Automatic battery disconnect system

• US 20020080546A1
• Filed: 11/03/2001
• Published: 06/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Peter Zdziech
• Original Assignee: Peter Zdziech
• Inventors: Zdziech, Peter
• Application Number:
  US10/008,666
• Publication Number:
  US 20020080546A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/115
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2001/5877 with provisions for direct mounting on a battery pole
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 71/123 using a solid-state trip unit circuits H02H
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 83/20 operated by excess current as well as by some other abnormal electrical condition

Abstract

A new and improved apparatus is disclosed that would cut power in an automobile immediately after an accident. The apparatus would in effect be an electrical circuit breaker that would be connected to the battery, with the electrical circuit breaker programmed to automatically cut power to the battery after an accident. Many times, after vehicle accidents, fuel is spilled. When this occurs, the spilled fuel poses a great danger of ignition, especially if power still remains in the vehicle. All it would take would be an accidental spark or contact with a charged part of the vehicle, and the spilled fuel would ignite and cause substantially more damage than an automobile accident alone would create. By including a circuit breaker in conjunction with the battery, the circuit breaker would automatically cut power to the battery after an accident and greatly reduce the chance of a fire starting from any spilled fuel that might be present.

Claims

1. An electrical circuit breaker in combination with a vehicle battery comprising:

(a) a vehicle battery, the vehicle battery including a front surface, a rear surface, a top surface, and two end surfaces, a first end surface and a second end surface, the vehicle battery including a pair of terminals, the terminals comprising one positive terminal and one negative terminal, the terminals being attached to the top surface of the vehicle battery, the positive terminal being closer to the first end surface than the negative terminal,

(b) a metal mounting plate having two sides, a rear side and a front side, the metal mounting plate being approximately ½

to 1 inch in width and two inches in length, the rear side of the metal mounting plate attached to the vehicle battery,

(c) a spring-loaded circuit breaker attached to the front side of the metal mounting plate, the circuit breaker having at least two electrical contacts, a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact,

(d) a first electrical connection having two ends, a first end and a second end, the first end of the first electrical connection being connected to the positive terminal, the second end of the first electrical connection being connected to the first contact on the circuit breaker,

(e) a second electrical connection having two ends, a first end and a second end, the first end of the second electrical connection being connected to a starter circuit, the second end of the second electrical connection being connected to the second contact on the circuit breaker,

(f) wherein the contacts on the circuit breaker would be automatically opened whenever sudden pressure would be exerted on the circuit breaker, and

(g) further wherein the contacts on the circuit breaker would be automatically opened due to a greater level of power through the circuit breaker than would be permitted under currently acceptable automotive battery ratings.

2. An electrical circuit breaker in combination with a vehicle battery according to claim 1 wherein the rear side of the metal mounting plate would be attached to the front surface of the vehicle battery.

3. An electrical circuit breaker in combination with a vehicle battery according to claim 1 wherein the rear side of the metal mounting plate would be attached to the first end surface of the vehicle battery.

4. An electrical circuit breaker in combination with a vehicle battery according to claim 1 wherein the rear side of the metal mounting plate would be attached to the top surface of the vehicle battery halfway between the positive terminal and the negative terminal.

5. An electrical circuit breaker in combination with a vehicle battery according to claim 1 wherein the rear side of the metal mounting plate would be attached to the top surface of the vehicle battery closer to the positive terminal than the negative terminal.

6. An electrical circuit breaker in combination with a vehicle battery according to claim 1 further comprising a switch to reset the circuit breaker after the circuit breaker has opened the first electrical connection and the second electrical connection.