Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
795~
E'I¢LD OF Tlll~ INVl:N'rlON
The present invention relates to a motor vehicle
star-ting sys-tem effective for cold weather as well as warm
weather operation.
_~CT~GROUND OF TLI~ INV~NTIO
In cold weather, say minus 10C and below, most
motor vehicles fail to start when their star-ter is actuated.
Tlle vehicle-equipped battery fails because the lubricating
oil is too viscous and because of -the reduced power output
of the bat-tery. It is a conven-tional procedure to connect
in parallel an additional ba-ttery to the vehicle ba-ttery
to thus start the engine. Such a solution requires an extra
battery, WhiCIl has -to be kept in a warm environment.
It requires also openincJ the veh:icle hood and to manually
connect the two batteries wi-th the risk oE damaging the
bat-teries when improperly connec-ted.
OBJ~CTS OE` Tll~ INV~NTION
.
I-t is the main object of the presen-t invention
to provide a motor vehicle starting system which can be
used to effectively s-tart the vehicle engine in cold as
well as warm weather.
Another object of the present invention is to
provide a system oE the character described, wherein two
ba-tteries are provided which can be connected either in
parallel for warm weather operation, or in series for
cold weather operation.
~nother object of the present invention is to
provide a system oE the character described, in which the
two batteries are housed in a common casingt such that the
system can be positioned wi-thin the available space under
the hood oE a vehicle.
~nother object of the presen-t invention is
to provide a systelll WhiCIl iS automatic`ally operated.
- 2 - 3~
79~;~
. ~
`~SUMMARY OF 'I'IIL INVENTION
The s-tarting system of -the inven-tion includes
two batteries, a relay which, in a normal non-energized
position, connec-ts the two batteries in parallel to feed
the engille star-ter and which, in an energized position,
connects the two ba-tteries in series -to feed the engine
s-tar-ter at an increased voltage during the star-ting
operation. ~ switch ac-tuates this relay; this switch can
be manually operated by the vehicle conductor when the
engine~ails to start when the batteries are parallel con-
nected. Preferably, the switch is a thermostatic switch
responsive to the tempera-ture of the engine to actuate
the relay below a present engine -temperature.
l~RI~F D~SCRIPTION Oli rl'll~ DR~ING
rl'l~esincJle figure is an electric diagram of
the star-ting sy-tem of -the ln~7ention.
DET~ILED DESCRIPTION OF TH~ DR~WING
The circuit includes -two wet-cell batteries
10 and 12, for instance each of 12-volt output but -the
second battery 12 could be of a lesser voltage. The system
also includes a relay 14, which comprises an operating
solenoid 16 for opera-ting in UlliSOIl first and second
contact plates 18 and 20. Ti`irs-t contact plate 18 is adapted
to make con-tac-t and close the circuit between a pair of
terminals 22, while second contact plate 20 is adapted to
close the circuit between one or the other of the pairs of
-terminals 24 and 26. When solenoid 16 is not energized,
contact plate 18 closes the circuit be-tween terminals
22 and contact pla-te 20 closes the circui-t between terminals
24. When the solenoid 16 is energized, the circuit
between terminals 22 is open and -the circuit between lower
~2~7956
~erminals 24 is opell, while the circui-t be-tween the upper
terminals 26 is closed. Contact plate 18, with its
terminals 22, form a single pole single throw~switch, while
contact plate 22 and i-ts associated terminals 24, 26 form a
single pole double--throw swi-tch. The negative of the first
battery is connec-ted to tlle ground at 28, while i-ts positive
terminal is connected by wire 30 to the terminals 22 and 26
on one side of relay 14. The negative of the second battery
12 is connected by wire 32 to terminals 24 and 26 on the
other side of relay lg. The positive oE battery 12 is
connected by wire 34 -to the other terminal 22 of relay 14.
The solenoid 16 is controlled by a switch 36. This switch
can be a m.anually-operated push-button switch mounted on
the dashboard of -the motor veilicle. Preferably, as shown
in the drawing, it is a thermostatic switch which is
responsive to the temperature of the manifold A of the
vehicle enyine. For instance, a thermocouple 38, applied
to said manifold, senses -the temperature thereof. This
thermocouple closes the thermostatic switch 36 when the
~0 temperature of the manifold is, for instance, below minus
10C.
Relay 14 preferably fwrther includes a third
contac-t plate 21 adapted -to interconnect a pair o~ terminals
27 when the solenoid 16 is not energized. Elemen-ts 21, 27
define an additional single pole, single-throw switch.
The conventional key-operated control switch
40 o~ the vehicle includes a contact arm 42, which, in
a runnin~ position, only contacts terminal 44 to feed the
accessories 46, and in the other pos.i~o~ makes contact not
0 only with terminal 44 but also with terminal 48 of -the
solenoid 50 of the starter relay contac-t arm 52,.which
closes the circuit ~rom -the batter:ies through wire 54
to the starter motor 56. 'l'he vehicle is also normally
~L2~i~9~
provided with an alternator or generator, indicated
at 5~, to rechar~e the batteries 10,~2 in parallel tllrougl
wires 60,61, relay switch portion 27, 21, wires 61,62,
63 and through wire 34, contacts 22 and wire 30. Swiich
40 is connected to battery 10 through wire 68. The
accessories terminal 44 is also connected through wire
70 to the swi-tch 36 and ~elay 16.
The sys-tem operates as follows:
Whenever the engine is warm enough to start without dif-
~iculty, -the relay 14 is in the normal position, shown
in full line in the drawing, whereby the batteries 10, 12
are connected in parallel. The ignition switch is Eed
in parallel by the two batteries and the alternator can
recharc3e -the two batteries in parallel through the relay
swi-tch por-tions 21, 27, and 22, 18. Whenever the engine
fails to start due to the engine being exposed to too
low a temperature, the thermostatic switch 36 automatically
closes and, upon operating the key-operated switch 40 to
the starting position, the circuit comprising terminal 44,
wire 70, closed switch 36 and rélay solenoid 16
is closed, whereby the -two batteries 10 and 12 are con-
nected in series to feed the s-tarter 56. However, the ac-
cessories 46 are fed by only a 12-volt current from the
single battery 10, because switch 40 is only connected
to battery 10 Thus, damage to the accessories 46 is
prevented. The accessories comprise the ignition system,
the lighting system of the vehicle, -toge-ther with any other
electric circuits functioning normally at 12 vol-ts. I-t
is understood that the al-ternator is provided with its
associated vol-tage regulator. This alternator is protected
because relay switcll portion 21, 27 opens when the two
batteries are series connected.
1~ 356
In cold weather, the vol-tage of each battery is
much decreased, so -that series-connecting the same will
not apply excessive voltage -to the starter 56. 'rhermo-
s-tatic switch 36 is pre~erred, because it ensures that
battery series connecting is effected only in cold weather.
It also has the advantage of automa-tic opera-tion.
The two ba-tteries 10, 12 more specifically the two
groups of cells, each forming one battery, can be arranged
in one ~attery casing of the same size as a conventional
ba-ttery, by reducing the number of plates or thickness
thereoE, so tha-t the whole system can be located within -the
availahle space of any rno-tor vehicle. Obviously, the two
batteries can be separate uni-ts. The relay 14 can be
mounted directly on top o the battery casing.
