METHOD FOR PERFORMING A DIAGNOSTIC TEST OF AN ALTERNATOR IN A VEHICLE, TEST ARRANGEMENT AND VEHICLE

• US 20150198669A1
• Filed: 12/22/2014
• Published: 07/16/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation (AB Volvo)
• Original Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation (AB Volvo)
• Inventors: LARSSON, Torbjorn, WALL, Emil, THORNGREN, Mats, THORSON, Pelle, MADADI, Aryan
• Granted Patent: US 9,864,011 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/04 the motors being associated with current generators
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/108 for diagnosis of the starter or its components
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/062 Battery current
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/063 Battery voltage
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/064 Battery temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/007 using microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/343 in operation
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/385 Arrangements for measuring battery or accumulator variables for monitoring G01R31/382
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0047 with monitoring or indicating devices or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/14 for charging batteries from dynamo-electric generators driven at varying speed, e.g. on vehicle

Abstract

A method for performing a diagnostic test of an alternator, a test arrangement and a vehicle are provided. The method may include running an engine, providing a signal representative of a pre-determined environmental condition to the alternator, providing an output voltage and output current to a battery based on the pre-determined environmental condition, and determining a battery voltage. The method may also include comparing the determined battery voltage with a pre-defined reference-voltage representative of the pre-determined environmental condition and outputting an approved test result if the difference between the determined battery voltage and the pre-defined reference voltage falls within a predetermined range.

Claims

1. A method for performing a diagnostic test of an alternator of a vehicle comprising an internal combustion engine arranged to drive the alternator and the driven alternator being arranged to charge a battery via an electrical connection thereto, the method comprising:

running the internal combustion engine at idle speed;

providing, by a control unit, a signal representative of a pre-determined environmental condition to the alternator;

providing, by the alternator, an output voltage and output current to the battery based on the pre-determined environmental condition;

determining, by a sensor connected to the battery, a battery voltage;

providing the determined battery voltage to the control unit;

comparing, by the control unit, the determined battery voltage with a pre-defined reference-voltage representative of the pre-determined environmental condition; and

outputting, by the control unit, an approved test result if the difference between the determined battery voltage and the pre-defined reference voltage falls within a predetermined range.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the steps are performed for a plurality of different pre-determined environmental conditions, the method further comprising:

outputting, by the control unit, an approved total test result only if an approved test result is achieved for each of the plurality of different pre-determined environmental conditions.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

selecting the pre-determined environmental condition to represent at least one of a pre-determined temperature and a pre-determined temperature-rang.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

running the internal combustion engine on idle speed for a pre-determined amount of time before providing the signal representative of a pre-determined environmental condition to the alternator.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

minimizing electrical loads and current consumers before providing the signal representative of a pre-determined environmental condition to the alternator.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

controlling the battery charge level to exceed a first predefined level.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

checking if the battery current exceeds a predefined value.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

checking if the alternator load exceeds a predefined value.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

throttling the combustion engine such that it exceeds a predetermined rpm for a predetermined amount of time.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining, by a sensor connected to the battery, at least one of a voltage of respective battery cells and a current load;

providing the determined current load to the control unit.

14. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

selecting the pre-determined environmental condition to represent at least one of a pre-determined temperature and a pre-determined temperature-rang.

15. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

selecting the pre-determined environmental condition to represent at least one of a pre-determined temperature and a pre-determined temperature-rang.

16. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

running the internal combustion engine on idle speed for a pre-determined amount of time before providing the signal representative of a pre-determined environmental condition to the alternator

17. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

running the internal combustion engine on idle speed for a pre-determined amount of time before providing the signal representative of a pre-determined environmental condition to the alternator

18. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

minimizing electrical loads and current consumers before providing the signal representative of a pre-determined environmental condition to the alternator.

19. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

minimizing electrical loads and current consumers before providing the signal representative of a pre-determined environmental condition to the alternator.

20. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

minimizing electrical loads and current consumers before providing the signal representative of a pre-determined environmental condition to the alternator.

10. A test arrangement for performing a diagnostic test of an alternator of a vehicle comprising an internal combustion engine arranged to drive the alternator and the alternator being arranged to charge a battery via an electrical connection thereto, and wherein the battery is connected to a battery sensor for determining at least one of battery voltage, voltage of respective battery cells, and current load, the test arrangement comprising:

a control unit configured to provide a signal representative of a pre-determined environmental condition to the alternator;

wherein the alternator, when driven by the idling internal combustion engine, is configured to provide an output voltage and output current to the battery based on the pre-determined environmental condition;

wherein the sensor is configured to determine a battery voltage and to provide the determined battery voltage to the control unit; and

wherein the control unit is arranged to compare the determined battery voltage with a pre-defined reference-voltage representative of the pre-determined environmental condition and to output an approved test result if the difference between the determined battery voltage and the pre-defined reference voltage falls within a predetermined range.

11. A vehicle comprising a test arrangement according to claim 10.

13. The test arrangement of claim 10 wherein the sensor is configured to determine at least one of a voltage of respective battery cells and a current load, and to provide the determined current load to the control unit.