Intrinsically-safe battery power supply for underground mining

Abstract

An intrinsically safe battery power supply for electrical equipment in underground mining includes a battery housing having a first end with a first opening and a second end having a pressure-resistant second opening. The battery housing defines a first space. At least one storage battery cell is provided in the first space, and a lid is coupled to the battery housing near the first end providing access to the storage battery cell through the first opening. An envelope housing is coupled near the second end of the battery housing and has a charging socket and a consumption socket and defines a second space. A circuit board having intrinsically-safe circuits is provided in the second space, the circuit board electrically coupled to the storage battery cell through the pressure resistant second opening in the battery housing, and electrically coupled to the charging socket and the consumption socket on the envelope housing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An intrinsically safe battery power supply for electrical equipment in underground mining, the battery power supply comprising:
 a battery housing having a first end with a first opening and a second end having a pressure-resistant second opening, the battery housing defining a first space therein;   at least one storage battery cell disposed in the first space;   a lid coupled to the battery housing proximate the first end and providing access to the storage battery cell through the first opening;   an envelope housing coupled proximate the second end of the battery housing, the envelope housing having a charging socket and a consumption socket, and defining a second space therein; and   a circuit board having intrinsically-safe circuits and disposed in the second space, the circuit board electrically coupled to the storage battery cell through the pressure resistant second opening in the battery housing, and electrically coupled to the charging socket and the consumption socket on the envelope housing.   
     
     
         2 . The battery power supply according to  claim 1 , wherein the battery housing is substantially gas-tight and resistant to electrolyte. 
     
     
         3 . The battery power supply according to  claim 1  wherein the lithium storage battery cells comprise at least one of lithium ion storage battery cells and lithium polymer storage battery cells. 
     
     
         4 . The battery power supply according to  claim 1 , wherein the battery housing includes and is housed at least partially within a master housing or additional housing. 
     
     
         5 . The battery power supply according to  claim 4 , wherein the battery housing comprises a lightweight, stress-resistant material, and the master housing or additional housing comprises a plastic material. 
     
     
         6 . The battery power supply according to  claim 4 , further comprising an intrinsically safe charging circuit disposed within the master housing or additional housing and outside of the battery housing. 
     
     
         7 . The battery power supply according to  claim 6 , wherein the charging circuit includes control electronics to control the charging current and charging voltage for the lithium storage battery cells. 
     
     
         8 . The battery power supply according to  claim 4 , further comprising a charging socket coupled to the master housing or additional housing, wherein a charging plug that can be supplied with current from an underground power supply network can be inserted. 
     
     
         9 . The battery power supply according to  claim 4 , further comprising an operating switch attached to the master housing or additional housing. 
     
     
         10 . The battery power supply according to  claim 4 , further comprising an external protection circuit disposed within the master housing or additional housing and outside of the battery housing. 
     
     
         11 . The battery power supply according to  claim 10 , further comprising a charging circuit and a charging socket and a current consumption socket, wherein the charging circuit and the protection circuit are electrically incorporated between electrical contact points on the battery housing for the lithium storage battery cells and the charging and current consumption sockets. 
     
     
         12 . The battery power supply according to  claim 1 , wherein the lithium storage battery cells in the battery housing together supply an internal operating voltage that is greater than the external, intrinsically-safe operating voltage that can be applied to the electrical equipment. 
     
     
         13 . A method of making an intrinsically safe battery power supply for electrical equipment in underground mining, the method comprising:
 forming a battery housing having a first end with a first opening and a second end having a pressure-resistant second opening, the battery housing defining a first space therein;   installing at least one storage battery cell disposed in the first space;   coupling a lid to the battery housing proximate the first end to provide access to the storage battery cell through the first opening;   coupling an envelope housing proximate the second end of the battery housing, the envelope housing having a charging socket and a consumption socket, and defining a second space therein; and   installing a circuit board having intrinsically-safe circuits in the second space, the circuit board electrically coupled to the storage battery cell through the pressure resistant second opening in the battery housing, and electrically coupled to the charging socket and the consumption socket on the envelope housing.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising housing the battery housing in a master or additional housing. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising installing charging and current consumption sockets on the master or additional housing. 
     
     
         16 . An intrinsically safe battery power supply for electrical equipment in underground mining, the battery power supply comprising:
 a battery housing having a first end with a first opening and a second end having a pressure-resistant second opening, the battery housing defining a first space therein;   at least one storage battery cell disposed in the first space;   a first circuit board disposed in the first space and coupled to the storage battery cell;   a second circuit board disposed in the first space and coupled to the storage battery cell;   a lid coupled to the battery housing proximate the first end and providing access to the storage battery cell through the first opening;   an envelope housing coupled proximate the second end of the battery housing, the envelope housing having a charging socket and a consumption socket, and defining a second space therein; and   a third circuit board having a protection circuit and disposed in the second space, the third circuit board electrically coupled to the first circuit board through the pressure resistant second opening in the battery housing, and electrically coupled to the charging socket on the envelope housing.   
     
     
         17 . The battery power supply of  claim 16 , wherein the second circuit board is electrically coupled through the pressure resistant second opening in the battery housing to the consumption socket on the envelope housing. 
     
     
         18 . The battery power supply of  claim 16 , wherein the first circuit board comprises a charging circuit. 
     
     
         19 . The battery power supply of  claim 16 , wherein the second circuit board comprises an over-current circuit.