CA1340465C - Bearing Clearance Detector/Probe - Google Patents

Bearing Clearance Detector/Probe

Info

Publication number
CA1340465C
CA1340465C CA0617012A CA617012A CA1340465C CA 1340465 C CA1340465 C CA 1340465C CA 0617012 A CA0617012 A CA 0617012A CA 617012 A CA617012 A CA 617012A CA 1340465 C CA1340465 C CA 1340465C
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
cylinder
piston
probe
casing
vacuum
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
CA0617012A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
David N. Schuh
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
BMA INVESTMENTS Ltd
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to CA0617012A priority Critical patent/CA1340465C/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA1340465C publication Critical patent/CA1340465C/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • GPHYSICS
    • G01MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01BMEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS
    • G01B5/00Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of mechanical techniques
    • G01B5/14Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of mechanical techniques for measuring distance or clearance between spaced objects or spaced apertures
    • GPHYSICS
    • G01MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01BMEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS
    • G01B5/00Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of mechanical techniques
    • G01B5/003Measuring of motor parts

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Measuring Arrangements Characterized By The Use Of Fluids (AREA)

Abstract

A relatively simple device for measuring such variables as piston wrist pin and connecting rod big end clearances in internal combustion engines includes a cylindrical casing with a threaded front end for mounting in a spark plug hole; an elongated, arcuate wire probe slidable in a sleeve on such front end for engaging the top end of a piston; a plunger slidably mounted in the casing and extending beyond the other end of the casing to a micrometer for measuring piston movement; and air and oil lines extending through the casing to such front end for introducing a vacuum, air or oil to the cylinder for various measuring procedures.

Description

BEARING CLEAR~NCE DETECTOR/PROBE ~~46S

INTRODu~lON

This invention relates to an engine testing device, and in particular to a device for measuring clearances in engines.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The measuring of piston wrist pin clearance, connecting rod big end clearance, and the degree of sealing by valves, gaskets and rings in an engine cylinder can be difficult and time consuming. A need exists for a device, which simplifies such procedures.
The object of the present invention is to meet the above-identified need by providing a relatively simple device for measuring piston wrist pin and connecting rod clearances, and for determining the tightness of the seals in an engine cylinder.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention relates to a measuring device for use in detecting clearances in an engine cylinder comprising a tubular casing for insertion into an engine cylinder; a probe exten~ng from said tubular casing for engaging a piston in said cylinder; a first passage communicating with said engine cylinder and a source of air alternatively under pressure and vacuum and means for measuring said diSpl A~ -nt of said piston on the other end of said casing to provide an indication of piston mo~ nt in response to air pressure and vacuum in said first passageway.
~I' 13404~5 According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of measuring the clearance between a wrist pin and a piston comprising the steps of inserting a probe into a cylinder to contact a piston within said cylinder; drawing a first vacuum in said cylinder sufficient to raise said piston relative to said wrist pin and thereby moving said probe from a first to a second position and measuring the distance to which said probe moves from said first to said s~o~ position during movement of said piston against said vacuum.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation view of a measuring device in accordance with present invention with parts omitted;

Figure 2 is a longit--~;nAl sectional view of the device of Fig. 1 mounted in an engine cylinder;

Figure 3, which appears on the first sheet of drawings, is a cross section, taken generally along line III-III of Fig. 1;

13~0~5 Figure 4, which appears on the first sheet of drawings, is a cross section taken generally along line IV-IV of Fig. l; and Figure 5 is a side elevation view of one end of the device of Figs. 1 to 4 with a part removed.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC E~30DIMENT

In the following description, the terms "front"
and "rear" have been used to describe portions of the device farthest away from and closest to the user, respectively.

With references to the drawings, the device of the present invention includes an elongated tubular casing 1 with an internally threaded, front end 2 for receiving one external threaded rear end 3 of a plug 4.
The plug 4 carries a cylindrical sleeve 5, which has an internally threaded front end 6 for mating with the externally threaded central portion of the plug 4. An annular flange 8 on the plug 4 limits movements of the plug into the casing 1, and limits movement of the sleeve 5 rearwardly along the plug. An annular, radially outwardly ext~n~;ng flange 9 is provided on the rear end of the sleeve 5. The outer periphery of the flange 9 is knurled, 80 that the flange can be used as a handle for manual rotation of the sleeve 5.

The other, rear end 11 of the casing 1 is closed by a second, elongated plug 12. The plug 12 contains annular grooves defining annular passages 14 and 15 for receiving air under pressure through an inlet duct 17 and oil through an inlet duct 18, respectively. The passages 14 and 15 are sealed in the casing 1 by 0-rings 20. The air and oil entering the casing 1 flows through 13~04~5 longitudinally ext~n~;ng passages 22 and 23, respectively in the plug 12 which connect the passages 14 and 15 to the tubes 24 and 25 (Fig. 3) exten~;ng between the plugs 4 and 12. Longit~;n~lly ext~n~;ng passages 26 (one shown) in the plug 4 carry air and oil therethrough.

A third tube 28 carrying a plunger 29 extends between the inner ends of the plugs 4 and 12. The plunger 29 extends from beyond the front end of the casing 1 completely through the plug 12 to beyond the rear, outer end thereof. The plunger 29 is slidably supported in the casing 1 by a brass b~Ah;ng 30 in the front end of the tube 28 and by a tubular, externally threaded, brass br~h;ng 31 and an 0-ring 32 in the rear, outer end of the plug 12. A helical spring 33 exten~;ng between a shoulder 34 on the middle of the plunger 29 and the b~h; ng 31 biases the plunger towards the front end of the casing 1.

A head 35 on the rear, outer end of the plunger 29 receives the outer free end of the plunger 36 of a gauge 38. The gauge 38 is a disc-shaped micrometer for providing an indication of plunger stroke, i.e. the distance moved by the plunger 29. The gauge 38 is carried by the elongated stem 39 of the generally T-shaped bracket 40, which is ~ unted on the outer, rear end of the plug 12. A lug 41 on the bottom of the gauge 38 extends into a slot in the stem 39 of the bracket 40.

The other or front end of the plunger 29 carries a probe 42 defined by an elongated wire, which extends outwardly through the threaded, reduced diameter outer, front end 44 of the plug 4 and 5, sleeve 45 is maintained in a fixed position with respect to the plug 4 by a short tube 47 with a plug 48 in the outer end thereof, and by reinforcing plates 50. The plates 50 are 13~04~

silver brazed to the sleeve 45 and to the tube 47. Oil is carried from the passage in the plug 4 by an arcuate tube 52. A plug 53 blocks the outer end of the tube 52 80 that any oil flowing therethrough is sprayed outwardly through holes 54 in the side wall of the tube slightly upstream of the plug 53.

OPERATION

Operation of the device is quite simple.
During use, the threaded front end 44 of the plug 4 is inserted into a threaded spark plug opening 56 in an internal combustion cylinder 58 and rotated. The device can also be inserted into the diesel injector hole of a diesel engine.

The sleeve 5 permits locking of the device in the required angular position 80 that the longitll~;n~l axis of the front end of the curved probe guide sleeve 45 is parallel to the axis of the bore of the cylinder 58.
When the probe sleeve 45 is in the proper angular position, the sleeve 5 is rotated until the front end 6 thereof contacts the spark plug gasket seat. Thus, the measuring device is no longer free to wiggle due to the looseness provided by normal spark plug thread clearance.
The plug 4 can be changed, i.e. the probe no~e piece or front end 44 mounting threads can be changed to suit different spark plug or injector openings.

The device is connected by hoses (not shown) to an auxiliary cart which provides the required vacuum, air pressure, flow measurement, oil source and filters to operate the device.

The probe 42 engages the top end of a piston 59 80 that movement of the latter toward the device causes a . .

' 13~0465 correspsn~;ng movement of the plunger 29. The spring 33 ensures that the probe 42 accurately follows movement of the piston 59. Plunger movement registers on the micrometer 38. When pressure on the probe 42 is released, the spring 33 moves the plunger toward the rest position.

The device can be used to measure piston wrist pin clearance and connecting rod big end bearing clearance, and to flow test an engine cylinder to determine how well the valves, gaskets and rings seal the cylinder. The flow test is performed dry (as the engine is found) and wet by using the tube 52 to spray oil onto the walls of the cylinder 58 in order to determine how much of any leakage is ring leakage. The degree of such leakage can readily be deduced, because the sprayed oil seals the rings, eliminating the ring leakage path.

Bearing clearances are measured by determining piston lifting when a vacuum is applied to the combustion chamber. The vacuum is applied through air duct 17, passage 22, tube 24 and passage 26. The vacuum is applied incrementally, and when sufficient force has been developed to overcome the weight of the piston 59 (but not of the connecting rod) the piston 59 rises through a distance indicative of wrist pin clearance. By applying a higher vacuum, sufficient force is developed to lift the connecting rod (but not the crank~hAft) which provides an indication of connecting rod clearance.
Piston lift is measured by the probe 42 being in contact with the top of the piston 59 when the piston is forced down (by slight air pressure through duct 17, passage 22, tube 24 and passage 26) to its full down position with the crank~haft oriented angularly to top dead center of the piston. The arcuate probe 42 is 13404~5 designed to measure longitl~; n~l motion of the piston, i.e. motion parallel to the longitll~; n~l axis of the cylinder. The micrometer 38 provides a direct reading of the piston lift.

. .

Claims (17)

1. A measuring device for use in detecting clearances in an engine cylinder comprising a tubular casing for insertion into an engine cylinder; a probe extending from said tubular casing for engaging a piston in said cylinder; a first passage communicating with said engine cylinder and a source of air alternatively under pressure and vacuum; and means for measuring the displacement of said piston to provide an indication of piston movement in response to air pressure and vacuum in said first passageway.
2. A measuring device as in claim 1, and further comprising a first plug closing one end of said casing for insertion into said engine cylinder and for slidably supporting one end of said plunger; and a second plug closing the other end of said casing for slidably supporting the other end of said plunger.
3. A measuring device as in claim 2 and further comprising a second fluid passageway communicating with said cylinder and a source of lubricating fluid, said first fluid passageway extending through each of said first and second plugs for introducing air or a vacuum into said cylinder; said second fluid passageway extending through each of said first and second plugs for introducing oil into said cylinder;
and a third passageway extending through of said first and second plugs for slidably supporting said plunger.
4. A measuring device as in claim 3 and further comprising a threaded nose piece on said first plug extending out of said casing for engaging a threaded opening in said engine cylinder.
5. A measuring device as in claim 4, including a sleeve on said casing for movement against the cylinder to secure the measuring device in one position.
6. A measuring device as in claim 5 and further comprising a guide tube on said nose piece for guiding said probe and facilitating alignment of the outer free end of said probe with the longitudinal axis of said piston.
7. A measuring device as in claim 6 wherein said guide tube is arcuate, curving with respect to the longitudinal axis of said casing.
8. A measuring device as in claim 1 wherein said tubular casing has closed ends and further comprising a plunger slidable in such casing, said probe engaging one end of said plunger.
9. A measuring device as in claim 8 and further comprising means for biasing said plunger against said probe.
10. A measuring device as in claim 9 wherein said biasing means is a compression spring within said casing.
11. A method of measuring the clearance between a wrist pin and a piston comprising the steps of inserting a probe into a cylinder to contact a piston within said cylinder; drawing a first vacuum in said cylinder sufficient to raise said piston relative to said wrist pin and thereby moving said probe from a first to a second position; and measuring the distance through which said probe moves from said first to said second position during movement of said piston against said vacuum.
12. A method as in claim 11 and further comprising measuring the clearance between a connecting rod and a crank pin by drawing a second vacuum in said cylinder sufficient to raise said connecting rod and piston relative to said crank pin and thereby moving said probe from said second to a third position during movement of said piston rod and piston against said vacuum.
13. A method as in claim 11 and further comprising positioning said crank pin such that said piston is in its top dead centre position prior to drawing said vacuum in said cylinder.
14. A method as in claim 13 and further comprising applying air pressure to said cylinder sufficient to force said cylinder to its full down position in said top dead centre position to thereby establish said first position of said probe.
15. A method as in claim 12 and further comprising positioning said crank pin such that said piston is in its top dead centre position prior to drawing said vacuum in said cylinder.
16. A method as in claim 15 and further comprising applying air pressure to said cylinder sufficient to force said piston to its full down position in said top dead centre position to thereby establish said first position of said probe.
17. A method as in claim 12 and further comprising measuring the flow of pressurized air through said cylinder in a first measurement, spraying oil into said cylinder and measuring the flow of pressurized air through said cylinder following said spraying of oil into said cylinder in a second measurement and subtracting said second measurement from sad first measurement to thereby obtain an indication of the sealing of said cylinder.
CA0617012A 1995-08-25 1995-08-25 Bearing Clearance Detector/Probe Expired - Lifetime CA1340465C (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA0617012A CA1340465C (en) 1995-08-25 1995-08-25 Bearing Clearance Detector/Probe

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA0617012A CA1340465C (en) 1995-08-25 1995-08-25 Bearing Clearance Detector/Probe

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA1340465C true CA1340465C (en) 1999-03-23

Family

ID=4140950

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA0617012A Expired - Lifetime CA1340465C (en) 1995-08-25 1995-08-25 Bearing Clearance Detector/Probe

Country Status (1)

Country Link
CA (1) CA1340465C (en)

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