Alternator and starter tester protection apparatus and method

• US 20060092584A1
• Filed: 02/22/2005
• Published: 05/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: SPX Corporation
• Inventors: Raichle, Kurt, Krampitz, Scott, Xia, Weixing
• Granted Patent: US 7,336,462 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/20
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/343 in operation
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/023 by short-circuiting

Abstract

An method and apparatus testing an alternator and/or starter assembly including a power source for energizing the alternator and/or starter, a computer processor for monitoring electrical current supplied to energize the alternator and/or starter wherein the computer processor also monitors electrical voltage across the alternator. The invention also includes a first switch coupled to the computer processor which is enabled if excess current is required to energize the alternator; a second switch coupled to the computer processor which is enabled to place a heavy load on an output of the alternator if the voltage exceeds a maximum limit; a third switch coupled to the computer processor which is enabled if the current supplied to energize the starter exceeds a maximum limit.

Claims

1. A method of protecting an alternator and/or starter tester apparatus, comprising:

energizing an alternator;

monitoring electrical current supplied to energize the alternator; and

enabling a shut-off switch if excess current is required to energize the alternator.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring electrical voltage across the alternator;

determining whether the voltage exceeds a maximum limit; and

placing a heavy load on an output of the alternator if the voltage exceeds the maximum limit until the voltage is dissipated.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

utilizing a computer processor to monitor electrical current supplied to energize the alternator; and

utilizing the computer processor to enable the shut-off switch if excess current is required to energizing the alternator.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

utilizing a computer processor to monitor electrical voltage across the alternator; and

utilizing the computer processor to control placing the heavy load on the output of the alternator if the voltage exceeds the maximum limit.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the computer processor comprises a digital signal processor (DSP).

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

utilizing a switch to enable placing a heavy load on the output of the alternator.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising controlling the switch to enable placing the heavy load via the DSP.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

providing a circuit breaker device in the alternator and/or starter tester apparatus; and

enabling the shut-off switch if excess current is required to energize the alternator prior to triggering the circuit breaker device.

9. A method of protecting an alternator and/or starter tester apparatus, comprising:

energizing a starter;

monitoring electrical current supplied to energize the starter;

allowing the current to peak initially; and

enabling a shut-off switch if the current exceeds a maximum limit.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

utilizing a computer processor to monitor the electrical current; and

utilizing the computer processor to enable the shut-off switch if the current exceeds the maximum limit.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the computer processor comprises a digital signal processor (DSP).

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

providing a circuit breaker device in the alternator and/or starter tester apparatus; and

enabling the shut-off switch if the current exceeds the maximum limit prior to triggering the circuit breaker device.

13. A system for protecting an alternator and/or starter tester apparatus, comprising:

means for energizing an alternator;

means for monitoring electrical current supplied to energize the alternator; and

means for terminating power if excess current is required to energize the alternator.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

means for monitoring electrical voltage across the alternator;

means for determining whether the voltage exceeds a maximum limit; and

means for placing a heavy load on an output of the alternator if the voltage exceeds the maximum limit until the voltage is dissipated.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the means for monitoring electrical current comprises a computer processor.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the means for monitoring electrical voltage comprises a computer processor.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the computer processor comprises a digital signal processor (DSP).

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the means for terminating power comprises a shut-off switch.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising:

enabling the shut-off switch via the DSP.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the placing means comprises a switch to enable placing the heavy load on the output of the alternator.

21. The system of claim 20, further comprising:

controlling the switch to enable placing the heavy load via the DSP.

22. The system of claim 17, further comprising:

means for short-circuiting the alternator and/or starter testing apparatus; and

means for enabling the means for terminating power prior to triggering the short-circuiting means.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the short-circuiting means comprises a circuit breaker device.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the means for terminating power comprises a shut-off switch.

25. A system for protecting an alternator and/or starter tester apparatus, comprising:

means for energizing a starter;

means for monitoring electrical current supplied to energize the starter;

means for allowing the current to peak initially; and

means for terminating power if the current exceeds a maximum limit.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the means for monitoring electrical current comprises a computer processor.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the computer processor comprises a digital signal processor (DSP).

28. The system of claim 26, further comprising:

means for short-circuiting the alternator and/or starter tester apparatus; and

means for enabling the means for terminating power prior to triggering the short-circuiting means.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the means for terminating power comprises a shut-off switch.

30. The system of claim 28, wherein the short-circuiting means comprises a circuit breaker device.

31. An apparatus for testing alternators and/or starters comprising:

a power source for energizing the alternator and/or starter;

a computer processor for monitoring electrical current supplied to energize the alternator and/or starter, said computer processor also monitoring electrical voltage across the alternator;

a first switch coupled to the computer processor which is enabled if excess current is required to energize the alternator;

a second switch coupled to the computer processor which is enabled to place a heavy load on an output of the alternator if the voltage exceeds a maximum limit;

a third switch coupled to the computer processor which is enabled if the current supplied to energize the starter exceeds a maximum limit.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, further comprising a circuit breaker device, wherein the first switch and/or the third switch is enabled prior to triggering the circuit breaker device.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the computer processor comprises a digital signal processor (DSP).