12-24 volt power system

• US 5,164,655 A
• Filed: 08/05/1991
• Issued: 11/17/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Airpax Dimensions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Dimensions Unlimited, Inc.
• Inventors: Heavey, Frederick D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Beha, Jr., William H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BERHANE, ADOLF D
• Application Number:
  US07/740,055
• Time in Patent Office: 470 Days
• Field of Search: 320/6, 320/15, 320/17, 322/7, 322/8, 322/90, 307/16, 307/149, 307/150
• US Class Current: 322/8
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/1423 with multiple batteries

Abstract

A dual state power system utilizing power drivers to switch an alternator from 12 volt to 24 volt charging. A 12-24 volt alternator regulator charges a 12 volt battery or a 24 volt battery depending on the position of a mode switch. The invention allows the use of one alternator/engine combination to charge either a 12 volt or 24 volt system. The invention uses a 12 volt mode priority to override a 24 volt charging mode. The 24 volt charging mode is interrupted to provide voltage to a 12 volt battery for a predetermined time period. A voltage controller drives a smart electrical current driver which controls the output of an alternator. A reset circuit determines from system parameters reported from system components whether the charging system to a reset error circuit whether or not the alternator is operating correctly. A sense lamp driver indicates to the user that the system is in a non functioning state. A 12 volt mode lock-out and 24 volt mode lock-out isolates the 12 volt or 24 volt modes where appropriate. An open circuit sensor drives a reset circuit that prevents an open circuit from damaging the system. The reset shuts off alternator fields for many conditions including a fault in the alternator or the two power drivers or an open circuit.

Claims

1. A two state power apparatur having a first voltage level and a second voltage level comprising:

a. a mode control signal having a first state and a second state;

b. a first voltage output circuit;

c. a second voltage output circuit;

d. an alternator means for generating electrical current at a charge voltage level having an armature winding, a field winding and a stator winding, wherein the alternator has a charge voltage output;

e. a first electrical current supply means for supplying electrical current having an output connected to the fidl winding and further having a field electrical current sense signal input connected to the armature winding and further having a first pulse width modulated input;

f. a voltage control means for generating a pulse width modulated signal proportional to a predetermined voltage level having a first pulse width modulated output signal connected to the firs tpulse width modulated input of the first electrical current supply means, wherein the voltage control means also has a predetermined voltage reference, and a dual voltage level input, wherien the dual voltage level input is connected to the first voltage level and the second voltage level so as to adjust the first uplse width modulated output in response to a sensed voltage signal at the dual voltage level input and the predetermined voltage reference;

g. a solenoid means for switching wherein the solenoid means inlcudes a first input connected to the alternator means charge voltage output, a first switching output connected to the second voltage output circuit, and wherien the solenoid also has a voltage level signal input;

h. a second electrical current supply means for supplying electrical current to the solenoid means having a voltage level signal output connected to the voltage level signal input of the solenoid means and further including an input;

i. a voltage lockout means for locking out the first voltage level or the second voltage level having a first voltage level lockout output signal, and a second voltage level lockout output signal; and

j. a mode switching means having a first input connected to the mode control signal, a second input connected to the first voltage level lockout output signal, a third input connected to the second voltage level lockout output signal, and a solenoid control output connected to the input of the second electrical current supply means, wherein the mode switching means provides a solenoid control signa on the solenoid control output in response to the mode control signal, the first voltage level lockout output signal, and the second voltage level lockout output signal so as to activate the second electrical current supply means to switch the solenoid means such that the charge voltage output is connected to the first voltage output circuit in response to the first state of the mode control signal except when the first voltage level lockout output signal is active, and the charge voltage output is connected to the second voltage output circuit in response to the second state of the mode control signal except when the second voltage level lockout output signal is active.

2. The two state power apparatus of claim 1 wherein the dual voltage level input is temperature compensated to provide an accurate voltage level input regardless of temperature.

3. The two state power apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a. the mode switching means further including a mode priority switching input;

b. a mode priority means including a first input connected to the first voltage level, a second input connected to the second voltage level and a mode priority output connected to the mode priority switching input wherein the mode priority output is activated when the first voltage level drops below a predetermined level and the mode switching means responds to an active signal on the mode priority control signal on the solenoid control output so as to operate the second electrical current supply means to switch the solenoid to connect the charge voltage output circuit to the first voltage output circuit.

4. The two state power apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a reset drive having an output and an input, wherein the voltage control further comprises a reset line connected to the reset driver output, wherein the dual voltage level input also comprises an open sense detection means with an open sense output signal connected to the reset driver input and wherein when an open circuit is detected on the dual voltage level input the open sense detection means activates the open sense output signal and the reset driver resets the voltage control means in response to the open sense output signal.

5. The two state power apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second electrical current supply means applies a signal to the voltage level signal input of the solenoid means, the applied signal being responsive to the solenoid control output to prevent switching of charge voltage output circuit in the absence of a second voltage level on the second voltage output.

6. The two state power apparatus of claim 1 wherein the alternator means comprises a vehicle alternator.

7. The two state power apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first electrical current supply means comprises a field effect transistor.

8. The two state power apparatus of claim 1 wherein the voltage control means comprises a regulating pulse width modulator.

9. The two state power apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first solenoid comprises a 24 volt solenoid.

10. The two state power apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second electrical current supply means comprises a field effect transistor.

11. The two state power apparatus of claim 3 wherein the mode priority means comprises a 12 volt priority override wherein the the two state power system supplies the first voltage level for a predetermined time period after activation of the mode priority output.

12. The two state power apparatus of claim 1 wherein wherein the voltage lock-out means comprises at least two diodes connected to each other in an opposing configuration.

13. The two state power apparatus of claim 1 wherein the mode switching means comprises a manually controlled switch to substantially change the state of the system from the first voltage level to the second voltage level.

14. The two state power apparatus of claim 1 wherein the the mode control signal is connected to a signal output of a 24 volt power inverter.

15. The two state power apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first voltage level is 12 volts and the second voltage level is 24 volts.