WO2007080306A1

WO2007080306A1 - Device for checking at least two storage batteries and charging methods using such a checking device

Info

Publication number: WO2007080306A1
Application number: PCT/FR2007/000027
Authority: WO
Inventors: Per-Anders Forsberg
Original assignee: Diamecans
Priority date: 2006-01-10
Filing date: 2007-01-09
Publication date: 2007-07-19
Also published as: FR2896100B1; EP1971992A1; FR2896100A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for checking the charge of at least two storage batteries (300, 350) using an electrical alternator (101) connected to each storage battery via a separate current feed circuit (110, 120), said checking device including a circuit breaker (1, 50) to be placed in each current feed circuit, which circuit breaker comprises input and output electrical terminals and contact means designed to open or close the electrical contact between the two input and output electrical terminals. According to the invention, the checking device includes, in one of the two separate current feed circuits, a switch (40, 51) mounted in parallel with the contact means of at least one circuit breaker.

Description

DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING AT LEAST TWO BATTERIES OF ACCUMULATOR AND METHODS OF CHARGING USING SUCH A CONTROL DEVICE

TECHNICAL FIELD TO WHICH THE INVENTION RELATES The present invention generally relates to the charging of at least two separate accumulator batteries.

It relates more particularly to a device for controlling the charging of at least two accumulator batteries by means of an electric alternator connected to each accumulator battery by a separate current supply circuit, said control device comprising a circuit breaker to be arranged on each current supply circuit and which comprises electrical input and output terminals and contact means adapted to open or close the electrical contact between the two electrical input and output terminals; exit.

It also relates to methods for charging at least two accumulator batteries, namely a main storage battery and an accessory storage battery.

BACKGROUND ART Some vehicles have a plurality of different accumulator batteries that have different characteristics, in particular different charge cycles. Generally, these vehicles comprise a main battery for supplying power to an electric motor for starting the main engine of the vehicle, and an accessory battery for supplying electrical appliances of the vehicle such as, for example, refrigeration means for a refrigerated truck.

It is understood that it is essential, after starting the main engine, to load the main battery of the vehicle so that the electric starter motor can quickly be able to start again the main engine. It is therefore important, when the main engine of the vehicle is running, to manage the charging priorities between the batteries.

At the present time, devices for controlling the charge of two batteries comprising, on the current supply circuit of each battery, a diode adapted to allow the current to flow only in one direction, from the alternator to the battery, are already known. and possibly a circuit breaker. Each circuit breaker has, during its opening or closing, a latency time inherent in its mechanical operation that makes it impossible to open and close simultaneously the two circuit breakers of the current supply circuits.

Two charging methods can then be implemented to first recharge the main battery and, once the latter is charged, the accessory battery.

One method is to keep the master battery circuit breaker closed and open the master battery circuit breaker during the charging time of the main battery and then, once the battery has been fully charged, to open the battery circuit breaker. the main battery before closing the accessory battery.

The main disadvantage of such a method is that, due to the latency inherent in the operation of the circuit breakers, the alternator delivers for a short time a current that is not brought to one or the other. other of the two accumulator batteries. This short moment is particularly dangerous for the operation of the alternator (including its regulator) and more generally for the entire electrical system.

Another method is, when the full charge of the main battery is detected, to begin by closing the circuit breaker of the second battery before opening the circuit breaker of the main battery. This method can be implemented only thanks to the presence of the diodes which prevent a transfer current is created between the main battery and the accessory battery, said transfer current may indeed have very significant values deteriorating the two accumulator batteries. It is this method that is generally implemented. The main disadvantage of such a control device and that the diodes through which the current passes during the duration of the charging of each of the two accumulator batteries are at the origin of significant energy losses. In addition, these losses make the regulation of the output current of the alternator difficult because of the voltage drop in the diode which is a function of the value of the intensity of the current. Finally, the presence of the diodes complicates the wiring of the alternator to the batteries.

On the other hand, when the accessory battery is almost discharged and the main battery is fully charged, and the circuit breaker is closed and the main battery is closed, the value of the battery is reduced. current output of the alternator has significant discontinuities difficult to manage by the regulator means of the alternator.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

In order to overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks of the state of the art, the present invention proposes a control device which consumes less energy and which is suitable for smoothing the current variations at the output of the alternator.

More particularly, according to the invention, there is provided a control device as defined in the introduction, in which one of the two separate current supply circuits is provided with a switch connected in parallel with the contact means of FIG. at least one circuit breaker.

Thus, thanks to the invention, it is possible, when the main accumulator battery is fully charged, to begin by closing the switch of the circuit breaker of the main battery and then to open the contact means of this circuit breaker before closing the circuit breaker contacting means of the accessory accumulator battery and reopening the switch.

Indeed, when the two circuit breakers are simultaneously open, the alternator can continue to deliver a current in the main battery via the switch, which avoids damaging its control means. On the other hand, when the switch and the circuit breaker of the accessory battery are simultaneously closed, the transfer current from the main battery to the accessory battery has a value limited by the electrical resistance of the switch.

In addition, this internal resistance has the advantage, on the one hand, of smoothing the current variations in the current supply circuits and therefore at the output of the alternator during the opening and closing of the circuit breakers, and on the other hand, to generate only a small amount of energy loss during the charging time of each of the two accumulator batteries, since the current passes through the switch only for a short period of time equivalent to the inaccuracy synchronization between the contact means of the two circuit breakers.

On the other hand, the use of such a resistive switch avoids the formation of an electric arc when opening the circuit breaker, in particular when the current passing through the circuit breaker has a significant value. This switch allows to avoid any overvoltage input of each of the two accumulator batteries.

Finally, this control device is provided so that, when the switch and the contact means of the circuit breaker of each of the two current supply circuits are simultaneously open, the storage battery is electrically isolated from the alternator electric, which guarantees the device a good electrical safety.

Other advantageous and non-limiting features of the control device according to the invention are the following: the control device comprises a switch connected in parallel with the contact means of each circuit breaker.

the switch is a transistor;

the switch is of the MOS type;

- The switch having a heat sink, the heat sink of the switch is connected to one of the electrical terminals input or output of the circuit breaker;

the switch has an internal resistance much greater than that of the circuit-breaker in parallel of which it is connected;

the switch has an internal resistance of between 1 and 10 milliohms;

- The circuit breaker internally comprising an electronic control circuit of the contact means, the switch is included in the electronic circuit;

each of the circuit breakers comprises means for measuring the value of the voltage or other parameters of the accumulator battery to which it is connected and means for transmitting the value of this voltage or the other parameters to the electric alternator; and

the transmission means comprise a regulation terminal on the electric alternator and a transmission terminal on each of the circuit breakers connected to said regulation terminal.

Advantageously, the circuit breakers comprise synchronization means between them. Thus, when the circuit breaker of the main battery detects the full charge of the latter, it is adapted not only to open its current supply circuit but also to inform the other circuit breaker that the main battery is charged.

The invention also relates to a method of charging at least two accumulator batteries, namely a main storage battery and an accessory storage battery, using such a control device in which only the battery main storage battery is connected to a power supply circuit which includes a switch, the method comprising the steps of:

- close the circuit breaker of the current supply circuit of the main battery; - close the switch after detecting the full charge of the main battery;

- open the main circuit breaker of the main battery circuit;

- send a synchronization signal from the circuit breaker of the main storage battery to the circuit breaker of the accessory storage battery; then

- close the circuit breaker of the power supply circuit of the accessory battery; and

- open the switch. The invention also relates to a method for charging at least two accumulator batteries, namely a main storage battery and an accessory storage battery, with the aid of such a control device in which the two current feed circuits comprise a switch, the method comprising the steps of: - closing the circuit breaker of the main battery supply circuit;

- close the main battery switch of the main battery after detecting the full charge of the main battery;

- open the main circuit breaker of the main battery circuit;

- send a synchronization signal from the circuit breaker of the main storage battery to the circuit breaker of the accessory storage battery; then - close the switch of the current supply circuit of the accessory battery;

- open the circuit breaker switch of the main battery bank; - close the circuit breaker of the power supply circuit of the accessory battery; and

- open the switch of the power supply circuit of the accessory battery.

The invention also relates to a method for charging at least two accumulator batteries, namely a main storage battery and an accessory storage battery, with the aid of such a control device in which the two current feed circuits comprise a switch and a circuit breaker provided with a transmission terminal, the method comprising the steps of: - closing the circuit breaker of the current supply circuit of the main battery;

positioning, on the one hand, the emission terminal of the circuit breaker of the current supply circuit of the accessory accumulator battery in the passive state, and, on the other hand, the transmitting terminal of the circuit of the current lead circuit of the main battery in the active state; - close the main battery switch of the main battery after detecting the full charge of the main battery;

- open the main circuit breaker of the main battery circuit; - send a synchronization signal from the circuit breaker of the main storage battery to the circuit breaker of the accessory storage battery; then

- close the switch of the current supply circuit of the accessory battery; positioning, on the one hand, the emission terminal of the circuit breaker of the current supply circuit of the main accumulator battery in the passive state, and, on the other hand, the transmission terminal of the main battery circuit of the current supply circuit of the accessory accumulator battery in active state; - open the circuit breaker switch of the main battery bank;

- close the circuit breaker of the power supply circuit of the accessory battery; and - open the switch of the power supply circuit of the accessory battery.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings given by way of non-limiting example will make it clear what the invention consists of and how it can be achieved.

In the accompanying drawings:

- Figure 1 is a schematic overview of a charging device incorporating a control device according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the inside of a housing of a circuit breaker of the control device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic overall view of an alternative embodiment of the charging device of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic overall view of another embodiment of the charging device of FIG. 1. As a preliminary, it will be noted that identical or similar elements of the various embodiments of the invention shown in FIGS. different figures will, as far as possible, be referenced by the same reference signs and will not be described each time.

FIG. 1 schematically shows a charging device 90 of two accumulator batteries 300, 350 of a motor vehicle, namely a main accumulator battery 300 and an accessory accumulator battery 350.

This charging device 90 comprises a main motor 100 of the motor vehicle. This main engine 100 is here an internal combustion engine. It also comprises an electric alternator 101 of known type comprising a coil which is rotated by the output shaft of the main motor 100 and which produces an alternating current. This electric alternator 101 comprises regulating means 102 and rectifying the alternating current. The charging device finally comprises two power supply circuits.

110, 120 which are connected on one side to the electric alternator 101, and, on the other, to a positive terminal of one of the main accumulator batteries 300 and accessory 350. The negative terminals of these two batteries are connected to an electrical mass.

On each of the two current supply circuits 110, 120 is positioned a device or system for controlling the charge of one of the accumulator batteries 300, 350. This control device comprises for each current supply circuit 110 , 120 a circuit breaker 1, 50. More specifically, these two current supply circuits 110, 120 each comprise a first power supply cable 111, 121 connected on one side to the output of the electric alternator 101 and the other at an electrical output terminal of a circuit breaker 1, 50, and a second power supply cable 112, 122 connected on one side to an electrical input terminal of each circuit breaker 1 , 50 and the other at the positive terminal of one of the main battery pack 300 and accessory 350.

These circuit breakers 1, 50 are adapted to block or let the current pass between the electric alternator 101 and each of the main accumulator batteries 300 and accessory 350. The motor vehicle also comprises a main electrical cable 140 connected to one side to the electrical output terminal of the circuit breaker 1 of the main storage battery 300, and the other to an electric motor 103 for starting the main motor 100 of the motor vehicle. The main battery is therefore adapted to supply power to the electric motor so that, when it receives the order, start the main motor 100 of the motor vehicle.

The motor vehicle further comprises an accessory electrical cable 130 connected on one side to the electrical output terminal of the circuit breaker 50 of the accessory accumulator battery 350, and, on the other hand, to one or more electrical appliances of the vehicle such as a clock or an air conditioner.

The two circuit breakers 1, 50 of the two current feed circuits 110, 120 are identical. Only one of the circuit breakers 1, 50 will therefore be described here.

FIG. 2 shows one of these two circuit breakers 1, 50, the circuit breaker 1. This circuit breaker 1 comprises a casing 1A of shape parallelepipedic formed by two distinct parts intended to be fitted one above the other to define a housing 1B internally.

On one of its side walls, the housing 1A carries the two electrical input and output terminals 20 which are identical and which each have a body 11, 21 of elongate shape extending from the inside of the housing 1A up to 'beyond its side wall.

A first end of each of these bodies 11, 21, that disposed inside the housing 1A, is connected to a fixed contact element 12, 22.

The two contactor elements 12, 22 have a square section and a small thickness. They are connected at one of their ends to one of the bodies 11, 21 of the electrical input and output terminals 20. The other of their ends forms a planar face facing the inside of the housing 1 A.

The other end of each of these bodies 11, 21 is pierced by a cylindrical inner housing opening with an axis coinciding with that of the body 11, 21 of each terminal. The electrical input and output terminals 20 therefore have, at their other end, thin tubular walls.

Each housing is suitable to accommodate, for the connection to the circuit breaker

1 of the first and second power supply cables 111, 112, the stripped ends of these cables. The tubular wall and these stripped ends of the cables are then adapted to be crimped to be securely held together.

For their attachment to the casing 1A of the circuit breaker 1, as shown more particularly in FIG. 2, the bodies 11, 21 of the electrical input and output terminals 20 bear on their lateral face a thread which is intended to accommodate a fixing nut 13, 23 and which is adjacent to a peripheral ring 14, 24 which each terminal carries. The two electrical input and output terminals 20 are inserted into openings in the side wall of the casing 1A of the circuit breaker 1 until their peripheral ring 14, 24 are applied to one of the faces of the this side wall. The fastening nuts 13, 23 are then screwed onto the terminal threads until they are applied against the other face of this side wall. Thus, this side wall is sandwiched between the fastening nuts 13, 23 and the peripheral rings 14, 24 so that the electrical terminals are correctly held on the housing 1A so that their contact elements 12, 22 are positioned at a distance from the side wall.

The two electrical input and output terminals 20 are here made of a single piece of silver copper. The housing 1 B accommodates all the electrical equipment of the circuit breaker 1. One of these electrical devices is contact means 3 adapted to close or open the electrical contact between the two electrical input terminals 10 and 20 output circuit breaker 1.

These contact means comprise in particular a contact bridge 3 constituting a U-section beam whose two branches are oriented towards the inside of the housing 1A and whose upper face faces the flat faces of the contact elements 12, 22 of the electrical terminals input 10 and output 20. This contact bridge 3 has a length which allows its upper face to simultaneously be in contact with the two planar faces of the contact elements 12, 22.

The contact bridge 3 also has a central opening for securing it to a movable shaft 2A engaged in this opening. This movable shaft 2A has at mid-height a flange 4 and at one of its ends a threaded portion. A compression spring 5 is engaged on this shaft so as to bear against the flange 4. The contact bridge 3 is positioned against this compression spring 5. A nut 6 is screwed onto the threaded portion of the shaft 2A so as to maintain the contact bridge 3 against the compression spring 5.

The movable shaft 2A is adapted to translate between two stable positions. In a first stable position, the contact bridge 3 is disposed at a distance from the contacting elements 12, 22, and in a second stable position, the contact bridge 3 bears against these contacting elements. The movable shaft 2A is preferably made of non-magnetic material.

The compression spring 5 serves, when the movable shaft 2A is in second stable position, to correctly maintain the contact bridge 3 against the contact elements 12, 22 so that the passage of electric current from one electrical terminal to the other generates few resistive losses. A bistable actuating device 2 of cylindrical shape is connected to the movable shaft 2A and is able to move it in translation between its first and second stable positions.

The housing 1A also internally comprises an electronic circuit 30 for controlling the bistable operating device 2. This electronic circuit 30 comprises in particular a microprocessor.

The set of electrical equipment contained in the housing 1A thus makes it possible to open and close the electrical contact of the electrical circuit to which the circuit breaker 1 is connected. The bodies 11, 21 of the electrical input and output terminals 20 furthermore comprise laterally each a peripheral groove 15, 25 for receiving an electric wire 31, 32 having an axis coincident with the axis of the corresponding terminal. These two peripheral grooves 15, 25 are arranged near the contacting elements 12, 22 so that when the electrical input and output terminals 20 are secured to the housing 1A, they are disposed inside this housing 1A . They each have a shallow depth of about 3 millimeters, to maintain laterally the electric son 31, 32 at the bottom of the groove to crimp them.

As a variant, at least one of these electrical wires could be connected to a lug held between the contacting element and the casing of the circuit breaker, said lug being initially intended to be connected to a supply wire of the electronic card of this circuit board. circuit breaker.

These two electrical wires 31, 32 are also connected to the electronic circuit 30. The electronic circuit 30 is therefore able, by means of a suitable electrical circuit, to determine the electrical potentials of the electrical input terminals 10 and outlet 20 at their peripheral groove 15, 25.

The electronic circuit 30 further comprises means for comparing these two electrical potentials. These comparison means are, for example, a subtractive operational amplifier at the inputs of which the electrical wires 31, 32 are connected. This subtractive operational amplifier therefore has an output at the output that is proportional to the potential difference between the two electrical input terminals. and output 20. These means of comparison are anyway adapted to deduce the open or closed position of the contact means of each of the circuit breakers 1, 50, a significant potential difference between the two terminals of the circuit breaker indicating in fact that said contact means are open. As a variant, these comparison means can be adapted to compare the electric potential of the electrical input terminal with the electric potential of an electric wire (not shown) connected between the contact bridge and the electronic card in order to deduce the position. open or closed contact means of the circuit breaker. Anyway, the circuit breakers 1, 50 also include synchronization means between them allowing them to exchange in real time the result of this comparison. These synchronization means are here constituted by an electric wire 33 which is connected at each of its ends to an electronic circuit 30 of one of the circuit breakers 1, 50 and which leaves these circuit breakers through openings in one of their side walls. The electronic circuit 30 of each of the circuit breakers 1, 50 can then send voltage slots of different amplitudes to the other circuit breaker depending on the state of the contact bridge 3, open or closed.

According to a preferred embodiment of the control device according to the invention shown more particularly in FIG. 1, it comprises on each of the current supply circuits 110, 120 a switch 40, 51 connected in parallel with the contact bridge 3 of the circuit breaker 1, 50 corresponding.

Here, each of the switches 40, 51 is included in the electronic circuit 30 of the associated circuit breaker 1, 50. It is connected by two electrical cables 41, 42 to each of the electrical input 10 and output terminals 20 of the circuit breaker 1, 50 associated. For their mechanical and electrical connection to said terminals, these electric cables 41, 42 are stripped on one of their ends and are welded to the side faces of the walls of each of the electrical input and output terminals 20, near the contactor elements. 12, 22.

Advantageously, the switches 40, 51 are MOS transistors (Metal Oxide Semiconductor). Each switch has an internal resistance approximately ten times greater than that of each circuit breaker 1, 50, that is to say that of the electrical terminals of input 10 and output 20 and the contact bridge 3 of each circuit breaker. The internal resistance of each switch 40, 51 is generally between 3 and 5 milliohms. Their reaction time is negligible compared to that of circuit breakers 1, 50 which is about 30 milliseconds. In order to evacuate the heat they emit, the switches 40, 51 each comprise a heat sink connected to one of the electric cables 41, 42 which then discharges the heat emitted towards the electrical input and output terminals 20 of the circuit breaker 1, 50 corresponding.

The method of charging the two accumulator batteries using the control device described above comprises various steps enabling the charging device 90 to first charge the main accumulator battery 300 and, once the latter has been charged, the battery accessory accumulator 350.

In a first step, in order to start the engine, the electronic circuit 30 of the circuit breaker 1 associated with the main storage battery 300 controls the closing of its contact bridge 3 by means of the bistable 2 operating device. by means of one of the electrical wires 31, 32 for measuring the potential of the electrical input or output terminal 20, the electronic circuit 30 measures the voltage at the output of the accumulator battery 300 and, when this voltage exceeds a threshold value corresponding to its full load, the electronic circuit 30 controls the closing of the switch 40 of the circuit breaker 1.

During a second step, it controls the opening of the contact bridge 3 of the circuit breaker 1 so that the current delivered by the electric alternator 101 continues to charge the main storage battery 300 and / or the accessory battery 350 passing through the switch 40.

Optionally, the closing of the switch 40 during the first step and the opening of the contact bridge 3 during the second step can be controlled simultaneously insofar as the response time of the switch 40 is lower than that of the contact bridge. 3. However, in a third step, when the electronic circuit 30 of the circuit breaker 1 detects that its contact bridge 3 is open, it informs, via the synchronization means 33 and by means of a synchronization signal, the circuit breaker 50 associated with the accessory accumulator battery 350. The electronic circuit of this circuit breaker 50 then controls the closing of its switch 51. The circuit breaker 1 of the main storage battery 300 then controls the opening of the switch 40. Then, the electronic circuit of the circuit breaker 50 associated with the accessory accumulator battery 350 controls the closure of its contact means (the charge of the accessory accumulator battery 350 then starts), and then the opening of the switch 51.

During a fourth and last step, it controls, after detecting the full charge of the accessory accumulator battery 350, the opening of its contact means. Once all these steps have been completed, the main accumulator battery 300 can be recharged again by implementing, in the opposite direction, all of the four steps mentioned above.

According to an alternative embodiment of the control device shown in Figure 3, the circuit breaker 60 of the current supply circuit 120 of the accessory accumulator battery 350 is devoid of switch.

In this embodiment, only the circuit breaker 1 of the current supply circuit 110 of the main storage battery 300 comprises a switch 40. The other members of the charging device 90 are identical to those described above. The implementation of the method of charging the two accumulator batteries 300, 350 with the aid of this variant embodiment of the control device is different here.

In a first step, the electronic circuit 30 of the circuit breaker 1 associated with the main storage battery 300 controls the closing of its contact bridge 3 by means of the bistable control device 2.

With the aid of one of the electric wires 31, 32 for measuring the potential of the electric input terminal 10 or the output terminal 20, the electronic circuit 30 measures the voltage at the output of the accumulator battery 300 and when this voltage exceeds a threshold value corresponding to its full charge, the electronic circuit 30 controls the closing of the switch 40.

During a second step, it controls the opening of the contact bridge 3 of the circuit breaker 1 so that the current delivered by the electric alternator 101 continues to charge the main storage battery 300 through the switch 40. Then, during a third step, when the electronic circuit 30 detects that the contact bridge 3 of the circuit breaker 1 is open, it informs, via the synchronization means 33, the associated circuit breaker 60 to the accessory accumulator battery 350. The electronic circuit of this circuit breaker 60 then controls the closing of its contact bridge, then, after 30 milliseconds, the opening of the switch 40.

During a fourth and last step, it controls, after detecting the full charge of the accessory accumulator battery 350, the opening of its contact means. Alternatively, if there are three or more accumulator batteries all connected to the electric alternator by a separate current supply circuit, it can be provided that the circuit breaker of each current supply circuit is provided with a switch and that each circuit breaker is connected to all other circuit breakers by separate synchronization means. According to another embodiment of the control device according to the invention shown in FIG. 4, each of the circuit breakers 1, 50 comprises means for measuring the value of the voltage delivered by the accumulator battery 300, 350 to which it is connected and means for transmitting the value of this voltage to the electric alternator 101. More specifically, the means for measuring the voltage comprise, on each circuit breaker 1, 50, a connected electrical wire, d one side, to the electrical input terminal of the corresponding circuit breaker, and, on the other, to the electronic circuit of this circuit breaker.

The means for transmitting the value of this voltage comprise in turn two electric wires 34. Each of these electric wires 34 is connected on one side to a control terminal of the electric alternator 101 and on the other to a transmission terminal of one of the circuit breakers 1, 50.

Advantageously, the emission terminal of each circuit breaker is connected to the electronic circuit of its circuit breaker 1, 50 so that it is adapted to transmit the value of the voltage measured on the electrical input terminal of its cutter. circuit 1, 50. Each transmission terminal is further adapted to be positioned in a state of high or low impedance so that the two circuit breakers do not simultaneously send a signal electrical signal to the control terminal of the electric alternator 101. This electrical signal can for example be of the PWM or analog type.

Moreover, the emission terminals of each of the circuit breakers 1, 50 are connected to each other by an electric wire 33 which constitutes the means of synchronization between the two circuit breakers 1, 50.

For the implementation of this embodiment of the invention, the method comprises 4 main steps.

During a first step, the electronic circuit breaker circuit 1 associated with the main storage battery 300 controls the closing of its contact bridge and puts its transmission terminal in the active state of low impedance.

The electronic circuit breaker circuit 1 measures the value of the output voltage of the accumulator battery 300 and transmits it, via its transmission terminal, to the regulator terminal of the alternator electrical 101. The latter can thus adapt the value of the current it delivers to the battery it charges.

When the full charge of the main accumulator battery 300 is detected, the electronic circuit of the circuit breaker 1 controls the closing of the switch 40.

During a second step, this electronic circuit controls the opening of the contact bridge of the circuit breaker 1 so that the current delivered by the electric alternator 101 continues to charge the main accumulator battery 300 through the switch 40.

Then, in a third step, when the electronic circuit 30 detects that the contact bridge 3 of the circuit breaker 1 is open, it informs the circuit breaker 50 associated with the accessory accumulator battery 350.

For this purpose, the emission terminal of the circuit breaker 1 associated with the main accumulator battery 300 changes from the low impedance state to the high impedance state (corresponding to a passive state). This change of state is then detected by the emission terminal of the circuit breaker 50. The electronic circuit of this circuit breaker 50 thus controls the closing of its switch 51 and puts its transmission terminal in a state of low impedance. The circuit breaker 1 electronic card then controls the opening of its switch 40 so that the charge of the accessory accumulator battery 350 starts with the switch 51. During a fourth and last step, the electronic circuit of the circuit breaker 50 controls the closing of its contact bridge and the opening of its switch 51.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shown, but the skilled person will be able to make any variant within his mind.

Claims

1. Device for controlling the charging of at least two accumulator batteries (300, 350) by means of an electric alternator (101) connected to each accumulator battery (300, 350) by a battery circuit current supply (110, 120), said control device comprising a circuit breaker (1, 50; 60) to be arranged on each current supply circuit (110, 120) and which comprises electrical terminals of input (10) and output (20) and contact means (3) adapted to open or close the electrical contact between the two electrical input terminals (10) and output (20), characterized in that comprises, in one of the two separate current supply circuits, a switch (40, 51) connected in parallel with the contact means (3) of the corresponding circuit breaker (1, 50).

2. Control device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a switch (40, 51) connected in parallel with the contact means (3) of each circuit breaker (1, 50).

3. Control device according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the switch (40, 51) is a transistor.

4. Control device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the switch (40, 51) is of the MOS type.

5. Control device according to claim 4, characterized in that, the switch (40, 51) having a heat sink, the heat sink of the switch is connected to one of the electrical input (10) or output (20) terminals. ) of the circuit breaker (1, 50).

6. Control device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the switch (40, 51) has an internal resistance much greater than that of the circuit breaker (1, 50) parallel to which it is connected.

7. Control device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the switch (40, 51) has an internal resistance of between 1 and 10 milliohms.

8. Control device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the circuit breaker (1, 50) internally comprising an electronic circuit (30) for controlling the contact means (3), the switch (40). , 51) is included in the electronic circuit (30).

9. Control device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the circuit breakers (1, 50; 60) comprise synchronization means (33) between them.

10. Control device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that each of the circuit breakers (1, 50; 60) comprises means for measuring the value of the voltage or other parameters of the battery. accumulator (300, 350) to which it is connected and means for transmitting the value of this voltage or other parameters to the electric alternator (101).

11. Control device according to claim 10, characterized in that the transmission means comprise a control terminal on the electric alternator (101) and a transmission terminal on each of the connected circuit breakers (1, 50). at said regulation terminal.

12. Control device according to claims 9 and 11, characterized in that it comprises an electric wire (33) which is connected to each of the emission terminals of each of the circuit breakers (1, 50) and which constitutes the synchronization means between the circuit breakers (1, 50).

13. A method of charging at least two accumulator batteries (330, 350), namely a main battery (300) and an accessory battery (350), using a device control device according to claim 1 connected to the main storage battery (300), the method comprising the steps of:

- closing the circuit breaker (1) of the current supply circuit (110) of the main battery (300);

- close the switch (40) after detecting the full charge of the main battery (300);

- open the circuit breaker (1) of the current supply circuit (110) of the main storage battery (300);

- sending a synchronization signal of the circuit breaker (1) of the main storage battery (300) to the circuit breaker (50) of the accessory storage battery (350); then

- closing the circuit breaker (60) of the current supply circuit (120) of the accessory storage battery (350); and

- open the switch (40).

A method of charging at least two accumulator batteries (300, 350), namely a main battery (300) and an accessory battery (350), using a device control system according to claim 2, the method comprising the steps of: - closing the circuit breaker (1) of the current supply circuit (110) of the main battery (300);

- closing the switch (40) of the current lead circuit (110) of the main battery (300) after detecting the full charge of the main battery (300); - open the circuit breaker (1) of the current supply circuit (110) of the main storage battery (300);

- sending a synchronization signal of the circuit breaker (1) of the main storage battery (300) to the circuit breaker (50) of the accessory storage battery (350); then - closing the switch (51) of the current supply circuit (120) of the accessory battery (350);

- open the switch (40) of the current supply circuit (110) of the main storage battery (300);

- closing the circuit breaker (50) of the current supply circuit (120) of the accessory accumulator battery (350); and

- open the switch (51) of the current supply circuit (120) of the accessory battery (350).

A method of charging at least two accumulator batteries (300, 350), namely a main battery (300) and an accessory battery (350), using a device control system according to claims 2 and 11, the method comprising the steps of:

positioning, on the one hand, the emission terminal of the circuit breaker (50) of the current supply circuit (120) of the accessory accumulator battery (350) in the passive state, and, on the other hand the emission terminal of the circuit breaker (1) of the current supply circuit (110) of the main storage battery (300) in the active state; - closing the switch (40) of the current lead circuit (110) of the main battery (300) after detecting the full charge of the main battery (300);

- closing the switch (51) of the current supply circuit (120) of the accessory accumulator battery (350);

positioning, on the one hand, the emission terminal of the circuit breaker (1) of the current supply circuit (110) of the main storage battery (300) in the passive state, and, on the other hand the emission terminal of the circuit breaker (50) of the current supply circuit (120) of the accessory accumulator battery (350) in the active state;

- closing the circuit breaker (50) of the current supply circuit (120) of the accessory accumulator battery (350); and - open the switch (51) of the current supply circuit (120) of the accessory accumulator battery (350).