Electricity: magnetically operated switches – magnets – and electr – Electromagnetically actuated switches – Contact-actuating means
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-27
2001-10-30
Barrera, Ramon M. (Department: 2832)
Electricity: magnetically operated switches, magnets, and electr
Electromagnetically actuated switches
Contact-actuating means
C335S106000, C335S127000, C335S133000, C335S135000, C335S189000, C335S190000, C200S573000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06310529
ABSTRACT:
CROSS REFERENCES TO CO-PENDING APPLICATIONS
None.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is for a battery switch, and more particularly, pertains to a bi-stable battery switch incorporated preferably for internal use into a remotely switchable storage battery, or, in the alternative, for external use with a battery.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Remotely switchable storage batteries, such as for use in, but not limited to, an automobile, have been offered for use as an anti-theft deterrent. A switch is contained in a battery and is operated remotely by a small hand-held remote transmitting device. An individual merely activates the remote transmitting device whereby a receiver located in the battery case is activated to trigger the disconnection of the battery circuit internally within the battery case, thereby removing available battery power to the circuits residing in the automobile such as, for example, and which may be highly inductive loads, ignition modules, starters, generators, alternators, fans and the like. Such disconnection electrically disables the automobile, or other vehicle in which the remotely switchable storage battery is installed. Often, operators of the vehicle would decide to remotely shut down and disable the vehicle with the vehicle still running as an alternative to first turning off the vehicle. Using this method, high inductive loads are still operative at the instant of remote electrical disablement. In the presence of the high inductive loads during remote shutdown, prior art switching methods, particularly with respect to the electrical switching contacts, caused excessive arcing across the switching contacts during shutdown. Excessive arcing across breaking or making electrical contacts is an undesirable trait present when breaking or making an inductive load and often causes premature degradation of the surfaces of the electrical contacts, thereby causing contact or switch failure. Remote reconnection and enabling of the remotely switchable storage battery provides an imposition of inductive loads across the switch contacts, also causing undesirable contact arcing leading to premature failure of the contacts.
Clearly what is needed is a switching device which overcomes the flaws and deficiencies of the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The general purpose of the present invention is a bi-stable battery switch for incorporation into or about a remotely switchable storage battery. The bi-stable battery switch in general is a double bar bus switch in which a solenoid pulses a cam which in turn actuates or de-actuates two parallel circuit spring loaded positionable bus bars comprising a bifurcated contact assembly to either break or make an electrical connection across adjacent and aligned stationary and wide V-shaped contacts located on switch terminals. Each of the positionable bus bars is cam operated or influenced and is in the form of a movable bar having two contacts located thereupon, each contact having an arced surface. During the making of an electrical contact to connect the battery to the electrical system of an automobile, the direct influence of a cam is eliminated to allow spring forces to urge the two spring loaded positionable bus bars of the bifurcated contact assembly into near simultaneous dual contact with and across the wide stationary V-shaped contacts of the switch terminals. Although both positionable bus bars are springingly and simultaneously urged toward and into intimate dual contact with the stationary and wide contacts located on the switch terminals, one positionable bus bar precedes, in a very short time span, the adjoining positionable bus bar and picks up the arcing load in contacting the wide contacts of the switch terminals only to be closely followed by the remaining positionable bus bar which in contacting the wide contacts of the switch terminals picks up the current load.
According to one or more embodiments of the present invention there is provided a bi-stable battery switch for use with and for incorporation into internal use with a remotely switchable storage battery, or, in the alternative, for external use with a battery. The bi-stable battery switch is built about and within a substantially rectangular enclosure having a top and a bottom to which components align and secure. Located in the rectangular enclosure is a vertically aligned cam and associated members which are actuated by a cam driver arm connected to the solenoid core. Adjacent to the vertically aligned cam is a bifurcated contact assembly having two spring loaded positionable bus bars which are aligned to and actuated by the vertically aligned cam. A large switch terminal and a small switch terminal, each having wide V-shaped contacts which are sized to contact the arc-shaped contacts on both positionable bus bars, align to the bifurcated contact assembly to either make or break contacts thereupon.
One significant aspect and feature of the present invention is a bi-stable battery switch which exhibits a long life.
Another significant aspect and feature of the present invention is a bi-stable battery switch having a bifurcated contact assembly having an upper and a lower bus bar.
Still another significant aspect and feature of the present invention is a bi-stable battery switch where a cam arrangement is used in pulse fashion to cause advancing or retarding of a bifurcated contact assembly.
Yet another significant aspect and feature of the present invention is the incorporation of upper and lower bus bars whereby inductive loads are distributed along both the upper and lower bus bars. In making of the contacts, the first to accept an inductive load accepts an arcing load while the second to accept an inductive load accepts a current load; while in breaking of the contacts, the first to shed an inductive load sheds a current load and the second to shed an inductive load sheds an arcing load.
Having thus described an embodiment of the present invention and specified significant aspects and features thereof, it is the principal object of the present invention to provide a bi-stable battery switch.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4430579 (1984-02-01), Wiktor
Luetzow Edwin J.
Luetzow Richard L.
Barrera Ramon M.
Jaeger Hugh D.
MTR, Inc.
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