ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP TESTER AND METHOD

• US 20130046436A1
• Filed: 08/19/2011
• Published: 02/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Federal-Mogul, LLC (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Federal-Mogul Corporation (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: McGaughey, Robert J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,494,706 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/33.5
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 17/03 driven by electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 51/00 Testing machines, pumps, or pumping installations
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 27/001 Testing thereof; Determination or simulation of flow characteristics; Stall or surge detection, e.g. condition monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 5/002 Regenerative pumps for elastic fluids F04D23/008
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/007 using microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/2829 Testing of circuits in sensor or actuator systems testing of apparatus for measuring electric or magnetic variables G01R35/00; testing of indicating or recording apparatus G01D; in airbag systems B60R21/0173; checking gas analysers G01N33/007; monitoring or fail-safe circuits for electromagnets H01F7/1844
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/34 Testing dynamo-electric machines
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/54 Testing for continuity
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/72 Testing of electric windings testing of transformers G01R31/62

Abstract

The system and method for determining the operational condition of an electric fuel pump (16). The test apparatus (22) is configured to perform first, second and third tests. During the first test, a low voltage, low current signal is applied to produce an inductive reflectance from the pump armature winding. During the second test, continuity is assessed in the coil winding circuit. During the third test, a higher power, short duration pulse is applied to create rotational movement of the pump armature for the purpose of detecting mechanical and/or electrical issues not otherwise discerned from the prior tests. An optional fourth test may be conducted in which the pump (16) is run for a short period of time at standard operating power to generate a current waveform. Collected test data is compared to stored reference data sets using a processor contained within the test apparatus (22). If collected test data corresponds within an acceptable threshold range to the reference data, a PASS signal is generated.

Claims

1. A method for fault detecting in electric components located in vehicle circuits, and more particularly for testing the operation of an electric fuel pump, comprising the steps of:

providing an electric fuel pump having a power supply connection for electrically connecting the fuel pump to a vehicular fuel system, the fuel pump including a motor having a commutator, a pump armature winding interfacing with the commutator, and a coil winding circuit;

providing a test apparatus having a processor and a non-transitory computer readable medium;

storing reference data in the non-transitory computer readable medium;

electrically connecting the test apparatus to the power supply connection of the fuel pump;

the non-transitory computer readable medium coded with instructions and executed by the processor to perform the steps of;

conducting a first test with the test apparatus, the first test including applying a low current signal through the fuel pump power supply connection and monitoring for inductive reflectance from the pump armature winding in the fuel pump;

collecting data from the first test in the non-transitory computer readable medium in the test apparatus;

conducting a second continuity test with the test apparatus, the second test including checking for an open or shorted coil winding circuit in the fuel pump;

collecting data from the second test in the non-transitory computer readable medium in the test apparatus;

comparing the collected test data to the stored reference data; and

generating either a humanly discernable FAIL or PASS signal in response to said comparing step.

2. The method of claim 1, including the step of disconnecting the power supply connection from a vehicular fuel system prior to said step of conducting a first test.

3. The method of claim 1, further including the step of conducting a third test with the test apparatus, the third test including applying a higher power, short duration pulse through the pump electrical connections to create a rotational movement of the pump armature which is keyed to the pumping section, and collecting data from the third test in the non-transitory computer readable medium in the test apparatus.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said step of conducting a third test includes detecting a mechanical issue.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said step of detecting a mechanical issue includes detecting a locked pumping section.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein said step of detecting a mechanical issue includes detecting a high frictional load.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein said step of conducting a third test includes detecting an electrical issue.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said step of detecting an electrical issue includes detecting excessive current draw.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein said step of detecting an electrical issue includes detecting low current draw.

10. The method of claim 3, further including the step of repeating the first, second and third tests to test each pump armature coil winding commutator interface.

11. The method of claim 1, further including the step of repeating the first and second tests to test each pump armature coil winding commutator interface.

12. The method of claim 1, further including attaching the power supply connection of the fuel pump to a 12 VDC power source, energizing the fuel pump via the power source to operate the pump under test, and capturing a short runtime current waveform.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of generating a FAIL or PASS signal includes generating a PASS signal if the collected test data is within a predetermined range of proximity to the stored reference data.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said step of generating a FAIL signal includes illuminating a red light.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein said step of generating a PASS signal includes illuminating a green light.

16. A method for fault detecting in electric components located in vehicle circuits, and more particularly for testing the operation of an electric fuel pump, comprising the steps of:

providing an electric fuel pump having a power supply connection for electrically connecting the fuel pump to a vehicular fuel system, the fuel pump including a motor having a commutator, a pump armature winding interfacing with the commutator, and a coil winding circuit;

disconnecting the power supply connection from a vehicular fuel system;

providing a test apparatus having a non-transitory computer readable medium and a processor;

storing reference data in the non-transitory computer readable medium in the test apparatus;

electrically directly connecting the test apparatus to the power supply connection of the fuel pump;

the non-transitory computer readable medium coded with instructions and executed by the processor to perform the steps of;

conducting a first test with the test apparatus, the first test including applying a low current signal through the fuel pump power supply connection and monitoring for inductive reflectance from the pump armature winding in the fuel pump;

collecting data from the first test in the non-transitory computer readable medium;

conducting a second continuity test with the test apparatus, the second test including checking for an open or shorted coil winding circuit in the fuel pump;

collecting data from the second test in the non-transitory computer readable medium;

conducting a third test with the test apparatus, the third test including applying a higher power, short duration pulse through the pump electrical connections to create a rotational movement of the pump armature which is keyed to the pumping section;

collecting data from the third test in the non-transitory computer readable medium;

repeating the first and second tests to test each pump armature coil winding commutator interface;

comparing the collected test data to the stored reference data in the test apparatus; and

generating either a FAIL or PASS signal at the test apparatus in response to said comparing step.

17. The method of claim 16, further including attaching the power supply connection of the fuel pump to a 12 VDC power source, energizing the fuel pump via the power source to operate the pump under test, and capturing a short runtime current waveform.

18. A test apparatus (22) for fault detecting an electrically connected electric fuel pump, said apparatus (22) comprising:

a hand-held housing;

a non-transitory computer readable medium disposed in said housing;

a processor disposed in said housing and operatively associated with said computer readable medium;

an extension cable (32) adjoining said housing at one end thereof and having a free distal end;

at least one connector fitting (34, 36, 38) disposed on said free distal end of said extension cable (32), said connector fitting (34, 36, 38) configured for electrically connecting to the power supply connection of an electric fuel pump to be tested;

at least one indicator feature (28, 30) supported on said housing;

said non-transitory computer readable medium coded with instructions and executed by said processor to perform the steps of;

conducting a first test, the first test including applying a low current signal through said connector fitting (34, 36, 38) and into the fuel pump power supply connection and monitoring for inductive reflectance from a pump armature winding in the fuel pump;

collecting data from the first test;

conducting a second continuity test, the second test including checking for an open or shorted coil winding circuit in the fuel pump;

collecting data from the second test;

conducting a third test, the third test including applying a higher power, short duration pulse through said connector fitting (34, 36, 38) to create a rotational movement of the pump armature;

collecting data from the third test;

comparing the collected test data to stored reference data; and

generating either a FAIL or PASS signal at said indicator feature (28, 30) in response to the comparing step.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said at least one connector fitting (34, 36, 38) comprises a plurality of alternative connector fittings (34, 36, 38) disposed on said free distal end of said extension cable (32).

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said at least one indicator feature (28, 30) includes at least two lights (28, 30) having different colors when illuminated.