Abstract: An integrated battery service system performs a plurality of services related to a battery, such as battery testing, battery charging, and the like. In addition, the integrated service system provides services to devices/components that are coupled to the battery, such as starters, alternators, etc. The integrated battery service system allows a user to abort a service and then resume the process from where the process was aborted. When conducting a service, the integrated battery service system determines a noise level caused by devices/components coupled to the battery. The integrated battery service system includes connectors configured to couple to a battery for receiving input signals, a processor coupled to the connectors, and a memory device coupled to the processor for storing control codes and operation history. The control codes, when executed by the processor, control the system to selectively abort a service in response to a user input.

Abstract: A fluid device that provides one or more features selected from being substantially tamper-resistant, substantially fluid-tight, and/or capable of providing stress relief to the various components used to form the fluid device. The fluid device accomplishes one or more of these features through the use of an injection material that is capable of substantially filling connection spaces in the fluid device using a low-pressure injection system. By using this injection material and a low-pressure injection system, the injection material may be injected into the connection spaces in the fluid device. Then, after the injection material has hardened, the injection material provides a mechanical barrier that provides the one or more benefits described.

Abstract: An automated method is provided for testing an electrical circuit using a system tester. Load leads and sense leads of the tester are connectable to any two points of an electrical circuit, such as in a vehicle system, for displaying in real time the impedance between the tested circuit points. A controller is responsive to various sensed signals to calculate impedance, admittance or conductance, and related parameters, such as available cranking current, and provide results for read out or display. A load may be connected across the circuit points under test, the sensed signals derived from a current sense amplifier, a DC voltage amplifier, a ripple amplifier, and an AC amplifier.

Abstract: An integrated battery service system performs a plurality of services related to a battery, such as battery testing, battery charging, and the like. In addition, the integrated service system provides services to devices/components that are coupled to the battery, such as starters, alternators, etc. The integrated battery service system allows a user to abort a service and then resume the process from where the process was aborted. When conducting a service, the integrated battery service system determines a noise level caused by devices/components coupled to the battery. The integrated battery service system includes connectors configured to couple to a battery for receiving input signals, a processor coupled to the connectors, and a memory device coupled to the processor for storing control codes and operation history. The control codes, when executed by the processor, control the system to selectively abort a service in response to a user input.

Abstract: An automated method is provided for testing an electrical circuit using a system tester. Load leads and sense leads of the tester are connectable to any two points of an electrical circuit, such as in a vehicle system, for displaying in real time the impedance between the tested circuit points. A controller is responsive to various sensed signals to calculate impedance, admittance or conductance, and related parameters, such as available cranking current, and provide results for read out or display. A load may be connected across the circuit points under test, the sensed signals derived from a current sense amplifier, a DC voltage amplifier, a ripple amplifier, and an AC amplifier.

Abstract: An integrated battery service system performs a plurality of services related to a battery, such as battery testing, battery charging, and the like. In addition, the integrated service system provides services to devices/components that are coupled to the battery, such as starters, alternators, etc. The integrated battery service system allows a user to abort a service and then resume the process from where the process was aborted. When conducting a service, the integrated battery service system determines a noise level caused by devices/components coupled to the battery. The integrated battery service system includes connectors configured to couple to a battery for receiving input signals, a processor coupled to the connectors, and a memory device coupled to the processor for storing control codes and operation history. The control codes, when executed by the processor, control the system to selectively abort a service in response to a user input.

Abstract: An automated method is provided for testing an electrical circuit using a system tester. Load leads and sense leads of the tester are connectable to any two points of an electrical circuit, such as in a vehicle system, for displaying in real time the impedance between the tested circuit points. A controller is responsive to various sensed signals to calculate impedance, admittance or conductance, and related parameters, such as available cranking current, and provide results for read out or display. A load may be connected across the circuit points under test, the sensed signals derived from a current sense amplifier, a DC voltage amplifier, a ripple amplifier, and an AC amplifier.

Abstract: A method and system for evaluating the operation of an alternator based on a frequency component in the alternator output signal. The method detects a frequency component of the alternator output signal, and compares the frequency component of the alternator output signal with a threshold frequency. The operation of the alternator is evaluated based on a result of the comparison. If the frequency component of the alternator output signal is lower than the threshold frequency, the alternator is determined as defective. The frequency component can be obtained by comparing the alternator output signal with an adaptive threshold. The adaptive threshold is generated based on the peak signal level and the valley signal level of the alternator output signal, such as the average of the peak signal level and valley signal level.

Abstract: An alternator testing method and system that provides high resolution signals and stable loads during alternator tests. The method couples a load to the alternator, and evaluates the operation of the alternator based on parameters collected only after the load has been coupled to the alternator for a first predetermined period of time. The method may further include a step of detecting the speed of the alternator or motor driving the alternator. In one embodiment, the load is applied to the alternator only after motor speed or alternator speed reaches a predetermined level. The load may be automatically decoupled from the alternator after the load has been coupled to the alternator for a second predetermined period of time.

Abstract: An integrated battery service system performs a plurality of services related to a battery, such as battery testing, battery charging, and the like. In addition, the integrated service system provides services to devices/components that are coupled to the battery, such as starters, alternators, etc. The integrated battery service system allows a user to abort a service and then resume the process from where the process was aborted. When conducting a service, the integrated battery service system determines a noise level caused by devices/components coupled to the battery. The integrated battery service system includes connectors configured to couple to a battery for receiving input signals, a processor coupled to the connectors, and a memory device coupled to the processor for storing control codes and operation history. The control codes, when executed by the processor, control the system to selectively abort a service in response to a user input.

Abstract: An alternator tester having improved heat dissipation. The alternator tester has a housing and a circuit board including tester circuits. The housing has a size suitable to be held in one's hand. The housing includes a first compartment for receiving the circuit board and a second compartment for housing a load. The load is coupled to an alternator when the alternator tester conducts a test on the alternator. The second compartment has an opening disposed on one side and a fan disposed on the other side. The load, the opening and the fan are substantially in line. The opening and the fan form an air flow path, when the fan is in operation, the heat generated by the load is dissipated to the surrounding air and drawn out through the air path.

Abstract: An alternator testing method and system that provides high resolution signals and stable loads during alternator tests. The method according to the present invention comprises the steps of: coupling a load to the alternator, and evaluating the operation of the alternator based on parameters collected only after the load has been coupled to the alternator for a first predetermined period of time. The method may further include a step of detecting the speed of the alternator or motor driving it, and in one aspect, the load is applied to the alternator only after motor speed or alternator speed reaches a predetermined level. The load may be automatically decoupled from the alternator after the load has been coupled to the alternator for a second predetermined period of time.

Abstract: An alternator testing method and system that provides high resolution signals and stable loads during alternator tests. The method according to the present invention comprises the steps of: coupling a load to the alternator, and evaluating the operation of the alternator based on parameters collected only after the load has been coupled to the alternator for a first predetermined period of time. The method may further include a step of detecting the speed of the alternator or motor driving it, and in one aspect, the load is applied to the alternator only after motor speed or alternator speed reaches a predetermined level. The load may be automatically decoupled from the alternator after the load has been coupled to the alternator for a second predetermined period of time.

Abstract: A method and system for evaluating the operation of an alternator based on a frequency component in the alternator output signal. The method comprises detecting a frequency component of the alternator output signal, comparing the frequency component of the alternator output signal with a threshold frequency, and evaluating the operation of the alternator based on a result of the comparison. If the frequency component of the alternator output signal is lower than the threshold frequency, the alternator is determined as defective. The frequency component can be obtained by comparing the alternator output signal with an adaptive threshold. The adaptive threshold is generated based on the peak signal level and the valley signal level of the alternator output signal, such as the average of the peak signal level and valley signal level.

Abstract: The invention relates to a solder sleeve comprising a split sleeve of solder material having end surfaces of which take the form of form-fitting coupling elements, and to a method for forming such a solder sleeve, comprising of: i) providing a strip of solder material having end surfaces of which take the form of form-fitting coupling elements; and ii) bending the strip to form a sleeve, wherein the coupling elements mutually engage for coupling.

Abstract: A battery and charging system tester includes an automatically-operated carbon pile for loading the battery, the pile having a shaft therethrough rotated by a stepper motor, and a compression nut threadedly engaged with the shaft for movement into and out of engagement with the carbon pile in response to rotation of the shaft for varying the compression of the pile and, thereby, the impedance thereof. Probes are provided for sensing battery load current and output voltage, and the output current of an alternator charging unit. A feedback control circuit including a microprocessor operating under stored program control converts the analog probe outputs to digital signals and compares the battery output voltage and load current to selectively variable references for controlling the stepper motor to vary the battery load so as to regulate either the battery load current or the battery output voltage to a predetermined reference value, depending upon the test being performed.

Abstract: A battery and charging system tester includes an automatically-operated carbon pile for loading the battery, the pile having a shaft therethrough rotated by a stepper motor, and a compression nut threadedly engaged with the shaft for movement into and out of engagement with the carbon pile in response to rotation of the shaft for varying the compression of the pile and, thereby, the impedance thereof. Probes are provided for sensing battery load current and output voltage, and the output current of an alternator charging unit. A feedback control circuit including a microprocessor operating under stored program control converts the analog probe outputs to digital signals and compares the battery output voltage and load current to selectively variable references for controlling the stepper motor to vary the battery load so as to regulate either the battery load current or the battery output voltage to a predetermined reference value, depending upon the test being performed.

Abstract: A method for converting methane to higher molecular weight hydrocarbons wherein hot oxidative coupling reactor effluent is briefly contacted with a C.sub.2 to C.sub.20 alkane quench material to remove part of the heat contained in the raw reactor effluent, and is then further quenched by thermal quenching means to achieve a temperature which discourages retrograde reactions.