Abstract: A device for contolling the charging of rechargeable batteries comprises two temperature sensors deposited on a flexible thin thermally and electrically insulating sheet. The thin sheet is disposed around the rechargeable battery so that one of the sensors determines the temperature of the battery and the other sensor determines the ambient temperature. A charge stopping device stops the charging of the battery when the difference between the temperatures determined by the two sensors has reached a predetermined value. The sensors consist of resistors applied by silk screen printing and disposed in a Wheatstone bridge arrangement.

Abstract: A 24/12 volt battery power supply for a vehicle includes two 12 volt batteries connected in series, and having first and second 24 volt terminals to the opposite ends of the batteries and a 12 volt terminal to the center common connection of the batteries. The 12 volt loads are divided into equal right and left side vehicle loads and the right side is connected across one battery and the left side is connected across the second battery. A three phase wye-connected alternator has the winding connected to a full wave three phase rectifier, the D.C. output of which is connected to the 24 volt terminals. The center common connection of the winding is connected directly to the 12 volt terminal. The system operates with balanced currents and charges on the two 12 volt batteries so long as the 12 volt loads remain balanced.

Abstract: A battery charger is disclosed which is adapted to receive batteries of different sizes for charging. The charger comprises a separate support for each of the batteries, and different sizes of batteries are supported at different levels in the charger. A charge current is supplied to the batteries by a circuit which includes a timer for regulating the charge time. In order to insure that only batteries having known electrical characteristics are mounted in the charger, means are provided to lock out batteries not having a predetermined feature, for example, a positive terminal of a particular size. The charging time is regulated in accordance with the size of the battery, and a detector is provided to sense the size of batteries in the charger.

Abstract: In a control device for an a. c. generator for an automobile, a collector potential detecting transistor for detecting potential at the collector of an alarm lamp actuating transistor is provided independent from a controlling transistor which functions to control the alarm lamp actuating transistor. When the collector potential detecting transistor detects an abnormal potential, it becomes conductive to turn off the alarm lamp actuating transistor to thereby prevent flowing of a short-circuit current.

Abstract: A portable photovoltaic battery recharger for simultaneously recharging a plurality of rechargeable batteries having different sizes and respective optimum charging current levels. The battery recharger includes a plurality of photovoltaic solar cells having a plurality of different selectively chosen surface areas for generating the respective optimum charging current levels when insolated, and battery receptacles for holding the plurality of rechargeable batteries in a recharging position. The plurality of solar cells are connected to the battery recepatcles to transmit the charging current generated by each photovoltaic cell to respective ones of the plurality of battery receptacles such that batteries held in the battery receptacles are charged at respective optimum charging current levels.

Abstract: An output frequency control circuit is mounted on the rotating shaft connecting a motor and generator. The motor-generator system includes exciter circuits, an input power factor control and an output voltage regulator. The input power factor control ensures that the motor input power factor is unity, which is desirable for motor control. The frequency control circuit responds to variations in the AC power source frequency by generating low frequency excitation to boost or buck the operational speed of the machine, causing the generator output frequency to remain constant at a selected frequency output irrespective of input power source frequency variation. The output frequency may be selected over a given range from a control panel adjustment pot.The major innovation is that the entire frequency control circuit is shaft-mounted and requires no slip-rings or magnetic transformers for signal transfer, thus reducing the possibilities of mechanical failure.

Abstract: The characteristic voltage-versus-time curve for a nickel-cadmium battery on a fast charge, e.g., being charged at the C/1 rate, increases to a peak voltage and thereafter decreases. To ensure that the battery is fully charged, the fast charge is discontinued on the decreasing portion of the voltage-versus-time curve. The fast charge may be stopped when a predetermined negative rate of change of the voltage is obtained. Or the fast charge may be cut off when the battery voltage decreases a predetermined amount below the peak, that is, when the difference between the maximum measured battery voltage and the present battery voltage exceeds a setpoint. After the fast charge is discontinued, a trickle charge, e.g., a C/10 charge or less, may be instituted or the charging current may be interrupted altogether, i.e., the battery charging circuit may be opened.

Abstract: A control device for a storage battery consists of a charge regulating loop including a circuit for supplying clock pulses having a variable frequency proportional to a battery charge and discharge current, a circuit for estimating an instantaneous capacity of the battery depending on a clock pulse up-down count, and a regulating circuit for recharging the battery from a mains or supply voltage as soon as the instantaneous capacity is equal to a first capacity substantially less than a maximum capacity of the battery. According to the invention, the frequency of the clock pulses depends also on at least one of the parameters relating to an energy efficiency of the battery and to a self-discharge current of the battery, so that these parameters are involved in estimating the instantaneous capacity. Also, the device gives warning, through an alarm, that the battery voltage is considerably more than a discharge threshold which, when reached, disconnects the battery from a load circuit.

Abstract: A unitary starter motor and generator including a rotor assembly having a plurality of circumferentially disposed rare earth-iron permanent magnets, a stator assembly within which said rotor assembly is rotatable, said stator assembly including a laminated annular stator body formed from a silicon containing iron alloy of high electrical resistivity and low magnetic loss, and a multiphase stator winding secured to the inner periphery of said stator body and lying in the airgap defined between the stator body and the rotor assembly.

Abstract: A self-contained rechargeable device, such as a flashlight, utilizing a rechargeable source of electrical energy, such as rechargeable batteries, and including a pivotally mounted connector for connecting the battery and any recharging circuit connected thereto to a source of recharging energy when positioned in a recharging position and, alternatively, having a standby position internally of the device in which the connector enables a circuit between the source of energy and a load to be operated thereby. The circuit is completed by operation of a manually-operated switch connected between the energy source and the load. The load is totally disconnected from the battery during recharging.

Abstract: An induction system of the invention is adapted to apply coordinate transformation to the excitation current reference vector corresponding to the primary interlinkage magnetic flux vector reference value and the primary current vector so that they exist in the same coordinate system, thereafter to control the secondary current vector so that the primary interlinkage magnetic flux vector is in correspondence with the primary interlinkage magnetic flux vector, thereby allowing the primary side of the wound-rotor induction machine to function apparently as a voltage source.

Abstract: A battery charging device including a series transistor inserted between a source circuit and a battery, and a comparison circuit which compares the voltage at the terminal of the battery and the voltage of an output of the source circuit so as to turn off the series transistor when the terminal voltage is higher than the output voltage, whereby, when the terminal voltage of the battery becomes higher than the output voltage of the source circuit at the time of an interruption of supply of power, the series transistor is brought into the off-state to prevent the battery from being discharged.

Abstract: An auxiliary power supply for augmenting the power provided by the battery of an automobile, which contains a single battery mounted in an outer housing to form a self contained supply, and which includes a charger circuit within the housing that is connected to the battery in the housing to effect charging at desired intervals. The housing carries connections for input power, and for output power. In the specific form shown the housing carries arms that are connectable to the terminals of a battery to be augmented and which are arranged to engage directly onto the terminal post of such an automobile battery.

Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for improving the operation of the on-board generator during use of air-conditioning in motor homes so the generator runs only when the thermostat demands the A/C unit(s) to run, as opposed to conventional motor-home A/C systems that require running of the generator even during intermittent shut-downs of the A/C unit(s). Such devices are formed of a plurality of time-delay relays connected with additional components in a unique arrangement with typical motor home electrical wiring, thermostat, A/C unit(s) and generator.

Abstract: A vehicular power supply system having a plurality of power supply voltages comprises a generator including first and second armature windings electrically isolated from each other and a field winding, a first rectifier unit converting a first a.c. output of the first armature windings into a first d.c. voltage, a second rectifier unit converting a second a.c. output of the second armature windings into a second d.c.

Abstract: A brushless capacitor excited alternator includes a rotor assembly having a coil and a diode connected in series with the coil. A stator contains the output coil of the alternator. Also wound on the stator are primary and auxiliary excitation coils. An excitation capacitor is provided with means for connecting it between various terminals on the primary and auxiliary excitation coils, and for connecting the two coils together. The magnetic field and thus the output voltage of the alternator may be varied by connecting the capacitor to different coil terminals.

Abstract: This invention relates to a battery charger which supplementally charges a secondary battery such as a battery and so forth in an automobile with use of a solar cell in which a diffusion-blocking layer is formed between a semiconductor and a reverse electrode for the purpose of preventing deterioration of a semiconductor layer, and in which electric potential of the secondary battery can be measured and displayed, and in which the solar cell can be securely provided in a compartment of an automobile in such a manner that the solar cell always faces sunbeams, and which can be freely attached and detached.

Abstract: A power supply back-up device is capable of supplying auxiliary electrical power to a motor vehicle when the vehicle storage battery is disconnected. The computer memory back-up device comprises a plug for inserting into the vehicle cigar lighter, a body with contacts for engaging a nine-volt battery, and wires joining the plug and body. Voltage from the nine-volt battery energizes the motor vehicle circuit when the main battery is disconnected for service, thereby enabling computer controlled accessories to retain their pre-set settings. As a result, reprogramming the accessories after removal and restoration of the normal and electrical power is eliminated.

Abstract: A high-power, high-voltage DC power supply includes a plurality of AC generators, each of which includes a rotor and one or more sets of armature windings wherein the rotors are linked together. A plurality of rectifiers are connected together in series and the armature windings are connected to the rectifiers such that each rectifier produces a fractional voltage which is combined with the fractional voltage developed by other rectifiers to develop a combined output voltage across all of the rectifiers. The armature windings are placed relative to one another such that a plurality of equally-spaced ripple peaks appear in the combined output voltage for each 360.degree. of each armature winding voltage. This in turn minimizes ripple magnitude leading to a desirable decrease in the overall power supply size and weight.

Abstract: A battery system for auxiliary aircraft power includes a 30 volt battery pack consisting of two twelve volt batteries and one six volt battery connected in series. A constant voltage device is connected in series with the battery pack to reduce the higher batter pack voltage to the nominal 28 volts required by the aircraft. In this way, commonly available industrial batteries can be used to supply the 28 volts peculiar to aircraft systems. The constant voltage device comprises two pairs of series connected silicon power diodes, each pair of series connected diodes exhibiting a forward voltage drop under load of approximately 1.5 volts. The two pairs of diodes are connected in parallel to increase the current carrying capacity of the constant voltage device.