Engine operated switch for controlling operation of electrical load responsive to alternator voltage and/or battery voltage

• US 5,459,357 A
• Filed: 08/08/1991
• Issued: 10/17/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Floyd M. Minks
• Original Assignee: Floyd M. Minks
• Inventors: Minks, Floyd M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pellinen, A. D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Elms, Richard
• Application Number:
  US07/743,163
• Time in Patent Office: 1,531 Days
• Field of Search: 322/7, 322/8, 322/29, 322/28, 322/99, 307/10.7, 307/10.1, 307/9.1, 307/17, 307/47, 307/68, 307/76, 307/48, 307/66, 290/50, 290/36 R, 290/46, 340/455, 123/630
• US Class Current: 307/10.7
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/03 for supply of electrical power to vehicle subsystems or for circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/14 Balancing the load in a network
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/46 for ICE-powered road vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/1438 in combination with power supplies for loads other than batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

An apparatus for switching on and off vehicular electrical loads. The switching of these loads is controlled automatically by sensing alternator output voltage either alone or in combination with alternator frequency and or vehicle battery voltage.

Claims

1. A system for controlling the operation of an electrical load in a vehicle, said vehicle being driven by an engine, said engine also driving an alternator having an alternating current output, said output being rectified to charge a battery which is part of the electrical system of said vehicle, an amplifying device connected to control the flow of power from said battery to said electrical load and having an input terminal, a control network, said input terminal connected through the control network to receive power from said alternating current output when said engine is operating, and wherein said control network is also responsive to the voltage of said battery so that said load is allowed to receive power from said battery only whenever said engine is operating and said battery is above a selected voltage.

2. A system for controlling the operation of an electrical load in a vehicle, said vehicle being driven by an engine, said engine also driving an alternator having an alternating current output, said output being rectified to charge a battery which is part of the electrical system of said vehicle, an amplifying device connected to control the flow of power from said battery to said electrical load and having an input terminal, a control network, said input terminal connected through the control network to receive power from said alternating current output when said engine is operating, and wherein the input to said amplifying device is removed whenever the voltage of said battery is below a selected level.

3. A vehicular electrical system containing an alternator connected through a rectifying means to charge a battery, an electrical load, and switch amplifying means to automatically connect said load to said battery when said battery is above a selected voltage and said alternator is operating, said amplifying means effectively connecting said load to said alternator when said battery is below said selected voltage.

4. The system recited in claim 3 wherein said alternator is of the permanent magnet-type.