Universal fleet electrical system

• US 7,342,325 B2
• Filed: 09/16/2003
• Issued: 03/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michael Rhodes
• Original Assignee: Michael Rhodes
• Inventors: Rhodes, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Deberadinis; Robert L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KAPLAN, HAL IRA
• Application Number:
  US10/662,356
• Publication Number:
  US 20040061446A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,638 Days
• Field of Search: 307/10.6
• US Class Current: 307/10.6
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0207 Wire harnesses

Abstract

A universal fleet electrical system includes a central power distribution panel, which includes a fuse panel and a lighting selector junction box, together with a universal wiring harness. A dash mounted console is provided for operator control of accessory devices. The console may include a keyed switch interconnected with a security power control relay for enabling a user to connect and disconnect power to the universal wiring harness. Power may be connected and disconnected to the universal wiring harness through the use of a master switch with a circuit breaker. The lighting selector junction box permits various lighting accessories to be connected to different light level circuits. The universal wiring harness may include a plurality of plug and play connectors to facilitate rapid attachment/removal of external accessories. A serial interface may interconnect the wiring harness with the fuse panel.

Claims

1. A universal fleet electrical system for distributing electrical power to a plurality of aftermarket accessories in a fleet vehicle, comprising:

(a) a fuse panel adapted for connection to a fleet vehicle'"'"'s battery, the fuse panel having a plurality of lighting circuit relays, each relay having a solenoid and normally open switch contacts, each relay further having a fuse in series with the relay solenoid;

(b) a lighting selection junction box electrically connected to said fuse panel, the lighting selection junction box having;

(i) a plurality of lighting circuits, each lighting circuit being connected to the switch contacts of a separate one of said plurality of lighting relays, each lighting circuit branching into a plurality of lighting subcircuits, each subcircuit having a fuse for circuit protection; and

(ii) at least one terminal block having a plurality of terminals, each lighting subcircuit being connected to a separate terminal on said terminal block, each terminal having a connector for attachment of a lighting subcircuit accessory wire;

(iii) wherein a plurality of lighting subcircuit accessories are programmably connected to the switch contacts of a user selected lighting relay by connecting a connector from the subcircuit accessory to a terminal on said terminal block;

(c) a console panel having a plurality of user operable switches for controlling operation of a plurality of aftermarket accessories added to the fleet vehicle, the console panel being electrically connected to said fuse panel and said lighting selection box, wherein said console panel further comprises;

(i) at least three lighting level switches, each lighting level switch being connected to a separate one of said lighting relays in order to control application of power to three different combinations of aftermarket lighting accessories by a single switch;

(ii) a take down switch connected to one of said lighting relays for controlling application of power to aftermarket lighting accessories used when pulling over a motorist; and

(iii) a spare switch connected to one of said lighting relays for providing a user with a programmable console switch for adding on additional aftermarket accessories; and

(d) a universal wiring harness electrically connecting said fuse panel, said lighting selection junction box, and said console panel, the wiring harness having a plurality a connectors distributed throughout the fleet vehicle adapted for connection to aftermarket accessories, the connectors being configured as plug and play connectors, the wiring harness having a plurality of color-coded wires stamped with circuit identification labels.

2. The universal fleet electrical system according to claim 1, wherein said fuse panel further comprises:

(a) a positive voltage buss bar adapted for connection to a positive terminal of the fleet vehicle'"'"'s battery;

(b) a ground buss adapted for connection to a negative terminal of the fleet vehicle'"'"'s battery;

(c) a pair of main power fuses, each main power fuse branching into a plurality of normally hot auxiliary circuits, each auxiliary circuit having a fuse for protection of the auxiliary circuit, the main power fuses being directly connected to said positive voltage buss bar so that the auxiliary circuits are normally hot, each auxiliary circuit having wires with red insulation and bearing indicia identifying the circuit for quick identification; and

(d) an ignition relay having a solenoid tapped into the fleet vehicle'"'"'s ignition switch and having normally open switch contacts connected to a plurality of ignition controlled auxiliary circuits, each ignition controlled auxiliary circuit having an auxiliary fuse and having wires with orange insulation and bearing indicia for rapid circuit identification.

3. The universal fleet electrical system according to claim 1, wherein said fuse panel further comprises a pair of diodes connected in series between said three lighting level switches in order to prevent feedback when at least one accessory is commonly connected to more than one of said lighting level switches and both switches are turned to an “

ON”

position.

4. The universal fleet electrical system according to claim 1, wherein said console panel further comprises a programmable timer delay connected to said universal wiring harness for turning off circuits a predetermined period of time after the fleet vehicle ignition switch is turned to an “

OFF”

position.

5. The universal fleet electrical system according to claim 1, wherein said wiring harness includes a modular connector having:

(a) a through-the-roof base connector; and

(b) a light bar wiring harness having a weatherproof boot connector attachable to said base connector, the light bar wiring harness being adapted for a light bar accessory mountable on a roof of the fleet vehicle.

6. The universal fleet electrical system according to claim 1, wherein said console panel further comprises a keyed switch interconnected with a security power control relay adapted for connection with a fleet vehicle'"'"'s battery, the keyed switch and security power control relay enabling a user to connect and disconnect power to the universal wiring harness.

7. The universal fleet electrical system according to claim 1, wherein said universal fleet electrical system further comprises a master switch with a circuit breaker adapted for connection to a fleet vehicle'"'"'s battery, the master switch and circuit breaker enabling a user to connect and disconnect power to the universal wiring harness.

8. A universal fleet electrical system for distributing electrical power to a plurality of aftermarket accessories in a fleet vehicle, comprising:

(a) a fuse panel adapted for connection to a fleet vehicle'"'"'s battery, the fuse panel having a plurality of lighting circuit relays, each relay having a solenoid and normally open switch contacts, each relay further having a fuse in series with the relay solenoid;

(b) a lighting selection junction box electrically connected to said fuse panel, the lighting selection junction box having;

(i) a plurality of lighting circuits, each lighting circuit being connected to the switch contacts of a separate one of said plurality of lighting relays, each lighting circuit branching into a plurality of lighting subcircuits, each subcircuit having a fuse for circuit protection; and

(ii) at least one terminal block having a plurality of terminals, each lighting subcircuit being connected to a separate terminal on said terminal block, each terminal having a connector for attachment of a lighting subcircuit accessory wire;

(iii) wherein a plurality of lighting subcircuit accessories are programmably connected to the switch contacts of a user selected lighting relay by connecting a connector from the subcircuit accessory to a terminal on said terminal block;

(c) a console panel having a plurality of user operable switches for controlling operation of a plurality of aftermarket accessories added to the fleet vehicle, the console panel being electrically connected to said fuse panel and said lighting selection box, the console panel having at least three lighting level switches, each lighting level switch being connectable to different combinations of aftermarket lighting accessories, wherein said console panel further comprises;

(i) at least three lighting level switches, each lighting level switch being connected to a separate one of said lighting relays in order to control application of power to three different combinations of aftermarket lighting accessories by a single switch;

(ii) a take down switch connected to one of said lighting relays for controlling application of power to aftermarket lighting accessories used when pulling over a motorist; and

(iii) a spare switch connected to one of said lighting relays for providing a user with a programmable console switch for adding on additional aftermarket accessories; and

(d) a universal wiring harness electrically connecting said fuse panel, said lighting selection junction box, and said console panel, the wiring harness having a plurality a connectors distributed throughout the fleet vehicle adapted for connection to aftermarket accessories, the connectors being configured as plug and play connectors.

9. The universal fleet electrical system according to claim 8, wherein said universal wiring harness further comprises a plurality of color-coded wires stamped with circuit identification labels.

10. The universal fleet electrical system according to claim 8, wherein said fuse panel further comprises:

(a) a positive voltage buss bar adapted for connection to a positive terminal of the fleet vehicle'"'"'s battery;

(b) a ground buss adapted for connection to a negative terminal of the fleet vehicles battery;

(c) a pair of main power fuses, each main power fuse branching into a plurality of normally hot auxiliary circuits, each auxiliary circuit having a fuse for protection of the auxiliary circuit, the main power fuses being directly connected to said positive voltage buss bar so that the auxiliary circuits are normally hot, each auxiliary circuit having wires with red insulation and bearing indicia identifying the circuit for quick identification; and

(d) an ignition relay having a solenoid tapped into the fleet vehicle'"'"'s ignition switch and having normally open switch contacts connected to a plurality of ignition controlled auxiliary circuits, each ignition controlled auxiliary circuit having an auxiliary fuse and having wires with orange insulation and bearing indicia for rapid circuit identification.

11. The universal fleet electrical system according to claim 8, wherein said fuse panel further comprises a pair of diodes connected in series between said three lighting level switches in order to prevent feedback when at least one accessory is commonly connected to more than one of said lighting level switches and both switches are turned to an “

ON”

position.

12. The universal fleet electrical system according to claim 8, wherein said console panel further comprises a keyed switch interconnected with a security power control relay adapted for connection with a fleet vehicle'"'"'s battery, the keyed switch and security power control relay enabling a user to connect and disconnect power to the universal wiring harness.

13. The universal fleet electrical system according to claim 8, wherein said universal fleet electrical system further comprises a master switch with a circuit breaker adapted for connection to a fleet vehicle'"'"'s battery, the master switch and circuit breaker enabling a user to connect and disconnect power to the universal wiring harness.