Methods and apparatus for testing centrifugal start mechanisms

A system for determining whether a centrifugal start mechanism including a movable push collar properly operates at a selected cutout speed and a selected cutback speed, said system comprising:

• a motor including a rotatable shaft for carrying the start mechanism;
• a sensor for detecting movement of the push collar as the motor shaft rotates;
• a controller coupled to said motor and to said sensor for obtaining data indicative of the motor shaft speed when movement of the push collar is detected, said controller configured to control acceleration of said motor shaft to a speed higher than the selected cutout speed and configured to control deceleration of said motor shaft to a speed lower than the selected cutback speed, and
• memory storage coupled to said controller for storing data indicative of the motor shaft speed when said sensor detects movement of said push collar during acceleration and deceleration of said motor shaft;
• and
• an adapter for being secured to said motor shaft, said adapter comprising a shaft for carrying the start mechanism during a test, and said controller substantially preventing operation of said motor if the start mechanism is not fully secured to said adapter shaft.

A system for determining whether a centrifugal start mechanism including a movable push collar properly operates at a selected cutout speed and a selected cutback speed, said system comprising:

• a motor including a rotatable shaft for carrying the start mechanism;
• a sensor for detecting movement of the push collar as the motor shaft rotates;
• a controller comprising a programmable motion controller, said controller coupled to said motor and to said sensor for obtaining data indicative of the motor shaft speed when movement of the push collar is detected, said controller configured to control acceleration of said motor shaft to a speed higher than the selected cutout speed and configured to control deceleration of said motor shaft to a speed lower than the selected cutback speed, and
• memory storage coupled to said controller for storing data indicative of the motor shaft speed when said sensor detects movement of said push collar during acceleration and deceleration of said motor shaft;
• and
• a stepper motor drive coupled to receive control signals from said controller, said drive coupled to said motor to control acceleration and deceleration of said motor shaft based on control signals received from said controller.

A system for determining whether a centrifugal start mechanism including a movable push collar properly operates at a selected cutout speed and a selected cutback speed, said system comprising:

• a motor including a rotatable shaft for carrying the start mechanism;
• a sensor for detecting movement of the push collar as the motor shaft rotates;
• a controller coupled to said motor and to said sensor for obtaining data indicative of the motor shaft speed when movement of the push collar is detected, said controller configured to control acceleration of said motor shaft to a speed higher than the selected cutout speed and configured to control deceleration of said motor shaft to a speed lower than the selected cutback speed, and
• memory storage coupled to said controller for storing data indicative of the motor shaft speed when said sensor detects movement of said push collar during acceleration and deceleration of said motor shaft;
• and
• an enclosure, said motor and said sensor positioned substantially within said enclosure, said enclosure comprising a door and a door sensor, said door sensor operable to generate a signal indicative as to whether said door is fully closed, said door sensor coupled to said controller, said controller substantially prevents operation of said motor if said door sensor indicates that said door is not fully closed.