CA2137935C - Trailer lamp function test device - Google Patents
Trailer lamp function test device Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2137935C CA2137935C CA002137935A CA2137935A CA2137935C CA 2137935 C CA2137935 C CA 2137935C CA 002137935 A CA002137935 A CA 002137935A CA 2137935 A CA2137935 A CA 2137935A CA 2137935 C CA2137935 C CA 2137935C
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- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- coupled
- trailer
- energizer
- assembly
- socket
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
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Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01R—MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES
- G01R31/00—Arrangements for testing electric properties; Arrangements for locating electric faults; Arrangements for electrical testing characterised by what is being tested not provided for elsewhere
- G01R31/44—Testing lamps
Abstract
A trailer lamp function test device comprises a socket (10, 11) adapted to receive the pins of a plug of a trailer vehicle. The test device further comprises an electric energiser (17) and a rotary selector switch (15) which can be positioned selectively to test all trailer circuits of the trailer vehicle and their respective signal lamps by energising of respective test lamps (13, 14: 20, 21, 23, 24, 25) for circuit continuity. At the same time, the part of the plug-and-socket connection on a tractor vehicle may be tested to ensure that energy is transmitted when the respective switches ate closed by a driver.
Description
TRAILER LAMP FUNCTION TEST DEVICE
This invention relates to a device which will simplify the testing of trailer lamp functions.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
At the present time, it is usually required to have two people to test the functions of a trailer light configuration, one being required to stand behind the trailer and the other being required to operate the controls within the cabin of a vehicle (for example a truck), including the turning lamps, the tail light and the brake light.
Particularly with the brake light, it is not reasonably feasible for a single operator to ascertain whether or not his brake lights are functioning.
Ho~;,ever, ~here is frequently 3 requirert'erZt to test lamps of a number of trailer vehicles which may be in a yard, and otherwise ready to depart. In such cases, the time delays associated with such testing are unacceptable. The alternative used has been for a large battery to be wheeled from trailer to trailer, and the function of each trailer lamp circuit to be separately tested. This alternative is still unacceptably slow, and often very inconvenient.
In most countries however it is a legal requirement that all trailer lights should function, and therefore it is necessary for tests to be undertaken, usually before each time a trailer is used.
Problems with circuits of various types have been recognised, and reference may be made to Australian Patent 488353 (Lansing Bagnall) dealing with monitoring current leakage in electric trucks, Australian Patent 501976 (Deere &
Company), dealing with determination of continuity in an electric circuit, and Australian Patent 495113 (General Signal Corporation) dealing with ground fault detection.
Other less relevant prior art includes Australian Patents 545161 (Lockheed), 501552 (Westinghouse), 497189 (Secheron) and 585846 (Glover).
None of these however employs the combination of separate testing of the circuits of a trailer by energising those circuits through a lamp or lamps, nor testing a tractor plug to ensure existence of available energy for the circuits.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In this invention, a simple device can be plugged into a socket, or receive the plug of a plug and socket tractor/trailer connection, and test all the trailer circuits and their respective signal lamps by energising a test lamp from an energiser carried by the device through the trailer circuits to ground, by rotation of a rotary switch, or alternatively energise a number of test lamps simultaneously or sequentially by a push button operation, a separate test lamp for each trailer circuit. At the same time, the part of the plug-and-socket connection on a tractor vehicle may be tested to ensure that energy is transmitted when the respective switches are closed by a driver.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a tractor/trailer lamp circuit continuity test device for a tractor and trailer, the tractor having tractor circuits coupled to a tractor socket and the trailer having trailer circuits coupled to a trailer plug, the tractor/trailer lamp circuit continuity test device comprising:
a) an assembly plug adapted for removable connection to the tractor socket, the assembly plug comprising a ground pin and a plurality of other pins;
b) an assembly socket adapted for removable connection to the trailer plug, the assembly socket comprising a ground socket sleeve and a plurality of other socket sleeves;
c) a ground conductor coupled in common to the ground pin and to the ground socket sleeve;
d) a plurality of other conductors, each other conductor coupled to a respective one of the other pins and coupled to a respective one of the other socket sleeves;
e) an energizer having a positive terminal and a negative terminal;
f) a switch coupled in series with the energizer;
2a g) a gating diode coupled to bridge across the series-coupled energizer and switch; and h) a plurality of light emitting diodes, wherein each light emitting diode is coupled to a respective one of the other conductors and is coupled in common the series-coupled energizer and switch, wherein the series-coupled energizer and switch is coupled between the ground conductor and the light emitting diodes such that the positive terminal of the energizer is coupled to the ground conductor and the negative terminal of the energizer is coupled in common to each light emitting diode, wherein activation of a continuous one of the tractor circuits energies a respective one of the light emitting diodes when the assembly plug is connected to the tractor socket by creating a respective circuit through a respective one of the other pins, the respective one light emitting diode, the grating diode, and the ground pin, and wherein activation of the switch energizes a respective one of the light emitting diodes for a continuous one of the trailer circuits when the assembly socket is connected to the trailer plug by creating a respective circuit from the positive terminal of the energizer and through the ground socket sleeve, the respective one continuous trailer circuit, a respective one of the other socket sleeves, and the respective one light emitting diode to the negative terminal of the energizer.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides an assembly for testing circuit continuity, the assembly comprising:
a) An energizer having a positive terminal and a negative terminal;
b) a first electrical connector;
c) a second electrical connector;
d) a first conductor coupled in common to the first electrical connector, to the second electrical connector, and to the positive terminal of the energizer;
e) a plurality of third electrical connectors;
f) a plurality of fourth electrical connectors;
2b g) a plurality of second conductors, each second conductor coupled to a respective one of the third electrical connectors and coupled to a respective one of the fourth electrical connectors; and h) a plurality of test lamps, each test lamp coupled to a respective one of the second conductors and coupled in common to the negative terminal of the energizer, wherein a respective one of the test lamps is energized when the second electrical connector and a respective one of the fourth electrical connectors are connected to continuous circuitry to create a respective circuit from the positive terminal of the energizer and through the second electrical connectors, and the respective one test lamp to the negative terminal of the energizer.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DRAWINGS
Two embodiments of the invention are described hereunder in some detail with reference to and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:
Fig 1 is a fragmentary drawing showing the use of the test device when inserted between a tractor and trailer vehicle;
Fig 2a is a top view of a seven pin trailer socket assembly;
Fig 2b is an end view;
Fig 2c is a side view;
Fig 3 is a circuit diagram of a first embodiment utilising a rotary switch;
Fig 4a is a top view of a device according to a second and preferred embodiment;
Fig 4b is an end view of the male portion of Fig. 4a;
Fig 4c is an end view of the female portion of Fig. 4a;
Fig 5 is a circuit diagram which illustrates the circuit of the preferred second embodiment;
Fig 6 illustrates a further embodiment utilising a sequencer to control energising the various circuits of a trailer in sequence; and ~CT/AU~4/00190 Fig 7 illustrates the embodiment of Fig 6 with the additional feature of an inverter to provide a 12 voltl24 volt option.
Referring to the first embodiment of Figs 2a, 2b, 2c and 3, a seven pin trailer . ,.
r socket assembly 10 comprises a plurality of plug pin sockets 11 (within a dome shaped removable cover) adapted to receive the pins of a plug of a trailer vehicle (not shown), the sockets 11 being arranged in a conventional seven pin configuration. A seven pin configuration socket is standard, since it will receive either a five pin plug or a seven pin plug both of wf~ich are also standard and conventional. Qther configurations can be readily adapted by changing socket arrangements.
The socket assembly 10 comprises a green light emitting diode 13, ared light emitting diode 14, and a rotary selector switch 15.
Fig 3 illustrates the very simple circuit diagram wherein a 9 volt energiser has its negative lead going directly to pin 6 (the ground or earth pin of the plug 11, constituting a commowconductor), and the wiper of the rotary selector switch selectively contacts sockets 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the rotary twitch 15 (for a five pin mode trailer) or 1 through to 6 (for a seven pin mode): The red LED 14 indicates the existence of sufficient EMF of energiser 17, and the green LED indicates continuity of circuit from the plug through the tamps and back to the plug. It may be noted that the rotary selector switch 15 provides an automafiic separation of the tested circuits, which is otherwise required to be separated by gating diodes as described hereunder.
The second embodiment which is illustrated in Figs 1, 4a, 4b, 4c and 5 illuminates the light emitting diodes L1 through to L6 (identified by numerals 20 to 25) simultaneously when they are being checked. In order to do this, there i~
provided an auxiliary plug and socket assembly 23 which has a plurality of pins 29 (Fig 4b) at its left hand end which plug into a socket 30 at the rear end of a tractor vehicle 31 and sockets 32 at its right hand end (Fig 4c) which receive a plug 33 from a trailer vehicle. The s~ckets 32 are identical to the original equipment 30 so that the _.. _ _ . . :,..:, , . " .: . .. .:.,.. ., ,:, . . ,...;. . : .,.- - :::, ~. , .:; ;: ,:
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n. ., , auxiliary assembly 28 can be removed and the plug 33 repositioned in the socket 30 after a test has been conducted. This embodiment provides a facility whereby separate testing of tractor and trailer individually can take place, as wsll as when ' they are caupled together.
Fig 5 illustrates the electrical circuit for the second and preferred embodiment, wherein a 9 volt energiser 17 energises the respective trailer circuit through the LEDs 21 to 25 simultaneously upon closure of the push button switch 34, each through a respective resistor 35 and gating diode 36. Because ground (earth) is common to all circuits, it is necessary for the polarity of energiser 17 to be reversed with respect to the main power supply from the vehicle. The diode 37 provides a by-pass gate for the energiser 17.
The second embodiment is preferred to the first, mainly because it provides a function for checking the wiring firom the tractor vehicle battery to the socket 30.
Whether or not the plug 33 is removed, and the tractor tail light switch turned ON, the tractor tail light socket of plug 30 will be illuminated via diode 36, resistor 35, diode 20 (the first light emitting diode) and gating diode 37 to ground, and this is repeated for all the other light emitting diodes 21 through to 25 for the respective trailer coupled circuits. The auxiliary plug and socket assembly is provided with conductors 38 which extend between corresponding pins 29 and sockets 32, sa that in use the trailer circuits and tractor circuits are placed in parallel. If however, the auxiliary assembly 28 is removed from socket 30, push button 34 will cause simultaneous illumination of respective light emitting diodes 20 through,to 25 if all the trailer circuits are sound. Thus circuit continuity is readily checked for both tractor and trailer vehicles. I~bsence of illumination on a corresponding LED
, indicates a circuit fault.
Even if al! the tractor vehicle circuits are energised simultaneously and the switch 34 i~ closed, the additional current is not sufficient to damage the light emitting diodes.
Diode 37 protects the battery from being reverse charged if flat.
..
WO 94!24577 ~[I ~ 4y~~~ PCTlAU94l00190 With the arrangement shown, LED's 20, 21, 22 and 23 will be illuminated, for example upon closure of switch 34 for a seven pin configuration, and LED's 22, 23, 24 and 25 for a five pin configuration. This provides a convenient check of the trailer and tractor wiring mode.
Figs 6 and 7 illustrate two alternative circuits which are basically very similar Fig 7, however, includes an inverter circuit which will ensure full voltage is always available for both a 24 and 12 volt system, Fig 7 being preferred because many prime movers requiring use of the testing facilities of this invention are wired for 24 volts.
Referring first to Fig 6, a switch mode power supply 41 of known type provides a charger for charging a 12 volt energiser 42 through a diode 43, and a second gating diode 44 feeds the switches 45 through to 49 associated with a tractor light circuit, and switches switching through the Schotky diodes 51 and the respective light emitting diode 52 and their respective resistors 53 to the trailer lights 45b through to 49b.
A sequence of 56 is initiated by a switch button 57 and sequentially closes the switches 45 through to 49 and repeats for a time which is controlled by a time-out timer clock 58, the sequences and timer being conventional and in accordance with prior art. The time-out timer, for example, can limit the time of operation of a sequences 56 to say 25 seconds which would normally give an operator time to ensure that all lights were operative, the lights coming on in tum as the various switches close.
The alternative to the Fig 6 configuration is shown, in Fig 7 which enables a single tester to be used for both 12 and 24 volts, there being provided a change over switch 60 for that purpose. Since most of the elements are similar in Figs 6 and 7, similar elements bear similar designation numerals. However, the changeover switch 60 introduces the elements of inverter 61 of known type which performs the function of providing alternatively the 12 volt or 24 volt supply for testing the lights 46b.
This invention relates to a device which will simplify the testing of trailer lamp functions.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
At the present time, it is usually required to have two people to test the functions of a trailer light configuration, one being required to stand behind the trailer and the other being required to operate the controls within the cabin of a vehicle (for example a truck), including the turning lamps, the tail light and the brake light.
Particularly with the brake light, it is not reasonably feasible for a single operator to ascertain whether or not his brake lights are functioning.
Ho~;,ever, ~here is frequently 3 requirert'erZt to test lamps of a number of trailer vehicles which may be in a yard, and otherwise ready to depart. In such cases, the time delays associated with such testing are unacceptable. The alternative used has been for a large battery to be wheeled from trailer to trailer, and the function of each trailer lamp circuit to be separately tested. This alternative is still unacceptably slow, and often very inconvenient.
In most countries however it is a legal requirement that all trailer lights should function, and therefore it is necessary for tests to be undertaken, usually before each time a trailer is used.
Problems with circuits of various types have been recognised, and reference may be made to Australian Patent 488353 (Lansing Bagnall) dealing with monitoring current leakage in electric trucks, Australian Patent 501976 (Deere &
Company), dealing with determination of continuity in an electric circuit, and Australian Patent 495113 (General Signal Corporation) dealing with ground fault detection.
Other less relevant prior art includes Australian Patents 545161 (Lockheed), 501552 (Westinghouse), 497189 (Secheron) and 585846 (Glover).
None of these however employs the combination of separate testing of the circuits of a trailer by energising those circuits through a lamp or lamps, nor testing a tractor plug to ensure existence of available energy for the circuits.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In this invention, a simple device can be plugged into a socket, or receive the plug of a plug and socket tractor/trailer connection, and test all the trailer circuits and their respective signal lamps by energising a test lamp from an energiser carried by the device through the trailer circuits to ground, by rotation of a rotary switch, or alternatively energise a number of test lamps simultaneously or sequentially by a push button operation, a separate test lamp for each trailer circuit. At the same time, the part of the plug-and-socket connection on a tractor vehicle may be tested to ensure that energy is transmitted when the respective switches are closed by a driver.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a tractor/trailer lamp circuit continuity test device for a tractor and trailer, the tractor having tractor circuits coupled to a tractor socket and the trailer having trailer circuits coupled to a trailer plug, the tractor/trailer lamp circuit continuity test device comprising:
a) an assembly plug adapted for removable connection to the tractor socket, the assembly plug comprising a ground pin and a plurality of other pins;
b) an assembly socket adapted for removable connection to the trailer plug, the assembly socket comprising a ground socket sleeve and a plurality of other socket sleeves;
c) a ground conductor coupled in common to the ground pin and to the ground socket sleeve;
d) a plurality of other conductors, each other conductor coupled to a respective one of the other pins and coupled to a respective one of the other socket sleeves;
e) an energizer having a positive terminal and a negative terminal;
f) a switch coupled in series with the energizer;
2a g) a gating diode coupled to bridge across the series-coupled energizer and switch; and h) a plurality of light emitting diodes, wherein each light emitting diode is coupled to a respective one of the other conductors and is coupled in common the series-coupled energizer and switch, wherein the series-coupled energizer and switch is coupled between the ground conductor and the light emitting diodes such that the positive terminal of the energizer is coupled to the ground conductor and the negative terminal of the energizer is coupled in common to each light emitting diode, wherein activation of a continuous one of the tractor circuits energies a respective one of the light emitting diodes when the assembly plug is connected to the tractor socket by creating a respective circuit through a respective one of the other pins, the respective one light emitting diode, the grating diode, and the ground pin, and wherein activation of the switch energizes a respective one of the light emitting diodes for a continuous one of the trailer circuits when the assembly socket is connected to the trailer plug by creating a respective circuit from the positive terminal of the energizer and through the ground socket sleeve, the respective one continuous trailer circuit, a respective one of the other socket sleeves, and the respective one light emitting diode to the negative terminal of the energizer.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides an assembly for testing circuit continuity, the assembly comprising:
a) An energizer having a positive terminal and a negative terminal;
b) a first electrical connector;
c) a second electrical connector;
d) a first conductor coupled in common to the first electrical connector, to the second electrical connector, and to the positive terminal of the energizer;
e) a plurality of third electrical connectors;
f) a plurality of fourth electrical connectors;
2b g) a plurality of second conductors, each second conductor coupled to a respective one of the third electrical connectors and coupled to a respective one of the fourth electrical connectors; and h) a plurality of test lamps, each test lamp coupled to a respective one of the second conductors and coupled in common to the negative terminal of the energizer, wherein a respective one of the test lamps is energized when the second electrical connector and a respective one of the fourth electrical connectors are connected to continuous circuitry to create a respective circuit from the positive terminal of the energizer and through the second electrical connectors, and the respective one test lamp to the negative terminal of the energizer.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DRAWINGS
Two embodiments of the invention are described hereunder in some detail with reference to and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:
Fig 1 is a fragmentary drawing showing the use of the test device when inserted between a tractor and trailer vehicle;
Fig 2a is a top view of a seven pin trailer socket assembly;
Fig 2b is an end view;
Fig 2c is a side view;
Fig 3 is a circuit diagram of a first embodiment utilising a rotary switch;
Fig 4a is a top view of a device according to a second and preferred embodiment;
Fig 4b is an end view of the male portion of Fig. 4a;
Fig 4c is an end view of the female portion of Fig. 4a;
Fig 5 is a circuit diagram which illustrates the circuit of the preferred second embodiment;
Fig 6 illustrates a further embodiment utilising a sequencer to control energising the various circuits of a trailer in sequence; and ~CT/AU~4/00190 Fig 7 illustrates the embodiment of Fig 6 with the additional feature of an inverter to provide a 12 voltl24 volt option.
Referring to the first embodiment of Figs 2a, 2b, 2c and 3, a seven pin trailer . ,.
r socket assembly 10 comprises a plurality of plug pin sockets 11 (within a dome shaped removable cover) adapted to receive the pins of a plug of a trailer vehicle (not shown), the sockets 11 being arranged in a conventional seven pin configuration. A seven pin configuration socket is standard, since it will receive either a five pin plug or a seven pin plug both of wf~ich are also standard and conventional. Qther configurations can be readily adapted by changing socket arrangements.
The socket assembly 10 comprises a green light emitting diode 13, ared light emitting diode 14, and a rotary selector switch 15.
Fig 3 illustrates the very simple circuit diagram wherein a 9 volt energiser has its negative lead going directly to pin 6 (the ground or earth pin of the plug 11, constituting a commowconductor), and the wiper of the rotary selector switch selectively contacts sockets 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the rotary twitch 15 (for a five pin mode trailer) or 1 through to 6 (for a seven pin mode): The red LED 14 indicates the existence of sufficient EMF of energiser 17, and the green LED indicates continuity of circuit from the plug through the tamps and back to the plug. It may be noted that the rotary selector switch 15 provides an automafiic separation of the tested circuits, which is otherwise required to be separated by gating diodes as described hereunder.
The second embodiment which is illustrated in Figs 1, 4a, 4b, 4c and 5 illuminates the light emitting diodes L1 through to L6 (identified by numerals 20 to 25) simultaneously when they are being checked. In order to do this, there i~
provided an auxiliary plug and socket assembly 23 which has a plurality of pins 29 (Fig 4b) at its left hand end which plug into a socket 30 at the rear end of a tractor vehicle 31 and sockets 32 at its right hand end (Fig 4c) which receive a plug 33 from a trailer vehicle. The s~ckets 32 are identical to the original equipment 30 so that the _.. _ _ . . :,..:, , . " .: . .. .:.,.. ., ,:, . . ,...;. . : .,.- - :::, ~. , .:; ;: ,:
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n. ., , auxiliary assembly 28 can be removed and the plug 33 repositioned in the socket 30 after a test has been conducted. This embodiment provides a facility whereby separate testing of tractor and trailer individually can take place, as wsll as when ' they are caupled together.
Fig 5 illustrates the electrical circuit for the second and preferred embodiment, wherein a 9 volt energiser 17 energises the respective trailer circuit through the LEDs 21 to 25 simultaneously upon closure of the push button switch 34, each through a respective resistor 35 and gating diode 36. Because ground (earth) is common to all circuits, it is necessary for the polarity of energiser 17 to be reversed with respect to the main power supply from the vehicle. The diode 37 provides a by-pass gate for the energiser 17.
The second embodiment is preferred to the first, mainly because it provides a function for checking the wiring firom the tractor vehicle battery to the socket 30.
Whether or not the plug 33 is removed, and the tractor tail light switch turned ON, the tractor tail light socket of plug 30 will be illuminated via diode 36, resistor 35, diode 20 (the first light emitting diode) and gating diode 37 to ground, and this is repeated for all the other light emitting diodes 21 through to 25 for the respective trailer coupled circuits. The auxiliary plug and socket assembly is provided with conductors 38 which extend between corresponding pins 29 and sockets 32, sa that in use the trailer circuits and tractor circuits are placed in parallel. If however, the auxiliary assembly 28 is removed from socket 30, push button 34 will cause simultaneous illumination of respective light emitting diodes 20 through,to 25 if all the trailer circuits are sound. Thus circuit continuity is readily checked for both tractor and trailer vehicles. I~bsence of illumination on a corresponding LED
, indicates a circuit fault.
Even if al! the tractor vehicle circuits are energised simultaneously and the switch 34 i~ closed, the additional current is not sufficient to damage the light emitting diodes.
Diode 37 protects the battery from being reverse charged if flat.
..
WO 94!24577 ~[I ~ 4y~~~ PCTlAU94l00190 With the arrangement shown, LED's 20, 21, 22 and 23 will be illuminated, for example upon closure of switch 34 for a seven pin configuration, and LED's 22, 23, 24 and 25 for a five pin configuration. This provides a convenient check of the trailer and tractor wiring mode.
Figs 6 and 7 illustrate two alternative circuits which are basically very similar Fig 7, however, includes an inverter circuit which will ensure full voltage is always available for both a 24 and 12 volt system, Fig 7 being preferred because many prime movers requiring use of the testing facilities of this invention are wired for 24 volts.
Referring first to Fig 6, a switch mode power supply 41 of known type provides a charger for charging a 12 volt energiser 42 through a diode 43, and a second gating diode 44 feeds the switches 45 through to 49 associated with a tractor light circuit, and switches switching through the Schotky diodes 51 and the respective light emitting diode 52 and their respective resistors 53 to the trailer lights 45b through to 49b.
A sequence of 56 is initiated by a switch button 57 and sequentially closes the switches 45 through to 49 and repeats for a time which is controlled by a time-out timer clock 58, the sequences and timer being conventional and in accordance with prior art. The time-out timer, for example, can limit the time of operation of a sequences 56 to say 25 seconds which would normally give an operator time to ensure that all lights were operative, the lights coming on in tum as the various switches close.
The alternative to the Fig 6 configuration is shown, in Fig 7 which enables a single tester to be used for both 12 and 24 volts, there being provided a change over switch 60 for that purpose. Since most of the elements are similar in Figs 6 and 7, similar elements bear similar designation numerals. However, the changeover switch 60 introduces the elements of inverter 61 of known type which performs the function of providing alternatively the 12 volt or 24 volt supply for testing the lights 46b.
Claims (13)
1. A tractor/trailer lamp circuit continuity test device for a tractor and trailer, the tractor having tractor circuits coupled to a tractor socket and the trailer having trailer circuits coupled to a trailer plug, the tractor/trailer lamp circuit continuity test device comprising:
a) an assembly plug adapted for removable connection to the tractor socket, the assembly plug comprising a ground pin and a plurality of other pins;
b) an assembly socket adapted for removable connection to the trailer plug, the assembly socket comprising a ground socket sleeve and a plurality of other socket sleeves;
c) a ground conductor coupled in common to the ground pin and to the ground socket sleeve;
d) a plurality of other conductors, each other conductor coupled to a respective one of the other pins and coupled to a respective one of the other socket sleeves;
e) an energizer having a positive terminal and a negative terminal;
f) a switch coupled in series with the energizer;
g) a gating diode coupled to bridge across the series-coupled energizer and switch; and h) a plurality of light emitting diodes, wherein each light emitting diode is coupled to a respective one of the other conductors and is coupled in common the series-coupled energizer and switch, wherein the series-coupled energizer and switch is coupled between the ground conductor and the light emitting diodes such that the positive terminal of the energizer is coupled to the ground conductor and the negative terminal of the energizer is coupled in common to each light emitting diode, wherein activation of a continuous one of the tractor circuits energies a respective one of the light emitting diodes when the assembly plug is connected to the tractor socket by creating a respective circuit through a respective one of the other pins, the respective one light emitting diode, the gating diode, and the ground pin, and wherein activation of the switch energizes a respective one of the light emitting diodes for a continuous one of the trailer circuits when the assembly socket is connected to the trailer plug by creating a respective circuit from the positive terminal of the energizer and through the ground socket sleeve, the respective one continuous trailer circuit, a respective one of the other socket sleeves, and the respective one light emitting diode to the negative terminal of the energizer.
a) an assembly plug adapted for removable connection to the tractor socket, the assembly plug comprising a ground pin and a plurality of other pins;
b) an assembly socket adapted for removable connection to the trailer plug, the assembly socket comprising a ground socket sleeve and a plurality of other socket sleeves;
c) a ground conductor coupled in common to the ground pin and to the ground socket sleeve;
d) a plurality of other conductors, each other conductor coupled to a respective one of the other pins and coupled to a respective one of the other socket sleeves;
e) an energizer having a positive terminal and a negative terminal;
f) a switch coupled in series with the energizer;
g) a gating diode coupled to bridge across the series-coupled energizer and switch; and h) a plurality of light emitting diodes, wherein each light emitting diode is coupled to a respective one of the other conductors and is coupled in common the series-coupled energizer and switch, wherein the series-coupled energizer and switch is coupled between the ground conductor and the light emitting diodes such that the positive terminal of the energizer is coupled to the ground conductor and the negative terminal of the energizer is coupled in common to each light emitting diode, wherein activation of a continuous one of the tractor circuits energies a respective one of the light emitting diodes when the assembly plug is connected to the tractor socket by creating a respective circuit through a respective one of the other pins, the respective one light emitting diode, the gating diode, and the ground pin, and wherein activation of the switch energizes a respective one of the light emitting diodes for a continuous one of the trailer circuits when the assembly socket is connected to the trailer plug by creating a respective circuit from the positive terminal of the energizer and through the ground socket sleeve, the respective one continuous trailer circuit, a respective one of the other socket sleeves, and the respective one light emitting diode to the negative terminal of the energizer.
2. The tractor/trailer lamp circuit continuity test device of claim 1, comprising a plurality of diodes, each coupled in series with a respective one of the light emitting diodes.
3. The tractor/trailer lamp circuit continuity test device of claim 2, comprising a plurality of resistors, each coupled in series with a respective one of the light emitting diodes.
4. An assembly for testing circuit continuity, the assembly comprising:
a) an energizer having a positive terminal and a negative terminal;
b) a first electrical connector;
c) a second electrical connector;
d) a first conductor coupled in common to the first electrical connector, to the second electrical connector, and to the positive terminal of the energizer;
e) a plurality of third electrical connectors;
f) a plurality of fourth electrical connectors;
g) a plurality of second conductors, each second conductor coupled to a respective one of the third electrical connectors and coupled to a respective one of the fourth electrical connectors; and h) a plurality of test lamps, each test lamp coupled to a respective one of the second conductors and coupled in common to the negative terminal of the energizer, wherein a respective one of the test lamps is energized when the second electrical connector and a respective one of the fourth electrical connectors are connected to continuous circuitry to create a respective circuit from the positive terminal of the energizer and through the second electrical connector, the continuous circuitry, the respective one of the fourth electrical connectors, and the respective one test lamp to the negative terminal of the energizer.
a) an energizer having a positive terminal and a negative terminal;
b) a first electrical connector;
c) a second electrical connector;
d) a first conductor coupled in common to the first electrical connector, to the second electrical connector, and to the positive terminal of the energizer;
e) a plurality of third electrical connectors;
f) a plurality of fourth electrical connectors;
g) a plurality of second conductors, each second conductor coupled to a respective one of the third electrical connectors and coupled to a respective one of the fourth electrical connectors; and h) a plurality of test lamps, each test lamp coupled to a respective one of the second conductors and coupled in common to the negative terminal of the energizer, wherein a respective one of the test lamps is energized when the second electrical connector and a respective one of the fourth electrical connectors are connected to continuous circuitry to create a respective circuit from the positive terminal of the energizer and through the second electrical connector, the continuous circuitry, the respective one of the fourth electrical connectors, and the respective one test lamp to the negative terminal of the energizer.
5. The assembly of claim 4, comprising a switch coupled in series with the energizer, wherein activation of the switch energizes the respective one test lamp.
6. The assembly of claim 5, wherein the switch is coupled to the negative terminal of the energizer and is coupled in common to each test lamp.
7. The assembly of claim 4, comprising a bypass gate coupled to bridge across the energizer, wherein activation of continuous circuitry coupled to the first electrical connector and to a respective one of the third electrical connectors energizes a respective one of the test lamps by creating a respective circuit through the respective one of the third electrical connectors, the respective one test lamp, the bypass gate, and the first electrical connector.
8. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the bypass gate is a gating diode.
9. The assembly of claim 4, wherein the test lamps are light emitting diodes.
10. The assembly of claim 4, wherein the first electrical connector and the third electrical connectors are pins.
11. The assembly of claim 4, wherein the second electrical connector and the fourth electrical connectors are sockets.
12. The assembly of claim 4, comprising a plurality of diodes, each coupled in series with a respective one of the test lamps.
13. The assembly of claim 4, comprising a plurality of resistors, each coupled in series with a respective one of the test lamps.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| AUPL8318 | 1993-04-15 | ||
| AUPL831893 | 1993-04-15 | ||
| PCT/AU1994/000190 WO1994024577A1 (en) | 1993-04-15 | 1994-04-15 | Trailer lamp function test device |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2137935A1 CA2137935A1 (en) | 1994-10-27 |
| CA2137935C true CA2137935C (en) | 2000-04-04 |
Family
ID=3776842
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002137935A Expired - Fee Related CA2137935C (en) | 1993-04-15 | 1994-04-15 | Trailer lamp function test device |
Country Status (5)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US5604439A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2137935C (en) |
| DE (1) | DE4492205T1 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2282896B (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1994024577A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN104280658B (en) * | 2014-10-29 | 2017-04-12 | 安徽捷迅光电技术有限公司 | Spray valve wire detection tool |
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| US6265878B1 (en) | 1997-03-20 | 2001-07-24 | Betts Industries, Inc. | Reliable trailer tester |
| US5936407A (en) * | 1997-06-30 | 1999-08-10 | Borland; Leslie R. | Intravehicular auto harness integrity tester with switch |
| US5831436A (en) * | 1997-07-14 | 1998-11-03 | Borland; Leslie R. | Intravehicular auto harness integrity tester |
| US5990788A (en) * | 1997-10-14 | 1999-11-23 | Syracuse; Carmelo R. | Tester for automotive trailer light systems |
| US6054849A (en) | 1997-10-17 | 2000-04-25 | Collier; Stephen D. | Electrical testing device |
| US6259170B1 (en) * | 1998-06-15 | 2001-07-10 | Draw-Tite, Inc. | Bi-color led trailer connector circuit protector and indicator |
| US6323651B2 (en) | 1998-07-29 | 2001-11-27 | Robert Melendez | Diagnostic trailer center device |
| AU719780B2 (en) * | 1998-09-10 | 2000-05-18 | Dennis Ronald Gravolin | Electrical tell tale system for trailers |
| US6958611B1 (en) * | 1999-10-01 | 2005-10-25 | Meritor Heavy Vehicle Systems, Llc | Diagnostic remote control for electrical components on vehicle |
| US6608486B1 (en) | 2000-06-07 | 2003-08-19 | Richard M. Betts | Automotive test device for detecting a short circuit in automotive wiring |
| US6466028B1 (en) | 2001-04-23 | 2002-10-15 | Transcommunications, Inc. | Trailer tether sensor circuit |
| US6674288B2 (en) * | 2001-09-21 | 2004-01-06 | International Truck Intellectual Property Company, Llc | Vehicle lamp inspection system |
| US7014500B2 (en) * | 2001-10-16 | 2006-03-21 | Adam Belesimo | Testing assembly and method for identifying network circuits |
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| US7498687B2 (en) * | 2005-11-18 | 2009-03-03 | R.A. Phillips Industries, Inc. | Power supply control system for a vehicle trailer |
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| US20080265904A1 (en) * | 2007-04-27 | 2008-10-30 | Russell Biel | Trailer check |
| DE102007022766B3 (en) * | 2007-05-15 | 2008-09-18 | Knorr-Bremse Systeme für Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH | Circuit arrangement for supplying a current to control devices in vehicles comprises mass lines connected together using a controllable switch and a logic switch for closing the controllable switch when one mass line is interrupted |
| US9020683B1 (en) | 2007-07-06 | 2015-04-28 | Yazaki North America, Inc. | Method and system to detect faults of a trailer electrical system |
| US8947096B1 (en) | 2009-04-10 | 2015-02-03 | Paul Wolf | Trailer light tester |
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| US20120146653A1 (en) * | 2010-12-08 | 2012-06-14 | Mark Rybolt | Trailer Light Testing Apparatus |
| US8816691B2 (en) * | 2012-02-29 | 2014-08-26 | Nissan North America, Inc. | Trailer connection checking device and method |
| US8816697B2 (en) * | 2012-02-29 | 2014-08-26 | Nissan North America, Inc. | Trailer connection checking device and method |
| US9444207B1 (en) | 2015-06-04 | 2016-09-13 | Steve Smith | Ergonomic vehicle trailer electrical connector and circuit indicator |
| US10053002B2 (en) | 2016-04-29 | 2018-08-21 | Nissan North America, Inc. | Trailer light check activation system |
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| US11953560B2 (en) * | 2022-05-12 | 2024-04-09 | Bobby Tagle | Wiring harness testing assembly |
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-
1994
- 1994-04-15 DE DE4492205T patent/DE4492205T1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1994-04-15 CA CA002137935A patent/CA2137935C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1994-04-15 US US08/351,438 patent/US5604439A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1994-04-15 WO PCT/AU1994/000190 patent/WO1994024577A1/en active Application Filing
- 1994-12-08 GB GB9424759A patent/GB2282896B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN104280658B (en) * | 2014-10-29 | 2017-04-12 | 安徽捷迅光电技术有限公司 | Spray valve wire detection tool |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB9424759D0 (en) | 1995-02-15 |
| CA2137935A1 (en) | 1994-10-27 |
| GB2282896B (en) | 1997-05-07 |
| US5604439A (en) | 1997-02-18 |
| GB2282896A (en) | 1995-04-19 |
| WO1994024577A1 (en) | 1994-10-27 |
| DE4492205T1 (en) | 1995-06-01 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| MKLA | Lapsed |