Thermal booster battery system

• US 6,198,249 B1
• Filed: 02/15/2000
• Issued: 03/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Karl J.F. Kroll, Mark W. Kroll
• Original Assignee: Karl J.F. Kroll, Mark W. Kroll
• Inventors: Kroll, Mark W., Kroll, Karl J. F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Peter S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LUK, LAWRENCE W
• Application Number:
  US09/504,500
• Time in Patent Office: 385 Days
• Field of Search: 320/104, 320/103, 320/105, 307/64, 307/66, 307/149, 429/96-100
• US Class Current: 320/104
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 16/00 Structural combinations of different types of electrochemical generators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/36 containing electrolyte and made operational by physical means, e.g. thermal cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/38 by mechanical means
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/5033 used as charging means for another battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0063 with circuits adapted for supplying loads from the battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007182 in response to battery voltage

Abstract

A pyrotechnic self-consuming battery for emergency booster battery applications. Such a system can only be used once as the battery self-destructs but could be very useful for emergency starting of cars, trucks or airplanes. This invention allows for a system weighing approximately {fraction (1/50)}th that of existing systems with comparable significant reductions in volume. An essentially infinite shelf life also obtains with the invention.

Claims

1. An emergency motor starting energy delivery apparatus consisting of:

a thermal electric battery,

an activation system operably connected to the thermal electric battery to ignite the thermal electric battery,

a positive conductor connected to the positive output of the thermal battery,

a negative conductor connected to the negative output of the thermal battery,

temporary connectors sized for releasably securing the emergency motor starting energy delivery apparatus to an automobile battery connected to the positive and negative conductors so as to allow the flow of electrical current from the thermal electric battery to a motor vehicle battery for emergency jump starting.

2. The emergency motor starting energy delivery apparatus of claim 1 in which the thermal electric battery is activated by a conventional non-thermal battery system operably connected to the thermal electric battery.

3. The emergency motor starting energy delivery apparatus of claim 1 in which the thermal electric battery is activated by a percussion ignition device system operably connected to the thermal electric battery.

4. The emergency motor starting energy delivery apparatus of claim 1 in which the apparatus is activated by the operation of a pull release mechanism operably connected to the thermal electric battery.

5. The emergency motor starting energy delivery apparatus of claim 1 in which a protective fuse is inserted between the thermal electric battery and the temporary connectors sized for releasably securing the emergency motor starting energy delivery apparatus to an automobile battery.

6. The emergency motor starting energy delivery apparatus of claim 1 with an indicator light operably connected to the thermal electric battery indicating the presence of voltage from the thermal electric battery.

7. The emergency motor starting energy delivery apparatus of claim 1 with an indicator light, operably connected to the temporary connectors sized for releasably securing the emergency motor starting energy delivery apparatus to an automobile battery, indicating the presence of electric voltage beyond the fuse from a thermal electric battery.

8. The emergency motor starting energy delivery apparatus of claim 1 with means for verifying the continuity of the connection to the motor vehicle battery before the system may activate.

9. An emergency motor jump start energy delivery system consisting of,

a thermal battery,

ignition means operably connected to the thermal electric battery to ignite the thermal battery,

temporary connection means sized for attachment to an automobile battery to connect the output of the thermal battery to the motor vehicle battery to be jump started, so that motor vehicle can be jump started in an emergency from a small portable emergency motor starting energy delivery system.

10. The emergency motor jump start energy delivery system of claim 9 in which the output voltage is between 8 and 24 volts.

11. The emergency motor jump start energy delivery system of claim 9 in which the output voltage is between 14 and 20 volts.

12. The emergency motor jump start energy delivery system of claim 9 in which the temporary connection means, sized for attachment to an automobile battery to connect the output of the thermal battery to the motor vehicle battery to be jump started, are spring loaded alligator clamps as shown in FIG. 1.

13. The emergency motor jump start energy delivery system of claim 9 in which the temporary connection means, sized for attachment to an automobile battery to connect the output of the thermal battery to the motor vehicle battery to be jump started, are circular lugs.

14. The emergency motor jump start energy delivery system of claim 9 in which the temporary connection means, sized for attachment to an automobile battery to connect the output of the thermal battery to the motor vehicle battery to be jump started, are circular clamps.

15. The emergency motor jump start energy delivery system of claim 9 in which the temporary connection means, sized for attachment to an automobile battery to connect the output of the thermal battery to the motor vehicle battery to be jump started, are spade lugs.

16. The emergency motor jump start energy delivery system of claim 9 in which the temporary connection means, sized for attachment to an automobile battery to connect the output of the thermal battery to the motor vehicle battery to be jump started, are spring loaded alligator clamps as shown in FIG. 1.

17. A method of performing an emergency jump start of a motor vehicle comprising the steps of:

connecting a thermal battery to the motor vehicle battery to be jump started with temporary connection means, sized for attachment to a motor vehicle battery,

igniting the thermal battery,

waiting for the thermal battery to develop full voltage,

engaging the starter motor of the motor vehicle while the thermal battery is at or near full voltage, and

thus starting the motor vehicle on an emergency basis with the use of a small portable apparatus.

18. The method of performing an emergency jump start of a motor vehicle of claim 17 in which a fuse is interposed between the thermal battery and the motor vehicle battery to be jump started with temporary connection means.

19. The method of performing an emergency jump start of a motor vehicle of claim 17 in which an indicator light is connected to the thermal battery to indicate when the thermal battery is producing sufficient voltage for starting the motor vehicle on an emergency basis.

20. The method of performing an emergency jump start of a motor vehicle of claim 17 in which an indicator light is connected to the thermal battery to indicate when the thermal battery is producing sufficient voltage for starting the motor vehicle on an emergency basis.

21. The method of performing an emergency jump start of a motor vehicle of claim 17 in which the step of igniting the thermal battery is performed by connecting a lithium battery to the electric match of the thermal battery.

22. The method of performing an emergency jump start of a motor vehicle of claim 17 in which the connection to the motor vehicle battery is automatically verified before allowing the ignition of the thermal battery.

23. The method of performing an emergency jump start of a motor vehicle of claim 17 in which the step of igniting the thermal battery performed by pulling an activation mechanism for a mechanical percussion igniter.