Motor programming tool

• US 8,328,562 B1
• Filed: 08/04/2011
• Issued: 12/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nidec Motor Corporation (Nidec Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nidec Motor Corporation (Nidec Corporation)
• Inventors: Rassoolkhani, Payman, Modi, Chetan O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Abrams, Neil
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, PHUONGCHI T
• Application Number:
  US13/198,531
• Time in Patent Office: 495 Days
• Field of Search: 439/501, 439/502, 439/34, 439/700, 320/104, 320/113, 320/115, 320/109
• US Class Current: 439/34
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/18 End pieces terminating in a probe
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/2421 using coil springs
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/512 assembled by screw or screws
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/629 Additional means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. aligning or guiding means, levers, gas pressure electrical locking indicators, manufacturing tolerances separate tools or apparatus H01R43/26
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/20 for testing or measuring purposes

Abstract

A motor programming tool is disclosed for associating with a connection block of a motor and sending signals to a programmable controller of the motor, where the connection block includes a plurality of terminals coupled to the controller. The programming tool includes a tool body with an interface generally corresponding with the connection block of the motor, wiring operable to carry the signals, and a plurality of terminal connecting assemblies to associate with the motor terminals. In one embodiment, each connecting assembly includes a mounting element connected to end of the wiring and a plunger element shiftable relative to the mounting element while maintaining electrical connection therewith. Each plunger is biased toward an extended condition and is yieldably retracted inwardly relative thereto when the tool body is associated with the connection block. Embodiments of the programming tool also include circuitry connected to the wiring and including a time-delay relay element.

Claims

1. A motor programming tool for temporarily associating with an electrical connection block of a motor and sending electrical signals to a programmable controller of the motor, wherein the electrical connection block of the motor houses a plurality of motor terminals coupled to the controller, said programming tool comprising:

a tool body including an interface generally corresponding with the electrical connection block of the motor for selective association therewith;

wiring operable to carry the electrical signals,

said wiring presenting terminal ends disposed in the tool body; and

a plurality of terminal connecting assemblies configured to associate with the plurality of motor terminals, with each connecting assembly operably contacting a respective motor terminal upon association of the tool body with the electrical connection block of the motor,

each connecting assembly including amounting element electrically connected to at least one terminal end of the wiring and a plunger element shiftable relative to the mounting element while maintaining electrical connection therewith,

each plunger element being biased toward an extended condition and being yieldably retracted inwardly relative to the extended condition when the tool body is associated with the electrical connection block of the motor to facilitate electrical communication between the tool and motor controller.

2. The motor programming tool as claimed in claim 1;

and

a flexible conduit having a distal end at which the tool body is located,

said wiring extending along the conduit and into the tool body.

3. The motor programming tool as claimed in claim 2,

said tool body including a proximal handle portion connected to the conduit and a distal connector portion that presents the interface.

4. The motor programming tool as claimed in claim 1;

and

circuitry being electrically connected to the wiring and including a time-delay relay element,

said time-delay relay element being configured to sense when the connecting assemblies are operably contacting the respective motor terminals, initiate a delay, and then automatically transmit the electrical signals to the motor controller.

5. The motor programming tool as claimed in claim 4,

said circuitry including a power input connectable to a power source and a programming input connectable to a programming unit that generates the electrical signals.

6. The motor programming tool as claimed in claim 1,

each plunger element being configured to directly contact and thereby electrically connect to a respective motor terminal upon association of the tool body with the electrical connection block of the motor, with contact with the respective motor terminal causing the plunger element to retract from the extended position.

7. The motor programming tool as claimed in claim 6,

each of said plunger elements presenting a conducting surface configured to directly contact the respective motor terminal,

said conducting surface being multifaceted to provide multiple contacting points with the respective motor terminal when the tool body is associated with the electrical connection block of the motor.

8. The motor programming tool as claimed in claim 7,

said connecting assemblies being devoid of any receptacles for receiving the motor terminals therein.

9. The motor programming tool as claimed in claim 6,

said tool body including a shiftable locking mechanism operable to selectively secure the tool body onto the electrical connection block of the motor.

10. The motor programming tool as claimed in claim 9,

said locking mechanism including a sliding gate element moveable between an open position, wherein the connecting assemblies are freely moveable into and out of contact with the motor terminals, and a closed position, wherein at least a portion of the gate element is in contact with corresponding structure of the electrical connection block of the motor and the connecting assemblies are restricted from moving out of contact with the motor terminals.

11. The motor programming tool as claimed in claim 9,

each plunger element being retracted approximately one-eighth of an inch when contacting the respective motor terminal upon association of the tool body with the electrical connection block of the motor and securement of the tool body onto the electrical connection block of the motor.

12. The motor programming tool as claimed in claim 1,

said mounting element comprising a sleeve,

each of said connecting assemblies including a barrel slidably receiving a respective one of the plunger elements therein,

said barrel being disposed within and electrically connected to a respective one of the mounting sleeves.

13. The motor programming tool as claimed in claim 12,

said sleeve and barrel of each connecting assembly extending linearly along a common axis,

said plunger element being slidable axially relative to the barrel and sleeve.

14. The motor programming tool as claimed in claim 13,

said plunger element including a shaft portion slidably received within the respective barrel and a relatively radially enlarged head portion disposed outside the barrel,

each of said connecting assemblies including a coil spring retained axially between the shaft portion of the respective plunger element and the respective barrel.

15. The motor programming tool as claimed in claim 12,

said mounting sleeves being fixed relative to the tool body,

said terminal ends of the wiring being substantially permanently connected to the mounting sleeves.

16. The motor programming tool as claimed in claim 15,

each plunger element and barrel pair being removably received within a respective one of the fixed mounting sleeves, so as to be replaceable without disconnecting the terminal ends of the wiring from the mounting sleeves.

17. The motor programming tool as claimed in claim 1,

each connecting assembly including a tool terminal element configured to directly contact and thereby electrically connect to a respective motor terminal upon association of the tool body with the electrical connection block of the motor,

each plunger element being configured to directly contact and thereby electrically connect to a respective tool terminal element, such that each tool terminal element is electrically interposed between the respective plunger element and motor terminal,

each tool terminal element being positioned to cause the respective plunger element to retract from the extended position when in contact therewith.

18. The motor programming tool as claimed in claim 17,

said tool terminal elements including conducting surfaces configured to directly contact the respective motor terminals,

said tool terminal elements comprising receptacles configured to receive blade-type motor terminals.

19. The motor programming tool as claimed in claim 18,

said receptacles comprising blade-receiving jaws spring biased toward one another to securely receive blade-type motor terminals therebetween.

20. The motor programming tool as claimed in claim 17,

said tool terminal elements being replaceable, with electrical decoupling of each tool terminal element from the wiring requiring only removal from the yieldably biased contact with the respective plunger element.

21. The motor programming tool as claimed in claim 20,

said tool body further including a removable tool terminal retaining plate that at least partly defines the interface,

each tool terminal element being disposed within the tool terminal retaining plate, with removal of the tool terminal retaining plate permitting replacement of the tool terminal elements.

22. The motor programming tool as claimed in claim 21,

said tool terminal retaining plate presenting a distal interface margin and a proximal margin,

said tool terminal retaining plate defining therethrough a plurality of tool terminal element receiving recesses extending between the proximal and distal margins,

each of said recesses being shaped to taper from the proximal margin to the distal margin, such that each tool terminal element may be removably received within the recess from the proximal margin, but is restricted from exiting the recess from the distal margin.

23. The motor programming tool as claimed in claim 21,

said mounting elements being fixed relative to the remainder of the tool body,

said terminal ends of the wiring being substantially permanently connected to the mounting elements,

each tool terminal element being removable from the tool terminal retaining plate upon separation of the tool terminal retaining plate from the remainder of the tool body, so as to be replaceable without disconnecting the terminal ends of the wiring from the mounting elements.

24. A motor programming tool for temporarily associating with an electrical connection block of a motor and sending electrical signals to a programmable controller of the motor, wherein the electrical connection block of the motor houses a plurality of motor terminals coupled to the controller, said programming tool comprising:

a tool body including an interface generally corresponding with the electrical connection block of the motor for selective association therewith;

wiring operable to carry the electrical signals,

said wiring presenting terminal ends disposed in the tool body;

a plurality of terminal connecting assemblies configured to associate with the plurality of motor terminals,

said connecting assemblies being in electrical communication with the terminal ends of the wiring,

each connecting assembly operably contacting a respective motor terminal upon association of the tool body with the electrical connection block of the motor; and

circuitry being electrically connected to the wiring and including a time-delay relay element,

said time-delay relay element being configured to sense when the connecting assemblies are operably contacting the respective motor terminals, initiate a delay, and then automatically transmit the electrical signals to the motor controller.

25. The motor programming tool as claimed in claim 24,

said delay of the relay being selectively variable.

26. The motor programming tool as claimed in claim 24,

said circuitry including a power input connectable to a power source and a programming input connectable to a programming unit that generates the electrical signals.

27. The motor programming tool as claimed in claim 24,

said time-delay relay element initiating a delay of approximately 1.2 seconds before completing a circuit to automatically transmit the electrical signals to the motor controller.