Vehicular battery charging switch

• US 5,563,492 A
• Filed: 08/03/1994
• Issued: 10/08/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert J. Collins
• Original Assignee: Robert J. Collins
• Inventors: Collins, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Peter S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHIN, KYUNG E
• Application Number:
  US08/285,113
• Time in Patent Office: 797 Days
• Field of Search: 320/2, 200/215, 200/236, 200/293, 200/301
• US Class Current: 200/61.47
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 29/20 operated by tilting contact-liquid container
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/14 for charging batteries from dynamo-electric generators driven at varying speed, e.g. on vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 320/10 Nonbattery load controls charging

Abstract

A vehicular battery charging switch comprising a tubular vial having a front end, a rear end, and a small amount of electrically conductive liquid material disposed therein; a coupling mechanism for coupling the vial to a vehicle such that its front end is positioned below its rear end when the vehicle is positioned on a level grade; and a pair of electrical contact pins coupled to and extended within the front end of the vial with one contact pin adapted to be connected to an alternator and the other contact pin adapted to be connected to a voltage regulator that is associated with a battery; whereby when a vehicle is travelling on level-grades and on down-grades, the front end of the vial is held below the rear end thereof such that the conductive liquid material is placed in contact with the contact pins, thereby connecting the alternator with the voltage regulator and allowing charging of the associated battery, and when a vehicle is travelling on up-grades, the front end of the vial is tilted above the rear end thereof such that the conductive liquid material breaks contact with the contact pins, thereby disconnecting the alternator from the voltage regulator and preventing charging of the associated battery.

Claims

1. A vehicular battery charging switch for electrically connecting an alternator with a battery of a vehicle for charging comprising, in combination:

a plastic container having a generally rectangular mounting plate with a central axis, a top edge, a bottom edge, and opposed front and rear edges with the rear edge having a coupling hole adjacent thereto and a front edge having a slot adjacent thereto, the container further having a hollow and generally box-shaped cover with a downwardly extended U-shaped cut out formed thereon removably coupled to the mounting plate through a pair of laterally extended lips, thereby creating a compartment between the cover and the mounting plate;

coupling means comprising a first threaded screw disposed through the coupling hole and a second threaded screw adjustably disposed through the slot of the mounting plate for coupling the container to a side wall of an engine compartment of a vehicle such that the central axis of the mounting plate is positioned near a level orientation when the vehicle is positioned on a level-grade, the front edge is facing a front end of the vehicle, and the rear end is facing the rear end of the vehicle, wherein the screws may first be tightened relatively firm but still allowing the mounting plate to rotate so that the mounting plate may be adjusted and later firmly tightened, the coupling means further comprising a flexible shock absorbing washer formed of elastomeric material disposed between two rigid washers and then mated with each screw prior to the screws being threadedly coupled to the side wall thereby simultaneously damping vibrational motion from the vehicle directed towards the container and securing the mounting plate to the side wall;

a base plate coupled via set of screws other than the first and second screws to the mounting plate within the compartment of the container;

a tubular vial having a centroid, a front end facing the front edge of the mounting plate, a rear end facing the rear edge of the mounting plate, and a small amount of electrically conductive liquid mercury disposed therein, the vial coupled to the base plate with a U-shaped bracket such that its front end is positioned below its rear end with respect to an axis disposed through its centroid and positioned in parallel with the central axis of the container;

a pair of electrical contact pins coupled to and extended within the front end of the vial;

an electrical connector plug having a housing disposed in the cut out of the cover and a pair of terminals extended therethrough with each terminal having an upper end and a lower end thus defining a prong, the lower end of one terminal adapted to be coupled to an alternator and the lower end of the other terminal adapted to be connected to voltage regulator that is associated with a battery; and

a pair of wires with each wire having one end coupled to a separate contact pin on the vial and an opposite end coupled to a separate upper end of a terminal of the electrical connector plug;

whereby when a vehicle is travelling on level-grades and on down-grades, the front end of the vial is held below the rear end thereof such that the liquid mercury is placed in contact with the contact pins, thereby connecting the alternator with the voltage regulator and allowing charging of the associated battery, and when a vehicle is travelling on up-grades, the front end of the vial is tilted above the rear end thereof such that the liquid mercury breaks contact with the contact pins, thereby disconnecting the alternator from the voltage regulator and preventing charging of the associated battery.