JP2001027573A - Leak test device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To precisely set a product at the time of a leak test and to prolong the life of an O ring. SOLUTION: This device is equipped with 1st and 2nd cylindrical members 15 and 17, an O ring 26, a cylindrical slide member 5, and a supply means. The 1st and 2nd cylindrical members 15 and 17 are formed cylindrically and the hub 50a of a torque converter 50 is inserted. The O ring 26 is arranged in an annular groove 25 formed of both the cylindrical members 15 and 17, and the O ring is able to abut against the outer peripheral surface of the hub 50a and exposed on the outer peripheries of the cylindrical members 15 and 17. The slide member 5 is arranged at the outer periphery of the 1st cylindrical member 15 movably along the axis and can be at a standby position where it is separated from the O ring 26 and a seal position where the O ring 26 is pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the hub 50a inserted into both the cylindrical members 15 and 17. The supply means supplies gas or liquid into a torque converter.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a leak test apparatus, and more particularly to a leak test apparatus used for a leak test of a product such as a torque converter.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A seal member such as an O-ring is used to prevent leakage of gas or liquid or foreign matter from the outside. For example, an O-ring is a ring-shaped member having a circular cross section mainly made of synthetic rubber, and is generally widely used because it is easy to mount and has excellent sealing properties. The O-ring is compression mounted with a suitable interference in the groove having a rectangular cross section.

[0003] When a leak test is performed, a sealed structure is required, but an O-ring is often used here as well.
For example, when conducting a torque converter leak test,
The following leak test equipment is used. The leak test device includes a supply unit for supplying helium, a connection unit having one end connected to the supply unit and the other end sealed to the hub of the torque converter, a storage case for storing the product, and a storage case for storing the product. The system includes a vacuum exhaust device for evacuating the space around the product and a detector for detecting helium leaking from the inside of the torque converter into the storage case. In such a leak test apparatus, an O-ring is used to seal between a product and a connection portion.

In the case of performing a leak test of a large number of products using the above-described leak test apparatus, when the test is completed for one product, the product is removed from the connection portion and the next product is connected. That is, connection and disconnection of the connection part and the product are repeatedly performed by the number of products.

[0005]

Conventionally, an O-ring mounting groove is formed in a connecting portion of a leak tester, and a hub of a torque converter is inserted into the connecting portion with the O-ring set in the mounting groove. I have. The O-ring is compression-mounted between the mounting groove of the connecting portion and the hub, thereby sealing between the inner wall surface of the connecting portion and the outer peripheral surface of the hub.

Here, the inner diameter of the O-ring is smaller than the outer diameter of the cylindrical portion of the product by the interference of the O-ring. For this reason, when inserting a product, the corner of the end face of the cylindrical portion of the product may hit the inner peripheral portion of the O-ring and damage the O-ring. Normally, the end of the cylindrical portion of the product is chamfered to reduce the damage, but the connection and removal are repeated for each product, so that the sealing property of the O-ring deteriorates. Therefore, in the leak test, the O-ring is replaced with a new one every several tens of times. In addition, some products have notches in the end faces or have few chamfers. In such a case, the O-rings must be replaced more frequently.

Further, when the cylindrical portion of the product is inserted into the connecting portion, the O-ring may bite between them, causing damage to the O-ring and preventing the product from being set at a desired position. An object of the present invention is to extend the life of a seal member by suppressing damage to a seal member such as an O-ring.

Another object is to make it possible to accurately set a product at a desired position during a test.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a leak test apparatus for use in a leak test of a product, comprising: a tubular member; an annular seal member; a tubular slide member; Supply means. The tubular member is formed in a tubular shape, and a part of the product is inserted. The sealing member is
A part of the tubular member is disposed so as to be able to contact the outer peripheral surface of a product inserted into the tubular member and to be exposed on the outer periphery of the tubular member. The slide member is disposed on the outer periphery of the cylindrical member so as to be relatively movable along the axial direction of the cylindrical member. Seal position.
The supply means is connected to the tubular member and supplies gas or fluid to a product mounted on the tubular member.

When performing a leak test, first, the slide member is positioned at a standby position away from the seal member. Next, a part of the product is inserted into the tubular member on which the seal member is disposed. At this time, by making the inner diameter of the seal member larger than the outer diameter of the product, it is possible to prevent the product and the seal member from abutting when a part of the product is inserted into the tubular member. . Then, after inserting a part of the product to a predetermined position of the tubular member, the slide member is relatively moved along the outer periphery of the tubular member. Since the seal member is exposed on the outer periphery of the tubular member, the seal member is pushed inward by the slide member and pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the product. Thereby, the space between the inner peripheral surface of the tubular member and the outer peripheral surface of the product is sealed by the seal member.

In such a state, gas or liquid is supplied to the product by the supply means, and a gas or liquid leaking from inside the product is detected, and a change in pressure inside the product is checked to detect a leak. Here, the step of inserting the product into the tubular member and setting it to a predetermined value and the step of pressing the seal member against the product set in the tubular member can be performed separately. Therefore, the seal member can be released outside when the product is inserted, and damage to the seal member by the end surface of the product can be avoided. Further, the product can be accurately set at a predetermined position of the tubular member, and there is no possibility that the seal member is caught between the product and the tubular member when the product is inserted, resulting in poor sealing.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a leak test apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein an inner diameter of the seal member is larger than an outer diameter of a part of a product inserted into the tubular member. In this case, when the product is inserted into the tubular member, it is possible to reliably prevent the seal member from being damaged due to the contact between the product and the seal member. According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the leak test apparatus according to the first or second aspect, wherein the slide member is moved between the standby position and the seal position while a part of the product is inserted into the tubular member. Means are further provided.

Here, since the slide member is moved by an actuator such as a hydraulic or air cylinder, the operation is facilitated. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a leak test apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein a storage case for storing a product and forming a sealed space between the storage case and the product, and a sealed space in the storage case. The apparatus further includes vacuum exhaust means for evacuating and detecting means for detecting gas or fluid leaking from a product stored in the storage case into a sealed space in the storage case.

When performing a leak test using this apparatus, first, a product is set in a storage case, and a part of the product is inserted into a cylindrical member. Next, a gas or a fluid is supplied to the inside of the product by the supply means. Then, the inside of the storage case is evacuated, and gas or fluid leaking from the inside of the product is measured by the detecting means. The quality of the product is determined based on the leak amount detected by the measurement for a predetermined time.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the leak test apparatus according to the fourth aspect, the tubular member is fixed to the storage case, and the product stored in the storage case is relatively moved with respect to the cylindrical member. There is further provided second moving means for moving and inserting a part of the product into the tubular member. Here, the product is placed on, for example, a placing table in the storage case. Then, the mounting table on which the product is mounted is moved toward the tubular member, and a part of the product is inserted into the tubular member. Thus, a part of the product can be easily and accurately inserted into the tubular member.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a leak test apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the inner wall surface of the slide member has an inner diameter at the end closer to the seal position than the outer diameter of the seal member. The inner diameter gradually decreases from the end on the seal position side to the standby position side. In this device, after a part of the product is inserted into the tubular member, the seal member is pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the product while moving the slide member from the standby position to the seal position. At this time, since the diameter of the inner wall surface of the slide member is larger at the end than the outer diameter of the seal member, damage to the seal member due to the end surface of the slide member can be suppressed. Further, since the diameter of the inner wall surface of the slide member is gradually reduced, the seal member can be smoothly pressed against the product.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a leak test apparatus according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein the hub of the torque converter is inserted into the tubular member, and the supply means is provided inside the torque converter. It supplies gas or fluid. Thereby, a leak test of the torque converter can be performed.

[0018]

FIG. 1 shows a leak test apparatus 1 employing an embodiment of the present invention. The leak test apparatus 1 is used for a leak test of a mass-produced product (torque converter 50 shown in FIG. 1). The torque converter 50 has a cylindrical hub 50a, and has a structure in which the inside is sealed when an end of the hub 50a is closed. FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are enlarged views of a connection portion between the leak test device 1 and the torque converter 50, which is a test object, respectively, showing a state before sealing and a state after sealing of both 1 and 50, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 1, the leak test apparatus 1 includes a main body 2, a helium supply device A, and a vacuum exhaust device B.
, A helium detector C, and a purge dry air supply device D. The main body 2 has a storage case 3, a connection mechanism 4, a slide member 5, and a drive mechanism 6 for driving the slide member 5. A mounting table 7 on which the torque converter 50 is mounted is provided in the storage case 3.

The storage case 3 comprises a box-shaped cover portion 3a whose lower surface is open, and a bottom surface portion 3b. The bottom surface portion 3b is supported by a support frame 10 provided therebelow, and can be moved up and down together with the support frame 10 by an actuator 8 such as a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder. The first pipe 11 penetrates the lower part of the cover part 3a, and the second pipe 12 penetrates the upper part. An opening 3c is provided in the upper center of the cover 3a. In addition, a sealing member 13 formed of an annular O-ring or the like is provided on a surface of the upper surface of the bottom portion 3b which is in close contact with the lower surface of the cover portion 3a.

The connection mechanism 4 receives the hub 50a of the torque converter 50. The connection mechanism 4 is mounted on the first cylindrical member 15 fixed to the inner surface of the upper portion of the cover 3a. And a second cylindrical member 17 for forming a slide guide groove 16 together with the first cylindrical member 15. As shown in an enlarged manner in FIG. 2, the first tubular member 15 includes a fixing portion 15a fixed to the cover portion 3a by bolts 20, and a cylindrical portion 15 extending downward from the fixing portion 15a.
b. An O-ring 21 is provided between the fixing portion 15a and the cover portion 3a, and seals the space in the storage case 3 from the outside. The tip of the hub 50a of the torque converter 50 can be inserted into the cylindrical portion 15b.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the second cylindrical member 17 has an outer cylindrical portion 17a, an inner cylindrical portion 17b formed only at a part of the lower end portion, and a bottom surface connecting these portions. A portion 17c. Four through holes 17d are formed in the upper part of the outer cylindrical portion 17a.
The first cylindrical member 15 is fixed to the outer periphery of the cylindrical portion by a bolt 24 that penetrates the first cylindrical member 15. Further, the outer cylindrical portion 17a is formed with slits 17e that open toward the upper end at two opposing locations. In addition, as shown in FIG.
The lower end 17f of the inner peripheral surface of 7b is chamfered and opened downward. Thereby, the hub 50a of the torque converter 50 can easily enter the inner cylindrical portion 17b.

The first cylindrical member 15 and the second cylindrical member 17 form an annular groove between the lower end of the first cylindrical member 15 and the upper end of the inner cylindrical portion 17b of the second cylindrical member 17. 25
(See FIG. 5), and the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 15b of the first cylindrical member 15 and the outer cylindrical portion 17 of the second cylindrical member 17
The slide guide groove 16 is formed between the inner peripheral surface a.
An O-ring 26 is arranged in the annular groove 25. The O-ring 26 has an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the hub 50 a and an outer diameter from the annular groove 25 to the slide guide groove 16.
(The cylindrical portion 15b of the first cylindrical member 15)
(Larger than the outer diameter).

The slide member 5 has a slide guide groove 16
And a pair of arms 5b formed to protrude laterally from the main body 5a. At the lower end of the inner peripheral surface of the main body 5a, as shown in an enlarged view in FIG. 5, a large-diameter portion 5c having an inner diameter larger than other portions, and an upper portion of the large-diameter portion 5c A large diameter portion 5c and a tapered portion 5d formed continuously are formed. The large diameter portion 5c is formed larger than the outer diameter of the O-ring 26. The tapered portion 5d is formed in a shape such that the inner diameter decreases as it goes upward.

The pair of arms 5b are provided at opposing positions. In the figure, only one arm 5b is shown. The arm 5b extends outward through a slit 17e formed in the outer cylindrical portion 17a of the second cylindrical member 17. The slide member 5 is moved up and down in the slide guide groove 16 by the drive mechanism 6. The drive mechanism 6 includes a drive rod 30 having a lower end fixed to the tip (outside end) of the arm 5 b of the slide member 5, and an actuator 31 that drives the drive rod 30. The drive rod 30 extends through the cover 3a of the storage case 3 and above the cover 3a. The actuator 31 includes a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder, and is fixed to a fixed frame (not shown). By the operation of the actuator 31, the main body 5a of the slide member 5 is moved.
It is possible to move to the upper standby position shown in FIG. 2 and the lower sealing position shown in FIG.

The mounting table 7 on which the torque converter 50 is mounted is fixed to the bottom surface 3b of the storage case 3, and a member (not shown) for positioning the torque converter 50 is provided on the upper surface of the mounting table 7. Z) is provided. Helium supply device A, evacuation device B, helium detector C,
The dry air supply device D is connected to the storage case 5 via a pipe.

The helium supply device A includes valves 40 and 41
And a connection mechanism 4 through an opening 3c of the cover 3b. The evacuation device B is branched and connected from a pipe extending from the second pipe 12 penetrating the storage case 3 to the radiation valve 42. Helium detector C
Is branched from a pipe extending to the diffusion valve 42 and connected similarly to the evacuation device B. The dry air supply device D is connected to the first pipe 11 penetrating the storage case 3 with the valve 43 interposed therebetween.

Next, the procedure of the leak test will be described. Before the test, the bottom 3b of the storage case 3
It is lowered together with the support frame 10. Further, the slide member 5 is located at the upper standby position. In this state, the test object torque converter 50 is set on the mounting table 7. Then, the mounting table 7 and the bottom surface 3b are connected to the support frame 1
Increase with 0. As a result, the torque converter 50 also rises, and its hub 50a is moved to the second position as shown in FIG.
It enters the cylindrical member 17 and further ascends into the first cylindrical member 15. As described above, since the lower end portion 17f of the inner peripheral surface of the second cylindrical member 17 is chamfered, the hub 50a can easily enter the inside of the second cylindrical member 17. Then, when the upper surface of the bottom portion 3b comes into close contact with the lower surface of the cover portion 3a, the lifting of the bottom portion 3b is stopped. Thereby, the inside of the storage case 3 becomes a closed space. This state is shown in FIG.

Here, the inner diameter of the O-ring 26 is
When the hub 50a enters the first and second tubular members 15 and 17, since the slide member 5 is at the standby position and the O-ring 26 is not pressed from outside, it is larger than the outer diameter of the hub 50a. , The hub 50a does not contact the O-ring 26. Next, the drive mechanism 6 is driven to lower the slide member 5 and move it to the sealing position. When the slide member 5 is lowered, first, the lower end of the tapered portion 5 d of the slide member 5 contacts the outer periphery of the O-ring 26. Then, as the slide member 5 descends, the tapered portion 5d gradually presses the O-ring 26 inward. FIG. 3 shows a final state in which the slide member 5 has been moved to the sealing position. In this state, the first and second tubular members 15 and
17 and the hub 50 a of the torque converter 50 are sealed by an O-ring 26.

The slide member 5 moves to move the O-ring 2
6 is pressed against the hub 50a to give an interference.
The positional relationship between the ring 26 and the hub 50a does not change, and the O-ring 26 is simply pressed against the hub 50a. Here, the step of setting the hub 50a to the connection mechanism 4 and the step of pressing the O-ring 26 against the hub 50a are separate steps. Therefore, the hub 50
When setting a, O is placed between the hub 50a and the connection mechanism 4.
The ring 26 does not bite and the hub 50a
Can be accurately set at a desired position. In addition, the O-ring 26 can be prevented from being broken or broken, and furthermore, wear can be suppressed.

When the torque converter 50 and the connection mechanism 4 are sealed as described above, as shown in FIG. 1, a space surrounded by the storage case 3, the connection mechanism 4 and the torque converter 50 (a sealed space 60). ) Is sealed. next,
After the dry air supply device D is operated to purge the sealed space 60, the valve 43 and the diffusion valve 42 are closed, and the evacuation device B is operated. When the sealed space 60 reaches a predetermined degree of vacuum, helium is supplied into the torque converter 50 by the helium supply device A, and helium leaking from the torque converter 50 into the sealed space 60 is detected by the helium detector C. If a predetermined helium is not detected in a predetermined time, the torque converter 50
Is considered to have passed the leak test.

When one test is completed, the bottom portion 3b of the storage case 3 is lowered, and the next torque converter 50
And repeat the test in the same way. In such an embodiment, the torque converter 50 and the connection mechanism 4
Since the damage of the O-ring during connection with the O-ring is suppressed, the life of the O-ring 26 is extended, and the number of replacements of the O-ring 26 is reduced. Therefore, the time efficiency of the leak test is improved. In particular, the hub 5 of the torque converter 50
0a has a notched portion or the hub 50
In the case where the chamfer of the corner of the end face a is small, the structure of the present embodiment, which can avoid an angled contact between this portion and the O-ring 10, effectively works to extend the life of the O-ring.

In the above embodiment, the torque converter is described as an example of a product, but the present invention can be similarly applied to testing of other products. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the mounting table 7 on which the torque converter 50 is mounted is moved up and down together with the bottom surface 3b, but may be moved up and down on the cover 3a side.

[0034]

According to the present invention, the setting of the product to be tested and the sealing of the product and the apparatus can be performed in separate steps, so that the product and the desired position can be set with high accuracy, and the wear and damage of the sealing member can be suppressed. Life can be extended.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a leak test apparatus employing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a connection portion between a leak test device and a test object.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a connection portion between a leak test device and a test object.

FIG. 4 is an external perspective view of a second cylindrical member 17;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial view of the leak test device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Leak test apparatus 3 Storage case 4 Connection mechanism 5 Slide member 6 Drive mechanism 7 Mounting stand 8 Actuator 15 1st cylindrical member 16 Slide guide groove 17 2nd cylindrical member 26 O-ring 50 Torque converter 50a Hub A Helium supply device B Vacuum exhaust device C Helium detector D Dry air supply device

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A leak test apparatus for use in a leak test of a product, comprising: a tubular member formed in a tubular shape, into which a part of the product is inserted; An annular sealing member arranged so as to be able to contact an outer peripheral surface of a product to be inserted into the member and to be exposed to an outer periphery of the cylindrical member; and to an outer periphery of the cylindrical member in an axial direction of the cylindrical member. A standby position that is disposed so as to be relatively movable along, and a seal position where the seal member exposed to the outer periphery of the cylindrical member is pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the product inserted into the cylindrical member. A leak test device, comprising: a tubular slide member capable of taking the following; and a supply unit connected to the tubular member and supplying gas or fluid to a product mounted on the tubular member. 2. The leak test apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an inner diameter of said seal member is larger than an outer diameter of a part of a product inserted into said tubular member. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: first moving means for moving the slide member between the standby position and the seal position with a part of the product inserted into the tubular member.
Or the leak test apparatus according to 2. 4. A storage case for storing a product and forming a hermetically sealed space between the storage case and the product; a vacuum exhaust means for evacuating the sealed space in the storage case; The leak test apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising detection means for detecting a gas or a fluid leaking from the stored product to the sealed space in the storage case. 5. The cylindrical member is fixed to the storage case, and a product stored in the storage case is moved relatively to the cylindrical member so that a part of the product is formed in the cylindrical shape. The leak test apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a second moving unit inserted into the member. 6. The inner wall surface of the slide member has an inner diameter at the end at the seal position side larger than the outer diameter of the seal member, and the inner diameter gradually decreases from the end at the seal position side to the standby position side. The leak test device according to claim 1, wherein 7. The torque converter according to claim 1, wherein a hub of a torque converter is inserted into the tubular member, and the supply unit supplies a gas or a fluid to the inside of the torque converter. The leak test apparatus according to 1.