Vehicle battery testing assembly

• US 7,417,437 B1
• Filed: 03/24/2005
• Issued: 08/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Felix H. Torres
• Original Assignee: Felix H. Torres
• Inventors: Torres, Felix H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Matthew V
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zhang; Jue
• Application Number:
  US11/087,418
• Time in Patent Office: 1,251 Days
• Field of Search: 320/101, 320/105, 324/426, 324/433, 324/504, 280/24, 280/26, 280/27, 280/35, 280/19, 280/47.24, 280/47.26, 280/47.27, 280/47.35, 280/47.19
• US Class Current: 324/426
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 1/008 having a prop or stand for maintaining position
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 1/10 in which the load is intended to be transferred totally to the wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2202/61 Batteries
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 1/04 Housings; Supporting members; Arrangements of terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/36 Arrangements for testing, measuring or monitoring the electrical condition of accumulators or electric batteries, e.g. capacity or state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction

Abstract

A portable assembly includes a multi-level housing having a vertically oriented back wall and an elongated rectilinear axle conjoined thereto. The housing further includes an elongated handle having a lower end portion monolithically formed with the back wall. A plurality of rotatable wheels operably communicate with the axle end portions and a plurality of coextensive shelves are conjoined to the back wall. The assembly further includes a mechanism for testing a variety of battery charging systems. The testing mechanism includes a plurality of power receptacles integrally connected to the back wall and spaced above a top one of the shelves. A battery-charger testing device is nested on one of the shelves for testing 48 volt club car power drive chargers. The battery-charger testing device is provided with a plurality of fuses for testing 36 volt and 48 volt circuits respectively.

Claims

1. A portable assembly for assisting a technician to test the operability of a battery charging system commonly employed in golf carts and the like, said assembly comprising:

a multi-level housing having a vertically oriented back wall and an elongated rectilinear axle conjoined thereto, said rectilinear axle being provided with opposed end portions laterally spanning away from said back wall and terminating at a selected distance registered subjacent a bottom portion of said back wall, wherein said back wall forms a substantially planar surface;

a plurality of rotatable wheels operably communicating with said axle end portions and be juxtaposed adjacent opposite sides of said back wall such that said housing can be selectively articulated about said rectilinear axle while said wheels maintain continuous contact with a ground surface during transit;

a plurality of shelves directly conjoined to said back wall and spaced along a longitudinal length thereof wherein said shelves protrude normal to said back wall and have front end portions terminating forwardly of said wheels; and

means for testing a variety of battery charging systems such that an operator can determine whether the battery charging systems are working properly without requiring the presence of the vehicles during testing operations.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said testing means comprises:

a plurality of power receptacles integrally connected to said back wall and spaced above a top one of said shelves, said power receptacles being accessible from a front portion of said housing;

a battery-charger testing device nested on one said shelves for testing 48 volt club car power drive chargers, said battery-charger testing device being provided with a plurality of fuses for testing 36 volt and 48 volt circuits respectively;

a battery pack including a plurality of electrically coupled 12 volt batteries such that said battery pack can readily accommodate the 36 volt and 48 volt circuits; and

a rigid support beam having opposed end portions securely conjoined to said front end portions of said shelves such that said battery-charger testing device and said battery pack can be maintained at a substantially stable position during operating conditions.

3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein said plurality of power receptacles comprise:

a crows foot receptacle for accommodating 36 volt power charging cords;

a 48 volt receptacle for accommodating golf carts;

a plug for accommodating 36 volt and 48 volt power charging cords;

a 48 volt club car receptacle for accommodating power drive charging cords;

a three-prong receptacle for accommodating 36 volt golf carts employing manual chargers; and

a receptacle for accommodating golf carts employing power drive charging cords.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said wheels are formed from solid rubber material such that said housing can adequately support a weight of said testing means during transit.

5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said back wall further comprises:

an inverted U-shaped steel tubing monolithically formed with said axle and defining a longitudinal height of said back wall.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said shelves are coextensive.

7. A portable assembly for assisting a technician to test the operability of a battery charging system commonly employed in golf carts and the like, said assembly comprising:

a multi-level housing having a vertically oriented back wall and an elongated rectilinear axle conjoined thereto, said rectilinear axle being provided with opposed end portions laterally spanning away from said back wall and terminating at a selected distance registered subjacent a bottom portion of said back wall, wherein said back wall forms a substantially planar surface;

a plurality of rotatable wheels operably communicating with said axle end portions and be juxtaposed adjacent opposite sides of said back wall such that said housing can be selectively articulated about said rectilinear axle while said wheels maintain continuous contact with a ground surface during transit;

a plurality of shelves directly conjoined to said back wall and spaced along a longitudinal length thereof wherein said shelves protrude normal to said back wall and have front end portions terminating forwardly of said wheels, said shelves being juxtaposed adjacent to a lower portion of said housing; and

means for testing a variety of battery charging systems such that an operator can determine whether the battery charging systems are working properly without requiring the presence of the vehicles during testing operations.

8. The assembly of claim 7, wherein said testing means comprises:

a plurality of power receptacles integrally connected to said back wall and spaced above a top one of said shelves, said power receptacles being accessible from a front portion of said housing;

a battery-charger testing device nested on one said shelves for testing 48 volt club car power drive chargers, said battery-charger testing device being provided with a plurality of fuses for testing 36 volt and 48 volt circuits respectively;

a battery pack including a plurality of electrically coupled 12 volt batteries such that said battery pack can readily accommodate the 36 volt and 48 volt circuits; and

a rigid support beam having opposed end portions securely conjoined to said front end portions of said shelves such that said battery-charger testing device and said battery pack can be maintained at a substantially stable position during operating conditions.

9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein said plurality of power receptacles comprise:

a crows foot receptacle for accommodating 36 volt power charging cords;

a 48 volt receptacle for accommodating golf carts;

a plug for accommodating 36 volt and 48 volt power charging cords;

a 48 volt club car receptacle for accommodating power drive charging cords;

a three-prong receptacle for accommodating 36 volt golf carts employing manual chargers; and

a receptacle for accommodating golf carts employing power drive charging cords.

10. The assembly of claim 7, wherein said wheels are formed from solid rubber material such that said housing can adequately support a weight of said testing means during transit.

11. The assembly of claim 7, wherein said back wall further comprises an inverted U-shaped steel tubing monolithically formed with said axle and defining a longitudinal height of said back wall.

12. The assembly of claim 7, wherein said shelves are coextensive.

13. A portable assembly for assisting a technician to test the operability of a battery charging system commonly employed in golf carts and the like, said assembly comprising:

a multi-level housing having a vertically oriented back wall and an elongated rectilinear axle conjoined thereto, said rectilinear axle being provided with opposed end portions laterally spanning away from said back wall and terminating at a selected distance registered subjacent a bottom portion of said back wall, wherein said back wall forms a substantially planar surface;

wherein said housing further comprises;

an elongated handle having a lower end portion monolithically formed with said back wall and extending rearwardly therefrom at an angle offset from a vertical axis such that the operator may readily pivot said housing between equilibrium and biased positions;

a plurality of rotatable wheels operably communicating with said axle end portions and be juxtaposed adjacent opposite sides of said back wall such that said housing can be selectively articulated about said rectilinear axle while said wheels maintain continuous contact with a ground surface during transit;

a plurality of shelves directly conjoined to said back wall and spaced along a longitudinal length thereof wherein said shelves protrude normal to said back wall and have front end portions terminating forwardly of said wheels, said shelves being juxtaposed adjacent to a lower portion of said housing; and

means for testing a variety of battery charging systems such that an operator can determine whether the battery charging systems are working properly without requiring the presence of the vehicles during testing operations.

14. The assembly of claim 13, wherein said testing means comprises:

a plurality of power receptacles integrally connected to said back wall and spaced above a top one of said shelves, said power receptacles being accessible from a front portion of said housing;

a battery-charger testing device nested on one said shelves for testing 48 volt club car power drive chargers, said battery-charger testing device being provided with a plurality of fuses for testing 36 volt and 48 volt circuits respectively;

a battery pack including a plurality of electrically coupled 12 volt batteries such that said battery pack can readily accommodate the 36 volt and 48 volt circuits; and

a rigid support beam having opposed end portions securely conjoined to said front end portions of said shelves such that said battery-charger testing device and said battery pack can be maintained at a substantially stable position during operating conditions.

15. The assembly of claim 14, wherein said plurality of power receptacles comprise:

a crows foot receptacle for accommodating 36 volt power charging cords;

a 48 volt receptacle for accommodating golf carts;

a plug for accommodating 36 volt and 48 volt power charging cords;

a 48 volt club car receptacle for accommodating power drive charging cords;

a three-prong receptacle for accommodating 36 volt golf carts employing manual chargers; and

a receptacle for accommodating golf carts employing power drive charging cords.

16. The assembly of claim 13, wherein said wheels are formed from solid rubber material such that said housing can adequately support a weight of said testing means during transit.

17. The assembly of claim 13, wherein said back wall further comprises:

an inverted U-shaped steel tubing monolithically formed with said axle and defining a longitudinal height of said back wall.

18. The assembly of claim 13, wherein said shelves are coextensive.