Battery power system for vehicles

• US 5,986,431 A
• Filed: 03/27/1998
• Issued: 11/16/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Exide Technologies
• Original Assignee: GNB Technologies Inc.
• Inventors: Hayes, Gary M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward H.
• Application Number:
  US09/049,506
• Time in Patent Office: 599 Days
• Field of Search: 320/107, 320/110, 320/112, 429/9, 429/96, 429/99, 429/100, 429/151, 429/170, 429/178
• US Class Current: 320/112
• 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

A battery pack for providing electrical power to a commercial tractor/trailer vehicle has two 12-volt high-CCA batteries connected in parallel and two 6-volt deep-cycle batteries connected in series to power 12-volt electrical accessories such as devices for creature comforts. The two 12-volt high-CCA batteries provide sufficient cold cranking current for starting the engine of the vehicle. The two 6-volt deep-cycle batteries connected in series are used to power electrical accessories such as devices for creature comforts when the engine is not operating. A switch connects the serially connected 6-volt deep-cycle batteries in parallel with the 12-volt batteries for charging when the engine is running and isolates the 6-volt deep-cycle batteries from the 12-volt high-CCA batteries when the engine is off. The two 12-volt high-CCA batteries may alternatively be replaced with one large 12-volt high-CCA battery.

Claims

1. A 6-volt battery comprising:

a housing having external dimensions identical to external dimensions of a Group 31 battery; and

two stud terminals mounted on a top panel of the housing for providing a 6-volt output voltage, each of the stud terminals having a diameter identical to a diameter of stud terminals on a Group 31 battery.

2. A 6-volt battery as in claim 1, wherein each of the stud terminals is positioned adjacent a corner of the housing of the battery.

3. A 6-volt battery comprising:

a housing having external dimensions identical to external dimensions of a Group 31 battery; and

two stud terminals mounted on a top panel of the housing for providing a 6-volt output voltage.