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:
Aug. 25, 1998
Filed:
Feb. 29, 1996
Alan C Lesesky, Charlotte, NC (US);
Bruce A Purkey, Rogers, AR (US);
Bobby Ray Weant, Rock Hill, SC (US);
Vehicle Enhancement Systems, Inc., Rock Hill, SC (US);
Purkey's Fleet Electrics, Inc., Rogers, AR (US);
Abstract
Vehicle cranking management systems and methods are provided for a vehicle preferably including a tractor mechanically connected to a trailer. Electrical energy is enabled to transfer from a battery of the vehicle to an electrical accessory load, when a battery output voltage signal is above a first predetermined threshold voltage, but is inhibited from transferring from the battery to the electrical accessory load if the battery output voltage signal is below a second predetermined threshold voltage. The first and second predetermined threshold voltages may be determined responsive to a sensed temperature of the vehicle engine, preferably a sensed temperature of oil present in the engine. In addition, electrical energy is enabled to transfer from the battery to a starter which cranks the vehicle's engine if a cranking command signal to crank the engine is asserted for less than a first predetermined time interval. If a cranking command signal is continuously asserted for a period longer than the first predetermined time interval, however, electrical energy is inhibited from transferring from the battery to the starter for a second predetermined time interval, to thereby inhibit the engine from being cranked during the second predetermined time interval. The vehicle may also include a speed sensor which senses a rotational speed of the engine, and electrical energy may be inhibited from transferring from the battery to the starter responsive to the sensed engine speed being greater than a predetermined threshold speed.