Method for detecting a discharge condition fault in an electrical system of a vehicle or piece of machinery

• US 20080111557A1
• Filed: 01/09/2008
• Published: 05/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Reserve Power Cell LLC
• Original Assignee: Reserve Power Cell LLC
• Inventors: Elder, David, Bruno, Frank
• Granted Patent: US 7,427,865 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/511
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0046 relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/18 of two or more battery modules
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0413 Large-sized flat cells or batteries for motive or stationary systems with plate-like electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0445 Multimode batteries, e.g. containing auxiliary cells or electrodes switchable in parallel or series connections
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/122 Multimode batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4207 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

A method for detecting a discharge condition fault in an electrical system of a vehicle or a piece of machinery includes supplying electrical energy to the electrical system from an auxiliary battery or batteries of a multiple battery system when a main battery of the multiple battery system does not have sufficient power to start the vehicle or piece of machinery. The supply of electrical energy from the auxiliary battery or batteries is sufficient to at least enable the vehicle or piece of machinery to start. After the vehicle or piece of machinery has been started using the auxiliary battery or batteries, electrical energy is supplied to the electrical system from the main battery. A general operating fault is determined to exist in the electrical system in the event that the vehicle or piece of machinery stops running after being supplied electrical energy from the main battery.

Claims

1. A method for detecting a discharge condition fault in an electrical system of a vehicle or a piece of machinery, the electrical system receiving electrical energy from a multiple battery system and providing charging current to the multiple battery system, the multiple battery system including a first battery and a second battery, the first battery supplying electrical energy to the electrical system under normal operating conditions, the first battery and the second battery being electrically coupled to each other through a one-way charging circuit that allows the charging current to charge the second battery, but prevents the second battery from supplying electrical energy to the electrical system, when the first battery is supplying electrical energy to the electrical system, the method comprising:

supplying electrical energy to the electrical system from the second battery so as to at least enable the vehicle or piece of machinery to start when the first battery does not have sufficient power to start the vehicle or piece of machinery;

after the vehicle or piece of machinery has been started using the second battery, supplying electrical energy to the electrical system from the first battery; and

determining a general operating fault in the electrical system in the event that the vehicle or piece of machinery stops running after the electrical system is supplied electrical energy from the first battery.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

re-supplying electrical energy to the electrical system from the second battery so as to at least enable the vehicle or piece of machinery to start after determining the general operating fault.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first battery and the second battery never supply electrical energy to the electrical system simultaneously.

4. A method for detecting a discharge condition fault in an electrical system of a vehicle or a piece of machinery, the electrical system receiving electrical energy from a multiple battery system and providing charging current to the multiple battery system, the multiple battery system including a first battery and a second battery, the first battery supplying electrical energy to the electrical system under normal operating conditions, the first battery and the second battery being electrically coupled to each other through a one-way charging circuit that allows the charging current to charge the second battery, but prevents the second battery from supplying electrical energy to the electrical system, when the first battery is supplying electrical energy to the electrical system, the method comprising:

responsive to user input, supplying electrical energy to the electrical system from the second battery so as to at least enable the vehicle or piece of machinery to start when the first battery does not have sufficient power to start the vehicle or piece of machinery;

after the vehicle or piece of machinery has been started using the second battery and responsive to further user input, supplying electrical energy to the electrical system from the first battery; and

determining a general operating fault in the electrical system in the event that the vehicle or piece of machinery stops running after the electrical system is supplied electrical energy from the first battery.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the multiple battery system includes a switching device configured to allow the user to switch between use of the first battery and use of the second battery to supply electrical energy to the electrical system and wherein the user input comprises movement of the switching device to a position selecting the second battery to supply electrical energy to the electrical system.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the further user input comprises movement of the switching device to a position selecting the first battery to supply electrical energy to the electrical system.

7. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

re-supplying electrical energy to the electrical system from the second battery so as to at least enable the vehicle or piece of machinery to start after determining the general operating fault.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the re-supply of electrical energy to the electrical system from the second battery is responsive to additional user input.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the multiple battery system includes a switching device configured to allow the user to switch between use of the first battery and use of the second battery to supply electrical energy to the electrical system, and wherein the user input and the additional user input comprise movement of the switching device to a position selecting the second battery to supply electrical energy to the electrical system.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the further user input comprises movement of the switching device to a position selecting the first battery to supply electrical energy to the electrical system.

11. The method of claim 4, wherein the first battery and the second battery never supply electrical energy to the electrical system simultaneously.

12. A method for detecting a discharge condition fault in an electrical system of a vehicle or a piece of machinery, the electrical system receiving electrical energy from a multiple battery system and providing charging current to the multiple battery system, the multiple battery system including a first battery and at least a second battery, the first battery supplying electrical energy to the electrical system under normal operating conditions, the first battery and the at least a second battery being electrically coupled to each other through a one-way charging circuit that allows the charging current to charge the at least a second battery, but prevents the at least a second battery from supplying electrical energy to the electrical system, when the first battery is supplying electrical energy to the electrical system, the method comprising:

supplying electrical energy to the electrical system from the at least a second battery so as to at least enable the vehicle or piece of machinery to start when the first battery does not have sufficient power to start the vehicle or piece of machinery;

after the vehicle or piece of machinery has been started using the at least a second battery, supplying electrical energy to the electrical system from the first battery; and

determining a general operating fault in the electrical system in the event that the vehicle or piece of machinery stops running after the electrical system is supplied electrical energy from the first battery.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the first battery and the at least a second battery never supply electrical energy to the electrical system simultaneously.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

re-supplying electrical energy to the electrical system from the at least a second battery so as to at least enable the vehicle or piece of machinery to start after determining the general operating fault.