Importance

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Abstract

A battery charge indicator is disclosed which accurately displays the true state of charge or energy remaining in an alkaline battery in which the indicator is installed. An alkaline battery cell utilizes a steel can which contains the active chemical ingredients within and provides the conductive surface for the cathode. When the battery is sealed at the open end with a combination plug and anode, the closed end of the steel can becomes distorted or bulged due to internal pressures which are caused by both the expansion of the cathode material due to electrical discharge of the battery and hydrogen gas which accumulates during shelf life in storage. An increase the amount of hydrogen gas occurring during storage creates a distortion or bulge in the center of the closed end of the can. When the battery has been electrically discharged, the cathode material physically expands inside the can causing distortion to extend to the outer periphery of the closed end of the can. The angle between the surface of the closed end of the can at the periphery and the long end or wall of the battery becomes more than ninety degrees. The disclosed battery charge indicator utilizes the distortion or deflection of the periphery of the end portion of the can to move an indicating element to show the degree of discharge of the battery.

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First Claim