Patent GB-875708-A (GB)
Title: Automatic testing system
IPC: G06G7/02
Filed: 1957-07-25
Abstract: 875,708. Electric tests. GENERAL PRECISION Inc. July 25, 1957 [July 27, 1956], No. 23635/57. Class 37. A device for testing a number of electric circuits comprises means for conditioning each of the circuits in turn in accordance with the circuit capability to be tested, a selector switch for individually connecting said circuits under test in turn to a detector circuit, and fault indicating means operated by the detector circuit in the event of a fault in one of the circuits under test. General description.-A number of amplifiers A1 to A36 forming part of an analogue computer are each to be tested for drift, positive output and negative output. A three-bank stepping switch 20 operated by pulses from a multivibrator circuit 81 connects each amplifier in turn to a detector circuit consisting of pentodes 48, 49. During the drift test all the amplifier feedback circuits are replaced by a standard feedback path which feeds back a predetermined proportion of the output signal. The remaining output signal is then tested by the detector circuit, already adjusted by the selector switches, and if it exceeds plus or minus 10 volts the stepping switch 20 is stopped. During the second circuit of the stepping switch a positive potential is applied direct to the amplifiers and the output voltage is tested by the detector circuit now set to respond to a higher voltage. During the third circuit a negative input voltage is applied. If any of the outputs is incorrect, the stepping switch stops connected to the faulty amplifier and lights indicate which amplifier is faulty and which test is in progress. Detailed operation.-Start switch 10 operates relay 21 through a circuit prepared by relay 123 when the stepping switch is in its zero position (S40). Zero indicating lamp 125 also lights. Hence switch 20 must be in its zero position before the test can begin. Relay 21 causes direct operation of drift check relays 28, 29, 30, tester operating relays 31, 32 and, through relay 97 and switch 42 of indicator 19. The drift check relays remain operated until the drift test is complete, and the tester operating relays until the whole series of tests is complete. Closure of switch 10 de-energizes relay 21 to lock relays 28 to 38. Relay 28 operates drift test relay 40 and drift test indicator 41 disables the computer by a 28-volt signal fed into line C1 from source 42. Relay 40 conditions all 36 amplifier circuits for the drift test by connecting source 42 to all of terminals 44, thus operating relays 124 which replace the normal amplifier feed-back circuits by a standard feed-back path. More than 10 volts at terminals 45 of each amplifier indicate excessive drift and this is checked by pentodes 48, 49 which check negative and positive drift respectively. Relay 29 establishes biases so that 48 is conductive and 49 non-conductive so that relay 63 is operated and relay 67 unoperated. When relay 29 conditions the drift detector circuit relays 30-32 are operated. Relay 32 shunts a biasing path of a multivibrator 81 (2.5 cycles per second) which operates relay 88 to step switch 20 intermittently by magnet 20M. The wipers of switch 20 move to the first position S1, indicator 125 is extinguished and indicator I1 (in bank 20B) is illuminated and output terminal 45 of circuit A1 is connected to the detector circuit 47 through wiper 20C. If terminal 45 is not between Œ10 volts, one of valves 48, 49 changes its state operating one of indicators 102, 104 according as the drift is excessively positive or negative and interrupts the stepping path to magnet 20M. If the drift is within the predetermined limits the switch steps to the next position and in this way all 36 circuits are tested for drift. When the stepping switch reaches position S38 a path is prepared for relays 38 and 105 and the positive output indicator 106. As the switch moves to S39 these relays operate and lock out the indicator lights. Relays 28-30 release and drift indicator 19 is extinguished. Relay 38 prepares a further operating path to magnet 20M and the drift test relay 40 and drift relays 124 in the amplifiers release. The detector circuits are restored to their original condition by relay 29. Relay 105 conditions amplifiers A1 to A36 and detector 47 for the positive output test by operating relay 129 from a negative source 35 which is then extended to the amplifier inputs by the relays. If the amplifiers are functioning correctly the potential at output terminals 45 should be not less than 100 volts. Detector 47 functions as a load for each of the amplifiers under test. Relay 105 adjusts the grid bias of circuit 47 to reject any amplifier which has less than 80 volts positive output. Tube 48 remains conductive and the additional positive bias causes tube 49 to conduct. While switch 20 is at position S20 there is no input to the detector circuits from the amplifier and both relays 63, 67 are operated. Relay 67 energizes indicator 102 and completes an operating path from magnet 20M which steps switch 20 round to position S1. At position S39 a path is prepared for negative changeover relay 110. Relay 110 transfers a part of the operating path for relays 38 and 105 to negative output relays 37, 111 which do not operate until the prepared paths are completed. Relay 110 locks. At position S40 relay 123 operates and releases when it moves to S1. At position S1 indicator I1 is energized and terminal 45 of A1 is connected through S1 and section 20C of switch 20 to the grids of tubes 48, 49. The connection reduces the grid potential of both tubes but tube 48 does not cut off because of the positive bias. Tube 49 receives both the positive and negative bias. If the output potential of A1 is less than 80 volts, relay 67 releases opening the operating path for coil 20M. Indicator 106 shows a failure in the positive output test and one of indicators I1 to 136 shows which lamp is faulty. When wiper arm reaches S38 and relay 88 operates, the prepared path for negative test relays 37, 111 is completed. Relay 37 causes relays 38, 105 to drop out, indicator 106 to de-energize and the hold-on path for 37, 111 and indicator 113 to be completed. Relay 37 causes relays 38, 105 to drop out indicator 106 to de-energize and a hold-on path for 37, 111 and indicator 113 to be completed. When relay 105 releases it opens the positive biasing path for tubes 48, 49 and changes the conditioning potential at terminals 108 in the amplifiers. Relay 105 replaces source 35 by positive source 36. Relays 129 remain operated during the source transfer. Relay 11 conditions detector output circuit 47 in accordance with the negative output test by supplying a negative bias to the grids of tubes 48, 49. When relay 38 releases, the path to coil 20M is interrupted. Relays 37 provide a new operating path. Switch 20 steps from S30 to S1. Both detector tubes are normally non-conducting the 48 have both the positive and the negative bias. Relays 63, 67 are released. Magnet 20M is de-energized at 48. A new step path is made from source 36 relays 37, 97, 88, 63, 37, 32, switch 12 and coil 20M. If the negative output potential is greater than 80 volts the switch continues stepping; if less, tube 48 conducts, relay 63 operates and stepping magnet 20M is interrupted. When switch 20 reaches S37 at the end of the negative output test stepping relay 80 operates the " test complete" relay 87 and indicator 197. When relay 97 operates it opens a stepping path of magnet 20M to half switch S20 and locks itself from source 36. Indicator 19 is also energized. Zero return switch 11.-The testing circuit may be set at zero at any time by the operation of switch 11 which releases relays 31, 32. Relay 31 releases 110, 97, 37, 111 in the test circuit and relays 129 in the amplifiers A1 to A36. Relay 111 returns the detector circuit to normal. Relay 32 opens the shunting path to halt multivibrator 80 and initiates the stepping operation for switch 20. The stepping operation is started on the release of relay 32 through interrupter contacts 200 with which magnet 20M interacts until position S40 is reached when relay 123 is operated to open the stepping path. Indicator 125 is energized. Step switch 12.-When this switch is deflected the stepping coil is de-energized. At the same time an alternative path is made for drift test indicator 19 if the drift test is on. Advance switch 14.-This switch provides a direct supply to magnet 20M to operate it as desired. Manual drift test switch 13.-To perform a manual drift test switch 13 is deflected to operate relay 40 and indicator 41. Relay 40 connects source 42 to terminals 44 of A1 to A36. Switch 14 then advances switch 20 to position S1. Zero position relay 123 releases and closes the step interrupter circuit of magnet 20M. Detector circuit 47 is not conditioned for the drift test. Instead jack 125 is connected by wiper arm 20C to each of the amplifier outputs in turn. Output test switches 15, 16 prepare the testing circuit for manual positive or negative output tests. Switch 15 connects source 42 switch 16 and relay 40 to input terminal 108 of A1 to A36. Stepper switch 20 is manually advanced by switch 14 to any amplifier position and jack 125 is used to check the amplifier output. When switch 16 is deflected after switch 15, negative source 35 replaces positive source 42. Selector switches 17, 18 may be used to obtain the output of any particular amplifier at jack 126. Switch 17 selects bank 18a, 18b, 18c and 18d from which an output is required and switch 18 is used to select one of ten amplifiers connected to that bank.