IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,557,542
Granted Patent B2
US 7,557,542 · App. 12/102,542 · Granted Jul 7, 2009

Apparatus for regulating charging of electrochemical cells

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,557,542
App. No.
12/102,542
Granted
Jul 7, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

A rechargeable electrochemical cell charging system is provided having a thermistor that engages the negative cell terminal at a location remote from the negative charge contact. The thermistor outputs temperature data to a controller in the charger that determines the rate of cell temperature increase. When the increase reaches a predetermined rate, the charge to the cell is discontinued. The cell can also include an air moving system that circulates cool ambient air through battery compartment to cool the batteries being charged.

Claims (15)

1. A charger of the type that delivers a charge to an electrochemical cell, the charger comprising:

a housing;

at least one battery compartment disposed in the housing that receives the electrochemical cell, wherein the battery compartment includes a positive charge contact and a negative charge contact;

a controller;

a thermistor permanently affixed to the charger within the battery compartment at a position remote from the negative charge contact; and

an air moving system including a vent disposed proximal the electrochemical cell, and a forced air source that draws ambient air into the vent.

2. The charger of claim 1 , wherein the positive charge contact engages a positive cell terminal, and the negative charge contact engages a negative cell terminal.

3. The charger of claim 2 , wherein the thermistor provides data output to the controller for determining a temperature rate increase of the cell.

4. The charger of claim 3 , wherein the controller is in communication with the positive charge contact and the negative charge contact and terminates cell charging when the thermistor indicates a measured cell temperature increase rate beyond a predetermined rate.

5. The charger of claim 4 , wherein the predetermined rate is between 1 and 5 degrees C. per minute.

6. The charger of claim 5 , wherein the predetermined rate is substantially 2 degrees C. per minute.

7. The charger of claim 4 , wherein the controller is configured to apply a maintenance charge to the cell after cell charging has been terminated.

8. The charger of claim 4 , further comprising a resilient support member disposed inside the battery compartment biasing the thermistor into engagement with a negative end of a cell disposed in the battery compartment.

9. The charger of claim 1 , wherein the controller is disposed in the housing.

10. The charger of claim 1 , wherein the thermistor is offset from the negative charge contact a distance of at least 0.5 mm.

Assignments (5)
NOTICE OF SUCCESSOR AGENT AND ASSIGNMENT OF SECURITY INTEREST (INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY) REEL/FRAME 036131/0272 Recorded Jun 5, 2018
From: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH
To: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA
Reel/Frame 046301/0425 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 20, 2015
From: SPECTRUM BRANDS, INC.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 036131/0272 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 14, 2015
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL TRUSTEE
To: APPLICA CONSUMER PRODUCTS, INC.; APPLICA CONSUMER PRODUCTS, INC., A CORP. OF FLORIDA; KWIKSET CORPORATION; LIQUID HOLDING COMPANY, INC.; NATIONAL MANUFACTURING CO.; PRICE PFISTER, INC.; ROV HOLDING, INC., A CORP. OF DELAWARE; ROVCAL, INC.; ROVCAL, INC., A CORP. OF CALIFORNIA; RUSSELL HOBBS, INC., A CORP. OF DELAWARE; SALIX ANIMAL HEALTH, LLC; SEED RESOURCES, L.L.C.; SPECTRUM BRANDS, INC.; SPECTRUM BRANDS, INC. AS SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO ROVCAL, INC.; SPECTRUM BRANDS, INC., A CORP. OF DELAWARE; TELL MANUFACTURING, INC.; TETRA HOLDING (US), INC., A CORP. OF DELAWARE; TETRA HOLDINGS (US), INC.; UNITED INDUSTRIES CORPORATION; UNITED INDUSTRIES CORPORATION AS SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO LIQUID HOLDING COMPANY, INC.; UNITED PET GROUP, INC.; UNITED PET GROUP, INC., A CORP. OF DELAWARE
Reel/Frame 036102/0001 →
MERGER Recorded Nov 10, 2014
From: ROVCAL, INC.
To: SPECTRUM BRANDS, INC.
Reel/Frame 034136/0718 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 28, 2012
From: SPECTRUM BRANDS, INC.; UNITED INDUSTRIES CORPORATION; UNITED PET GROUP, INC.; APPLICA CONSUMER PRODUCTS, INC.; ROVCAL, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 029536/0634 →