GB2232259A

GB2232259A - Vehicle socket tester

Info

Publication number: GB2232259A
Application number: GB8910839A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Donald Powell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-05-11
Filing date: 1989-05-11
Publication date: 1990-12-05
Anticipated expiration: 2009-05-11
Also published as: GB8910839D0; GB2232259B

Abstract

A vehicle socket tester comprises a plug with LEDs (15) and series resistors (17) for detecting and indicating faults in circuits of the vehicle when the plug is engaged in the vehicle socket. A buzzer (20) provides an audible output for testing the brake circuit. Further resistors (not shown) may be wired across LEDs to simulate a trailer load. <IMAGE>

Description

VEHICLE SOCKET TESTER This invention relates to a vehicle socket tester.

When towing a caravan or trailer or the like behind a vehicle, an electrical connection is maintained between the lights on the rear of the vehicle and corresponding lights at the rear of the caravan or trailer via an electrical socket provided in the vehicle in order that motorists following the caravan or trailer are given advance notice of the intentions of the driver of the towing vehicle.

After connecting a caravan or trailer to a vehicle, it is desirable always to check the electrical connections to ensure safe motoring.

When a connection (for example an indicator light) is tested, if the corresponding indicator on the caravan or trailer fails to respond, it is not immediately apparent whether the fault is in the electrical connections in the towing vehicle or in the caravan or trailer. It is often a time-consuming activity to remove the socket from the towing vehicle as screws holding the socket in position often rust thus making dismantling difficult. This action may also be unnecessary if the fault is later discovered to have been in the caravan or trailer.

There is also a problem when testing the connection of the brake lights between the towing vehicle and the caravan or trailer as someone is required to press on the brake pedal while another person is required to observe the caravan or trailer lights in order to confirm that the brake lights respond to the action of pressing the brake pedal in the towing vehicle.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle socket tester which enables electrical connections between the towing vehicle and the caravan or trailer to be tested by a single person in order to establish, if a fault is found, whether the fault is in the towing vehicle electrical circuit or in the caravan or trailer connections.

According to the present invention there is provided an apparatus for testing the electrical circuits in a vehicle, the apparatus comprising a plug for engagement with an electrical towing socket of the vehicle and means for detecting and indicating an electrical fault in a specific electrical circuit of the vehicle, the arrangement being such that, when the plug is engaged in the vehicle electrical socket and a specific electrical circuit of the vehicle connected to the socket is activated, the indicating means provides a signal indicative of whether a fault is present in that specific electrical circuit of the vehicle.

Conveniently the plug comprises an array of projecting electrical contact elements supported on a web, the elements engaging with corresponding contact elements in the vehicle electrical socket.

Advantageously the detecting and indicating means comprises an array of visual indicating devices electrically connected to the elements of the plug.

Conveniently the visual indicating devices are semi-conductor diodes, which may be colour-coded.

Furthermore, the present invention provides means for producing an audible signal in response to a fault present in a specific electrical circuit of the vehicle connected to the socket.

Conveniently, the present invention further comprises second detecting means for detecting a fault in a towing dashboard display of the vehicle.

Advantageously the second detecting means comprises additional circuitry provided in the plug to simulate a load applied to the electrical socket of the vehicle.

The additional circuitry may comprise a resistor connected in parallel across the detecting and indicating means within the casing.

Advantageously the detecting and indicating means are provided on a printed circuit board.

The present invention also provides a method of testing the electrical circuits in a vehicle which method comprises engaging testing apparatus according to any preceding Claim in an electrical towing socket of the vehicle, activating a specific electrical circuit of the vehicle connected to the socket and noting the response of the indicating means to determine whether a fault is present in that specific electrical circuit of the vehicle.

In order that the present invention may be more readily understood and so that embodiments thereof may be more fully explained, the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 is a side view of a vehicle socket tester according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIGURE 2 is one end view of the tester of Figure 1; FIGURE 3 is another end view of the tester of Figure 1; and FIGURE 4 is a part fragmentary view of the tester of Figure 1.

A standard 7-pin plug 10 as shown in the Figures is adapted to be engaged in an electrical socket provided on a vehicle adapted to tow a caravan or trailer or the like.

As shown in Figure 3, the plug 10 comprises an array of projecting electrical contact elements in the form of pins 1,3,4,6 and bosses 2,5,7 9 tsYpported on a web 11, the pins and bosses being adapted to engage corresponding contact elements in the vehicle electrical socket. The plug 10 comprises two elements for electrically connecting the towing vehicle indicator lights to the indicator lights on the caravan or trailer, two elements for electrically connecting the rear lights of the towing vehicle and the caravan or trailer, one comnon earth element to which each of the other elements are connected, one element electrically connecting the brake lights of the towing vehicle to the brake lights of the caravan or trailer and a final element for electrically connecting the fog lights of the towing vehicle to the fog lights of the caravan or trailer.The plug 10 has a cylindrical wall 12 which projects from the web 11 slightly further than the elements and is adapted to encase the vehicle electrical socket in order to provide a reliable connection between the plug 10 and the socket.

The plug 10 is mounted at one end of a closed, elongate tubular casing 13 which may be formed as a one-piece moulding of a thermaplastics material. The closed other end 14 of the casing, remote from the plug 10, has a portion of larger diameter than the remainder of the casing which facilitates easy holding of the tester.

Within the closed end 14 of the casing 13 there are mounted a plurality of visual indicating devices 15, for example light-emitting diodes. In this embodiment five diodes are provided, two of the diodes representing the indicator lights on the caravan or trailer, a further two diodes representing the rear lights on the caravan or trailer and the remaining diode representing a fog light provided thereon. The diodes protrude through apertures 16 in the closed end 14 of the tester. The diodes may be colour-coded to indicate which diode represents each light on the caravan or trailer.

As shown in Figure 4, within the casing, each diode 15 is connected in series with a resistor 17. The diodes 15 and resistors 17 are mounted on one or more printed circuit boards 18 (only one of which is shown for clarity). One side of each diode 15 and resistor 17 combination is electrically connected, by wires 19, to a corresponding contact element in the plug 10 and, the other side of the component combination is wired to the common earth element of the plug 10.

Also provided within the casing 13, and shown in Figure 4, is an audible signalling device 20. One side of the device 20 is electrically connected to the element in the plug 10 corresponding to the brake light connection of a towing vehicle and the other side is electrically connected to the common earth element of the plug 10.

The following table illustrates how individual ones of the components correspond to the wiring included within the casing 13 and the vehicle circuits.

Pin NO. 1 --- R470 ohm --- LED (Green) --- Earth --- Nearside Indicator Boss No. 2 --- R470 ohm --- OED (Red --- Earth --- Rear Fog Pin No. 3 --- COMMON EARTH Pin No. 4 --- R470 ohm --- LED (Green) --- Earth --- Offside Indicator R6 ohm --------- Earth R6 ohm --------- Earth (Both x 10 Watts) Boss No. 5 --- R470 ohm --- LED (Red) --- Earth --- Offside Light Pin No. 6 --- PIEZO (Buzzer) Earth --- Brakes Boss No. 7 --- R470 ohm --- LED (Green) --- Earth --- Nearside Light In use, the plug 10 of the tester is inserted into the electrical socket provided at the rear of a vehicle adapted to tow a caravan or trailer or the like. The contact elements of the plug 10 engage corresponding contact elements in the socket and electrical signals from the electrical circuits in the vehicle are passed to the components provided within the tester.In this embodiment the tester may be used to test the following signals.

When the nearside indicator of the towing vehicle is activated, an electrical signal is passed through the appropriate vehicle electrical circuit to the socket and plug 10 and a current is passed through the appropriate element of the plug 10 and its associated circuitry. In this case, current passes through the diode 15 associated with the nearside indicator element of the plug 10 and the diode 15 is illuminated.

The offside indicator of the towing vehicle is then activated and current is passed through the element of the plug 10 associated with the offside indicator and its associated circuitry. Thus, the diode 15 corresponding to the offside indicator is illuminated.

The near and off-side lights and the rear fog lights are tested in a similar fashion to that described above. In order to test the connection to the brake lights, the person conducting the test depresses the brake pedal in the towing vehicle and current is passed to the element of the plug 10 associated with the brake lights of the vehicle and, in turn, through the acoustic signal device thus producing an audible warning.

If a fault is present in a connection of the vehicle electrical circuit, the appropriate diode 15, or, if the brake light connection is at fault, the acoustic device 20, will not be activated. Thus any faults in the vehicle electrical circuit can be quickly and efficiently traced by one person.

In a second embodiment of the present invention, further components are provided within the casing 13 to test the response of a towing warning device provided in a vehicle adapted to tow a caravan or trailer or the like.

In most vehicles thus adapted for towing, a visual indicator is provided on the vehicle dashboard to warn the vehicle driver if the connecting plug becomes disengaged from the vehicle socket whilst towing a caravan or trailer. If a fault is present in this system and the plug becomes disengaged, thus disconnecting the caravan or trailer lights from the vehicle electrical circuit and posing a dangerous problem to other drivers, without the knowledge of the driver of the towing vehicle.

As shown in the connections table already described, the contact element 4 of the plug 10 associated with the off-side indicator of the towing vehicle is provided with additional circuitry comprising two resistors wired in parallel across the diode 15.

When the offside indicator is activated, the additional resistors associated with the contact element 4 of the plug 10 act to emulate the conditions of a load on the socket, such as when the lights of a caravan or trailer are connected to the electrical circuitry provided in the towing vehicle. In this condition, the warning light on a dashboard is in the operative condition. When the nearside indicator is activated, there is no circuitry to emulate a load on the socket and the situation where a plug connecting the lights on a caravan or trailer to the vehicle electrical circuit having fallen out or having been removed is emulated and the indicator on the dashboard fails to light.

Thus, as above, one person can test further responses of the vehicle electrical circuit before a caravan or trailer or the like is connected to the vehicle, thus identifying any faults in the vehicle electrical circuit before the vehicle is driven.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. Apparatus for testing the electrical circuits in a vehicle, the apparatus comprising a plug for engagement with an electrical towing socket of the vehicle and means for detecting and indicating an electrical fault in a specific electrical circuit of the vehicle, the arrangement being such that, when the plug is engaged in the vehicle electrical socket and a specific electrical circuit of the vehicle connected to the socket is activated, the indicating means provides a signal indicative of whether a fault is present in that specific electrical circuit of the vehicle.

2. An apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the plug comprises an array of projecting electrical contact elements supported on a web, the elements engaging with corresponding contact elements in the vehicle electrical socket.

3. An apparatus according to Claim 2, wherein the detecting and indicating means comprises an array of visual indicating devices electrically connected to the elements of the plug.

4. An apparatus according to Claim 3, wherein the visual indicating devices are semi-conductor diodes.

5. An apparatus according to Claim 4, wherein the semi-conductor diodes are colour-coded.

6. An apparatus according to any preceding Claim comprising means for producing an audible signal in response to a fault present in a specific electrical circuit of the vehicle connected to the socket.

7. An apparatus according to any preceding Claim comprising second detecting means for detecting a fault in a towing vehicle dashboard display.

8. An apparatus according to Claim 7 wherein the second detecting means comprises additional circuitry provided in the plug to simulate a load applied to the electrical socket of the vehicle.

9. An apparatus according to Claim 8, wherein the additional circuitry comprises a resistor connected in parallel across the detecting and indicating means within the casing.

10. An apparatus according to any preceding Claim, wherein the detecting and indicating means are provided on a printed circuit board.

11. A method of testing the electrical circuits in a vehicle which method comprises engaging testing apparatus according to any preceding Claim in an electrical towing socket of the vehicle, activating a specific electrical circuit of the vehicle connected to the socket and noting the response of the indicating means to determine whether a fault is present in that specific electrical circuit of the vehicle.

12. A method of testing the electrical circuits in a vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described.

12. An apparatus for testing the electrical circuits in a vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

13. A method of testing the electrical circuits in a vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described.

14. Any novel feature or combination of features herein disclosed.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. Apparatus for testing the electrical circuits in a vehicle, the apparatus comprising a plug for engagement with an electrical towing socket of the vehicle and means for detecting and indicating an electrical fault in electrical circuits of the vehicle which are connected to the towing socket, in which apparatus the detecting and indicating means includes an audible signalling device responsive to operation of a corresponding electrical circuit of the vehicle to provide an audible signal indicative of whether a fault is present in that electrical circuit of the vehicle.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detecting and indicating means includes an array of visual indicating devices each responsive to operation of a corresponding electrical circuit of the vehicle to provide a visual signal indicative of whether a fault is present in that electrical circuit of the vehicle.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the plug comprises an array of projecting electrical contact elements supported on a web, the elements engaging with corresponding contact elements in the vehicle electrical socket, the audible signalling device and the visual indicating devices being electrically connected to respective contact elements of the plug.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the visual indicating devices are semi-conductor diodes.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the semiconductor diodes are colour-coded.

6. Apparatus according to any preceding claim comprising second detecting means for detecting a fault in a towing vehicle dashboard display.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the second detecting means comprises additional circuitry provided in the plug to simulate a load applied to the electrical socket of the vehicle.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the additional circuitry comprises a resistor connected in parallel across the detecting and indicating means within the plug.

9. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the detecting and indicating means are provided on a printed circuit board.

10. A method of testing the electrical circuits in a vehicle which method comprises engaging testing apparatus according to any preceding claim in an electrical towing socket of the vehicle, activating a specific electrical circuit of the vehicle connected to the socket and noting the response of the indicating means to determine whether a fault is present in that specific electrical circuit of the vehicle.

11. Apparatus for testing the electrical circuits in a vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.