Vehicle charging, battery, and starting system analysis method and apparatus

Claim 2

Apparatus for analyzing a vehicle charging and starting system consisting of a starter, a generator having a field terminal, a voltage regulator, a battery having ungrounded and normally grounded terminals, and a battery ground cable, said apparatus comprising in combination: a first cable adapted to be connected to the normally grounded terminal of the battery; a second cable adapted to be connected to the battery ground cable; a third cable adapted to be connected to the ungrounded terminal of the battery; first means for drawing a predetermined amount of current from the battery through the first and third cables and simultaneously measuring the DC voltage between the first and third cables so that the battery capacity, starter cranking voltage, and starter current draw of the system is measured; second means for drawing current from the generator through the second and third cables, and for measuring the DC current that flows from the generator; third means for measuring the DC voltage produced by the voltage regulator between the second and third cables and simultaneously controlling the current flow through the battery so that the voltage produced by the generator increases to the maximum setting of the voltage regulator; and fourth means for connecting a resistance in series with the generator between the first and second cables and simultaneously measuring the AC voltage produced by the generator across the resistor.

Claim 3

Apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first means comprises: DC voltage indicating means; DC current indicating means; an adjustable load resistor; switch means for connecting the series combination of said load resistor and said DC current indicating means between said first and third cables; and switch means for connecting said DC voltage indicating means between said first and third cables.

Claim 4

Apparatus, as claimEd in claim 1, wherein said second means comprises: DC current indicating means; an adjustable load resistor; switch means for operatively connecting said load resistor between said first and third cables; and switch means for operatively connecting said DC current indicating means between said first and second cables.

Claim 5

Apparatus, as claimed in claim 3, wherein said second means further comprises switch means for connecting said DC voltage indicating means between said second and third cables.

Claim 6

Apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said third means comprises: DC voltage indicating means; an adjustable load resistor; an isolating resistor; switch means for operatively connecting said isolating resistor between said first and second cables; switch means for operatively connecting said load resistor between said second and third cables; and switch means for connecting said DC voltage indicating means between said second and third cables.

Claim 7

Apparatus, as claimed in claim 5, wherein the third means further comprises means for interconnecting a relay coil with at least two of said cables, said relay coil being adapted to control the interconnection of the isolating resistor.

Claim 8

Apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fourth means comprises: AC voltage indicating means; switch means for operatively connecting said resistance between said first and second cables; and switch means for connecting said AC voltage indicating means between said second and third cables.

Claim 9

Apparatus, as claimed in claim 7, wherein said fourth means further comprises switch means for operatively connecting a resistor between said second and third cables.

Claim 10

Apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second means further comprises means for electrically connecting said field terminal to one of said cables.

Claim 11

Apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, and further comprising a fixture for use in connection with the normally grounded terminal of the battery, said fixture comprising: frame means defining a bore adapted to receive said normally grounded terminal; means for securing said normally grounded terminal in said bore; means for connecting said first cable to said frame means; a post member adapted to receive said battery ground cable; means for connecting said second cable to said post member; and means comprising electrical insulating material for connecting said post member to said frame means.

Claim 12

Apparatus for analyzing a vehicle charging and starting system consisting of a starter, a generator having a field terminal, a voltage regulator, a battery having ungrounded and normally grounded terminals, and a battery ground cable, said apparatus comprising in combination: a first cable adapted to be connected to the normally grounded terminal of the battery, said first cable comprising a first current conductor and a first voltage-sensing lead that are electrically insulated from each other except at a point adjacent the normally grounded terminal; a second cable adapted to be connected to the battery ground cable, said second cable comprising a second current conductor and a second voltage-sensing lead that are electrically insulated from each other except at a point adjacent the battery ground cable; a third cable adapted to be connected to the ungrounded terminal of the battery, said third cable comprising a third current conductor and a third voltage-sensing lead that are electrically insulated from each other except at a point adjacent the ungrounded terminal; DC voltage indicating means; DC current indicating means; an adjustable load resistor; an isolating resistor; AC voltage indicating means; first means for interconnecting the load resistor and DC current indicating means with at least two of said current conductors, and for interconnecting the DC voltage indicating means with at leAst two of said voltage-sensing leads so that the battery capacity, starter-cranking voltage, and starter current draw of the system is measured; second means for interconnecting the load resistor and DC current-indicating means with at least two of the current conductors so that the current output of the generator is measured; third means for interconnecting the isolating resistor with at least two of said current conductors, and for interconnecting the DC voltage indicating means with at least two of the voltage-sensing leads so that the current flow through the battery is controlled and the voltage produced by the generator increases to the maximum setting of the voltage regulator; and fourth means for interconnecting the isolating resistor and AC voltage indicating means with at least two of said cables so that any periodic pulsating voltage being produced by the generator is detected.

Claim 13

Apparatus for analyzing a vehicle charging and starting system consisting of a starter, a generator having a field terminal, a voltage regulator, a battery having ungrounded and normally grounded terminals, and a battery ground cable, said apparatus comprising in combination: a first cable adapted to be connected to the normally grounded terminal of the battery, said first cable comprising a first current conductor and a first voltage-sensing lead that are electrically insulated from each other except at a point adjacent the normally grounded terminal; a second cable adapted to be connected to the battery ground cable, said second cable comprising a second current conductor and a second voltage-sensing lead that are electrically insulated from each other except at a point adjacent the battery ground cable; a third cable adapted to be connected to the ungrounded terminal of the battery, said third cable comprising a third current conductor and a third voltage-sensing lead that are electrically insulated from each other except at a point adjacent the ungrounded terminal; DC voltage indicating means; DC current indicating means; an adjustable load resistor; an isolating resistor; AC voltage indicating means; first means for interconnecting the load resistor and DC current indicating means with at least two of said current conductors, and for interconnecting the DC voltage indicating means with at leAst two of said voltage-sensing leads so that the battery capacity, starter-cranking voltage, and starter current draw of the system is measured; second means for interconnecting the load resistor and DC current-indicating means with at least two of the current conductors so that the current output of the generator is measured; third means for interconnecting the isolating resistor with at least two of said current conductors, and for interconnecting the DC voltage indicating means with at least two of the voltage-sensing leads so that the current flow through the battery is controlled and the voltage produced by the generator increases to the maximum setting of the voltage regulator; and fourth means for interconnecting the isolating resistor and AC voltage indicating means with at least two of said cables so that any periodic pulsating voltage being produced by the generator is detected.

Claim 14

Apparatus, as claimed in claim 11, wherein said first means comprises: means for connecting the series combination of said DC current indicating means and said load resistor between said first and third current conductors; and means for connecting said DC voltage indicating means between said first and third voltage sensing leads.

Claim 15

Apparatus, as claimed in claim 11, wherein said second means comprises: means for connecting the series combination of said load resistor and a current path between said first and third current conductors; and means for connecting said DC current indicating means between said second current conductor and the junction of said load resistor and said current path.

Claim 16

Apparatus, as claimed in claim 13, wherein the current path is fabricated from manganin.

Claim 17

Apparatus, as claimed in claim 11, wherein said third means comprises: means for connecting the series combination of said isolating resistor and said load resistor between said first and third current conductors; means for connecting a current path between said second current conductor and the junction of said load resistor and said isolating resistor; and means for connecting said DC voltage indicating means between said second and third voltage sensing leads.

Claim 18

Apparatus, as claimed in claim 11, wherein said fourth means comprises: means for connecting said isolating resistor between said first and second current conductors; and means for connecting said AC voltage indicating means between said second and third current conductors.

Claim 21

A method, as claimed in claim 17, wherein the steps are performed in the exact order described in claim 17.

Claim 24

Apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first means comprises means for drawing a predetermined amount of current from the battery through one of the first and third cables and for returning said current to the battery through the other of said first and third cables and for simultaneously measuring the DC voltage between the first and third cables so that the battery capacity, starter-cranking voltage and starter current draw of the system is measured.

Claim 25

Apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second means comprises means for drawing current from the generator through one of the second and third cables and for returning current to the generator through the other of said second and third cables and for measuring the DC current that flows from the generator.