US3676694A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Power output accessory unit
Assignee: Modern Ind Inc
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Filing: 1971-06-04
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Granted: 1972-07-11
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Expires: 1991-06-04
Abstract
Abstract An accessory unit for use with an engine powered vehicle having a conventional electrical system including a battery, voltage regulator and a dynamo of the alternator type having exposed AC and DC taps which in normal operation supplies DC power to the engine electrical system and, in some embodiments, to the electrical system of a host vehicle. A switch is provided to disconnect the dynamo from the engine electrical system. Also provided is a manually adjustable potentiometer through which the alternator output may be controlled. Circuit means feed the DC output of the dynamo to a welding terminal and the AC output of the dynamo to a step up transformer. A rectifying circuit rectifies the boosted AC output of the transformer and an outlet receptacle permits delivery of a 110-120 volt DC power output to power tools and like loads. Both the DC welding output terminals and the DC outlet receptacle have a common ground return through resistance means. Placement of a load across either the welding terminals or the DC outlet receptacle produces a voltage drop across the said resistance means, and this voltage drop is utilized to actuate a throttle control circuit including a control transistor, a power transistor and a solenoid type throttle control, functioning to increase the speed of the host vehicle engine when substantial load current is called for at either power output.
Inventors
- 👤 Franklin R Schneider
- 👤 Jerry D Lanphear
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 17:22
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02J; H02J7/00; H02J7/14; H02J7/1438; B; B23; B23K; B23K9/00; B23K9/10; B23K9/1006; B23K9/1012; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/60; Y02T10/70
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
179 words
A power output unit for use with an engine of the type having an electrical system including a DC storage battery; an engine driven alternator including a field winding terminal, an AC output terminal, and a DC output terminal which normally delivers low voltage DC power to said electrical system; and a voltage regulator receiving a power input from said DC storage battery, and having a field terminal connected to the field winding terminal of said alternator; said power output unit adapted to act as a power source for low voltage loads or for loads having higher voltage DC power requirements, including: switch means disconnecting said alternator from said engine electrical system; manually adjustable potentiometer means controlling said alternator output; circuit means applying the DC output of said disconnected alternator to a welding terminal; circuit means applying the AC output of said alternator to a step-up transformer; means rectifying said stepped up AC transformer output; and outlet receptacle means associated with said rectifying means and adapted to receive jacks connected to power loads having higher voltage DC power requirements.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
179 words
A power output unit for use with an engine of the type having an electrical system including a DC storage battery; an engine driven alternator including a field winding terminal, an AC output terminal, and a DC output terminal which normally delivers low voltage DC power to said electrical system; and a voltage regulator receiving a power input from said DC storage battery, and having a field terminal connected to the field winding terminal of said alternator; said power output unit adapted to act as a power source for low voltage loads or for loads having higher voltage DC power requirements, including: switch means disconnecting said alternator from said engine electrical system; manually adjustable potentiometer means controlling said alternator output; circuit means applying the DC output of said disconnected alternator to a welding terminal; circuit means applying the AC output of said alternator to a step-up transformer; means rectifying said stepped up AC transformer output; and outlet receptacle means associated with said rectifying means and adapted to receive jacks connected to power loads having higher voltage DC power requirements.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The power output unit of claim 1 including circuit means delta connecting the stator windings of said alternator.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
The power output unit of claim 1 including circuit means grounding said welding terminal and said outlet receptacle means, said circuit means including means having a positive voltage potential thereacross when said unit is powering a load, and engine throttle control means increasing the speed of said engine responsive to said voltage drop.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
65 words
The power output unit of claim 3 wherein said engine throttle control means includes an NPN type control transistor driven to saturation by said positive voltage potential means; a PNP type power transistor driven to saturation by said NPN type transistor; and, an engine throttle control including a solenoid in circuit with said PNP type transistor and acting to increase the speed of said engine.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The power output unit of claim 3 wherein said means having a positive voltage potential thereacross comprises a solid state diode.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The power output unit of claim 5 wherein the cathode of said diode has a common ground with the grounded terminal of said DC storage battery.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The power unit of claim 6 wherein all of the output load current is conducted through said diode.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
232 words
A power output unit for use with an engine of the type having an electrical system including a DC storage battery; an engine driven alternator having delta connected stator windings and including AC output terminals, a field winding terminal and a DC output terminal which normally delivers low voltage DC power to said engine electrical system; a voltage regulator receiving a power input from said DC storage battery, and having a field terminal connected to the field winding terminal of said alternator; said power output unit adapted to power a relatively low voltage arc welder having positive and negative terminals and loads having higher voltage DC power requirements, and including: switch means disconnecting said alternator from said engine electrical system; manually adjustable potentiometer means controlling said alternator output; circuit means directing the DC output of said alternator to said positive welding terminal; ground circuit means associated with said negative welding terminal and including load sensiNg means having a voltage drop thereacross when said unit is powering a load; an engine throttle control circuit responsive to the voltage drop across said load sensing means; circuit means directing the AC output of said alternator to step-up transformer means; rectifier circuit means rectifying said stepped-up AC transformer output and applying said rectified output to outlet receptacle means; and circuit means grounding said outlet receptacle through the ground circuit means associated with said negative welding terminal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
232 words
A power output unit for use with an engine of the type having an electrical system including a DC storage battery; an engine driven alternator having delta connected stator windings and including AC output terminals, a field winding terminal and a DC output terminal which normally delivers low voltage DC power to said engine electrical system; a voltage regulator receiving a power input from said DC storage battery, and having a field terminal connected to the field winding terminal of said alternator; said power output unit adapted to power a relatively low voltage arc welder having positive and negative terminals and loads having higher voltage DC power requirements, and including: switch means disconnecting said alternator from said engine electrical system; manually adjustable potentiometer means controlling said alternator output; circuit means directing the DC output of said alternator to said positive welding terminal; ground circuit means associated with said negative welding terminal and including load sensiNg means having a voltage drop thereacross when said unit is powering a load; an engine throttle control circuit responsive to the voltage drop across said load sensing means; circuit means directing the AC output of said alternator to step-up transformer means; rectifier circuit means rectifying said stepped-up AC transformer output and applying said rectified output to outlet receptacle means; and circuit means grounding said outlet receptacle through the ground circuit means associated with said negative welding terminal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
64 words
The power output unit of claim 8 wherein said engine throttle control circuit includes an NPN type transistor driven to saturation by the voltage drop across said load sensing means; a PNP type transistor driven to saturation by said NPN type transistor; and, an engine throttle control including a solenoid energized by said PNP type transistor adapted to increase the speed of said engine.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The power output unit of claim 8 wherein said load sensing means having a voltage drop thereacross when said unit is powering a load includes a solid state diode.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The power output unit of claim 9 wherein said engine speed is increased to a predetermined value adequate to obtain substantially full output from said alternator.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
169 words
A power output unit for use with an engine of the type having an electrical system including a DC storage battery; an engine driven alternator having a field winding terminal, an output terminal which normally delivers low voltage DC power to said electrical system; and a voltage regulator receiving a power input from said DC storage battery, and having a field terminal connected to the field winding terminal of said alternator; said power output unit adapted to act as a power source for loads having higher voltage DC power requirements and including: switch means disconnecting said alternator from said engine electrical system; circuit means applying the output of said disconnected alternator to an outlet receptacle; grounding circuitry associated with said outlet receptacle, said grounding circuitry including a resistance means having a voltage drop thereacross generated in response to occurrence of a load on said outlet receptacle; means responsive to the voltage drop across said resistance means energizing an engine throttle control circuit to increase the speed of said engine.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
169 words
A power output unit for use with an engine of the type having an electrical system including a DC storage battery; an engine driven alternator having a field winding terminal, an output terminal which normally delivers low voltage DC power to said electrical system; and a voltage regulator receiving a power input from said DC storage battery, and having a field terminal connected to the field winding terminal of said alternator; said power output unit adapted to act as a power source for loads having higher voltage DC power requirements and including: switch means disconnecting said alternator from said engine electrical system; circuit means applying the output of said disconnected alternator to an outlet receptacle; grounding circuitry associated with said outlet receptacle, said grounding circuitry including a resistance means having a voltage drop thereacross generated in response to occurrence of a load on said outlet receptacle; means responsive to the voltage drop across said resistance means energizing an engine throttle control circuit to increase the speed of said engine.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
71 words
The power output unit of claim 12 further comprising an engine throttle control solenoid for actuating an engine throttle control valve; said solenoid being connected to be energized by said engine throttle control circuit, said circuit including a power transistor of the PNP type driven to saturation by a control transistor of the NPN type; and said control transistor being driven to saturation by the voltage drop across said resistance means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
The power output unit of claim 12 wherein said means having a voltage drop thereacross comprises a solid state diode.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
The power output unit of claim 14 wherein the cathode of said diode has a common ground with the grounded terminal of said DC storage battery.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
The power unit of claim 15 wherein all of the output load current is conducted through said diode.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
The power output unit of claim 13 wherein said means having a voltage drop thereacross comprises a solid state diode.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
The power output unit of claim 17 wherein the cathode of said diode has a common ground with the grounded terminal of said DC storage battery.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
The power unit of claim 18 wherein all of the output load current is conducted through said diode.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-07-11 | 1976-01-10 | 1976-07-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-07-11 | 1980-01-10 | 1980-07-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-07-11 | 1984-01-10 | 1984-07-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |