Vehicle battery charging system

A battery charging device for electrically connecting a first pair of battery terminals of a first battery of a first vehicle to a second pair of battery terminals of a second battery of a second vehicle;

• the first pair of battery terminals including a first positive terminal and a first negative terminal;
• the second pair of battery terminals including a second positive terminal and a second negative terminal;
• said battery charging device for allowing the second battery, when the second vehicle is not running, to be charged from the first battery, when the first vehicle is running, and, alternatively, for allowing the first battery, when the first vehicle is not running, to be charged from the second battery, when the second vehicle is running;
• the first and second vehicles being of types that include engine systems having alternators that generate electrical current at a rated output which is within a range of a first predetermined maximum output current and a second predetermined maximum output current;
• the second predetermined maximum output current being larger than the first predetermined maximum output current;
• the engine systems requiring starting currents that are substantially greater than the second predetermined maximum output current;
• said battery charging device comprising:
• a control housing;
• a first pair of cables having a first positive cable and a first negative cable;
• said first positive cable and said first negative cable extending from said control housing for respectively being rigidly connected to the first positive terminal and the first negative terminal;
• a second pair of cables having a second positive cable and a second negative cable;
• said second positive cable and said second negative cable extending from said control housing for respectively being temporarily connected to the second positive terminal and the second negative terminal during the charging of one of the first battery and the second battery from the other of the first battery and the second battery;
• said control housing including circuit switch means for selectively connecting said first positive cable to said second positive cable;
• current limiting means in at least one of said first positive cable and said first negative cable for limiting a charging current through said first pair of said cables, said second pair of said cables, and said control housing to a predetermined maximum charging current;
• said predetermined maximum charging current being within a charging range of about one-sixth to about one-fourth of the starting currents;
• said control housing including polarity detecting means for detecting a correct polarity, with said second positive cable connected to the second positive terminal and said second negative cable connected to the second negative terminal, and an incorrect polarity, with said second positive cable connected to the second negative terminal and said second negative cable connected to the second positive terminal;
• said polarity detecting means including first indicating means for indicating said correct polarity and second indicating means for indicating said incorrect polarity;
• said polarity detecting means including a detecting circuit that is electrically connected between said second positive cable and said second negative cable;
• said detecting circuit including normally open circuit means;
• said normally open circuit means being closed when said circuit switch means is closed to allow said charging current to pass between the first positive terminal and the second positive terminal;
• and
• said first pair of said cables, said second pair of said cables, and said control housing being capable of conducting said charging current up to said predetermined maximum charging current from the first pair of battery terminals to the second pair of battery terminals when charging the second battery from the first vehicle and, alternatively, from the second pair of battery terminals to the first pair of battery terminals when charging the first battery from the second vehicle.

A battery charging system for selective electrical connection of a first pair of battery terminals of a first battery of a first vehicle to a second pair of battery terminals of a second battery of a second vehicle for the selective charging of one of the first battery and the second battery from the other of the first vehicle and the second vehicle;

• the first pair of battery terminals including a first positive terminal and a first negative terminal;
• the second pair of battery terminals including a second positive terminal and a second negative terminal;
• the first and second vehicles being of types that include engine systems having alternators that generate electrical current at a rated output between 35 and 60 amps;
• the engine systems requiring starling currents between 200 and 250 amps;
• said battery charging system comprising:
• an emergency charging device;
• said emergency charging device having a first pair of cables, a second pair of cables and a control housing therebetween;
• said first pair of said cables having a first positive cable and a first negative cable;
• said first positive cable and said first negative cable extending from said control housing and being rigidly connected respectively to the first positive terminal and the first negative terminal;
• said second pair of said cables having a second positive cable and a second negative cable;
• said second positive cable and said second negative cable for respectively extending from said control housing to be temporarily connected to the second positive terminal and the second negative terminal during the charging of one of the first battery and the second battery from the other of the first vehicle and the second vehicle;
• said control housing including a charging switch for selectively connecting said first positive cable to said second positive cable;
• a current limiting circuit breaker in at least one of said first positive cable and said first negative cable for limiting a charging current through said first pair of said cables, said second pair of said cables, and said control housing to a maximum charging current which is between 40 and 60 amps;
• said control housing including polarity detecting means for detecting a correct polarity, with said second positive cable connected to the second positive terminal and said second negative cable connected to the second negative terminal, and an incorrect polarity, with said second positive cable connected to the second negative terminal and said second negative cable connected to the second positive terminal;
• said polarity detecting means including an energized green light on said control housing for indicating said correct polarity and an energized red light on said control housing for indicating said incorrect polarity;
• said polarity detecting means including a detecting circuit electrically connected between said second positive cable and said second negative cable;
• said detecting circuit including a normally open magnetic switch which is closed when said charging switch is closed to allow said charging current to flow between the first positive terminal and the second positive terminal;
• and
• said first pair of said cables, said second pair of said cables, and said control housing being capable of conducting said charging current up to said maximum charging current from the first pair of battery terminals to the second pair of battery terminals when charging the second battery from the first vehicle and, alternatively, from the second pair of battery terminals to the first pair of battery terminals when charging the first battery from the second vehicle, whereby said battery charging device allows the second battery of the second vehicle, when the second vehicle is not running, to be charged from the first battery, when the first vehicle is running, and, alternatively, allows the first battery of the first vehicle, when the first vehicle is not running, to be charged from the second battery, when the second vehicle is running.