EP0039122A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Apparatus and method for testing electrical systems of a vehicle
Assignee: Thomas Electronics Ltd
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Filing: 1981-02-19
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2001-02-19
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for testing electrical systems of vehicles has a plurality of test circuits (12,14,16) arranged in parallel across a power supply. A selection switch (18,20,22) is associated with each of the test circuits (12,14,16) and each selection switch allows various items of the electrical system of the vehicle to be connected to the associated test circuit. A master switch 10 operates to connect only one of the circuits (12,14,16) to the power supply at any one time so that only one item of the electrical system of the vehicle may be tested at any one time. The apparatus may be operated manually or may be connected to a control device which allows automatic selection of the item to be tested. In carrying out the testing method, the apparatus is connected to the vehicle and the switches are operated so thattests are performed on different items of the electrical system of the vehicle selectively.
Inventors
- 👤 Leslie Edward George
- 👤 George Vernon Payne
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 12:30
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R31/00; G01R31/005; G01R31/006; G01R31/007
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
114 words
An apparatus for testing electrical systems of a vehicle, characterised in that the apparatus comprises a plurality of test circuits (12, 14, 16) a plurality of connection leads each adapted to be connected to one electrical system of the vehicle and to one of the test circuits, switch means (10, 18, 20, 22) associated with said test circuits and acting on the test circuits (12, 14, 16) so that only one of the electrical systems of the vehicle may be tested at any one time via one of the connection leads by comparison of the property of that electrical system with a reference signal established in one of the test circuits (12, 14, 16).
Claim 2
Independent Claim
114 words
An apparatus for testing electrical systems of a vehicle, characterised in that the apparatus comprises a plurality of test circuits (12, 14, 16) a plurality of connection leads each adapted to be connected to one electrical system of the vehicle and to one of the test circuits, switch means (10, 18, 20, 22) associated with said test circuits and acting on the test circuits (12, 14, 16) so that only one of the electrical systems of the vehicle may be tested at any one time via one of the connection leads by comparison of the property of that electrical system with a reference signal established in one of the test circuits (12, 14, 16).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the switch means includes a master switch (10) adapted selectively to energise one only of the test circuits (12, 14, 16) to establish said reference signal in it.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
71 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein a plurality of connection leads are associated with each of the test circuits (12, 14, 16) and the switch means includes a selection switch (18, 20, 22) associated with each of the test circuits (12, 14, 16) each selection switch (18, 20, 22) being adapted to selectively connect one only of the leads to its associated test circuit (18, 20, 22).
Claim 5
Independent Claim
40 words
An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, including a display associated with at least some of the test circuits (12, 14, 16), the display being provided with three indicators adapted to indicate the result of said comparison.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
35 words
An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the test circuits are adapted to test battery feeds, battery returns, instruments and gauges, solenoids and inductive loads, motors or lighting of the vehicle.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
37 words
An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, further including a control device (30) acting on the switch means (10, 18, 20, 22) so as to permit automatic selection of the system to be tested.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
60 words
An apparatus according to claim 6, further including a memory (36) connected to the control device (30) and s b ring information relevant to at least some of the electrical systems under test, the control device (30) causing information about the selected system to be displayed on a display 34, together with the results of the test of that system.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
149 words
The combination of a vehicle and an apparatus for testing electrical systems of the vehicle, the vehicle being provided with electrical sockets connected to respective testing points in the electrical systems of the vehicle, the apparatus comprising a plurality of electrical connectors each of which is connected to one of the sockets, a plurality of test circuits (12, 14, 16) at least two of said connectors being associated with each test circuit, a sdection switch (18, 20, 22) associated with each test circuit (12, 14, 16) for selectively connecting one only of the connectors to its respective test circuit, and a master switch (10) for selecting one only of the test circuits (12, 14, 16) so that one only of said electrical systems may be tested at any one time by comparison of a property of that electrical system with a reference signal established in the selected test circuit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
149 words
The combination of a vehicle and an apparatus for testing electrical systems of the vehicle, the vehicle being provided with electrical sockets connected to respective testing points in the electrical systems of the vehicle, the apparatus comprising a plurality of electrical connectors each of which is connected to one of the sockets, a plurality of test circuits (12, 14, 16) at least two of said connectors being associated with each test circuit, a sdection switch (18, 20, 22) associated with each test circuit (12, 14, 16) for selectively connecting one only of the connectors to its respective test circuit, and a master switch (10) for selecting one only of the test circuits (12, 14, 16) so that one only of said electrical systems may be tested at any one time by comparison of a property of that electrical system with a reference signal established in the selected test circuit.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
83 words
A method of testing electrical systems of a vehicle comprising: connecting a connection lead to each system to be tested, each of the connection leads being associated with a test circuit; testing one of the electrical systems by comparison of the property of that system with a reference signal established in a selected one of the test circuits, the testing being controlled by switch means such that only one of the electrical systems of the vehicle may be tested at any one time.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
83 words
A method of testing electrical systems of a vehicle comprising: connecting a connection lead to each system to be tested, each of the connection leads being associated with a test circuit; testing one of the electrical systems by comparison of the property of that system with a reference signal established in a selected one of the test circuits, the testing being controlled by switch means such that only one of the electrical systems of the vehicle may be tested at any one time.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 9, wherein each of the electrical systems to be tested is selected sequentially.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
78 words
A method according to claim 9, or claim 10, wherein a plurality of connection leads are associated with each test circuit and the testing includes selecting one of said test circuits and establishing a reference signal therein by operation of a master switch associated with all test circuits and connecting one only of the connector leads associated with the selected test circuit to that test circuit by operation of a selection switch associated with the selected test circuit.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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