Abstract: An electrical control system for a voltage sensitive load having switch means for selecting from single or multiple rectified phases of a multi-phase alternator/generator to provide multiple output levels of DC voltage.

Abstract: A charging device for accumulator-operated small electrical appliances, for example, electric dry-shavers, which are energized by rechargeable accumulators (24) which can be charged by means of a charging device (15) including solar cells (11). The charging device includes an energy buffer (20) which is connected parallel to the solar cells for buffering the solar energy when the charge capacity of the solar cells is below the charge current threshold of the accumulator. The buffered solar energy is supplied to the accumulator when a discharge current of the energy buffer exceeds the charge current threshold of the accumulator and flows until the discharge current falls below the charge current threshold.

Abstract: A battery type detector for battery-using and battery-charging equipment is disclosed. Operational characteristics of the using and charging equipment are modified in accordance with the battery type detected.

Abstract: An improved electrical system for a recreational vehicle or the like including a first battery for starting the engine and the like, having a second or auxiliary battery for providing electric current to interior lights and the like. The improvement includes a link circuit for electrically linking the first and second batteries and a supplemental electric current source such as an independently powered generator or an electric utility current source, and control structure for allowing electric current to flow through the link circuit from the second battery and/or the supplemental electric current source to the first battery and the first battery load without allowing the flow of significant electric current from the first battery to the second battery or the second battery load.

Abstract: Fresh air from an area located outside of the engine compartment is supplied to an alternator in a motor vehicle by ventilator. The ventilator is supplied with voltage from the alternator power supply system, and since a failure of the ventilator could lead to destruction of the alternator due to heat, the functioning of the ventilator is monitored by a device or circuit for monitoring and/or controlling the ventilator. This circuit also has a device for self-checking and controls the additional ventilator as a function of the alternator temperature by a device for measuring alternator temperature electrically connected to it.

Abstract: An apparatus for charging and testing a rechargeable battery is adapted to determine certain conditions, including defect and characteristics, of the battery. The apparatus defects caused by sulfated cells, short circuited cells, and mismatched cells, and determines battery voltage, capacity and charge acceptance capability.

Abstract: A safe, rechargeable, battery-containing power pack having a housing, a battery compartment for batteries to supply DC power to a battery-operated device, a printed circuit board to provide for the recharging of the batteries employing AC household power, and an interlock plug to act as an interlock switch and pivotably movable between an AC use position extending outwardly from the housing to recharge the batteries and an AC non-use, DC power, battery-operating position within a recess in the housing.

Abstract: The mechanism for operating a rechargeable electrical tool having a rechargeable battery for line-powered operation or for battery-powered operation includes an adapter for electrical connection of a tool portion to a current source; a holder shaped to hold the adapter alone and also the adapter together with the tool portion when the adapter is connected with the tool portion; a device for releasably attaching the tool portion to the adapter; a device for releasably attaching the adapter to the holder; means for detaching the adapter from the holder at least partially located in the adapter and cooperating with the means for releasably attaching the tool portion to the adapter, so that when the adapter is in the holder and when the means for releasably attaching the tool portion to the adapter is actuated to attach the tool portion to the adapter, the means for detaching the adapter detaches the adapter from the holder; and a device for detaching the tool portion from the adapter cooperating with the means f

Abstract: A vehicle having an engine starter requires a huge amount of electric power so that when the remaining capacity of the battery is low, the engine starter cannot start the engine quickly. In order to maintain a minimum capacity of the battery necessary to start the engine quickly, an electric power supply apparatus is provided which includes a switching device for stopping a vehicle engine, a timer device for measuring elapsed time after engine stoppage, a capacity detector for detecting remaining capacity of a battery, vehicle equipment driven by the electric power from the battery, a switching member for turning off the power supplied from the battery to the vehicle equipment and a control device for controlling the switching member when the capacity of the battery is below a certain level and the timer device measures the elapsed time.

Abstract: In a charging control apparatus for a vehicle for controlling generation of electric power from a vehicle's generator charging a battery, the rate of increase in the field current of the generator is increased when an electrical load is connected to the generator. A switch is connected in series with the field winding, and a mean conduction rate detector detects the mean conduction rate of the switch and generates an output signal having a value which is a function of the mean conduction rate of the switch. A maximum signal generator generates an output signal having a value larger by a predetermined value than that of the output signal of the mean conduction rate detector, and a comparator is enabled to operate while the maximum signal generator is generating the maximum signal. The comparator is preferably enabled again when the value of the mean output signal of the conduction rate detector exceeds a preset value.

Abstract: A contactless recharging system and method for recharging an energy storage device onboard an electric vehicle has a primary converter for converting power from a power source into high frequency power. A secondary converter on board the vehicle is coupled to the battery for converting high frequency power into charging power supplied to the energy storage device. The primary and secondary converters are coupled together by a contactless coupling of a conductor loop and a coupling link forming a coaxial winding transformer. The coupling link has a magnetic core and a core-mounted conductor at least partially surrounded by the magnetic core. The core-mounted conductor selectively at least partially surrounds a portion of the conductor loop to transfer power therebetween. The core-mounted conductor is coupled to either the primary or the secondary converter, with the conductor loop being mounted to the other of the primary and the secondary converters.

Abstract: A convertible battery handle is provided in which an extended end cap contains a drive spring electrically insulated from the battery circuits to physically hold the rechargeable battery pack or non-rechargeable battery cells in proper position and a coaxial helical spring electrically connected into the battery circuit. The helical spring has a length insufficient to make electrical contact when the handle is utilized with a rechargeable battery pack, but when a pair of non-rechargeable dry cells are positioned in the handle the electrical circuit is completed through the spring. A safety diode is placed in the series with the electrical circuit for the non-rechargeable cells to prevent inadvertent charging of the cells.

Abstract: The problems of minimizing size and weight in an aircraft and avoiding requirements for custom design are minimized in a generator control unit (22) provided with separate digital control circuits (74 and 76) for implementing voltage regulation and speed control. These circuits (74 and 76) are manufactured using custom very large scale integration (VLSI) technology to reduce size, weight, life cycle costs and improve reliability.

Abstract: In a charge device having a storage cell terminal (11) to be connected to a storage cell (12) to be charged, a trickle charge terminal (13) for receiving a trickle charge voltage, and a boost charge terminal (14) connected to the storage cell terminal for receiving a boost charge voltage and including a constant current circuit (16) for causing a constant current to flow from the trickle charge terminal to the storage cell terminal, a boost charge detector detects the boost charge voltage to produce a boost charge signal when the boost charge terminal is supplied with the boost charge voltage. An interrrupting circuit interrupts the constant current when the boost charge detector circuit produces the boost charge signal. The constant current circuit may comprise a transistor (161) having a base electrode supplied with the trickle charge voltage to produce the constant current.

Abstract: A preferred protective current limiter comprises a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) resistor which automatically assumes a relatively high impedance state quickly enough to prevent venting of flat plate lead acid batteries under adverse charging conditions. For example, a fast charger with unlimited current and sixteen volt DC output (such as may be provided by a faulty vehicle electrical system) is found to cause venting without the limiter, while a PTC resistor selected according to the present disclosure safeguards the battery against venting while yet conducting a sufficiently high current to essentially equalize the charge condition of the battery cells within five minutes or less. Preferably a bypass resistor shunts the PTC resistor to avoid any problem which might arise if the PTC resistor became sufficiently heated to assume a current blocking state.

Abstract: A battery charging unit communicates with an operational device while contemporaneously charging a battery to power the device. The device provides information to the charging unit indicating its present operational status, which enables the charging unit to determine the magnitude of the proper charging current under such operating conditions. In this way, battery life is maximized while battery charging time is minimized.

Abstract: A charger 11 is configured to receive alternatively for charging, one at a time, battery packs having three different shapes, namely, a large oval pack 213 (FIG. 10), a small oval pack 219 (FIG. 11) and a D-shaped pack 225 (FIG. 12). When pack 219) is inserted into receptacle 25, a pack locater 77 biases pack 219 against the receptacle sidewall 29 and into a location to properly mate with electrical contacts 65, 66. When pack 225 is inserted into receptacle 25, locater 77 biases pack 225 against a retractable abutment 85 spaced from locater 77 and into a proper location to mate with contacts 65, 66. When pack 213 is inserted into receptacle 25, receptacle contacts 47, 49 mate with pack terminals 24. When pack 213 is in receptacle 25, contacts 65, 66, pack locater 77 and abutmet 85 serve no function and are substantially retracted from receptacle 25 by engagement with pack sidewall 216. Thus, charger 11 is automatically adaptable for charging a plurality of battery pack designs in a simple and low cost manner.

Abstract: A battery (50) comprises a plurality of interconnected cells (56) each cell having a positive (60) and negative terminal (62) and a plurality of resistive fusible material (58) serving as interlinks interspersed between unlike terminals of the cells (56) in the plurality of interconnected cells.

Abstract: An otherwise regular 12 volt 60 Ampere-hour automotive storage battery comprises a built-in automatic electronic inverter-type battery charger.This built-in battery charger is operable to connect with an ordinary 120 Volt/60 Hz power line by way of an electrical power cord having a male plug at one end and a female plug at the other end--with the male plug being adapted for insertion into an ordinary household electrical outlet and the female plug being adapted for insertion into a recessed male receptacle means mounted on the body of the battery.When so connected, the built-in battery charger is operable to charge the battery at a six Ampere rate until fully charged. At the point of full charge, charging automatically terminates and is restarted only if the magnitude of the voltage across the battery terminals falls below a predetermined level.There is complete electrical isolation between the terminals of the recessed male receptacle on the storage battery and the battery power output posts.

Abstract: A voltage regulator (4) for a generator (1), particularly for use in motor vehicles, is provided which produces an average field current in the exciting winding (2) of the generator (1) by switching on and off the field current by a controlled semiconductor switch in cooperation with a recovery diode in such a way that the generator voltage remains approximately constant independently of the load and the speed. The voltage regulator (4) contains an integrally acting component for compensating for load-dependent and speed-dependent errors, which component is produced by a nonlinearly working integrator for the relative turn-on period of the current through the exciting winding (2) and is fed back into the regulating circuit of the voltage regulator (4).