Patent Publication Number: US-2007123096-A1

Title: Single cable battery charging apparatus

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      This application claims the benefit of and incorporates by reference U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/739,845, Filed Nov. 28, 2005. 
    
    
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      A single cable battery charging apparatus for electrically connecting a first battery having a first positive battery terminal and a first negative battery terminal to a second battery having a second positive battery terminal and a second negative battery terminal, the first battery provided in the tractor of a tractor-trailer and the second battery provided in a trailer connected to the tractor of the tractor-trailer and selectively charging the first battery and the second battery. The single cable battery charging apparatus includes at least one first battery cable extending from the first positive battery terminal to the second positive battery terminal, a first ground lead extending from the negative battery terminal to the tractor frame and a second ground lead extending from the second negative battery terminal to the trailer frame for completing the electrical circuit between the first battery and the second battery. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
      The invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein:  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a typical connector receptacle and companion insert for each end of a connector battery cable and one end each of a tractor battery cable and a trailer battery cable and used to connect the tractor battery cable to the connecting battery cable and the connecting battery cable to the trailer battery cable in an embodiment of the single cable battery charging apparatus of this invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of a typical electrical ground cable connection between the negative tractor and trailer battery terminals and the respective tractor and trailer frames, as well as a typical connection between the positive terminals of the tractor battery and the trailer battery using the tractor battery cable connected to a connecting battery cable and the connecting battery cable attached to the trailer battery cable, each typically provided with the plug-in receptacles and inserts illustrated in  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 3  is a side view of a tractor and a portion of a trailer in a typical tractor-trailer combination illustrated in phantom, more particularly illustrating the single cable battery charging apparatus illustrated in  FIG. 2  in functional configuration, extending from attachment to the positive terminal of the tractor battery to the positive terminal of the trailer battery and further illustrating typical negative terminal leads connecting the respective negative battery terminals to the corresponding tractor and trailer frames; and  
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a typical tractor battery, more particularly illustrating a typical connection of the tractor battery cable element of the single cable battery charging apparatus to the positive terminal of the tractor battery using a first connector ring and connection of a ground lead from the negative terminal of the tractor battery using a second connector ring. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      Referring to  FIGS. 1-4  of the drawing, a typical embodiment of the single cable battery charging apparatus is generally illustrated by reference numeral  1 . The single cable battery charging apparatus  1  is characterized by a tractor battery cable  2  of selected length, which extends from connection to the tractor battery positive terminal  21  of a tractor battery  20 , rearwardly of a tractor  30 , which is illustrated in phantom in  FIG. 3 . The battery connecting end of the tractor battery cable  2  is typically fitted with a positive connector ring  7 , having a terminal opening  8  for fitting over the tractor battery positive terminal  21  of the tractor battery  20 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 4  of the drawing. A terminal lead  9  projects from the connector ring  7  and is soldered or otherwise attached to one end of the tractor battery cable  2  and the opposite end of the tractor battery cable  2  is provided with a tractor battery cable receptacle  3 , typically of the design illustrated in  FIG. 1 , which includes a connector slot  4  and an underlying cylindrical connector opening  5 . The tractor battery cable receptacle  3  is designed to receive a corresponding connecting battery cable insert  12 , fitted to one end of a connecting battery cable  11 , such that the connector lead  13  of the connecting battery cable insert  12  fits in the corresponding connector slot  4  of the tractor battery cable receptacle  3 . Furthermore, a connector peg or cylinder  14 , located beneath the connector lead  13  of the connecting battery cable insert  12 , fits inside the correspondingly-shaped connector opening  5  in the tractor battery cable receptacle  3 . This connection facilitates quick, easy and removable electrical attachment of the connecting battery insert  12 , located on one end of the connecting battery cable  11 , to the corresponding tractor battery cable receptacle  3  on the extending end of the tractor battery cable  2 , as further illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3  of the drawings. The opposite end of the connecting battery cable  11  is typically fitted with a connecting battery cable receptacle  16 , which is typically of the same design as the tractor battery cable receptacle  3  and the connecting battery cable  11  is sufficiently long to extend between the tractor  30  and at least forwardly of a trailer  34 , coupled to the tractor  30  at a fifth wheel  32 , also illustrated in phantom in  FIG. 3 . The forwardly-extending end of a trailer battery cable  18  is provided with a trailer battery cable insert  19 , which is typically of the same design as the connecting battery cable insert  12  of the connecting battery cable  11  and is designed to fit the connecting battery cable receptacle  16  in the same manner as illustrated in  FIG. 1  of the drawings. The opposite end of the trailer battery cable  18  is attached to the positive terminal  25  of the trailer battery  24 , typically using a connector ring  7  in the same manner as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 4  with respect to the tractor battery cable  2  and the tractor battery positive terminal  21 . Accordingly, in this embodiment the battery-connecting end of the trailer battery cable  18  is fitted with a positive connector ring  7  having a terminal opening  8  for removable attachment to the trailer battery positive terminal  25 .  
      Referring again to  FIGS. 2 and 3  of the drawings, the tractor battery  20  is typically positioned in the tractor  30  at the approximate location illustrated in  FIG. 3  and the tractor  30  is characterized by a metal tractor frame  31  (illustrated in phantom), which carries tractor wheels  33  and the metal fifth wheel  32 , located above the rear tractor wheels  33 , as further illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The fifth wheel  32  also accommodates a metal trailer frame  35  of the trailer  34 , as illustrated in phantom in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . As further illustrated in  FIG. 2 , a tractor battery ground cable  28  typically extends in conventional fashion to the tractor frame  31  from attachment in any convenient manner to the tractor battery negative terminal  22 , but typically by means of a connector ring  7  having a terminal opening  8  for accommodating the tractor battery negative terminal  22  and a terminal lead  9 , attached to the corresponding end of the tractor battery ground cable  28  ( FIG. 1 ). In similar manner, a conventional trailer battery ground cable  29  extends from like connection to the trailer battery negative terminal  26  to the trailer frame  35 , as further illustrated in  FIG. 2 . The tractor battery ground cable  28  and trailer battery ground cable  29  are typically welded or removably attached to the respective tractor frame  31  and trailer frame  35 , respectively, as desired. These connections insure that a flow of electricity is effected between the tractor battery  20  and the trailer battery  24  as the circuit is completed through the respective tractor battery cable  2 , connecting battery cable  11 , trailer battery cable  18  and the trailer battery ground cable  29 , the metal trailer frame  35 , the metal fifth wheel  32 , the metal tractor frame  31  and the tractor battery ground cable  28 , as further illustrated in  FIG. 2 .  
      It will be appreciated from a consideration of the invention as described above that the single cable battery charging apparatus is easy to store and use and can be fitted with any desired alternative electrically conductive connectors to those insert/receptacle and connector ring combinations set forth herein. Moreover, a single non-segmented cable can be used without the insert/receptacle connectors and may be fitted with the connector rings or other battery cable connector devices, as desired. In both cases, either the tractor battery and the trailer battery can be charged from the other, using the single cable battery charging apparatus of this invention as described above.  
      While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been described above, it will be recognized and understood that various modifications may be made in the invention and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications which may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.