Handheld Trailer Light Tester for Vehicle-Free Inspection
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for testing trailer lighting systems are time-consuming and burdensome, requiring technicians to connect a vehicle to the trailer and operate its control systems to test the lighting, which can be inefficient, especially when inspecting multiple trailers.
Innovation Solution
A hand-held trailer tester that connects directly to the trailer's electrical system, allowing technicians to test lighting systems without a vehicle, using a rechargeable battery pack and user-selectable switches to illuminate various signal lights, thereby simplifying the testing process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a vehicle is connected to the trailer to test the lighting system, then the lighting can be tested using the vehicle's control systems, but the testing process becomes time-consuming and burdensome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential testing function from the complex vehicle system by creating a standalone trailer tester that directly interfaces with the trailer's electrical system. This handheld device isolates the testing capability from the vehicle, allowing technicians to test trailer lighting without needing to connect to or operate a vehicle, thereby dramatically reducing testing time while maintaining reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The trailer tester acts as an intermediary device between the technician and the trailer's electrical system. It provides a simplified interface with switches that directly control test signals to the trailer lights, eliminating the need to use the vehicle's complex control systems while ensuring accurate testing of all lighting functions
2Reliability
If a vehicle is connected to the trailer for lighting testing, then comprehensive testing can be performed, but the process requires multiple technicians and coordination
Solution Approach 1:
The trailer tester enables a single technician to perform complete lighting system testing independently. The device self-contained power supply and control mechanisms, allowing one technician to operate all testing functions without needing another technician to manually activate vehicle controls or verify light functions, greatly simplifying the operation while maintaining comprehensive testing capability
3Reliability
If routine maintenance is performed on multiple trailers, then road safety can be ensured, but the repeated connection and disconnection of vehicles increases time consumption
Solution Approach 1:
By extracting the testing function from the vehicle and embedding it in a portable handheld device, the patent eliminates the need to repeatedly connect and disconnect vehicles for each trailer inspection. Technicians can quickly move from one trailer to another with the self-contained tester, maintaining thorough safety checks while dramatically improving maintenance throughput and efficiency
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables quicker and more efficient testing of trailer lighting and electrical systems, reducing the time required for inspections and improving maintenance efficiency by allowing technicians to test trailers independently of a tow vehicle.
Implementation Method 1
A battery receiver is coupled to the main body and is configured to removably couple to a rechargeable battery pack
Data Source
AI summary
The techniques described herein relate to a trailer tester. The trailer tester may include a tester plug configured to couple to a complementary trailer plug, a battery receiver configured to removably couple to, i.e., receive, a rechargeable battery pack, and a main body. The main body may include a plurality of switches. Each switch may include a positive terminal configured to be connected through the battery receiver to a positive voltage terminal of the rechargeable battery pack, a negative terminal configured to connect through the battery receiver to a negative voltage terminal of the rechargeable battery pack, and an output terminal configured to be connected to a signal light of the trailer through the tester plug.