Apparatus for providing supplemental power to an electrical system and related methods

• US 6,426,606 B1
• Filed: 03/08/2001
• Issued: 07/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Purkey's Electrical Consulting, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Purkey's Electrical Consulting, Inc.
• Inventors: Purkey, Bruce
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TIBBITS, PIA FLORENCE
• Application Number:
  US09/802,112
• Publication Number:
  US 20020041174A1
• Time in Patent Office: 509 Days
• Field of Search: 320/166, 320/103, 320/104, 320/119, 320/126, 307/10.1, 307/150
• US Class Current: 320/103
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/14 Starting of engines by means of electric starters with external current supply F02N11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4264 with capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/46 Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/5033 used as charging means for another battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/122 Provisions for temporary connection of DC sources of essentially the same voltage, e.g. jumpstart cables
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/345 using capacitors as storage or buffering devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

An apparatus and method for providing supplementary power to an electrical system of a vehicle or other machinery is provided. The apparatus and methods specifically provide a rapid-delivery of high amounts of power. The significant power levels are sufficient, for example, to turn the starter of a heavy-duty commercial transport vehicle stranded by a disabled battery. The power is supplied by a power source having the combination of high-density capacitor and battery. The power delivery is controlled to avoid such standard problems as reverse or same polarity connections and overvoltage. Control is effected by a combination voltage sensing circuit and isolation circuit to prevent current between the power source and the electrical system unless prescribed conditions are satisfied. The energy level of the power source is sustained by the capacitor-battery combination along with the capabilities to receive return charging from the electrical system as well as from alternating current and direct current sources.

Claims

1. A rapid-delivery portable power booster for providing a supplementary source of power to an electrical system, the apparatus comprising:

a housing;

a power source positioned within the housing;

first and second electrical conductors electrically connected to the power source and extending outwardly from the housing to establish a power supply connection between the power source and the electrical system to selectively exchange power between the power source and the electrical system, the first conductor being positioned to detachably connect to a positive terminal of the electrical system and the second conductor being positioned to detachably connect to a negative terminal of the electrical system to selectively permit rapid delivery of a concentrated amount of energy from the power source to the electrical system; and

a power delivery controller positioned within the housing and connected to the power source to selectively initiate an electrical current within the power supply connection between the power source and the electrical system when the voltage of the electrical system is within a first predetermined range, and maintain the electrical current when the electrical system voltage is within a second predetermined range; and

a charger electrically connected to the power source and positioned within the housing to receive power from an external energy source to maintain a predetermined energy level within the power source.

2. A rapid-delivery portable power booster as defined in claim 1 wherein the power delivery controller comprises:

a voltage detecting circuit connected to the first electrical conductor to determine voltages within the electrical system; and

a processor responsive to the voltage detecting circuit to provide a numerical indicator corresponding to the detected voltage of the electrical system; and

an isolation circuit responsive to the processor to electrically isolate the power source from the electrical system thereby blocking electrical current between them except under predetermined voltage conditions in the electrical system, to permit an electrical current to initiate between the power supply and the electrical system when the processor-determined numerical indicator of the electrical system voltage is within a first predetermined range, and to permit the electrical current to continue when the processor-determined numerical indicator of the electrical system voltage is within a second predetermined range.

3. A rapid-delivery portable power booster as defined in claim 2 wherein the processor comprises a voltage register to store an initial numerical indicator corresponding to an initial detected voltage of the electrical system and a voltage difference determiner responsive to the voltage register to determine numerical increases and decreases in electrical system voltage relative to the initial detected voltage by computing a difference between the initial numerical indicator and subsequent processor-determined numerical indicators corresponding to subsequent voltage levels of the electrical system so that the processor-responsive isolation circuit permits initial current-borne delivery of power from the power source to the electrical system in response to a predetermined decrease in electrical system voltage and continues delivery of power in response to a subsequent predetermined increase in electrical system voltage relative to the initial detected voltage.

4. A rapid-delivery portable power booster as defined in claim 3 wherein the processor further comprises a timer positioned to measure elapsed time between discrete changes in the numerical indicator of electrical system voltages and wherein the processor signals the processor-responsive isolation circuit to interrupt and block current between the power source and the electrical system when said predetermined increase in voltage fails to occur within a first preselected elapsed time interval.

5. A rapid-delivery portable power booster as defined in claim 4 wherein the timer is positioned to measure elapsed time during which current is passed between the power source and wherein the processor signals the isolation circuit to permit a current to be maintained between the power source and the electrical system within a second preselected elapsed time interval when the preselected increase in voltage occurs within the first preselected elapsed time interval so as to thereby permit a subsequent change in current direction such that during the second preselected elapsed time interval the electrical system will at least partially recharge the power source.

6. A rapid-delivery portable power booster as defined in claim 1 wherein the charger includes first and second alternating current conductors extending outwardly from the housing through which the power source can obtain energy from an external source of alternating current (AC) when the power booster is electrically connected to an external source of alternating current as provided by a standard AC electrical outlet, and wherein the charger further includes first and second direct current (DC) conductors extending outwardly from the housing through which the power source can obtain energy from an external source of direct current when the power booster is electrically connected to an external source of direct current as provided by a standard transportation vehicle battery.

7. A rapid-delivery portable power booster for providing a supplementary source of power to an electrical system, the apparatus comprising:

a housing; and

a power source positioned within the housing and comprising a high-density capacitor to rapidly deliver power to the electrical system and a battery electrically connected to the capacitor to maintain the energy level of the capacitor above a preselected minimum and to increase the amount of power delivered to the electrical system;

first and second electrical conductors electrically connected to the power source and extending outwardly from the housing to establish a power supply connection between the power source and the electrical system to selectively exchange power between the power source and the electrical system, the first conductor being positioned to detachably connect to a positive terminal of the electrical system and the second conductor being positioned to detachably connect to a negative terminal of the electrical system to selectively permit rapid delivery of a concentrated amount of energy from the power source to the electrical system; and

a power delivery controller positioned within the housing and connected to the power source comprising;

an isolation circuit electrically connected to the power source to electrically isolate the power source from the electrical system and prevent any current between the power source and the electrical system when power is not being exchanged between the power source and the electrical system,

a voltage sensing circuit electrically connected to the isolation circuit, the voltage sensing circuit being responsive to the electrical system to sense voltage levels within the electrical system, and

an energy delivery signaler electrically connected to the voltage measuring circuit and the isolation circuit to electronically signal the isolation circuit to permit current between the power source capacitor and battery and the electrical system when the electrical system voltage is within a predetermined range; and

a charger electrically connected to the power source and positioned within the housing to receive power from an external energy source to maintain at least a predetermined energy level within the power source.

8. A rapid-delivery portable power booster as defined in claim 7 wherein the energy delivery signaler comprises an electrical relay positioned within the housing which is responsive to an external switch positioned outside the housing and in electrical communication with the isolation circuit to provide remote control over the exchange of power between the power source and the electrical system.

9. A rapid-delivery portable power booster as defined in claim 7 wherein the high-density capacitor and battery jointly deliver a minimum of approximately one hundred twenty kilojoules (120 kJ) within ten seconds (10 s) to the electrical system with an efficiency of approximately ninety percent (90%).

10. A rapid-delivery portable power booster as defined in claim 9 wherein the isolation circuit comprises at least a pair of magnetic switches electrically connected to the first conductor.

11. A rapid delivery portable power booster apparatus for providing a supplementary source of power to an electrical system, the apparatus comprising:

a housing; and

rapid power delivery means positioned within the housing for delivering a high-voltage burst of power to the electrical system;

voltage detecting means positioned within the housing and responsive to the voltage of the electrical system for detecting the voltage of the electrical system;

energy isolation means positioned within the housing and in communication with the voltage detecting means for preventing an exchange of power between the power booster and the electrical system unless the voltage of the electrical system is within a predetermined range; and

connecting means in electrical communication with the rapid energy delivery means and extending outside the housing for connecting the apparatus to the electrical system for rapid-burst energy delivery to the electrical system.

12. A rapid delivery portable power booster as described in claim 11 further comprising electrical charging means positioned within the housing and in communication with the rapid energy delivery means to receive energy from an external energy source and transfer the external energy to the rapid energy delivery means to maintain the capacity of the rapid energy delivery means to deliver a predetermined minimum level of energy to the electrical system.

13. A rapid delivery portable power booster as described in claim 11 wherein the rapid energy delivery means has a capacity to deliver a minimum of approximately one hundred twenty kilojoules (120 kJ) within ten seconds (10 s) to the electrical system with an efficiency of approximately ninety percent (90%).

14. A rapid delivery portable power booster as described in claim 11 wherein the electrical charging means comprises alternative direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC) receiving means to selectively and alternatively receive power from an external source of alternating current (AC) and an external source of direct current (DC).

15. A rapid delivery portable power booster as described in claim 11 further comprising switching means positioned outside the housing and in electrical communication with the energy isolation means and the rapid energy delivery means for providing remote control over the delivery of energy to the electrical system by means of activating and deactivating the rapid energy delivery means.

16. A rapid delivery portable power booster as described in claim 15 wherein the switching means is provided by a manually actuated switch connected to the energy isolation means and the rapid energy delivery means by an elongate electrical conductor.

17. A rapid-delivery portable power booster for providing a supplementary source of power to an electrical system, the apparatus comprising:

a power source comprising a high-density capacitor to rapidly deliver power to the electrical system and a battery electrically connected to the capacitor to maintain the energy level of the capacitor above a preselected minimum and to increase the amount of power delivered to the electrical system;

first and second electrical conductors electrically connected to the power source to establish a power supply connection between the power source and the electrical system to selectively exchange power between the power source and the electrical system, the first conductor being positioned to detachably connect to a positive terminal of the electrical system and the second conductor being positioned to detachably connect to a negative terminal of the electrical system to selectively permit rapid deliver of a concentrated amount of energy from the power source to the electrical system; and

a power delivery controller connected to the power source to selectively initiate an electrical current within the power supply connection between the power source and the electrical system when the voltage of the electrical system is within a first predetermined range, and maintain the electrical current when the electrical system voltage is within a second predetermined range.

18. A rapid delivery portable power booster as described in claim 17 wherein the power source has a capacity to deliver a minimum of approximately one hundred twenty kilojoules (120 kJ) within ten seconds (10 s) to the electrical system with an efficiency of approximately ninety percent (90%).

19. A rapid delivery portable power booster as described in claim 18 wherein the portable power booster further comprises a power source recharger to recharge the power source by selectively and alternatively receiving power from an external source of alternating current (AC) and an external source of direct current (DC).

20. A method for rapidly delivering power to an electrical system so as to boost the voltage of the electrical system, the method comprising the steps of:

electrically connecting a high-voltage capacitor to the electrical system to provide controlled rapid-delivery of power to the electrical system;

sensing the voltage at the connection to determine when the power can optimally and selectively be supplied to the electrical system; and

delivering power to the electrical system from the high-voltage capacitor when the sensed voltage is within a predetermined range.

21. A method as defined in claim 20 further comprising the step of reversing power exchange to thereby deliver power from the voltage-boosted electrical system to the high-voltage capacitor to thereby maintain the energy level of the capacitor at or near a preselected minimum level.

22. A method as described in claim 20 wherein the step of delivering power to the electrical system from the high-voltage capacitor comprises delivering a minimum of approximately one hundred twenty kilojoules (120 kJ) within ten seconds (10 s) to the electrical system with an efficiency of approximately ninety percent (90%).

23. A method for recharging a starter battery of a vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine and having an electrical system with alternator associated with the starter battery and engine for starting the vehicle engine, the method comprising the steps of:

positioning an independently transportable portable power source having a high-density capacitor adjacent the vehicle; and

establishing a power supply connection between the electrical system of the vehicle and the portable power source for rapid delivery of power to the connected electrical system; and

delivering power to the electrical system of the vehicle in a quantity sufficient to turn the alternator and thereby start the internal combustion engine independently from the starter battery and preventing any additional power delivery when the engine is started.

24. A method as defined in claim 23 wherein the steps of positioning a portable power source having a high-density capacitor for rapid delivery of power to the connected electrical system adjacent the vehicle and establishing a power supply connection between the electrical system of the vehicle and the portable power source comprises positioning a portable power source comprising an electrochemical capacitor and establishing a power supply connection between the electrical system of the vehicle and the electrochemical capacitor of the portable power source.

25. A method for recharging a starter battery of a vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine and having an electrical system with alternator associated with the starter battery and engine for starting the vehicle engine, the method comprising the steps of:

establishing a power supply connection between the electrical system of the vehicle and a portable power source having a high-density capacitor for rapid delivery of power to the connected electrical system;

sensing the voltage of the electrical system and delivering power to the electrical system from the high-voltage capacitor when the sensed voltage is within a predetermined range; and

delivering power to the electrical system of the vehicle in a quantity sufficient to turn the alternator and thereby start the internal combustion engine independently from the starter battery and preventing any additional power delivery when the engine is started.

26. A method as described in claim 25 further comprising the step of maintaining the power supply connection after the engine is started to thereby replenish the energy stored by the high-density capacitor simultaneously as the now-running engine recharges the vehicle battery.