Battery jumper cable connection apparatus and methods
First Claim
1. Polarity independent battery jumper apparatus for operative connection to a first battery and a second battery, each battery having a positive and a negative terminal, the apparatus including a first terminal pair for connecting to the first battery, a second terminal pair for connecting to the second batter, polarity sensing means for sensing the polarities of the battery terminals and providing a signal representative of the battery polarities, a load sensing means to provide a signal indicative the likely load on the apparatus in response to operative connection between the batteries, and a switching means responsive to the signal from the polarity sensing means to make operative electrical connections between battery terminals of like polarity for a time period dependent on the signal from the load sensing means.
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Abstract
Polarity independent jumper cables are provided for connecting vehicle batteries in parallel, for example when trying to start a vehicle that has a flat battery. The apparatus disclosed has terminal connectors to connect to the terminal posts of each battery. The terminal connectors lead to a switching and control circuit that automatically determines the batteries polarities and makes connections to connect the batteries in parallel, so that users do not need to have any knowledge of the battery polarities. In particular, an indication of the relative state of charge of the batteries is provided prior to the circuit establishing the connections so that when the connection is made, it is made for a predetermined period of time in order to control the current flow through the apparatus. Furthermore, the connection between the batteries is made only when the change in load is sensed on one of the batteries, for example when a vehicle starter motor is connected to one of the batteries.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. Polarity independent battery jumper apparatus for operative connection to a first battery and a second battery, each battery having a positive and a negative terminal, the apparatus including
a first terminal pair for connecting to the first battery, a second terminal pair for connecting to the second batter, polarity sensing means for sensing the polarities of the battery terminals and providing a signal representative of the battery polarities, a load sensing means to provide a signal indicative the likely load on the apparatus in response to operative connection between the batteries, and a switching means responsive to the signal from the polarity sensing means to make operative electrical connections between battery terminals of like polarity for a time period dependent on the signal from the load sensing means.
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13. Polarity independent battery jumper apparatus for operative connection to a first battery and a second battery, each battery having a positive and a negative terminal, the apparatus including
a first terminal pair for connecting to the first battery, a second terminal pair for connecting to the second battery, polarity sensing means for sensing the polarities of the battery terminals and providing a signal representative of the battery polarities, a load sensing means to sense a change in load on one of the batteries and to provide a signal indicative of the change in load, and a switching means responsive to the signals from the polarity sensing means and the load sensing means to make electrical connections between battery terminals of like polarity when the change in load is sensed.
Specification