Auxiliary vehicle power supply

• US 7,545,121 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2005
• Issued: 06/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scott A. Bolduc
• Original Assignee: Scott A. Bolduc
• Inventors: Bolduc, Scott A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ullah; Akm Enayet
• Assistant Examiner(s): PIGGUSH, AARON C
• Application Number:
  US11/304,859
• Publication Number:
  US 20060125443A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,272 Days
• Field of Search: 320/116, 320/126, 320/163, 320/104, 320/136
• US Class Current: 320/163
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/1423 with multiple batteries

Abstract

A multiple-battery charging system for enabling a vehicle with an internal-combustion engine or hybrid engine to be equipped with a plurality of electric storage batteries. The multiple-battery charging system automatically connects batteries to load, at times alternatingly and at times in parallel. All batteries are charged, together or seriatim, and maintained in a charged state, by a single conventional charging source (alternator) with which the vehicle is equipped. In abnormal operating circumstances, such as when one or more batteries are defective or shorted, or the alternator is defective, the multiple-battery charging system prevents an operator from depleting a battery to the point where necessary peripheral equipment, such as a wheelchair lift, can no longer be operated.

Claims

1. A multiple-battery management system for maintaining a charge on multiple batteries in a vehicle, said multiple-battery management system comprising:

a vehicle having a vehicle load that includes a charging source, an engine, a storage battery, and peripheral devices, wherein, when said engine is running, said charging source provides electrical power for operating said engine, said peripheral devices, and for charging said storage battery,

a plurality of storage batteries; and

a mediator device that includes a programmable control means for receiving voltage data from said plurality of storage batteries, and switch circuitry for automatically switching one of said storage batteries to said vehicle load, and an arming switch for enabling manual intervention of said switch circuitry, wherein said switch circuitry has a charging source connector that is adapted for connecting to said charging source and a battery connector for selectively connecting each storage battery of said plurality of storage batteries electrically to said charging source;

wherein, in a standard operating mode, said mediator device switches between four switch states that include;

a switch state zero, in which an ignition system is in an OFF position and said vehicle engine is not running, and in which said first battery is connected to said charging source, provides voltage to said vehicle load and is available to provide a cranking voltage for starting said vehicle engine,

a switch state one, in which said engine is running and said first battery is electrically switched to said vehicle load and is being charged by said charging source and said second battery is electrically isolated from said vehicle load,

a switch state two, in which said engine is running and said first battery is electrically isolated from said vehicle load and said second battery is switched to said vehicle load and is being charged by said charging source, and

a switch state three, wherein, when said first battery and said second battery are both full charged, said first battery and said second battery are switched in parallel to said vehicle load and are being charged by said charging source, so as to maintain a fully charged level of both batteries.

2. The multiple-battery management system of claim 1, further comprising a display means for indicating a voltage status of said each storage battery.

3. The multiple-battery management system of claim 2, wherein said display means includes a means for displaying an active status of said each storage battery.

4. The multiple-battery management system of claim 1, wherein said battery connector includes a plurality of battery connectors that correspond in number to a number of storage batteries in said plurality of storage batteries, wherein each said battery is connectible to a corresponding one battery connector, and wherein said switch circuitry has a plurality of contactors that are selectively switchable to make a connection with one or more of said plurality of battery connectors such that said switch circuitry is electrically connected between said charging source and said one or more of said each said battery.

5. The multiple-battery management system of claim 1, wherein, before switching from said switch state one to said switch state two, said second battery is switched to said vehicle load before said first battery is isolated from said vehicle load in a make-before-break sequence to prevent arcing.

6. The multiple-battery management system of claim 1, wherein, when said arming switch is activated when an ignition system for said engine is in an OFF position, said mediator device calls for a first emergency mode of operation that switches said second battery to said vehicle load and then isolates said first battery from said vehicle load.

7. The multiple-battery management system of claim 1, wherein when said arming switch is activated when an ignition system for said engine is in an ON position, said mediator device calls for a second emergency mode of operation that switches said second battery to said vehicle load and then isolates said first battery from said vehicle load, and, if said voltage data for said second battery indicates a voltage charge that is above a minimum cranking voltage, allows said second battery to crank said engine for a limited period of time.

8. The multiple-battery management system of claim 7, wherein, when said voltage on said second battery drops below said minimum cranking voltage value, said mediator device interrupts said second emergency mode of operation and switches to switch state one.