Method and apparatus for providing supplemental power to an engine
First Claim
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1. A method for delivering supplemental power from a portable jump starter to an engine comprising the steps of:
- positioning said portable jump starter proximate the engine;
temporarily manually connecting conductive leads from said portable jump starter to the electrical system of the engine;
automatically selecting a voltage output of two or more system batteries housed in said portable jump starter, wherein said selected voltage output is 18 volts or 30 volts;
verifying the polarity of the conductive leads and providing an alert if said polarity is incorrect;
assessing the voltage level of said electrical system, if the voltage level of said electrical system is below a predetermined level, then electrically connecting said portable jump starter system batteries to said electrical system to charge an engine battery connected to said electrical system to a predetermined voltage level;
applying power to said electrical system;
monitoring the current output of said system batteries;
measuring one or more voltage levels to determine one or more fault conditions;
examining the current through a shunt cable; and
electrically disconnecting said portable jump starter conductive leads from said electrical system when the engine starts.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus provides supplemental power to an engine. The method and apparatus includes a pair of conductive leads for connecting the supplemental power to an engine electrical system, a battery, a relay connected to the conductive leads, a shunt cable connecting the battery to the relay and a processor for controlling the relay to selectively apply electrical power to the engine electrical system. The method and apparatus includes safety features to reduce the risk of injury to the operator and damage to the apparatus and/or engine electrical system.
108 Citations
33 Claims
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1. A method for delivering supplemental power from a portable jump starter to an engine comprising the steps of:
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positioning said portable jump starter proximate the engine; temporarily manually connecting conductive leads from said portable jump starter to the electrical system of the engine; automatically selecting a voltage output of two or more system batteries housed in said portable jump starter, wherein said selected voltage output is 18 volts or 30 volts; verifying the polarity of the conductive leads and providing an alert if said polarity is incorrect; assessing the voltage level of said electrical system, if the voltage level of said electrical system is below a predetermined level, then electrically connecting said portable jump starter system batteries to said electrical system to charge an engine battery connected to said electrical system to a predetermined voltage level; applying power to said electrical system; monitoring the current output of said system batteries; measuring one or more voltage levels to determine one or more fault conditions; examining the current through a shunt cable; and electrically disconnecting said portable jump starter conductive leads from said electrical system when the engine starts. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A portable jump starter for delivering supplemental power to an engine comprising:
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a pair of conductive leads for connecting the jump starter to an electrical system of the engine; two or more jump starter batteries having a combined output of approximately 18 volts or 30 volts; a relay connected to said conductive leads; a shunt cable connecting said jump starter batteries to said relay; a processor for controlling said relay to selectively apply electrical power to said electrical system of the engine, and a sinusoidal current detector coupled to said processor to determine when the engine has started, wherein said sinusoidal current detector detects an initial increase followed by a decrease in a current delivered from said starter batteries to said engine for a predetermined number of cycles, wherein if said processor detects a decrease in said current delivered from said starter batteries to said engine for apredetermined amount of time said processor opens said relay connected to said conductive leads electrically disconnecting said jump starter from said electrical system. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification