Globe-union Inc.

Johnson Controls Technology Company

Gp Batteries International Limited

Richard T Johnson

Thomas J Dougherty

Mark S Inkmann

William J Wruck

Neil C Karolek

Majid Taghikhani

David W Saari

Brett M Lenhardt

Jerome A Kondrakiewicz

Edward N Mrotek

Paul Brantner

David N AbuJudom, Ii

Guy L Pfeifer

James W Spencer

Lisa M Franklin

Charles E Frailing

Joseph K McDermott

Daniel A Schwob

Stephen J Kepler

James W Wagner

Art S Homa

A multiple battery system and method for starting internal combustion engines, such as on a boat or vehicle, and for powering auxiliary functions that operate primarily when the engine is not running is disclosed. A first battery is used for starting the engine. A second battery is used to power the auxiliary features associated with the boat or vehicle primarily when the engine is not running. The first battery, referred to as the starter battery, is a high output battery that produces high bursts of energy for limited amounts of time. The second battery, referred to as the auxiliary battery, has a low power output over a fairly long period of time, is capable of being completely drained without harming the battery, and is capable of being fully recharged. The starter battery and the auxiliary battery are connected by a circuit that has an on/off switch controlled by an electronics control module. The auxiliary battery is always on line in the circuit. The electronics control module monitors the circuit to detect certain parameters, such as a start engine event. When a start engine event is detected, the electronics control module connects the starter battery to the circuit with the switch. When the start event is over, the electronics control module disconnects the starter battery from the circuit with the switch. Thus, the electronics control module prevents the starter battery from being drained when power is being drawn from the auxiliary battery during non-start events.

Multiple battery system and method

Cover for battery anti-theft control module

A vehicle anti-theft system that disables a vehicle engine upon detection of an unauthorized vehicle start-up, after the engine is running, by disconnecting the vehicle battery and draining the vehicle electrical system voltage to ground through a resistor. When the system is armed, it monitors whether the engine is running and has been recently started by detecting vibrations, fluctuations in the VES voltage, and the actual VES voltage. The system includes an electro-mechanical switch that has a battery internal contact, a vehicle electrical system, the standard battery external terminal, contact and a disconnect contact. When the switch is connected to the battery contact, the vehicle battery is connected in the circuit. When the switch is connected to the vehicle electrical system contact, the system is connected to ground through a resistance and the battery is disconnected from circuit. When the switch is connected to the disconnect contact, the battery is disconnected and the vehicle electrical system is not connected to ground. When the switch is not energized, it is either connected to the battery contact or the disconnect contact. When the switch is energized, the switch will switch to the vehicle electrical system contact, and then when it is deenergized, it will switch to the opposite battery contact or disconnect contact. The system includes logic so that if the engine is running and has been recently started when it is armed, the system will energize the switch to disconnect it from the battery contact and connect it to the vehicle electrical system contact for a predetermined time to drain the electrical system voltage to ground.

Anti-theft System for disabling a vehicle engine that includes a

A vehicle anti-theft system that disables a vehicle engine upon detection of an unauthorized vehicle start-up, after the engine is running, by disconnecting the vehicle battery and draining the alternator voltage to ground through a resistor. A fob transmitter transmits a coded frequency signal that is received by a receiver associated with the anti-theft system to arm the system. When the system is armed, it monitors whether the engine is running and has been recently started using a combination of vibration detection, voltage fluctuations in the battery voltage and the actual battery voltage. If the system determines that the engine is running and has been recently started, the system will issue a first command that opens a relay switch to disconnect the battery and a second command that closes a switch to connect the alternator to ground through the resistor. In order to prevent a vehicle from being jump started by using a second battery, the system includes a reset clock and associated delay that resets the decision to connect the alternator to ground at periodic intervals so as to repeatedly test for the presence of the second battery and cause the engine to stall after the second battery is disconnected. A driver entry detection portion of the system determines whether someone has entered the vehicle, and issues a chirp signal to notify the occupant that the system is armed. A state of charge algorithm is also provided to determine whether the battery voltage has reached a minimum state of charge for reliably starting the vehicle, and also disconnect the battery once the minimum level has been reached.

Anti-theft system for disabling a vehicle engine

A battery thermal control system including a casing for the battery and a cover for enclosing the battery in the casing, the casing being provided with a number of ribs for supporting the battery in a spaced relation to the bottom of the casing and to the side walls of the casing, a fan connected to discharge air into the casing for circulation through the spaces between the battery and the casing and a bypass duct for connecting the fan to a warm air source for heating the battery in the winter. A timer circuit is provided for continuing the operation of the fan after the engine is turned off. The timing circuit including a temperature switch for activating the timer circuit when the temperature is above a preset minimum.

Method and apparatus for thermal control of automotive components

A battery module for insulating a battery from the heat of the engine of a motor vehicle, the module including a battery compartment, an air inlet and an air outlet, a first air flow path connecting the air inlet to the air outlet and a second air flow path around the outside of the battery compartment connecting the air inlet to the air outlet, a damper positioned in the housing for movement between a first position wherein the first air flow path is open and the second air flow path is closed and a second position wherein the first air flow path is closed and the second air flow path is open, a shape memory alloy member for moving the damper from the first position to the second position when the ambient temperature exceeds a predetermined minimum and a spring for biasing the damper to the first position when the ambient temperature is less than the predetermined temperature.

Battery module for the engine compartment of an automobile

A 24/12 volt battery power supply for a vehicle includes two 12 volt batteries connected in series, and having first and second 24 volt terminals to the opposite ends of the batteries and a 12 volt terminal to the center common connection of the batteries. The 12 volt loads are divided into equal right and left side vehicle loads and the right side is connected across one battery and the left side is connected across the second battery. A three phase wye-connected alternator has the winding connected to a full wave three phase rectifier, the D.C. output of which is connected to the 24 volt terminals. The center common connection of the winding is connected directly to the 12 volt terminal. The system operates with balanced currents and charges on the two 12 volt batteries so long as the 12 volt loads remain balanced. Control loads are selectively connected to the right and left side loads if a 12 volt load is lost, disconnected or otherwise changes to maintain the balanced system but only if the imbalance due to lost loads is large. In another embodiment, the full wave rectifiers are connected to conduct the opposite half cycles of the alternator output. The controlled rectifiers for each half cycle have the gates connected to a common gate source, and a logic circuit monitors the voltage of each battery and actuates one or the other of the rectifier groups to prevent one battery segment from significantly varying in voltage with respect to the other.

Polyphase alternator and dual voltage battery charging system for

There are described apparatus for detecting the presence of a defective cell in a lead-acid storage battery. The apparatus is included as a part of a larger apparatus for analyzing the condition of the battery and its suitability for further use in automobile lighting, starting, and ignition applications. The apparatus measures the terminal potential of the battery when it is subject to a constant resistance load. If that potential is found to increase more than a predetermined amount during a time interval following the application of the load, the battery is known to have at least one defective cell.

Automatic battery analyzer including apparatus for determining presence

Growing community of inventors

Hubertus, WI, United States of America

Richard T Johnson