Twin ignition and twin electrical start system for a vehicle

• US 4,082,992 A
• Filed: 01/18/1977
• Issued: 04/04/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Oliver E. Day
• Original Assignee: Oliver E. Day
• Inventors: Day, Oliver E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hickey, Robert J.
• Application Number:
  US05/760,280
• Time in Patent Office: 441 Days
• Field of Search: 320/5-7, 320/15, 320/16, 320/61, 307/10 B
• US Class Current: 320/117
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0235 for lighting devices combined with starting or ignition devices for road vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/03 for supply of electrical power to vehicle subsystems or for circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0866 comprising several power sources, e.g. battery and capacitor or two batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/46 for ICE-powered road vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/1423 with multiple batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 320/34 Robot, hybrid, recreational or emergency vehicle

Abstract

A circuit arrangement for a vehicle or the like which permits either the vehicle battery or the battery of a camper connected to the vehicle to be selectively used for the ignition voltage of the vehicle engine or for the accessory voltage and which permits either the vehicle battery or the camper battery, or both of these batteries connected in parallel, to be used for energizing the starter motor of the vehicle engine. The conventional electrical system of the vehicle is modified in that a single pole double throw switch is provided for selectively connecting the battery voltage input terminal of the vehicle ignition switch to either the vehicle battery or to the camper battery; a switch is provided in the line connecting the starter control voltage output terminal of the ignition switch to the control input of the vehicle starter relay; a further starter relay is provided for connecting the camper battery to the starter motor; and a further switch is provided for connecting the starter control voltage output terminal of the ignition switch to the control input of the further starter relay. Moreover, the camper battery is connected to the alternator of the vehicle, to permit charging of the camper battery, via normally open contacts of a relay which is energized to close the contacts only when, other than during starting, a voltage is being applied to the ignition system of the vehicle.

Claims

1. An electrical circuit arrangement for a vehicle which permits the starting voltage and/or the ignition voltage for the vehicle engine to be derived from the vehicle battery or from an attached camper battery, and which permits simultaneous charging of both batteries comprising in combination:

a vehicle battery having one terminal connected to ground;

a vehicle starter relay;

a starter motor having one terminal connected to ground and its other terminal connected via the controlled current path of said vehicle starter relay to the other terminal of said vehicle battery;

a vehicle alternator having is output connected to said other terminal of said vehicle battery;

a conventional vehicle ignition switch having a battery voltage input terminal and at least an ignition voltage output terminal which is connected to the ignition coil, and a starter control voltage output terminal;

a first switch connecting said starter control voltage output terminal of said ignition switch to the control terminal of said vehicle starter relay;

a camper battery having one terminal connected to ground;

first circuit means, including the controlled current path of a further starter relay, for connecting the other terminal of said camper battery to said other terminal of said starter motor;

a second switch connecting said starter control voltage terminal of said ignition switch to the control terminal of said further starter relay;

a single pole double throw switch means, having its movable contact connected to said battery voltage input terminal of said ignition switch, for selectively connecting said battery voltage input terminal to said other terminal of said vehicle battery or said other terminal of said camper battery, whereby the position of said switch means determines which of the batteries supplies the voltage for the vehicle motor ignition coil and for control of said starter relays and the closure of one or both of said first and second switches determines which one or both of the batteries supplies the starter voltage; and

, second circuit means for connecting said output of said alternator to said other terminal of said camper battery only when an output voltage is present at said ignition voltage output terminal of said ignition switch and no output voltage is present at said starter control voltage output terminal of said ignition switch.

2. A circuit arrangement as defined in claim 1 wherein said second circuit means includes:

a first relay having a pair of normally open contacts connected between said output of said alternator and said other terminal of said camper battery, and a relay coil having one terminal connected to ground; and

a second relay having a pair of normally closed contacts connected between the other terminal of said coil of said first relay and said ignition voltage output terminal of said ignition switch, and a relay coil connected between said starter voltage output terminal of said ignition switch and ground.

3. A circuit arrangement as defined in claim 1 wherein said ignition switch further includes an accessory voltage output terminal;

and further comprising a voltmeter connected between said accessory voltage output terminal and ground.

4. A circuit arrangement as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said first and second switches is a double pole switch having one pole connected between said starter control voltage terminal of said ignition switch and the control terminal of the associated one of said vehicle and further starter relays, and its other pole connected in series with a respective indicator light between said ignition voltage output terminal of said ignition switch and ground.