GB2548611A - Electrical circuit protection component testing apparatus and method - Google Patents
Electrical circuit protection component testing apparatus and method Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2548611A GB2548611A GB1604981.9A GB201604981A GB2548611A GB 2548611 A GB2548611 A GB 2548611A GB 201604981 A GB201604981 A GB 201604981A GB 2548611 A GB2548611 A GB 2548611A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- circuit
- protection component
- circuit protection
- contacts
- resistance
- 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.)
- Pending
Links
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
- G01R31/50—Testing of electric apparatus, lines, cables or components for short-circuits, continuity, leakage current or incorrect line connections
- G01R31/74—Testing of fuses
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01R—MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES
- G01R1/00—Details of instruments or arrangements of the types included in groups G01R5/00 - G01R13/00 and G01R31/00
- G01R1/02—General constructional details
- G01R1/04—Housings; Supporting members; Arrangements of terminals
- G01R1/0408—Test fixtures or contact fields; Connectors or connecting adaptors; Test clips; Test sockets
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01R—MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES
- G01R1/00—Details of instruments or arrangements of the types included in groups G01R5/00 - G01R13/00 and G01R31/00
- G01R1/02—General constructional details
- G01R1/06—Measuring leads; Measuring probes
- G01R1/067—Measuring probes
-
- 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
- G01R31/005—Testing of electric installations on transport means
- G01R31/006—Testing of electric installations on transport means on road vehicles, e.g. automobiles or trucks
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Measuring Leads Or Probes (AREA)
Abstract
Testing a plug-in circuit protection component, e.g. a circuit breaker or fuse 1, comprises a body 5 provided with a clamp 3,4 for releasably clamping the component while the component is plugged in. A probe 7 comprising a pair of electrical contacts is arranged to contact the component. First and second circuits (28 and 29, figure 5) are used to measure the resistance between the pair of contacts and the electrical current between the contacts via the component, respectively. Means may be provided for switching from the first circuit (28, figure 5) to the second circuit (29, figure 5). A memory device and a display may be provided to store and display measured values, respectively. The measured current and resistance may provide a characteristic fingerprint or signature of the component (e.g. fuse) being tested; the computing device may determine whether the signature corresponds to a correctly functioning component by comparison with stored data. A computing device may provide a visual or audible output dependent whether the measured values are within predetermined ranges.
Description
Electrical circuit protection component testing apparatus and method
The present invention relates to an apparatus for testing circuit protection components, such as circuit breakers or fuses. The present invention particularly concerns an apparatus for testing the electrical properties of plugin fuses or circuit breakers while the latter are plugged in, such as in position, in a fuse block.
The invention further comprises a method of testing a circuit protection component while the latter is plugged in (typically, in the case of a fuse, in a fuse block). The apparatus can be used for non-intrusively measuring both the resistance of a circuit protection component, and the current through the same circuit protection component, without the need to disconnect or remove the component from its plugged-in operative location.
Fuses and circuit breakers of the plug-in type have long superseded the former conventional type of cylindrical fuse with conductive end terminals, and such plug-in circuit protection components are now standard in most automobiles and other vehicles, and also in domestic and industrial wiring.
When the circuit protection components are fuses, such plug-in fuses are frequently located, for convenient access, in a unitary fuse block (in the case of automobile fuses, typically under the dashboard or along a side panel in the forward part of the passenger compartment), in order to permit simple, rapid removal and replacement of fuses as necessary either for testing or repair. Typically such fuses are removed from the fuse block for testing; they are then plugged back into the fuse block after testing has been completed.
Unfortunately, there is a risk of damage to such fuses either during removal from the fuse block, during handling for testing, or during replacement into the fuse block. It would therefore be desirable to provide testing apparatus that can test such fuses in situ, without the need to remove the relevant fuses from the fuse block. Similar criteria apply to circuit protection components in other forms, such as circuit breakers. A circuit protection component testing apparatus according to the invention therefore comprises: a body member provided with a clamp member for releasably clamping the body member to a plug-in circuit protection component while the latter is plugged in; a probe comprising a pair of electrically spaced contacts arranged to contact correspondingly spaced parts of the circuit protection component; a first circuit permitting measurement of the resistance between the pair of contacts when the contacts are in electrical contact with the circuit protection component; and a second circuit permitting measurement of electrical current between the pair of contacts via the circuit protection component when the contacts are in electrical contact with the circuit protection component.
The first circuit should, as will be appreciated by the person skilled in the art, be in parallel to the circuit protection component so that a voltage is applied across the component; the second circuit should be in series with the circuit protection component in order to permit measurement of the current.
Apparatus that can measure electrical current and electrical resistance is, of course, widely available. However, because circuits are required for measurement of the voltage or resistance in parallel and measurement of the current in series, conventional methods require separate testing points. Again, although apparatus that measures the electrical current through a fuse (or circuit breaker) is known, use of such apparatus requires the removal of the fuse (or circuit breaker) and the introduction of external hardware (a calibrated resistor or shunt) that the electrical current must pass through in order to make the measurement.
Apparatus according to the invention can be used in situ, and does not require removal of the fuse or circuit breaker for measurement. In particular the apparatus can be used to measure, successively (in either order) the electrical current in a fuse or circuit breaker and its resistance, non-intrusively.
The first circuit in the apparatus according to the invention can be used to measure the resistance of a circuit protection component in situ by drawing a small current through the component and measuring the resulting change in electrical potential difference across the circuit protection component. The first circuit is therefore preferably arranged to be connected to a DC power source, typically via a cable extending from the body member to a remote power supply, such as a battery or generator, or DC converted mains supply.
The clamp portion in the apparatus according to the invention optionally comprises at least one electrode configured to make electrical contact to an electrode of the circuit protection component when the clamp portion is attached to the component.
The electrical contacts in the probe of the apparatus according to the invention are preferably spring loaded to ensure the integrity of the electrical connection made between the respective contacts and the circuit protection component when the apparatus is in use.
It is possible to use the apparatus according to the invention with external contacts connected to the first circuit and the external contacts connected to the second circuitry, so that a user can choose which of the two circuits is to be connected to a power source for measurement either of the resistance or the electrical current. However, it is preferred to provide separate means for switching from the first circuit to the second circuit to thereby permit successive measurement of the resistance and the electrical current, in either order.
Such switching means may be provided in a device to which the apparatus is to be connected via a power cable, and the switch may be a physical switch or a logic switch.
It is preferred that the device to which the apparatus is to be connected includes a memory for storing values of the measured resistance and/or of the measured electrical current; and/or a display for displaying values of the measured resistance and/or of the measured electrical current.
The device just described may further be a computing device configured or programmed to receive measured values of the resistance and of the electrical current and to provide an output in dependence on the measured values. That output may be indicative of whether the measured values are within predetermined ranges stored in the computing device - and it is especially preferred that the computing device is operable to provide a visual or audible indication when the measured values are outside those predetermined ranges.
The computing device may be configured to analyse the electrical signals output by the apparatus according to the invention. The measured current and resistance may provide a characteristic ‘fingerprint’ or ‘signature’ of the fuse being tested and the computing device may then determine whether the signature corresponds to a correctly functioning fuse by comparison with stored data.
The present invention further comprises a method of testing a circuit protection component, the method comprising providing apparatus according to the invention: clamping the body member to a plug-in circuit protection component while the component is plugged in (for example, in the case of a fuse, to a respective fuse box); using the first circuit to measure the resistance between the pair of contacts when the contacts are in contact with the circuit protection component; and using the second circuit to measure the electrical current between the pair of contacts via the circuit protection component when the contacts are in contact with the component.
The method can also comprise a self-test, which checks the functionality of its hardware. After attaching the apparatus according to the invention onto a circuit protection component with a known electrical current draw, a correlation exercise can be carried out using the memory for storing values of the measured resistance and/or of the measured electrical current as described above together with appropriate software. if the tested values are not within predefined limits, the self-test fails and the user informed that the apparatus needs to be repaired. A calibration method can also be used for making sure the apparatus always measures the electrical current correctly. This can be achieved by attaching the apparatus onto a circuit protection component such as a fuse with known current draw. A correlation exercise can be done between the feedback values and the actual current draw of the system through the circuit protection component. If the two values are not equal, the software adjusts a multiplier that makes the feedback values the same with the actual system current draw.
Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a schematic view of a testing apparatus according to the invention, in contact (for testing purposes) with a fuse;
Figure 2 is a schematic view of the testing apparatus of Figure 1, detached from the fuse;
Figure 3 is a schematic view of the interior of the housing of the testing apparatus of Figures 1 and 2;
Figure 4 is an initial 2D exploded side view of the housing shown in Figure 3; Figure 5 is an initial 3D exploded perspective view of the housing shown in Figures 3 and 4;
Figure 6 is a sectional view of the assembled housing of Figures 3 to 5; Figures 7a and 7b are respective side and plan views of a circuit board for use in apparatus according to the invention; and
Figure 8 is a schematic block diagram showing how the testing apparatus according to the invention may be used in a method of testing a fuse.
Referring initially to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a fuse 1 (which is normally a push-in fit in a fuse box via connector 2 and a further connector which cannot be seen in the drawings as it is located behind connector 2 in the view shown).
An embodiment of test appparatus according to the invention has a body 5 clamped to the fuse 1 via a pair of clamping jaws 3,4 which are integral with the body 5.
The jaws 3,4 define a mouth 6 at the lower end (in the illustrated orientation) of body 5. Protruding into the mouth 6 from a lower end of body 5 is a spring-loaded contact (or probe) 7, and a further contact (or probe) similar to contact 7. The further contact cannot be seen in Figures 1 and 2 because it is located behind contact 7 in the view shown. The contact 7 is shown in its retracted position in Figures 1 and 2 (that is, drawn back into the body 5 so that only the end of the contact 7 is available to make a connection with the fuse). The further contact that is similar to contact 7 can be seen more clearly in Figure 5, as will be described in further detail below; The further contact is indicated by reference numeral 8 in Figure 5.
Referring now to Figure 3, the body 5 has embedded therein a circuit board 9; at the end of circuit board 9 remote from probe is connected via a series of conductors 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, that in turn pass via insulated lead 11, to a remote power source 30.
Referring now to Figures 4 and 5, it will be seen that body 5 in the illustrated embodiment is of broadly two-part construction, comprising a lower unitary integral moulded member 12, and an upper unitary integral moulded member 13, which moulded members are joined together, in the illustrated embodiment, by screws 14,15, 16.
Lower moulded member 12 has integral therewith an extension 17 of jaw 3 and extension 18 of jaw 4, whereby when extensions 17 and 18 are squeezed together via a user making a finger grip (user's fingers not shown) the clamping jaws 3,4 are caused to move apart by pivoting about a central part 19; when the grip is relaxed, the resilience of the material forming the lower moulded member 12 causes it to grip (for example, on a fuse, not shown, positioned between the two jaws).
Lower moulded member 12 is of a flexible resilient material and includes at one end the clamping jaws 3,4 which are shaped and dimensioned to grip a conventional plug-in fuse (not shown). The upper surface 20 of lower moulded member 12 has three internally threaded bosses 21,22, 23 for receiving respective screws 14,15, 16 and for spacing the upper moulded member 13. In the embodiment shown, two further bosses 24,25 are provided to space the upper moulded member 13.
Within the shaped space thus defined between the lower moulded member 12 and the upper moulded member 13 is located and received the circuit board 9, which as indicated above is connected via conductors (not shown in Figures 4 to 6), Referring to Figure 5, it will be seen that spring-loaded contacts 7,8 in respective casings 26,27 are also located and received in the shaped space defined between the lower moulded member 12 and the upper moulded member 13.
Mounted to the circuit board 9 is a first circuit 28 arranged to amplify current detected between contacts 7,8 when the circuit is connected via conductors (not shown in Figures 4 to 6) to an external power source via conductors such as those shown in Figure 3, such that the fuse is in series.
Also mounted to the circuit board 9 is a second circuit 29 arranged to be connected in parallel via contacts 7,8 to a fuse when powered by an external power source (again via conductors such as those shown in Figure 3) to permit the resistance of the fuse to be measured with a known applied voltage.
Referring to Figures 7a and 7b, there is shown a circuit board 9 having mounted thereon first circuit 28 and second circuit 29. An end of the board 9 is a series of connection terminals 40a, 40b, 40c, 40d, each of which corresponds to a respective conductor 10a, 10b, 10c. 10d as shown in Figure 3. Each respective terminal is connected via the corresponding conductor to an external controller, which can switch between the two circuits so that either current or resistance can be measured, as appropriate.
Referring now to Figure 8, there is shown a fuse 1 which, when tested, is placed in electrical contact with the two contacts 7,8 of the apparatus according to the invention; the apparatus includes first circuit 28 and second circuit 29 as described above. Circuits 28 and 29 are successively selected, in either order, to test the fuse; the resulting measurements are sent to a readout, display or store (marked data out in the illustrative diagram).
Claims (8)
1. An apparatus for testing a circuit protection component, the apparatus comprising: a body member provided with a clamp member for releasably clamping the body member to a plug-in circuit protection component while the circuit protection component is plugged in; a probe comprising a pair of electrically spaced contacts arranged to contact correspondingly spaced parts of the circuit protection component; a first circuit permitting measurement of the resistance between the pair of contacts when the contacts are in contact with the circuit protection component; and a second circuit permitting measurement of electrical current between the pair of contacts via the circuit protection component when the contacts are in contact with the circuit protection component.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1, further including means for switching from the first circuit to the second circuit and to thereby permit measurement either of the resistance or the electrical current.
3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a memory device for storing values of the measured resistance and/or of the measured electrical current.
4. Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a display for displaying values of the measured resistance and/or of the measured electrical current.
5. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, further comprising a computing device, the computing device being configured to receive measured values of the resistance and of the electrical current and to provide an output dependent on the measured values.
6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the output is indicative of whether the measured values are within predetermined ranges stored in the computing device.
7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the computing device is operable to provide a visual or audible indication when the values are outside the predetermined ranges.
8. A method of testing a circuit protection component, the method comprising providing apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 7; clamping the body member of the apparatus to a plug-in circuit protection component while the latter is plugged in; using the first circuit to measure the resistance between the pair of contacts when the latter are in conductive contact the circuit protection component; and using the second circuit to measure the electrical current between the pair of contacts via the circuit protection component when the contacts are in conductive contact with the circuit protection component.
Priority Applications (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB1604981.9A GB2548611A (en) | 2016-03-23 | 2016-03-23 | Electrical circuit protection component testing apparatus and method |
| PCT/GB2017/050477 WO2017163001A1 (en) | 2016-03-23 | 2017-02-23 | Electrical circuit protection component testing apparatus and method |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB1604981.9A GB2548611A (en) | 2016-03-23 | 2016-03-23 | Electrical circuit protection component testing apparatus and method |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB201604981D0 GB201604981D0 (en) | 2016-05-04 |
| GB2548611A true GB2548611A (en) | 2017-09-27 |
Family
ID=55968807
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB1604981.9A Pending GB2548611A (en) | 2016-03-23 | 2016-03-23 | Electrical circuit protection component testing apparatus and method |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2548611A (en) |
| WO (1) | WO2017163001A1 (en) |
Citations (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR2689677A1 (en) * | 1992-04-03 | 1993-10-08 | Electricite De France | Device for monitoring state of multistranded fuse in grid network - has constant current source connected to fuse and potential difference across fuse is measured to determine resistance |
| US5311139A (en) * | 1992-06-11 | 1994-05-10 | Fogal William J | Fuse checker for testing integrity of a miniature, plug-in fuse while the fuse is installed in an electrical circuit |
| DE10257589A1 (en) * | 2002-12-09 | 2004-07-08 | Daimlerchrysler Ag | Measurement adapter for connecting to an automotive flat type fuse is configured to allow connection to the fuse in situ so that current measurements can be made without breaking a circuit |
| US20070109090A1 (en) * | 2005-11-14 | 2007-05-17 | Wen-Tsung Cheng | Blade fuse tester having lamp |
Family Cites Families (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE4130978C2 (en) * | 1991-09-18 | 1994-03-31 | Daimler Benz Ag | Method for testing electrical, protected consumers in a vehicle electrical system |
| US7148698B2 (en) * | 2001-09-20 | 2006-12-12 | Snap-On Incorporated | Fuse saving tester for fused circuit |
| KR20040044594A (en) * | 2002-11-21 | 2004-05-31 | 현대자동차주식회사 | Fuse puller |
| DE102004012371A1 (en) * | 2004-03-13 | 2005-09-29 | Daimlerchrysler Ag | Adapter device for testing electrical consumers, in particular for or in a motor vehicle |
| GB201200494D0 (en) * | 2012-01-12 | 2012-02-22 | Jaguar Cars | Vehicle test and diagnostics arrangement and method (fusebox) |
-
2016
- 2016-03-23 GB GB1604981.9A patent/GB2548611A/en active Pending
-
2017
- 2017-02-23 WO PCT/GB2017/050477 patent/WO2017163001A1/en active Application Filing
Patent Citations (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR2689677A1 (en) * | 1992-04-03 | 1993-10-08 | Electricite De France | Device for monitoring state of multistranded fuse in grid network - has constant current source connected to fuse and potential difference across fuse is measured to determine resistance |
| US5311139A (en) * | 1992-06-11 | 1994-05-10 | Fogal William J | Fuse checker for testing integrity of a miniature, plug-in fuse while the fuse is installed in an electrical circuit |
| DE10257589A1 (en) * | 2002-12-09 | 2004-07-08 | Daimlerchrysler Ag | Measurement adapter for connecting to an automotive flat type fuse is configured to allow connection to the fuse in situ so that current measurements can be made without breaking a circuit |
| US20070109090A1 (en) * | 2005-11-14 | 2007-05-17 | Wen-Tsung Cheng | Blade fuse tester having lamp |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB201604981D0 (en) | 2016-05-04 |
| WO2017163001A1 (en) | 2017-09-28 |
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