US3723752A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Combination time delay and self-actuating voltage level protective circuit for vehicular electrical systems
Assignee: OVERHOLT A
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Filing: 1971-11-05
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Granted: 1973-03-27
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Expires: 1991-11-05
Abstract
Abstract The invention resides in a modification of the vehicular electrical system to include a protected time delay circuit for maintaining the lights or the like ON for a predetermined period after initiation, and a voltage sampling interrupter for interrupting the electrical system when the battery voltage decays to a predetermined level if the lights or other load have been inadvertently left ON or short circuited, including the time delay circuit. One embodiment interrupts the power lead and accessory lead to protect the battery, whereas the other embodiment provides a direct load path via the accessory contact of the ignition switch and an interruptible power bypass for a portion of the load path useful when the ignition is OFF. The circuit interrupts the power bypass lead to protect the battery.
Inventors
- 👤 C Russell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 12:07
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60Q; B60Q9/00; B60Q9/001; H; H02; H02J; H02J7/00; H02J7/60; H02J7/663; H03; H03K; H03K17/00; H03K17/28
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
103 words
Apparatus for use in connection with a vehicular electrical system having a source of voltage and one or more switch energized loads and including a battery connected ignition switch comprising in combination, a power lead extending the connection from the source for making source voltage available to at least one of said loads via said ignition switch; and at least one load switch voltage sampling means for interrupting the power lead when the voltage falls to a predetermined voltage level; and timing means supplying voltage to the one load from the power lead and for interrupting the supplying voltage after a predetermined time.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
103 words
Apparatus for use in connection with a vehicular electrical system having a source of voltage and one or more switch energized loads and including a battery connected ignition switch comprising in combination, a power lead extending the connection from the source for making source voltage available to at least one of said loads via said ignition switch; and at least one load switch voltage sampling means for interrupting the power lead when the voltage falls to a predetermined voltage level; and timing means supplying voltage to the one load from the power lead and for interrupting the supplying voltage after a predetermined time.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the timing means comprise a bypass circuit around only said load switch.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
75 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ignition switch includes an accessory contact and one or more accessory loads each having an accessory load switch in series therewith are included in said vehicle, further comprising at least one circuit from the ignition accessory contact to an accessory load switch; and a switch under control of said voltage sampling means to interrupt current flow in said one circuit whenever the voltage falls to said predetermined level.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
84 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said voltage sampling means comprises a switch in the power lead between the ignition and said load switch for interrupting the power lead, a safety connection from the ignition switch to insure energization of the voltage sampling means when the ignition is ON, and a voltage sensing connection from the power leAd to the voltage sampling means for insuring energization of the voltage sampling means when the ignition is OFF and the voltage is above said predetermined level.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said voltage sampling means comprises a double wound coil with one winding thereof connected for energization via the safety connection and the other winding thereof connected for energization over the voltage sensing connection.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the voltage sampling means comprises a coil having two windings on a common core; a safety connection from the ignition switch to one of said windings; and a voltage sensing connection from the power lead to the other of said windings.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the voltage sensing connection comprises a zener diode and adjustable resistance.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
90 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the timing means comprises a bypass connection around said load switch and a switch in said bypass connection; means for operating the bypass switch; means for energizing the operative means to initiate the timing operation by actuating the bypass switch to energize said one load; capacitor charging means initiated by said means for energizing to charge the capacitor; and capacitor discharging means operable at a predetermined level of capacitor charge to discharge the capacitor and de-energize said operating means to terminate the timing operation.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
115 words
Apparatus for use in connection with a vehicular electrical system having a source of voltage and one or more switch energized loads and including a battery connected ignition-accessory switch comprising in combination, a power lead extending the connection from the source for making source voltage available to at least one of said loads via said ignition-accessory switch; a by-pass power lead extending from the battery to said power lead; at least one load switch voltage sampling means for interrupting the bypass power lead when the voltage falls to a predetermined voltage level; and timing means supplying voltage to the one load from the power lead and for interrupting the supplying voltage after a predetermined time.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
115 words
Apparatus for use in connection with a vehicular electrical system having a source of voltage and one or more switch energized loads and including a battery connected ignition-accessory switch comprising in combination, a power lead extending the connection from the source for making source voltage available to at least one of said loads via said ignition-accessory switch; a by-pass power lead extending from the battery to said power lead; at least one load switch voltage sampling means for interrupting the bypass power lead when the voltage falls to a predetermined voltage level; and timing means supplying voltage to the one load from the power lead and for interrupting the supplying voltage after a predetermined time.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the timing means comprise a bypass circuit around only said load switch.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3433969A
Cited
US3588591A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-03-26 | 1976-09-25 | 1977-03-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-03-26 | 1980-09-25 | 1981-03-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-03-26 | 1984-09-25 | 1985-03-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |