FR2777816A1 - Modular system for carrying out several superficial treatment operations on diesel engine injector needles - Google Patents

Abstract

The system for carrying out treatment operations on parts (A) is composed of input (1) and output (2) modules. Each of these is of the drawer type (6,7) and there is a treatment module (3) interposed between the input and output modules. The treatment module comprises a transit channel (15) in alignment with the transit circuit (5) of the input and output modules.- DETAILED DESCRIPTION - The transit module communicates with chambers (18,22) which can be connected to a pressurized treatment fluid circuit. In addition the treatment module has temporary retaining means (23) for a part in the transit channel. The input and output modules can be selectively put into communication with the treatment module chambers and the treatment fluid external introduction or recovery sources

Description

MODULAR DEVICE FOR PRODUCING ONE OR MORE

  SURFACE TREATMENT OPERATIONS ON PARTS IN PARTICULAR

SMALL DIMENSIONS

  The present invention relates to the surface treatment of parts,

  more precisely, small metal parts.

  The invention applies very particularly to parts of the needle type of diesel engine injectors, but can of course be applied to other types of parts such as balls, springs, screws, etc. which must undergo , like injector needles, a succession of surface treatments during or at the end of their manufacturing process, such as washing, greasing,

drying, etc ...

  Such treatments must, and this is precisely the case with injector needles, be carried out under particularly demanding conditions of efficiency, precision, respect for the environment, yield and economy. The present invention aims to solve these problems and these requirements by proposing means suitable for the automatic and successive implementation of the various treatments such as those mentioned above, on the parts in progress or at the end of machining and very particularly, well that not exclusively, on small metal parts such as

injector needles.

  To this end, the invention relates to a modular device for carrying out one or more surface treatment operations on small parts, in particular injector needles, characterized in that it consists of a module inlet and outlet module, each of the drawer type provided with a room for receiving a part to be treated and movable between two positions, one in which said room is in a through transit circuit the module and the other in which said chamber is isolated and the transit circuit interrupted, and at least one processing module interposed between the two input and output modules, said processing module comprising a transit channel in alignment with said transit circuit of the input and output modules, said transit channel communicating, on the input module side, with a first chamber and, on the output module side, with a second chamber, the two above-mentioned chambers your being capable of being connected to at least one pressure treatment fluid circuit, said treatment module further comprising means for temporarily retaining a part in the transit channel, and in that said inlet modules and output are provided with means selectively ensuring communication between said chambers of the processing module and the

  external sources of introduction or recovery of treatment fluids.

  Advantageously, the device comprises a plurality of treatment modules aligned coaxially between the input and output modules, with the interposition, between two treatment modules, of a spacer closing the chambers of the modules, pierced with a central passage, so as to possibly carry out different treatments on different modules, the latter being connected to appropriate circuits for introducing and recovering

  fluids suitable for treatment.

  According to the types of treatment to be applied to the parts, between two adjacent treatment modules can be interposed a drawer module similar to said input and output modules, in order to constitute an isolation lock preventing the mixing of fluids operating respectively in the

  modules arranged on either side of said airlock module.

  The module assigned to a treatment such as sanding is provided with radial channels opening into the transit channel of the module so as to achieve a

  sandblasting of the part during the parade during the transit of the part in the module.

  For other processing of the measurement or counting type, the module is equipped with means suitable for carrying out said measurement or counting operations. In the case of a measurement of the diameter of a part of revolution such as an injector needle for example, the measurement can be carried out in a fluid manner, by comparison of the differences in pressure of the flows of fluid circulating in the channel of module transit, respectively occupied by

  a standard part and by the part to be measured.

  The device of the invention automatically takes over and transfers, one by one, the parts to be treated, from the input module to the output module, then their evacuation, by applying to each part, in the or each treatment module, a specific treatment, such as washing, greasing, degreasing, drying, heating or cooling, sandblasting, deburring or other surface treatment, using appropriate fluids, depending on the treatments specific to each part , it being understood that the number and the nature of the treatment modules are determined as a function of the parts to be treated and of the treatments, in the broad sense defined above, that is to say which can incorporate a measurement or a count, to

perform on parts.

  Other characteristics and advantages will emerge from the description which

  will follow embodiments of the device of the invention, description

  given by way of example only and with reference to the appended drawings in which: - Figure 1 is a view in vertical axial section of a device according to the invention intended for the surface treatment of injector needles; - Figure 2a is an axial sectional view of a processing module of the device of Figure 1; - Figure 2b is a left view of the module of Figure 2a - Figure 2c is a right view of the module of Figure 2a - Figures 3 to 8 illustrate various phases of operation of the device, and -Figure 9 shows an alternative embodiment of the device of the

figure 1.

  In FIG. 1, there is shown at 1 an input module, at 2 an output module, at 3 a set of three identical processing modules, referenced 3a, 3b, 3c, interposed between the input modules 1 and output 2 and

  at E a spacer interposed between two treatment modules.

  The assembly is superimposed and kept pressed to ensure sealing

  different fluid circuits that can be established throughout.

  The input and output modules 1, 2 each consist of a metal block 4 pierced with a circular channel 5 whose diameter allows the free passage of the part to be treated, in this case an injector needle A , and provided

  of a drawer, respectively 6 and 7, movable orthogonally to the axis of channel 5.

  The slide 6 is movable, under the action of a means, for example pneumatic or hydraulic, not shown, between two positions, one of which, illustrated by FIG. 1, in which the needle A, engaged in the upstream part of the channel 5, is blocked in the channel by resting by its lower end

  on a pad 8 integral with the drawer.

  In addition, in this position of the drawer 6, said upstream part of the channel 5 is in communication with a vacuum source 9 (not shown) via

  small channels 10 opening into a hole 1 1 in the axis of the drawer.

  The other position of the drawer 6 communicates the two parts, upstream and downstream, of the channel 5 via a passage 12 formed in the drawer and substantially

same diameter as channel 5.

  The drawer 7 is movable, using means similar to those of the drawers 6, between two positions, one of which, illustrated by FIG. 1, in which the passage

  between the two parts, upstream and downstream of channel 5 of module 2, is interrupted.

  In this position, the drawer 7 has, opposite the upstream (upper) part of the channel 5, a surface which will serve as a support for the needle A and which is provided with a pad 13 similar to the pad 8, for example in

elastomer.

  The other position of the drawer 7 makes the two parts, upstream and downstream, communicate with the channel 5 via a passage 14 formed in the drawer 7 and substantially of the same diameter as the channel 5, the passage 14 communicating permanently.

  with the upstream channel 5, whatever the position of the drawer 7.

  In FIG. 2a, a processing module has been shown, for example

module 3a.

  It consists of a cylindrical metal block pierced along its axis

  a channel 1 5 of the same diameter as the channels 5.

  The channel 15 opens (FIG. 2c) on the upstream face 16 (side of the input module 1) of the module 3a, on a first circular chamber 17 of tangential supply of the channel 15, communicating itself with a second annular chamber 18 coaxial at channel 15. This room profile

  feed is of course suitable for injecting a viscous liquid.

  The channel 15 opens onto the opposite face 19 of the module 3a (FIG. 2b) on a first annular chamber 20 communicating itself by radiating conduits 21 with a second annular chamber 22 coaxial with the

  channel 15. This profile is of course adapted to a gas flow.

  The three treatment modules 3, the two spacers E, pierced in their center with a passage 15 'and the inlet 1 and outlet 2 modules are aligned so that the channels or passages 5, 15 and 15' are coaxial , the

  spacers E acting as a shutter closing the chambers 18, 22.

  Furthermore, in the passage 15 ′ of each spacer E is arranged a member 23 for temporarily retaining the part to be treated in the channel 15 of the treatment module considered, the height of the channel 15 corresponding substantially to that of said part, for example needle A. Said provisional retaining member 23 is for example a diaphragm or a compressible circular lip seal with a diameter slightly smaller than that of needle A, the diaphragm or lip seal 23 being arranged to act as a scraper with respect to the cylindrical peripheral surface of the body of the needle A when it passes from a treatment module to the

next treatment.

  In Figure 1, there is shown at 24 a passage formed in the inlet module 1 and communicating the annular chamber 18 of the first treatment module 3a with a source (not shown) of fluid under treatment pressure. The passage 24 is also connected, by connections not shown, to the annular chamber 18 of the two other modules of

treatment 3b, 3c.

  In module 1, there is also a passage 25 which communicates, by a link symbolized by dashed lines at 26, the annular chamber 22 of the downstream face 19 of the processing module 3a with a circuit (not shown) for introduction or return. pressure treatment fluid. The output module 2 also includes a passage 27 communicating the annular chamber 22 of the last treatment module 3c with a circuit (not shown) for introducing or returning fluid from

pressure treatment.

  Finally, the module 2 includes a passage 28 communicating the evacuation passage 14 of the drawer 7 (in the position of FIG. 1) with a

  1 5 circuit (not shown) for the return of a treatment fluid.

  The operation of the device is as follows, the parts to be treated being injector needles A. Needles A are conveyed in a conduit (not shown) connected to module 1, using for example compressed air which is escapes through the passage 11, the slide 6 being in the position of FIG. 1, in which a needle A is waiting in the upstream part of the channel 5. The compressed air for transferring the needles also serves to evacuate, by the passage 11, part of the dirt and solid or liquid particles adhering to the part A, making

  thus a pre-cleaning of the latter.

  The flow 29 for supplying parts delivers them one by one.

  The first step of transit of the needle A from the input module 1 to the output module 2, brings said needle A into the first module

treatment 3a (Figure 3).

  To this end, the drawer 6 is placed in its other position, for aligning the channels 5, 12 and the needle A falls by gravity into the channel 15 of the module 3a, where it is retained by the lip seal 23, none fluid not circulating in

  different pneumatic or hydraulic circuits.

  The first surface treatment of part A is for example a washing. To this end (Figure 4), the slide 6 is returned to its initial position for closing the channel 5 and pressurized washing oil is sent (arrow 30) in the passage 24 supplying the annular chambers 18 of the first two processing modules 3a, 3b.

  The needle A is thus supplied under pressure in the low and high zone.

  This causes the part to rise slightly above its seat (constituted by the annular lip of the seal 23). There is thus obtained an integral washing of the external surface of the part 1. In addition, the tangential introduction of the washing oil into the channel 15 causes a vortex effect making it more efficient, homogeneous and

complete the wash.

  Indeed, the tangential oil injection accelerates the speed of the oil jet and gives it a helical contact trajectory around the needle A, the conjunction of these parameters substantially improving the efficiency of the

1 5 washing.

  In comparison, the traditional techniques for washing injector needles use complex, costly and greedy systems with special washing fluid, made up of soaking bath machine-tunnels. These systems are not very effective because they are not aggressive enough to take off, in particular the tiny shavings of material glued to the pieces at the

following their machining.

  The washing oil is evacuated via passage 25 (arrow 31) which is the only possible outlet, the other return circuits, downstream (27,

  28) of part A as upstream, being interrupted for this purpose.

  The duration of the washing is of course controlled automatically, from

  same as the movements of drawer 6 and the isolation of unused circuits.

  Figures 5 and 6 illustrate the transfer of needle A from module 3a to

the output module 2.

  First of all (FIG. 5), the sending of pressurized washing oil is maintained (arrow 30), but the evacuation no longer takes place via passage 25, but via passage 28 of the output module 2 (arrow 32). The other circuits

  possible returns are isolated (25, 27).

  By the pressure difference on the end faces of the part A, the forced advance of the latter is caused through the various seals 23, which in passing effect effective scraping of the cylindrical face of the part A. At the end in advance (Figure 6), part A is retained in the upstream part of the

  channel 5 of the output module 2, through the drawer 7.

  The washing oil is then expelled from the column formed by the channels 5, 15, by sending drying air under pressure (arrow 33) in the passage 27 supplying the annular chamber 22 of the treatment module 3c. The air enters the central column (5, 15) above the room A, escapes upwards towards the passage 25 (via the chamber 22 and the circuit 26 of the module 3a) and downwards towards passage 28 by sweeping the part A. Advantageously, the oil remains in the channel 15 of the module 3a are evacuated via a small emptying nozzle 25 'formed in the module 1 between the

passage 25 and chamber 18.

  The oil being thus evacuated, the part A can be dried (FIG. 7) by the air flow conveyed at 23 and sent entirely on the part A, the passage 25

  being isolated, the air emerging at 34.

  FIG. 8 illustrates the evacuation of the part A by gravity, by displacement of the drawer 7 to align the conduits 5, 14 of the

output module 2.

  The part A is recovered for example by a conduit (not shown)

  taking the piece at the exit of module 2 and routing it to another station.

  To accelerate this evacuation, compressed air can be sent through passage 27, escaping at the same time as part A. After

  evacuation, the drawer 7 is returned to the initial rest position (Figure 1).

  The sequence of the various movements of the drawers 6, 7 and of the treatment fluids (air, oil or other) is of course automatically controlled by computer according to a program defining the nature of the treatments, their order, their duration. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the device comprises an automaton 35 connected to the drawers 6, 7, to the circuit 29 for supplying the parts A one by one and to valves (not shown) for controlling the circulation of the fluids in the various passages 11, 24, 25, 27, 28, in order to

  carry out the planned treatment program.

  In the example described above, the treatments to be carried out are a washing followed by a drying. Other operations, depending on the nature of the parts to be treated, can be carried out such as heating, cooling, sanding, deburring, coating with a special film, lubrication, degreasing, treatment of

  any surface, even a simple measurement or counting.

  The sanding is for example provided by a special treatment module such as that shown in 3'c in Figure 8 and comprising a number of radial channels 36 opening into the central channel 15 and responsible for sending a striking sanding fluid 37 the part in transit through the

module 3'c.

  Deburring can be carried out for example with the cutting fluid of the machine performing the following machining step. This deburring can be done

by fluid draws.

  A measurement for example of the diameter of the needles A can be carried out

in a processing module.

  To this end, the needle held in this module by a retaining member 23 is for example subjected to a flow of pressurized air passing through the channel 15. A measurement of the difference in air pressure between the inlet and the output of said channel, then a comparison of this measurement with that, carried out under the same conditions on a standard needle, makes it possible to know the

  diameter of the needle being measured.

  The number of processing modules 3 is appropriate to the number and / or to

  the nature of the treatments to be performed on the parts.

  It should be noted that all of these treatments are carried out in confined enclosures of very small dimensions, which, on the one hand, eliminates all external pollution and all dangers for operators, especially if one of the treatment fluids is flammable or explosive and, on the other hand, saves the agents for processing or moving parts in the device, these agents advantageously being those present on machining machines

said parts.

  The device of the invention is in particular entirely suitable for integration on the machining sites, as close as possible to the manufacturing and control stations by using the fluids available on these sites and by making the device work during machine downtime. or between two stations for example

reception-control and packaging.

  The washing oil for needles A is advantageously constituted by oil from the machine tool next to which the device can be installed.

of the invention.

  It should be noted that the same treatment module or a group of treatment modules can convey different treatment fluids, if there is compatibility or an advantage, for example of dilution of one fluid by another.

for its evacuation.

  i15 FIG. 9 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the device in FIG. 1 according to which the module 2 serves as an isolation lock between the treatment module 3c and an additional treatment module 3d, followed by a spacer E provided with a provisional retainer 23 and, finally, a module

output 2 'similar to module 2.

  The chambers 18 and 22 of the 3d module are connected to clean circuits (not shown) for the introduction and return of a particular treatment fluid which must be isolated from the other fluids operating in the modules 3a to 3c, the drawer 7 of the module 2 being in the isolation position of the 3d module and the

passage 28 'being closed.

  This device of FIG. 9 thus comprises an input module 1 and a

2 'output module.

  In general, between an input module and an output module can be interposed any number of processing modules with possibly one or more isolation locks of the same kind as the input-output modules, depending on the number and nature of

  operations to be performed on the parts.

  The diameter of the central duct of the device (5, 15, 15 ') and the nature of the retaining members 23 are of course adapted to the nature, shape and

dimensions of the parts to be treated.

  Thus the device of the invention can be adapted to the treatment of parts of larger sizes than the parts mentioned above, injector needles, screws, springs, balls, and can be applied to the treatment of parts of a weight of several kilograms or elongated pieces of greater length

  to 400 millimeters such as hydraulic distribution rails.

  In general, the invention applies to the cleaning of parts or elements requiring a high degree of cleanliness and in particular but not exclusively in the automotive sector, whether they are rotating (for example camshaft) or static ( e.g. casings and pump housings

water).

  Finally, it should be noted that the chambers 18, 22 of the treatment modules can be adapted, as regards their geometry, to the nature, liquid or gaseous

  and the viscosity of the fluids likely to circulate there.

Claims (8)

  1. Modular device for performing one or more surface treatment operations on small parts, in particular injector needles (A), characterized in that it consists of an input module (1) and an output module (2), each of the drawer type (6, 7) provided with a chamber (12, 14) for receiving a workpiece (A) and movable between two positions, I ' one in which said chamber is in a transit circuit (5) passing through the module and the other in which said chamber is isolated and the transit circuit interrupted, and at least one processing module (3) interposed between the two input (1) and output (2) modules, said processing module (3) comprising a transit channel (15) in alignment with said transit circuit (5) of the input and output modules, said transit channel (15) communicating, on the inlet module side (1), with a first chamber (18) and, on the outlet module side (2), with a e second chamber (22), the two aforementioned chambers being capable of being connected to at least one pressure treatment fluid circuit, said treatment module (3) further comprising means (23) for temporarily retaining a piece (A) in the transit channel (15), and in that said inlet (1) and outlet (2) modules are provided with means selectively ensuring communication between said chambers of the processing module (3) and the   external sources of introduction or recovery of treatment fluids.   2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of processing modules (3a to 3c) aligned coaxially between the inlet (1) and outlet (2) modules, with interposition, between two modules treatment, a spacer (E) for closing the chambers (18, 22) of the modules, pierced with a central passage (15 ') provided with said temporary retaining member (23), so as to possibly carry out various treatments on different modules (3a to 3c), the latter being connected to appropriate circuits   introduction and recovery of fluids suitable for treatments.   3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the temporary retaining member (23) of each treatment module is an annular lip seal or a diaphragm forming a scraper of the peripheral face   outside of the part to be treated (A).   4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that   that the upstream part of the transit channel (5) of the outlet module (2) forms an evacuation chamber capable of being traversed by a treatment fluid,   in particular a drying fluid, parts (A).   5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that   that between two adjacent processing modules (3c, 3d) can be interposed a drawer module (2) analogous to said input (1) and output (2 ') modules, in order to constitute an airlock avoiding the mixture of fluids operating respectively in the modules arranged on either side of said module airlock (2).   6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that   that one of the chambers (18) of each processing module (3a to 3d) is a tangential supply chamber of the transit channel (15), in particular   intended for the introduction of a viscous liquid.   7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that   that it comprises a sandblasting module provided with radial channels (36) opening out   in the transit channel (1 5) of said module.   8. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that   that it includes a module equipped with means suitable for carrying out a measurement or a count.