FR2836534A1 - Plugging device comprises ring type joint in groove which can be partially extruded by hydraulic pressure applied through channel to groove - Google Patents

Abstract

The plugging device comprises a ring type joint (5) in a groove (4) from which it can be partially extruded under the effect of a strong hydraulic pressure. The pressure is applied by means of a hydraulic supply connected through a channel (14) to the groove. The joint is located in the groove so that in a rest position it is supported against a groove hole (17) through which the channel discharges.

Description

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Corking device
The present invention relates to a closure device. It finds more particularly its use in the field of leakage tests to plug the orifices of parts whose tightness must be checked. The parts tested include at least one chamber and at least one orifice giving access to this chamber. The parts tested are in particular metal parts produced for the automotive industry, for example gearbox casings, engine casings or cylinder heads. The closure device according to the invention has the advantage of limiting the penetration of this closure device at the level of the orifice and on the other hand of not sealing the chamber after having correctly placed the device at the orifice.

 In the state of the art, it is known to plug a hole in a room, a means comprising a plate for coming to bear on a periphery of the hole. Sealing at this periphery is ensured by an O-ring compressed between the plate and a surface of the part at this periphery. The sealing of the plugging of the orifice is guaranteed provided that the stress applied between the plate and the periphery is maintained by the application of external forces.

 However, depending on the particular shapes of the parts to be tested, it is not always possible to approach such a crew formed by the plate, the O-ring and the compression means near the orifice due to reliefs of the part surrounding this orifice. In this type of situation, it is known in the state of the art of the trees provided to be at least partially inserted into the orifice and comprising at least one O-ring mounted around the shaft, the O-ring also being inserted in the orifice to be constrained between the outer periphery of the shaft around which it is mounted and the inner periphery of the orifice.

 Preferably in the prior art, to prevent the O-ring from sliding along the shaft during its insertion into the orifice, the seal is at least partially retained in a groove formed in the outer periphery of the 'shaft, so even if upon its introduction into the orifice it begins to rub against the inner wall of the orifice, it is thus possible to force it to follow the movement of the tree, until the tree be

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 placed in a final position, for example in abutment.

 These solutions of the state of the art nevertheless pose a problem when it is necessary to approach the closure device thus formed in areas where the orifice to be closed is difficult to reach, and the manipulation of the closure device risks come into contact with some of the reliefs of the part to be tested which may be salient. However, as the seal is an essential element for guaranteeing tightness in such a closure device, it appears as a major drawback that this seal is mounted on the periphery of the outer periphery of the device.

 In fact, it can be struck against protruding parts of the part to be tested or simply of the test environment at each manipulation. In addition, the force insertion provided to ensure the positioning of the elastic seal exactly at the inside periphery of the orifice, at each insertion and removal, forces the seal against projecting edges of the orifice. Forceful insertion can also cause the joint to turn over, which then rolls on itself, this deformation of the joint being maintained due to the pressure exerted between the two edges against which it is pressed.

 The object of the invention is to solve the problem posed by proposing a closure device provided with an O-ring presented on an outer periphery of the closure device, but protected inside a groove formed in this outer periphery. This O-ring nevertheless fulfills its role as a means of sealing, since it can be radially distended under the effect of hydraulic pressure. In fact, the closure device according to the invention comprises a channel making it possible to connect to it at a first end a device allowing the injection of a liquid into this channel.

 The channel has a second end opposite the first, this second end opening out through at least one orifice in the groove in which the O-ring is placed. Thus under the effect of the hydraulic pressure generated by the injection of fluid into the throat, the O-ring which initially plugs the orifice through which this fluid is injected, is therefore progressively distended and pressed against the opening of the throat. The hydraulic pressure applied to the system is such that the pressure applied to the seal leads to the seal being partly extruded from the opening of the groove. The seal then protrudes from the outer periphery of the

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 plugging and can thus be applied sealingly against an inner periphery of an additional device to be plugged, under the effect of hydraulic pressure.

 The subject of the invention is a closure device comprising a body having an outer periphery, a groove being formed in this periphery to receive an O-ring therein, the seal being designed to cooperate with an interior wall of a device complementary to the inside which this body is inserted, characterized in that it is provided with an internal hydraulic supply making it possible to open at least through an orifice in the groove, and in that the seal is in a first rest position entirely contained in the groove, and in a second position, under hydraulic pressure generated by the hydraulic supply, the seal is partially extruded at an opening in the groove and can then cooperate with the interior wall.

 The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows and on examining the figures which accompany it. These are presented for information only and in no way limit the invention. The figures show: - Figure 1: A side view of a closure device according to the invention; - Figure 2: A longitudinal sectional view of the closure device according to the invention.

 - Figure 3: A top view of a closure device according to the invention; - Figure 4: A longitudinal sectional view focused on a groove of the closure device according to the invention.

 Figure 1 shows a closure device 1 according to the invention. This device 1 comprises a body 2 having a periphery 3 in which a groove 4 is hollowed out. In a first embodiment, the body 2 has an external periphery 3 and forms a male end piece. In a second embodiment, the body has an inner periphery 3 and forms a female base.

 The description will mainly focus on the description of the first embodiment, the description of the second embodiment being directly deduced from the first embodiment.

 In the example shown in Figure 1, the outer periphery 3 having the

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 groove 4 forms a cylindrical portion. But in a variant, this outer periphery 3 having the groove 4 may have a distorted cylindrical shape with, for example, lateral bulges, or else have a conical shape.

 The groove 4 has a shape such that it comprises an O-ring 5 disposed in this groove 4. The groove 4 has an opening 6, at the outer periphery 3, this opening 6 forming an annular opening to allow the O-ring 5 d 'be mounted from the outer periphery 3 in this groove 4. The opening 6 has a height 7 along a longitudinal cutting plane which is slightly less than a diameter along a cutting section of the joint 5.

 To mount the seal 5 in the groove 4, the seal 5 is placed around the outer periphery 3 and it is slid to the level of the opening 6, where it sinks radially centripetally, because a diameter inside of the O-ring 5 is slightly less than an outside diameter of the outside periphery 3, while at the opening 6, the groove 4 has a rear base 8, FIG. 4, of a diameter less than that of the outside periphery 3. The introduction of the seal 5 possibly requires a slight pressure over its entire outer periphery to allow the seal 5 to pass through the opening 6 of height 7.

 The diameter of a cross section of the O-ring 5 is slightly less than a depth 9 of the groove 4, the depth 9 being defined between the opening 6 and the rear base 8. In addition, the shape of the groove 4 according to a transverse cutting plane, as shown in Figures 2 and 4, is for example trapezoidal and the rear base 8 then has a height 10 greater than the height 7. Thus, when the O-ring 5 is applied against the rear base 8, that can not be forced against edges 11 and 12 of the groove, these edges 11 and 12 connecting the rear base 8 to the opening.

 Therefore, when the O-ring 5 is installed in the groove 4, the O-ring 5 is fully included in the groove, and does not protrude at all from the outer periphery 3. It is protected.

 The plugging device 1 is however provided to seal between the periphery 3 and a wall of a complementary device. According to the first embodiment, the outer periphery 3 cooperates with

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 an inner periphery of the complementary device, for example the inner periphery of an orifice of a piece to be plugged, an orifice inside which this body is inserted. According to the second embodiment, the internal periphery cooperates with an external periphery of the complementary device inserted in the body 2.

 Insofar as the outer periphery 3 must not come directly to bear against the inner periphery, it is necessary to bring the O-ring 5 out of its groove so that it provides a sealing function. To this end, the closure device according to the invention comprises a hydraulic supply 13 making it possible to exert pressure at the level of the seal 5 to cause it to come out at least partially from the groove 4.

 The hydraulic supply 13 is for example provided as shown in FIG. 2. In fact, the hydraulic supply 13 comprises a channel 14 formed inside the body 2. This channel 14 has a first end 15 at which it it is possible to connect a means capable of injecting, and optionally sucking back, a fluid capable of generating hydraulic pressure in the channel 14. The channel 14 has a second end 16 opening out through an orifice 17 in the groove 4. From preferably the orifice 17 is formed at the rear base 8 against which the seal 5 is applied. This orifice 17 preferably has a height 18 which is less than the height 7 of the opening 6. This guarantees in a preferred mode that the orifice 17 is perfectly blocked by the O-ring 5 in the absence of hydraulic pressure.

 The fluid which is preferably used in the hydraulic supply is oil. The hydraulic supply can provide that the pressure applied to the liquid is of the order of, and at least greater than, 50 bars to guarantee a certain displacement of the O-ring 5 so that it is extruded from the groove 4 at level of the opening 6. When it is desired to unclog the orifice in which the plugging means is inserted, the liquid present in the channel 14 is decompressed, and it is optionally aspirated so that it emerges on the side of the first end 15. In the absence of hydraulic pressure, and of any form of stress, the O-ring naturally returns to its rest position and returns to contact with the rear base 8 again plugging the orifice 17.

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 In a particular embodiment, as shown in Figure 2, the channel 14 has at the first end 15 a cylindrical portion 19 of large diameter. This portion 19 is extended by a second portion 20 also cylindrical of smaller diameter. According to FIG. 3, the diameter 21 of the first portion 19 is more than twice as large as the diameter 22 of the second portion 20. The two portions are preferably aligned parallel to the same axis 23. This axis 23 is in a embodiment a main axis of elongation of the body 2.

 This second portion 20 has an orifice (not shown) for communicating with a third portion 24 of the channel 14. In the preferred embodiment, this third portion 24 connects perpendicularly to the second portion 20. This third portion 24 opens out through the orifice 17 in the groove 14. The liquid injected from the first portion 19, then successively the second portion and finally the third portion thus opens into a groove 4.

 In a preferred embodiment, the groove 4 has two orifices such as 17 diametrically opposite and connected to each other by the third portion 24 which therefore divides the flow of the fluid in two between the two sides leading respectively to the two orifices such as 17.

 In a variant, the body has two grooves arranged parallel to each other, one above the other along the main elongation axis 23. These two grooves are for example produced on the same principle and each comprises an O-ring intended to be extruded from their respective grooves under the effect of hydraulic pressure. In this variant, the hydraulic supply 14 is provided to supply both the first groove and at the same time the second groove 25. To this end, the hydraulic supply 14 is produced so that the second portion 20 forms a long conduit 26, and so that it comprises at least two third portions such as 24 parallel to each other. The duct 26 in this case comprises at least two orifices for communicating with the at least two third portions, such as 24, respectively.

 In this case also the flow of the fluid is divided between the two levels of grooves such as 4. A plugging device is thus obtained from which at least two elastic rings are extruded parallel to each other and thus make it possible to guarantee a double level of tightness .

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 To facilitate handling of the closure device 1, means 27 are provided, for example on the upper face of the body 2, to be able to fix a gripping means there. In this case, the gripping means is preferably mounted in alignment with the axis 23.

 The closure device 1 is preferably designed to be inserted into a complementary orifice, it includes an upper recess 28 in order to be able to limit its insertion into the complementary orifice. This recess 28 abuts against an edge of the orifice in which the body 2 is inserted.

Claims (4)

1-Clogging device (1) comprising a body (2) having a periphery (3), a groove (4) being formed in this periphery to receive an O-ring (5) therein, the seal being designed to cooperate with a wall of a complementary device, characterized in that it is provided with an internal hydraulic supply (14) making it possible to open at least through an orifice (17) in the groove, and in that the seal is in a first position rest entirely contained in the groove, and in a second position, under hydraulic pressure generated by the hydraulic supply, the seal is partially extruded at an opening (6) in the groove and can then come to cooperate with the wall.  2 - Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the body has an outer periphery and forms a male endpiece to cooperate with an inner periphery of the complementary device inside which this body is inserted.  3 - Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the body has an inner periphery and forms a female base to cooperate with an outer periphery of the complementary device inserted in this body.  4-Device according to one of claims 1 to 3 characterized in that the groove has a trapezoidal shape along a plane of cross section, and the opening of the groove is narrower than a rear base (8) at which applies the joint.  5 - Device according to one of claims 1 to 4 characterized in that a rear base is opposite the opening, and in that the orifice opens out from the rear base parallel to the opening, preferably the opening being wider than the orifice.  6 - Device according to one of claims 1 to 5 characterized in that the groove has at least two orifices connected together by a channel (24), the channel being directly connected to the hydraulic supply 7 - Device according to claim 6 characterized in that the two orifices are diametrically opposite.  8 - Device according to one of claims 1 to 7 characterized in that the periphery comprises at least two grooves parallel to each other, <Desc / Clms Page number 9>  each of the two grooves comprising an O-ring and each respectively comprising at least one orifice connecting it with the hydraulic supply.  9-Device according to claim 8 characterized in that the at least one orifice are connected to the hydraulic supply by the same conduit passing through the device.  10-Device according to one of claims 1 to 9 characterized in that the hydraulic supply of the device is provided from an upper face of the device and is connected to a means of injection and optionally suction of a fluid.  11 - Device according to one of claims 1 to 10 characterized in that it comprises a gripping means and can be mounted in alignment with an axis (23) of a shaft mounted on this gripping means.