Patent · US Expired

Vehicle battery safety switch

US5034620A · kind A · utility

26Cited by
9References
18Claims
0Family size

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateDec 13, 1989
Grant dateJul 23, 1991
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 13, 2009

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02E60/10
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An emergency circuit breaker for preventing the transmission of electrical current to a vehicle from a battery connected in an electric circuit of the vehicle. The battery is connected in the circuit of the vehicle so that at least one terminal of the battery is not grounded to the structure of the vehicle under normal conditions. The circuit breaker is provided as a separate modular unit which is mountable to the external posts of the battery. The circuit breaker has an impact resistant housing for shielding the ungrounded terminal of the battery from electrical contact with the structure of the vehicle. A fuse link is provided for interrupting the flow of electrical current from the battery to the vehicle circuit in response to an increase in the electrical current flowing through the fuse link. The ungrounded terminal of the battery is electrically connected to a first side of the fuse link, and the impact resistant housing shields the connector from electrical contact with the structure of the vehicle. A switch is provided for electrically connecting the second side of the fuse link to ground in response to perturbation of the vehicle by an accident. Accordingly, in response to…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.