Battery heating system

A system for providing a controlled supply of heat from an engine to a battery in a vehicle having a passenger compartment and a heating mechanism for warming the passenger compartment, the system comprising:

• a hydraulic circuit;
• a first conduit of the hydraulic circuit receiving heated liquid from a water jacket of the engine and carrying the heated liquid to the heating mechanism;
• a second conduit of the hydraulic circuit receiving the liquid from the heating mechanism and carrying the liquid back to the water jacket;
• an insulated box containing the battery;
• a heating coil of the hydraulic circuit within the insulated box, the heating coil having an entry end and an exit end;
• a third conduit of the hydraulic circuit connected between the second conduit and the entry end of the heating coil;
• a fourth conduit of the hydraulic circuit connected between the second conduit and the exit end of the heating coil;
• means in the hydraulic circuit for selectively interrupting the flow of liquid through the heating mechanism and the heating coil;
• wherein the insulated box comprises:
• side panels of insulative material;
• a base panel connected to the side walls;
• a cover panel removably attached to the side walls;
• a heat reflective layer in the box disposed so that the heating coil is between the reflective layer and the battery;
• means in the box for spacing the heating coil from the battery.

A system for providing a controlled supply of heat from an engine to a battery, comprising:

• a pneumatic circuit including an exhaust pipe carrying exhaust gas from the engine;
• an insulated box containing the battery;
• means for supplying at least some of the exhaust gas from the exhaust pipe to the battery;
• means connected to the supplying means for circulating the gas through the box;
• means for transporting circulated gas from the box;
• means in the pneumatic circuit for selectively interrupting flow of gas to the box, the interrupting means including a restriction valve in the exhaust pipe;
• wherein the insulated box comprises:
• side panels of insulative material;
• a base panel connected to the side walls;
• a cover panel removably attached to the side walls;
• a heat reflective layer in the box disposed so that the circulating means is between the reflective layer and the battery;
• and
• means in the box for spacing the circulating means from the battery.