METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING SUPPLEMENTAL POWER TO AN ENGINE

• US 20090218988A1
• Filed: 05/06/2009
• Published: 09/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Richardson Jumpstarters, LLC
• Original Assignee: Francis D. Richardson, John A. Fox, Richard L. Henderson, Russell W. Sherwood
• Inventors: Sherwood, Russell W., Henderson, Richard L., Richardson, Francis D., Fox, John A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,493,021 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/134
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0866 comprising several power sources, e.g. battery and capacitor or two batteries
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/10 Safety devices F02N11/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/10 Parallel operation of dc sources
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/40 The network being an on-board power network, i.e. within a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/46 for ICE-powered road vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00309 Overheat or overtemperature protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0034 using reverse polarity correcting or protecting circuits mechanical means of polarity protection H02J7/0045

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.

Claims

1. A method for delivering supplemental power to an engine comprising the steps of:

selecting a voltage output of two or more system batteries,

connecting conductive leads to the electrical system of the engine;

verifying the polarity of the conductive leads;

assessing the voltage level of said electrical system;

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 conductive leads from said electrical system when the engine starts.

2. A method of claim 1 including determining the temperature of said shunt cable.

3. A method of claim 2 wherein if said temperature reaches a predetermined limit, electrically disconnecting said conductive leads from said electrical system.

4. A method of claim 2 including calculating the resistance of said shunt cable.

5. A method of claim 4 including calibrating said shunt cable.

6. A method of claim 1 wherein said selecting step includes selecting a voltage from the group consisting of 12 volts, 18 volts, 24 volts, 30 volts, 36 volts, 42 volts and 48 volts.

7. A method of claim 6 wherein said voltage is 18 volts or 30 volts.

8. A method of claim 1 wherein said verifying step includes comparing the voltage level of said electrical system to the voltage level of said supplemental battery.

9. A method of claim 1 wherein said assessing step includes charging an engine battery connected to said electrical system if the voltage of said engine battery is below a predetermined level.

10. A method of claim 9 including the step of monitoring a charging voltage of said system batteries.

11. A method of claim 10 wherein when said charging voltage rises to a threshold value and then decreases by a predetermined percentage, charging of said engine battery is complete.

12. A method of claim 1 wherein said assessing step includes comparing the voltage level of said electrical system to a supplement power voltage setting, wherein if the difference between said electrical system voltage and said supplement power voltage setting is greater that a predetermined limit.

13. A method of claim 1 wherein said applying step includes closing a relay.

14. A method of claim 1 wherein said applying step includes recording operational data.

15. A method of claim 1 wherein said applying step includes recording the number of start attempts.

16. A method of claim 13 wherein said applying step includes starting a timer.

17. A method of claim 16 wherein said applying step includes opening said relay upon expiration of said timer.

18. A method of claim 1 wherein said monitoring step includes monitoring the temperature of said system batteries.

19. A method of claim 18 wherein if a temperature limit is reached electrically disconnecting said conductive leads from said electrical system.

20. A method of claim 18 wherein if a temperature limit is reached electrically disconnecting said conductive leads from said electrical system to reduce the risk of fire.

21. A method of claim 1 wherein if said current through said shunt cable exceeds a first limit within a first period, electrically disconnecting said conductive leads from said electrical system.

22. A method of claim 21 wherein if said current through said shunt cable exceeds a second limit within a second period, electrically disconnecting said conductive leads from said electrical system.

23. A method of claim 1 wherein if said current through said shunt cable geometrically increases over a predetermined period, electrically disconnecting said conductive leads from said electrical system.

24. A method of claim 1 wherein said electrically disconnecting step includes opening a relay.

25. A jump starter for delivering supplemental power to an engine comprising:

a pair of conductive leads for connecting the jump starter to an electrical system of the engine;

two or more jump starter batteries;

a relay connected to said conductive leads;

a shunt cable connecting said jump starter batteries to said relay; and

a processor for controlling said relay to selectively apply electrical power to said electrical system of the engine.

26. The jump starter of claim 25 further comprising a battery voltage sensor for measuring the voltage level of the jump starter batteries.

27. The jump starter of claim 25 further comprising a reverse voltage sensor for measuring the difference between the voltage level of the jump starter batteries and the voltage level of the electrical system.

28. The jump starter of claim 25 further comprising a relay voltage sensor for measuring the voltage across the relay.

29. The jump starter of claim 25 further comprising a battery temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the jump starter battery.

30. The jump starter of claim 25 further comprising a shunt cable temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the shunt cable.

31. The jump starter of claim 25 further comprising a sensor for measuring the current of the shunt cable.

32. The jump starter of claim 25 further comprising a sensor for measuring the voltage across the shunt cable.

33. The jump starter of claim 25 further comprising a display coupled to said processor to provide instructions and status information about said jump starter.

34. The jump starter of claim 25 further comprising a plurality of indicators coupled to said processor to provide status information.

35. The jump starter of claim 25 further comprising a keypad coupled to said processor for providing input to the processor and controlling operational access to the jump starter.

36. The jump starter of claim 25 further comprising a thermal switch coupled to said shunt cable and electrically coupled to said relay, wherein if a temperature of said shunt cable exceeds a predetermined limit, said thermal switch interrupts power to said relay thereby electrically disconnecting said conductive leads from said system batteries.

37. The jump starter of claim 25 further comprising a voltage output selector coupled to said system batteries for selectively providing a voltage output of 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42 or 48 volts.

38. The jump starter of claim 25 further comprising a diode connected across said relay to permit charging of said jump starter batteries by said electrical system.