Apparatus for testing starters and alternators

Claim 1

Test apparatus for rotating electrical machinery used in motor vehicle electrical systems comprising in combination, a first fixture for receiving an alternator to be tested, a motor having a drive belt for engaging a drive pulley of the alternator positioned in said fixture, said fixture having manually operable pivoting means for locking said alternator in said fixture and tensioning said belt, a second fixture for receiving a starter to be tested and operable to hold said starter during said test, and electrical circuitry for testing said machinery, electrical leads connected to said circuitry and having terminals thereon for connection to a starter or alternator to be tested, said circuitry including means for connection to a battery for testing said starter, means for energizing the field of said alternator for test, indicators for showing the condition of said machinery under test, and switch means for interlocking said circuitry having a first condition for enabling the testing of alternators while disabling the testing of starters, and a second condition for enabling the testing of starters while disabling the testing of alternators, whereby said rotating electrical machinery may be efficiently inserted, connected, tested and removed providing an indication of the operability thereof, said second fixture comprising a pair of substantially right angle channel sections independently pivoted to form a segmented lower surface enclosed by a pair of upstanding surfaces for receiving said starter, said pivots being located in the respective segments of the lower surface so that positioning a starter in said fixture causes said upstanding surfaces to pivot toward each other thereby to embrace said starter holding the same in position, said pivots being offset from the center of gravity of the associated channel member so that the fixture is automatically biased to an open position when said starter is removed, said alternator being of the type including a mounting flange, said first fixture including a post for slidably receiving said mounting flange and at least one supporting surface for supporting a portion of the alternator case when positioned on said post, said first fixture further including handle means for pivoting said fixture about a center offset from said post whereby said alternator is pivoted to tension said belt and force the case thereof against said supporting surface.