Dual chemistry rechargeable battery system for use in electric APU-equipped commercial trucks
OwnerBruno Balocco, Kennon Guglielmoinventors
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Abstract
A dual chemistry battery system is disclosed that preserves the voltage of the primary battery in a vehicle while connected in parallel to a secondary battery. The system utilizes batteries with different chemistry and voltage output characteristics to maintain at least the necessary charge in the primary battery for starting the vehicle. Preferred embodiments utilize a lithium-ion Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) to preserve the charge of the vehicle's primary lead acid battery.
Claims26
An auxiliary electric battery system to be used with a vehicle having a primary electric battery system for powering at least the engine ignition system of the vehicle, wherein it is desirable for the primary electric battery system to retain a reserve ignition voltage in said primary electric battery system in order to enable engine ignition, said auxiliary battery system serving to help carry the electrical load carried by the primary electric battery system, wherein:
- a. said auxiliary electric battery system comprises one or more electric batteries configured to provide a nominal voltage between a positive terminal and a negative terminal, the nominal voltage between said positive and negative terminals being comparable to the nominal voltage of the primary electric battery system;
- b. said auxiliary electric battery system is electrically connected such that said positive and negative terminals are connected in parallel to said primary electric battery system;
- c. said one or more electric batteries having an electric charge storing chemistry that enables a higher current draw than said primary electric battery system when connected in parallel to said primary electric battery system, thereby enabling preferential discharge of said one or more electric batteries relative to said primary electric battery system over a voltage range somewhere between the reserve ignition voltage for said primary electric battery system and the nominal voltage of said primary electric battery system, wherein said preferential discharge is enabled without the use of an isolator switch to cause the preferential discharge of said one or more electric batteries relative to said primary electric battery system;
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- d. said primary electric battery is charged fully before charging said one or more electric batteries during a recharge cycle of said auxiliary electric battery system.
An electrical battery system in a vehicle configured to offset the electrical load drawn from a primary battery for a motorized vehicle, wherein one or more secondary electric batteries simultaneously discharge, said electrical battery system comprises:
- a. two or more batteries of equal electric potential being in a parallel configuration;
- b. wherein each of said two or more batteries are classified as either a primary battery or a secondary battery according to the chemistry type of each battery, wherein said primary battery has a primary chemistry and said secondary battery has a secondary chemistry;
- c. wherein said secondary chemistry enables a higher rate of current draw than said primary chemistry;
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- d. wherein said parallel configuration of said two or more batteries enables a preferential discharge of said one or more secondary electric batteries without the use of an isolator switch to cause the preferential discharge of said one or more electric batteries relative to said primary electric battery system;
- e. wherein during a recharge cycle of said auxiliary electric battery system, said primary electric battery is charged fully before charging said one or more electric batteries.
An auxiliary electric battery system to be used with a vehicle having a primary electric battery system for powering at least the engine ignition system of the vehicle, wherein it is desirable for the primary electric battery system to retain a reserve ignition voltage in said primary electric battery system in order to enable engine ignition, said auxiliary battery system serving to help carry the electrical load carried by the primary electric battery system, wherein:
- a. said auxiliary electric battery system comprises one or more electric batteries configured to provide a nominal voltage between a positive terminal and a negative terminal, the nominal voltage between said positive and negative terminals being comparable to the nominal voltage of the primary electric battery system;
- b. said auxiliary electric battery system is characterized to provide a full operating charge above said reserve ignition voltage and enables preferential discharge of the auxiliary battery system above about 12.8 volts;
- c. said auxiliary electric battery system is electrically connected such that said positive and negative terminals are connected in parallel to said primary electric battery system;
- d. said one or more electric batteries having an electric charge storing chemistry that enables a higher current draw than said primary electric battery system when connected in parallel to said primary electric battery system, thereby enabling preferential discharge of said one or more electric batteries relative to said primary electric battery system over a voltage range between the reserve ignition voltage for said primary electric battery system and the full charge voltage of said primary electric battery system, wherein said preferential discharge is enabled without the use of an isolator switch to cause the preferential discharge of said one or more electric batteries relative to said primary electric battery system;
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- e. said primary electric battery is charged fully before charging said one or more electric batteries during a recharge cycle of said auxiliary electric battery system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.