Starter motor testing device

• US 9,157,405 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2012
• Issued: 10/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MTU America, Inc. (Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc)
• Original Assignee: MTU America, Inc. (Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc)
• Inventors: Matlock, Adam
• Primary Examiner(s): Koval, Melissa
• Assistant Examiner(s): MCDONNOUGH, COURTNEY G
• Application Number:
  US13/663,110
• Publication Number:
  US 20140117992A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,079 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/006 using a plurality of electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/087 Details of the switching means in starting circuits, e.g. relays or electronic switches
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/108 for diagnosis of the starter or its components
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/12 Starting of engines by means of mobile, e.g. portable, starting sets

Abstract

A control test device for testing a dual starter system has a first and a second starter. Each starter has a starter electrical interface including a starter start signal interface and a starter status signal interface. The control test device includes a first and a second communication interface for communicating a test signal to the first and second starter respectively. Each communication interface includes an electrical interface for interfacing with the first and second starter electrical interface. The test signal includes a start signal and a status signal. The start signal interfaces with one of the first and second starters start signal interface. The status signal sends a simulated status of the other one of the first and second starters to the one of the first and second starters start interface. A switch mechanism commands the start signal to one of the first and second starters.

Claims

1. A control test device for testing a dual starter system having a first and a second starter, each starter having a starter electrical interface including a starter crank signal interface and a starter status signal interface, the control test device comprising:

a first communication interface for communicating an electrical test signal to the first starter, wherein the first communication interface includes a first electrical interface for interfacing with the first starter electrical interface;

a second communication interface for communicating the electrical test signal to the second starter, wherein the second communication interface includes a second electrical interface for interfacing with the second starter electrical interface;

a switch mechanism operable to direct the electrical test signal to the first starter or the second starter, each of the first and second starters electrically interlocked from starting unless the corresponding starter receives a neighbor-status signal indicating that the other starter is operational; and

an electric circuit for generating the electrical test signal directed to the first starter to test whether the first starter is inoperable when the switch mechanism is operable in the first position, the electrical test signal including;

an electric crank signal communicated to the crank signal interface of the first starter to start the first starter; and

an electric status signal communicated to the starter status signal interface of the first starter, the electric status signal simulating the neighbor-status signal indicating that the second starter is operational.

2. The control test device of claim 1, further comprising an indicator for indicating that the control test device sends the test signal to the one of the first and second starters.

3. The control test device of claim 1, further comprising a first indicator for indicating that the first communication interface communicates with the first starter.

4. The control test device of claim 1, further comprising a second indicator for indicating that the second communication interface communicates with the second starter.

5. The control test device of claim 1, wherein one of the first and second starters inputs an input starter signal to the control testing device and the control testing device loops back the signal as the starter status signal.

6. The control test device of claim 1, further comprising a first and a second cable harness, each cable harness connecting to the first and second communication interfaces respectively.

7. The control test device of claim 1, wherein the first and second communication interfaces each comprising a pinout having 5 pins.

8. The control test device of claim 1, wherein the first and second communication interfaces each comprising spring clips.

9. The control test device of claim 1, wherein the control test device is a hand-held device.

10. A control test device for testing a dual starter system having a first and a second starter, each starter having a starter electrical interface including a starter start signal interface and a starter status signal interface, the control test device comprising:

first means for communicating a test signal to the first starter;

second means for communicating the test signal to the second starter;

means for directing the test signal to the first starter or the second starter, each of the first and second starters electrically interlocked from starting unless the corresponding starter receives a neighbor-status signal indicating that the other starter is operational; and

means for commanding the test signal to the first starter to test whether the first starter is inoperable, wherein the test signal includes;

a start signal communicated to the start signal interface of the first starter to start the first starter; and

a status signal communicated to the status signal interface of the first starter, the status signal simulating the neighbor-status signal indicating that the second starter is operational.

11. The control test device of claim 10, further comprising means for indicating that the control test device sends the test signal.

12. The control test device of claim 10, further comprising a first means for indicating that the first starter receives the test signal.

13. The control test device of claim 10, further comprising:

means for commanding the test signal to the second starter to test whether the second starter is inoperable, wherein the test signal includes;

a start signal communicated to the start signal interface of the second starter to start the second starter; and

a status signal communicated to the status signal interface of the second starter, the status signal simulating the neighbor-status signal indicating that the first starter is operational; and

a second means for indicating that the second starter receives the test signal.

14. The control test device of claim 10, wherein one of the first and second starters inputs an input starter signal to the control testing device and the control testing device loops back the signal as the starter status signal.

15. The control test device of claim 10, further comprising a first and a second cable harness, each cable harness connecting to the first and second means for communicating respectively.

16. The control test device of claim 10, wherein the first and second means for communicating the test signal each comprising a pinout having 5 pins.

17. The control test device of claim 10, wherein the first and second means for communicating the test signal each comprising spring clips.

18. The control test device of claim 10, wherein the control test device is a hand-held device.

19. A testing method for testing a dual starter system having a first and a second starter, each starter having a starter electrical interface including a starter start signal interface and a starter status signal interface, the testing method comprising:

communicating a test signal to the first starter when a switch mechanism is operable in a first position;

communicating the test signal to the second starter when the switch mechanism is operable in a second position, each of the first and second starters electrically interlocked from starting unless the corresponding starter receives a neighbor-status signal indicating that the other starter is operational; and

commanding the start signal to the first starter to test whether the first starter is inoperable, the test signal including;

an electric crank signal communicated to the starter start signal interface of the first starter to start the first starter; and

an electric status signal communicated to the starter status signal interface of the first starter, the electric status signal simulating the neighbor-status signal indicating that the second starter is operational.

20. The testing method of claim 19, further comprising indicating that the control test device sends the test signal.

21. The testing method of claim 19, further comprising indicating that the start signal is sent to the first starter.

22. The testing method of claim 19, further comprising indicating that the start signal is sent to the second starter.

23. The testing method of claim 19, wherein one of the starters inputs an input starter signal to the control testing device and the control testing device loops back the signal as the starter status signal.