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Power supply apparatus for a vehicle having batteries of different voltages which are charged according to alternator speed

  • US 5,418,401 A
  • Filed: 10/23/1992
  • Issued: 05/23/1995
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1991
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A power supply apparatus comprising:

  • an alternator (1) having an armature winding (2) and a field winding (3);

    first and second output terminals (6,

         7) connected to the armature winding;

    a first discrete, relatively low voltage battery (10);

    a switch (15) connected between the first output terminal and the first battery and having first and second positions;

    a second discrete battery (12), separate and distinct from said first battery, connected to the second output terminal and having a higher voltage than the first battery; and

    switch control means (20) for switching the switch between the first and second positions according to the rotational speed of the alternator;

    voltage regulating means for controlling the alternator to maintain the voltage at the output terminals at a first voltage higher than the voltage of the first battery and lower than the voltage of the second battery when the switch is in its first position and maintain the voltage at the output terminals at a second voltage higher than the voltage of the second battery when the switch is in its second position; and

    a third output terminal connected to the armature winding at a point having a voltage lower than the voltage at the first or second output terminals, wherein the switch is connected to the first output terminal and the third output terminal, and the first output terminal is connected by the switch to the first battery when the switch is in its first position and the third output terminal is connected by the switch to the first battery when the switch is in its second position.

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