JPH04242134A - Leaking-part detecting apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a leaking-part detecting apparatus which has excellent sensitivity and can detect the leaking part simply. CONSTITUTION:A compressor 11 and a fluorescence-smoke generating device 13 which generates fluorescence smoke containing fluorescence material are operated at the same time, and the fluorescence smoke is pressed into a body under inspection 14. When there is a leaking part in the body under inspection 14, the fluorescence smoke leaks through the leaking part. The smoke is irradiated with light emitted from an ultraviolet-ray lamp 16 and detected. Thus, the leaking part of the body under inspection is detected.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a leakage point detection device, and more particularly to a leakage point detection device that uses gas to detect a leakage point.

0002

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Some machines and devices currently on the market require airtightness, and at the same time, when selling these, airtightness must be ensured. Therefore, in order to detect defective locations in products that should be airtight, a number of methods have been devised for detecting leakage locations in objects to be inspected, such as the following prior art. First, JP-A-61-217734 and JP-A-6
No. 1-217735 detects a leakage point by pressurizing a gas such as alcohol into a subject and detecting the gas leaking from the subject.

That is, a device for pressurizing a gas such as alcohol is connected to an object to be inspected, and the gas is pressurized into the object to be inspected. Then, the internal pressure inside the body to be inspected increases, and if there is a leakage point in the body to be inspected, gas will leak to the outside from this leakage point. Leak points can be detected. In this prior art, a special sensor is used to detect the colorless gas such as alcohol used here.

On the other hand, in JP-A-61-212741 and JP-A-63-204126, colored gas is injected into the body to be inspected and the leaked gas is detected.
Detecting leakage points on the inspected object. Here, the process of pressurizing the gas into the body to be inspected is similar to the prior art described above, but since the gas being pressurized into the body to be inspected is a colored gas, it is possible to visually inspect the leakage status of this colored gas. This is different from the prior art described above.

[0005]

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] However, in JP-A-61-217734 and JP-A-61-217735, a colorless gas such as alcohol is used as a medium, so special methods are required to detect leaks. In addition, the entire surface of the object to be inspected must be thoroughly inspected with the sensor during inspection, which takes time and effort when the object to be inspected is large.

On the other hand, in JP-A-61-212741 and JP-A-63-204126, a method of visually inspecting using colored gas is used, but in the case of a small amount of leakage, even colored gas cannot be detected. Because the total amount is small, it may not be visible visually due to diffusion into the atmosphere.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and its object is to provide a leakage point detection device that has good sensitivity and can easily detect leakage points.

[0008]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above objects, the leakage point detection device according to the present invention has the following features:
Fluorescent smoke injection means for press-injecting fluorescent smoke containing fluorescent components generated by the fluorescent smoke generating means through an injection port of an object to be inspected, in which at least one opening is left as an injection port and other openings are sealed; and a fluorescent smoke detection means for detecting fluorescent smoke emitted by an ultraviolet irradiation means that irradiates fluorescent smoke leaking from the object to be inspected with an ultraviolet lamp, and detects a leakage point of the object to be inspected using a gas containing a fluorescent component. It is characterized by

[0009]

[Operation] In the leakage point detecting device of the present invention having the above structure, the fluorescent smoke generated in the fluorescent smoke generating means is forced into the body to be inspected by the fluorescent smoke injecting means. Here, if there is a leakage point in the inspected object,
Fluorescent smoke forced into the body to be inspected by the fluorescent smoke injection means leaks from this leakage location. Therefore, by irradiating and detecting this fluorescent smoke with an ultraviolet lamp, it is possible to detect the leakage location of the object to be inspected.

0010

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. The engine 14 in the figure is an object to be inspected, and inspections are performed for poor assembly, defects in materials, sealability of oil seals, etc. On the other hand, 11 in the figure is a compressor, and 13 is a fluorescent smoke generator, where fluorescent smoke 17 containing a fluorescent substance is generated. The compressor 11 and the fluorescent smoke generator 13 are connected by a pipe in the embodiment. Further, a plurality of ultraviolet lamps 16 are arranged around the object to be inspected 14 to irradiate the entire object to be inspected 14 .

[0011] In detecting a leakage point in the object to be inspected 14, first, the other openings in the object to be inspected 14 are closed, leaving at least one inlet. Next, in the example,
The vacuum pump 25 operates to exhaust the air inside the object to be inspected 14 to the outside, and the object to be inspected 14 is surrounded by the dark room 15 . Furthermore, after the interior of the inspected object 14 is evacuated as described above, the switching valve 26 is switched to connect the inspected object 14 and the fluorescent smoke generating device 13. Here, in the embodiment, the fluorescent smoke generator 13 is connected to the compressor 11, and the fluorescent smoke generator 13 and the compressor 1 are connected to each other.
1 operates at the same time, the fluorescent smoke 17 generated by the fluorescent smoke generating device 13 is forced into the inspected object 14 together with air by the compressor 11. Here, if a leakage point exists in the inspected object 14, the fluorescent smoke 17 containing the fluorescent substance leaks to the outside through this leakage point. Therefore, by irradiating it with an ultraviolet lamp 16, it is possible to detect the leakage point in the object to be inspected 14. At this time, since the object to be inspected 14 is surrounded by a dark room 15, detection is facilitated. . After the inspection, the fluorescent smoke 17 leaking into the dark room 15 is removed by the air cleaner 27 in preparation for the next inspection.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation flow of the leakage point detection device according to the present invention.

First, in S201, the object to be inspected 14:
All openings other than the pressure inlet are closed. And S20
At step 2, the compressor 11 and the fluorescent smoke generating device 13 operate simultaneously, so that fluorescent smoke is forced into the inspected object 14. Here, if there is a leakage point in the inspected object 14, the fluorescent smoke 17 leaks from this leakage point. Therefore, in S203, this fluorescent smoke 1 that has leaked out is
7 is irradiated with ultraviolet rays to cause the fluorescent components in the fluorescent smoke 17 to emit light, and further, in S204, this emitted light is detected by the fluorescence detection means, thereby making it possible to detect the leakage location of the object to be inspected 14. Finally, in S205, the fluorescent smoke 17 leaked from the inspected object 14 is transferred to the inspected object 1.
4 and prepared for the next inspection.

[0014] Here, the enclosure by the dark room 15 in the above embodiment is performed to facilitate the detection of the fluorescent smoke 17 that emits light when irradiated with ultraviolet rays and to increase the inspection sensitivity, so S201, S202 and S203 It may be performed before S204, or it may be performed immediately before S204.

In addition, the object to be inspected 14 by the vacuum pump 25
Vacuuming is performed to ensure that the concentration of fluorescent smoke is uniform within the body to be inspected, which has a shape that makes it difficult for fluorescent smoke to circulate. On the other hand, this leakage point detection device is not limited to complex objects such as the engine in the embodiment, but can also be used to inspect objects with simple shapes such as pipes. Therefore, when a simple-shaped object is to be inspected, it is possible to eliminate the need to evacuate the inside of the inspected object 14 using the vacuum pump 25 in the above embodiment.

Furthermore, the fluorescent smoke 17 leaking from the leakage point of the object to be inspected 14 is irradiated by the ultraviolet lamp 16 to cause the fluorescent component in the fluorescent smoke 17 to emit light, but there is no means for detecting the emitted light of this fluorescent component. Detection is not limited to visual observation, and it is of course possible to detect by a light detection device, such as by taking an image with a television camera and performing image processing.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of the smoke generator used in the example. This fluorescent smoke generator 13 creates fluorescent smoke 17. Approximately 0.1% of fluorescent components are added to fats and oils, and when the fats and oils are evaporated, fluorescent smoke 17 containing fluorescent components is generated. Occur.

In this fluorescent smoke generating device 13, oil and fat 18 to which about 0.1% of fluorescent components are added is stored, and glass wool 20 around which a nichrome wire 19 is wound is stored.
The lower end of the bundle is immersed in this oil 18. For this reason,
The oil 18 is sucked up from the lower end of the glass wool 20 by capillary action, is sequentially evaporated by the heat generated by the nichrome wire 19, and becomes fluorescent smoke 17 when exposed to air from the compressor 11. The amount of heat generated by the nichrome wire 19 can be changed by the current from the current control device 12, and the amount of oil and fat 18 supplied can be adjusted by the cock 23, so by adjusting these, the amount and concentration of smoke can be changed. can be done.

[0019] Here, the oil or fat 18 may be one made from petroleum such as spindle oil, machine oil, or light oil, or vegetable oil such as sesame oil or olive oil, and may generate smoke with heat equivalent to that of a nichrome wire. If so, it is not limited to these.

[0020]

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, since the leakage point detection device according to the present invention uses fluorescence, luminescence can be clearly recognized, and leakage points can be detected more easily than in the past. can be done easily and sensitively.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of a leakage point detection device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the flow of operations by the leakage point detection device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a specific configuration of a fluorescent smoke generator used in this example.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 Compressor 13 Fluorescent smoke generator 14 Engine (object to be inspected) 15 Darkroom 16 Ultraviolet lamp 17 Fluorescent smoke 25 Vacuum pump 26 Switching valve

Claims (1)

[Claims] Claims: 1. Fluorescent smoke generating means for generating fluorescent smoke containing a fluorescent component; and a fluorescent smoke generating means for generating fluorescent smoke, wherein at least one opening is left as an inlet and the other openings are closed. Fluorescent smoke press-in means for press-fitting from the injection port of a sealed object to be inspected; ultraviolet irradiation means for irradiating fluorescent smoke leaking from the object to be inspected with an ultraviolet lamp; and fluorescent smoke emitted by the ultraviolet irradiation means. What is claimed is: 1. A leakage point detection device, comprising a fluorescent smoke detection means for detecting a leakage point in an object to be inspected using a gas containing a fluorescent component.