Automatic hi-pot, megohmeter and continuity, circuit tester

• US 20040145374A1
• Filed: 01/29/2003
• Published: 07/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation
• Original Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation
• Inventors: Magera, Darin P., Weldin, Larry G.
• Granted Patent: US 6,815,956 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/536
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/008 on air- or spacecraft, railway rolling stock or sea-going vessels
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/1272 of cable, line or wire insulation, e.g. using partial discharge measurements locating faults in cables G01R31/083
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/14 Circuits therefor , e.g. for generating test voltages, sensing circuits G01R31/1209 - G01R31/1227 take precedence; for testing switches G01R31/327

Abstract

Provided is an apparatus and method used to perform automatic high potential (hi-pot), megohmeter and continuity, circuit test which includes a power source connected to a central processing unit (cpu) having a floppy drive, a hard drive, an analog to digital (A/D) printed circuit board (pcb), and a predetermined number of digital I/O pcb'"'"'s, a hi-pot device, and a power supply. A data entry device is connected to the cpu for providing input thereto. A display device is provided for displaying data. A hi-pot device is connected to the A/D pcb and to a digital I/O pcb for providing an input voltage of a predetermined magnitude. A multiplexer is connected to the power supply and to a digital I/O pcb and the hi-pot device for communicating the input voltage to a predetermined number of external circuits to provide testing of the external circuits.

Claims

1. An apparatus used to perform an automatic high potential (hi-pot), megohmeter and continuity, circuit test, said apparatus comprising:

a) a power source;

b) a central processing unit (cpu) connectable to said power source, said cpu containing (i) a floppy drive, (ii) a hard drive, (iii) an analog to digital (A/D) printed circuit board, and (iv) a predetermined number of digital I/O printed circuit boards;

c) a data entry means connectable to said cpu for providing input into said cpu;

d) a visual display means connected to said cpu for displaying predetermined data;

e) a power supply means connected to said power source for providing a power supply;

f) a hi-pot means connected to said power source and to said A/D printed circuit board and to at least one of said predetermined number of digital I/O printed circuit boards contained in said cpu for providing a predetermined voltage of a predetermined magnitude;

g) a multiplexer means connected to said power supply and to at least one of said predetermined number of digital I/O printed circuit boards and said hi-pot means for receiving said predetermined voltage of a predetermined magnitude and for communicating a predetermined quantity of signals indicative of said predetermined voltage of a predetermined magnitude; and

h) a predetermined number of external circuits connected to said multiplexer means for providing two-way communication of said predetermined quantity of signals.

2. An apparatus used to perform an automatic hi-pot, megohmeter and continuity, circuit test, according to claim 1, wherein said power source is a 120 volt alternating current (ac) power source.

3. An apparatus used to perform an automatic hi-pot, megohmeter and continuity, circuit test, according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined number of digital I/O printed circuit boards is at least one.

4. An apparatus used to perform an automatic hi-pot, megohmeter and continuity, circuit test, according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined number of digital I/O printed circuit boards is three.

5. An apparatus used to perform an automatic hi-pot, megohmeter and continuity, circuit test, according to claim 1, wherein said data entry means is a keyboard.

6. An apparatus used to perform an automatic hi-pot, megohmeter and continuity, circuit test, according to claim 1, wherein said visual display means is a monitor.

7. An apparatus used to perform an automatic hi-pot, megohmeter and continuity, circuit test, according to claim 1, wherein said visual display means is a printout.

8. An apparatus used to perform an automatic hi-pot, megohmeter and continuity, circuit test, according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined voltage is at least one of an ac voltage and a direct current (dc) voltage.

9. An apparatus used to perform an automatic hi-pot, megohmeter and continuity, circuit test, according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined magnitude ranges between about 0 volts and about 1500 volts.

10. An apparatus used to perform an automatic hi-pot, megohmeter and continuity, circuit test, according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined quantity of signals is at least one.

11. An apparatus used to perform an automatic hi-pot, megohmeter and continuity, circuit test, according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined quantity of signals is 240.

12. A method for performing an automatic hi-pot, megohmeter and continuity circuit test, said method comprising the steps of:

a) providing a power source;

b) connecting a cpu to said power source;

c) connecting a hi-pot means to said power source;

d) connecting a power supply means to said power source;

e) determining test parameters;

f) entering said test parameters determined in step (e) into said cpu;

g) generating a digital control signal indicative of said test parameters within said cpu;

h) communicating said digital control signal generated in step (g) to said hi-pot means;

i) generating an analog signal in said hi-pot means indicative of said digital control signal;

j) communicating said analog signal generated in step (i) to an A/D printed circuit board;

k) verifying said analog signal;

l) generating a digital signal with said A/D printed circuit board upon receipt of said analog signal;

m) generating a high voltage signal within said hi-pot means;

n) communicating said high voltage signal generated in step (m) to a multiplexer means;

o) utilizing said high voltage signal communicated in step (n) to perform a predetermined test on an external circuit;

p) generating a predetermined test result signal indicative of said predetermined test;

q) communicating said predetermined test result signal generated in step (p) to a predetermined digital I/O printed circuit board;

r) generating a display signal upon receipt of said predetermined test result signal communicated in step (q);

s) communicating said display signal generated in step (r) to a visual display means; and

t) visually displaying test results.

13. A method for performing an automatic hi-pot, megohmeter and continuity circuit test, according to claim 12, wherein said test parameters in step (e) include at least one of a dc voltage hi-pot test, an ac voltage hi-pot test, a megohmeter test, and a continuity test.

14. A method for performing an automatic hi-pot, megohmeter and continuity circuit test, according to claim 12, wherein said external circuit in step (o) is at least one connection.

15. A method for performing an automatic hi-pot, megohmeter and continuity circuit test, according to claim 12, wherein said predetermined test result signal in step (p) is at least one of a pass signal and a fail signal.

16. A method for performing an automatic hi-pot, megohmeter and continuity circuit test, according to claim 12, wherein said visual display means in step (s) is a monitor.

17. A method for performing an automatic hi-pot, megohmeter and continuity circuit test, according to claim 12, wherein said visual display means, in step (s) is a printout.

18. A method for performing an automatic hi-pot, megohmeter and continuity circuit test, according to claim 12, wherein said method further includes the step of at least one of saving and storing said test results on a predetermined media.

19. A method for performing an automatic hi-pot, megohmeter and continuity circuit test, according to claim 18, wherein said predetermined media is at least one of a hard drive, a magnetic media, a floppy disc, and a compact disc.