Vehicle testing device and method
First Claim
1. A device to test tractor-trailer electrical and pneumatic systems comprising:
- (a) a housing;
(b) first and second pneumatic inlets, each inlet for connection to the tractor pneumatic output lines, said first and second pneumatic inlets attached to said housing;
(c) first and second pneumatic gauges, said first and second pneumatic gauges attached to said housing and to said first and second pneumatic inlets;
(d) an air compressor junction, said air compressor junction attached to said housing for joining an air compressor to said device; and
(e) a first pneumatic outlet, said first pneumatic outlet attached to said housing and in fluid communication with said air compressor junction, said first pneumatic outlet for connection to the pneumatic input line of the pneumatic system of the trailer.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle testing device and method are provided whereby a mechanic can easily test the pneumatic brake systems of a tractor-trailer. The device is used by inputting into the device the electrical and pneumatic outputs of a tractor and by outputting electrical and pneumatic transmissions from the device into a trailer. The device accepts input from a tractor and produces output to a trailer for testing purposes. The testing device is compact and portable and affords a mechanic a convenient tool for efficiently carrying out the necessary safety tests on both the tractor and trailer which may be physically connected or disconnected at the time the testing occurs.
17 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A device to test tractor-trailer electrical and pneumatic systems comprising:
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(a) a housing; (b) first and second pneumatic inlets, each inlet for connection to the tractor pneumatic output lines, said first and second pneumatic inlets attached to said housing; (c) first and second pneumatic gauges, said first and second pneumatic gauges attached to said housing and to said first and second pneumatic inlets; (d) an air compressor junction, said air compressor junction attached to said housing for joining an air compressor to said device; and (e) a first pneumatic outlet, said first pneumatic outlet attached to said housing and in fluid communication with said air compressor junction, said first pneumatic outlet for connection to the pneumatic input line of the pneumatic system of the trailer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of testing electrical circuitry of a tractor-trailer, said tractor having an electrical output line connected to the tractor'"'"'s electrical circuitry, said trailer having an electrical input line connected to the trailer'"'"'s electrical circuitry using testing apparatus having electrical circuitry comprising a tractor inlet and a trailer outlet, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) connecting said tractor'"'"'s electrical output line to said testing apparatus'"'"' tractor inlet; (b) connecting said trailer'"'"'s electrical input line to said testing apparatus'"'"' trailer outlet; (c) testing said tractor'"'"'s electrical output by activating the tractor'"'"'s electrical circuitry; and (d) testing said trailer'"'"'s electrical circuitry by activating said apparatus'"'"' electrical circuitry. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of testing pneumatic systems of a tractor-trailer, said tractor having an emergency pneumatic output line and a service pneumatic output line connected to the tractor'"'"'s pneumatic system, said trailer having an emergency pneumatic input line and a service pneumatic input line connected to the trailer'"'"'s pneumatic system by using testing apparatus having pneumatic circuitry comprising an emergency pneumatic tractor inlet and a service pneumatic tractor inlet and an emergency pneumatic trailer outlet, and a service pneumatic trailer outlet, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) connecting said tractor'"'"'s emergency and service pneumatic output lines respectively to said testing apparatus'"'"' emergency and service pneumatic tractor inlets; (b) connecting said trailer'"'"'s emergency and service pneumatic input lines respectively to said testing apparatus'"'"' emergency and service pneumatic trailer outlets; (c) testing said tractor'"'"'s emergency and service pneumatic outputs by activating the tractor'"'"'s pneumatic system; and (d) testing said trailer'"'"'s emergency and service pneumatic system by activating said apparatus'"'"' pneumatic circuitry. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification