Portable battery booster

• US 5,083,076 A
• Filed: 11/13/1989
• Issued: 01/21/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: PSO Electric Incorporated
• Original Assignee: PSO Electric Incorporated
• Inventors: Scott, Clyde A.
• Primary Examiner(s): HICKEY, ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US07/436,516
• Time in Patent Office: 799 Days
• Field of Search: 320/2, 320/7, 320/25, 320/26, 320/15, 320/16, 320/48
• US Class Current: 320/105
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/46 Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0029 with safety or protection devices or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00309 Overheat or overtemperature protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0034 using reverse polarity correcting or protecting circuits mechanical means of polarity protection H02J7/0045
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/342 The other DC source being a battery actively interacting with the first one, i.e. battery to battery charging with circuits for polarity protection H02J7/0034
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 320/15 Polarity control

Abstract

A wheeled cabinet contains two internal booster batteries. Jumper cables are connectible to the booster batteries by a plug-and-socket connector. With the plug disconnected from the socket, end clamps of the jumper cables are applied across a battery or batteries of a vehicle to be jump started. Display lamps are actuated to indicate whether or not the polarity of the jumper cables as connected to the vehicle battery or batteries is correct and whether or not the connection points are appropriate for the potential (12 volt or 24 volt) which should be applied. When it is determined that the connection of the jumper cables to the vehicle batteries is correct, the plug is inserted into the socket to connect the booster batteries to the vehicle battery or batteries and permit jump-starting of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A booster unit for jumping a vehicle battery or batteries comprising first booster battery means for producing electric power of a first potential, second booster battery means separate from said first booster battery means for producing electric power of a second potential, jumper cable means for conveying electric power and having end clamps connectible to the vehicle battery or batteries, means for connecting said jumper cable means to said first and second booster battery means, said connecting means including a first connector component and a plurality of second connector components, said first connector component being connected to said jumper cable means and being optionally connectible to either one of said second connector components, said connecting means further including means interconnecting said first and second booster battery means with said second connector components such that when said first connector component is connected to one of said second connector components, power of the first potential is conveyed through the jumper cable means, whereas when said first connector component is connected to the other of said second connector components, power of a potential equal to the first potential plus the second potential is conveyed through the jumper cable means, and display and circuit means operable when said first connector component is disconnected from said second connector components for indicating the polarity of power across said jumper cable means when said jumper cable means are connected to the vehicle battery or batteries, said display and circuit means including a bank of indicator lamps and means for actuating said lamps including a first lamp actuated when said jumper cable means are applied across vehicle batteries of about 12 volts potential and a second lamp actuated when said jumper cable means are applied across vehicle batteries of much more than 12 volts but less than about 24 volts potential.

2. The unit defined in claim 1, in which the first potential is equal to the second potential.

3. The unit defined in claim 2, in which the first booster battery means is a 12-volt battery and the second booster battery means is a 12-volt battery.

4. The unit defined in claim 1, the first and second connector components being plug and socket connector components manually interfittable and manually disconnectible.

5. The unit defined in claim 1, in which the display and circuit means includes means for indicating a short between the jumper cable means.

6. A boost unit for a vehicle battery or batteries comprising at least one booster battery means for producing electric power of a first potential, at least one pair of jumper cables, each cable of said pair having an end clamp for connection to the vehicle battery or batteries, connector means for interconnecting said jumper cables with said booster battery means and manually manipulable for disconnecting said jumper cables from said booster battery means, and display and circuit means operable when said end clamps of said jumper cables are connected to said vehicle battery or batteries but said jumper cables are disconnected from said booster battery means for indicating the polarity and approximate potential of power across said jumper cable end clamps applied by said vehicle battery or batteries, said display and circuit means including several lamps and means for actuating said lamps including a first lamp actuated when a short is applied across said jumper cable end clamps, a second lamp actuated when voltage of a first polarity and a first potential is applied across said jumper cable end clamps, a third lamp actuated when voltage of said first polarity but of a different much greater potential is applied across said jumper cable end clamps, a fourth lamp actuated when voltage of a different polarity but approximately the first potential is applied across said jumper cable end clamps and a fifth lamp actuated when voltage of such different polarity and of the different much greater potential is applied across said jumper cable end clamps.

7. A booster unit for vehicle batteries comprising first booster battery means for producing electric power of a first potential, second booster battery means separate from the first booster battery means for producing electric power of a second potential, two pairs of jumper cables for conveying electric power and each having end clamps for connection to the vehicle batteries, and a plug and socket connector manually connectible to convey power from said first booster battery means through one pair of said jumper cables and said second booster battery means through said second pair of jumper cables, said connector being manually disconnectible to cut off the supply of power from the first and second booster battery means through said two pairs of jumper cables to the vehicle batteries, means for sensing and indicating the polarity of power applied across said jumper cable end clamps of one pair, means for sensing and indicating the polarity of power applied across said jumper cable end clamps of the other pair, means for sensing and indicating different potentials applied across said end clamps of one pair of said jumper cables, and means for sensing and indicating different potentials applied across said end clamps of the other pair of said jumper cables, all of said sensing and indicating means being operable when said connector is disconnected.

8. The unit defined in claim 7, including means for sensing and indicating a short between the end clamps of one pair of the jumper cables and means for sensing and indicating a short across the end clamps of the other pair of the jumper cables.