Automatic battery charge and discharge control system

• US 5,418,444 A
• Filed: 06/22/1993
• Issued: 05/23/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Goldeneye Products, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Goldeneye Products, Inc.
• Inventors: Nelson, Bruce D., Cook, Gary L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peckman, Kristine L.
• Application Number:
  US08/080,324
• Time in Patent Office: 700 Days
• Field of Search: 320/6, 320/7, 320/15, 320/16
• US Class Current: 320/125
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0024 Parallel/serial switching of connection of batteries to charge or load circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/1423 with multiple batteries

Abstract

An automatic ignition controlled battery charge and discharge system for vehicles such as RV'"'"'s boats and the like, that have an engine with a charging system connected to a main battery, an ignition switch controlling the engine, and a plurality of auxiliary batteries. When the engine ignition is turned on, the main battery connected to a generator or alternator of the engine is placed in parallel with a plurality of auxiliary batteries for charging, and when the engine ignition is turned off, the main battery is isolated from the plurality of auxiliary batteries, to allow the auxiliary batteries to discharge without affecting the voltage potential of the main battery. In an alternate embodiment the system has an AC-power charger that allows the main battery to be placed in parallel with a plurality of auxiliary batteries and charged by the AC-powered charger, when the ignition is turned off, and a sensing circuit that provides a means for sensing the charge potential of the main and auxiliary batteries, whereby charging of each battery is discontinued upon sensing that each battery maximum charging potential has been reached.

Claims

1. A battery charge and discharge control system for vehicles having an engine with a charging system connected to a main battery, an ignition switch controlling the engine, a first auxiliary battery, and a second auxiliary battery comprising:

a. a first switching means having a first position for placing the first auxiliary battery in parallel with the second auxiliary battery, and having a second position for placing the first auxiliary battery in series with the second auxiliary battery;

b. a second switching means having a first position when said first switching means is in said first position, for placing the main battery in parallel with the first auxiliary battery and the second auxiliary battery, such that the first auxiliary battery and the second auxiliary battery may be charged from the charging system, and having a second position for isolating the main battery from the first auxiliary battery and the second auxiliary battery such that the auxiliary batteries may be discharged independent of the main battery; and

c. means for automatically placing said first switching means and said second switching means in said first positions when the ignition switch is turned on.

2. The battery charge and discharge control system of claim 1, wherein the main battery and the auxiliary batteries have different maximum charge potentials.

3. The battery charge and discharge control system of claim 1, including a charger circuit and an override switch, wherein said override switch causes said first switching means to be placed in said first position when the ignition switch is turned off, allowing said charger circuit to charge the main battery and the auxiliary batteries in parallel,

said charger circuit having a means for sensing a main battery charge potential and discontinuing charge of the main battery upon sensing a main battery maximum charging potential,

said charger circuit having a means for sensing an auxiliary battery charge potential and discontinuing charge of the auxiliary batteries upon sensing an auxiliary battery maximum charging potential.

4. A battery charge and discharge control system for vehicles having an engine with a charging system connected to a main battery, an ignition switch controlling the engine, a first auxiliary battery, and a second auxiliary battery comprising:

a. a first switching means having a first position when activated by a first relay, for connecting in parallel the first auxiliary battery and the second auxiliary battery, and having a second position when de-activated by said first relay for connecting in series the first auxiliary battery and the second auxiliary battery;

b. a second switching means activated by a second relay, having a first position when said first switching means is in said first position, for connecting the main battery in parallel with the first auxiliary battery and the second auxiliary battery, such that the first auxiliary battery and the second auxiliary battery may be charged from the charging system, and having a second position for isolating the main battery from the first auxiliary battery and the second auxiliary battery such that the auxiliary batteries may be discharged independent of the main battery;

c. means responsive to the ignition switch for automatically placing said first switching means and said second switching means in said first positions when the ignition switch is turned on, wherein turning the ignition switch on energizes said first relay and said second relay;

d. means responsive to an override switch for placing said first switching means and said second switching means in said first positions when the ignition switch is turned off, for charging the main battery, the first auxiliary battery and the second auxiliary battery; and

e. charger circuit means for charging the main battery, the first auxiliary battery, and the second auxiliary battery when the ignition switch it turned off,

said charger circuit including a first sensing circuit and a second sensing circuit,

said first sensing circuit, senses first auxiliary battery and second auxiliary battery charge potential and discontinues charging of the auxiliary batteries upon sensing an auxiliary battery maximum charging potential, and places said first switching means in said second position, to yield a series connection between the first and second auxiliary batteries;

said second sensing circuit, senses main battery charge potential and discontinues charging of the main battery upon sensing a main battery maximum charging potential and causes said second switching means to be placed in said second position to isolate the main battery from the first and second auxiliary batteries.

5. The battery charge and discharge control system of claim 4, wherein the main battery and the first and second auxiliary batteries have different maximum charge potentials.

6. The battery charge and discharge control system of claim 4, wherein said first sensing circuit has an auxiliary charging window, wherein said auxiliary charging window defines an auxiliary voltage range at which said first sensing circuit will prohibit additional charging of the first and second auxiliary batteries,

said first sensing circuit allowing the first and second auxiliary batteries to be charged when first and second auxiliary battery voltages drop below said first charging window.

7. The battery charge and discharge control system of claim 4, wherein said second sensing circuit has a main charging window, wherein said main charging window defines a main voltage range at which said second sensing circuit will prohibit additional charging of the main battery, said second sensing circuit allowing the main battery to be charged when main battery voltage drops below said main charging window.

8. A battery charge and discharge control system for vehicles having an engine with a charging system connected to a main battery, a first auxiliary battery, and a second auxiliary battery comprising:

a. a first switch and a second switch, each having a first position for placing the first auxiliary battery in parallel with the second auxiliary battery, and each switch having a second position for placing the first auxiliary battery in series with the second auxiliary battery;

b. a third switch, electrically connected to the main battery, having a first position when said first and second switches are in said first positions, for placing the main battery in parallel with the first auxiliary battery and the second auxiliary battery, such that the first auxiliary battery and the second auxiliary battery may be charged from the charging system, and having a second position for isolating the main battery from the first auxiliary battery and the second auxiliary battery such that the auxiliary batteries may be discharged independent of the main battery; and

c. an ignition switch electrically connected to said first, second and third switches for automatically placing said first, second and third switches in said first positions when said ignition switch is turned on.

9. The battery charge and discharge control system of claim 8, wherein the main battery and the auxiliary batteries have different maximum charge potentials.

10. The battery charge and discharge control system of claim 8, including a charger circuit, electrically connected to the main and auxiliary batteries and an override switch electrically connected to said first, second and third switches, wherein said override switch causes said first, second and third switches to be placed in said first positions when the ignition switch is turned off, allowing said charger circuit to charge the main battery and the auxiliary batteries in parallel,

said charger circuit having a sensing circuit for sensing a main battery charge potential and discontinuing charge of the main battery upon sensing a main battery maximum charging potential,

said charger circuit having a sensing circuit for sensing an auxiliary battery charge potential and discontinuing charge of the auxiliary batteries upon sensing an auxiliary battery maximum charging potential.

11. A battery charge and discharge control system for vehicles having an engine with a charging system connected to a main battery, a first auxiliary battery, and a second auxiliary battery comprising:

a. a first switch and a second switch each having a first position when activated, for connecting in parallel the first auxiliary battery and the second auxiliary battery, and each switch having a second position when de-activated for connecting in series the first auxiliary battery and the second auxiliary battery;

b. a third switch having a first position when said first and second switches are in said first positions, for connecting the main battery in parallel with the first auxiliary battery and the second auxiliary battery, such that the first auxiliary battery and the second auxiliary battery may be charged from the charging system, and having a second position for isolating the main battery from the first auxiliary battery and the second auxiliary battery such that the auxiliary batteries may be discharged independent of the main battery;

c. an ignition switch electrically connected to said first, second and third switches for automatically placing said first, second and third switches in said first positions when the ignition switch is turned on, wherein turning said ignition switch on energizes relay coils operatively associated with said first, second and third switches;

d. an override switch electrically connected to said first, second an third switches for placing said first, second and third switches in said first positions when the ignition switch is turned off, for charging the main battery, the first auxiliary battery and the second auxiliary battery; and

e. a charger circuit electrically connected to the main battery, the first auxiliary battery, and the second auxiliary battery for charging the main battery, the first auxiliary battery, and the second auxiliary battery when the ignition switch it turned off,

said charger circuit including a sensing circuit,

said sensing circuit, senses the main battery charge potential and discontinues charging of the main battery upon sensing a main battery maximum charging potential and causes said third switch to be placed in said second position to isolate the main battery from the first and second auxiliary batteries;

said sensing circuit, senses the first auxiliary battery and second auxiliary battery charge potential and discontinues charging of the auxiliary batteries upon sensing an auxiliary battery maximum charging potential, and places said first and second switches in said second positions, to yield said series connection between the first and second auxiliary batteries.

12. The battery charge and discharge control system of claim 11, wherein the main battery and the first and second auxiliary batteries have different maximum charge potentials.

13. The battery charge and discharge control system of claim 11, wherein said sensing circuit has a first charging window, wherein said first charging window has upper and lower voltages that define a first voltage range at which said sensing circuit will prohibit additional charging of the first and second auxiliary batteries,

said sensing circuit allowing the first and second auxiliary batteries to be charged when first and second auxiliary battery voltages drop below said first charging window,

said sensing circuit having a second charging window, wherein said second charging window has upper and lower voltages that define a second voltage range at which said sensing circuit will prohibit additional charging of the main battery.

14. The battery charge and discharge control system of claim 13, wherein said sensing circuit allows the main battery to be charged when main battery voltage drops below said second charging window.

15. The battery charge and discharge control system of claim 13 wherein said sensing circuit includes a first sensing circuit for sensing said auxiliary battery charge potential and a second sensing circuit for sensing said main battery charge potential.

16. The battery charge and discharge control system of claim 13 wherein said first voltage window and said second voltage window have upper and lower voltages that are not equivalent.

17. The battery charge and discharge control system of claim 13 wherein said first and second voltage window lower voltages are equivalent.

18. The battery charge and discharge control system of claim 13 wherein said first and second voltage window upper voltages are equivalent.