Globe-union Inc.

Alan J Klebenow

Thomas J Dougherty

Edward N Mrotek

David A Thuerk

Maurice G Michaud

Maurice C Michaud

The invention provides a vehicle battery system including a main and a reserve battery disposed within a battery housing (10) having conventional external dimensions and battery terminal locations. An illustrated embodiment includes a main battery, comprising a series of thin, flat cells (38) disposed along a first axis, and a reserve battery, comprising a series of cells (42) disposed along a second axis transverse to the first axis. An electrical circuit facilitates selective communication between the reserve battery and the vehicle starter in accordance with the position of a switch assembly (100). An electrically conductive fastener is disposed to simultaneously maintain electrical communication between a main battery termination and an external battery terminal and also between a reserve battery termination and the same external battery terminal.

Dual battery system

The invention provides a vehicle battery system including a main and a reserve battery disposed within a battery housing (10) having conventional external dimensions and battery terminal locations. An illustrated embodiment includes a main battery, comprising a series of thin, flat cells (38) disposed along a first axis, and a reserve battery, comprising a series of cells (42) diposed along a second axis transverse to the first axis. An electrical circuit facilitates selective communication between the reserve battery and the vehicle starter in accordance with the position of a switch assembly (100). The circuit illustratively includes a diode (110) configured to permit current flow into the reserve battery (104) during recharging, but which prevents reserve battery drain during normal vehicle operation. A variable resistor (112) is disposed in series with the diode to limit the amount of power, and hence the amount of heat, dissipated by the diode. When the main battery becomes drained, switch assembly (100) is actuated to bring the reserve battery (104) into parallel with the main battery (102).

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Brookfield, WI, United States of America

Alan J Klebenow