GB2179211A

GB2179211A - Battery charging device

Info

Publication number: GB2179211A
Application number: GB08520108A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Julien Jean Louis Lankry
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-08-09
Filing date: 1985-08-09
Publication date: 1987-02-25
Also published as: GB8520108D0; GB2179211B

Abstract

A motor vehicle battery can be charged from the battery circuit of another vehicle by interconnecting the respective battery circuits with a cable (1) having plugs (2, 3) at each end. The plugs (2, 3) are inserted into the usual cigarette lighter sockets of the two vehicles. One of the plugs may incorporate a fuse and a switch. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Battery charging device This invention relates to a battery charging device for use to charge a battery in a motor vehicle.

In the case where a motor car battery has become discharged and is incapable of starting the car this can be remedied in an emergency by connecting the battery across a charged battery of another vehicle, and leads fitted with crocodile clips (referred to as jump leads) are sold for this purpose. However, jump leads may be messy or inconvenient to use and may involve some risk since sparks may be produced when connections are made especially if the batteries are inadvertently connected in series instead of in parallel.

An object of the present invention is to provide a simple, convenient and safe means of starting a motor vehicle having a discharged battery with the assistance of the battery circuit of another vehicle.

According to one aspect of the invention therefore there is provided a method of charging a discharged battery in a motor vehicle wherein the discharged battery is connected to the battery circuit of another vehicle by means of a cable having a plug at each end, such plugs being adapted to fit within and make electrical connection with electrical cigarette lighter sockets in the respective vehicles.

In this way the discharged battery can be charged to an extent sufficient to enable the vehicle to be started in a particularly simple and convenient manner. It is not necessary to obtain direct access to the respective vehicle batteries which are usually located in the engine compartments whereby messy operations can be avoided.

Since the connections are made via plugs and sockets there is less likelihood of sparking occurring, and the possibility of the batteries being wrongly connected in series can be avoided in so far as there is only one mode of connection of each plug with the respective socket.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a motor vehicle battery charging device comprising a cable having plugs at opposite ends each plug being adapted to fit detachably within and make electrical contact with a respective motor vehicle cigarette lighter socket whereby the battery circuits of the two vehicles can be connected in parallel.

The device may incorporate at least one fuse to protect against an unduly high charging rate.

Conveniently a cartridge fuse may be used and this may be mounted in one of the plugs. The device may also incorporate at least one switch which may also be mounted on one of the plugs.

The invention will now be described further by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a diagrammatic representation of one form of a battery charging device according to the invention.

The device shown in the drawing comprises a 6 m length of two-core cable 1 having plugs 2,3 at opposite ends.

One plug 2 comprises a generally cylindrical body 4formed from an electrically insulating plastics material. A cylindrical plug connector 5 is fixed within the body 4 and projects from one end. The connector 5 comprises an outer metal tube 6 and an inner coaxial metal rod 7 exposed at its forward end.

The tube 6 and the rod 7 are insulated from each other and are connected respectively to the two leads of the cable 1. The plug connector 2 is constructed and dimensioned so that it will fit securely yet releasably within a conventional motor car cigarette lighter socket so that the rod 7 and the tube respectively engage and make electrical contact with the usual centre (live) terminal and the outer (earth) terminal of the socket.

The other plug 3 also has a cylindrical plastics body 8 and a plug connector 9 generally of like form to the connector 5 of the first described plug 2. The outertube 10 and inner rod 11 of the connector 9 are connected respectively to the same leads of the cable 1 as are the tube 6 and rod 7 of the connector 2.

However, the body 8 is larger than the body 4 and has a rear generally triangular gripping portion 12, and the connector 9 can be removed from the body 8 by rotating the connector 9 until a flat side portion 13 is in alignment with a slot 14 in the body 8 and then pulling the connector 9 in the direction of the arrow 15. A cartridge fuse is located within the body 8 interposed electrically between the rod 11 and the live lead of the cable 1 and access to this fuse is gained by removing the connector 9 as described above. A slide switch 16 is mounted on the body 8 and this is also interposed between the rod 11 and the live lead of the cable 1.

Each plug 2, 3 is provided with a respective cap (not shown) joined by a flexible strip to the cable 1 and which can be pushed over the respective connector 5, 9 to protect this when not in use.

The device so far described can be used to charge a discharged battery in a motor vehicle from the battery circuit of a second vehicle.

The two plug connectors 2,3 are inserted into the cigarette lighter sockets of the two vehicles, the switch 16 is moved to the on position, and the engine of the second vehicle is run to ensure charging of its own battery.

The discharged battery of the first vehicle is now allowed to charge for a period of time depending on its condition. A fully discharged battery may require say 3S35 minutes whereas a partially discharged battery which is only just incapable of starting the car may require only 5--10 minutes.

At the end of the requisite period the first car is started and the plugs are then removed from the cigarette lighter sockets.

With this arrangement it will be understood that the first car can be started in a particularly simple and convenient manner, without risk and without need to perform any messy operations.

It is of course to be understood that the invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above embodiment which are described by way of example only.

1. A method of charging a discharged battery in a

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Battery charging device This invention relates to a battery charging device for use to charge a battery in a motor vehicle. In the case where a motor car battery has become discharged and is incapable of starting the car this can be remedied in an emergency by connecting the battery across a charged battery of another vehicle, and leads fitted with crocodile clips (referred to as jump leads) are sold for this purpose. However, jump leads may be messy or inconvenient to use and may involve some risk since sparks may be produced when connections are made especially if the batteries are inadvertently connected in series instead of in parallel. An object of the present invention is to provide a simple, convenient and safe means of starting a motor vehicle having a discharged battery with the assistance of the battery circuit of another vehicle. According to one aspect of the invention therefore there is provided a method of charging a discharged battery in a motor vehicle wherein the discharged battery is connected to the battery circuit of another vehicle by means of a cable having a plug at each end, such plugs being adapted to fit within and make electrical connection with electrical cigarette lighter sockets in the respective vehicles. In this way the discharged battery can be charged to an extent sufficient to enable the vehicle to be started in a particularly simple and convenient manner. It is not necessary to obtain direct access to the respective vehicle batteries which are usually located in the engine compartments whereby messy operations can be avoided. Since the connections are made via plugs and sockets there is less likelihood of sparking occurring, and the possibility of the batteries being wrongly connected in series can be avoided in so far as there is only one mode of connection of each plug with the respective socket. According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a motor vehicle battery charging device comprising a cable having plugs at opposite ends each plug being adapted to fit detachably within and make electrical contact with a respective motor vehicle cigarette lighter socket whereby the battery circuits of the two vehicles can be connected in parallel. The device may incorporate at least one fuse to protect against an unduly high charging rate. Conveniently a cartridge fuse may be used and this may be mounted in one of the plugs. The device may also incorporate at least one switch which may also be mounted on one of the plugs. The invention will now be described further by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a diagrammatic representation of one form of a battery charging device according to the invention. The device shown in the drawing comprises a 6 m length of two-core cable 1 having plugs 2,3 at opposite ends. One plug 2 comprises a generally cylindrical body 4formed from an electrically insulating plastics material. A cylindrical plug connector 5 is fixed within the body 4 and projects from one end. The connector 5 comprises an outer metal tube 6 and an inner coaxial metal rod 7 exposed at its forward end. The tube 6 and the rod 7 are insulated from each other and are connected respectively to the two leads of the cable 1. The plug connector 2 is constructed and dimensioned so that it will fit securely yet releasably within a conventional motor car cigarette lighter socket so that the rod 7 and the tube respectively engage and make electrical contact with the usual centre (live) terminal and the outer (earth) terminal of the socket. The other plug 3 also has a cylindrical plastics body 8 and a plug connector 9 generally of like form to the connector 5 of the first described plug 2. The outertube 10 and inner rod 11 of the connector 9 are connected respectively to the same leads of the cable 1 as are the tube 6 and rod 7 of the connector 2. However, the body 8 is larger than the body 4 and has a rear generally triangular gripping portion 12, and the connector 9 can be removed from the body 8 by rotating the connector 9 until a flat side portion 13 is in alignment with a slot 14 in the body 8 and then pulling the connector 9 in the direction of the arrow 15. A cartridge fuse is located within the body 8 interposed electrically between the rod 11 and the live lead of the cable 1 and access to this fuse is gained by removing the connector 9 as described above. A slide switch 16 is mounted on the body 8 and this is also interposed between the rod 11 and the live lead of the cable 1. Each plug 2, 3 is provided with a respective cap (not shown) joined by a flexible strip to the cable 1 and which can be pushed over the respective connector 5, 9 to protect this when not in use. The device so far described can be used to charge a discharged battery in a motor vehicle from the battery circuit of a second vehicle. The two plug connectors 2,3 are inserted into the cigarette lighter sockets of the two vehicles, the switch 16 is moved to the on position, and the engine of the second vehicle is run to ensure charging of its own battery. The discharged battery of the first vehicle is now allowed to charge for a period of time depending on its condition. A fully discharged battery may require say 3S35 minutes whereas a partially discharged battery which is only just incapable of starting the car may require only 5--10 minutes. At the end of the requisite period the first car is started and the plugs are then removed from the cigarette lighter sockets. With this arrangement it will be understood that the first car can be started in a particularly simple and convenient manner, without risk and without need to perform any messy operations. It is of course to be understood that the invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above embodiment which are described by way of example only. CLAIMS

1. A method of charging a discharged battery in a motor vehicle wherein the discharged battery is connected to the battery circuit of another vehicle by means of a cable having a plug at each end, such plugs being adapted to fit within and make electrical connection with electrical cigarette lighter sockets in the respective vehicles.

2. A motor vehicle battery charging device comprising a cable having plugs at opposite ends each plug being adapted to fit detachably within and make electrical contact with a respective motor vehicle cigarette lighter socket whereby the battery circuits of the two vehicles can be connected in parallel.

3. A device according to claim 2 including at least one fuse.

4. A device according to claim 3 wherein there is a cartridge fuse in one of the plugs.

5. A device according to any one of claims 2 to 4 further including at least one switch.

6. A device according to claim 5 wherein there is a switch mounted on one of the plugs.

7. A device according to claim 2 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.