GB2208444A - Beverage cooler with plug for fault analyser - Google Patents

Abstract

In a beverage cooler, all of the leads to the electrically-operated components of the cooler are brought to a common plug 9 with the leads having a gap which is normally bridged by an external mating (dummy) plug 16, and removal of the plug 16 disconnects the components so that an automatic analyser can be connected in line to form a temporary bridge to reconnect the components in sequence so as to permit the analysis of the electrical characteristics of the components. Detection of a fault is indicated by illuminating a corresponding LED and the test sequence is stopped. <IMAGE>

Description

Electrical Apparatus This invention relates to analysis systems for electrical apparatus for the determination of its condition and/or faults and has particular reference to analysis systems for use in connection with beverage coolers.

Beverage coolers are well known and in particular coolers comprising a water bath containing a product coil through which bevrage to be cooled is passed and a refrigerant coil for cooling liquid in the tank are well known. The liquid in the tank is normally cooled by means of an integral refrigeration system and monitors are provided to detect the build up of ice within the tank from water in the tank and to control the flow of beverage through the product coil and to control agitation of water within the tank.

Because of the mixture of cold water, hot components and their use in public houses where they are subjected to high temperatures followed by long periods of soaking at cooler temperatures, the beverage coolers have to operate in extremely arduous conditions.

It is always possible therefore for faults to develop within a cooler and unless skilled engineers are available to analyse the coolers and determine the faults on site, coolers have to be returned for repair to a central repair location. It is sometimes found that returned coolers have not actually failed, but have been asked to operate in conditions which are simply outside their operating profile.

By the present invention, there is provided electrical apparatus having a plurality of electrical components and a condition detection system including a plug into which a condition monitor analyser is plugged, characterised in that the wires from some at least of the components extend from the source of power or control via the plug and in that the plug provides a bridge between a gap in the wires such that removal of the plug disconnects the components and an analyser can be connected to form a temporary bridge to reconnect the component via the analyser, so as to permit analysis of the electrical characteristics of the component.

The present invention also provides electrical apparatus including a plurality of electrically powered or controlled components interconnected by a wiring loom characterised in that i) the direct connection between some at least of the components and or the power supply is via a gap in the wires, and in that ii) the gap is bridged for normal operation by a continuity member, and in that iii) the continuity member is disconnectable whereby electrical continuity ceases and normal operation of the apparatus is rendered impossible, and in that iv) a fault analyser may be connected to remake the continuity of the wires through the fault analyser to measure the electrical characteristics of the component and display or record the characteristics, preferably in a fault/no fault form.

The gap may be between mating plugs, with the continuity being established by connecting the mating plugs together. The mating plugs may be disconnected and plugged into corresponding plugs on the fault analyser.

There may be a common electrical supply line having one wire connected to the plug with the other wire connected to a plurality of power operated components. The remaining wires may individually be connected to separate terminals in the plug.

The plug may be provided with a board to which the wires are connected. The temporary bridge may be in the form of a plug integral with or connected to the condition monitor analyser, which analyser can be pre-programmed so as to check in sequence mains voltage, continuity, resistance, capacities, current, and optionally other electrical characteristics of products. The electrical apparatus may be a mains electrical apparatus connectable to 240V AC or llOV AC or other domestic mains current or such normal mains current as is provided at conventional installations, and the fault analyser may draw current from the mains. Alternatively, it may have its own power source.

The present invention also provides a cooler adapted and arranged to permit fault analysis in which the wiring loom of the cooler is connected to a common connection point to which a cooler fault analyser may be connected. The cooler may further be provided with an extra sensor in a water bath in a cooler connected to a connector for analysis by the analyser.

By way of example embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings of which FIGURE 1 is an isometric schematic view of a cooler FIGURE 2 is a detailed view of a plug of Figure 1 FIGURE 3 is a schematic view of a cooler fault analyser module, and FIGURES 4a and 4b are alternative forms of plug assemblies.

Referring to Figure 1, this shows a beverage cooler 1 including a water bath 2 containing a product coil 3 and a cooling coil 4. Refrigerant is passed around the cooling coil from a suitable refrigeration system indicated generally by 5 and comprising a compressor motor 6, a condenser heat exchanger 7, fan 8 together with remaining conventional items of a refrigeration unit. The normal operation of the beverage cooler is standard. The cooler illustrated in Figure 1 is however provided with the feature of the present invention, namely that the wiring loom of the cooler brings the wires for each of the components to a centralised wiring distribution point 9 which is shown in more detail in Figure 2. Thus, for example, the wire 10 leading to the motor 6 is brought to the central distribution point 9 and ends at a plug terminal 11.A similar plug terminal 12 connects to wire 13 which continues onto the motor 6. Each of the remaining wires constitutes a conventional wire which is effectively formed with a gap defined by the terminals, such as terminals 14, 15. It will be appreciated that when the cooler is switched on with the gaps in the wires as shown in Figure 2, the cooler will not operate. There is provided however, a durmny plug 16 which contains gap bridging elements 17 which are so formed as to locate on to and interconnect the ends of adjacent terminals 11, 12 and 14, 15, etc.

Thus, when dummy plug 16 is pushed onto the cooler and the ends of the gaps between the wires are interconnected, the cooler will operate in a perfectly conventional manner.

To test the operation of the cooler, the cooler is left switched on and the dummy plug 16 is removed. The plug 18 of the cooler fault analyser is then plugged into the cooler so that the ends of the wires 11, 12, 14, 15 etc are accessed by the electrical system within the analyser unit 19.

Ideally, the analyser unit 19, 18 is designed for mobile operations. Located on the top of the unit 19 are a series of light emitting diodes arranged in pairs as shown in Figure 3. The row 20 are red and the row 21 are green. The diodes are arranged below a series of numbers in row 22. When the cooler fault analyser is plugged in, it automatically processes through a pre-programmed series of test sequences as follows. It initially tests the mains voltage to establish continuity and to determine that no fuse is broken, etc. It then checks the agitator motor windings continuity followed by condenser fan motor windings continuity. It then sequences through the following further tests: compressor motor winding continuity condensor fan motor relay coil continuity product thermostat contacts ice bank thermostat contacts condenser fan motor relay contacts agitator motor capacitor condenser fan motor capacitor compressor start capacitor compressor start relay contacts It then applies mains current to the agitator motor and measures the agitator motor current draw.

Subsequently, it applies mains current to and measures the current draw of, in sequence, the condenser fan and the processor start relay.

Finally, it checks the water bath temperature via a thermistor which is specifically provided in the unit to enable the test to be carried out.

Conventional coolers are not provided with such thermistors.

As the unit progresses through the test sequence summary, a green LED displays if Test 1 is satisfactory and the equipment automatically proceeds to Test 2. If this is satisfactory a further green LED displays and the sequence proceeds to Test 3, etc.

If a test indicates a fault, the sequence automatically stops and the red fault light is illuminated. The test number shows up on the LED and the likely fault is then described in an accompanying key. Once this fault is identified, a test continue button 23 on the side of the unit 19 can be pressed to continue to complete the other tests in full sequence.

Instead of using a series of LED's, one pair for each component, a digital read out could be provided, with a written key identifying each component with a given digit. Thus a single pair of pass, fail lights and a digital read out would be provided. As the analyser sequenced through the tests, each item being tested would be indicated by the digital read out, ie 13, compressor start capacitor, 14 agitator fan motor etc, together with an illuminated light for pass or fail as each number was indicated. In a further refinement, in the event of the fail light indicating, there could be a high or low indication, by a pair of suitable lights.

It will be appreciated that the wiring of the system is also checked together with the components and thus a full test of the system can be provided.

Rather than using a dummy plug for normal operations, the gap in the wires may be made continuous by plugging them together, thus as shown in Figures 4a and 4b in normal operation continuity is established between wires 24 and 25 which interconnect the components of the cooler by plugging them together at 26. To connect in the faults analyser the plugs are separated and each half plugged into mating plugs on the ends of wires 27 leading to the analyser.

It will be appreciated that each service van may be provided with a fault analyser system which may be simply plugged into the cooler and the fault identified. If it is something extremely simple such as a fuse gone, then this can be replaced. Obviously, individual service engineers will have different levels of capability and can repair or replace components in accordance with their abilities.

The system enables analysis to take place on site, reducing considerably unwarranted returns of equipment.

The system also enables the cooler to be checked prior to despatch when manufactured, ensuring almost perfect quality of the product being sold.

Claims (1)

1. CLAIMS:

   Electrical apparatus including a plurality of electrically powered or controlled components interconnected by a wiring loom characterised in that i) the direct connection between some at least of the components and or the power supply is via a gap in the wires, and in that ii) the gap is bridged for normal operation by a continuity member and in that iii) the continuity member is disconnectable whereby electrical continuity ceases and normal operation of the apparatus is rendered impossible, and in that iv) a fault analyser may be connected to remake the continuity of the wires through the fault analyser to measure the electrical characteristics of the component and display or record the characteristics, preferably in a fault/no fault form.