Instrument for testing automatic transmission fluid control devices

• US 6,038,918 A
• Filed: 12/22/1997
• Issued: 03/21/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: William T. Newton
• Original Assignee: William T. Newton
• Inventors: Newton, William T.
• Primary Examiner(s): DOMBROSKE, GEORGE M
• Application Number:
  US08/995,177
• Time in Patent Office: 820 Days
• Field of Search: 73/865.9, 73/118.1, 73/115, 73/116, 73/117.2, 73/117.3, 73/49.7, 73/47
• US Class Current: 73/115.02
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 13/025 Test-benches with rotational drive means and loading means; Load or drive simulation

Abstract

A test instrument used by mechanics who trouble-shoot or who rebuild automatic transmissions for automobiles, truck and other conveyances, or who repair automatic transmission solenoids and pressure switches. Simulated operating conditions are provided which allow the testing of solenoids and pressure switches which have been removed from an automatic transmission.

Claims

1. A test instrument for quickly detecting defects in the fluid control devices associated with a vehicle automatic transmission, said fluid control devices having been removed from said automatic transmission, and said instrument comprising of:

a. a 0-35 volt variable voltage power supply operatively associated with a current limiting circuit, as means of supplying a controllably variable electric current to said fluid control device known as a solenoid, and

b. a dual range ammeter, operatively associated with said power supply and the current limiter, as monitoring means of determining value of current flow to the coil of said solenoid, and

c. a volt ohmmeter as monitoring means of determining resistance and voltage simultaneously when testing a solenoid coil or when testing contact resistance of a fluid control device known as a pressure switch, and

d. an air circuit operatively associated with a supply of pressure regulated compressed air as means of supplying air flow to fluid passages of said solenoid, and

e. an air output ball valve as control means of quickly varying said air flow into said fluid passages of said solenoid, and

f. an air out pressure gauge located at output of said air out ball valve, as monitoring means of determining air pressure at input of said solenoid, and

g. an exhaust ball valve as control means of quickly varying said air flow exiting from said fluid passages of said solenoid, and

h. an exhaust pressure gauge located at input of said exhaust ball valve as monitoring means of determining air pressure at output of said solenoid.

2. The test instrument of claim 1 wherein a horizontal surface which forms the top surface of chassis of said test instrument is mounting means for arranging said air out ball valve, said exhaust ball valve, said dual range ammeter, said volt ohmmeter, and current control of said power supply as appropriate means of performing the testing operation in the most accurate and shortest possible period of time.

3. The test instrument of claim 2 wherein said test instrument provides an enclosure having a lid as means of providing protection to the electrical meters mounted on said horizontal surface of said chassis;

said enclosure also providing closure for open sides of said chassis, as means of protecting the electrical and air circuitry located on inside surfaces of said chassis.

4. The test instrument of claim 3 wherein said dual range ammeter is provided having a range of 0-300 milliamps as means of testing shift solenoids and a range of 0-11/2 amps as means of testing force motor solenoids;

said dual range ammeter interconnected with said current limiting circuit as means of limiting current output of said power supply to a value slightly over 300 milliamps when current range switch is set to 300 milliamps and as means of limiting said current output to a value slightly over 1.5 amps when said range switch is set to 11/2 amps;

thus providing over current protection for said dual range ammeter in each current range.

5. The current limiter of claim 4 wherein said current limiting circuit providing means of eliminating the need to provide fuses and circuit breakers which can cause disruption of the testing process and time loss in the advent of excessive current flow.

6. The test instrument of claim 5 wherein said volt ohmmeter is supplied as means of monitoring voltage applied to said solenoid coil and monitoring resistance of said solenoid coil simultaneously when said solenoid coil is being tested for change in said resistance caused by heat rise over an extended period of time.

7. The test instrument of claim 6 wherein said volt ohmmeter is supplied as means of testing said pressure switch under simulated operating conditions;

said volt ohmmeter also providing means of determining faults of said pressure switch occurring due to heat rise over a period of time, said air out ball valve providing means of controlling pressure applied to said pressure switch as means of activating said pressure switch.

8. The test instrument of claim 6 wherein extension hoses are required due to physical design of said test instrument as means of connecting solenoid packs containing a plurality of said shift solenoids, said force motor solenoids, and said pressure switches to said test instrument and provide access to the electrical cable connectors of said solenoid packs;

furthermore providing means of quickly and accurately testing components of said solenoid packs.

9. The test instrument of claim 3 wherein said test instrument provides said air out ball valve as means of applying a pulse of high velocity air, pressure regulator having been adjusted to maximum pressure, to the piping of said solenoid when said solenoid malfunction is due to foreign matter, resulting in expulsion of said foreign matter.