Start test electronic device and system and method of use thereof
First Claim
1. A method for monitoring the continuous flow of power delivered by at least one DC direct current starter motor comprising the steps of:
- (a) calibrating a meter relay operably interlinked with a starter battery system and an associated starter control switch;
(b) establishing two set points for said meter relay;
(c) closing said starter battery system and said associated starter control switch causing said starter battery system to discharge through a shunt whereby current is fed into said starter motor;
(i) if said current falls outside a range established by said two set points, then activating a meter relay alarm output; and
,(ii) if said current remains within said range, then said meter relay alarm output is not activated;
(d) interoperably connecting a circuit module, to said starter motor, for applying a test voltage, said test voltage operable effective for determining the possibility of said starter motor'"'"'s failure due to deterioration of the electrical insulation of said starter motor'"'"'s windings;
(e) wherein said interoperably connecting step further comprises the steps of;
(1) applying a DC test voltage within the range of 50-500 VDC to said starter motor windings;
(2) measuring the ohmic resistance of said starter motor windings to determine a measured value;
(3) comparing said measured resistance value with a determined profile value to determine a compared value; and
(I) if said measured value is proximate to said profile value, then determining that failure of said starter motor due to said insulation is not imminent; and
(II) if said measured value is low relative to said profile value. then determining that failure of said starter motor due to said insulation is imminent.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is a method and system for monitoring the continuous flow of power delivered by multiple DC Direct current operated starter motors used to start engine driven electrical generators. The method and system comprise the closing of a starter battery system and an associated starter control switch, causing the starter battery system to discharge through a shunt whereby current is fed into a starter motor. The shunt is optionally provided as a precision resistor with a pre-calibrated voltage drop in millivolts DC proportional to a current passing through it. The shunt directs current to a meter relay, which is calibrated by establishing two set points, or desired trigger ranges, for the meter relay. If the current falls outside a range established by the two set points, then a meter relay alarm output is activated; and, if the current remains within the range, then the meter relay alarm output is not activated. The meter relay alarm output is, optionally, a dry contact which activates a signal device.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method for monitoring the continuous flow of power delivered by at least one DC direct current starter motor comprising the steps of:
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(a) calibrating a meter relay operably interlinked with a starter battery system and an associated starter control switch; (b) establishing two set points for said meter relay; (c) closing said starter battery system and said associated starter control switch causing said starter battery system to discharge through a shunt whereby current is fed into said starter motor; (i) if said current falls outside a range established by said two set points, then activating a meter relay alarm output; and
,(ii) if said current remains within said range, then said meter relay alarm output is not activated; (d) interoperably connecting a circuit module, to said starter motor, for applying a test voltage, said test voltage operable effective for determining the possibility of said starter motor'"'"'s failure due to deterioration of the electrical insulation of said starter motor'"'"'s windings; (e) wherein said interoperably connecting step further comprises the steps of; (1) applying a DC test voltage within the range of 50-500 VDC to said starter motor windings; (2) measuring the ohmic resistance of said starter motor windings to determine a measured value; (3) comparing said measured resistance value with a determined profile value to determine a compared value; and (I) if said measured value is proximate to said profile value, then determining that failure of said starter motor due to said insulation is not imminent; and (II) if said measured value is low relative to said profile value. then determining that failure of said starter motor due to said insulation is imminent. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system for monitoring the continuous flow of power delivered by at least one multiple starter motor comprising:
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(a) a starter battery system having a starter battery control switch; (b) an interoperably connected shunt through which said starter battery system is discharged; (c) an interoperably connected voltage monitor and signal conditioner; (d) an interoperably connected starter motor into which a current is fed by said discharge; (e) an operably connected meter relay, and wherein said meter relay further comprises two set points; and
,(f) an interoperably connected meter relay alarm output, wherein; (i) if said current falls outside a range established by said two set points, then activating said meter relay alarm output; and
,(ii) if said current remains within said range, then said meter relay alarm output is not activated; (g) a circuit module, interoperably connected to said starter motor, for applying a test voltage, effective for determining the possibility of said starter motor'"'"'s failure due to deterioration of the electrical insulation of said starter motor'"'"'s windings; (h) wherein said circuit module further comprises; (I) application means for applying a DC test voltage within the range of 50-500 VDC to said starter motor windings; (II) measuring means for measuring the ohmic resistance of said starter motor windings to determine a measured value; (II) comparing means for comparing said measured resistance value with a profile value to determine a compared value; and (1) if said measured value is proximate to said profile value, then determining that failure of said starter motor due to said insulation is not imminent; and (2) if said measured value is low relative to said profile value., then determining that failure of said starter motor due to said insulation is imminent. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for monitoring the continuous flow of power delivered by at least one DC direct current starter motor, comprising the steps of:
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(a) closing a starter battery system and an associated starter control switch causing said starter battery system to discharge through a shunt whereby current is fed into a starter motor; (b) directing DC current flow through a Hall Effect having a wire cable throughput; (c) inducing a current signal from said wire cable throughput wherein said current signal can be read by a control and alarm circuit; (d) calibrating said control and alarm circuit; (e) establishing two set points for said control and alarm circuit; and
,(i) if said current falls outside a range established by said two set points, then activating a meter relay alarm output; (ii) if said current remains within said range, then said meter relay alarm output is not activated; and establishing a hysteresis at said control and alarm circuit upon the starting of an engine wherein said control and alarm circuit will ignore for a period of time a high current surge as said starter motor begins to turn. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A system for monitoring the continuous flow of power delivered by at least one DC direct current starter motor each comprising:
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(a) a starter battery system having a starter battery control switch; (b) a Hall Effect Device through which said starter battery system is discharged; (c) a starter motor into which a current is fed by said discharge; (d) a current alarm circuit further comprising; (i) a control and alarm circuit, wherein said control and alarm circuit is capable of establishing a current baseline; and (ii) self calibrating around said current baseline two set points (one high and one low); and (e) a relay alarm output, wherein (i) if said current falls outside a range established by said two set points on said current baseline, then activating said meter current alarm output; and
,(ii) if said current remains within said range, then said current alarm relay output is not activated; and wherein said control and alarm circuit is capable of establishing a hysteresis upon the starting of an engine wherein said control and alarm circuit will ignore for a period of time a high current surge as said starter motor beings to turn to drive said engine. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification