Tractor/trailer lamp circuit continuity test device

• US 5,604,439 A
• Filed: 03/10/1995
• Issued: 02/18/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Clifford L. Walkington, Lindsay R. Grist
• Original Assignee: Clifford L. Walkington, Lindsay R. Grist
• Inventors: Walkington, Clifford L., Grist, Lindsay R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wieder, Kenneth A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DO, DIEP N
• Application Number:
  US08/351,438
• Time in Patent Office: 711 Days
• Field of Search: 324/66, 324/503, 324/504, 324/556, 324/133, 340/431, 340/458, 340/642
• US Class Current: 324/504
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/44 Testing lamps

Abstract

An auxiliary plug-and-socket assembly (28) has a plurality of pins (29) at one end which plug into a socket (30) at the rear end of a tractor vehicle (31) and sockets (32) at the other end which receive a plug (33) from a trailer vehicle. The auxiliary assembly (28) also has conductors (38) which extend between corresponding pins (29) and sockets (32), light emitting diodes (20-25) in respective circuits between conductors (38) and a common ground pin and socket, a gating diode (37), and an energizer (17) and switch (34) bridging the gating diode (37).

Claims

1. A tractor/trailer lamp circuit continuity test device for a tractor and trailer, the tractor having tractor circuits coupled to a tractor socket and the trailer having trailer circuits coupled to a trailer plug, the tractor/trailer lamp circuit continuity test device comprising:

a) an assembly plug adapted for removable connection to the tractor socket, the assembly plug comprising a ground pin and a plurality of other pins;

b) an assembly socket adapted for removable connection to the trailer plug, the assembly socket comprising a ground socket sleeve and a plurality of other socket sleeves;

c) a ground conductor coupled in common to the ground pin and to the ground socket sleeve;

d) a plurality of other conductors, each other conductor coupled to a respective one of the other pins and coupled to a respective one of the other socket sleeves;

e) an energizer having a positive terminal and a negative terminal;

f) a switch coupled in series with the energizer;

g) a gating diode coupled to bridge across the series-coupled energizer and switch; and

h) a plurality of light emitting diodes,

wherein each light emitting diode is coupled to a respective one of the other conductors and is coupled in common to the series-coupled energizer and switch,

wherein the series-coupled energizer and switch is coupled between the ground conductor and the light emitting diodes such that the positive terminal of the energizer is coupled to the ground conductor and the negative terminal of the energizer is coupled in common to each light emitting diode,

wherein activation of a continuous one of the tractor circuits energies a respective one of the light emitting diodes when the assembly plug is connected to the tractor socket by creating a respective circuit through a respective one of the other pins, the respective one light emitting diode, the gating diode, and the ground pin, and

wherein activation of the switch energizes a respective one of the light emitting diodes for a continuous one of the trailer circuits when the assembly socket is connected to the trailer plug by creating a respective circuit from the positive terminal of the energizer and through the ground socket sleeve, the respective one continuous trailer circuit, a respective one of the other socket sleeves, and the respective one light emitting diode to the negative terminal of the energizer.

2. The tractor/trailer lamp circuit continuity test device of claim 1, comprising a plurality of diodes, each coupled in series with a respective one of the light emitting diodes.

3. The tractor/trailer lamp circuit continuity test device of claim 2, comprising a plurality of resistors, each coupled in series with a respective one of the light emitting diodes.

4. An assembly for testing circuit continuity, the assembly comprising:

a) an energizer having a positive terminal and a negative terminal;

b) a first electrical connector;

c) a second electrical connector;

d) a first conductor coupled in common to the first electrical connector, to the second electrical connector, and to the positive terminal of the energizer;

e) a plurality of third electrical connectors;

f) a plurality of fourth electrical connectors;

g) a plurality of second conductors, each second conductor coupled to a respective one of the third electrical connectors and coupled to a respective one of the fourth electrical connectors; and

h) a plurality of test lamps, each test lamp coupled to a respective one of the second conductors and coupled in common to the negative terminal of the energizer,

wherein a respective one of the test lamps is energized when the second electrical connector and a respective one of the fourth electrical connectors are connected to continuous circuitry to create a respective circuit from the positive terminal of the energizer and through the second electrical connector, the continuous circuitry, the respective one of the fourth electrical connectors, and the respective one test lamp to the negative terminal of the energizer.

5. The assembly of claim 4, comprising a switch coupled in series with the energizer, wherein activation of the switch energizes the respective one test lamp.

6. The assembly of claim 5, wherein the switch is coupled to the negative terminal of the energizer and is coupled in common to each test lamp.

7. The assembly of claim 4, comprising a bypass gate coupled to bridge across the energizer, wherein activation of continuous circuitry coupled to the first electrical connector and to a respective one of the third electrical connectors energizes a respective one of the test lamps by creating a respective circuit through the respective one of the third electrical connectors, the respective one test lamp, the bypass gate, and the first electrical connector.

8. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the bypass gate is a gating diode.

9. The assembly of claim 4, wherein the test lamps are light emitting diodes.

10. The assembly of claim 4, wherein the first electrical connector and the third electrical connectors are pins.

11. The assembly of claim 4, wherein the second electrical connector and the fourth electrical connectors are sockets.

12. The assembly of claim 4, comprising a plurality of diodes, each coupled in series with a respective one of the test lamps.

13. The assembly of claim 4, comprising a plurality of resistors, each coupled in series with a respective one of the test lamps.