STARTING BATTERY OF OPTIMUM STARTING DYNAMICS

Abstract: The invention relates to a starting battery of optimized starting dynamics, arranged in a plastic container, with outline dimensions specified by relevant standards provided with the required negative and positive plate stacks, plate straps, plate terminals and poles, with a connected electric and electronic control unit. The essence of the invention lies in that the plastic battery container (1) consists of cell seats and a suitably designed container cover (2), provided with interchangeable monocells (3, 4) arranged in said cell seats parallel with the longitudinal axis so that the linked-up pole terminals (9, 10) of each pair of the adjoining monocells (3, 4), i.e. the poles thereof invariably show a mirror image of each other, where the plate stacks (5, 6) of said monocells (3, 4) are of reduced internal resistance and of attenuated vibration and where the starting battery is provided with an auxiliary battery (18) connectible to the battery container (1) from outside and preferably consisting of two smaller size cells.

Description: STARTING BATTERY OF OPTIMUM STARTINGDYNAMICS The invention relates to a starting battery, featuring optimum starting dynamics, low internal resistance and attenuated vibration, used in combination with an auxiliary battery connected in series with the ignition circuit, serving for the starting of petrol-fueled Otto engines. As is known, for the starting of internal-combination engines lead-acid batteries are generally used. The amount of electric energy that can be stored in, and recovered from, a storage battery is the function of the active material taking part in the reversible chemical process. However, this assertion is only valid under theoretical conditions only, since in practice the performance of a battery is influenced by several other factors as well. Starting imposes high stress on the battery system, therefore the watt output obtainable in a unit of time is of primary importance. This, in turn decisively depends on the internal resistance of the battery. Since, however, the outline dimensions of vehicle batteries are fixed by relevant standard specifications, the internal resistance can only by changed (reduced) by constructional modifications. In the case of known starting batteries, such as products of BOSCH, SON ENSCHEIN, BAHREN, PERION, VARTA etc., the negative and positive plate stacks consisting of plates separated from each other by interposed insulation are contained in a plastic container of a size kept within the outline dimensions (length-width-height) specified by respective standards, with the cells arranged perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of said container. The terminals of said plate stacks led through holes bored into the cell walls and properly connected in series are linked up by spot welding. A common feature of known plastic-box batteries, being their drawback at the same time that not even minor defects can be repaired in the course of manufacture or in a service workshop, not to mention hidden deficiencies arising during assembly which are attributable to the construction itself. A further drawback of such a constructional deficiency is the unsolved problem of fault location. This difficulty is unequivocally substantiated by warranty practice. 2 It is also a disadvantage of known constructions that while an internal-combustion engine is started, the output voltage of the starting battery drops considerably below its rated value sensibly reducing the intensity of the electric spark required for ignition and reducing also the electric power output feeding various items of auxiliary equipment required to operate in the period of starting, such as engine primer, board electronics, afterburner of catalyse etc. The objective of the invention is to eliminate said drawbacks and respectively to propose a starting battery providing safe ignition, i.e. exhibiting optimum starting dynamics and being capable of supplying sufficient watt output at the instant of starting, offering at the same time the possibility of performing simple and easy repair of cell defects, when required. The arrangement complying with the invention has resulted from the recognition that if the starting battery is built up of interchangeable monocells, and if the voltage drop arising during starting is eliminated by means of an auxiliary battery, furthermore - by means of constructional modification - the internal resistance is reduced and the vibration is attenuated, safe and reliable starting can be ensured, and short-circuits of cells and/or other cell faults can simply and quickly be repaired. The invention relates to a starting battery of optimum start dynamics, mounted in a plastic container of outline dimension specified by relevant standards, said container containing the required negative and positive plate stacks, plate straps, pole terminals, as well as the electric and electronic operating unit linked up with the poles, where said plastic battery container consists of cell trays and of a suitably designed separate battery cover, with interchangeable monocells accommodated in said cell trays arranged parallel with the longitudinal axis so that the connected pole terminals of two adjacent monocells, i.e. the series connected poles thereof are each other's mirror images. The plate stacks of the monocells are of reduced internal resistance and of attenuated vibration, said starting battery being provided with an auxiliary battery connectible to it from outside and preferably consisting of two smaller-size cells, issuing optimum voltage for the ignition circuit. In given cases an embodiment may also be of advantage, where the cells of the auxiliary battery are accommodated in the container of the starting battery. 3 It is of advantage to arrange in the monocells suitable insets, preferably microporous ceramic troughs, ensuring the required spacing and securing the negative and positive plate stacks consisting of plates each having a flag at the top and having slots suitable for receiving the plate flags pushed-in at their bottom, said trays serving at the same time as moulder for the plate bridges connecting said plate flags. In the middle of each monocell cover attached to the monocells by welding a threaded filling hole closable with a cell lock cup, and at the two opposite corners preferably releasable sealing elements suitable for leading out the negative and positive plate-stack pole terminals are provided. The cells of the auxiliary battery differ from those of the starting battery in dimensions only. The drawings illustrate the embodiments of the starting battery and auxiUary battery complying with the invention. Figure 1 shows the top view of the starting battery and auxiliary battery with their covers taken off. Figure 2 is the longitudinal section of the starting battery. Figure 3 is the cross-sectional drawing of the starting battery and side view of the auxiliary battery. The starting battery and auxiliary battery as well as their operation is described with reference to the figures. The starting battery is mounted in battery container 1 closed with cover 2. The outline dimensions of the battery container 1 comply with the respective specifications of relevant standards. The plastic battery container 1 contains six cell seats, arranged parallel with the longitudinal axis of the container 1, as shown in Figure 1. The cell seats contain three monocells 3 and three monocells 4 in alternating order of sequence, i.e. identical monocells 3 i.e. 4 do not get beside each other. The monocells 3 and 4 are made of plastic preferably by injection moulding. The mirror-image arrangement plays a role in reducing internal resistance 4 and the arrangement parallel with the longitudinal axis contribute to the attenuation of vibrations. Each of the monocells 3 and 4 contain a negative plate stack 5 and a positive plate stack 6, where the plates separated by insulation, each being provided with a flag at its top, are connected by plate straps 8. The plate flags reach into the microporous ceramic trough 7 provided with slots at its bottom, said trough being filled up with molten lead constituting said plate 8. The ceramic trough 7 remaining under the monocells 3 and 4 serving as mould of the plate strap 8 ensures at the same time the spacing and fixing of plate stacks 5 and 6 and prevents incidental detachment of a pole connection. The monocell covers 16 welded to the monocells 3 and 4 have a threaded filling hole at their middle, through which the electrolyte can be filled in and replenished, and its level be controlled. The filling hole is shut off by cell cap 17. Closing elements are provided in the injection-moulded monocell cover 16 ensuring releasable connection to the pole-terminals 9 of the negative plate stack 5 and pole-terminal 10 of the positive plate stack 6 arranged in the two opposite corners of the monocell cover 17. In cell seat of battery container 1 three monocells 3 and three monocells 4 are inserted in arrangement shown in Figure 1. The respective pole terminals 9 and 10 of adjacent monocells 3 and 4, i.e. the pole terminal 9 of the negative plate stack 5 led through the cover of the negative plate stack 5 of the monocell 3 is connected by cell links 11 with the pole terminal 10 of the positive plate stack 6 led out through the cover of the positive plate stack 6, outside the monocell cover 16. This arrangement renders the plate stack pole terminals 9 and 10 and cell links 11 non-destructively accessible after removing the cover 2 of the starting battery. The first pole terminal 9 of the negative plate stack 5 and the last pole terminal 10 and positive plate stack 6 thus left out are lengthened by means of sleeves, and are led through cover 2 constitute - as battery positive pole terminal 12 and battery negative pole terminal 13 - the negative pole 14 and the positive pole 15 of the starting battery. The auxiliary battery 18 and the electric and electronic control unit 19 are attached by means of a simple clamping arrangement 19 to the container 1 of the starting battery, preferable on 5 the side of the battery poles 14 and 15. Auxiliary, battery 18 consists of two smaller cells, differing from the monocells in size only. Operation of the starting battery equipped with an auxiUary battery complying with the invention is characterized by its reduced internal resistance and attenuated vibration. Optimum starting dynamics is provided by adding the static voltage of the auxiliary battery 18 to the momentary voltage of the starting battery by parallel connection of the two batteries, ensuring thereby the output voltage and output power required by the ignition circuit. Reduction of the internal resistance and vibration results partly from the parallel arrangement of the monocells 3 and 4 with the longitudinal axis and partly - mainly concerning to the internal resistance - from increasing of the plate area built in into the negative plate stack 5 and positive plate stack 6. Thereby, the specific surface load becomes less and the service life of the plate stack 5 and 6 is increased. The internal resistance is reduced also by pairs arranging the monocells 3 and 4 having different designs to form mirror images of each other, the possibility is offered to connect the cell poles 14 and 15 by means of shortest leads. Arranging the monocells 3 and 4 parallel with the longitudinal axis the liability of the battery container 1 o come into resonance is reduced. As consequence of attenuated vibration, the tendency of the lead paste to drop out from the plates is also diminished. The consequence of this kind of chipping would reduce the active area of the plates, causing increase of the internal resistance of the battery, leading to increased risk of internal short circuits and reducing the obtainable power output. With conventional batteries even if a single cell becomes defective (short-circuited), the service life of the battery comes to its end. Such an event may occur even in the course of manufacture. Starting batteries complying with the invention, on the other hand, in virtue of the interchangeable monocells 3 and 4, as weU as of the removable container cover 2, the fault can be localized and the defective (faulting) monocell can be replaced, the possibility of replacing a battery and the consequent prolongation of its service life results in a considerable reduction of cost, but neither the reduction of harmful effects imposed on the environment can be left out of consideration. 6 With starting batteries the rated voltage of a cell is 2.2 volts, i.e. the overall rated voltage of a battery is 13.2 volts. On starting this rated voltage may drop to a level as low as 9 volts, which may give rise to disturbances in the ignition circuits of the vehicle. This drawback is eliminated by a battery of optimum starting dynamics, where the rated voltage of monocells 3 and 4 is though also 13.2 volts, however by connecting in series the 4.4 volts static voltage of the two cells of the auxiliary battery 18, the output voltage is raised to a level considered as optimum for the ignition circuit. The battery complying with the invention is primarily suitable for the starting of petrol-fueled Otto-engines.

Claims: 7 CLAIMS 1. Starting battery of optimized starting dynamics, arranged in a plastic container, with outline dimensions specified by relevant standards provided with the required negative and positive plate stacks, plate straps, plate terminals and poles, with a connected electric and electronic control unit, characterised in that the plastic battery container (1) consists of cell seats and a suitably designed container cover (2), provided with interchangeable monocells (3, 4) arranged in said cell seats parallel with the longitudinal axis so that the linked-up pole teminals (9, 10) of each pair of the adjoining monoceUs (3, 4), i.e. the poles thereof invariably show a mirror image of each other, where the plate stacks (5, 6) of said monocells (3, 4) are of reduced internal resistance and of attenuated vibration and where the starting battery is provided with an auxiliary battery (18) connectible to the battery container (1) from outside and preferably consisting of two smaUer size cells. 2. Starting battery, as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the cells of the auxiliary battery (18) are arranged in the container (1) of the starting battery. 3. Starting battery as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterised in that the suitable insets, preferably microporous ceramic troughs (7) are arranged in the monocells (3, 4) ensuring spacing and receiving of the negative plate stacks (5) and positive plate stacks (6) consisting of plates, each plate having a flag at its top, said troughs (7) being provided with slots suitable for receiving the plate flags to be pushed into said slots, the same troughs (7) serving at the same as moulds for the plate straps (8) connecting the plate flags. 4. Starting battery, as claimed in any of Claim 1 to 3, characterised in that a threaded filling hole closable with a cell cup (17) is located in the middle of each monocell cover (16) welded to the monocells (3, 4) while in the two opposite corners expediently releasable closing elements suitable for leading out the pole terminals (9, 10) of the negative and positive plate stacks (5, 6) are provided. 5. Starting battery, as claimed in any of Claim 1 to 4, characterised in that the cells of the auxiliary battery (18) differ only in size of the monocells (3, 4) from the starting battery.

Inventors: TOTH LASZLO, TOTH, LASZLO
Applicants: TOTH LASZLO, TOTH, LASZLO
Application year: 1998
Main classification: H01M2
IPC codes: H01M2, H01M10