Patent ID: 6836094
Filing Date: 2004-12-28
Classification: B60R,F02N,H02J

Abstract:
An engine-powered land vehicle comprising:a chassis comprising an engine and a drivetrain through which the engine propels the vehicle on land; a body disposed on the chassis and comprising a driver's compartment for a driver of the vehicle; a battery bank comprising one or more D.C. storage batteries; an electric cranking motor that draws current from the battery bank to crank the engine at starting when a cranking motor solenoid is energized; a main control switch that can be placed selectively in any one of multiple positions by the driver to selectively control the delivery of current from the battery bank to multiple circuit protection devices for distributing current to individual circuits in the vehicle, including a cranking motor solenoid circuit through which the cranking motor solenoid is energized; a disconnect switch in circuit between the battery bank and the multiple circuit protection devices for selectively connecting and disconnecting the multiple circuit protection devices to and from the battery bank; and a switch-free electric circuit for providing continuity between the battery bank and a terminal of the cranking motor solenoid, both when the disconnect switch is connecting the multiple circuit protection devices to the battery bank and when the disconnect switch is disconnecting the multiple circuit protection devices from the battery bank, for carrying current from the battery bank to a terminal of the cranking motor solenoid that is connected through a closed contact in the solenoid to the cranking motor when the cranking motor solenoid circuit is energizing a coil in the cranking motor solenoid that is forcing the contact in the solenoid closed.