Battery charging system for vehicles having propulsion and accessory batteries

Abstract

Abstract A BATTERY CHARGING SYSTEM FOR THE BATTERIES OF AN ELECTRICALLY POWERED MOTOR VEHICLE. THE MOTOR VEHICLE HAS A BANK OF STORAGE BATTERIES WHICH ARE UTILIZED TO ENERGIZE A PROPULSION MOTOR AND AT LEAST ONE ACCESSORY BATTERY WHICH IS UTILIZED TO ENERGIZE ACCESSORIES ON A MOTOR VEHICLE. THE BATTERY CHARGING SYSTEM IS CAPABLE OF CHARGING BOTH THE PROPULSION BATTERIES AND THE ACCESSORY BATTERY FROM A HOUSEHOLD SOURCE OF ALTERNATING CURRENT. THE BATTERIES ARE SUPPLIED WITH CHARGING CURRENT FROM A BRIDGE RECTIFIER THROUGH CONTROL CIRCUITS THAT INCLUDE CONTROLLED RECTIFIERS THAT ARE PERIODICALLY SWITCHED ON AND OFF TO CONTROL THE AMOUNT OF POWER APPLIED TO THE BATTERIES. THE CHARGING CYCLE OF THE BATTERY CONCISTS OF AN INITIAL CONSTANT POWER MODE, A CONSTANT VOLTAGE MODE AND FINALLY A TIMED SHUT-OFF MODE OF OPERATION ALL OF WHICH ARE CONTROLLED AUTOMATICALLY BY THE BATTERY CHARGING SYSTEM. THE BATTERY CHARGING SYSTEM IS ARRANGED SUCH THAT THE CONTROLLED RECTIFIER WHICH CONTROLS THE CHARGING CURRENT TO THE MAIN PROPULSION BATTERIES IS ALSO OPERATIVE TO CONNECT THE ACCESSORY BATTERY TO THE MAIN PROPULSION BATTERIES WHEN THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING SO AS TO ALLOW THE ACCESSORY BATTERY TO FLOAT ACROSS THE MAIN PROPULSION BATTERIES WHENEVER THE CHARGE LEVEL OF THE ACCESSORY BATTERY DROPS TO SOME PREDETERMINED VALUE.

Inventors

• 👤 Thomas E Kirk

Bibliographic Details