ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TESTING USING A WIRELESS-CONTROLLED LOAD BANK

• US 20090241651A1
• Filed: 03/27/2008
• Published: 10/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Co. LLC (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Co. LLC (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Ehlers, Mark S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,703,315 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/114.580
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/007 using microprocessors or computers

Abstract

A method for testing a circuit of a D.C. electrical system in a motor vehicle that includes connecting a load bank (30) to a D.C. electrical source such as a battery bank (24) or an alternator (26) and wirelessly operating the load bank (36) to set the load that the load bank imposes on the D.C. source during circuit testing.

Claims

1. In a motor vehicle comprising a powerplant in which fuel is combusted to generate heat for operating the powerplant to enable the powerplant to propel the vehicle and to operate electrical equipment in an electrical system of the vehicle that includes an alternator operated by the powerplant for generating electricity to maintain a desired state-of-charge of a D.C. battery bank comprising one or more D.C. batteries, a method for testing the electrical system which comprises the steps of:

connecting a test load bank to positive and negative terminals of one of the battery bank and the alternator;

connecting a service tool for performing the test to the electrical system;

disconnecting all electrical equipment from the battery bank except equipment required for operating the powerplant and maintaining battery bank state-of-charge;

operating the powerplant;

operating the service tool to perform the test;

and during the test, wirelessly operating the battery bank to change the load that the battery bank imposes on the one of the battery bank and the alternator.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the step of connecting a service tool for performing the test to the electrical system comprises placing an electrical coil that is connected to the service tool around one or more cables that connect a positive output terminal of the alternator and a positive terminal of the battery bank.

3. A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein the step of operating the service tool to perform the test comprises measuring electric current flow from the alternator to the battery bank for each of multiple different loads to which the load bank is wirelessly operated.

4. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the step of wirelessly operating the battery bank to change the load that the battery bank imposes on one of the battery bank and the alternator comprises transmitting a radio signal from a radio transmitter to a radio receiver in the load bank to set a condition of one or more switches in the load bank.

5. In a motor vehicle comprising an electrical system that comprises circuits powered by a D.C. electrical source, a method for testing integrity of at least one cable and its connection to a terminal of the D.C. electrical source that comprises the steps of:

connecting a test load bank to a terminal that, in a vehicle circuit, is connected through the at least one cable to the terminal of the D.C. electrical source;

performing a test that comprises measuring one or more electrical parameters of the circuit;

and during the test, transmitting a wireless signal from a transmitter to a receiver at the load bank to operate at least one switch in the load bank to change an operational characteristic of the load bank.

6. A method as set forth in claim 5 wherein the step of transmitting a wireless signal from a transmitter to a receiver at the load bank to operate at least one switch in the load bank to change an operational characteristic of the load bank comprises transmitting a wireless signal that causes the load applied by the load bank to the circuit to change.

7. A method as set forth in claim 5 wherein the step of connecting a test load bank to a terminal that, in a vehicle circuit, is connected through the at least one cable to the terminal of the D.C. electrical source comprises connecting the test load bank to a terminal that, in a vehicle circuit, is connected through the at least one cable to an ungrounded terminal of a D.C. storage battery bank.

8. A method as set forth in claim 5 wherein the step of transmitting a wireless signal from a transmitter to a receiver at the load bank to operate at least one switch in the load bank comprises operating the transmitter while the transmitter is disposed inside an occupant compartment of the motor vehicle.

9. A method as set forth in claim 5 wherein the step of transmitting a wireless signal from a transmitter to a receiver at the load bank to operate at least one switch in the load bank comprises transmitting a radio signal from a radio transmitter to a radio receiver at the load bank.