Power supply apparatus for automotive vehicles

• US 5,256,956 A
• Filed: 10/17/1991
• Issued: 10/26/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Isuzu Motors Limited
• Original Assignee: Isuzu Motors Limited
• Inventors: Tsuchiya, Yoshinobu, Kurabayashi, Ken, Moroboshi, Hiroyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): KINCAID, KRISTINE LYNN
• Application Number:
  US07/776,882
• Time in Patent Office: 740 Days
• Field of Search: 320/1, 320/2, 320/6, 320/15, 320/61, 320/62, 320/63, 320/64
• US Class Current: 320/128
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/06 as the main or only constituent of a layer, which is next to another layer of the same or of a different material next to a layer of a particular substance B32B9/045; next to a bituminous or tarry layer B32B11/046; next to a water setting substance layer B32B13/12; next to a metal layer B32B15/08; next to a glass layer B32B17/10; next to a layer formed of natural mineral fibres or particles B32B19/045; next to a wood layer B32B21/08; next to a cellulosic plastic layer B32B23/08; next to a natural or synthetic rubber layer B32B25/08
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/26 Articles or materials wholly enclosed in laminated sheets or wrapper blanks
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 1/04 with fuel-air mixture admission into cylinder
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/08 Circuits or control means specially adapted for starting of engines
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0866 comprising several power sources, e.g. battery and capacitor or two batteries
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2011/0885 Capacitors, e.g. for additional power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/14 for charging batteries from dynamo-electric generators driven at varying speed, e.g. on vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/34 Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other dc sources, e.g. providing buffering H02J7/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

A power supply apparatus for an automotive vehicle having a storage battery and a large-capacity capacitor charged by the storage battery. When the engine is started, an engine starter is driven by the electric charge stored in the large-capacity capacitor.

Claims

1. A vehicular power supply apparatus for driving an engine starter by electrical power, said vehicular power supply apparatus being operatively connected to a battery for providing electrical power, said apparatus comprising:

a large-capacity capacitor operatively connected to the battery;

a starter switch operatively connected to the battery and in parallel with said large-capacity capacitor; and

energizing means for delivering electric charge from said large-capacity capacitor to the engine starter in response to closure of said starter switch, said energizing means including a first electromagnetic relay including;

a coil having first and second ends, the first end being operatively connected to said starter switch;

first and second main contacts, the first main contact being operatively connected to said large-capacity capacitor and the second main contact being operatively connected to the engine starter; and

a movable contact for connecting said first and second main contacts by energization of said coil.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second end of said coil is operatively connected to said second main contact.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said large-capacity capacitor is connected in parallel with the battery.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

normally closed contacts operatively connecting the battery to the engine starter, and

a second electromagnetic relay operatively connected to said first electromagnetic relay for opening said normally closed contacts.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said large-capacity capacitor is connected in parallel with the battery.

6. A method for driving a motor with a vehicular power supply apparatus coupled to a battery and including a large-capacity capacitor, a starter switch having first and second positions, and a starter motor said method comprising the steps of:

(a) switching the starter switch form the first position to the second position for starting of the motor;

(b) supplying electric charge from the large-capacity capacitor to the starter motor when the starter switch is in the second position;

(c) disconnecting the battery from the starter motor and the large-capacity capacitor when the starter switch is in the second position; and

(d) charging the large-capacity capacitor using the battery when the starter switch is in the first position.

7. A vehicular power supply apparatus for driving an engine starter by electrical power, said vehicular power supply apparatus being operatively connected to a battery for providing electrical power, said apparatus comprising:

a large-capacity capacitor operatively connected to the battery, said large-capacity capacitor being an electrical double layer capacitor;

a starter switch operatively connected to the battery and in parallel with said large-capacity capacitor; and

energizing means for delivering electric charge form said large-capacity capacitor to the engine starter in response to closure of said starter switch.