System and method for safely and efficiently capturing power currently produced by already available power supplies to power electrical devices in a truck while its engine is turned off

• US 7,151,326 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2003
• Issued: 12/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IDLE Free Systems Incorporated (Phillips & Temro Industries, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: IDLE Free Systems Incorporated (Phillips & Temro Industries, Inc.)
• Inventors: Jordan, Robert Howard
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson, Stephen W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KAPLAN, HAL IRA
• Application Number:
  US10/668,618
• Publication Number:
  US 20050063121A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,183 Days
• Field of Search: 307 19- 23, 307/25, 307 44- 46, 307/9.1, 307/10.1, 307/10.6, 307/10.8, 307/26, 307/29, 307 64- 66, 307/80, 307/81, 307/86, 307/126, 320/103, 320/104, 320/112, 439/133, 439/367, 439/449
• US Class Current: 307/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/003 to auxiliary motors, e.g. for pumps, compressors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 8/003 Converting light into electric energy, e.g. by using photo-voltaic systems
• 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: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors

Abstract

The present invention is directed to an electrical system and method for providing power to a truck'"'"'s cab while the truck'"'"'s engine is turned off. An already available primary power supply of the truck and a secondary power supply generally located on a trailer being hauled by the truck, are used to charge auxiliary power storage units. The secondary power supply is further used to maintain charge of the auxiliary power storage units while the truck'"'"'s engine is off. The system may provide power to electrical devices within the truck as DC, or as AC by means of an inverter. The system may further include thermostatic controls to protect the secondary power supply when high-voltage electrical devices such as space heaters are being used. Separate operating circuits are employed that include switching means to enable an operator to, or to automatically, control operation of the system.

Claims

1. A system for powering an at least one electrical device in a truck with an engine while the truck'"'"'s engine is turned off, the system comprising:

a primary power supply comprising an alternator and an at least one battery of the truck;

a secondary power supply;

an auxiliary power storage means for storing power comprising an at least one auxiliary power storage unit;

a first operating circuit connecting the primary power supply to the auxiliary power storage means, comprising a first switching means for selectively actuating the first operating circuit to direct power from the primary power supply to charge the at least one power storage unit of the auxiliary power storage means while the truck'"'"'s engine is turned on;

a second operating circuit connecting the secondary power supply to the auxiliary power storage means, comprising

a first circuit breaker;

a second switching means for selectively actuating the second operating circuit to direct power from the secondary power supply to charge the at least one power storage unit of the auxiliary power storage means; and

,

a third operating circuit connecting the auxiliary power storage means to an at least one electrical outlet in the truck, comprising

the at least one electrical outlet into which the at least one electrical device may be plugged; and

,

a third switching means for selectively actuating the third operating circuit to direct power from the auxiliary power storage means to the at least one electrical outlet;

wherein a system is provided to safely and efficiently capture power being generated by the primary and secondary power supplies, to store the captured power in the auxiliary power storage means, and to maintain the charge of the at least one auxiliary power storage units by using the secondary power supply when the primary power supply is turned off so as to enable the at least one electrical device to run on power generated by the secondary power supply or stored in the at least one auxiliary power storage unit over an extended period of time while the truck is turned off without depleting the charge of the at least one auxiliary power storage unit and while minimizing stress on the secondary power supply.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the secondary power supply is a powered refrigeration unit mounted on a trailer being hauled by the truck.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the second switching means of the second circuit comprises:

a primary switching means for actuating the second operating circuit;

a first control switch operatively interconnected with the primary switching means for actuating the primary switching means; and

,

a remote switch operatively interconnected with the first control switch for selectively actuating the first control switch and thereby the primary switching means to actuate the second operating circuit.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the third operating circuit further comprises an inverter means operatively interconnected with the auxiliary power storage means and the at least one electrical outlet for converting direct current from the auxiliary power storage means to alternating current.

5. A system for powering an at least one electrical device in a truck with an engine while the truck'"'"'s engine is turned off, the system comprising:

a primary power supply comprising an alternator and an at least one battery of the truck;

a secondary power supply located on a trailer being hauled by the truck and comprising an alternator and an at least one battery;

an auxiliary power storage means for storing power comprising an at least one auxiliary power storage unit;

a first operating circuit operatively connecting the primary power supply to the auxiliary power storage means, comprising

a first switching means for actuating the first operating circuit to direct power from the primary power supply to charge the at least one power storage unit of the auxiliary power storage means while the truck'"'"'s engine is turned on; and

a first remote switch operatively interconnected with the first switching means for selectively actuating the first switching means;

a second operating circuit connecting the secondary power supply to the auxiliary power storage means, comprising

a first connecting means connected to the at least one battery of the secondary power supply for connecting the secondary power supply to the auxiliary power storage means via a second connecting means to which the first connecting means is removably connected;

the second connecting means connected to the auxiliary power storage means for connecting the auxiliary power storage means to the secondary power supply via the first connecting means to which the second connecting means is removably connected;

a first circuit breaker located between the secondary power supply and the auxiliary power supply, the first circuit breaker having a trip amperage less than the rated amperage output of the alternator of the secondary power supply;

a second switching means for selectively actuating the second operating circuit to direct power from the secondary power supply to charge the at least one power storage unit of the auxiliary power storage means, comprising

a primary switching means for actuating the second operating circuit;

a first control switch operatively interconnected with the primary switching means for actuating the primary switching means; and

,

a second remote switch operatively interconnected with the first control switch for selectively actuating the first control switch and thereby the primary switching means to actuate the second operating circuit; and

,

a third operating circuit connecting the auxiliary power storage means to an at least one electrical outlet in the truck, comprising

a second circuit breaker;

the at least one electrical outlet into which the at least one electrical device may be plugged; and

,

a third remote switch for selectively actuating the third operating circuit to direct power from the auxiliary power storage means to the at least one electrical outlet;

wherein a system is provided to safely and efficiently capture power being generated by the primary and secondary power supplies, to store the captured power in the auxiliary power storage means, and to maintain the charge of the at least one auxiliary power storage units by using the secondary power supply when the primary power supply is turned off so as to enable the at least one electrical device to run on power generated by the secondary power supply or stored in the at least one auxiliary power storage unit over an extended period of time while the truck is turned off without depleting the charge of the at least one auxiliary power storage unit and while minimizing stress on the secondary power supply.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the secondary power supply is a powered refrigeration unit mounted on the trailer.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the first and second connecting means each comprise a pair of electrical cables one end of each connecting to the secondary power supply and the auxiliary power storage means, respectively, and the other end of each comprising a one-way connector to enable a removable connection there between.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the second operating circuit further comprises a third connecting means inserted between and removably connecting the first and second connecting means.

9. The system of claim 5, wherein the at least one electrical device is a device that operates on direct current.

10. The system of claim 5, wherein the third operating circuit further comprises an inverter means operatively interconnected with the auxiliary power storage means and the at least one electrical outlet for converting direct current from the auxiliary power storage means to alternating current and wherein the at least one electrical device is a device that operates on alternating current.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the inverter means comprises an electrical plug to enable input of power from an external alternating current power supply.

12. A method for powering an at least one electrical device in a truck with an engine while the truck'"'"'s engine is turned off, the method comprising:

providing a primary power supply comprising an alternator and an at least one battery of the truck;

providing a secondary power supply located on a trailer being hauled by the truck and comprising an alternator and an at least one battery;

providing an auxiliary power storage means for storing power comprising an at least one auxiliary power storage unit;

providing a first operating circuit operatively connecting the primary power supply to the auxiliary power storage means, comprising

a first switching means for actuating the first operating circuit to direct power from the primary power supply to charge the at least one power storage unit of the auxiliary power storage means while the truck'"'"'s engine is turned on; and

a first remote switch operatively interconnected with the first switching means for selectively actuating the first switching means;

providing a second operating circuit connecting the secondary power supply to the auxiliary power storage means, comprising

a first connecting means connected to the at least one battery of the secondary power supply for connecting the secondary power supply to the auxiliary power storage means via a second connecting means to which the first connecting means is removably connected;

the second connecting means connected to the auxiliary power storage means for connecting the auxiliary power storage means to the secondary power supply via the first connecting means to which the second connecting means is removably connected;

a first circuit breaker located between the secondary power supply and the auxiliary power supply, the first circuit breaker having a trip amperage less than the rated amperage output of the alternator of the secondary power supply;

a second switching means for selectively actuating the second operating circuit to direct power from the secondary power supply to charge the at least one power storage unit of the auxiliary power storage means, comprising

a primary switching means for actuating the second operating circuit;

a first control switch operatively interconnected with the primary switching means for actuating the primary switching means; and

,

a second remote switch operatively interconnected with the first control switch for selectively actuating the first control switch and thereby the primary switching means to actuate the second operating circuit;

providing a third operating circuit connecting the auxiliary power storage means to an at least one electrical outlet in the truck, comprising

a second circuit breaker;

the at least one electrical outlet into which the at least one electrical device is plugged; and

,

a third remote switch for selectively actuating the third operating circuit to direct power from the auxiliary power storage means to the at least one electrical outlet;

removably connecting the first and second connecting means;

turning on the secondary power supply;

actuating the first operating circuit by means of the first remote switch when the truck'"'"'s engine is turned on to direct power from the primary power supply to the at least one auxiliary power storage unit and deactuating the first operating circuit when the truck'"'"'s engine is turned off;

selectively actuating the second operating circuit by means of the second remote switch to direct power from the secondary power supply to the at least one auxiliary power storage unit; and

,

selectively actuating the third operating circuit by means of the third remote switch, to direct power to the at least one electrical outlet from the auxiliary power storage means and the secondary power supply;

whereby a method is provided for safely and efficiently capturing power being generated by the primary and secondary power supplies, for storing the captured power in the auxiliary power storage means, and for maintaining the charge of the at least one auxiliary power storage units by using the secondary power supply when the primary power supply is turned off so as to enable the at least one electrical device to run on power generated by the secondary power supply or stored in the at least one auxiliary power storage unit over an extended period of time while the truck is turned off without depleting the charge of the at least one auxiliary power storage unit and while minimizing stress on the secondary power supply.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising providing a third connecting means in the second circuit inserted between and removably connecting the first and second connecting means, and wherein removably connecting the first and second connecting means further comprises removably inserting the third connecting means there between so that the first and second connecting means are connected via the third intermediate connecting means.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the third operating circuit further comprises an inverter means operatively interconnected with the auxiliary power storage means and the at least one electrical outlet for converting direct current from the auxiliary power storage means to alternating current and wherein the at least one electrical device is a device that operates on alternating current.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the inverter means comprises an electrical plug to enable input of power from an external alternating current power supply.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising connecting the electrical plug to the external alternating current power supply.