Communications: electrical – Condition responsive indicating system – Specific condition
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-06
2003-11-11
Lieu, Julie (Department: 3632)
Communications: electrical
Condition responsive indicating system
Specific condition
C340S659000, C340S660000, C340S661000, C340S438000, C340S455000, C324S428000, C324S433000, C324S435000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06646561
ABSTRACT:
FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to automatically monitoring the electrical condition of a combustion engine battery, and in particular, it relates to a method and device for in-use detecting low cranking strength of a combustion engine battery during engine starting. The present invention optionally includes steps and components for additionally controlling activation of an alarm, which provides in-use warning of the detected low cranking strength of the combustion engine battery, prior to engine turn-off, and optionally, following engine turn-off.
A battery is a principle component of the overall electrical system of any vehicle or device operable by a combustion engine, since so much depends upon its proper and reliable function. A combustion engine may be part of a vehicle, where a vehicle may be any mobile device powered by the combustion engine for carrying or transporting persons or objects of any kind, for example, an automobile, truck, farm vehicle such as a tractor or cotton combine, train, airplane, or boat. A combustion engine may also be part of a stand alone device, such as an electrical generator, cement mixer, or heavy duty power machinery.
The importance of a battery in a combustion engine, hereinafter, also referred to as a combustion engine battery, is most needed and appreciated at the time of starting the engine. Starting operation of a combustion engine involves activation of a starter mechanism. A starter mechanism of a combustion engine typically features a multitude of electrical and mechanical devices, mechanisms, and components, including the battery as an initial source of electrical power, a starter motor for electro-mechanically meshing with and initiating turning or cranking of the crankshaft of the engine motor, the engine motor crankshaft, a coil for generating high voltage required for continuous operation of the engine, and a myriad of related electrical and mechanical circuitry and connections among the various devices, mechanisms, and components, of the starter mechanism, as well as other devices, mechanisms, and components of the engine. Accordingly, the starter mechanism of a combustion engine operates in relation to an electrically and mechanically varying load during engine starting, hereinafter, also referred to as a ‘starting load’, where the overall starting load is due to operation of the above described combination of electrical and mechanical devices, mechanisms, and components required for starting the combustion engine.
Cranking strength of a combustion engine battery refers to the strength or ability of the battery to supply the necessary electrical energy, in the form of voltage and current, to the starter mechanism for effecting the initial cranking of the crankshaft of the engine motor until the motor is started, and therefore, until the crankshaft continuously operates by energy supplied to the motor by a generator or alternator, without depending only upon the battery. Cranking of the engine motor crankshaft during engine starting represents the most dominant or energy demanding component of the overall starting load. Clearly, as the cranking strength of the battery decreases, the strength or ability of the battery to ‘properly’ carry the overall starting load for energizing the starter mechanism likewise decreases. Accordingly, low cranking strength of a combustion engine battery is indicative that the strength or ability of the battery is no longer sufficient to properly carry the overall starting load for starting the motor.
Ordinarily, a combustion engine battery is characterized by a set of rated specifications and conditions of operation, such as ‘cold cranking power or strength’, typically indicated in terms of ‘CCA’ (cold cranking amperage), or, ‘cranking capacity’, commonly indicated in terms of ‘AH’ (ampere hours), and ‘warranty lifetime’, typically indicated in terms of number of months, which are used for selecting a battery appropriate for a particular combustion engine and/or for performing a particular application. Under regular, or irregular, operating and storage conditions, a combustion engine battery exhibits low cranking strength at some point during its lifetime. Eventually, when the cranking strength of the battery decreases below a particular threshold level, where the particular threshold level is determined according to specifications, characteristics, and operating behavior, of the starter mechanism of a particular combustion engine, the battery no longer enables the starter mechanism to effect the initial cranking of the crankshaft of the engine motor for starting the motor. In such an event, the battery is either recharged, or, is considered ‘dead’ and replaced by a new battery. Clearly, an important matter, potentially leading to a serious problem, for an operator of a combustion engine arises at the time the battery starts exhibiting low cranking strength.
There are various reasons why a combustion engine battery exhibits low cranking strength. First, focusing on the battery itself, as a consequence of the physicochemical composition and behavior of a standard combustion engine battery, maximum attainable battery voltage gradually decreases with time, even during normal operation and maintenance of the combustion engine. Second, focusing on operation of the overall electrical system of a combustion engine, since the battery is in electrical communication with multiple devices, mechanisms, and components, of the electrical system, a malfunction in one or more of such devices, mechanisms, or components, could cause abnormal and excessive drainage of battery voltage and therefore decrease cranking strength of the battery. For example, a malfunctioning starter mechanism may involve an overly excessive load being placed upon the battery during starting conditions, thereby accelerating loss of battery cranking strength. Alternatively, a malfunctioning charging mechanism, featuring standard electrical system components such as an alternator or generator and related circuitry and wiring to the battery, may be abnormally charging the battery during steady state operation of the combustion engine. Alternatively, a fault in the circuit, wiring, or activation, of an anti-theft alarm device, may involve a relatively small, but continuous, parasitic load being placed upon the battery during engine non-operating conditions, thereby gradually accelerating loss of battery cranking strength.
A third common cause of low cranking strength of a combustion engine battery focuses on the actions of an operator of a vehicle or device at, or following, the time of turning off the engine. For instance, at the time of turning off the engine, where the operator fails to turn-off lights used for either driving the vehicle or operating the device, or, following engine turn-off, where the operator activates an accessory such as an audio system or lights for an excessive duration. Leaving lights on, especially the main high-intensity headlights, following engine turn-off, for an extended period of time such as more than a couple of hours, produces the highly undesirable effect of significant, or deep, battery discharge, leading to accelerated loss of battery cranking strength and ultimately termination of battery function.
Typically, a combustion engine battery is only replaced following the inability of the battery to enable starting of the engine, as this involves placing the above described relatively high electromechanical starting load on the battery compared to low load engine accessories or devices. It is clearly desirable for a user of a combustion engine to be made aware of the early stage of low cranking strength of the battery prior to the inability of the battery to enable starting the engine. Such awareness is accomplished by either periodically, or continuously, testing or monitoring electrical characteristics and parameters of the combustion engine battery.
The field of testing, monitoring, and analyzing static and/or dynamic electrical characteristics and parameters, such as
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