Electrical measuring system for testing electrical components

• US 4,020,243 A
• Filed: 10/31/1975
• Issued: 04/26/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: William G. Oldford
• Original Assignee: William G. Oldford
• Inventors: Oldford, William G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Walton, Donald L.
• Application Number:
  US05/627,691
• Time in Patent Office: 543 Days
• Field of Search: 136/182, 136/132, 136/173, 324/29.5, 340/249, 429/93
• US Class Current: 429/93
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3835 involving only voltage measurements
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/569 Constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals battery terminal connectors with integrated measuring arrangements G01R31/364
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/5044 Cells or batteries structurally combined with cell condition indicating means

Abstract

An electrical measuring system for testing electrical components to receive a specially wrapped package containing the component to be tested, the console including a meter or other indicating system for providing an indication of the voltage characteristic of the component. The console includes a provision for testing different voltage components, for example, one and one-half, nine and thirty-five volt components, and the output indication of the voltage level of the component may be by meter needle or by a light system. The component is specially packaged in a container having a tab portion formed thereon, the component being packed with a film-like conductors which are led to the tab, the tab portion being adapted to be inserted into the test console. In certain circumstances, the tab portion is adapted to be varied in length depending on the voltage of the component packaged therein, the variation in length being utilized to switch the console circuitry to accommodate different voltages.

Claims

1. An electrical measuring arrangement for testing electrical components having at least a first and second terminal comprising a package for the electrical component including a body portion enclosing the electrical component, a tab portion extending from said body portion and continguous therewith, first and second electrical conductors extending from said body portion through said tab portion, said conductors extending to the exterior of said tab portion, said conductors being in contact with said first and second terminals of the electrical component, said conductors within said tab portion being spaced apart a predetermined distance in accordance with an electrical characteristic of said electrical component, and a console assembly having an indicator mounted thereon for indicating an electrical condition of the electrical component, and receptacle assembly for receiving said tab portion and operable in response to said characteristic, including circuit means within said console for connecting said first and second conductors with said indicating means in accordance with said characteristic, said tab portion of said package assembly being removably inserted within said receptacle assembly of said console and cooperating therewith in such a manner that said indicator is electrically connected to a selected portion of said circuit means and said electrical component so as to display an electrical condition thereof said circuit portion being selected by said predetermined spaced apart distance of said conductors.

2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said console assembly includes conductive means mounted in said receptacle for electrical connection with said first and second conductors with said tab portion inserted into said receptacle.

3. The improvement of claim 2 wherein said first and second conductors are selectively spaced depending on the voltage of the electrical component.

4. The improvement of claim 2 wherein said receptacle includes two conductor means corresponding to said first and second conductors and having the same transverse spacing relative to said receptacle as said first and second conductors.

5. The improvement of claim 4 wherein said console includes an insulating plate mounted within said receptacle for supporting said conductive means, said plate further including m conductive portions mounted thereon, and switch means mounted within said receptacle and adapted to be moved into engagement with at least a portion of said conductive portions in response to the insertion of said tab portion into said receptacle, m being equal to the number of different power supply voltages to be tested plus one.

6. The improvement of claim 5 wherein said tab portion has length depending on the voltage of said power supply being tested.

7. The improvement of claim 6 wherein said tab portion is adapted to engage said switch means, said conductive portions being aligned longitudinally within said receptacle for engagement by said switch means.

8. The improvement of claim 7 wherein said switch means is successively moved into contact with said conductive portions as said greatest length tab portion inserted into said receptacle.

9. The improvement of claim 8 wherein said circuit means includes m impedance means connected in series across said conductor means.

10. The improvement of claim 9 wherein a first of said impedance means is connected across one of said conductive portions and one of said conductive means.

11. An electrical measuring arrangement including a console adapted to test the voltage output of batteries having a variety of intended output voltages which are contained in a package, said arrangement comprising:

a package containing a battery having a body portion enclosing said battery and a tab portion extending from said body portion;

first and second electrical conductors extending from said body portion through said tab portion to the exterior of said tab portion, said first conductor being in electrical contact with a first terminal of said battery and said second conductor being in electrical contact with a second terminal of said battery and said first and second conductors being spaced apart a predetermined distance on said tab portion;

a housing;

a voltage meter mounted in said housing;

a receptacle portion disposed in said housing, said tab portion being removably inserted in said receptacle;

an insulating plate movably disposed in said receptacle;

means urging said insulating plate in an upward direction;

a plurality of spaced apart conductive strips disposed on said insulating plate, a first and second of which have a spacing corresponding to said spaced predetermined distance of said contacts on said tab portion;

a first resistive element connected between said first and second of said plurlaity of conductive strips, said voltage meter being connected in parallel with said first resistive element in such a manner as to produce substantially full scale deflection of said voltage meter when said tab portion is inserted into said receptacle and said electrical contacts of said battery package is thereby electrically connected to said first and second conductive strips and said battery'"'"'s output voltage is substantially equal to the intended output voltage thereof;

additional resistive elements connected in series with said first resistive element and other of said plurality of conductive strips in such a manner as to form a voltage divider circuit which will produce a substantially full scale deflection of said voltage meter when another tab portion is inserted into said receptacle and said electrical contacts of another of said battery packages having spaced apart conductors on said another tab portion, said conductors being spaced apart a distance other than said predetermined distance are thereby electrically connected to said first and another of said conductive strips and said another battery'"'"'s output voltage is substantially equal to the intended output voltage, said another battery having an intended output voltage different than said intended output voltage of said battery.

12. An electrical measuring arrangement adapted to test the voltage output of different batteries having different intended output voltages each of which are contained in separate packages, each having a tab portion the length of which corresponds to the intended output voltage of said battery and further having a first and second spaced apart electrical contacts which communicate with the terminals of said battery, said arrangement comprising:

a package containing a battery having a body portion enclosing said battery and a tab portion contiguous with said body portion and extending outward therefrom;

first and second electrical conductors extending from said body portion through said tab portion to the exterior of said tab portion, said first conductor being in electrical contact with a first terminal of said battery, said second conductor being in contact with a second terminal of said battery and said first and second conductors being spaced apart a predetermined distance on said tab portion;

a housing;

a voltage meter mounted in said housing;

a receptacle portion disposed in said housing said tab portion being removably inserted in said receptacle;

an insulating plate movably disposed in said receptacle;

means urging said insulating plate in an upward direction;

a first and second conductive strip disposed on said insulating plate and spaced apart said predetermined distance so as to be electrically connected to said conductors on said tab portion upon insertion thereof in said receptacle;

a plurality of resistive elements connected in series between said first and second conductive strips so as to form a voltage divider circuit therebetween;

a plurality of electrical contactors disposed on said insulating plate;

a switch finger extending across said receptacle opening in such a manner as to engage the leading edge of said tab portion as it is inserted in said receptacle and to be caused to move inward in response to insertion of said tab portion, and having one terminal electrically connected to said voltage meter; and

said switch finger being adapted to connect said voltage meter to one of said plurality of electrical contactors disposed on said insulating plate, each of said contactors being connected between successive of said plurality of resistive elements, said voltage meter being thereby connected in parallel with selected ones of said plurality of resistive elements, said selected ones being determined by the length of said tab portion which corresponds to the intended voltage output of said battery so as to cause said voltage meter to deflect to substantially full scale in response to the insertion of said tab portion of said battery package when said battery output voltage is substantially equal to said intended output voltage.