POWER OUTPUT ACCESSORY UNIT

• US 3,676,694 A
• Filed: 06/04/1971
• Issued: 07/11/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Franklin R. Schneider, Jerry D. Lanphear
• Original Assignee: Franklin R. Schneider, Jerry D. Lanphear
• Inventors: Schneider, Franklin R., Lanphear, Jerry D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shoop, Jr., William M.
• Application Number:
  US05/150,073
• Time in Patent Office: 403 Days
• Field of Search: 307/9,10,26,29,38 219/133,134,135,131WR 291/1,40
• US Class Current: 307/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/1012 characterised by parts of the process
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/1438 in combination with power supplies for loads other than batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

An accessory unit for use with an engine powered vehicle having a conventional electrical system including a battery, voltage regulator and a dynamo of the alternator type having exposed AC and DC taps which in normal operation supplies DC power to the engine electrical system and, in some embodiments, to the electrical system of a host vehicle. A switch is provided to disconnect the dynamo from the engine electrical system. Also provided is a manually adjustable potentiometer through which the alternator output may be controlled. Circuit means feed the DC output of the dynamo to a welding terminal and the AC output of the dynamo to a step up transformer. A rectifying circuit rectifies the boosted AC output of the transformer and an outlet receptacle permits delivery of a 110-120 volt DC power output to power tools and like loads. Both the DC welding output terminals and the DC outlet receptacle have a common ground return through resistance means. Placement of a load across either the welding terminals or the DC outlet receptacle produces a voltage drop across the said resistance means, and this voltage drop is utilized to actuate a throttle control circuit including a control transistor, a power transistor and a solenoid type throttle control, functioning to increase the speed of the host vehicle engine when substantial load current is called for at either power output.

Claims

1. A power output unit for use with an engine of the type having an electrical system including a DC storage battery;

an engine driven alternator including a field winding terminal, an AC output terminal, and a DC output terminal which normally delivers low voltage DC power to said electrical system; and

a voltage regulator receiving a power input from said DC storage battery, and having a field terminal connected to the field winding terminal of said alternator;

said power output unit adapted to act as a power source for low voltage loads or for loads having higher voltage DC power requirements, including;

switch means disconnecting said alternator from said engine electrical system;

manually adjustable potentiometer means controlling said alternator output;

circuit means applying the DC output of said disconnected alternator to a welding terminal;

circuit means applying the AC output of said alternator to a step-up transformer;

means rectifying said stepped up AC transformer output; and

outlet receptacle means associated with said rectifying means and adapted to receive jacks connected to power loads having higher voltage DC power requirements.

2. The power output unit of claim 1 including circuit means delta connecting the stator windings of said alternator.

3. The power output unit of claim 1 including circuit means grounding said welding terminal and said outlet receptacle means, said circuit means including means having a positive voltage potential thereacross when said unit is powering a load, and engine throttle control means increasing the speed of said engine responsive to said voltage drop.

4. The power output unit of claim 3 wherein said engine throttle control means includes an NPN type control transistor driven to saturation by said positive voltage potential means;

a PNP type power transistor driven to saturation by said NPN type transistor; and

, an engine throttle control including a solenoid in circuit with said PNP type transistor and acting to increase the speed of said engine.

5. The power output unit of claim 3 wherein said means having a positive voltage potential thereacross comprises a solid state diode.

6. The power output unit of claim 5 wherein the cathode of said diode has a common ground with the grounded terminal of said DC storage battery.

7. The power unit of claim 6 wherein all of the output load current is conducted through said diode.

8. A power output unit for use with an engine of the type having an electrical system including a DC storage battery;

an engine driven alternator having delta connected stator windings and including AC output terminals, a field winding terminal and a DC output terminal which normally delivers low voltage DC power to said engine electrical system;

a voltage regulator receiving a power input from said DC storage battery, and having a field terminal connected to the field winding terminal of said alternator;

said power output unit adapted to power a relatively low voltage arc welder having positive and negative terminals and loads having higher voltage DC power requirements, and including;

switch means disconnecting said alternator from said engine electrical system;

manually adjustable potentiometer means controlling said alternator output;

circuit means directing the DC output of said alternator to said positive welding terminal;

ground circuit means associated with said negative welding terminal and including load sensiNg means having a voltage drop thereacross when said unit is powering a load;

an engine throttle control circuit responsive to the voltage drop across said load sensing means;

circuit means directing the AC output of said alternator to step-up transformer means;

rectifier circuit means rectifying said stepped-up AC transformer output and applying said rectified output to outlet receptacle means; and

circuit means grounding said outlet receptacle through the ground circuit means associated with said negative welding terminal.

9. The power output unit of claim 8 wherein said engine throttle control circuit includes an NPN type transistor driven to saturation by the voltage drop across said load sensing means;

a PNP type transistor driven to saturation by said NPN type transistor; and

, an engine throttle control including a solenoid energized by said PNP type transistor adapted to increase the speed of said engine.

10. The power output unit of claim 8 wherein said load sensing means having a voltage drop thereacross when said unit is powering a load includes a solid state diode.

11. The power output unit of claim 9 wherein said engine speed is increased to a predetermined value adequate to obtain substantially full output from said alternator.

12. A power output unit for use with an engine of the type having an electrical system including a DC storage battery;

an engine driven alternator having a field winding terminal, an output terminal which normally delivers low voltage DC power to said electrical system; and

a voltage regulator receiving a power input from said DC storage battery, and having a field terminal connected to the field winding terminal of said alternator;

said power output unit adapted to act as a power source for loads having higher voltage DC power requirements and including;

switch means disconnecting said alternator from said engine electrical system;

circuit means applying the output of said disconnected alternator to an outlet receptacle;

grounding circuitry associated with said outlet receptacle, said grounding circuitry including a resistance means having a voltage drop thereacross generated in response to occurrence of a load on said outlet receptacle;

means responsive to the voltage drop across said resistance means energizing an engine throttle control circuit to increase the speed of said engine.

13. The power output unit of claim 12 further comprising an engine throttle control solenoid for actuating an engine throttle control valve;

said solenoid being connected to be energized by said engine throttle control circuit, said circuit including a power transistor of the PNP type driven to saturation by a control transistor of the NPN type; and

said control transistor being driven to saturation by the voltage drop across said resistance means.

14. The power output unit of claim 12 wherein said means having a voltage drop thereacross comprises a solid state diode.

15. The power output unit of claim 14 wherein the cathode of said diode has a common ground with the grounded terminal of said DC storage battery.

16. The power unit of claim 15 wherein all of the output load current is conducted through said diode.

17. The power output unit of claim 13 wherein said means having a voltage drop thereacross comprises a solid state diode.

18. The power output unit of claim 17 wherein the cathode of said diode has a common ground with the grounded terminal of said DC storage battery.

19. The power unit of claim 18 wherein all of the output load current is conducted through said diode.