Electrical connector Integrity Tester

• US 20080204032A1
• Filed: 12/19/2007
• Published: 08/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carter Fuel Systems, LLC
• Original Assignee: Federal-Mogul Corporation (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: McGaughey, Robert James, Harvey, Richard W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,710,121 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/503
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0046 relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/006 on road vehicles, e.g. automobiles or trucks testing of ignition installations peculiar to internal combustion engines F02P17/00

Abstract

This invention provides an electric fuel pump tester that allows a technician to simulate the real-life operation of the electrical system of the vehicle, i.e., when the fuel pump is installed. The present invention provides a tester that includes a load that is similar to that of an installed fuel pump. In this manner, a technician may monitor simulated real-life operation of the vehicle'"'"'s electrical system.

Claims

1. A method for testing the operation of a fuel system that utilizes an electric fuel pump, comprising:

disconnecting an electric fuel pump from a power supply of a fuel system;

connecting a test apparatus to said power supply of said fuel system;

powering on said fuel system;

providing a test load to said power supply of said fuel system by said test apparatus, said test load approximating a load of said electric fuel pump during operation;

sampling an electrical characteristic of said power supply of said fuel system; and

comparing said electrical characteristic to a reference characteristic.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said electrical characteristic comprises a voltage of said power supply of said fuel system.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said electrical characteristic comprises a minimum voltage of a plurality of sampled voltages.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of determining whether said fuel system is powered on and, if said fuel system is not powered on, providing a system off indication.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said electrical characteristic comprises a voltage of said fuel system.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein said electrical characteristic comprises a minimum voltage of a plurality of sampled voltages.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing a second test load to said fuel system by said test apparatus, said second test load approximating a second load of said electric fuel pump during operation.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said electrical characteristic comprises a voltage of said fuel system.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein said electrical characteristic comprises a minimum voltage of a plurality of sampled voltages.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising the steps of determining whether said fuel system is powered on and, if said fuel system is not powered on, providing a system off indication.

11. A system for testing the operation of a fuel system that utilizes an electric fuel pump, comprising:

a connector, said connector configured to mate with a power supply of a fuel system;

a load portion operably connected to said connector, said load portion being configured to approximate a test load of an electric fuel pump during operation;

a processor operably connected to said load portion and said connector, said processor configured to;

sample an electrical characteristic of said power supply of said fuel system, and

compare said electrical characteristic to a reference characteristic to determine a test result; and

an output device operably connected to said processor, said output device configured to output an indication of said test result.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said electrical characteristic comprises a voltage of said power supply of said fuel system.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein said electrical characteristic comprises a minimum voltage of a plurality of sampled voltages.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein said processor is further configured to determine whether said fuel system is powered on and said output device is further configured to, if said fuel system is not powered on, provide a system error indication.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said electrical characteristic comprises a voltage of said power supply of said fuel system.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein said electrical characteristic comprises a minimum voltage of a plurality of sampled voltages.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein said load portion is further configured to provide a second test load, said second test load approximating a second load of said electric fuel pump during operation.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said electrical characteristic comprises a voltage of said power supply of said fuel system.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein said electrical characteristic comprises a minimum voltage of a plurality of sampled voltages.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein said processor is further configured to determine whether said fuel system is powered on and said output device is further configured to, if said fuel system is not powered on, provide a system error indication.