FR2612602A1 - INSTALLATION FOR WASHING THE INTERIOR OF AN ELEMENT DURING TESTING, IN PARTICULAR A TRACTOR GEARBOX ELEMENT - Google Patents

Abstract

A) INSTALLATION FOR WASHING THE INTERIOR OF AN ELEMENT UNDER TEST, IN PARTICULAR A TRACTOR GEARBOX ELEMENT, B) INSTALLATION CHARACTERIZED IN THAT IT INCLUDES A DUCT 62, THE ENDS OF WHICH ENGAGE IN AN OPENING RESPECTIVE INLET AND OUTLET OPENING OF ELEMENT 5 IN WHICH A PREDETERMINED QUANTITY OF OIL HAS BEEN INTRODUCED PREVIOUSLY, FIRST PUMPING MEANS 63 MOUNTED IN DUCT 62 AND OPERATING TO WASH ELEMENT 5 TO MEANS OF OIL, FIRST FILTERING MEANS 65 MOUNTED IN THE DUCT 62 AND OPERATING TO RETAIN THE IMPURITIES DRAWN UP BY THE OIL LEAVING THE ELEMENT 5, AND THE MEANS 6 INTENDED TO PRODUCE THE MOVEMENT OF THE ROTATING PARTS OF THE ELEMENT 5.

Description

"Installation for washing the interior of an element under test,

  in particular a tractor gear boot element "The present invention relates to an installation for washing the interior of an element under test, such as for example a boot element

tractor speeds.

  Currently, the following process is used to wash an item with rotating parts. First, the element is filled with oil pumped into a storage tank by means of a pump, after being filtered. The quantity of oil to be introduced into the element is left to the visual appreciation of the operator. Then, the element is placed on a test bench and we connect the rotating parts

  to an electric or hydraulic motor so as to effect

  kill a test run. In this test, the oil circulates throughout the entire element due to the movement of the rotating parts. Finally, when the test is finished, the oil is allowed to drop from the element into a container open upwards placed below this element, then the oil returns from this container to the storage tank. When it leaves the element under the effect of gravity, the oil also carries with it parts of dust particles,

  machining residues and various contamination products

  nation that remain in the element after mounting.

  The process described above for washing an element under test has several drawbacks. In particular, because the oil leaves the element under the effect of gravity, this oil does not carry with it all the particles and it is found in fact that the heaviest particles remain on the wall of bottom of the element, which is highlighted by the fact that, in the case for example of tractor gear boots, the filter used on the tractor assembly line for the

  protection of hydraulic hydraulic maneuvering circuits

  This tractor must be replaced after the test because it is dirty. In addition, the container placed below the element in order to be able to collect the oil falling from it, must be of the open-up type. As a result, dust particles tend to fall into this container from the environment

  exterior which, in an assembly line, is particularly

  heavily polluted. Finally, it will be noted that after having been used a predetermined number of times, the oil in the storage container, even if it is added with additional oil to keep the level constant, exceeds all the tolerance limits allowed and must therefore be completely replaced by new oil at a significant cost since, in certain installations, the volume of the storage tank is

of the order of 3000 liters.

  The object of the invention is to create a system for washing the interior of an element under test, which does not have the above drawbacks and which makes it possible to obtain correct washing.

  element at a cost significantly lower than the current cost.

  Other aims and advantages of the invention

  tion will appear more clearly on reading the

detailed description below.

  According to the invention, this relates to an installation characterized in that it comprises a duct whose ends engage in a

  inlet opening and outlet opening respectively

  tives of the element into which a predetermined quantity of oil has been previously introduced, first pumping means mounted in the conduit and operating to produce the washing of the element by means of oil, first filtering means mounted

  in the conduit and functioning to retain impurities-

  tees entrained by the oil leaving the element, and means intended to produce the movement of the parts

of the element.

  Other improvements of the invention are characterized in that: - in the conduit, is mounted a first interception valve pneumatically controlled by a first solenoid valve which can be operated by an electric push button; - Between the first pumping means and the first filtering means, there is a bypass conduit extending from the conduit and in which is mounted a second interception valve pneumatically controlled by the first solenoid valve; the bypass conduit allowing the oil to be evacuated from the element when the washing of the latter is finished .; - The pneumatic control of the first valve and the second valve is obtained by means of a first compressed air treatment unit mounted between a first source of compressed air and the first solenoid valve; the block essentially comprising a filter, a flow regulator and a lubricator; - - a first pressure gauge and a second pressure gauge are mounted in the conduit respectively upstream and downstream of the first filtering means;

  - upstream, downstream and in correspondence-

  dance with the first filtering means, are mounted with the first respective taps allowing to extract

oil to analyze it.

  - It includes a hermetically closed storage tank, a first oil circulation circuit in which the oil in the reservoir is constantly driven in circulation, and a second oil circulation circuit through which the oil is introduced in the item in use; - in the first circuit are mounted second pumping means operating to pump the oil into the tank, second filtering means operating to filter this pumped oil, and a heat exchanger operating to bring the pumped oil to a value of predetermined temperature; - respective second manometers are mounted in the first circuit upstream and downstream of the second filtering means; - upstream, downstream and in correspondence with the second filtering means are mounted

  second respective taps allowing, during use

  reading, to extract oil to analyze it; - in the tank is mounted a thermostat operating to detect the oil temperature value and to control a second solenoid valve mounted in a hydraulic circuit passing through the heat exchanger; in the second circuit are mounted third pumping means operating to pump a predetermined quantity of oil and to supply this quantity of oil to the element, a third interception valve pneumatically controlled by the third solenoid valve, and a flow measuring instrument comprising a first electronic device in which the quantity of oil to be introduced into the element is adjusted, and a second device serving to detect this quantity and to block the passage of the oil as soon as the predetermined quantity has been reached; - the pneumatic control of the third solenoid valve is obtained by means of a second compressed air treatment unit mounted between a second source of compressed air and the third solenoid valve; the second element essentially comprising a filter, a flow regulator and a lubricator; - it includes a fourth valve

  interception device mounted in a conduit connecting a

  see the main tank to renew the oil in the latter; the fourth valve being pneumatically controlled by a fourth solenoid valve connected, via the second block, to the second source of compressed air; - in the tank are mounted two

  first detectors operating to detect respec-

  the minimum level and the maximum level of oil in the tank and to control the fourth valve

  solenoid via an electro-processor

  central picnic, so as to trigger or stop the

oil renewal.

  For a better understanding of the invention, a preferred embodiment of it will now be described, simply by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: - Figures 1 and 2 show two schematic views of the respective parts of a system produced according to the

principle of the invention.

  As illustrated in the attached drawings, the installation according to the invention comprises three oil circulation circuits identified by the references 1, 2 and 3 respectively. Circuit 1 (FIG. 1) ensures the circulation of the oil found in a hermetically closed storage tank 4. Circuit 2 (FIG. 1) makes it possible to fill an element 5 provided with rotating parts with oil. Circuit 3 (Figure 2) ensures the oil flow inside element 5 while it is being tested and its rotating parts are in motion under the action of a motor

hydraulic 6.

  Referring to Figure 1, the circuit 1 comprises two conduits 7 plunging into the tank 4 and in each of which is mounted a pump 8 by

  example of a gear type. The pumps 8 are driven

  born by an electric motor 11. The conduits 7 meet in a conduit 12 on which is mounted a valve 13 and a pressure gauge 14. The conduit 12 is divided into two conduits 15 in each of which adapts a corresponding filter 16 provided with a tap 17. The conduits 15 then meet in a single conduit 18 provided with a valve 20 and a pressure gauge 21, this conduit 18 being connected to a heat exchanger 22. The conduit 18 then enters the tank 4 into which is mounted a thermostat 23 intended to control a solenoid valve 24 allowing the passage of water through the heat exchanger 22 thanks to a hydraulic circuit

suitable 25.

  The circuit 1 is generally always in operation to permanently filter the oil in the tank 4, and to maintain this oil at a temperature between 55 and 60 C which, as will be seen better below, is the optimum temperature value for obtaining a correct flow rate inside the element 5. Two pumps 8 are mounted in parallel in the circuit 1 due to the large volume

  from reservoir 4 and the large amount of oil to be filtered.

  The pumps 8 pump the oil in circuit 1 so that this oil is purified by passing through the filters 16, and is brought to the temperature value indicated above by passing through the heat exchanger 22. The manometers 14 and 21 indicate the oil pressure values upstream and downstream of the filters 16. The pressure difference detected between the pressure gauges 14 and 21 gives an indication of the level of obstruction of the filters 16 which must be replaced when this

  pressure difference exceeds a predetermined value.

  Thanks to valves 13, 17 and 20, it is possible to draw oil at different points in circuit 1 so that its characteristics can be monitored

  for example performing a chemical analysis.

  As illustrated in FIG. 1, the circuit 2 comprises a conduit 31 plunging into the tank 4 and into which are connected in series a pump 32 driven by an electric motor 33, an interception valve 34, a flow measurement instrument 35 connected to a source of electrical energy, and a unidirectional valve 36. Between the pump 32 and the valve 34 of the conduit 31 is a bypass conduit 37 returning to the tank 4 and in which is mounted a maximum flow valve 38. The valve 34 is pneumatically controlled by a solenoid valve 41 itself controlled by an electric push button 42. The pneumatic control is obtained by means of a compressed air treatment block 43 connecting a source of compressed air 44 to the valve solenoid 41. The processing block 43 is generally constituted by a filter 43a, a flow regulator 43b provided with a pressure gauge 43c, and a lubricator 43d. Block 43 is of the classic type and is therefore easily found on the market, such as the Olympian block produced

  by the firm Martonair Spa (Italy) (registered trademark).

  As indicated above, by connecting the duct 31 to an inlet opening of the element 5

  (by naturally hermetically closing the other open-

  of this element) the filling of element 5 with circuit 2 is obtained under the control of the measuring instrument 35. In fact, this measuring instrument 35 generally consists of two sets of apparatus, one of which adjusts the volume of oil to be introduced into element 5, the other of which allows the number of liters of oil introduced into element 5 to be counted, in order to then close the conduit 31. This latter device is able to control an acoustic and / or light warning device to warn the operator that the filling is finished. It is obvious that the volume of oil to be introduced into the element is predetermined according to the capacity of the latter. The measuring instrument 35 is of the conventional type and is therefore easily found on the market, such as for example the measuring instrument produced by the Isothermic Swiss company (Switzerland) and consisting of the apparatus called Contoil and the pulse counter. called KCX

(trademark).

  The source 44 is further connected, by means of the block 43 and by means of a solenoid valve 45, to an interception valve 46 mounted in a conduit 47 connecting the reservoir 4 to a centralized reservoir to which all are connected. the tanks 4 of several installations arranged in different assembly lines in the area concerned. The electric control of the solenoid valve 45 is obtained by means of a detector 48 mounted in the tank 4 and operating to detect a minimum oil level in this tank

  4. The detector 48 is nothing more than a micro-

  float type switch capable of supplying electricity

  The solenoid 45 is triply when the oil in the tank 4 falls to a minimum level, which allows the pneumatic control of the valve 44 to allow a new quantity of oil to penetrate into the tank 4 through the conduit 47. FIG. 1 schematically represents a central electrical control unit 51 connected to an electrical power source and capable of operating to control the solenoid valve 45. The central control unit 51 is, in fact, connected to the detector 48 and to three other detectors 52, 53 and 54 of the same type as the detector 48. The detector 52 is used to detect the predetermined maximum oil level in the tank 4, and can therefore operate, via the central control unit 51, to cut the supply of the solenoid valve 45 so that it closes the duct 47 when the oil in the tank 4 reaches this predetermined maximum level. Detectors 53 and 54 respectively serve to detect the levels

  minimum and maximum security, and can therefore function-

  ner, via the central control unit 51, to control an acoustic warning device

  and / or luminous 55 making it possible to warn the operator.

  As illustrated in FIG. 2, the circuit 3 comes into play at the end of the filling of the element 5 provided with an inlet opening and an outlet opening to which the ends of a conduit 62 are fixed by respective quick-coupling devices 61. In the conduit 62 are connected in series a pump 63 driven by an electric motor 64, a filter 65 and an interception valve 66. A tap 67 and a pressure gauge 68 are mounted in the conduit 62 between the pump 63 and the filter 65. Likewise, a second tap 71 and a second pressure gauge 72 are mounted in the conduit 62 between the filter 65 and the valve 66. As in circuit 1, the pressure difference measured by the pressure gauges 68 and 72 give an indication of the fouling of the filter 65 fitted, among other things, with a tap 73. The taps 67, 17 and 73 allow oil to be drawn off at various points in the circuit

3 to analyze it.

  A bypass duct 74 starts from the duct 62 between the pump 63 and the filter 65, and

  has an interception valve 75 mounted therein

  this; bypass conduit 74 leads to tank 4

  in a manner not shown for simplicity.

  Valves 66 and 75 are pneumatically controlled

  by the same solenoid valve 76 which can be operated

  powered by an electric push button 77. The pneumatic control is obtained by means of an air treatment block 78 mounted between a source of compressed air 81 and the solenoid valve 76. Block 78 is similar to block 43 in that meaning that it includes a filter 78a, a regulator

  78b fitted with a pressure gauge 78c and a lubricator 78d.

  When the element 5 is filled thanks to the operation of the circuit 2, and when this element has been mounted in the circuit 3, the pump 63 and the motor 6 are started simultaneously. The pump 63

  circulates the oil contained at a predetermined speed

  bare in element 5, and the motor 6 rotates the rotating parts of element 5. Naturally, in this operating stage, the valve 75 closes the conduit 74 and the valve 66 leaves the conduit 62 open for the passage of oil. The filter 65 obviously filters the oil and retains the impurities it contains. To obtain a suitable washing and, consequently, a correct cleaning of all the interior cavity of the element 5, the oil which crosses this element 5 must have a turbulence of approximately 4000 Reynolds. This turbulence is obtained by circulating the oil at a predetermined speed by means of the pump, and by bringing its temperature between 55 and 60 C by means of

the heat exchanger 22.

  During this operating stage, it is possible, as already indicated above, to check the oil upstream and downstream of the filter 65, thereby detecting any fouling of the filter 65 and also detecting, after a period of predetermined time, the possible presence of impurities in the oil upstream of the filter 65, to decide whether the washing of element 5 should be continued. During the test of element 5, if the latter has parts that can be moved by means of external levers, such as a tractor gear boot, it is preferable to carry out this movement several times

  times while the item is being washed.

The above description allowed

  to highlight the many advantages presented

  by this embodiment of the invention.

  In particular, compared to the cleaning method used until now, the installation according to the invention makes it possible to obtain an effective cleaning of an element comprising rotating parts. This results in better operating performance of the element in use, and simultaneously lower wear of this element in the sense that, as is well known, the impurities which remain in the element can at any time be put in

  circulation and damage the parts of the element itself

  even. In addition, by performing effective cleaning of the element, the filters mounted for the first time in the oil circulation circuit of which the element itself is a part during operation, are protected from fouling during longer period of time. In addition, the circuit 1 makes it possible to obtain constant filtering of the oil in the tank 4, and therefore a longer service life of this oil, also because the tank 4 is hermetically closed, thus preserving the oil it contains from contact with the impurities present

  in the environment which like it's about an

  industry, is particularly polluted. It is necessary

  also point out that installation 1 is practical-

  completely automated in the sense that the operator only intervenes to fix the conduits 31 and 62 to the element 5, and to actuate the solenoid valves 41 and 76 by means of the push buttons 42 and 77. This allows better use of

  manpower and, therefore, reduce costs.

  In addition, it is clear that the oil present in the reservoir 4, as it is constantly filtered, should not be replaced but simply renewed,

  with all the resulting economic benefits.

  Finally, it is clear that many modifications and variants can be made to the installations described and illustrated here, without leaving

of the scope of the invention.

  In particular, circuit 3 can be produced in a different way from that illustrated.

  here, while retaining the principle of washing an element

  ment during a functional test. In addition, the installation could include several separate circuits 3, thus ensuring the washing of several

elements at the same time.

R E V E ND I CA T I 0 NS

  1) Installation for washing the interior

  of an element (5) under test, characteristic installation

  terized in that it comprises a duct (62) the ends of which engage in a respective inlet opening and outlet opening of the element (5) in

  which a predetermined quantity of oil has been pre-

  firstly introduced, first pumping means (63) mounted in the duct (62) and operating to produce the washing of the element (5) by means of oil, first filtering means (65) mounted in the duct (62) and operating to retain the impurities entrained by the oil leaving the element (5), and means (6) intended to produce the movement of the

  rotating parts of the element (5).

  2) Installation according to claim 1, characterized in that, in the conduit (62), is mounted a first interception valve (66) pneumatically controlled by a first solenoid valve (76)

  can be operated by an electric push button

that (77).

  3) System according to claim 2, characterized in that, between the first pumping means (63) and the first filtering means (65), extends a bypass conduit (74) extending from the conduit (62) and in which is mounted a second interception valve (75) pneumatically controlled by the

  first solenoid valve (76); the bypass

  drain (74) allowing the oil to be removed from the element (5)

  when the washing of the latter is finished.

  4) System according to claim 3, characterized in that the pneumatic control of the first valve (66) and the second valve (75) is obtained by means of a first compressed air treatment block (78) mounted between a first source of compressed air (81) and the first solenoid valve (76); the block (78) essentially comprising a filter (78a),

  a flow regulator (78c) and a lubricator (78d).

   ) Installation according to any one

  of the preceding claims, characterized in that a

  first pressure gauge (68) and a second pressure gauge (72) are mounted in the conduit (62) respectively upstream and

  downstream of the first filtering means (65).

  6) Installation according to any one

  of the preceding claims, characterized in that in

  upstream, downstream and in correspondence with the first filtering means (65), are mounted first respective taps (67, 71, 73) making it possible to withdraw from

the oil to analyze it.

  7) Installation according to any one

  of the preceding claims, characterized in

  that it comprises a hermetic storage tank (4)

  only closed, a first oil circulation circuit (1) in which the oil in the reservoir (4) is constantly driven in circulation, and a second oil circulation circuit (2) by which the oil is introduced into the element (5) during use. 8) Installation according to claim 7, characterized in that in the first circuit (1)

  are mounted second pumping means (8) function-

  nant to pump the oil into the tank (4), second filtering means (16) operating to filter this pumped oil, and a heat exchanger (22) operating to bring the pumped oil to a value of

predetermined temperature.

  9) Installation according to claim 8, characterized in that respective second pressure gauges (14) and (21) are mounted in the first circuit (1) upstream and downstream of the second means of

filtering (16).

   ) Installation according to any one

  as claims 8 and 9, characterized in that in

  upstream, downstream and in correspondence with the second filtering means (16) are mounted second valves

  respective (13, 20 and 17) allowing, during use

  sation, to draw oil to analyze it.

) Installation according to which one.

  conch of claims 8 to 10, characterized in

  in the tank (4) is mounted a thermostat (23) operating to detect the oil temperature value and to control a second solenoid valve (24) mounted in a hydraulic circuit (25)

  passing through the heat exchanger (22).

12) Installation according to any one

  dnnques of claims 7 to 11, characterized in that

  in the second circuit (2) are mounted third pumping means (32) operating to pump a predetermined quantity of oil and to supply this quantity of oil to the element (5), a third interception valve (34 ) pneumatically controlled by the third solenoid valve (41), and a

  flow measurement (35) comprising a first electrical device

  control valve in which the quantity of oil to be introduced into the element (5) is adjusted, and a second apparatus serving to detect this quantity and to block the passage of the oil as soon as the predetermined quantity has been reached.

 ) Installation according to the claim

  tion 12, characterized in that the pneumatic control of the third solenoid valve (34) is obtained by means of a second compressed air treatment unit (43) mounted between a second source of compressed air (44) and the third solenoid valve (41); the second element (43) essentially comprising a filter (43a),

  a flow regulator (43c) and a lubricator (43d).

 ) Installation according to the claim

  tion 13, characterized in that it comprises a fourth interception valve (46) mounted in a conduit (47) connecting a main tank to the tank (4) to renew the oil in the latter; the fourth valve (46) being pneumatically controlled by a fourth solenoid valve (45) connected, via the second block (43), to the second

compressed air source (44).

 ) Installation according to the claim

  tion 14, characterized in that in the tank (4)

  two first detectors (48 and 52) are fitted

  operating to respectively detect the minimum level and the maximum level of oil in the tank (4), and to control the fourth solenoid valve (45) via a central electronic processor

  (51), so as to trigger or stop the renewal

oil.