Tester for fire-suppresion componentry

• US 4,797,623 A
• Filed: 04/16/1987
• Issued: 01/10/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army
• Inventors: Hoffman, Steven L., Rammage, Robert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisenzopf, Reinhard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US07/039,186
• Time in Patent Office: 635 Days
• Field of Search: 324/66, 324/542, 324/556, 324/539, 324/527, 324/133, 324/540
• US Class Current: 324/556
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 37/50 Testing or indicating devices for determining the state of readiness of the equipment
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/54 Testing for continuity
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/58 Testing of lines, cables or conductors testing of electric windings G01R31/72

Abstract

A testing implement that can be electrically connected to a test-alarm pa in a vehicle fire-suppression system for verifying the integrity of the panel circuitry. The testing implement can be used with the test-alarm panel installed in a vehicle or outside the vehicle (i.e., bench testing). The implement can also be used to test the integrity of electrical cables used in the fire-suppression system.

Claims

1. A method to check electrical continuity in a control panel and in a cable connecting the control panel to fire supression system components of a military vehicle, wherein access to the panel is limited and obstructed by surrounding vehicle elements, wherein the panel has first panel lines for sending power to the components, second panel lines for receiving current from the components, a third panel line for receiving electrical current from an electrical power source, panel lights in grounded end segments of the second and third panel lines for indicating receipt of current in the second and third panel lines, a light checking circuit connecting the panel lights in parallel, means to prevent current in the grounded end segments from entering the remaining portions of the second and third panel lines, a panel switch connected to the third panel line having a first position to energize the light checking circuit and a second position to energize the first panel lines, and wherein the cable has first cable lines for connecting the first panel lines to the components and has second cable lines for connecting the components and a power source to the second panel lines, the method comprising:

providing a test mechanism having a source of electrical power independent of the source of electrical power for the panel, a pair of terminal lines for detachably connecting the test mechanism to the independant source of electrical power, first test lines corresponding to respective first panel lines, test lights in the first test lines, second test lines corresponding to respective second panel lines, a test switch having one position for connecting the independent power source to the light checking circuit and another position for simultaneously connecting the independent source of electrical power to all the second test lines, the test mechanism being shaped as a tube no greater than about five inches in length;

attaching the test mechanism to the panel so that the first test lines connect with the respective first lines of the panel and the second test lines connect with respective second lines of the panel;

placing the panel switch in the first position wherein the light checking circuit is tested;

placing the test switch in the one position and then detecting which panel lights illuminate;

placing the panel switch in the second position to energize the first panel lines;

moving the test switch from the one position to the other position, thereby de-energizing the light checking circuit and sending current to all the second panel lines, and then detecting which panel lights are illuminated;

removing the test mechanism from the panel;

attaching the cable to the panel so that the second cable lines connect with the second panel lines;

disconnecting the terminal lines of the test mechanism from the independant power source and then connecting the ends of the terminal lines together;

attaching the test mechanism to the free end of the cable and disconnecting the terminal lines of the test mechanism from the independant power source, the first test lines of the test mechanism being connected in series with respective first cable lines and first panel lines;

detect which of the test lights is illuminated;

detect which of the panel lights is illuminated.