Other

Abb Power Td & Company

Westinghouse Electric Corporation

Thomas A Ward

Herbert S Adkins

Dennis J Struemph

Gary I Segal

Kenneth M Leader

Larry K Gove

Samuel P Nguyen

Dean I Parker

A connection system is provided to charge a high voltage battery () in an electric vehicle with multiple low voltage solar panels (). The connection system includes sets of transmission lines () to individually connect each one of the solar panels () to each individual one of the battery cells () making up the battery (). With the connection system the high voltage battery () can be charged by the lower voltage solar panels () without using a lossy DC-DC converter system that converts the DC solar panel output to AC for transforming to the much higher voltage across the primary terminals of battery () before converting back to DC to connect to the battery ().

Solar panel charging system for electric vehicle that charges individual batteries with direct parallel connections to solar panels

A series charger () is provided to charge a high voltage battery () in an electric vehicle with a low voltage solar panel (). The series charger () provides switches () to connect the terminals of solar panel () across individual battery cells () in series connected battery () one battery cell at a time. Charging by series charger () can occur while the cells () of battery () remain connected in series. With the series charger (), the high voltage battery () can be charged by the low voltage solar panel () without using a lossy DC-DC converter. The high voltage battery () charged by series charger () can be connected in parallel with a second high voltage battery to enable charging all cells of the second battery together. The solar panel () can be provided in a moon roof or truck bed cover adjustable to track the sun.

Hybrid vehicle with a low voltage solar panel charging a high voltage battery using a series charger to separately charge individual cells of the series connected battery

To provide additional charge storage for an electric vehicle, an additional battery () is connected in parallel with a regenerative braking direct charged battery () through a current limiting circuit (or). The additional battery () is charged by an external charger such as a plug-in charger or a solar panel that supply minimal current to prevent generation of battery heat. Current flows from the additional battery () to the regenerative braking charged batteries () so that both batteries can be charged. However, when excessive charge is drawn to drive the vehicle electric motor (), the current limiter circuit (or) serves to prevent the discharge of additional battery () from creating excessive heat in the additional battery (). Further, when regenerative braking is applied the current limiter circuit (), or a diode buffer () in combination with current limiter (), serves to prevent charging from creating excessive heat in the additional battery () and eliminates the need for a cooling structure in the additional battery ().

Current limiting parallel battery charging system to enable plug-in or solar power to supplement regenerative braking in hybrid or electric vehicle

The scent dispersal system of this invention includes a reservoir for holding a liquid scent, a cap to close an opening in the reservoir, a conduit extends outward from the cap, a wick extends from the reservoir's interior to the exterior via the conduit and a way is provided to attach the scent dispersal system to an individual. A wick retainer is used to prevent pulling the wick from the reservoir and to retain the end of the wick in the liquid scent. A tube plug is used to close and seal the end of the conduit. Through capillary action the scent is automatically drawn to an exposed end of the wick extending outward from the end of the conduit. The scent is automatically dissipated or dispersed from the exposed end of the wick. As one walks, the scent creates a trail by rubbing off on grasses, leaves or other flora in the woods. At a fixed location the scent is dissipated by evaporation from the wick. Strength of the scent is controlled by the amount of the wick exposed.

Scent dispersal system

A transformer core-coil frame attachment and ground. The core-coil is mounted on a metal frame with flanges extending along the bottom of the frame. Nonconductive support members in the form of channels are mounted on the flanges of the cross member to support the coil to relieve stresses and reduce the no-load electrical losses. The nonconductive support members have a profile shaped for ease in receiving and retaining the support members on the flanges of the cross member. The frame has an opening in the bottom for receiving a mounting boss protruding above the tank bottom of the transformer to locate the core-coil within the tank and resist movement of the core-coil within the tank in a horizontal plane. A compressible grounding structure is attached to the bottom of the core which allows for variation between the core and frame. Bracket structure is connected to the top of the frame and to brace structure secured to one of the sidewalls within the tank to limit movement of the core-coil in the vertical plane. This one point attachment keeps the unit from shifting during shipment.

Transformer core-coil frame attachment and ground

A self adjusting lap table includes a strap to maintain the table in a coiled position when not in use. When used the storage strap is released and the lap table is uncoiled and placed on the users lap. When the table is placed on the users lap it tends to return to the coiled position causing the table edges to grip the users legs. Openings in the table top provide locations to insert drinking cups or other items.

Adjustable lap table

A device for partially shearing single or multiple sheets of material comprising a base having a recess and a lower blade fixed in the recess. A pair of movable blades having opposed ends are pivotally attached to the base at one end. A lost-motion connecting link connects the free ends of the pair of movable blades together and is connected to a hydraulic piston which moves the link a limited distance towards the base, thereby to rotate both movable blades relative to the fixed blade with a scissors-like action. When the pair of blades is moved towards the lower blade, the material is cut inward from both sides or edges of the material, leaving an inner uncut portion of material having a width which corresponds to the stroke of the movable blades.

Partial cut shearing device

A dual polarized cross notch array employing a positioner for locating and grounding metallized portions of unrestrained element ends with respect to metallized restrained element ends. The positioner is a planar member having spaced rows and slots in intersecting rows and columns. Conductive tabs are formed adjacent to the slots at the intersections of the rows and columns corresponding to intersections of the element ends. The conductive tabs receive corresponding portions of the intersecting element ends in secure mechanical engagement and electrical contact. The positioner maintains the polarized elements rigidly in orthogonal configuration. In alternative embodiment employs conductive members preferably formed of tape at the inside corners of the array. Improved radiator elements and a positioner for preconfiguring the array is also disclosed.

Positioner with corner contacts for cross notch array and improved

Automatic metal inert-gas-shielded arc welding of such apparatus as large transformer casings with stainless steel welding filler wire fed to the work through a torch from a spool. A series of seam welds are produced on each casing. The torch and spool are mounted on a movable arm of an electrically operated robot. The robot has sensing means responsive to electrical conduction through the work and the wire to position the wire in the correct location for producing each weld. The tip of the wire is oxidized during each weld of the series precluding the electrical conduction necessary to locate the wire for the next weld of the series. In accordance with the disclosure, there is provided a wire cutter displaced from work. After each weld, the robot arm positions the wire in the cutter. This positioning of the wire automatically triggers a proximity switch which actuates a high speed rotary grinder to sever the oxidized tip of the wire. The grinder moves at right angles to the wire cutting the wire squarely so that there is no bend in the resulting end of the wire to militate against accurate location by the sensor for the next weld. The grinder is composed of electrically insulating material and is mounted on an insulated fixture so that it does not shut off the robot by grounding.

Automatic arc welding with filler wire

The endwise resistance welding of a weld coupling to a plate. The weld coupling is mounted in a collet which is mounted slideably in a cavity in a block of conducting material. In the standby condition of the apparatus the collet is urged outwardly of the cavity by a spring between the block and the collet. The end of the block at the entrance to the cavity and the outward end of the collet have frustro-conical or tapered surfaces tapered at the same angle to the common axis of the block and collet. The surfaces are face-to-face. This assembly including the weld coupling is mounted on the movable electrode of the welder. During welding this electrode is moved towards the cooperative electrode, on which the plate is mounted, compressing the weld coupling against the plate. Under the reactive forces from the coupling and plate, the collet is moved inwardly of the block causing the tapered surface of the collet to slide with a cam-like motion along the tapered surface of the block. The collet is clamped tightly to the weld coupling and the engagement of the tapered surfaces complete a low-resistance path for the welding current from the movable electrode, through the block, the collet laterally through the weld coupling, the plate, and the cooperative welding electrode.

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Holts Summit, MO, United States of America

Thomas A Ward