Storage battery monitoring and recharging control system with automatic control of prime mover driving charging generator

• US 3,991,357 A
• Filed: 05/01/1975
• Issued: 11/09/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Stolle Corporation
• Original Assignee: The Stolle Corporation
• Inventors: Kaminski, Donald F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hickey, Robert J.
• Application Number:
  US05/573,451
• Time in Patent Office: 558 Days
• Field of Search: 322/10-13, 320/62, 320/31, 320/32, 320/39, 320/40, 290/37, 290/50, 290/40 R, 290/40 F, 290/41
• US Class Current: 322/10
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/1476 by mechanical action on the generator

Abstract

An automatic monitoring and recharging system adapted to continuously monitor the terminal voltage of a D.C. storage battery and, whenever the terminal voltage falls below a first preselected value, to automatically initiate an engine-driven A.C. generator which is utilized to recharge the storage battery. The recharging interval is terminated when the recharging current attains a second preselected value whereupon the system is automatically returned to a voltage monitoring status.

The monitoring and recharging system of the present invention finds particular utility with respect to storage batteries used in association with recreational vehicles.

Claims

1. An automatic monitoring and recharging system adapted to continuously monitor the terminal voltage of an originally fully charged D.C. storage battery and, upon said terminal voltage falling below a first pre-selected value, recharging said storage battery to said originally fully charged condition, thereafter resuming said continuous monitoring of said terminal voltage, said system comprising:

a. charging means for applying a charging signal to said storage battery upon enablement and activation thereof;

b. voltage sensing means for sensing said terminal voltage and including means responsive thereto for applying an activating signal to said charging means whenever said terminal voltage falls below said first preselected value;

c. current sensing means intermediate said charging means and said storage battery for sensing the amperage of said charging signal; and

d. switching means having first means responsive to said voltage sensing means and second means responsive to said current sensing means, said first means enabling said charging means only so long as said terminal voltage is below said first preselected value and said second means maintaining said charging means enabled only so long as said amperage of said charging signal is above a second preselected value.

2. The automatic monitoring and recharging system according to claim 1 wherein said charging means comprises:

a. an engine-generator unit for producing an A.C. output charging signal, said engine-generator unit having a starter solenoid and an ignition system, said starter solenoid being activatable by said voltage sensing means in response to said activating signal and said ignition system being enablable by said first and second means of said switching means; and

b. rectifier means connected to said engine-generator unit for rectifying said A.C. output charging signal, said rectified charging signal comprising said charging signal.

3. The automatic monitoring and recharging system according to claim 2, wherein said voltage sensing means comprises;

a. a voltage sensing circuit communicating with said storage battery, said voltage sensing circuit outputting a low voltage control signal whenever said terminal voltage is less than said first preselected value; and

b. an engine control circuit connected to the output of said voltage sensing circuit and responding to said low voltage control signal by developing and applying said activating signal to said starter solenoid.

4. The automatic monitoring and recharging system according to claim 3 wherein said first means of said switching means includes means for enabling said ignition system substantially simultaneously with said application of said activating signal to said starter solenoid.

5. The automatic monitoring and recharging system according to claim 3 including primary timer means associated with said engine control circuit, said primary timer means permitting substantially unimpeaded transmission of said activating signal to said starter solenoid and, after a first preselected timing interval preventing transmission of said activating signal.

6. The automatic monitoring and recharging system according to claim 5 including secondary timer means associated with said primary timer means, said secondary timer means repetitively interrupting, at a preselected rate and for second preselected timing intervals, said activating signal.

7. The automatic monitoring and recharging system according to claim 5 wherein said primary timer means comprises a first time delay thermal relay, the associated time delay of which defines said first preselected timing interval.

8. The automatic monitoring and recharging system according to claim 6 wherein said secondary timer means comprises a second time delay thermal relay of the type having a thermal element, the associated time delay of said second thermal relay defining said second preselected timing interval and, the cooling rate of said thermal element reflecting said preselected interrupting rate.

9. The automatic monitoring and recharging system according to claim 6 wherein said preselected interrupting rate of said secondary timer means provides for at least one interruption during said first preselected timing interval.

10. The automatic monitoring and recharging system according to claim 3 wherein said voltage sensing circuit comprises:

a. a D.C. power source;

b. a parallel combination of at least two zener diodes having an input and an output, said input communicating with said D.C. storage battery; and

c. a first relay having an input and an output, said input being connected to said output of said at least two zener diodes and having a pole connected to said power source whereby, whenever said terminal voltage drops below said first preselected value said zener diodes are non-conductive and de-energize said first relay causing said power source to be connected to said first relay output.

11. The automatic monitoring and recharging system according to claim 10 wherein said D.C. power source is said D.C. storage battery.

12. The automatic monitoring and recharging system according to claim 3 wherein a voltage adjustment potentiometer is intermediate said storage battery and said voltage sensing circuit, said voltage adjustment potentiometer controlling the voltage level applied to said voltage sensing circuit from said storage battery.

13. The automatic monitoring and recharging system according to claim 10 wherein said ignition system includes a distributor having a conductor leading therefrom, said conductor passing through said engine control circuit, said current sensing means and terminating in ground whereby, said engine control circuit, in response to said low voltage control signal from said voltage sensing circuit, opens said conductor passing therethrough and, said current sensing means, whenever said amperage of said charging signal is above said second preselected value, opens said conductor passing therethrough.

14. The automatic monitoring and recharging system according to claim 3 wherein said ignition system includes a distributor having a conductor leading therefrom and passing through said current sensing means to ground whereby, said current sensing means, in response to said low voltage control signal from said voltage sensing circuit, opens said conductor and, whenever said amperage of said charging signal is above said second preselected value, maintains said conductor open.

15. The automatic monitoring and recharging system according to claim 13 wherein said engine control circuit comprises a second relay connected to said output of said first relay and having first and second co-acting poles, said first pole associated with said power source, said second pole being in the circuit of said conductor whereby, upon energization of said second relay by said low voltage control signal from said voltage sensing circuit said first pole connects said power source to the output of said second relay thereby generating said activating signal and said second pole opens said conductor enabling said ignition system.

16. The automatic monitoring and recharging system according to claim 14 wherein said engine control circuit comprises:

a. a second D.C. power source; and

b. a third relay connected to said output of said first relay and having a pole associated with said second power source whereby, upon energization of said third relay by said low voltage control signal from said voltage sensing circuit said third relay pole connects said second power source to the output of said third relay thereby generating said activating signal.

17. The automatic monitoring and recharging system according to claim 15 wherein said current sensing means comprises a fourth relay having a pole in the circuit of said conductor, said fourth relay causing said fourth relay pole to open said conductor only so long as said amperage of said charging signal is above said second preselected value.

18. The automatic monitoring and recharging system according to claim 16 wherein said current sensing means comprises a fifth relay having a pole in the circuit of said conductor, said fifth relay including:

a. a voltage coil wound on the core of said fifth relay, said voltage coil being connected to said output of said voltage sensing circuit whereby, upon energization of said voltage coil by said low voltage control signal said fifth relay pole opens said conductor passing through said current sensing means; and

b. a current coil wound on the core of said fifth relay, said current coil being connected to said rectifier means and maintaining said fifth relay pole open only so long as said amperage of said charging signal is above said second preselected value.

19. The automatic monitoring and recharging system according to claim 1 including, in association with said storage battery and said voltage sensing means, a switch having two co-acting poles, actuation of said switch simultaneously enabeling said charging means and causing said voltage sensing means to activate said charging means whereby, said charging signal is applied to said storage battery at least until said switch is de-actuated.

20. The automatic monitoring and recharging system according to claim 6 wherein said primary and secondary timers are connected in series between said engine control circuit and said starter solenoid.

21. The automatic monitoring and recharging system according to claim 6 wherein said primary and secondary timers are connected in series between said voltage sensing circuit and said engine control circuit.