Apparatus and method for reliably supplying electrical energy to an electrical system
First Claim
1. An apparatus for reliably supplying electrical energy on an as-needed basis to an electrical system connected between a system positive terminal and a system negative terminal, the electrical system including battery charging functionality, the apparatus comprising:
- a main battery having a main positive output and a main negative output, the main negative output being electrically connected to the system negative terminal;
at least one standby battery having at least one standby positive output and at least one standby negative output, the at least one standby negative output being electrically connected to the system negative terminal;
a one-way charging circuit electrically connected between the main positive output and the at least one standby positive output, the one-way charging circuit configured to facilitate charging of and prevent current flow from the at least one standby battery at all times during which the main battery is supplying electrical energy to the electrical system; and
a switching device operable in at least two positions to at least selectively electrically connect the system positive terminal to one of the main positive output and the at least one standby positive output, the switching device being operable in a first position to electrically connect the main positive output to the system positive terminal and electrically disconnect the system positive terminal from the at least one standby positive output, the switching device being further operable in a second position independent of the first position to electrically connect to at least one standby positive output to the system positive terminal and electrically disconnect the system positive terminal from the main positive output,wherein, when the switching device is in the first position, the main battery supplies electrical energy to the electrical system on an as-needed basis and both the main battery and the at least one standby battery receive charging current from the electrical system at times during which the electrical system is operational and the main battery is not supplying electrical energy to the electrical system, wherein, when the switching device is in the second position, the at least one standby battery supplies electrical energy to the electrical system on an as-needed basis and only the at least one standby battery receives charging current from the electrical system at times during which the electrical system is operational and the at least one standby battery is not supplying electrical energy to the electrical system, and wherein the main battery and the at least one standby battery never supply electrical energy to the electrical system simultaneously.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The instant invention is directed to a multiple battery system and auxiliary battery attachment system. The invention provides a battery housing having a common positive terminal and a common negative terminal coupled to an electrical system. A main battery having a main positive output and a main negative output is also provided, together with an auxiliary battery having an auxiliary positive output and an auxiliary negative output. A switching device is provided with at least two operating positions. The two operating positions selectively engage the main battery and the auxiliary battery. In the first operating position of the at least two operating positions the common positive terminal is coupled to the main positive output and the auxiliary positive output, a one-way charging circuit preceding the auxiliary battery. In the second operating position of the at least two operating positions the common positive terminal is coupled to the main circuit and, thereon, to the auxiliary positive at a point beyond the one-way charging circuit to the auxiliary battery positive. This isolates the main battery during situations where the main battery is discharged, but allows the auxiliary battery to receive a full charge during normal operations to keep it prepared for any emergency.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. An apparatus for reliably supplying electrical energy on an as-needed basis to an electrical system connected between a system positive terminal and a system negative terminal, the electrical system including battery charging functionality, the apparatus comprising:
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a main battery having a main positive output and a main negative output, the main negative output being electrically connected to the system negative terminal; at least one standby battery having at least one standby positive output and at least one standby negative output, the at least one standby negative output being electrically connected to the system negative terminal; a one-way charging circuit electrically connected between the main positive output and the at least one standby positive output, the one-way charging circuit configured to facilitate charging of and prevent current flow from the at least one standby battery at all times during which the main battery is supplying electrical energy to the electrical system; and a switching device operable in at least two positions to at least selectively electrically connect the system positive terminal to one of the main positive output and the at least one standby positive output, the switching device being operable in a first position to electrically connect the main positive output to the system positive terminal and electrically disconnect the system positive terminal from the at least one standby positive output, the switching device being further operable in a second position independent of the first position to electrically connect to at least one standby positive output to the system positive terminal and electrically disconnect the system positive terminal from the main positive output, wherein, when the switching device is in the first position, the main battery supplies electrical energy to the electrical system on an as-needed basis and both the main battery and the at least one standby battery receive charging current from the electrical system at times during which the electrical system is operational and the main battery is not supplying electrical energy to the electrical system, wherein, when the switching device is in the second position, the at least one standby battery supplies electrical energy to the electrical system on an as-needed basis and only the at least one standby battery receives charging current from the electrical system at times during which the electrical system is operational and the at least one standby battery is not supplying electrical energy to the electrical system, and wherein the main battery and the at least one standby battery never supply electrical energy to the electrical system simultaneously. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An apparatus for reliably supplying electrical energy on an as-needed basis to an electrical system, the electrical system including battery charging functionality, the apparatus comprising:
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a main battery; at least one standby battery; a one-way charging circuit coupled between the main battery and the at least one standby battery, the one-way charging circuit being configured to facilitate charging of and prevent current flow from the at least one standby battery at all times during which the main battery is supplying electrical energy to the electrical system; and a switching device coupled to the main battery, the at least one standby battery and the electrical system, the switching device being operable in a first position to permit electrical energy to flow out of the main battery to the electrical system and prevent electrical energy from flowing out of the at least one standby battery to the electrical system, the switching device being further operable in a second position independent of the first position to permit electrical energy to flow out of the at least one standby battery to the electrical system and prevent electrical energy from flowing out of the main battery to the electrical system wherein, when the switching device is in the first position, the main battery supplies electrical energy to the electrical system on an as-needed basis and both the main battery and the at least one standby battery receive charging current from the electrical system at times during which the electrical system is operational and the main battery is not supplying electrical energy to the electrical system, wherein, when the switching device is in the second position, the at least one standby battery supplies electrical energy to the electrical system on an as-needed basis and only the at least one standby battery receives charging current from the electrical system at times during which the electrical system is operational and the at least one standby battery is not supplying electrical energy to the electrical system, and wherein the main battery and the at least one standby battery never supply electrical energy to the electrical system simultaneously.
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18. A method for reliably providing electrical energy on an as-needed basis from a main battery or at least one standby battery to an electrical system that includes battery charging functionality, the method comprising:
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(a) initially providing electrical energy to the electrical system solely from the main battery while preventing electrical energy from flowing out of the at least one standby battery to the electrical system; (b) subsequent to step (a), receiving charging current from the electrical system to automatically charge both the main battery and the at least one standby battery; and (c) subsequent to step (b), providing electrical energy to the electrical system solely from the at least one standby battery while preventing electrical energy from flowing out of the main battery to the electrical system, such that the main battery and the at least one standby battery never supply electrical energy to the electrical system simultaneously; and (d) subsequent to step (c), receiving charging current from the electrical system to automatically charge the at least one standby battery only.
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19. A battery system for reliably supplying electrical energy on an as-needed basis to an electrical system of a motorized vehicle, the electrical system including battery charging functionality and being connected between a system positive terminal and a system negative terminal, the battery system comprising:
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a main battery having a main positive output and a main negative output, the main negative output being electrically connected to the system negative terminal; at least one standby battery having at least one standby positive output and at least one standby negative output, the at least one standby negative output being electrically connected to the system negative terminal; a one-way charging circuit electrically connected between the main positive output and the at least one standby positive output, the one-way charging circuit configured to facilitate charging of and prevent current flow from the at least one standby battery at all times during which the main battery is supplying electrical energy to the electrical system; a switching device positionable in any one of at least three positions to at least electrically connect the system positive terminal to one of the main positive output and the at least one standby positive output, the switching device being positionable in a first position to electrically connect the main positive output to the system positive terminal and electrically disconnect the system positive terminal from the at least one standby positive output, the switching device being further positionable in a second position independent of the first position to electrically connect the at least one standby positive output to the system positive terminal and electrically disconnect the system positive terminal from the main positive output, and the switching device being still further positionable in a third position independent of the first operating position and the second operating position to electrically disconnect the system positive terminal from both the main positive output and the at least one standby positive output, thereby preventing electrical energy from flowing out of either the at least one standby battery or the main battery to the electrical system; an operating condition sensor coupled to the main battery, the operating condition sensor operable to detect at least one operating condition of the main battery; a switch position sensor coupled to the switching device, the switch position sensor operable to detect a current position of the switching device; a controller coupled to at least the operating condition sensor, the switch position sensor, and the switching device, the controller operable to; determine whether the switching device is in the first position based on an output of the switch position sensor, determine whether the main battery is in a discharge condition based on an output of the operating condition sensor, cause the switching device to switch to the second position responsive to determining that the switching device is in the first position and that the main battery is in the discharge condition; periodically cause the switching device to switch to the second position for a predetermined period of time at least responsive to determining that the switching device is in the first position and that the main battery is in a charged condition, the periodic switching of the switching device to the second position partially discharging the at least one standby battery; and upon expiration of the predetermined period of time;
cause the switching device to switch back to the first position, thereby re-engaging the main battery and facilitating re-charging of the at least one standby battery by the one-way charging circuit;wherein, when the switching device is in the first position, the main battery supplies electrical energy to the electrical system on an as-needed basis and both the main battery and the at least one standby battery receive charging current from the electrical system at times during which the electrical system is operational and the main battery is not supplying electrical energy to the electrical system, wherein, when the switching device is in the second position, the at least one standby battery supplies electrical energy to the electrical system on an as-needed basis and only the at least one standby battery receives charging current from the electrical system at times during which the electrical system is operational and the at least one standby battery is not supplying electrical energy to the electrical system, and wherein the main battery and the at least one standby battery never supply electrical energy to the electrical system simultaneously. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. A method for reliably providing electrical energy on an as-needed basis from a main battery or at least one standby battery to an electrical system of a motorized vehicle that includes battery charging functionality, the method comprising:
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initially providing electrical energy to the electrical system solely from the main battery while preventing electrical energy from flowing out of the at least one standby battery to the electrical system; subsequent to said initial provision of electrical energy, receiving charging current from the electrical system to automatically charge both the main battery and the at least one standby battery, electronically sensing whether the main battery is in a discharge condition; when the main battery is in the discharge condition, automatically providing electrical energy, on an as-needed basis, to the electrical system solely from the at least one standby battery while preventing electrical energy from flowing out of the main battery to the electrical system, such that the main battery and the at least one standby battery never supply electrical energy to the electrical system simultaneously; subsequent to said automatic provision of electrical energy by the at least one standby battery, receiving charging current from the electrical system to automatically charge only the at least one standby battery; when the main battery is in a charging condition, periodically providing electrical energy to the electrical system, on an as-needed basis, solely from the at least one standby battery for a predetermined period of time to partially discharge the at least one standby battery; and upon expiration of the predetermined period of time, re-providing electrical energy to the electrical system, on an as-needed basis, solely from the main battery.
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Specification