US 5,477,152 A · Device for testing continuity and/or short circuits in a cable

Abstract

A device for testing current paths is attachable to a conductor. The device automatically checks the current paths of the conductor for continuity of a center conductor, continuity of a shield and a short circuit between the shield and the center conductor. The device includes a pair of connectors and a circuit to provide for testing of the conductive paths of the cable. The pair of connectors electrically connects the conductive paths of a cable to be tested with the circuit paths of the circuit. The circuit paths in the circuit include indicators to simultaneously indicate the results of the testing.

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Drawings

Claims26

Dependent claims

A device for testing cables having at least first and second conductive paths, the device comprising:

connector means for electrically coupling the device to ends of a cable to be tested so as to make electrical contact with the first and second conductive paths at each end of the cable;
including a plurality of connector pairs, each connector in a pair having a first contact for electrical connection with the first conductive path and a second contact for electrical connection with the second conductive path;
circuit means, electrically coupled to the connector means, for detecting whether the first conductive path is open, whether the second conductive path is open, and whether there is a short circuit between the first and second conductive paths of the cable;
and the circuit means includes first, second, and third circuit paths;
the first circuit path is connected to the first conductive path of the cable through the connector means and includes a first power source, or a first power source connection, and a first indicator means;
the second circuit path is connected to the second conductive path of the cable through the connector means and includes a second power source, or a second power source connection, and a second indicator means;
the third circuit path is connected to the first and the second circuit paths, utilizes the second power source or the second power source connection, and includes a third indicator means;
and
said first, second and third indicator means, included in the plurality of circuit paths, for simultaneously indicating whether the first conductive path is open, whether the second conductive path is open, and whether there is a short circuit between the first and second conductive paths of the cable.

6 more elements

A device for testing cables having at least first and second conductive paths, the device comprising:

connector means for electrically coupling the device to ends of a cable to be tested so as to make electrical contact with the first and second conductive paths at each end of the cable, including a plurality of connector pairs, each connector in a pair having a first contact for electrical connection with the first conductive path and a second contact for electrical connection with the second conductive path;
circuit means, electrically coupled to the connector means, for detecting whether the first conductive path is open, whether the second conductive path is open, and whether there is a short circuit between the first and second conductive paths of the cable;
the circuit means includes first, second, and third circuit paths;
the first circuit path is connected to the first conductive path of the cable through the connector means and includes a first power source, or a first power source connection, and a first indicator means;
the second circuit path is connected to the second conductive path of the cable through the connector means and includes a second power source, or a second power source connection, and a second indicator means;
the third circuit path is connected to the first and the second circuit paths, utilizes the second power source or the second power source connection, and includes a third indicator means;
said first, second and third indicator means, included in the plurality of circuit paths, for simultaneously indicating whether the first conductive path is open, whether the second conductive path is open, and whether there is a short circuit between the first and second conductive paths of the cable;
and
an auxiliary connector electrically connected to the circuit so that equipment in addition to cables can be tested with the device by supplying power to the equipment with the second power source.

6 more elements

A device for testing cables having at least first and second conductive paths, the device comprising:

connector means for electrically coupling the device to ends of a cable to be tested so as to make electrical contact with the first and second conductive paths at each end of the cable, including a plurality of connector pairs, each connector in a pair having a first contact for electrical connection with the first conductive path and a second contact for electrical connection with the second conductive path, and where the first conductive path of the cable to be tested is a center conductor, and the second conductive path of the cable to be tested is a shield which surrounds the center conductor;
circuit means, electrically coupled to the connector means, for detecting whether the first conductive path is open, whether the second conductive path is open, and whether there is a short circuit between the first and second conductive paths of the cable;
and the circuit means includes first, second, and third circuit paths;
and the first circuit path is connected to the first conductive path of the cable through the connector means and includes a first power source, or a first power source connection, and a first indicator means;
and the second circuit path is connected to the second conductive path of the cable through the connector means and includes a second power source, or a second power source connection, and a second indicator means;
and the third circuit path is connected to the first and the second circuit paths, utilizes the second power source or the second power source connection, and includes a third indicator means;
and
said first, second and third indicator means, included in the plurality of circuit paths, for simultaneously indicating whether the first conductive path is open, whether the second conductive path is open, and whether there is a short circuit between the first and the second conductive paths of the cable.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description2,235 words

Summary837 words

#1. Field of the Invention

#This invention relates to devices for testing cables and, more particularly, relates to devices for automatically testing the continuity of center conductors and shields of a cable and for short circuits therebetween.

#2. Description of Related Art

Brief description of the drawings2 figures

#The invention will be described with reference to the following drawings in which like reference numbers refer to like elements, and wherein:

#FIG. 1 is a top view of a cable tester in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the invention; and

#FIG. 2 is a schematic circuit diagram of the FIG. 1 cable tester.

Detailed description1,343 words

#FIG. 1 is a top view of a cable tester 50 in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the invention. At least one pair of connectors 14 is provided for electrically coupling a cable 34 to tester 50. Preferably, a plurality of different types of connectors 14 are provided so that tester 50 can be used to test different types of cables. The tester 50 in FIG. 1 includes three pairs of connectors 14. The three different types of connectors can be, for example, a BNC (bayonet null connector), a phono plug and an F-type connector. However, other types of connectors could be provided. Each connector pair can be comprised of two female connectors, two male connectors, or one female and one male connector.

#Referring to FIG. 2, a first connector pair 14a, 14a', a second connector pair 14b, 14b', and a third connector pair 14c, 14c' are provided. As discussed above, each cable 34 includes a center conductor and a shield which need to be tested for continuity. It is also desirable to test for short circuits between the center conductor and the shield which can be located, for example, within the wire portion 35 or within the plugs 33a, 33b of cable 34. One pair of connectors connects current paths of tester 50 with the respective center conductor and shield of a cable 34 to be tested. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, in which two conductive elements (i.e., center conductor and shield) of a cable are tested, each connector 14 has two contacts 22 and 24. Contact 22 is electrically coupled to the center conductor of cable 34 when cable 34 is attached to a connector 14. Contact 24 is electrically coupled to the shield of the cable 34 being tested.

#Tester 50 includes power source 36. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, power source 36 includes two batteries 18 and 20 which are, for example, 9 V batteries. Batteries 18 and 20 are capable of supplying current simultaneously to a plurality of current paths within tester 50.

Facts

Application

08/324,851Filed 14 Oct 1994 · continuation

Priority

7 Jun 1993

Granted

19 Dec 1995

Term ended

7 Jun 2013

Estimated · how

Pre-1995 term; greater of 17 years from grant or 20 years from filing when eligible. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification2 codes

G01R 31/50
Arrangements for testing electric properties; Arrangements for locating electric faults; Arrangements for electrical testing characterised by…
G01R
Measuring electric variables

Device for testing continuity and/or short circuits in a cable

Life of this patent

Device for testing continuity and/or short circuits in a cable

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims26

Description2,235 words

Drawings

Classification2 codes

Life of this patent

Description2,235 words