BATTERY CHARGER AND EMERGENCY POWER SUPPLY FOR ILLUMINATION DEVICE

• US 3,599,070 A
• Filed: 09/17/1969
• Issued: 08/10/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Davis Howard, Jerry J. Silvers
• Original Assignee: Davis Howard, Jerry J. Silvers
• Inventors: DAVIS HOWARD, Silvers, Jerry J.
• Application Number:
  US04/858,751
• Time in Patent Office: 692 Days
• US Class Current: 320/163
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007182 in response to battery voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/02 in which an auxiliary distribution system and its associated lamps are brought into service
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 320/11 Prioritized supply of power or power supply compensation

Abstract

An improved battery charger and power supply arrangement for illumination devices is provided to power the same illumination device under both a normal operating condition from standard line power, and an emergency operating condition in the absence of line power, from a self-contained battery. The emergency operating condition occurs when the magnitude of the voltage in the line comprising the primary source of electrical energy drops below a preselected value and semiconductor devices are utilized to provide automatic switching at this time to the emergency mode of operation. In the emergency mode of operation the battery is utilized to power the illumination device and the unit contains circuitry for allowing battery charging from the primary source of electrical energy during normal operation and automatic switching to effectively terminate the battery charging function during an emergency operation. There is also achieved switching by means of a voltage controlled signal from the primary source of electrical energy during normal operation to the power from the battery during emergency operation. No mechanical parts are utilized and all operations are achieved by electrical means.

Claims

1. A power supply arrangement for an electrically energized illumination device of the type adapted to receive electrical energy from a primary electrical energy source and supply electrical energy to the illumination device for a normal condition of operation wherein the voltage of the primary electrical energy source is above a predetermined value and for an emergency condition wherein the voltage of the primary electrical energy source is less than a preselected value which is less than the predetermined value, comprising, in combination:

voltage control means for receiving electrical energy from the primary electrical energy source and providing a first voltage controlled power input signal, and a second voltage controlled battery charging signal, and said voltage control means connected to the illumination device to transmit said first voltage controlled power output signal thereto;

battery means for receiving said second voltage controlled battery charging signal for charging said battery means, and said battery means connected to the illumination device for providing an emergency electrical energy signal thereto for the emergency condition;

a first switch means for controlling said first voltage controlled power output signal for transmitting said first voltage controlled power output signal for said first switch means in a transmitting condition, and blocking said first voltage controlled power output signal for said first switch means in a blocking condition;

a second switch means for controlling said second voltage controlled battery charging signal to transmit said battery charging signal for said second switch means in a transmitting condition, and blocking said second voltage controlled battery charging signal for said second switch means in a blocking condition;

a third switch means for controlling said emergency electrical energy signal for transmitting said emergency electrical energy signal for said third switch means in a transmitting condition, and for blocking said emergency electrical energy signal for said third switch means in a blocking condition;

voltage sensing means for sensing the magnitude of the voltage of the primary electrical energy source and battery charge condition and said voltage sensing means having control means portion for operating said first, said second and said third switch means in response to the sensed magnitude of the voltage of the primary electrical energy source and battery charge condition and said control means maintaining said first and said second switch means in said transmitting condition and said third switch means in said blocking condition for the normal condition of operation wherein the sensed magnitude of the voltage of the primary electrical energy source is greater than the preselected value, and said control means for substantially simultaneously switching said first switch means to said blocking condition and switching said third switch means to said transmitting condition for the emergency condition wherein the sensed voltage of the primary electrical energy source is less than the preselected value as the voltage of the primary electrical energy source decreases, and said control means for substantially simultaneously switching said first switch means to said transmitting condition and said third switch means to said blocking condition for said voltage of the primary electrical energy source above the predetermined value as the voltage of the primary electrical energy increases and said control means switching said second switch means between said transmitting condition and said blocking condition in response to said sensed voltage magnitude of said battery charge condition and said sensed voltage magnitude of said primary electrical energy; and

voltage limiting means for limiting the maximum voltage value of said second voltage controlled battery charging signal.

2. The arrangement defined in claim 1 wherein:

said battery has a firsT nominal voltage rating, said illumination device has a second nominal voltage rating and said first voltage controlled power output signal has a voltage magnitude less than said second nominal voltage rating of said illumination device and said second voltage controlled battery charging signal has a voltage magnitude greater than said first nominal voltage of said battery.

3. The arrangement defined in claim 2 and further comprising:

current control means for limiting the maximum current value of said second voltage controlled battery charging signal.

4. The arrangement defined in claim 2 wherein:

the voltage magnitude of said first voltage controlled power output signal is less than said second voltage controlled battery charging signal.

5. The arrangement defined in claim 1 wherein:

said first, said second and said third switch means each comprise electrical switch means free of mechanically moving parts.

6. The arrangement defined in claim 1 and further comprising:

adjusting means for varying said preselected voltage value and said predetermined voltage value.

7. The arrangement defined in claim 1 wherein:

said control means comprises a first diode rectifier filter for providing said first voltage controlled power output signal, and a second diode rectifier filter for providing said second voltage controlled battery charging signal.

8. The arrangement defined in claim 7 wherein:

said battery has a first nominal voltage rating, said illumination device has a second nominal voltage rating, and said first voltage controlled power output signal has a voltage magnitude less than said second nominal voltage rating of said illumination device and said second voltage controlled battery charging signal has a voltage magnitude greater than said first nominal voltage of said battery.