Trickle jumping charging device

• US 4,831,321 A
• Filed: 12/21/1987
• Issued: 05/16/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Cooper
• Original Assignee: Robert Cooper
• Inventors: Cooper, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Salce, Patrick R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US07/135,935
• Time in Patent Office: 512 Days
• Field of Search: 320/2-5, 320/25, 320/26, 361/58
• US Class Current: 320/105
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0034 using reverse polarity correcting or protecting circuits mechanical means of polarity protection H02J7/0045
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 320/15 Polarity control

Abstract

A trickle jumping device for charging liquid cell and jell cell storage batteries is provided by the present invention. In a presently preferred embodiment, the device comprises a conductor to a directional slip receptacle, a slip plug connected to a smaller amp hour battery using a prescribed terminal connector, and a current limiting device such as a wire wound resistor to provide a close tolerance means of controlling current with very little variance because of heat. Preferably, the trickle jumping device polarity is determined by the use of a diode, so that the polarity of a smaller charge battery is maintained if the jumper is connected incorrectly.

Claims

1. A trickle jumper for charging storage batteries from a charged battery of like voltage comprising:

a first electrical connection means for connection to the positive terminal of a charged battery;

a second electrical connection means for connection to the negative terminal of a charged battery;

a first conductor means attached at one end to said first electrical connection means;

a second conductor means attached at one end to said second electrical connection means;

a first connector means having a positive and a negative contact, said first connection means in electrical contact with said first conductor means at said positive contact and with said second conductor means at said negative contact;

a first coupling means for connection to the positive terminal of a storage battery in need of charging;

a second coupling means for connection to the negative terminal of a storage battery in need of charging;

a third conductor means connected to said first coupling means;

a fourth conductor means connected to said second coupling means;

a second connector means having a positive and a negative contact, said second conductor means shaped for mating with said first connector means such that connection of the positive contact to positive contact and negative contact to negative contact are the only connection possible, said second connector means in electrical contact with said third conductor means at said positive contact and with said fourth conductor means in electrical contact at said negative contact;

current limiting means located between the two connecting ends of said first conductor for limiting the flow of current through said first conductor to no more than 3 amps holding current;

polarity limiting means connected to said current limiting means to limit the direction of the current flow in the event of a reverse hook up of the trickle jumper;

by-pass means to selectively by-pass said current limiting means and said polarity limiting means to provide a current spike to said storage battery;

circuit breaking means connected to said first conductor means to protect the trickle jumper from damage as a result of heavy current flow when said by-pass means is activated.

whereby electrical connection between said charged battery and said storage battery is made only when said first and second connectors are mated.

2. The trickle jumper of claim 1 wherein said current limiting means is a wire-wound resistor.

3. The trickle jumper of claim 2 wherein said polarity limiting means is a diode connected in series with said wire-wound resistor located between the two connecting ends of said first conductor;

said diode limiting the direction of the flow of current through said first conductor.

4. The trickle jumper of claim 2 wherein said first connector is a female receptacle connector and said second connector is a plug, said plug shaped to fit said female receptacle connector in a single direction so that the positive terminal of said plug can only be connected to said positive terminal of said female receptacle connector.

5. The trickle jumper of claim 2 wherein all connections are color coded such that all positive connections are red and all negative connections are black.

6. The trickle jumper of claim 1, wherein said circuit breaking means is automatically resetable.

7. The trickle jumper of claim 1 wherein said circuit breaker means is a 30 amp circuit breaker.

8. The trickle jumper of claim 1 wherein said by-pass means is a two-pole switch;

said switch connected to said first conductor means before said current limiting means and after said polarity limiting means to by-pass said current limiting means and said polarity limiting means when said switch is engaged.