Vehicle with switched supplemental energy storage system for engine cranking
First Claim
1. In a vehicle comprising an internal combustion engine, a cranking motor coupled with the engine to crank the engine, and a battery coupled with the cranking motor, the improvement comprising:
- a capacitor comprising first and second terminals;
first and second electrical paths interconnecting the first and second terminals, respectively, with the cranking motor;
a control circuit coupled between the first and second terminals of the capacitor, said control circuit comprising a switch having a variable switch position, said control circuit operative to apply a control voltage at least in part from said capacitor that varies in response to the switch position of the switch; and
a relay included in the first electrical path, said relay operative to switch in response to the control voltage applied at least in part by said capacitor between an open-circuit condition, in which the relay interrupts the first electrical path, and a closed-circuit condition.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle having an internal combustion engine, a cranking motor, and a battery includes a double-layer capacitor characterized by a capacitance greater than 150 farads, and a low internal resistance. First and second electrical paths interconnect the capacitor with the cranking motor. A control circuit is coupled between the positive and negative terminals of the capacitor, and this control circuit includes a switch that applies a variable control voltage to a relay in response to the position of the switch. The relay is included in one of the electrical paths, and the relay isolates the capacitor from the cranking motor when switched to the open-circuit condition by the control voltage and enables the capacitor to supply cranking current to the cranking motor when the control voltage places the relay in the closed-circuit condition.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. In a vehicle comprising an internal combustion engine, a cranking motor coupled with the engine to crank the engine, and a battery coupled with the cranking motor, the improvement comprising:
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a capacitor comprising first and second terminals;
first and second electrical paths interconnecting the first and second terminals, respectively, with the cranking motor;
a control circuit coupled between the first and second terminals of the capacitor, said control circuit comprising a switch having a variable switch position, said control circuit operative to apply a control voltage at least in part from said capacitor that varies in response to the switch position of the switch; and
a relay included in the first electrical path, said relay operative to switch in response to the control voltage applied at least in part by said capacitor between an open-circuit condition, in which the relay interrupts the first electrical path, and a closed-circuit condition. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. In a vehicle comprising an internal combustion engine, a cranking motor coupled with the engine to crank the engine, and a battery coupled with the cranking motor, the improvement comprising:
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a capacitor comprising first and second terminals;
first and second electrical paths interconnecting the first and second terminals, respectively, with the cranking motor;
a third electrical path interconnecting said first and second terminals;
a switch positioned in said third electrical path and moveable between at least an open position, wherein said switch interrupts said third electrical path, and a closed position, wherein said capacitor supplies a current along said third electrical path; and
a relay moveable between at least an open-circuit position and a closed-circuit position, wherein said relay interrupts said second electrical path when said relay is in said open-circuit position and wherein said relay is moved to said closed-circuit position in response to said current being supplied thereto by said capacitor along said third electrical path. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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10. In a vehicle comprising an internal combustion engine, a cranking motor coupled with the engine to crank the engine, and a battery coupled with the cranking motor, the improvement comprising:
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a capacitor comprising a positive terminal and a negative terminal;
first and second electrical paths interconnecting, respectively, said positive and negative terminals with the cranking motor;
a control circuit coupled between said positive and negative terminals of the capacitor, said control circuit comprising a switch having a variable switch position, said control circuit operative to apply a control voltage that varies in response to the switch position of the switch; and
a relay included in the second electrical path interconnecting said negative terminal and said cranking motor, said relay operative to switch in response to the control voltage between an open-circuit condition, in which the relay interrupts the second electrical path, and a closed-circuit condition. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. A method of cranking a cranking motor coupled with an internal combustion engine, the method comprising:
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applying a voltage to a relay with a capacitor;
closing said relay in response at least in part to said voltage being applied thereto by said capacitor;
completing an electrical path between a terminal of said capacitor and said cranking motor with said closed relay; and
supplying a current to said cranking motor with said capacitor. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification