Battery switching circuit

• US 3,886,426 A
• Filed: 03/16/1973
• Issued: 05/27/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lester Alvin Daggett
• Original Assignee: Lester Alvin Daggett
• Inventors: Daggett, Lester Alvin
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, J. D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hickey, Robert J.
• Application Number:
  US05/342,213
• Time in Patent Office: 802 Days
• Field of Search: 320/13,2,7,8,15,16 318/139
• US Class Current: 320/117
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/04 using dc
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/19 Switching between serial connection and parallel connection of battery modules
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/21 having the same nominal voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/20 Contact mechanisms of dynamic converters
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 7/285 controlling armature supply only
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

A battery interconnection control circuit for interconnecting a plurality of batteries in parallel, series-parallel, and series configuration is disclosed. The apparatus includes a plurality of batteries, each connected through a unidirectional currentconducting element such as a diode to a common positive lead. The negative terminal of all but one of these batteries is connected to a switch which permits the negative terminal to be connected either to a common negative lead or to the positive terminal of another battery. The remaining battery has its negative terminal connected directly to the common negative lead. The switches themselves are controlled by a cam to provide a switching sequence, as the cam moves from one position to another, to thereby provide varying voltages between the positive and the negative common leads.

Claims

1. A battery interconnection circuit for applying different voltages from a plurality of batteries across a load while maintaining substantially uniform current drain from the batteries, comprising, in combination:

a common positive lead and a common negative lead with the load being connectable across said common positive lead and said common negative lead;

a plurality of batteries each with a positive and a negative battery terminal, each for supplying direct current power;

a unidirectional current conducting element connected between each respective positive battery terminal and said common positive lead, to permit current to flow from each said positive battery terminal to said common positive lead;

an input terminal associated with each said battery;

a plurality of switches, each switch connected to a respective negative battery terminal, each such switch providing a connection between the respective negative battery terminal and alternately the respective input terminal or directly to said common negative lead;

a direct electrical connection from each positive battery terminal but one to the input terminal associated with another of said batteries, each such input terminal being connected only to one said positive battery terminal, there being one input terminal associated with one battery and one positive battery terminal of another battery which are not so connected;

an additional battery having a positive terminal and a negative terminal, the negative terminal of said additional battery being connected directly to said common negative lead and the positive terminal of said additional battery being connected directly to said one input terminal;

a further unidirectional current conducting element connected between the positive terminal of said additional battery and said positive common lead to permit current to flow only from said additional battery to said common positive lead;

selective switch closing means for closing in sequence various combinatIons of said switches to provide a series of different connections of said batteries ranging from a completely parallel connection to a completely series connection to provide a range of voltages across the load while maintaining a substantially uniform current drain from each said battery; and

a short circuit means for providing a direct electrical connection between said one positive battery terminal and said common positive lead only when each said switch is operative to provide an electrical connection between a respective negative battery terminal and a respective input terminal.

2. A battery interconnection circuit for applying different voltages from a plurality of batteries across a load while maintaining substantially uniform current drain from the batteries, comprising, in combination:

a common positive lead and a common negative lead with the load being connectable across said common positive lead and said common negative lead;

a plurality of batteries each with a positive and a negative battery terminal, each for supplying direct current power;

a unidirectional current conducting element connected between each respective positive battery terminal and said common positive lead, to permit current to flow from each said positive battery terminal to said common positive lead;

an input terminal associated with each said battery;

a plurality of switches, each switch connected to a respective negative battery terminal, each such switch providing a connection between the respective negative battery terminal and alternately the respective input terminal or directly to said common negative lead;

a direct electrical connection from each positive battery terminal but one to the input terminal associated with another of said batteries, each such input terminal being connected only to one said positive battery terminal, there being one input terminal associated with one battery and one positive battery terminal of another battery which are not so connected;

an additional battery having a positive terminal and a negative terminal, the negative terminal of said additional battery being connected directly to said common negative lead and the positive terminal of said additional battery being connected directly to said one input terminal;

a further unidirectional current conducting element connected between the positive terminal of said additional battery and said positive common lead to permit current to flow only from said additional battery to said common positive lead;

selective switch closing means for closing in sequence various combinations of said switches to provide a series of different connections of said batteries ranging from a completely parallel connection to a completely series connection to provide a range of voltages across the load while maintaining a substantially uniform current drain from each said battery, said switch closing means comprising a rotary cam for engaging each said switch, said cam being operative to control the sequence of switch closures as the cam is rotated; and

each said switch comprising a microswitch controlled by said cam, each said microswitch being series connected with a relay coil, each said relay coil being powered by a unique one of said plurality of batteries, each said relay coil providing motive power to control a respective relay switch for providing the connection between the respective negative battery terminal and alternatively the respective input terminal or said common negative lead.

3. A battery interconnection circuit for applying different voltages from a plurality of batteries across a load while maintaining substantially uniform current drain from the batteries, comprising:

in combination;

a common positive lead and a common negative lead with the load being connectable across said common positive lead and said common negative lead;

a plurality of batteries each with a positive and a negative battery terminal, each for supplying direct current powEr;

a unidirectional current conducting element connected between each respective positive battery terminal and said common positive lead, to permit current to flow from each said positive battery terminal to said common positive lead;

an input terminal associated with each said battery;

a plurality of switches, each switch connected to a respective negative battery terminal, each such switch providing a connection between the respective negative battery terminal and alternately the respective input terminal or directly to said common negative lead;

a direct electrical connection from each positive battery terminal but one to the input terminal associated with another of said batteries, each such input terminal being connected only to one said positive battery terminal, there being one input terminal associated with one battery and one positive battery terminal of another battery which are not so connected;

an additional battery having a positive terminal and a negative terminal, the negative terminal of said additional battery being connected directly to said common negative lead and the positive terminal of said additional battery being connected directly to said one input terminal;

a further unidirectional current conducting element connected between the positive terminal of said additional battery and said positive common lead to permit current to flow only from said additional battery to said common positive lead;

selective switch closing means for closing in sequence various combinations of said switches to provide a series of different connections of said batteries ranging from a completely parallel connection to a completely series connection to provide a range of voltages across the load while maintaining a substantially uniform current drain from each said battery;

a battery charger with a positive and a negative charger terminal, said negative charger terminal being connected directly to said common negative lead;

a plurality of run/charge switches, each associated with one said switch, each said run/charge switch providing a connection between an associated switch and said common lead when said run/charge switch is in its run position and providing a connection between an associated switch and the positive battery terminal of one of said batteries when said run/charge switch is in its charge position; and

a further run/charge switch for providing a connection between said one positive battery terminal and said positive charger terminal when said further run/charge switch is in its charge position, each of said plurality of run/charge switches and said further run/charge switch being simultaneously operable so that all run/charge switches are either in their run position or their charge position.

4. A battery interconnection circuit for applying different voltages from a plurality of batteries across a load while maintaining substantially uniform current drain from all the batteries, comprising, in combination:

a common positive lead and a common negative lead with the load being connectable across said common positive lead and said common negative lead;

a plurality of batteries, each with a positive and a negative battery terminal, each for supplying direct current power;

a unidirectional current-conducting element connected between each respective positive battery terminal and said common positive lead, to permit current to flow from each said positive battery terminal to said common positive lead;

a plurality of break-before-make relay switches, each said relay switch being associated with one of said plurality of batteries, each said relay switch including four contacts and a contactor for alternately connecting pairs of said contacts, one contact in each pair of contacts being electrically connected to the negative battery terminal of the associated battery, the remaining contact of one pair comprising an input terminal associated with a battery and the other remaining contact of the othEr pair of contacts being connected directly to the common negative lead, each said relay switch including a relay coil series-connected with a microswitch between the associated positive and negative battery terminal, each said microswitch being operative to control the electrical connection through said relay switch;

a direct electrical connection from each positive battery terminal but one to the input terminal associated with another of said batteries, each such input terminal being connected only to one said positive battery terminal, there being one input terminal associated with one battery and one positive battery terminal of another battery which are not so connected;

an additional battery having a positive terminal and a negative terminal, the negative terminal of said additional battery being connected directly to the common negative lead and the positive terminal of said additional battery being connected directly to said one input terminal;

a further unidirectional current-conducting element connected between the positive terminal of said additional battery and said positive common lead to permit current to flow from said additional battery to said common positive lead;

selective microswitch closing means for closing in sequence various combinations of said microswitches to provide a series of different connections of said batteries ranging from a completely parallel connection to a completely series connection to provide a range of voltages across the load while maintaining a substantially uniform current drain from each said battery; and

short circuit means for providing a direct electrical connection between said one positive battery terminal and said common positive lead only when each said relay switch is operative to provide an electrical connection between a respective negative battery terminal and a respective input terminal.

5. A battery interconnection circuit for applying different voltages from a plurality of batteries across a load while maintaining substantially uniform current drain from all the batteries, comprising, in combination:

a common positive lead and a common negative lead with the load being connectable across said common positive lead and said common negative lead;

a plurality of batteries, each with a positive and a negative battery terminal, each for supplying direct current power;

a unidirectional current-conducting element connected between each respective positive battery terminal and said common positive lead, to permit current to flow from each said positive battery terminal to said common positive lead;

a plurality of break-before-make relay switches each said relay switch being associated with one of said plurality of batteries, each said relay switch including four contacts and a contactor for alternately connecting pairs of said contacts, one contact in each pair of contacts being electrically connected to the negative battery terminal of the associated battery, the remaining contact of one pair comprising an input terminal associated with a battery and the other remaining contact of the other pair of contacts being connected directly to the common negative lead, each said relay switch including a relay coil series-connected with a microswitch between the associated positive and negative battery terminal, each said microswitch being operative to control the electrical connection through said relay switch;

a direct electrical connection from each positive battery terminal but one to the input terminal associated with another of said batteries, each such input terminal being connected only to one said positive battery terminal, there being one input terminal associated with one battery and one positive battery terminal of another battery which are not so connected;

an additional battery having a positive terminal and a negative terminal, the negative terminal of said additional battery being connected directly to the common negative lead and the positive terminal of said additIonal battery being connected directly to said one input terminal;

a further unidirectional current-conducting element connected between the positive terminal of said additional battery and said positive common lead to permit current to flow from said additional battery to said common positive lead;

selective microswitch closing means for closing in sequence various combinations of said microswitches to provide a series of different connections of said batteries ranging from a completely parallel connection to a completely series connection to provide a range of voltages across the load while maintaining a substantially uniform current drain from each said battery;

a battery charger with a positive and a negative charger terminal, said negative charger terminal being connected directly to said common negative lead;

a plurality of run/charge switches, each associated with one said relay switch, each said run/charge switch providing an electrical connection between the said other remaining contact and said common negative lead when the run/charge switch is in its run position and providing an electrical connection between said other remaining contact and the positive battery terminal of another battery when said run/charge switch is in its charge position; and

a further run/charge switch for providing a connection between said one positive battery terminal and said positive charger terminal when said additional run/charge switch is in its charge position, all of said run/charge switches being simultaneously operative in either their run or their charge position.