Supplementary energy starting system incorporating a timing circuit

• US 8,820,287 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2012
• Issued: 09/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: KOLD BAN International Limited
• Original Assignee: KOLD BAN International Limited
• Inventors: Solberg, Dean, Burke, James
• Primary Examiner(s): HUYNH, HAI H
• Application Number:
  US13/400,254
• Publication Number:
  US 20130213336A1
• Time in Patent Office: 925 Days
• Field of Search: 123/179.3, 123/179.28, 290/38.R, 307/10.6
• US Class Current: 123/179.3
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0866 comprising several power sources, e.g. battery and capacitor or two batteries

Abstract

An engine cranking system and a method of cranking an engine are provided. The engine cranking system comprises an engine, cranking motor, and capacitor. The engine cranking system further comprises an electrical path interconnecting the cranking motor or a battery to the capacitor. The engine cranking system further comprises a control circuit coupled to the capacitor. The control circuit comprises a timer operative to track temporal information. The control circuit is operative to apply a control voltage that varies in response to the tracked temporal information. The control circuit further comprises a relay included in the electrical path. The relay is operative to switch, in response to the control voltage, between an open-circuit condition, in which the relay interrupts the electrical path, and a closed-circuit condition.

Claims

1. An engine cranking system comprising:

an engine operably moveable between a running condition and an off condition;

a cranking motor coupled to the engine;

a capacitor with first and second capacitor terminals;

a first electrical path interconnecting at least one of the cranking motor or at least one battery to one of the first or second capacitor terminals; and

a control circuit coupled to the capacitor, the control circuit comprising;

a timer operative to track temporal information, wherein the control circuit is operative to apply a control voltage that varies in response to the tracked temporal information; and

a first relay included in the first electrical path, the first relay operative to switch, in response to the control voltage, between a first open-circuit condition, in which the relay interrupts the first electrical path, and a first closed-circuit condition.

2. The engine cranking system of claim 1, wherein the control voltage is applied at least in part from the capacitor.

3. The engine cranking system of claim 1, further comprising at least one battery coupled to the cranking motor, the first electrical path interconnecting the at least one battery to the one of the first or second capacitor terminals.

4. The engine cranking system of claim 1, further comprising a second relay that includes the timer and is operative to switch, in response to the tracked temporal information, between a second open-circuit condition, in which the second relay interrupts a second electrical path, and a second closed-circuit condition.

5. The engine cranking system of claim 1, wherein the temporal information is a predetermined period of time.

6. The engine cranking system of claim 5, wherein the predetermined period of time is between about 2 minutes and about 3 minutes.

7. The engine cranking system of claim 5, wherein the predetermined period of time is selected to ensure the capacitor is fully charged when the predetermined period of time has elapsed.

8. The engine cranking system of claim 5, wherein the timer being operative to track the predetermined period of time comprises the timer being operable to count down the predetermined time during which the control circuit is operative to apply the control voltage.

9. The engine cranking system of claim 8, wherein the control circuit is operative to stop applying the control voltage once the predetermined time has elapsed.

10. The engine cranking system of claim 1, further comprising a switch having a variable switch position, wherein the control circuit is operative to apply the control voltage further in response to the variable switch position.

11. The engine cranking system of claim 1, further comprising first and second switches respectively having first and second variable switch positions, wherein the control circuit is operative to apply the control voltage further in response to at least one of the first and second variable switch positions.

12. The engine cranking system of claim 11, wherein the first and second switches comprise a double pole, single-throw switch.

13. The engine cranking system of claim 12, wherein the double pole, single-throw switch comprises an ignition switch.

14. The engine cranking system of claim 1, further comprising first, second, and third switches respectively having first, second, and third variable switch positions, wherein the control circuit is operative to apply the control voltage further in response to at least one of the first, second, and third variable switch positions, wherein the first, second, and third switches comprise a triple pole, single-throw switch.

15. The engine cranking system of claim 11, further comprising third and fourth switches respectively having third and fourth variable switch positions, wherein the control circuit is operative to apply the control voltage further in response to at least one of the third and fourth variable switch positions.

16. The engine cranking system of claim 1, further comprising at least one diode electrically coupled to the first relay.

17. A method of cranking an engine, the method comprising:

providing an engine cranking system comprising;

an engine operably moveable between a running condition and an off condition;

a cranking motor coupled to the engine;

a capacitor with first and second capacitor terminals;

a first electrical path interconnecting at least one of the cranking motor or at least one battery to one of the first or second capacitor terminals; and

a first relay included in the first electrical path;

tracking temporal information;

applying a control voltage that varies in response to the tracking of the temporal information; and

switching the first relay, in response to the control voltage being applied thereto, from a first open-circuit condition, in which the relay interrupts the first electrical path, to a first closed-circuit condition, thereby completing the first electrical path.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the control voltage is applied at least in part from the capacitor.

19. The method of claim 17, the engine cranking system further comprising a second relay that includes the timer, the method further comprising switching the second relay, in response to the temporal information, between a second open-circuit condition, in which the second relay interrupts a second electrical path, and a second closed-circuit condition.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the temporal information is a predetermined period of time.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the predetermined period of time is between about 2 minutes and about 3 minutes.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the predetermined period of time is selected to ensure the capacitor is fully charged when the predetermined period of time has elapsed.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein tracking the predetermined period of time comprises counting down the predetermined time and applying the control voltage during the predetermined period of time.

24. The engine cranking system of claim 23, further comprising preventing application of the control voltage once the predetermined time has elapsed.

25. An engine cranking system comprising:

an engine operably moveable between a running condition and an off condition;

a cranking motor coupled to the engine;

a capacitor with first and second capacitor terminals;

a first electrical path interconnecting at least one of the cranking motor or at least one battery to one of the first or second capacitor terminals; and

a control circuit coupled to the capacitor, the control circuit comprising;

a timer relay including a timer that is operative to count down a predetermined period of time, wherein the timer relay is operative to switch, in response to whether the predetermined period of time has elapsed, between a first open-circuit condition, in which the timer relay interrupts a second electrical path, and a first closed-circuit condition, and wherein the control circuit is operative to apply a control voltage, at least in part from the capacitor, that varies in response to the whether the predetermined period of time has elapsed; and

a relay included in the first electrical path, the relay operative to switch, in response to the control voltage, between a second open-circuit condition, in which the relay interrupts the first electrical path, and a second closed-circuit condition.