Compact improved autonomous auxiliary engine starting apparatus

An auxiliary failsafe engine starting apparatus locates the batteries or other power storage devices with respect to the current carrying cable(s) to provide high conformability between extended and storage configurations, and includes a protective power control switching module. High conformability of an apparatus is defined herein as being configurable between a greatest extended configuration having a length (l.sub.e) and a storage configuration having a length (l.sub.s), wherein l.sub.e .gtoreq.3 l.sub.s. Preferred apparatus have conformability ratios of .gtoreq.3, .gtoreq.4, .gtoreq.5, .gtoreq.7.5, and .gtoreq.10. Preferred power sources provide an electrical potential of at least 6 volts, and a current of at least 40 amps. More preferable power sources provide sustainable currents of at least 100 amps, and even more preferable power sources provide sustainable currents of at least 250 amps. Preferred cables are relatively long, measuring up to 4 feet or more, total extended length.

FIELD OF INVENTION 
The field of the invention is starting cables and auxiliary power devices, 
such as may be employed to start an engine with a dead battery, in an 
automobile or other vehicle or engine application. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
One of the most unpleasant, but seemingly almost unavoidable mishaps in 
using a motor vehicle or boat or other engine powered apparatus is that, 
on occasion, there is insufficient electrical power left in the 
rechargeable (starting) battery to start the engine. Such eventualities 
may be caused by lack of attention of the operator, age of the battery, 
failure of the charging system, ambient conditions, leaving lights or 
other power consuming devices on, or numerous other factors. The problem 
is particularly pervasive in cold climates, and affects literally 
thousands of engine starting applications, particularly in recreational or 
seasonal use devices. 
Similar problems also affect devices other than motor vehicles. For 
example, emergency generators are often battery started, and cannot be 
conveniently started when the battery is dead, particularly if the engine 
was unused for a period of time and the battery charge was depleted. This 
is of particular concern in applications where the rapid and reliable 
starting of the generator is critical, such as hospitals, communications 
backup, and military generators. 
Inability to start an engine can have relatively high costs. For example, 
pilots frequently fly into airports or remote grass strips where no 
auxiliary power is available, and sometimes become stranded if the 
on-board battery fails. Boaters also find themselves caught with dead 
batteries in locations where it may be impossible to easily "jump start" 
their engines. Automobile motorists also often become stranded with dead 
batteries in their vehicles, often at very inconvenient times and 
locations, particularly in cold weather situations, where the battery 
performance is degraded. 
There are basically four classes of devices available for emergency 
starting of automobiles, airplanes, boats, generators and other apparatus 
using internal combustion engines. Unfortunately, all such devices tend to 
be quite cumbersome to use. 
Perhaps the most widely used class of emergency starting apparatus is 
characterized by simple jumper cables. Jumper cables typically comprise 
two insulated wires, about 6 to 20 feet long, which are capable of 
carrying upwards of 200 Amps for short periods of time. Clamps or clips 
are generally connected to the ends of the wires to aid in securing 
electrical contact with battery terminals and "ground" points on the 
apparatus being started. Known jumper cables are advantageous in being 
relatively inexpensive and readily configurable for convenient storage, 
but they suffer from several disadvantages as well. Among other things, 
jumper cables require a second outside power source, such as the battery 
of a running automobile or other vehicle, to provide the energy delivered 
to the battery being jumped. That requirement is of critical importance 
when another vehicle is unavailable, and also when another vehicle is 
available, but cannot be positioned close enough for the jumper cables to 
connect the respective batteries. Still further, jumper cables are 
problematic, and even dangerous, in requiring the proper connection of 
four connectors. Improper connection can result in dangerous sparks or 
even explosions, if volatile fumes are ignited by sparks. 
Another class of emergency starting apparatus is characterized by battery 
start carts. These are wheeled vehicles containing a large capacity 
battery, or bank of batteries, electrically coupled to high capacity 
electrically conducting cables. Depending on the anticipated usage, the 
cables may have either general-purpose clamps or specialized end-mounted 
connectors. Small start carts mounted on hand truck frames are familiar 
features in used and new automobile car dealerships, while larger, motor 
vehicle sized start carts are commonly used in airports to start 
airplanes. The batteries in portable start carts are generally recharged 
using line current at a recharging station, although they may also carry 
their own recharging power source, i.e. gasoline powered generator. The 
major advantages of start carts are their mobility and relatively high 
electrical storage capacity, allowing them to provide numerous "jump 
starts" without recharging. 
A major disadvantage, however, is that start carts are inherently too bulky 
and heavy to be generally carried about in motor vehicles, boats, 
motorcycles, or other applications. They are also usually more costly than 
basic portable battery packs. 
Another class of emergency starting apparatus is characterized by high 
powered battery chargers, capable of providing sufficient power to quickly 
recharge storage batteries, and to augment the battery output power for 
engine starting. Known high powered charger/boosters are typically devices 
measuring about 12-24 inches in each dimension, and are usually portable, 
or have wheels. Unfortunately, they require an outside power source such 
as line current from a standard household electrical outlet plug. Smaller 
chargers are available, but typically have relatively low charging rates, 
and therefore require several hours to recharge a battery with sufficient 
energy to be used in starting a motor. Such smaller chargers do not have 
sufficient energy to start most engines by themselves. 
A forth class of devices includes portable battery packs with integrated 
cables, designed to be carried onboard one's vehicle for use when the 
primary starting battery is depleted and unusable. These portable battery 
packs are convenient and functional, but somewhat bulky and heavy 
(typically 15-25 pounds). The cables attached to the battery pack housing 
are each generally about 12-18" long, so they can be conveniently wrapped 
around the battery housing and clamped in a safe position to minimize 
short circuiting them. 
Virtually all external auxiliary power devices have one common problem--the 
liklihood of improper connection to the battery being "jumped", or short 
circuiting the leads/clamps producing sparks and possible serious damage 
or fires. This shortcoming has been a concern of potential inexperienced 
users, especially women who don't like to have to try to make connections 
under the hood of vehicles, particularly in the dark! 
Thus, there is a continuing need to provide improved methods and apparatus 
that supply independent electrical power for starting engines. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Methods and apparatus are provided for failsafe emergency starting of 
engines, especially internal combustion engines, in which the size and 
location of the power supply with respect to the cable produces high 
conformability between extended and storage configurations. High 
conformability of an apparatus is defined herein as being configurable 
between a greatest extended configuration having a length (l.sub.e) and a 
storage configuration having a length (l.sub.s), wherein l.sub.e is 
greater than 3 l.sub.s. 
Preferred apparatus have conformability ratios of .gtoreq.3, .gtoreq.4, 
.gtoreq.5, .gtoreq.7.5, and .gtoreq.10. Preferred power sources provide an 
electrical potential of at least 6 volts, and a current of at least 20 
amps, with a set of control electronics and switching connection system 
that allows power to flow only when the proper connections are made, and 
inhibits current flow if the leads/clamps are short-circuited or 
cross-wired. More preferable power sources provide sustainable currents of 
at least 50 amps, and even more preferable power sources provide 
sustainable currents of at least 250 amps. Preferred cables are relatively 
long, measuring up to 3 feet or more, allowing more flexibility in 
applications. 
Various objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention 
will become more apparent from the following detailed description of 
preferred embodiments of the invention, along with the accompanying 
drawings in which like numerals represent like components.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
In FIG. 1 an engine starting apparatus 1 generally includes two clamps 10, 
20 electrically coupled by a cable 30. Clamp 10 contains batteries 12A, 
12B, 12C and 12D, and clamp 20 contains batteries 22A and 22B, as well as 
a charging circuit 50, and a power switching control module 55. 
Turning in greater detail to individual components, clamps 10, 20 may 
advantageously have a similar appearance and operation to ordinary clamps 
used on previously known jumper cables. Clamp 10, for example, generally 
comprises two elongated members 14A and 14B, each of which has a handle 
portion 15A, 15B and a nose portion 16A, 16B. The members 14A, 14B are 
coupled at pivot 17, and are biased into a clamped position as shown in 
FIG. 1 with a spring or other biasing means 18. Opposing gripping members 
19 are positioned at the nose portions 16A, 16B. Clamp 20 contains 
corresponding parts: elongated members 24A and 24B; handle portions 25A, 
25B; nose portions 26A, 26B; pivot 27; biasing means 28; and opposing 
gripping members 29. The power control switching module 55 is designed to 
allow current to flow from the batteries only when the proper polarity 
connections are made with positive and negative clamps 10 and 20, and to 
specifically inhibit current flow if the clamps are improperly connected 
or short circuited, i.e. to the same point (or each other). 
Batteries 12A-12D, 22A-22B are preferably compact, ultra high power 
batteries, and preferably include spiral wound, Thin Metal Film (TMF), 
2.0V, 1-2 AH cells produced by Bolder Technology Corp. Other high power 
density batteries, such as other lead acid, Nickel metal hydride, Lithium 
Ion, Nickel Cadmium, Nickel Zinc or other chemistries, or even 
ultracapacitors could be employed. Since most automobiles employ a nominal 
12V circuit, the apparatus 1 may advantageously contain 6 such TMF 
batteries electrically coupled in series, or several banks of cells whose 
total voltage is 12 or more. Alternative apparatus may employ other 
configurations of batteries to accommodate other starting environments, 
especially 6V, 24V, 28V and 36V (nominal) environments. It is further 
contemplated that a single apparatus could be configured with appropriate 
switches or other components that permit a user to provide different 
nominal voltages from the same apparatus. 
Batteries employed in contemplated devices are expected to deliver 
relatively high currents. For automobile starting purposes the batteries 
should be able to deliver from about 150 A to about 650 A. For other 
purposes, such as starting motorcycle engines, lesser currents such as 120 
A or even 30 A may be acceptable. For other purposes, such as starting 
airplane and diesel engines, large currents of 200 A or even 500 A or more 
are contemplated. These current values are defined herein to be sustained 
average currents over a period of least 3 seconds, rather than current 
spikes. 
It is still further contemplated to use other power sources in place of or 
in addition to batteries. For example, ultra capacitors could be employed, 
which may have the added advantage of an expected lifetime (500,000 uses), 
far greater than that of other components like conventional batteries. 
Thus, unless the context indicates otherwise, it should be understood that 
use herein of the terms "battery" or "batteries" are intended to convey 
the broader scope of "power source" and "power sources", respectively or 
vice versa. 
Inclusion of batteries 12A-12D, 22A-22B within the clamps 10, 20 is thought 
to be particularly advantageous because it allows the entire apparatus 1 
to be folded up, or otherwise configured in a compact fashion. Highly 
configurable apparatus can thus be conveniently stored in an automotive 
trunk, under an automotive seat, stuffed into a glovebox, or even 
conveniently carried in a pouch. Thus, the size and disposition of the 
power supply is contemplated to be an important factor in producing high 
conformability between extended and storage configurations. The power 
control switching module 55 is designed to allow current to flow from the 
batteries only when the proper polarity connections are made with positive 
and negative clamps, and to specifically inhibit current flow if the 
clamps are connected together or as a short circuit, i.e. to the same 
point or ground. This is a very important safety feature. It is also 
contemplated that module 55 may protect the batteries from over discharge 
by disconnecting the output when the voltage drops below a predetermined 
level. 
The concept of configurability can be addressed in many ways. For example, 
configurability may be considered to relate the greatest length to which 
an object can be extended in an extended configuration, against the 
greatest linear dimension of the same object in a storage configuration. 
This can be readily appreciated by considering specific examples. A 
typical start cart employed in jump-starting automobiles at an automotive 
car lot is on the order of about four feet tall, 18 inches wide, and about 
12 inches deep. There are generally two 3 to 5 foot cables, each coupled 
to one of the terminals of the battery or batteries, and in an extended 
configuration the overall length (i.e., the longest dimension) from the 
tip of one cable to the tip of the other cable, or tip of one cable to the 
farthest end of the battery cart, is about 7 to 10 feet. The storage 
configuration, however, has a length corresponding to the height of the 
cart, namely about 4 feet. Thus, the ratio of longest dimension in the 
extended configuration to longest dimension in the storage configuration 
is about 1:5 to 2.5:1. By comparison, some of the new portable battery 
packs have integrated cables that extend up to 18" from either side of a 
main housing that is typically about 9" wide by 13" high. The total 
extended width of the cables is about 30-45", compared to a stored 
diagonal length of the housing of up to 18", yielding a ratio of longest 
dimension in the extended configuration to longest dimension in the 
storage configuration of about 1:5 to 2.5:1. Also, since these leads are 
connected directly to the portable internal batteries, they are always 
"live" and subject to potential short circuiting. 
In a preferred embodiment according to FIG. 1, the greatest extendable 
length is about 36-45", but the apparatus can be coiled into a storage 
configuration having a greatest length of no more than about 12 inches. 
This provides a ratio of greatest extended configuration (l.sub.e) to 
greatest length in storage configuration (l.sub.s) of more than 3. Other 
contemplated high conformability ratios are at least 3.5, at least 4, at 
least 5, at least 7.5 and at least 10, all of which can be achieved using 
the principles disclosed herein. The 10 ratio, for example, may be 
achieved using a relatively long and thin cable of 10 feet or more, and 
coiling the cable around the connectors so that the entire storage 
configuration is no more than one foot in any dimension (i.e., length, 
width or height). 
The high conformability of apparatus contemplated herein is not limited 
only to configurations where the batteries are disposed in the clamps. 
Among the many alternative embodiments, one or more of the batteries could 
be placed in line with the cable 130, so that for some section the cable 
itself consists of interconnected batteries 132 (see FIG. 3A) so as to 
form an elongated power source comprising multiple cells/batteries 
flexibly (i.e. the "line" of batteries can be bent so as to change the 
distance between its ends) linked together. In other embodiments, some or 
all of the batteries 232 could surround or otherwise juxtapose one or more 
of the clamps 210 (see FIG. 3B) or cable 230 (see FIG. 3C). In still other 
embodiments one or more of the batteries could extend to the cable 330 
from a power supply box 312 (see FIG. 3D) or cables 430 could be removably 
attached to box 412 via connectors 415 (see FIG. 3E). 
Cable 30 is contemplated to comprise any suitable current carrying 
conductor, including wires, packed powders or other compositions, jointed 
bars, and so forth. Wire cables, including solid, twisted, or braided 
wires, are most preferred due to their relatively low cost and relatively 
high reliability. The conductive material is likewise contemplated to be 
any suitable material, including copper, aluminum, braided wire, alloys, 
graphites, and so forth. It is preferred that the conductive material be 
insulated, and suitable insulation material such as rubber, neoprene, 
nylon, cloth, and plastic are known. 
Cables may be provided in any number of different lengths. Contemplated 
cables may measure as little at 8 inches or less (measured from the 
connection points of opposite clamps) to as much as 36 inches or more. 
Exemplary cables measure at least 10", 12", 15", -20", 24", 30", 36" and 
45". Particularly long cables are contemplated to measure at least 5 feet, 
or even 10 feet in extended configurations. 
In a particularly preferred class of embodiments the cable is at least 20 
inches in length, and the power source provides a current of at least 50 
amps across the at least two connectors. In another particularly preferred 
class of embodiments the cable is at least 24 inches in length, and the 
power source provides a current of at least 200 amps across the at least 
two connectors. In other particularly preferred classes of embodiments the 
cable is at least 40 inches and 60 inches in length, respectively, and the 
power source provides a current of at least 100 amps across the at least 
two connectors. Embodiments including a power source capable of providing 
currents of 100, 250, 400 and 600 amps are contemplated as well. 
In FIG. 1 charging circuit 50 is fitted within the handle portion 25B of 
clamp 20. As shown, the charging circuit 50 may advantageously include 
indicator lamps 52A, 52B, and 52C, a test button 54, and an external power 
jack 56, for recharging the batteries. The power control switching module 
55 is designed to allow current to flow from the batteries only when the 
proper polarity connections are made with positive and negative clamps, 
and to specifically inhibit current flow if the clamps are connected 
together or as a short circuit, i.e. to the same point or ground. 
In preferred embodiments, an energy storage device included in the power 
source has a preferred operating capacity and can be recharged from a 
state at which it has 50% or less of the preferred operating capacity to a 
state in which it has at least 90% of the preferred operating capacity in 
less than 20 minutes. 
The embodiments and applications disclosed herein can be made to start 
virtually any vehicle or aircraft, or other internal combustion engine, 
including diesels and industrial engines on stationary apparatus like 
emergency pumps, generators, farm machinery, etc. Despite having very 
large current delivery capacity, these apparatus will often be are more 
convenient than other devices to use, and will generally be more 
convenient to store, due to their high conformability. Such apparatus may 
be referred to as "autonomous start cables" or "Hot Wires.TM.". 
Thus, specific embodiments and applications of an improved engine starting 
apparatus have been disclosed. It should be apparent, however, to those 
skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those already 
described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts 
herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted 
except in the spirit of the appended claims. Moreover, in interpreting 
both the specification and the claims, all terms should be interpreted in 
the broadest possible manner consistent with the context. In particular, 
the terms "comprises" and "comprising" should be interpreted as referring 
to elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating 
that the referenced elements, components, or steps may be present, or 
utilized, or combined with other elements, components, or steps that are 
not expressly referenced.