DE102007014827B4 - Device for charging and/or discharging an electrical energy storage device - Google Patents

Abstract

Charging and/or discharging device for an electrical energy store, in particular an accumulator (2), with a housing (9), with an optical signal device (14) for displaying at least one operating state variable of the energy store, with an operating device (10) for the user to optionally specify operating parameters and with a display device (11) for displaying operating parameters specified by the user and/or which are set during operation, wherein the operating device (10) and the display device (11) are combined to form a common structural component, wherein the structural component with the operating device (10) and the display device (11) is arranged on the housing (9) so as to be rotatable and/or displaceable, and wherein operating parameters such as the charging voltage, the charging current and/or the charging time can be specified by means of the operating device (10), characterized in that the operating device (10) and/or the display device (11) are arranged on the housing (9) so as to be displaceable in the vertical direction (13) of the latter.

Description

The invention relates to a device for charging and/or discharging an electrical energy storage device according to the preamble of claim 1.

A device of the generic type is known, for example, from DE 203 10 318 U1 known. The device described here for charging and/or discharging an electrical energy storage device has a display unit on the one hand and input keys on the other. Both the display unit and the input keys are arranged on the front of the device housing. The intended use of the device described in the DE 203 10 318 U1 The previously known device therefore requires the user to have unhindered access to the front of the device housing. Otherwise, the user cannot inspect the display unit or reach the input keys.

Further publications on the state of the art are the US 5 793 627 A , the US 5 926 007 A , the US 2001/0008424 A1 , the WO 00/19579 A1 and the US 6 201 319 B1 .

The US 5 793 627 A relates to an uninterruptible power supply device for electrical loads, such as computers, with a battery charger and an operating and display module. The operating and display module has a display and an operating button.

The US 5 926 007 A relates to a device for charging and discharging batteries, with a storage unit for storing operating states of the batteries and a measuring unit for measuring the charging capacity of a battery and with a computer unit.

The US 2001/0008424 A1 relates to a display device for indicating the remaining battery life in a terminal device, such as a camera.

The WO 00/19579 A1 relates to a portable power supply device with a battery.

The US 6 201 319 B1 refers to an uninterruptible power supply device for critical and/or sensitive loads.

Although the DE 203 10 318 U1 Although the known device for charging and/or discharging an electrical energy storage device has basically proven itself in practical use, there is still a need for improvement, particularly with regard to the design of both the operating device and the display device.

It is therefore the object of the invention to further develop a generic device for charging and/or discharging an electrical energy storage device.

To technically solve this problem, the invention proposes a charging and/or discharging device for an electrical energy storage device according to claim 1.

According to the invention, the operating device and the display device are arranged so that they can be moved in the vertical direction of the device housing. For the purpose of front-side access, the operating device and the display device are arranged at the front of the device housing. In order to ensure unhindered access to the operating device and the display device, these are arranged on the device housing so that the user can optionally move them, with a possible displacement in the vertical direction of the device housing being provided, because this ensures that the operating device and the display device are always aligned at the front, i.e. in the direction of view of the device according to the invention.

According to the invention, in contrast to the prior art, the operating device and the display device are arranged on the housing so that they can be moved vertically. This makes it possible to position the operating device and the display device in their relative position to the device housing as desired by the user. The advantage of this design is that the user always has unhindered access to the operating device and the display device. The design according to the invention therefore advantageously allows unrestricted visual inspection and/or operation of the display device and/or the operating device.

Both the operating device and the display device are arranged on the front of the device housing - as is known from the prior art. According to the invention, however, the arrangement is designed to be vertically displaceable, so that in the event that unhindered access to the front of the device housing is not possible, the operating device and the display device can be displaced in their relative position to the device housing in such a way that unhindered access to the operating device and/or the display device is possible despite access to the front of the device housing being prevented.

The embodiment according to the invention proves to be particularly advantageous when a plurality of devices for charging and/or discharging an electrical energy storage device are arranged one behind the other, for example on a shelf. In this case, the front of the device at the front in the direction of access can still be easily reached by a user. However, this does not apply to all other devices, since the respective front of the device housing is blocked by the device placed in front of it in the direction of access. Unhindered access to the front of these devices is therefore not possible. The embodiment according to the invention provides an advantageous remedy here, since the operating devices and display devices of these devices can be aligned in such a way, thanks to their movable arrangement, that they can always be reached by a user without hindrance, i.e. the operating devices and display devices of all devices arranged one behind the other in a row can be easily accessed and/or viewed by the user. Any movement of individual devices for the purpose of unhindered access to individual operating devices and/or display devices, as is necessary with the devices known from the prior art, can advantageously be dispensed with. The device according to the invention therefore proves to be much more user-friendly and easier to handle.

It can be provided that the operating device and/or the display device are arranged on the device housing so that they can rotate. In this case, it is particularly advisable to arrange the operating device and/or the display device on the top of the device housing rather than on the front. Thanks to their rotatable arrangement, the operating device and/or the display device can be aligned as desired in the direction the user is looking.

The operating device serves in a known manner to enter operating parameters that can be freely specified by the user. For example, the charging voltage, charging current, charging time or the like can be specified using the operating device. For this purpose, the operating device has corresponding input keys. In an alternative preferred embodiment of the invention, the operating parameters that can be freely specified by the user are entered using a PC that is in communication with the device, for example via a USB interface. In this case, the control panel itself only has a "Stop" button.

The display device allows a user to check a charging and/or discharging process. For this purpose, the display device can be used to display both the operating parameters specified by the user and the operating parameters that actually occur during operation. It is therefore possible to display target values on the one hand and actual values on the other. Operating parameters that can be displayed include, for example, the charging current, the charging voltage or the charging temperature of the energy storage device connected to the device according to the invention. It is also possible to display the remaining running time of a charging process. The operating parameters can be displayed either using graphic symbols or alphanumeric numbers.

According to a further feature of the invention, the device for charging and/or discharging an electrical energy storage device can have a storage unit that serves to store charging data, in particular in the event of a fault, for example in the event of a power failure. After the fault has been rectified, the charging data stored in the storage unit can be called up again so that the user can find out about the charging process that took place before the fault. In this context, for example, the charging time that has already taken place, the predicted total charging time or the like can be displayed.

The device for charging and/or discharging an energy storage device further comprises an optical signaling device for signaling at least one operating state variable of the energy storage device connected to the device.

The signaling device serves to visually display an operating state variable of an energy storage device connected to the device according to the invention. The charge state of the energy storage device is preferably displayed by means of the signaling device. The signaling device can therefore also be referred to as a charge state display.

• Leuchtet die Signaleinrichtung rot auf, so bedeutet dies, daß eine Störung vorliegt. Aufgrund dieser Störung wird der an die erfindungsgemäße Vorrichtung angeschlossene Energiespeicher nicht auf- und/oder entladen. Leuchtet die Signaleinrichtung hingegen gelb auf, so signalisiert dies, daß der Auf- und/oder Entladungsvorgang gegenwärtig ordnungsgemäß abläuft. Die Farbe Grün bedeutet, daß die erfindungsgemäße Vorrichtung den daran angeschlossenen Energiespeicher ordnungsgemäß auf- und/oder entladen hat. Der Auf- und/oder Entladungsvorgang ist abgeschlossen. Schließlich kann auch vorgesehen sein, daß die Signaleinrichtung blau aufleuchtet, nämlich dann, wenn sich die erfindungsgemäße Vorrichtung im Standby-Modus befindet, das heißt die erfindungsgemäße Vorrichtung betriebsbereit ist, ein elektrischer Energiespeicher an die erfindungsgemäße Vorrichtung aber noch nicht angeschlossen ist.

The signaling device preferably lights up in different colors depending on the charge level of the energy storage device connected to the device according to the invention. Several colors are conceivable in this context, for example red, yellow, green and/or blue. Depending on the color displayed, the user can see from a distance what charge level an energy storage device connected to the device according to the invention is in. The colors displayed by the signaling device can have the following meaning, for example:

• If the signaling device lights up red, this means that there is a fault. Due to this fault, the energy storage device connected to the device according to the invention is not being charged and/or discharged. If, on the other hand, the signaling device lights up yellow, this signals that the charging and/or discharging process is currently running properly. The color green means that the device according to the invention has properly charged and/or discharged the energy storage device connected to it. The charging and/or discharging process is complete. Finally, it can also be provided that the signaling device lights up blue, namely when the device according to the invention is in standby mode, i.e. the device according to the invention is ready for operation, but an electrical energy storage device is not yet connected to the device according to the invention.

For the purpose of displaying colored signals, the signaling device can basically be designed in two different ways. According to a first embodiment, the signaling device has a housing made of a light-transparent plastic, within which colored lamps are arranged. Examples of lamps that can be used are LEDs, light bulbs or the like. Depending on the operating state variable to be displayed by the signaling device, one of the colored lamps arranged in the housing of the signaling device lights up. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the housing of the signaling device made of light-transparent plastic has areas of different colors. Several lamps are arranged within the housing of the signaling device, with one lamp being assigned to each colored housing area. If one of these lamps lights up, the area of the housing of the signaling device in which the respective lamp is arranged is illuminated. In this way, the signaling device lights up in the appropriate color depending on the operating state variable to be displayed. According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the signaling device is designed like an external display unit. All colors can be displayed within the display unit. For this purpose, appropriately colored lamps are preferably used.

The optical signaling device is preferably arranged on the top of the device housing so that it can be easily seen by a user from a distance. The signaling device can be cylindrical, for example, and can have the shape of a warning signal lamp, such as those used in rescue and/or police vehicles.

According to an alternative embodiment, the signaling device is arranged on the housing so that it can rotate, so that the signaling device can be positioned relative to the device housing as required. The signaling device can therefore be positioned relative to the device housing by the user as desired, so that an unhindered visual inspection from a distance is always possible.

The operating device and the display device are combined to form a common structural component. The signaling device can also be part of this structural component. Such a design has the advantage that the operating device and the display device, and possibly also the signaling device, can be moved together relative to the device housing if necessary. In this case, separate alignment of the individual devices is not necessary, which simplifies handling.

• 1 in einer ersten schematischen Ansicht die erfindungsgemäße Vorrichtung in einer ersten Ausführungsform;
• 2 in einer zweiten schematischen Ansicht die erfindungsgemäße Vorrichtung in einer ersten Ausführungsform;
• 3 in einer ersten schematischen Ansicht die erfindungsgemäße Vorrichtung in einer zweiten Ausführungsform und
• 4 in einer zweiten schematischen Ansicht die erfindungsgemäße Vorrichtung in einer zweiten Ausführungsform.

Further advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description based on the figures.

• 1 in a first schematic view the device according to the invention in a first embodiment;
• 2 in a second schematic view, the device according to the invention in a first embodiment;
• 3 in a first schematic view the device according to the invention in a second embodiment and
• 4 in a second schematic view the device according to the invention in a second embodiment.

The 1 to 4 each show in two views the device according to the invention, wherein the 1 and 2 a first embodiment and the 3 and 4 relate to a second embodiment. The reference numerals used identically in the respective figures designate identical elements.

A first embodiment of the device 1 according to the invention shows 1 in a first schematic view. The device 1 according to the invention for charging and/or discharging an electrical energy storage device is in the embodiment according to 1 designed as a stationary charger. An electrical energy storage unit is connected to this in The battery is connected in the form of a rechargeable battery 2. A connection device 7 consisting of two cables 5 and 6 is used for electrical contact, with one cable 5 being electrically connected to a first rechargeable battery pole 3 and the other cable 6 being electrically connected to a second rechargeable battery pole 4. The device 1 designed as a charger is connected as such to a power supply 8, for example for power supply from the public power grid.

The device 1 has on the front side, i.e. looking towards the device 1 1 a display device 11 and an operating device 10, which are combined to form a common assembly 12. The assembly 12, i.e. the operating device 10 and the display device 11 are arranged with respect to the page level according to 1 accessible from the front of device 1.

According to the invention, the operating device 10 and the display device 11 are arranged on the device housing 9 so as to be displaceable relative to the device 1, namely in the vertical direction 13. Since the operating device 10 and the display device 11 are combined with one another to form a common assembly 12, the assembly 12 is arranged so as to be displaceable relative to the housing 9 of the device 1 in the vertical direction 13, as can be seen from a summary of the 1 and 2 As can be seen from 2 As can be seen, the structural component 12 comprising the display device 11 and the operating device 10 can be displaced in the vertical direction 13 relative to the device housing 9 in such a way that both the operating device 10 and the display device 11 are still accessible from the front, but in such a way that front access to the device housing 9 is no longer necessary. In its position displaced upwards in the vertical direction 13, the structural component 12 projects beyond the upper cover of the device housing 9, so that unhindered access to both the operating device 10 and the display device 11 is possible even when front access to the device housing 9 is blocked, which is the case, for example, when several devices 1 are set up in a row one behind the other.

A second embodiment is shown by the 3 and 4 . Also according to this embodiment, the operating device 10 and the display device 11 are combined to form a common structural component 12. In contrast to the embodiment according to the 1 and 2 However, the structural component 12 is arranged on the housing 9 so that it can be rotated as well as moved. This is achieved by arranging the structural component 12 at one end of a gooseneck 15, which is attached to the other end of the device housing 9. The gooseneck 15 allows, as a summary of the 3 and 4 can be seen, both a movement of the structural component 12 in the vertical direction 13 and transversely thereto. In addition, it is possible to rotate the structural component 12 relative to the device housing 9, so that the user has the opportunity to place the structural component 12 in almost any position relative to the device housing 9, i.e. to align it. The user is thus given the opportunity to align the structural component 12, i.e. the operating device 10 and the display device 11 in relation to the device housing 9 in such a way that unhindered access to both the operating device 10 and the display device is always possible.

The device according to the invention further comprises, in both embodiments, an optical signaling device 14 for signaling at least one operating state variable of the accumulator 2 connected to the device 1. The signaling device 14 preferably displays the charge state of the accumulator 2 connected to the device 1, the signaling device 14 lighting up in color depending on the detected charge state of the accumulator 2. According to the embodiments of the 1 to 4 the signaling device 14 is cylindrical and is arranged on the top of the housing 9. The signaling device 14 is therefore located in the vertical direction 13 above the cover that closes the top of the device housing 9. As an alternative to this design, it can also be provided that the signaling device 14 is arranged on the housing 9 so that it can be rotated and/or pivoted.

The special feature of the 1 to 4 The advantage of the signaling device 14 shown is that it is arranged in such a way that it can be perceived by a user 360° around the device 1 according to the invention, i.e. from all four directions. The signaling device 14 can therefore not only be seen when the device 1 according to the invention is viewed from the front. The signaling device 14 can therefore advantageously be perceived by a user from a great distance from the device 1 according to the invention from any position relative to the device 1 according to the invention.

List of reference symbols

1

device

2

accumulator

3

Battery pole

4

Battery pole

5

Cable

6

Cable

7

Connection device

8

Power supply

9

Housing

10

Control device

11

Display setup

12

Construction component

13

Altitude direction

14

Signaling device

15

Gooseneck

Claims (5)

Charging and/or discharging device for an electrical energy store, in particular an accumulator (2), with a housing (9), with an optical signal device (14) for displaying at least one operating state variable of the energy store, with an operating device (10) for the user to optionally specify operating parameters and with a display device (11) for displaying operating parameters specified by the user and/or which are set during operation, wherein the operating device (10) and the display device (11) are combined to form a common structural component, wherein the structural component with the operating device (10) and the display device (11) is arranged on the housing (9) so as to be rotatable and/or displaceable, and wherein operating parameters such as the charging voltage, the charging current and/or the charging time can be specified by means of the operating device (10), characterized in that the operating device (10) and/or the display device (11) are arranged on the housing (9) so as to be displaceable in the vertical direction (13) of the latter. Device according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the display device (11) indicates the remaining charging time to be expected. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a storage unit which stores the current charging data, in particular in the event of a fault. Device according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the signaling device (14) is arranged on the upper side of the housing (9). Device according to Claim 4 , characterized in that the signaling device (14) is rotatably arranged on the housing (9).

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