply system of the present invention, a purified water tank for storing purified water, a pump for sending purified water in the purified water tank to each cell of the battery, and provided for each cell, and sent by the pump A plurality of water taps that supply purified water to each cell, a plurality of liquid level detection sensors that are provided for each cell and that respectively detect the liquid level of the battery liquid in each cell, and a plurality of liquids A control unit that controls the pump in response to the detection result of the surface height detection sensor, and the plurality of water taps are floats that move up and down in accordance with the liquid surface height of the battery liquid in each cell. And the control unit is configured to automatically supply or stop the supply of purified water according to the position where the float has moved. Is controlled to operate the pump after it has been detected for a predetermined time that the liquid level is detected to be below a predetermined height. Do. With such a configuration, the purified water can be automatically and collectively supplied according to the liquid level of the battery liquid in each cell without performing a complicated operation as in the prior art.

  The control unit further includes a plurality of LEDs corresponding to each cell, and the control unit detects whether the liquid level of the battery liquid in any of the cells is equal to or lower than a predetermined height by the liquid level detection sensor. When control is performed to turn on the LED corresponding to the cell when it is detected, the operator promptly confirms that the battery needs to be supplied with water and which liquid level of the cell has decreased. Can be recognized.

  A light emitting element and a switch circuit that receive power from the battery are provided corresponding to each cell, and each liquid level detection sensor is connected to each switch circuit. When the light emitting element is turned on by turning on the switch circuit when the length is less than or equal to a predetermined height, it is necessary to check whether the battery needs water supply and which liquid level of the cell has decreased. Can be recognized promptly. Since the decrease in the liquid level is automatically displayed by the light emitting element without using the control unit, the battery batch water supply system can be configured simply and at low cost.

  In the case where the battery further includes a second light emitting element that receives power from the battery and is always lit in a color different from that of the light emitting element, the visibility of the worker can be improved and attention can be drawn.

  When the control unit detects that the liquid level height of the battery liquid in any one of the cells is equal to or lower than a predetermined height by the liquid level detection sensor, When displaying the number of the cell on the display, it is possible to display in a space-saving manner by using a small number of parts, which cell has a lowered liquid level.

  In addition, when the control unit performs control to stop the pump operation after a predetermined time has elapsed after the pump operation time has elapsed, the control unit reduces the generation amount of malfunction during pump operation, such as seizure due to idling. Can do.

1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a battery batch water supply system according to a first embodiment. It is a front view which shows the water tap which concerns on the present Example 1 and 2. FIG. It is the II sectional view taken on the line of FIG. 2, (a) shows the state of liquid level height, (b) shows the state of liquid level height low, respectively. It is a figure which shows the water tap main body which concerns on this Example 1 and 2, (a) is a top view, (b) shows the II-II sectional view taken on the line of (a), respectively. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a control system of a battery batch water supply system according to a first embodiment. It is a figure which shows the flowchart for demonstrating control of the battery package water supply system which concerns on the present Example 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows typically the battery batch water supply system which concerns on the present Example 2. FIG. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the control system of the battery package water supply system which concerns on the present Example 2. It is a figure which shows the flowchart for demonstrating control of the battery package water supply system which concerns on the present Example 2. FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the battery package water supply system which concerns on the present Example 3. It is a circuit diagram for demonstrating the detection method and display method of a liquid level in the battery batch water supply system which concerns on the present Example 3. FIG. It is a typical external view of the simple display unit in the battery batch water supply system which concerns on the present Example 3.

  The battery batch water supply system according to this embodiment is a battery batch water supply system that collectively supplies purified water to each cell of a battery mounted on a vehicle, and includes a purified water tank, a pump, and a water tap described below. And a liquid level detection sensor and a control unit (see, for example, FIG. 1, FIG. 7, FIG. 10, etc.). Examples of the purified water include water obtained by distillation, water obtained by filtration, and water obtained by ion exchange.

  The configuration, shape, number of cells, etc. of the “battery” are not particularly limited. This battery can be configured, for example, by providing 12 cells that supply a voltage of 2 V per cell (see, for example, FIGS. 1 and 7). Further, the battery can be constituted by a plurality of units, for example, with 12 cells as one unit. In this case, the plurality of units may be connected in parallel or may be connected in series. Furthermore, in this case, the battery batch water supply system according to the present embodiment can be provided for each of the plurality of units, for example.

  As long as the “purified water tank” stores purified water, its shape, size, material, number, etc. are not particularly limited. It is preferable that at least a part of the purified water tank is transparent or translucent from the viewpoint that the remaining amount of purified water in the container can be confirmed.

  The “pump” is not particularly limited in configuration, size, type, number, drive mode, etc. as long as the purified water in the purified water tank is sent to each cell. Examples of the type of the pump include a volumetric pump such as a diaphragm pump, a gear pump, a vane pump, a piston pump, and a plunger pump, and a non-volumetric pump such as a centrifugal pump and an axial pump. Moreover, the drive form of this pump is not specifically limited, For example, it can be a form driven by an electric motor, a hydraulic motor, an air motor or the like. In particular, when the battery is driven by an electric motor, the battery can be driven as a power source.

  The “water faucet” is provided for each cell, and the structure, shape, supply form, etc. are not particularly limited as long as the purified water sent from the pump is supplied to each cell. This water faucet has a float that moves up and down according to the liquid level of the battery fluid in each cell, and automatically supplies or stops supplying purified water according to the position where the float moves. (See, for example, FIGS. 2A and 2B). The size, shape, material, movement form, etc. of the float are not particularly limited. For example, when the liquid level of the battery liquid in the cell is equal to or lower than a predetermined height, the float opens the purified water passage for supplying purified water to the cell, and the liquid level is high. When the height is equal to or higher than the predetermined height, the purified water passage may be closed so as to move up and down in accordance with the liquid level of the battery liquid in the cell.

  The “liquid level detection sensor” is provided for each of the cells, and the configuration, type, detection form, etc. are not particularly limited as long as the liquid level of the battery liquid in each cell is detected. This liquid level detection sensor can be attached to the water tap, for example. Examples of the liquid level detection sensor include an electrode sensor and a float switch.

  The “control unit” is not particularly limited in its configuration, control form, or the like as long as it performs control to operate the pump in response to detection results of the plurality of liquid level detection sensors. The control unit detects that the liquid level in the cell is equal to or lower than a predetermined height by any one of the plurality of liquid level detection sensors, and the liquid level in the cell After the state in which it is detected that the height is equal to or lower than a predetermined height continues for a predetermined time, control for operating the pump is performed. The “predetermined time” is not particularly limited as long as it can be confirmed that the vehicle is in a stationary state, but can be, for example, 1 minute to 1 hour. . The control unit may include a timer for measuring the “predetermined time” (see, for example, FIGS. 5 and 8). In addition, the control unit may be supplied with power from the battery, for example. Although the supply voltage from a battery is not specifically limited, For example, it can be 6V-24V.

  Here, for example, the control unit may be configured to perform a control for stopping the operation of the pump after a predetermined time has elapsed. As such a form, for example, the control unit has a timer for measuring the time after the pump is operated (see, for example, FIG. 5 and FIG. 7), and the control unit operates the pump. The timing of the timer is started when the signal to be output is output, and the output of the signal for operating the pump is stopped when the timer has completed counting the predetermined time.

  The battery batch water supply system according to the present embodiment further includes, for example, (i) a plurality of LEDs corresponding to the respective cells (see, for example, FIG. 8), and the control unit is controlled by the liquid level detection sensor. And (ii) the above (i), in which the LED corresponding to the cell is turned on when it is detected that the liquid level of the battery liquid in any of the cells is equal to or lower than a predetermined height. ), When the liquid level detection sensor detects that the liquid level of the battery liquid in any of the cells is equal to or higher than a predetermined height, A form in which the LED corresponding to the cell is turned off, (iii) In addition to the form (i), a plurality of LEDs corresponding to the cells different from the plurality of LEDs in the form (i) are further provided. The control unit above When it is detected by the liquid level detection sensor that the liquid level of the battery liquid in any of the cells is equal to or higher than a predetermined height, different from the LED in the form (i), For example, it is possible to perform a control for turning on the LED corresponding to the cell.

  In the case of (iii) above, the LED that is turned on when the liquid level of the battery liquid is a predetermined height or less, and the LED that is turned on when the liquid level of the battery liquid is a predetermined height or higher, It is preferable that the LEDs are lit in different colors.

  In place of the above (i), an indicator is provided, and the control unit is configured such that the liquid level height of the battery liquid in any cell is equal to or lower than a predetermined height by the liquid level detection sensor. When detected, the cell number may be displayed on the display. A general LED numeric display or the like can be used regardless of the type of the display.

Further, the battery batch water supply system according to the present embodiment includes a light emitting element and a switch circuit corresponding to each cell, and the liquid level detection sensor is connected to the switch circuit. The light emitting element can be turned on by turning on the switch circuit when the height is equal to or lower than a predetermined height (see, for example, FIG. 11).
In that case, a configuration may be further provided with a second light emitting element that receives power from the battery and is always lit in a color different from that of the light emitting element (see, for example, FIG. 11).

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, a battery forklift is exemplified as a vehicle according to the present invention, and a battery batch water supply system that supplies purified water to the battery of the battery forklift will be described.

<Example 1>
1. Configuration of Battery Collective Water Supply System As shown in FIG. 1, the battery collective water supply system 1 according to the first embodiment is a battery collective water supply that collectively supplies purified water to each cell 101 of a battery 10 mounted on a battery forklift. System. As shown in FIG. 1, the battery 10 is connected in series with twelve cells 101 that can supply a voltage of 2V, and can supply a voltage of 24V at the maximum.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the battery batch water supply system 1 is provided for each cell 101, a purified water tank 2 for storing purified water, a pump 3 for sending purified water in the purified water tank 2 to each cell 101, and each cell 101. And a water tap 4 for supplying the purified water delivered by the pump 3 to each cell 101. The purified water tank 2, the pump 3, and each water tap 4 are connected by a water supply pipe 5. Then, when an operation signal is output from a control unit to be described later and the pump 3 is operated, the purified water in the purified water tank 2 is sent to each water tap 4 through the water supply pipe 5.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the water tap 4 is provided for each cell 101 of the battery 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the water tap 4 is inserted into each cell from a normal liquid port provided in each cell 101. Further, a water supply pipe 5 is connected to the water supply tap 4, and thereby purified water from the water supply pipe 5 is circulated. The water tap 4 according to the first embodiment is a float type water tap, and automatically performs water supply and water stop according to the liquid level of the battery liquid. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b), the water tap 4 has a float 41, and the float 41 has a predetermined liquid level height of the battery liquid in the cell 101. The purified water passage 42 for supplying purified water to the cell 101 is opened when the liquid level is less than the predetermined value, and the purified water passage 42 is closed when the liquid level is equal to or higher than a predetermined height. It is provided to move up and down according to the liquid level of the battery liquid in 101. Moreover, the float 41 has the guide part 411 of a long rod shape as shown to Fig.3 (a) and (b). When the float 41 moves up and down, the guide portion 411 is guided to the inner wall of a through hole described later. Thereby, the attitude | position of the float 41 when moving up and down is maintained.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the water tap 4 includes a water tap main body 43 and a cap 44. As shown in FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b), the purified water passage 42, the through hole 431, and the vent hole 432 are formed in the water faucet main body 43. The through hole 431 and the vent hole 432 are formed so as to communicate the lower surface side and the upper surface side of the faucet body 43, respectively. The guide part 411 of the float 41 is inserted into the through hole 431, and the guide part 411 is guided by the inner wall thereof. The vent hole 432 is a hole for discharging the gas generated in the cell 101 to the outside. In addition, the water faucet 4 is provided with a sensor mounting portion 433. The sensor attachment portion 433 is formed so as to communicate the lower surface side and the upper surface side of the water faucet main body 43 in the same manner as the through hole 431 and the vent hole 432, but its lower end side extends downward in a cylindrical shape. Is provided.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the cap 44 is provided so as to be openable and closable so as to cover the upper part of the faucet body 43. Moreover, the cap 44 is provided so that a clearance may be left with respect to the upper surface of the faucet body 43. Accordingly, the upper openings of the through hole 431 and the vent hole 432 are covered to prevent foreign matters such as dust from entering the cell 101.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the battery batch water supply system 1 includes a liquid level detection sensor 6 and a control unit 7.
The liquid level detection sensor 6 is provided in each cell 101 of the battery 10 and detects the liquid level of the battery liquid in each cell 101. In the present embodiment, the liquid level detection sensor 6 is attached to the sensor attachment portion 433 of the faucet body 43 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The liquid level detection sensor 6 is an electrode sensor in which an electric wire 62 is connected to an electrode 61 made of an anticorrosion zinc rod (JIS H4301). The lower end side of the electrode 61 is exposed in the space in the cell 101, and an electric wire 62 is connected to the upper end side. The electric wire 62 has one end connected to the electrode 61 and the other end connected to the control unit 7.
The control unit 7 receives the detection result of the liquid level detection sensor 6 and controls the operation and stoppage of the pump 3. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the control unit 7 is operated by being supplied with 24 V power from the battery 10.

  Further, the control unit 7 has a timer 71 that measures the time during which any of the cells 101 is in a low liquid level state. Specifically, the timer 71 starts counting when any one of the liquid level detection sensors 6 detects a low liquid level, and counts the time in that state. In addition, the timer 71 is in a state where the liquid level height fluctuates, for example, when the battery forklift is operated during a predetermined time, and the liquid level height detection sensor 6 detects the low liquid level height. Therefore, the time measurement is reset when the liquid level is changed to a state in which it is detected that the liquid level is equal to or higher than a predetermined level (liquid level height). Thus, it is confirmed whether or not the battery forklift is in a stationary state. The control unit 7 detects that the liquid level is low by any of the liquid level detection sensors 6, and after the state in which the low liquid level is detected continues for a predetermined time. In addition, a signal for operating the pump 3 is output.

  The control unit 7 has a timer 72 that measures the time since the pump 3 was operated. The timer 72 starts timing when the control unit 7 outputs a signal for operating the pump 3. Then, the control unit 7 stops outputting the signal for operating the pump 3 when the timer 72 completes the measurement of the predetermined time.

Next, a control method of the battery batch water supply system 1 by the control unit 7 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
First, in step S100, the control unit 7 determines that the liquid level is equal to or lower than a predetermined height by any of the liquid level detection sensors 6 provided in each cell 101. It is confirmed whether or not it is detected that the surface height is low. If it is not detected that the liquid level is low, the liquid level height is continuously monitored. If it is detected that the liquid level is low, the process proceeds to step S105, where the timer 71 is reset and activated. As described above, the timer 71 is a timer for confirming that the state where the liquid level is detected to be low continues for a predetermined time. In the first embodiment, the time measured by the timer 71 is set to 15 minutes.

  In step S110 and step S115, it is monitored whether or not the battery forklift is in a stationary state until a predetermined time has elapsed. This confirmation of whether or not it is in a stationary state is performed by monitoring whether or not the liquid level is changed from a low state to a high state before a predetermined time elapses. Specifically, whether or not it is in a stationary state is continuously detected by the liquid level detection sensor 6 that the liquid level is low while the timer 71 is timing. It is done by monitoring whether or not. This is because when the liquid level in the cell 101 fluctuates due to operation of a battery forklift, the liquid level height detection sensor 6 may temporarily detect that the liquid level is high. Is used.

  As described above, the battery forklift is monitored to be stationary, and if it is confirmed in step S115 that the battery forklift is stationary for a predetermined time, the process proceeds to step S120 and a signal for operating the pump 3 is output. To do. On the other hand, if it is confirmed in step S115 that it is not in a stationary state during the time measurement by the timer 71, the process returns to step S105 and the subsequent processing is repeated.

When the pump 3 is operated in step S120, the timer 72 is reset and operated in step S125. As described above, the timer 72 is a timer that measures the time for which the pump 3 is operated.
In step S130, it is monitored whether or not a predetermined time is counted by the timer 72. In the first embodiment, the pump 3 is operated only during the time counting of the timer 72, and the time measured is set to 15 minutes. If it is confirmed in step S130 that the predetermined time has elapsed, the process proceeds to step S135, and the pump 3 is stopped.

2. Next, the operation of the battery batch water supply system 1 having the above configuration will be described.
As shown in FIG. 2B, the liquid level is reduced to a predetermined height or less due to evaporation of the battery liquid in any of the cells 101 of the battery 10 used in the battery forklift. When detected by the surface height detection sensor 6, the pump 3 is operated to send the purified water stored in the purified water tank 2 to each cell 101. The delivery of the purified water is started when the battery forklift is stationary.

  The purified water sent out by the pump 3 is supplied to each cell 101 by each water tap 4. At this time, the purified water passage 42 of the faucet 4 is opened in the cell 101 having a liquid level height equal to or lower than a predetermined height by the action of the float 41 (FIG. 2B) so that purified water is supplied. It has become. On the other hand, the purified water passage 42 of the faucet 4 is closed in the cell 101 whose liquid level is equal to or higher than a predetermined height (FIG. 2A), so that purified water is not supplied. Thus, in the battery batch water supply system 1 according to the first embodiment, purified water is supplied only to the cells 101 that require water supply.

  When water is supplied and the liquid level in the cell 101 exceeds a predetermined height, the purified water passage 42 of the water tap 4 is automatically closed by the action of the float 41 (FIG. 2 (a)), and excessively. There is no water supply. In addition, the pump 3 is operated only for the time measured by the timer 72, so that the amount of troubles occurring during operation of the pump, such as burn-in due to idling, is reduced.

3. As described above, according to the battery batch water supply system 1 of the first embodiment, the purified water tank 2 for storing purified water and the pump for sending the purified water in the purified water tank 2 to each cell 101 of the battery 10. 3 and a plurality of water taps 4 that are provided for each cell 101 and supply purified water sent from the pump 3 to each cell 101, and for each cell 101, the battery liquid in each cell 101 A plurality of liquid level detection sensors 6 for detecting the respective liquid level heights, and a control unit 7 for controlling the pumps in response to the detection results of the plurality of liquid level height detection sensors 6. The water faucet 4 has a float 41 that moves up and down according to the liquid level of the battery liquid in each cell 101, and supplies or stops supplying purified water according to the position where the float 41 moves. The control unit 7 is configured to perform automatically, and the control unit 7 detects that the liquid level is equal to or lower than a predetermined level by any one of the plurality of liquid level detection sensors 6. After the state in which it is detected that the height is equal to or lower than the predetermined height continues for a predetermined time, control for operating the pump 3 is performed. With such a configuration, the purified water can be automatically and collectively supplied according to the liquid level of the battery liquid in each cell 101 without performing a complicated operation as in the prior art.

  In addition, since the control unit 7 performs control to stop the pump 3 after the operation time of the pump 3 has elapsed for a predetermined time, the amount of troubles occurring during pump operation, such as seizing due to idling, is reduced. Can be made.

<Example 2>
1. Configuration of battery batch water supply system

  As shown in FIG. 7, the battery batch water supply system 1 according to the second embodiment is substantially the same as the configuration of the first embodiment except that the display unit 8 is provided. Therefore, in the second embodiment, detailed description of the configuration substantially the same as the configuration of the first embodiment is omitted, and the display unit 8 will be mainly described.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the display unit 8 is electrically connected to the control unit 7 and has a plurality of LEDs 81 corresponding to the respective cells 101 of the battery 10. The display unit 8 receives the fact that the control unit 7 has detected that the liquid level height of any of the cells 101 is lower than the predetermined height (the liquid level is low) by the liquid level detection sensor 6. When the lighting instruction signal is output, the LED 81 corresponding to the cell 101 is turned on in response to the lighting instruction signal. The lighting instruction signal is stopped when the liquid level detection sensor 6 detects that the liquid level of any of the cells 101 is higher than a predetermined height, and thus the LED 81 that has been lit is turned on. Is turned off.

  As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 9, the control method of the battery batch water supply system 1 by the control unit 7 according to the second embodiment includes an LED lighting instruction between step S100 and step S105 in addition to the flowchart of the first embodiment. Step S101 for outputting a signal and Step S126 for confirming whether the liquid level is low or not and Step S127 for stopping the output of the LED lighting signal are provided between Step S125 and Step S130. ing. In the second embodiment, these steps will be mainly described.

  When it is detected in step S100 that the liquid level is low, in step S101, an LED lighting instruction signal for lighting the LED corresponding to the cell 101 in which the liquid level is detected to be low is generated. Output. And if water supply is started through above-mentioned step S105-step S125, in step S126, the liquid level height will be monitored again. At this time, when it is detected that the liquid level is high in all the cells 101, the process proceeds to step S127, the output of the LED lighting signal is stopped, and the process proceeds to step S130. If at least one cell 101 having a low liquid level is confirmed in step S126, the process proceeds to step S130 as it is. Steps after step S130 are the same as those in the flowchart of the first embodiment.

2. Next, the operation of the battery batch water supply system 1 having the above configuration will be described.
The action of the battery batch water supply system 1 according to the second embodiment is that in addition to the action of the battery batch water supply system 1 according to the first embodiment, the liquid level of any one of the cells 101 is lowered to a predetermined height or less. When detected by the surface height detection sensor 6, among the plurality of LEDs 81 of the display unit 8, the LED 81 corresponding to the cell 101 is turned on, and the liquid level of all the cells 101 is equal to or higher than a predetermined height. When the rise is detected by the liquid level detection sensor 6, the LED 81 that is lit is extinguished. By illuminating the LED 81 corresponding to the cell 101 whose liquid level has dropped, it is warned that the battery 10 needs water supply, and which cell 101 has its liquid level lowered is displayed. The Further, when the liquid level rises due to the water supply and becomes the liquid level high state, the LED 81 is turned off, and each cell 101 of the battery 10 has an appropriate liquid level height in the display unit 8. Is displayed.

3. As described above, according to the battery batch water supply system 1 of the second embodiment, in addition to the effects of the first embodiment, a plurality of LEDs 81 corresponding to the respective cells 101 are provided. When the surface height detection sensor 6 detects that the liquid level of the battery liquid in any one of the cells 101 is equal to or lower than a predetermined height, the LED 81 corresponding to the cell 101 is turned on. As a result, the operator can quickly recognize which battery 10 needs to be supplied with water and which cell 101 has a lowered liquid level.

<Example 3>
1. Configuration of battery batch water supply system

  The battery batch water supply system 1 ′ according to the third embodiment includes a simple display unit 9 as shown in FIG. 10. In the second embodiment, the display of the display unit 8 is controlled by the control unit 7, but in the third embodiment, the necessary display is automatically displayed by the simple display unit 9 without using the control unit 7. Configured to do. Therefore, in the third embodiment, the detailed description of the configuration substantially similar to the configuration of the first and second embodiments will be omitted, and the simple display unit 9 will be mainly described.

The battery batch water supply system 1 ′ is a battery batch water supply system that detects the liquid level for each cell 101 and supplies purified water to each cell 101 in a batch with respect to the battery 10 composed of n cells 101. . For this reason, each cell 101 is provided with a liquid level detection sensor 60, and each liquid level detection sensor 60 is electrically connected to the simplified display unit 9. The control unit 7 can be connected to the simple display unit 9.
As shown in FIG. 10, the potentials of the electrodes at both ends of the battery 10 are Vn− and Vn +. For example, when the battery 10 is composed of 12 cells 101 each having 2V, Vn− can be set to 0V and Vn + can be set to 24V. Power supplies Vn− and Vn + are supplied from the electrodes on both ends of the battery 10 to the simple display unit 9 (and the control unit 7).

FIG. 11 shows an electric circuit including n liquid level detection sensors 60 provided in n cells 101 (C1 to Cn) and the simple display unit 9. The electrode plate (anode plate) 111 of the cell C1 on one end side of the battery 10 becomes the Vn +, and the electrode plate (cathode plate) 112 of the cell Cn on the other end side becomes the Vn−.
The liquid level detection sensor 60 is a conductor serving as an electrode for detecting the liquid level, and the material, shape, etc. thereof are not particularly limited. For example, a metal bar or a metal plate using zinc or the like can be used as the liquid level detection sensor 60. The liquid level detection sensor 60 is disposed such that the lower end side thereof is a predetermined liquid level of the cell 101. The liquid level detection sensor 60 and the simple display unit 9 are electrically connected.

The simple display unit 9 includes n sets of switch circuits 91 and light emitting elements 92 (D1 to Dn) corresponding to the cells C1 to Cn. Each switch circuit 91 is provided between the power source Vn + and each liquid level detection sensor 60, and is configured to turn on / off the switch elements (Q1 to Qn), respectively. Each of the light emitting elements D1 to Dn is provided between the power sources Vn + and Vn−, and is turned on when each switch circuit 91 (switch elements Q1 to Qn) is turned on, and is turned off when turned off. It is configured as follows.
Further, the second light emitting element 93 can be provided between the power sources Vn + and Vn−.
Regardless of the type of the light emitting elements D1 to Dn and the second light emitting element 93, LEDs are used in this example. The light emitting elements D1 to Dn and the second light emitting element 93 are preferably lit in different colors. For example, the light emitting elements D1 to Dn can be green LEDs, and the second light emitting element 93 can be an orange or red LED.

  Signals (for example, signals S1 to Sn shown in FIG. 11) can be appropriately extracted from the circuit of the simple display unit 9 and connected to the control unit 7. With this signal, the control unit 7 can detect whether the liquid level of each cell is equal to or lower than a predetermined height. Then, since the light emitting element 92 is automatically turned on and off by the simple display unit 9, the processing related to the LED lighting instruction (S101, S126, S127) from the control of the control unit 7 shown in the second embodiment (FIG. 9). ) Can be omitted.

  FIG. 12 shows an example in which the simple display unit 9 shown in FIG. 11 is housed in a casing. The simple display unit 9 is connected to the electrodes (Vn + and Vn−) at both ends of the battery 10, the liquid level detection sensor 90 of each cell, and the control unit 7 by a wire harness 95. In this example, light emitting elements D1 to D12 ("1" to "12") corresponding to each of the 12 cells are disposed on the front surface. In addition, one second light emitting element 93 (“power supply”) is provided.

2. Operation of the battery batch water supply system In the battery batch water supply system 1 ′ of the third embodiment, when the liquid level of a certain cell 101 exceeds a predetermined height, the tip of the liquid level detection sensor 60 is in the electrolyte. Therefore, a minute current is generated between the liquid level detection sensor 60 provided in the cell and the electrode plate of the cell via the electrolytic solution. As a result, the switch circuit 91 (switch element Q) corresponding to the cell is turned on, and the light emitting element 92 is lit. When the liquid surface height of the cell 101 is equal to or lower than the predetermined height, the liquid surface height detection sensor 60 is separated from the electrolytic solution, so that the current does not flow. As a result, the switch circuit 91 (switch element Q) is turned off and the light emitting element 92 is turned off.
Further, since the second light emitting element 93 is connected between the power sources Vn + and Vn−, the second light emitting element 93 is always lit due to a potential difference therebetween.

From the above, while the liquid level height of the cell 101 exceeds the predetermined height, the light emitting element 92 corresponding to the cell is lit, and the liquid level height of the cell 101 is equal to or lower than the predetermined height. When this happens, the light emitting element 92 corresponding to the cell is turned off. Therefore, when the light emitting element 92 corresponding to the cell 101 whose liquid level is lowered is turned off, it is warned that the battery 10 needs to be supplied with water, and which cell 101 has its liquid level lowered. I understand. Further, when the liquid level is raised by water supply and exceeds a predetermined height, the light emitting element 92 is turned on again.
Further, a signal (S1 to Sn, etc.) indicating whether or not the liquid level of each cell 101 has fallen below a predetermined height can be sent to the control unit 7. Thereby, similarly to Example 1, the control unit 7 can detect that the liquid level height of any cell has fallen, and can control water supply.

3. Advantages of Embodiment According to the battery batch water supply system 1 ′ of the third embodiment, in addition to the effects of the first embodiment, a plurality of light emitting elements 92 corresponding to the respective cells 101 are provided, and the liquid level height detection sensor 60 is provided. The light emitting element 92 corresponding to the cell 101 is automatically turned off when the liquid level of the battery liquid in the cell 101 is equal to or lower than a predetermined height by the electric circuit configured by the simple display unit 9. The operator can promptly recognize that the battery 10 needs water supply and which cell 101 has a lowered liquid level. In addition, since it is possible to display whether the liquid level is appropriate without using the control unit 7, it is possible to simplify the configuration of the control unit 7 and realize a battery batch water supply system at a lower cost. it can. Moreover, when the liquid level height of each cell is appropriate, the light-emitting element 92 is lit, and the second light-emitting element 93 that is always lit can be provided. In addition, it is possible to facilitate the discovery of a failure of the battery batch water supply system.

  In addition, in this invention, it can be set as the Example variously changed within the range of this invention according to the objective and use, without being restricted to the said Examples 1-3. That is, in the above-described embodiment, an example in which the battery batch water supply system is applied to the battery 10 in which 12 cells 101 that can supply a voltage of 2 V per cell are connected in series has been shown. The battery may be applied to a battery composed of a plurality of units, each of which has 12 cells as one unit. In this case, twelve cells may be regarded as one unit, and the battery batch water supply system may be applied to each unit, or one battery including a water faucet and a liquid level detection sensor corresponding to the number of cells. It is good also as a collective water supply system.

  In the second embodiment, the plurality of LEDs 81 corresponding to the respective cells 101 are provided, and the control unit 7 uses the liquid level detection sensor 6 to set the liquid level of the battery liquid in any one of the cells 101 to a predetermined level. When it is detected that the LED 81 corresponding to the cell 101 is below, the LED 81 corresponding to the cell 101 is controlled to be turned on, and the liquid level of the battery liquid in any of the cells 101 is detected by the liquid level detection sensor 6. The case where control is performed to turn off the LED 81 corresponding to the cell 101 when it is detected that the height is equal to or higher than the predetermined height is exemplified, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the battery liquid in the cell The LED further comprises an LED that is turned on when it is detected that the liquid level is less than or equal to a predetermined height, and the control unit uses any of the liquid level detection sensors to When liquid level of the battery fluid is detected to be above a predetermined height, it may perform control of turning on the different the LED. Thus, for example, when the liquid level is below a predetermined level, a red LED is turned on as a warning, and when the liquid level is above a predetermined level, the appropriate liquid level is set. As it exists, it is possible to make it easier to grasp the state of the liquid level, such as turning on a green LED.

  It is widely used as a technique for supplying purified water to each cell of a vehicle battery in a batch. In particular, it is suitably used as a system for supplying water to a battery of an electric industrial vehicle such as a battery forklift.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 1 '; Battery batch water supply system, 10; Battery, 101; Cell, 111; Anode plate, 112; Cathode plate, 2; Purified water tank, 3; Pump, 4; Part, 42; purified water passage, 43; faucet body, 431; through hole, 432; vent hole, 433; sensor mounting part, 44; cap, 5; water supply pipe, 6, 60; 61; Electrode, 62; Electric wire, 7; Control unit, 71; Timer, 72; Timer, 8; Display unit, 81; LED, 9; Simplified display unit, 91; Switch circuit, 92: Light emitting element, 93; Light emitting element.

Claims (6)

A battery batch water supply system that collectively supplies purified water to each cell of a battery mounted on a vehicle,
A purified water tank for storing the purified water;
A pump for sending purified water in the purified water tank to each cell;
A faucet provided for each cell and supplying the purified water delivered by the pump to each cell,
A liquid level detection sensor that is provided for each cell and detects the liquid level of the battery liquid in each cell, and
A control unit that performs control to operate the pump in response to detection results of a plurality of the liquid level detection sensors,
Each of the plurality of water taps has a float that moves up and down according to the liquid level of the battery liquid in each cell, and supplies or stops supplying the purified water according to the position of the float. Is configured to do automatically,
The control unit detects that the liquid level is equal to or lower than a predetermined height by any one of the plurality of liquid level detection sensors, and the liquid level is equal to or lower than a predetermined height. A battery batch water supply system characterized by performing control to operate the pump after a state where it is detected continues for a predetermined time. A plurality of LEDs corresponding to the cells;
When the liquid level detection sensor detects that the liquid level of the battery liquid in any one of the cells is equal to or lower than a predetermined height, the control unit includes an LED corresponding to the cell. The battery batch water supply system of Claim 1 which performs control which lights up. A light emitting element and a switch circuit that receive power from the battery are provided corresponding to each cell,
Each liquid level detection sensor is connected to each switch circuit,
The battery batch water supply system according to claim 1, wherein the light emitting element is turned on by turning on the switch circuit when the liquid level is equal to or lower than a predetermined height for each cell.   The battery collective water supply system according to claim 3, further comprising a second light emitting element that receives power from the battery and is always lit in a color different from that of the light emitting element. Further comprising a display,
When the liquid level detection sensor detects that the liquid level of the battery liquid in any one of the cells is equal to or lower than a predetermined height, the control unit sets the number of the cell. The battery batch water supply system according to claim 1, which displays on a display.   The battery batch water supply system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the control unit performs control to stop the operation of the pump after a predetermined time has elapsed.

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