Alternator and starter tester protection apparatus and method

• US 7,336,462 B2
• Filed: 02/22/2005
• Issued: 02/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: SPX Corporation
• Inventors: Xia, Weixing, Raichle, Kurt, Krampitz, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Sherry; Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thomas; Lucy
• Application Number:
  US11/061,451
• Publication Number:
  US 20060092584A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,099 Days
• Field of Search: 361/93.1, 361/93
• US Class Current: 361/93.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/343 in operation
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/023 by short-circuiting

Abstract

An method and apparatus testing an alternator and/or starter assembly including a power source for energizing the alternator and/or starter, a computer processor for monitoring electrical current supplied to energize the alternator and/or starter wherein the computer processor also monitors electrical voltage across the alternator. The invention also includes a first switch coupled to the computer processor which is enabled if excess current is required to energize the alternator; a second switch coupled to the computer processor which is enabled to place a heavy load on an output of the alternator if the voltage exceeds a maximum limit; a third switch coupled to the computer processor which is enabled if the current supplied to energize the starter exceeds a maximum limit.

Claims

1. A method of protecting an alternator and/or starter tester apparatus, comprising:

providing a circuit breaker device in the alternator and/or starter tester apparatus;

energizing an alternator;

monitoring electrical current supplied to energize the alternator;

enabling a shut-off switch if excess current is required to energize the alternator prior to triggering the circuit breaker device;

monitoring an electrical voltage across the alternator with a computer processor, wherein the computer processor comprises a digital signal processor (DSP);

determining whether the voltage exceeds a maximum limit; and

utilizing the computer processor to control placing a heavy load on an output of the alternator if the voltage exceeds the maximum limit until the voltage is dissipated.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

utilizing the computer processor to monitor electrical current supplied to energize the alternator; and

utilizing the computer processor to enable the shut-off switch if excess current is required to energizing the alternator.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

utilizing a switch to enable placing the heavy load on the output of the alternator.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising controlling the switch to enable placing the heavy load via the DSP.

5. A method of protecting an alternator and/or starter tester apparatus, comprising:

providing a circuit breaker device in the alternator and/or starter tester apparatus;

energizing a starter;

monitoring electrical current supplied to energize the starter with a computer processor, wherein the computer processor comprises a digital signal processor (DSP);

allowing the current to peak initially; and

enabling a shut-off switch if the current exceeds a maximum limit with the computer processor prior to triggering the circuit breaker device.

6. A system for protecting an alternator and/or starter tester apparatus, comprising:

means for short-circuiting the alternator and/or starter testing apparatus;

means for energizing an alternator;

means for monitoring electrical current supplied to energize the alternator;

means for terminating power if excess current is required to energize the alternator;

means for monitoring electrical voltage across the alternator, wherein the means for monitoring electrical voltage comprises a computer processor;

means for determining whether the voltage exceeds a maximum limit; and

means for placing a heavy load on an output of the alternator if the voltage exceeds the maximum limit until the voltage is dissipated wherein the means for monitoring electrical current comprises the computer processor, wherein the computer processor comprises a digital signal processor (DSP); and

means for enabling the means for terminating power prior to triggering the short-circuiting means.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the means for terminating power comprises a shut-off switch.

8. The system of claim 6, further comprising:

enabling the shut-off switch via the DSP.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the placing means comprises a switch to enable placing the heavy load on the output of the alternator.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising:

controlling the switch to enable placing the heavy load via the DSP.

11. The system of claim 6, wherein the short-circuiting means comprises a circuit breaker device.

12. The system of claim 6, wherein the means for terminating power comprises a shut-off switch.

13. A system for protecting an alternator and/or starter tester apparatus, comprising:

means for energizing a starter;

means for monitoring electrical current supplied to energize the starter;

means for allowing the current to peak initially;

means for terminating power if the current exceeds a maximum limit;

means for short-circuiting the alternator and/or starter tester apparatus; and

means for enabling the means for terminating power prior to triggering the short-circuiting means, wherein the means for monitoring electrical current comprises a computer processor.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the computer processor comprises a digital signal processor (DSP).

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the means for terminating power comprises a shut-off switch.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the short-circuiting means comprises a circuit breaker device.

17. An apparatus for testing alternators and/or starters comprising:

a power source for energizing the alternator and/or starter;

a circuit breaker device;

a computer processor for monitoring electrical current supplied to energize the alternator and/or starter, said computer processor also monitoring electrical voltage across the alternator;

a first switch coupled to the computer processor which is enabled if excess current is required to energize the alternator, wherein the first switch is enabled prior to triggering the circuit breaker device;

a second switch coupled to the computer processor which is enabled to place a heavy load on an output of the alternator if the voltage exceeds a maximum limit, wherein the heavy load is maintained until the voltage is dissipated;

a third switch coupled to the computer processor which is enabled if the current supplied to energize the starter exceeds a maximum limit, wherein the computer processor comprises a digital signal processor (DSP).