Ultrasonic hydrometer

Patent · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1984

OSTI ID:864957

Swoboda, Carl A ^[1]

---

1. Naperville, IL

The disclosed ultrasonic hydrometer determines the specific gravity (density) of the electrolyte of a wet battery, such as a lead-acid battery. The hydrometer utilizes a transducer that when excited emits an ultrasonic impulse that traverses through the electrolyte back and forth between spaced sonic surfaces. The transducer detects the returning impulse, and means measures the time "t" between the initial and returning impulses. Considering the distance "d" between the spaced sonic surfaces and the measured time "t", the sonic velocity "V" is calculated with the equation "V=2d/t". The hydrometer also utilizes a thermocouple to measure the electrolyte temperature. A hydrometer database correlates three variable parameters including sonic velocity in and temperature and specific gravity of the electrolyte, for temperature values between 0.degree. and 40.degree. C. and for specific gravity values between 1.05 and 1.30. Upon knowing two parameters (the calculated sonic velocity and the measured temperature), the third parameter (specific gravity) can be uniquely found in the database. The hydrometer utilizes a microprocessor for data storage and manipulation. The disclosed modified battery has a hollow spacer nub on the battery side wall, the sonic surfaces being on the inside of the nub and the electrolyte filling between the surfaces to the exclusion of intervening structure. An accessible pad exposed on the nub wall opposite one sonic surface allows the reliable placement thereagainst of the transducer.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4442700
• OSTI ID: 864957
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

/73/
05
2d
30
40
accessible
allows
battery
calculated
considering
correlates
data
data storage
database
degree
density
detects
determines
disclosed
distance
electrolyte
electrolyte fill
emits
equation
excited
exclusion
exposed
filling
forth
found
gravity
hollow
hydrometer
impulse
impulses
including
initial
inside
intervening
knowing
lead-acid
lead-acid battery
manipulation
means
measure
measured
measured temperature
measured time
measures
microprocessor
modified
nub
opposite
pad
parameter
parameters
parameters including
placement
reliable
returning
sonic
sonic surface
sonic velocity
spaced
spacer
specific
specific gravity
storage
structure
surface
surface allows
surfaces
temperature
temperature value
thereagainst
thermocouple
third
time
transducer
traverses
ultrasonic
ultrasonic hydrometer
uniquely
utilizes
values
variable
variable parameters
velocity
wall
wet