Multiple battery system for reliably supplying electrical energy to an electrical system

• US 7,679,314 B2
• Filed: 01/09/2008
• Issued: 03/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Reserve Power Cell LLC
• Original Assignee: Reserve Power Cell LLC
• Inventors: Elder, David W., Bruno, Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso; Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): Muralidar; Richard V
• Application Number:
  US12/008,192
• Publication Number:
  US 20080111426A1
• Time in Patent Office: 797 Days
• Field of Search: 320/103, 320/104, 307/10.1, 307 106- 107, 307/64, 307/66, 307/116, 307/125, 307/130, 307/131, 429 34- 39, 429/51, 429 72- 73
• US Class Current: 320/104
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0046 relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/18 of two or more battery modules
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0413 Large-sized flat cells or batteries for motive or stationary systems with plate-like electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0445 Multimode batteries, e.g. containing auxiliary cells or electrodes switchable in parallel or series connections
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/122 Multimode batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4207 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/574 Devices or arrangements for the interruption of current
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

A multiple battery system includes a battery housing, first and second batteries disposed in the battery housing, a one-way charging circuit, and at least one switching device. The battery housing includes at least one positive terminal and at least one negative terminal, which are electrically coupleable to an electrical system. Each battery includes respective positive and negative outputs. The negative output of each battery is electrically connected to the negative terminal(s) of the battery housing. The one-way charging circuit is electrically connected between the positive outputs of the two batteries and is configured to facilitate charging of, but prevent current flow from, the second battery when the first battery is supplying electrical energy to the electrical system. The switching device(s) is operable in at least two states to selectively electrically connect the positive terminal(s) of the battery housing to a selective one of the positive outputs of the two batteries.

Claims

1. A multiple battery system for supplying electrical energy to an electrical system, the multiple battery system comprising:

a battery housing including at least one positive terminal and at least one negative terminal, the at least one positive terminal and the at least one negative terminal being electrically coupleable to the electrical system;

a first battery disposed within the battery housing, the first battery including a first positive output and a first negative output, the first negative output being electrically connected to the at least one negative terminal;

a second battery disposed within the battery housing, the second battery including a second positive output and a second negative output, the second negative output being electrically connected to the at least one negative terminal;

at least one switching device operable in at least two states to selectively electrically connect the at least one positive terminal to one of the first positive output and the second positive output, the at least one switching device being operable in a first state to electrically connect the first positive output to the at least one positive terminal, the at least one switching device being further operable in a second state independent of the first state to electrically connect the second positive output to the at least one positive terminal; and

a one-way charging circuit electrically connected between the first positive output and the second positive output, the one-way charging circuit being configured to facilitate simultaneous charging of the first battery and the second battery when the at least one switching device is in the first state, the one-way charging circuit being further configured to prevent current flow from the second battery when the at least one switching device is in the first state,

wherein the first battery and the second battery do not supply electrical energy to the electrical system simultaneously when the at least one switching device is in the first state or when the at least one switching device is in the second state and a voltage of the first battery is less than or equal to a voltage of the second battery.

2. The multiple battery system of claim 1, wherein the first battery is electrically isolated from the second battery when the at least one switching device is in the second state.

3. The multiple battery system of claim 1, wherein the battery housing includes a first compartment containing the first battery.

4. The multiple battery system of claim 3, wherein the battery housing further includes a second battery compartment containing the second battery.

5. The multiple battery system of claim 4, wherein the first compartment is located atop the second compartment.

6. The multiple battery system of claim 1, wherein the battery housing includes at least one fill tube.

7. The multiple battery system of claim 6, wherein the first battery includes at least one cell, wherein the second battery includes at least one cell, and wherein the at least one fill lube includes a fill tube for each cell of the first battery and the second battery.

8. The multiple battery system of claim 6, wherein the at least one fill tube includes a fill tube for the second battery and wherein the fill tube for the second battery passes through a compartment of the battery housing containing the first battery.

9. The multiple battery system of claim 1, wherein the one-way charging circuit comprises at least one diode.

10. The multiple battery system of claim 9, wherein the one-way charging circuit further includes at least one heat sink coupled to the at least one diode.

11. The multiple battery system of claim 1, further comprising a controller coupled to the at least one switching device, the controller controlling whether the at least one switching device is in the first state or the second state.

12. The multiple battery system of claim 11, further comprising at least one sensor in communication with the controller, the at least one sensor sensing at least one operating condition of the first battery and the second battery.

13. The multiple battery system of claim 12, wherein the at least one operating condition of the first battery and the second battery includes at least one of a voltage of the first battery, a voltage of the second battery, a cold cranking amperage of the first battery, and a cold cranking amperage of the second battery.

14. The multiple battery system of claim 12, wherein the at least one sensor further senses a state of the at least one switching device.

15. The multiple battery system of claim 12, wherein the first state of the at least one switching device is a first physical switch position and wherein the second state of the at least one switching device is a second physical switch position, and wherein the at least one sensor further senses a physical switch position of the at least one switching device.

16. The multiple battery system of claim 12, wherein the controller selectively changes a state of the at least one switching device based on the at least one operating condition and a present state of the at least one switching device.

17. The multiple battery system of claim 16, wherein the controller changes the state of the at least one switching device to the second state responsive to an input signal from the at least one sensor indicating that at least one of a voltage and a cold cranking amperage of the first battery is below a respective trigger point.

18. The multiple battery system of claim 1, further comprising a battery discharge system for temporarily discharging the second battery when the first battery is in a charged condition.

19. The multiple battery system of claim 18, wherein the battery discharge system comprises a controller and a timer.

20. The multiple battery system of claim 19, wherein the timer signals the controller to set a state of the at least one switching device to the second state so as to discharge the second battery for a predetermined period of time and, after expiration of the predetermined period of time, signals the controller to set the state of the at least one switching device to the first state.

21. A multiple battery system for supplying electrical energy to an electrical system, the multiple battery system comprising:

a battery housing including at least one positive terminal and at least one negative terminal, the at least one positive terminal and the at least one negative terminal being electrically coupleable to the electrical system;

a first battery disposed within the battery housing, the first battery including a first positive output and a first negative output, the first negative output being electrically connected to the at least one negative terminal;

a least a second battery disposed within the battery housing, the at least a second battery including at least a second positive output and at least a second negative output, the second negative output being electrically connected to the at least one negative terminal;

at least one switching device operable in at least two states to selectively electrically connect the at least one positive terminal to one of the first positive output and the at least a second positive output, the at least one switching device being operable in a first state to electrically connect the first positive output to the at least one positive terminal, the at least one switching device being further operable in at least a second state independent of the first state to electrically connect the at least a second positive output to the at least one positive terminal; and

a one-way charging circuit electrically connected between the first positive output and the at least a second positive output. the one-way charging circuit being configured to facilitate simultaneous charging of the first battery and the second battery when the at least one switching device is in the first state, the one-way charging circuit being further configured to prevent current flow from the second battery when the at least one switching device is in the first state,

wherein the first battery and the at least a second battery do not supply electrical energy to the electrical system simultaneously when the at least one switching device is in the first state or when the at least one switching device is in the second state and a voltage of the first battery is less than or equal to a voltage of the second battery.