Marine charge source switching system

• US 6,815,931 B1
• Filed: 07/29/2002
• Issued: 11/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John T. Wells
• Original Assignee: John T. Wells
• Inventors: Wells, John T., Hanrahan, Chris, McMahon, Ted
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Bao Q.
• Application Number:
  US10/207,559
• Time in Patent Office: 834 Days
• Field of Search: 320/162, 320/163, 320/164, 320/155, 320/157
• US Class Current: 320/164
• CPC Class Codes: B63J 2003/002 by using electric power
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/42 for ships or vessels
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 4/00 Circuit arrangements for mains or distribution networks not specified as ac or dc
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/1415 with a generator driven by a prime mover other than the motor of a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/1423 with multiple batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/143 with multiple generators

Abstract

A battery charging system includes a first charge source for connection to a first engine and at least a second charge source for connection to at least a second engine. A first battery is connected to the first charge source. At least a second battery is connected to the second charge source. At least a third battery is provided and is connected to a load. A switch is adapted in the first mode of operation to connect the third battery to the first charge source, and in a second mode of operation to connect the third battery to the second charge source. In a third mode of operation, the switch can isolate the third battery from the first and second charge sources as a fail-safe, and provide an alarm of this status. The invention is particularly adapted for use in marine vessels to prevent start batteries from discharging to a point where the voltage is insufficient to start an engine. A switch assembly and a method according to the invention are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A charge source switching system, comprising:

a first charge source for connection to a first engine;

at least a second charge source for connection to at least a second engine;

a first battery connected to said first charge source;

at least a second battery connected to said second charge source;

at least a third battery connected to a load; and

a switch adapted in a first mode of operation to connect said third battery to said first charge source, and in a second mode of operation, to automatically connect said third battery to said second charge source.

2. The charge source switching system of claim 1, wherein said switch is adapted to automatically disconnect said third battery from said first charge source in said second mode of operation.

3. The charge source switching system of claim 1, further comprising a voltage monitor for monitoring the voltage in the first battery and the second battery.

4. The charge source switching system of claim 3, wherein said switch is responsive to voltage signals from said voltage monitor to switch between said first mode of operation and second mode of operation.

5. The charge source switching system of claim 4, wherein said switch is adapted to further operate in a third mode of operation in which said third battery is automatically disconnected from said first charge source and said second charge source, said switch switching to said third mode when the voltage signals of both said first battery and said second battery fall below a threshold voltage.

6. The charge source switching system of claim 5, wherein said threshold voltage is pre-determined.

7. The charge source switching system of claim 5, further comprising an alarm operatively connected to the switch to alert the user when the switch switches to said third mode of operation.

8. The charge source switching system of claim 4, further comprising a timer for maintaining said switch in said first mode of operation or said second mode of operation for a pre-determined time.

9. The charge source switching system of claim 1, further comprising a solenoid that operates said switch between said first mode of operation and said second mode of operation.

10. The charge source switching system of claim 1, wherein said system is provided on a marine vessel.

11. The charge source switching system of claim 10, wherein said first charge source and second charge source are alternators, said first battery and second battery are start batteries associated with starting said engines, and said third battery is a house battery.

12. The charge source switching system of claim 1, further comprising at least a third charge source.

13. The charge source switching system of claim 12, further comprising at least a fourth battery connected to said at least third charge source.

14. A switch assembly, comprising

a terminal for connection to a first charge source;

a terminal for connection to a second charge source;

a terminal for connection to a first battery, and for connecting said first charge source to said first battery;

a terminal for connection to said second battery, and for connecting said second charge source to said second battery;

a terminal for connecting to a third battery;

said switch assembly further comprising a switch means for switching between a first mode of operation in which said third battery is connect to said first charge source, and a second mode of operation in which said third battery is connected to said second charge source.

15. The switch assembly of claim 14, further comprising a voltage monitor for monitoring the voltage in said first battery and said second battery.

16. The switch assembly of claim 15, wherein said switch is responsive to voltage signals from said voltage monitor to switch between said first mode of operation and said second mode of operation.

17. The switch assembly of claim 16, further comprising a timer for maintaining said switch in said first mode of operation or said second mode of operation for a predetermined time.

18. The switch assembly battery of claim 16, wherein said system is provided on a marine vessel.

19. The switch assembly of claim 18, wherein said first charge source and said second charge source are alternators connected to respective marine engines, said first battery and said second battery are start batteries associated with starting said engines, and said third battery is a house battery associated with operating marine electronics.

20. The switch assembly of claim 14, wherein said switch assembly further comprises a solenoid that operates said switch means between said first mode of operation and said second mode of operation.

21. A method for switching a charge source, comprising the steps of:

connecting at least a first battery to at least a first charge source;

connecting at least a second battery to at least a second charge source;

connecting at least a third battery to a switch assembly;

monitoring a voltage in said first battery and a voltage in said second battery;

switching the third battery from a connection to the first charge source if the voltage in the first battery falls below a first threshold voltage, and switching the third battery from the second charge source if the voltage in the second battery falls below a second threshold voltage.

22. The method of switching a charge source according to claim 21, wherein the first charge source and the second charge source are alternators connected to respective marine engines, the first battery and the second battery are start batteries associated with starting the engines, and the third battery is a house battery associated with operating marine electronics.

23. The method of switching a charge source according to claim 21, further comprising the steps of timing of connection after switching to one of the first battery and the second battery and maintaining the connection for a predetermined amount of time.

24. The method of switching a charge source according to claim 21, wherein at least one of the first and second threshold voltages is pre-determined.

25. The method of switching a charge source according to claim 21, wherein said first threshold voltage and said second threshold voltage have equivalent values.

26. A charge source switching system, comprising:

a first charge source;

at least a second charge source;

a first battery connected to said first charge source;

at least a second battery connected to said second charge source;

at least a third battery connected to a load;

a switch adapted in a first mode of operation to connect said third battery to said first charge source, and in a second mode of operation, to connect said third battery to said second charge source;

wherein at least one of said first charge source and said second charge source is connected to an engine.

27. A charge source switching system, comprising:

a first marine engine having a first alternator;

a second marine engine having a second alternator;

a first start battery connected to the first alternator to receive charge from the first alternator;

a second start battery connected to the second alternator to receive charge from the second alternator;

a third battery connected to a load;

a voltage monitor for monitoring the voltage in the first battery and the second battery; and

a switch adapted in a first mode of operation to connect said third battery to said first alternator to receive charge from the first alternator, and in a second mode of operation, to automatically connect said third battery to said second charge source to receive charge from the second alternator, said switch responsive to said voltage monitor to switch between said first mode of operation and second mode of operation, wherein said switch operates in the second mode of operation when the voltage of the first battery falls below a first threshold voltage and the voltage of the second battery is above a second threshold voltage and the switch operates in the first mode of operation when the voltage of the second battery fall below the second threshold voltage and the voltage of the first battery is above the first threshold voltage.

28. The charge source switching system of claim 27, wherein the first threshold voltage and the second threshold voltage are substantially equal.

29. The charge source switching system of claim 27, wherein said switch is adapted to further operate in a third mode of operation in which said third battery is automatically disconnected from said first charge source and said second charge source when the voltage of said first battery falls below the first threshold voltage and the voltage of said second battery falls below the second threshold voltage.

30. The charge source switching system of claim 29, wherein the first threshold voltage and the second threshold voltage are substantially equal.

31. The charge source switching system of claim 27, further comprising a timer for maintaining said switch in a current one of said first mode of operation and said second mode of operation for a pre-determined time.