Apparatus and method for starter RPM detection
First Claim
1. A tester for vehicle engine starter motors, comprising:
- a mechanical clamping apparatus to restrain a motor under test from rotating during startup and slowdown;
an electrical circuit to apply power to the starter motor;
a data storage capability allowing entered data characterizing a plurality of starter motor types to be retained within said starter tester;
a data selection device allowing a single starter motor type to be selected from entered data;
a detector circuit to sense the rate at which the starter motor spins and comparing with a standard spin rate of a motor of the same type; and
a display to report the detected spin rate and the comparison with the standard spin rate.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An engine starter motor tester applies power to a motor under test at the level normally applied while that motor is installed in a vehicle and monitors the ripple in the driving current. The ripple rate, scaled by the number of windings used in the construction of the motor, provides a direct reading of the shaft speed of the unloaded motor. This number allows a valid inference concerning the state of health of the motor, and is more certain than an estimate for an unloaded motor based on operator experience and motor “sound”. A complete test apparatus includes a stored lookup table, allowing the user to key in a product brand and model number and read directly both the RPM and the test apparatus'"'"'s rating of the motor under test, expressed in terms such as percentage of life remaining.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A tester for vehicle engine starter motors, comprising:
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a mechanical clamping apparatus to restrain a motor under test from rotating during startup and slowdown; an electrical circuit to apply power to the starter motor; a data storage capability allowing entered data characterizing a plurality of starter motor types to be retained within said starter tester; a data selection device allowing a single starter motor type to be selected from entered data; a detector circuit to sense the rate at which the starter motor spins and comparing with a standard spin rate of a motor of the same type; and a display to report the detected spin rate and the comparison with the standard spin rate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. An apparatus for testing vehicle engine starter motors, comprising:
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a clamp restraining a motor under test from rotating during startup and slowdown; a power supply providing power to the starter motor at the level of a compatible vehicle; a detector module receiving the current output form a starter motor under test, further comprising; a first module sensing the current from the motor or from the magnetic field outside the motor; a second module converting the signal from the first module for processing; and a third module receiving input from the second module and converting the input received to a spin rate, and comparing the spin rate with standard spin rates of the motor received from an external input; a data storage capability allowing entered data characterizing a plurality of starter motor types to be retained and communicatively linked to the external input; a data selection device allowing a single starter motor type to be selected from entered data; and a display to report the information outputted from the detector module. - View Dependent Claims (27)
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Specification