U.S. patent application number 09/935544 was filed with the patent office on 2003-02-27 for electric energy source having safety control device.
Invention is credited to Chang, I Chang.
Application Number | 20030038545 09/935544 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 67146585 |
Filed Date | 2003-02-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030038545 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chang, I Chang |
February 27, 2003 |
ELECTRIC ENERGY SOURCE HAVING SAFETY CONTROL DEVICE
Abstract
An electric energy source includes a battery, a positive and a
negative booster clamps coupled to the battery for coupling the
battery to the vehicle battery, and a device for selectively
coupling the battery to the positive and the negative booster
clamps when the positive and the negative booster clamps are
correctly coupled to the vehicle battery. The battery may supply
the energy to the booster clamps when the booster clamps are
correctly coupled to the vehicle battery, and will not supply the
energy when the clamps are wrongly coupled to the vehicle
battery.
Inventors: |
Chang, I Chang; (Taipei
Hsien, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
I Chang CHANG
P.O. Box 10-69
Chong Ho
Taipei
235
TW
|
Family ID: |
67146585 |
Appl. No.: |
09/935544 |
Filed: |
August 24, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
307/10.7 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H02J 7/0034
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
307/10.7 |
International
Class: |
H02H 007/18 |
Claims
I claim:
1. An electric energy source for coupling to and for supplying an
electric energy to a vehicle battery, said electric energy source
comprising: a first battery, a positive and a negative booster
clamps coupled to said first battery for coupling said first
battery to the vehicle battery, and means for detecting whether
said positive and said negative booster clamps have been correctly
coupled to the vehicle battery or not.
2. An electric energy source for coupling to and for supplying an
electric energy to a vehicle battery, said electric energy source
comprising: a first battery, a positive and a negative booster
clamps coupled to said first battery for coupling said first
battery to the vehicle battery, and means for selectively coupling
said first battery to said positive and said negative booster
clamps when said positive and said negative booster clamps are
correctly coupled to the vehicle battery.
3. The electric energy source according to claim 2, wherein said
selectively coupling means includes a primary switch coupled
between said first battery and said positive booster clamp for
switching off an electric circuit between said first battery and
said positive booster clamp before said positive and said negative
booster clamps are correctly coupled to the vehicle battery.
4. The electric energy source according to claim 2, wherein said
selectively coupling means includes a first relay coupled between
said first battery and said positive booster clamp for switching
off an electric circuit between said first battery and said
positive booster clamp before said positive and said negative
booster clamps are correctly coupled to the vehicle battery.
5. The electric energy source according to claim 4 further
comprising a second relay coupled between said first relay and said
positive booster clamp for being actuated by said first relay to
supply an electric energy to said positive booster clamp.
6. The electric energy source according to claim 4 further
comprising means for indicating an actuation of said first
relay.
7. The electric energy source according to claim 4 further
comprising means for detecting whether said positive and said
negative booster clamps have been correctly coupled to the vehicle
battery or not.
8. The electric energy source according to claim 7, wherein said
detecting means includes a positive voltage detecting circuit
having a transistor coupled to said first relay for actuating said
first relay when said positive and said negative booster clamps
have been detected to be correctly coupled to the vehicle
battery.
9. The electric energy source according to claim 8, wherein said
detecting means includes a negative voltage detecting circuit
having an amplifier coupled to said transistor of said positive
voltage detecting circuit and having a comparator coupled to said
amplifier.
10. The electric energy source according to claim 9, wherein said
transistor includes a collector coupled to said first relay, and
includes a base coupled to said amplifier of said negative voltage
detecting circuit.
11. The electric energy source according to claim 9, wherein said
amplifier includes an opposite phase input coupled to said
transistor.
12. The electric energy source according to claim 9 further
comprising means for generating a warning signal when said positive
and said negative booster clamps have been detected to be wrongly
coupled to the vehicle battery.
13. The electric energy source according to claim 12, wherein said
warning signal generating means includes a buzzer coupled to said
comparator for being actuated by said comparator.
14. The electric energy source according to claim 13 further
comprising means for actuating said buzzer.
15. The electric energy source according to claim 2 further
comprising means for detecting whether said positive and said
negative booster clamps have been correctly coupled to the vehicle
battery or not.
16. The electric energy source according to claim 2 further
comprising means for generating a warning signal when said positive
and said negative booster clamps are wrongly coupled to the vehicle
battery.
17. The electric energy source according to claim 16, wherein said
warning signal generating means includes a buzzer for generating a
sound warning signal.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to an electric energy source,
and more particularly to an electric energy source having a safety
control device.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] As shown in FIG. 3, a typical electric energy source
comprises a battery 1, and a positive and a negative booster clamps
3, 4 coupled to or extended from the battery 1, for coupling to the
terminals 21 of the vehicle battery 2, which may be coupled to the
starter 6 of the vehicle for starting the engine of the vehicle.
However, great sparks may be generated when the positive and the
negative booster clamps 3, 4 are coupling to the terminals 21 of
the vehicle battery 2, and/or when the positive and the negative
booster clamps 3, 4 are contacted with each other inadvertently,
and/or when the positive and the negative booster clamps 3, 4 are
simultaneously contacted with the other conductive materials or
members or facilities inadvertently. People may be hurt by the
inadvertently contacted positive and negative booster clamps 3, 4.
In addition, the electric facilities of the vehicle may also be
damaged by the inadvertently contacted positive and negative
booster clamps 3, 4. Particularly, when the positive and the
negative booster clamps 3, 4 are wrongly coupled to the terminals
21 of the vehicle battery 2, a great spark and even a great
disaster may be occurred.
[0005] The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate
the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional electric
energy sources for jumper purposes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide
an electric energy source including a safety control device for
supplying the electric energy to the terminals of the vehicle
battery only when the positive and the negative booster clamps are
correctly coupled to the terminals of the vehicle battery.
[0007] The other objective of the present invention is to provide
an electric energy source including a safety control device for
generating a warning signal when the positive and the negative
booster clamps are wrongly coupled to the terminals of the vehicle
battery.
[0008] In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is
provided an electric energy source for coupling to and for
supplying an electric energy to a vehicle battery comprising a
first battery, a positive and a negative booster clamps coupled to
the first battery for coupling the first battery to the vehicle
battery, and means for selectively coupling the first battery to
the positive and the negative booster clamps when the positive and
the negative booster clamps are correctly coupled to the vehicle
battery. The first battery may supply the electric energy to the
positive and the negative booster clamps only when the positive and
the negative booster clamps are correctly coupled to the vehicle
battery. On the contrary, the first battery will not supply the
electric energy to the positive and the negative booster clamps
when the positive and the negative booster clamps are wrongly
coupled to the vehicle battery.
[0009] The selectively coupling means includes a primary switch
coupled between the first battery and the positive booster clamp
for switching off an electric circuit between the first battery and
the positive booster clamp before the positive and the negative
booster clamps are correctly coupled to the vehicle battery.
[0010] The selectively coupling means includes a first relay
coupled between the first battery and the positive booster clamp
for switching off an electric circuit between the first battery and
the positive booster clamp before the positive and the negative
booster clamps are correctly coupled to the vehicle battery.
[0011] A second relay is further provided and coupled between the
first relay and the positive booster clamp for being actuated by
the first relay to supply an electric energy to the positive
booster clamp.
[0012] A device, such as a light device, or a light emitting diode,
is further provided and coupled to the first relay for indicating
that the first relay has been actuated and is energized.
[0013] A device is further provided for detecting whether the
positive and the negative booster clamps have been correctly
coupled to the vehicle battery or not and includes a positive
voltage detecting circuit having a transistor coupled to the first
relay for actuating the first relay when the positive and the
negative booster clamps have been detected to be correctly coupled
to the vehicle battery.
[0014] The detecting device includes a negative voltage detecting
circuit having an amplifier coupled to the transistor of the
positive voltage detecting circuit and having a comparator coupled
to the amplifier.
[0015] The transistor includes a collector coupled to the first
relay, and includes a base coupled to the amplifier of the negative
voltage detecting circuit. The amplifier includes an opposite phase
input coupled to the transistor.
[0016] A device is further provided for generating a warning signal
when the positive and the negative booster clamps have been
detected to be wrongly coupled to the vehicle battery and includes
a buzzer coupled to the comparator for being actuated by the
comparator and for generating a sound warning signal. The warning
signal generating device may also include a light device for
generating a light warning signal.
[0017] Further objectives and advantages of the present invention
will become apparent from a careful reading of a detailed
description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electric energy source in
accordance with the present invention;
[0019] FIG. 2 is an electric circuit of the electric energy source;
and
[0020] FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the typical
electric energy source for jumper purposes.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0021] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an electric energy source in
accordance with the present invention comprises a battery 1, a
control device 5, and a positive and a negative booster clamps 3, 4
coupled to the battery 1 and the control device 5 respectively, for
coupling to the terminals of the vehicle battery and thus for
coupling to the starter 6 of the vehicle in order to start the
engine of the vehicle.
[0022] The control device 5 includes a primary switch 51 coupled to
such as the positive terminal of the battery 1, and coupled to a
first relay 52 which is then coupled to a second relay 53. The
second relay 53 is coupled to the positive booster clamp 3. A
displaying circuit 54 includes one or more light devices 61, such
as the liquid crystal displayers, or the light emitting diodes
(LED) 61 coupled between the relays 52, 53 for indicating that the
first relay 52 has been actuated or has been energized.
[0023] The control device 5 further includes a positive voltage
detecting circuit 55 having a transistor 62 which includes a base
63 for coupling to the positive booster clamp 3 and which includes
a collector 64 for coupling to the first relay 52, such as to the
exciting coils or the exciting windings 65 of the first relay 52.
The transistor 62 of the positive detecting circuit 55 includes an
emitter 80 coupled to the negative booster clamp 4. A negative
voltage detecting circuit 55 includes an amplifier 66 having an
opposite phase input 67 coupled to the collector 63 of the
transistor 62, and coupled to the positive booster clamp 3, and
having an output 68 coupled to a non-opposite phase input 71 of a
comparator 70.
[0024] A stable circuit or a diode 69 is coupled in series to the
opposite phase input 72 of the comparator 70 via a resistor 73, and
another resistor 74 is coupled to, in parallel, and between the
resistor 73 and the opposite phase input 72 of the comparator 70,
for providing a reference voltage to the opposite phase input 72 of
the comparator 70. The comparator 70 includes an output 75 coupled
to a buzzer circuit 57, such as coupled to a buzzer audio signal
generating circuit 76 and a signal amplifier 77 via a diode 78, in
order to actuate a buzzer 79 or the other warning signal generating
device 79, such as a LED, or the like.
[0025] In operation, when the primary switch 51 is actuated or is
switched on, and before the relay 52 is actuated or energized, the
electric circuit between the battery 1 and the positive and the
negative booster clamps 3, 4, particularly the electric circuit
between the positive terminal of the battery 1 and the positive
booster clamps 3 is cut off, such that no electricity will be
supplied to the positive and the negative booster clamps 3, 4 at
this moment. No sparks will be generated at this moment, when the
positive and the negative booster clamps 3, 4 are coupling to the
terminals of the vehicle battery 2, and/or when the positive and
the negative booster clamps 3, 4 are contacted with each other
inadvertently, and/or when the positive and the negative booster
clamps 3, 4 are simultaneously contacted with the other conductive
materials or members or facilities inadvertently.
[0026] When the positive and the negative booster clamps 3, 4 have
been coupled to the terminals of the vehicle battery 2, the
remaining electricity in the vehicle battery 2 may supply the
electricity energy to energize the positive and the negative
voltage detecting circuits 55, 56 of the control device 5, for
detecting and testing whether the positive and the negative booster
clamps 3, 4 have been correctly or wrongly coupled to the terminals
of the vehicle battery 2 respectively. The transistor 62 of the
positive voltage detecting circuit 55 of the control device 5 may
be energized and actuated with a voltage as low as 0.7 volt.
[0027] When the positive and the negative booster clamps 3, 4 have
been detected to be correctly coupled to the terminals of the
vehicle battery 2 respectively, the transistor 62 of the positive
voltage detecting circuit 55 may supply a positive voltage to the
opposite phase input 67 of the amplifier 66, and the amplifier 66
may then send out a negative voltage to the comparator 70. The
reference voltage from the diode 69 has an absolute value less than
that of the negative voltage sent out from the amplifier 66 such
that the buzzer circuit 57 will not be actuated and the buzzer 79
will not be energized at this moment.
[0028] At this moment, the collector 64 of the transistor 62 of the
positive voltage detecting circuit 55 that is coupled to the relay
52 may actuate the relay 52. The electric energy from the battery 1
may then be supplied through the primary switch 51 and the relay 52
to actuate or to energize the second relay 53, and to supply the
electricity energy to the positive and the negative booster clamps
3, 4. Accordingly, the positive and the negative booster clamps 3,
4 may be supplied the electric energy to the terminals of the
vehicle battery 2 only after the positive and the negative booster
clamps 3, 4 have been correctly coupled to the terminals of the
vehicle battery 2.
[0029] On the contrary, when the positive and the negative booster
clamps 3, 4 have been detected to be wrongly coupled to the
terminals of the vehicle battery 2 respectively, the negative
electricity or the negative voltage of the negative terminal of the
vehicle battery 2 may be coupled to and may supply the negative
voltage to the positive booster clamp 3. At this moment, the
transistor 62 of the positive voltage detecting circuit 55 will not
be energized because the negative voltage will be lower than 0.7
volt. The amplifier 66 may convert the negative voltage into a
positive voltage which is then supplied to the non-opposite phase
input 71 of the comparator 70. The comparator 70 may then supply a
positive voltage to energize and to actuate the signal amplifier 77
and to energize the buzzer 79 or the other warning signal
generating device 79, which may generate a warning sound or light
signal to warn the users that the positive and the negative booster
clamps 3, 4 have been wrongly coupled to the terminals of the
vehicle battery 2 respectively. The users may then change and
correctly couple the positive and the negative booster clamps 3, 4
to the terminals of the vehicle battery 2 respectively.
[0030] At this moment, the transistor 62 of the positive voltage
detecting circuit 55 and thus the relay 52 will not be actuated or
energized, The electric energy from the battery 1 thus will not be
supplied to the positive and the negative booster clamps 3, 4.
After the positive and the negative booster clamps 3, 4 have been
changed and correctly coupled to the terminals of the vehicle
battery 2 respectively, the transistor 62 of the positive voltage
detecting circuit 55 may be energized again to electrically couple
the terminals of the battery 1 to the positive and the negative
booster clamps 3, 4 which may then supply the electric energy to
the terminals of the vehicle battery 2.
[0031] Accordingly, the terminals of the battery 1 will not be
electrically coupled to the positive and the negative booster
clamps 3, 4 when the positive and the negative booster clamps 3, 4
are wrongly coupled to the terminals of the vehicle battery 2
respectively, or before the positive and the negative booster
clamps 3, 4 have been correctly coupled to the terminals of the
vehicle battery 2 respectively.
[0032] As shown in FIG. 2, an auxiliary switch 58 may further be
provided and coupled to or between the positive voltage detecting
circuit 55 and the first relay 52 for compulsorily forcing or
actuating said first relay 52 to energize or to actuate said second
relay 53 when the vehicle battery 2 has no any electricity
energy.
[0033] Accordingly, the electric energy source in accordance with
the present invention includes a safety control device for
supplying the electric energy to the terminals of the vehicle
battery only when the positive and the negative booster clamps are
correctly coupled to the terminals of the vehicle battery, and for
generating a warning signal when the positive and the negative
booster clamps are wrongly coupled to the terminals of the vehicle
battery.
[0034] Although this invention has been described with a certain
degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present
disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous
changes in the detailed construction and the combination and
arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the
spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
* * * * *