The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 26, 1998
Filed:
Jun. 12, 1996
Kouji Yoshizaki, Numazu, JP;
Yukio Terashima, Mishima, JP;
Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aichi, JP;
Abstract
An apparatus for supplying electric power to heating devices of a vehicle, making it possible to utilize the maximum amount of electric power generated by an alternator when a plurality of electrically heated catalysts mounted on the vehicle are to be supplied with electric power from the alternator only. The apparatus for supplying electric power to the heating devices of the vehicle comprises the alternator driven by a drive source of the vehicle to generate electricity, a battery charging circuit contained in the alternator, and a battery capable of being charged or discharged, wherein between the stator coil of the alternator and the battery charging circuit are provided a change-over switch for connecting a rectifier that rectifies the electric power generated in the stator coil to either the electrically heated catalysts or the battery charging circuit, and another change-over switch for connecting the rotor coil to either the battery charging circuit or ground, so that, when the battery is not being charged, the output of the stator coil is supplied to the output terminals of the alternator and that the rotor coil is connected to the battery. The two electrically heated catalysts are connected in series with the output terminals, the outer cylinders of the two electrically heated catalysts being grounded. When the electrically heated catalysts are to be heated, the electric power is supplied directly from the alternator and the ability of the alternator is utilized to the maximum degree.