Battery heating system using instantaneous excess capacity of a vehicle electrical power generating subsystem
First Claim
1. A control apparatus for heating one or more cells of a battery comprising:
- (a) a heater positioned near the battery;
(b) control means, including switching means for electrically and selectively connecting said heater to an energy source, for continuously comparing at discrete intervals of time the instant battery temperature to a switching temperature and comparing instant voltage of said battery to a switching voltage; and
(c) said switching means being arranged for connecting said heater to said energy source in response to said instant voltage exceeding said switching voltage and said instant battery temperature being less than said switching temperature, and for not connecting said heater to said energy source in response to said instant voltage being less than said switching voltage or said instant battery temperature being greater than said switching temperature.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A charge management system and method, within a vehicle having a battery and generation subsystem, is disclosed which senses the temperature of electrolyte in the cells of the vehicle battery and the voltage across the terminals of the battery. The voltage indicates the probability of the existence of excess electrical capacity from the vehicle generation subsystem. In response to a cold temperature and excess power, the system uses the excess power of the vehicle generation subsystem to heat the battery to a desired level. Once the battery reaches the desired temperature level, the system dicontinues the heating of the battery. In the event that there is not excess power, then the system, by maintaining the battery heating element in an off position, does not interfere with the charging of the battery.
79 Citations
41 Claims
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1. A control apparatus for heating one or more cells of a battery comprising:
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(a) a heater positioned near the battery; (b) control means, including switching means for electrically and selectively connecting said heater to an energy source, for continuously comparing at discrete intervals of time the instant battery temperature to a switching temperature and comparing instant voltage of said battery to a switching voltage; and (c) said switching means being arranged for connecting said heater to said energy source in response to said instant voltage exceeding said switching voltage and said instant battery temperature being less than said switching temperature, and for not connecting said heater to said energy source in response to said instant voltage being less than said switching voltage or said instant battery temperature being greater than said switching temperature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A charge management system, in combination with a vehicle electrical system that includes a power generation system and a battery, comprising:
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(a) heating means for the controlled heating of said battery; and (b) control means, including a switching means for electrically selectively connecting said heating means to said power generation system, for determining the instant battery temperature and instant excess electrical capacity of said power generation system, said switching means connecting said heating means to said power generation system in the even that the instant battery temperature is less than a switching temperature and said instant excess electrical capacity exists. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A system for use in a vehicle for the controlled heating of a battery of the type having an electrolyte, said system comprising:
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(a) an alternator for generating an electric current; (b) heating means, electrically connected to said alternator, for heating said battery, said heating means for heating said battery when receiving said current from said alternator; (c) switching means positioned for connecting said heating means to alternator; (d) control means, including a first means for sensing the temperature of the electrolyte within said battery and a second means for sensing the voltage across the terminals of said battery, for selectively opening and closing said switching means, said control means being arranged for causing said switching means to close in response to; (i) said first means sensing that said temperature of the electrolyte within said battery is below a switching temperature level; and (ii) said second means sensing instant excess electrical capacity of said alternator; thereby allowing said electric current to flow from said alternator to said heating means. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A method for heating one or more cells of a battery of the type having an electrolyte using the instant excess electrical capacity of a power generating subsystem of a vehicle electrical system comprising the steps of:
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(a) positioning a heating element connected by an electrical circuit to said power generating subsystem adjacent said battery; (b) comparing the instant battery temperature of electrolyte in one or more of said cells to a predetermined switching temperature; (c) determining said instant excess electrical capacity of said power generating subsystem; (d) closing said circuit in the event that said instant excess electrical capacity exists and said instant battery temperature is less than said switching temperature, thereby activating said heating element; (e) opening said circuit in the event that said instant excess electrical capacity does not exist, thereby deactivating said heating element; and (f) opening said circuit in the event that said instant battery temperature is greater than said switching temperature, thereby deactivating said heating element. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41)
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Specification