Solar light bar

• US 8,540,406 B2
• Filed: 08/18/2011
• Issued: 09/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Code 3 Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Original Assignee: Code 3 Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: Stuesse, Kyle C., Davis, John C., Lloyd, Michael, Herberholt, Steve J., Miller, Roger L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Owens, Douglas W
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAMMOND, DEDEI KHALIEAH
• Application Number:
  US13/212,602
• Publication Number:
  US 20120049748A1
• Time in Patent Office: 768 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 362/493
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/105 in response to determined parameters

Abstract

A solar light bar includes a battery isolator adapted to be connected between a bus and a vehicle charging system for isolating a vehicle battery from the bus and for selectively connecting the bus to the charging system. A light source switch connects the light source and the bus for selectively electrically connecting the light source to the bus. When the light source switch is closed, the light source is energized by electricity from at least one of the solar panel, the charging system and the auxiliary battery. When the light source switch is open, the light source is isolated from the bus. The auxiliary battery is adapted to be selectively charged by electricity from at least one of the solar panel and the charging system.

Claims

1. A light bar for use with a vehicle including an ignition and a charging system connected to a vehicle battery, said light bar for use with an auxiliary battery, said light bar comprising:

a light source;

a bus adapted to be electrically connected to the auxiliary battery for receiving electricity from the auxiliary battery and for providing electricity to the auxiliary battery;

a solar panel electrically connected to the bus for generating electricity and for providing generated electricity to the bus;

a battery isolator adapted to be connected between the bus and the charging system for isolating the vehicle battery from the bus, said battery isolator responsive to the ignition for selectively connecting the bus to the charging system such that the charging system when operating supplies electricity to the bus;

a light source switch connected to the light source and to the bus, said light source switch responsive to an operator for selectively electrically connecting the light source to the bus;

wherein when the light source switch is closed-circuited, the light source is energized by electricity from at least one of the solar panel, the charging system and the auxiliary battery;

wherein when the light source switch is open, the light source is isolated from the bus; and

wherein the auxiliary battery is adapted to be selectively charged by electricity from at least one of the solar panel and the charging system.

2. The light bar of claim 1 wherein the battery isolator comprises an isolation switch adapted to be connected to an ignition of the vehicle and controlled by the ignition such that when the ignition is OFF the isolation switch is open-circuited and when the ignition is ON the isolation switch is closed-circuited and electrically connects the charging system to the bus.

3. The light bar of claim 2, wherein when the vehicle ignition is ON and the light source switch is closed-circuited and the solar panel is generating electricity, then the light source is energized by the solar panel and the vehicle charging system and the auxiliary battery is charged by the vehicle charging system.

4. The light bar of claim 2, wherein when the ignition is OFF and the light source switch is closed-circuited and the solar panel is generating electricity, then the light source is energized by the solar panel and the auxiliary battery.

5. The light bar of claim 2, wherein when the vehicle ignition is ON and the light source switch is open and the solar panel is generating electricity, then the auxiliary battery is charged by the solar panel and the vehicle charging system.

6. The light bar of claim 2, wherein when the ignition is OFF and the light source switch is open and the solar panel is generating electricity, then the auxiliary battery is charged by the solar panel.

7. The light bar of claim 2, wherein when the ignition is ON and the light source switch is closed-circuited and the solar panel is not generating electricity, then the light source is energized by the vehicle charging system and the auxiliary battery is charged by the vehicle charging system.

8. The light bar of claim 2, wherein when the vehicle ignition is OFF and the light source switch is closed-circuited and the solar panel is not generating electricity, then the light source is energized by the auxiliary battery.

9. The light bar of claim 2, wherein when the vehicle ignition is ON and the light source switch is open and the solar panel is not generating electricity, then the auxiliary battery is charged by the vehicle charging system.

10. The light bar of claim 1, wherein the light source is a light emitting diode (LED).

11. The light bar of claim 1, wherein the solar panel comprises a first solar panel mounted on one side of the light source and a second solar panel mounted on the other side of the light source.

12. The light bar of claim 1, wherein the light source draws up to 2 amperes of current when the light source switch is closed-circuited and the light source remains energized.

13. A kit for use with an auxiliary battery and a light bar including a light source, said kit comprising:

a solar panel adapted to be electrically connected to a bus connected to the auxiliary battery, said solar panel for generating electricity and for providing generated electricity to the bus;

a battery isolator adapted to be connected between the bus and a charging system of a vehicle for isolating a vehicle battery from the bus, said battery isolator responsive to the ignition for selectively connecting the bus to the charging system such that the charging system when operating supplies electricity to the bus;

a light source switch adapted to be connected to the light source and to the bus, said light source switch responsive to an operator for selectively electrically connecting the light source to the bus;

wherein when the light source switch is closed-circuited, the light source is energized by electricity from at least one of the solar panel, the charging system and the auxiliary battery;

wherein when the light source switch is open, the light source is isolated from the bus; and

wherein the auxiliary battery is adapted to be selectively charged by electricity from at least one of the solar panel and the charging system.

14. The light bar of claim 13, wherein the battery isolator comprises an isolation switch adapted to be connected to an ignition and controlled by the ignition such that when the ignition is OFF the isolation switch is open-circuited and when the ignition is ON the isolation switch is closed-circuited and electrically connects the charging system to the bus.

15. The light bar of claim 14, wherein when the vehicle ignition is ON and the light source switch is closed-circuited and the solar panel is generating electricity, then the light source is energized by the solar panel and the vehicle charging system and the auxiliary battery is charged by the vehicle charging system.

16. The light bar of claim 14, wherein when the ignition is OFF and the light source switch is closed-circuited and the solar panel is generating electricity, then the light source is energized by the solar panel and the auxiliary battery.

17. The light bar of claim 14, wherein when the vehicle ignition is ON and the light source switch is open and the solar panel is generating electricity, then the auxiliary battery is charged by the solar panel and the vehicle charging system.

18. The light bar of claim 14, wherein when the ignition is OFF and the light source switch is open and the solar panel is generating electricity, then the auxiliary battery is charged by the solar panel.

19. The light bar of claim 14, wherein when the ignition is ON and the light source switch is closed-circuited and the solar panel is not generating electricity, then the light source is energized by the vehicle charging system and the auxiliary battery is charged by the vehicle charging system.

20. The light bar of claim 14, wherein when the vehicle ignition is OFF and the light source switch is closed-circuited and the solar panel is not generating electricity, then the light source is energized by the auxiliary battery.

21. The light bar of claim 14, wherein when the vehicle ignition is ON and the light source switch is open and the solar panel is not generating electricity, then the auxiliary battery is charged by the vehicle charging system.

22. A kit for use with an auxiliary battery and a light bar including a light source, said kit comprising:

a bus adapted to be electrically connected to the auxiliary battery for receiving power from the auxiliary battery and providing power to the auxiliary battery;

a solar panel adapted to be electrically connected to the bus connected to the auxiliary battery, said solar panel for generating electricity and for providing generated electricity to the bus;

a battery isolator adapted to be connected between the bus and a charging system of a vehicle for isolating a vehicle battery from the bus, said battery isolator responsive to the ignition for selectively connecting the bus to the charging system such that the charging system when operating supplies electricity to the bus;

a light source switch adapted to be connected to the light source and to the bus, said light source switch responsive to an operator for selectively electrically connecting the light source to the bus;

wherein when the light source switch is closed-circuited, the light source is energized by electricity from at least one of the solar panel, the charging system and the auxiliary battery;

wherein when the light source switch is open, the light source is isolated from the bus; and

wherein the auxiliary battery is adapted to be selectively charged by electricity from at least one of the solar panel and the charging system.