Capacitive remote vehicle starter

• US 6,679,212 B2
• Filed: 03/20/2001
• Issued: 01/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Vanair Manufacturing Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Goodall Mfg. LLC (Vanair Manufacturing Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kelling, Gordon L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Hieu T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Castro, Arnold
• Application Number:
  US09/812,448
• Publication Number:
  US 20010025618A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,036 Days
• Field of Search: 123/179.1, 123/179.3, 123/179.28, 123/198.R, 290/50, 290/38.R, 320/103-105, 320/119, 320/166, 307/10.1, 307/10.6
• US Class Current: 123/179.28
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/14 Starting of engines by means of electric starters with external current supply F02N11/12 takes precedence

Abstract

A remote vehicle starter with a capacitor for starting a vehicle by electrically connecting the vehicle starter directly or via the vehicle battery. The vehicle starter capacitor may be connected to a power source during a starting procedure, thereby remaining in a charged state and more effectively starting the vehicle. Optional circuitry, e.g., activating lights and a buzzer, may be present to warn the operator that incorrect vehicular and capacitive polarities have been mated, before the capacitor is discharged.

Claims

1. A portable capacitive remote vehicle starter for supplying auxiliary power for jump starting a vehicle, comprising:

a capacitor enclosed in a portable housing;

a first and a second electrical conductor, selectively attachable to a starting system on the vehicle;

a switching mechanism independent of the vehicle starting system to discharge electric current from the capacitor, through the electrical conductors, to the starting system on the vehicle, the switching mechanism further comprising a polarity protection circuit to prevent the switching mechanism from discharging the capacitor if the first and second electrical conductors are attached to the starting system at a reversed polarity;

a remote switch to selectively activate the switching mechanism, the remote switch being transportable independent of the portable housing to allow activation of the switching mechanism from a substantial distance from the portable housing; and

an external power source operably coupled to the capacitor independently of the vehicle starting system for providing electrical power to the capacitor prior to and during a vehicle starting event.

2. The portable capacitive remote vehicle starter of claim 1, in which a plurality of capacitors is present.

3. The portable capacitive remote vehicle starter of claim 1, the capacitor with a charging capacity of between about 70 kilojoules and 380 kilojoules.

4. The portable capacitive remote vehicle starter of claim 1, the external power source being selected from a list consisting of a battery, a motor-driven alternator, and a motor-driven generator, the motor being either hydraulic or internal combustion.

5. The portable capacitive remote vehicle starter of claim 1, the switching mechanism comprising a relay.

6. The portable capacitive remote vehicle starter of claim 1, in which the switching mechanism includes a switch with a capacity of 500 amps.

7. The portable capacitive remote vehicle starter of claim 1, further comprising a voltmeter and a voltmeter switch, the voltmeter registering the charged capacitor potential, the voltmeter switch opening and closing a circuit between the voltmeter and the capacitor.

8. The portable capacitive remote vehicle starter of claim 7, in which the voltmeter switch comprises a two-position switch or a three-position switch.

9. The portable capacitive remote vehicle starter of claim 1, the capacitor including first and second poles with respective first and second polarities and in which the first and second electrical conductors are electrically connected to the first and second capacitor poles and

further comprising a polarity warning light, said polarity warning light illuminating when the first electrical conductor is connected to a vehicular battery pole or starter component of the second polarity and the second electrical conductor is connected to a vehicular battery pole or starter component of the first polarity.

10. The portable capacitive remote vehicle starter of claim 1, the capacitor including first and second poles with respective first and second polarities and in which the first and second electrical conductors are electrically connected to the first and second capacitor poles and

further comprising first and second polarity warning lights, said first polarity warning light illuminating when the first electrical conductor is connected

to a vehicular battery pole or starter component of the first polarity and the second electrical conductor is connected to a vehicular battery pole or starter component of the first polarity, the second polarity warning light illuminating when the first electrical conductor is connected to a vehicular battery pole or starter component of the second polarity and the second electrical conductor is connected to a vehicular battery pole or starter component of the first polarity.

11. The portable capacitive remote vehicle starter of claim 1, in which the first and second electrical conductors are electrically connected to capacitor poles with respective first and second polarities and further comprising an audible warning, the audible warning being actuated when the first electrical conductor is connected to a vehicular battery pole or starter component of the second polarity and the second electrical conductor is connected to a vehicular battery pole or starter component of the first polarity.

12. The portable capacitive remote vehicle starter of claim 1, the external power source recharging the capacitor as the capacitor discharges during a vehicle starting event.

13. The portable capacitive remote vehicle starter of claim 1, wherein the external power source is a generator or alternator, the generator or alternator operably connected to a fuel-fired engine or a hydraulically powered motor independent of the vehicle, said generator or alternator being in electrical communication with the capacitor during a vehicular starting event.

14. The portable capacitive remote vehicle starter of claim 1, in which the first and second electrical conductors are connectable to a vehicular battery.

15. A method of supplying external auxiliary power for starting a vehicle, comprising:

transporting a portable auxiliary capacitive remote vehicle starter to within close proximity of the vehicle

connecting first and second conductors from the portable auxiliary capacitive remote vehicle starter to a starting system of the vehicle;

protecting the portable auxiliary capacitive remote vehicle starter with a polarity protection circuit to prevent the switching mechanism from discharging a capacitor if the first and second electrical conductors are attached to the starting system at a reversed polarity;

discharging the capacitor through the electrical conductors to the vehicular starting system;

operably coupling a power source independent of the vehicle to the capacitor for providing electrical power to the capacitor prior to and during a vehicle starting event; and

actuating the vehicular starting system to start the vehicle; and

simultaneously activating a remote switch to initiate the discharge of the capacitor.

16. The method of claim 15, in which the vehicle includes a battery and further comprising the step of connecting the first and second conductors to the vehicle battery.

17. The method of claim 15, in which the vehicle includes a starter and further comprising the step of connecting the first and second conductors to the vehicle starter.

18. The method of claim 15, in which the external power source comprises a battery power source connected to the capacitor.

19. The method of claim 15, a in which the external power source comprises a motor-driven generator power source connected to the capacitor.

20. The method of claim 15, in which the external power source comprises a motor-driven alternator power source connected to the capacitor.

21. The method of claim 15, in which the capacitor is discharged while starting a vehicle and is simultaneously at least partially recharged by being electrically connected to the external power source.

22. An external portable capacitive remote vehicle starter for supplying power for jump starting a vehicle, comprising:

a capacitor enclosed in a portable housing;

a first and a second electrical conductor, selectively attachable to a starting system on the vehicle;

a switching mechanism independent of the vehicle starting system to discharge electric current from the capacitor, through the electrical conductors, to the starting system on the vehicle, the switching mechanism further comprising a polarity protection circuit to prevent the switching mechanism from discharging the capacitor if the first and second electrical conductors are attached to the starting system at a reversed polarity;

a remote switch to selectively activate the switching mechanism, the remote switch being transportable independent of the portable housing to allow activation of the switching mechanism from a substantial distance from the portable housing; and

an external power source operably coupled to the capacitor independently of the vehicle starting system for providing electrical power to the capacitor prior to and during a vehicle starting event, the power source being a battery.

23. The external portable capacitive remote vehicle starter of claim 22, in which a plurality of capacitors is present.

24. The external portable capacitive remote vehicle starter of claim 22, the capacitor having a charging capacity of between about 70 kilojoules and 380 kilojoules.

25. The external portable capacitive remote vehicle starter of claim 22, the switching mechanism comprising a relay.

26. The external portable capacitive remote vehicle starter of claim 22, in which the switching mechanism includes a switch with a capacity of 500 amps.

27. The external portable capacitive remote vehicle starter of claim 22, further comprising a voltmeter and a voltmeter switch, the voltmeter registering the charged capacitor potential, the voltmeter switch opening and closing a circuit between the voltmeter and the capacitor.

28. The external portable capacitive remote vehicle starter of claim 22, further comprising a polarity warning light, said polarity warning light illuminating when the first electrical conductor is connected to a vehicular battery pole or starter component of the second polarity and the second electrical conductor is connected to a vehicular battery pole or starter component of the first polarity.

29. An external capacitive remote vehicle starter for supplying power for jump starting a vehicle, comprising:

a capacitor enclosed in a portable housing;

a first and a second electrical conductor, selectively attachable to a starting system on the vehicle;

a switching mechanism independent of the vehicle starting system to discharge electric current from the capacitor, through the electrical conductors, to an starting system on the vehicle, the switching mechanism further comprising a polarity protection circuit to prevent the switching mechanism from discharging the capacitor if the first and second electrical conductors are attached to the starting system at a reversed polarity;

a remote switch to selectively activate the switching mechanism, the remote switch being transportable independent of the portable housing to allow activation of the switching mechanism from a substantial distance from the portable housing; and

an external power source operably coupled to the capacitor independently of the vehicle starting system for providing electrical power to the capacitor prior to and during a vehicle starting event, the power source being a motor-driven generator or alternator.

30. The external capacitive remote vehicle starter of claim 29, in which a plurality of capacitors is present.

31. The external capacitive remote vehicle starter of claim 29, the capacitor with a charging capacity of between about 70 kilojoules and 380 kilojoules.

32. The external capacitive remote vehicle starter of claim 29, the switching mechanism comprising a relay.

33. The external capacitive remote vehicle starter of claim 29, in which the switching mechanism includes a switch with a capacity of 500 amps.

34. The external portable capacitive remote vehicle starter of claim 29, further comprising a voltmeter and a voltmeter switch, the voltmeter registering the charged capacitor potential, the voltmeter switch opening and closing a circuit between the voltmeter and the capacitor.

35. The external portable capacitive remote vehicle starter of claim 29, further comprising a polarity warning light, said polarity warning light illuminating when the first electrical conductor is connected to a vehicular battery pole or starter component of the second polarity and the second electrical conductor is connected to a vehicular battery pole or starter component of the first polarity.