Portable test set for testing operability of a locomotive

• US 5,446,389 A
• Filed: 12/31/1992
• Issued: 08/29/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Lenz, Edward M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wieder, Kenneth A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DO, DIEP N
• Application Number:
  US07/999,635
• Time in Patent Office: 971 Days
• Field of Search: 324/503, 324/512, 324/527, 324/540, 324/555, 324/556, 324/73.1, 324/158 R, 324/158 MG, 324/772, 73/116, 246/169 R
• US Class Current: 324/555
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/008 on air- or spacecraft, railway rolling stock or sea-going vessels

Abstract

A portable test kit for testing electrical and mechanical operation of a locomotive includes one multi-pin connector for connecting to an MU connector on a locomotive. The multi-pin connector is wired in the test kit to a plurality of indicator lights and a plurality of multi-position switches. The lights provide a visual indication of signal presence at the MU connector. The switches enable commands to be placed on the train line through the MU connector to determine if the locomotive is responsive to train line signals. A governor connector and associated indicator lights monitor signals from the locomotive governor system. A plurality of galvanometers are mounted in the kit with corresponding connection jacks for connection to selected points in the locomotive system for simultaneous monitoring of circuit performance. At least a pair of rheostats are connected to the MU connector for controlling loading on selected train line conductors. The kit also includes apparatus for measuring air pressure, temperature, filter condition, fuel system operation, engine operation, braking capability and alternator output.

Claims

1. A portable test set for testing operability of a locomotive, the test set being adapted for external testing of internal functions of the locomotive, the locomotive including an externally accessible multi-conductor train line for transmitting and receiving command functions from other locomotives, each end of said train line terminating in a multiple unit connector and a governor connector, the test set comprising:

a portable case;

connector means attached to said case and adapted for coupling to both said multiple unit connector and said governor connector of the train line externally of the locomotive, said connector means including pins in said test set operatively coupled to each conductor of the multi-conductor train line when said connector means is coupled to the train line;

switch means in said test set attached to said case and coupled to first selected ones of said pins for providing signal excitation on selected ones of said conductors in said train line, said switch means being operable to input horsepower commands and thereby energize and operate said locomotive from a locomotive battery, said switch means being operable to energize selective functions of said locomotive from said test kit; and

indicator means in said test set attached to said case and coupled to second selected ones of said pins for providing an indication of signal status on the respective conductor associated with a corresponding one of said pins, said indicator means providing data representative of locomotive operability.

2. The test set of claim 1 and including a plurality of galvanometers operatively mounted in the test set and a plurality of connection means attached to said case, each of the galvanometers having at least a pair of terminals connected to a corresponding pair of the connection means, the connection means being adapted for connection to multiple points in an on-board electronic control system in the locomotive for providing an indication of signal condition at each of the multiple points.

3. The test set of claim 2 and including at least one rheostat mounted in the test set and connected in series electrical circuit between respective ones of a pair of said connection means for variably controlling resistance loading at the points coupled to said respective ones of the connection means.

4. A method for testing operability of a diesel-electric locomotive using a portable test kit having indicator lights and switches selectively coupled to connection means in tile test kit, the method comprising the steps of:

connecting the test kit to an MU connector and a governor connector at one end of the locomotive;

sequentially energizing each pin in an MU connector at another end of the locomotive and observing such energizing at the one end of the locomotive by illumination of corresponding lights in the test kit;

actuating switches in the test kit for applying commands to selected conductors in the MU connector and observing tile action of the locomotive in response to such commands, said commands including horsepower commands for energizing and operating said locomotive from a locomotive battery; and

actuating selected functions in the locomotive and observing that corresponding commands are transmitted to the MU connector resulting in illumination of respective ones of the indicator lights.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the test kit includes a plurality of galvanometers and including the further step of:

connecting the galvanometers in circuit with select control devices in the locomotive; and

actuating selected functions in the locomotive and simultaneously observing the results thereof on the plurality of galvanometers.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the test kit includes adapters for coupling to air lines of the locomotive at one end thereof and pressure gauges and bleeder valves operatively associatable with the adapters, the method including the further steps of measuring air pressure developed by the locomotive and air flow recovery rate by observing pressure readings on the gauges while opening the bleeder valves.