Alternator and starter tester with bar code functionality and method

• US 8,226,008 B2
• Filed: 03/02/2010
• Issued: 07/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: SPX Corporation
• Inventors: Raichle, Kurt, Krampitz, Scott, Xia, Weixing
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, THIEN MINH
• Application Number:
  US12/715,624
• Publication Number:
  US 20100170944A1
• Time in Patent Office: 875 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462.13, 235/381, 235/383, 235/375, 702/108
• US Class Current: 235/462.13
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/34 Testing dynamo-electric machines

Abstract

An alternator and starter tester system having a bar code reader. The bar code can contain information regarding the component being tested and can direct the tester to conduct the appropriate test. The bar code can also encode the results of the test on a second bar code. The second bar code can then be coupled to the tested component.

Claims

1. An alternator and starter motor tester, comprising:

a processor that processes information and controls an operation of the tester;

a memory that stores information and a software to operate the tester;

a motor that simulates an engine of a vehicle;

a starter motor testing device that tests a starter motor; and

a bar code reader that reads a first bar code coupled to a component being tested, the first bar code points to information stored on a remote database, wherein the memory, the motor, the starter motor testing device and the bar code reader are in communication with the processor.

2. The tester of claim 1, wherein the bar code reader encodes a second bar code.

3. The tester of claim 2 further comprising a printer operably coupled to the processor and prints the encoded second bar code.

4. The tester of claim 2, wherein the bar code reader encodes the results of the test.

5. The tester of claim 2, wherein the encoded information includes at least one of the following service dates, service procedures, test results, a warranty information, an original purchaser, and types of service that are and are not warranted.

6. The tester of claim 1, wherein the processor is a field programmable gate array.

7. The tester of claim 1, wherein the bar code provides information that the tester uses to determine testing parameters for the component.

8. The tester of claim 1, wherein component is the starter motor or an alternator.

9. The tester of claim 1, wherein the bar code includes at least one of the following electrical specifications, a maintenance information, a serial number, a lot number, a warranty information, and a manufacture data code.

10. The tester of claim 1, wherein the motor includes a pulley portion.

11. A method of testing a starter motor or an alternator, comprising:

scanning, with a bar code reader, a first bar code coupled to the starter motor or the alternator;

performing the testing based on an information on the bar code; and

accessing a remote database based on the information, wherein the testing is performed with an alternator and starter motor tester, the tester comprising;

a motor simulating an engine of a vehicle; and

a pulley portion.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

obtaining the results of the test; and

encoding the test results on a second bar code.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the encoding is done by a printer.

14. A system for testing an alternator and starter motor, comprising:

means for processing information and controlling an operation of the system;

means for storing information;

means for simulating an engine of a vehicle;

means for testing the starter motor; and

means for reading a first bar code coupled to a component being tested, the first bar code points to information stored on a remote database, wherein the means for storing, the means for simulating, the means for testing and the means for reading are in communication with the means for processing.

15. The system of claim 14 further comprising means for printing operably coupled to the means for processing and prints an encoded information on a second bar code.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the encoded information includes at least one of the following service dates, service procedures, test results, a warranty information, an original purchaser, and types of service that are and are not warranted.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the means for simulating includes a pulley.

18. The system of claim 14 wherein the means for processing is a field programmable gate array.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the first bar code provides information that the system uses to determine the testing parameters for the component.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein component is the starter motor or an alternator.

21. The system of claim 14, wherein the means for reading encodes the results of the test.

22. The system of claim 14, wherein the first bar code includes at least one of the following electrical specifications, a maintenance information, a serial number, a lot number, a warranty information, and a manufacture data code.