KR960014002B1 - Leakage detection apparatus for drum wheels and method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

None.

Description

Leak detection system

1 is a perspective view of a leak detection apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the leak detection device at a load position along line 2-2 of FIG.

3 is a cross sectional view of the leak detection device in a partial engagement position along line 3-3 of FIG.

4 is a cross-sectional view of the leak detection device in the engaged position along line 4-4 of FIG.

5 is a cross-sectional view of the annular compartment of the leak detection device along line 5-5 of FIG.

6 is a pressurized gas flow diagram of the leak detection apparatus of FIG.

7 is an electrical block diagram of the leak detection apparatus of FIG.

* Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings

10: leak detection device 12: vacuum A gauge

14: vacuum B gauge 16: vacuum manifold

18: government vacuum valve 20: sample separation valve

22: detection valve 26: bottom vacuum valve

28: vacuum discharge valve 30: main vacuum line

32: vacuum inlet line 34: outer compartment

36: government platen 38: government sealing ring

40 bottom platen 42 bottom sealing ring

44 support platform 45 upper support structure

46: blowing nozzle 48,50: air cylinder

52 helium supply inlet 54 gas vacuum line

60 mass spectrometer 62 drum wheel

70: outer compartment sealing ring 72: outer compartment volume reduction disk

74: mechanical fastener 80: internal fastening

82: drum wheel lip flange 84: annular helium compartment

86: shaft 89: pneumatic air jack device

90: cup-shaped housing 102: annular flange

110: gas connection line 118: vacuum A switch

120: vacuum B switch 130: round gas supply loop

200: flow control system 202: helium gas source

300: electrical circuit 320: power supply switch

324: reset switch 326: start switch

336,338,340,342,344,346,348,350,352,354: Relay

356,358,360,362,364,366,368: Timer

370,372,374,376: switch.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention generally relates to leak detection systems for testing metal castings for fluid leakage through a metal matrix, in particular inert exploration passing from a sealed annular compartment into a vacuumed inner compartment. The present invention relates to a leak detection apparatus using a device for detecting the presence of an inert probe gas.

In the field of vehicle manufacturing, most cars and trucks are equipped with drum wheels. The source of the drum wheels may be a vehicle manufacturer or a supplier of suppliers, each of which is required to provide wheels that meet specific engineering specifications. One such specification is that the wheels mounted on the vehicle or supplied to wholesale-retail suppliers must be free of structural defects resulting in leakage of pneumatic medium air. Certain structural microscopic defects can lead to very slow leakage and no evidence of leakage until after the wheel is used. In standard warranties, including materials and technology, the manufacturer or sales supplier is obliged to repair and replace defective wheels, which incurs high costs for shipping labor and materials and also makes the customer very inconvenient. Suffers.

In other industries it is also necessary to test metal castings for fluid leakage. Prior art leak detection systems present many problems.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved cast leak detection apparatus having superior accuracy compared to the useful and comparable leak detectors described above.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved cast leak detection apparatus having a system of vacuum valves which are automatically operated in a timed sequence upon sensing a plurality of vaccum levels.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved drum wheel leak detection apparatus which is capable of reproducibly testing a series of drum wheels of various dimensions.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an improved cast leak detection apparatus capable of simulating forces present under normal operating conditions.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an improved cast leak detection apparatus capable of simulating forces present under normal operating conditions.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved cast leak detection apparatus for predicting the volume of exploratory gas for each of the casts tested.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved cast leak detection apparatus which avoids test results that are fast, reliable and subjective.

In particular, a leak detection device which is entwined for leak testing of drum wheels is shown in FIG. 1 and is generally indicated by reference numeral 10. The leak detection device 10 includes a plurality of gauges including a vacuum A gauge 12 and a vacuum B gauge 14, a vacuum manifold 16, a government vacuum valve 18, a sample separation valve. (20), detection valve (22), bottom vacuum valve (26), vacuum release valve (28), main vacuum line (30), and vacuum draw line (32) ). The detection device 10 comprises a platen 36 with a flat plated seal ring 38 (shown in FIG. 2) and also a flat bottom (table) seal ring 42. An outer compartment 34 having a bottom (table) platen 40, a support platform 44, an upper support structure 45, a plurality of blower nozzles 46, an outer compartment 34 It also includes a plurality of air cylinders 48 for lifting), an air cylinder 50 for lifting and lowering the government platen 36, a plurality of helium supply inlets 52 and a gas vacuum line 54. do. A mass spectrometer 60 is used in conjunction with the leak detection device 10 to test air samples drawn from the interior of the drum wheel 62.

Referring now to FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, which illustrate cross-sectional views of the detection device 10, the detection device 10 includes an outer compartment sealing ring 70, an outer compartment volume reduction disk 72, and a plurality of Mechanical fasteners 74 are also included. Leak detection apparatus 10 for engaging the unmounted drum wheel 62 (or tubular member) of the present invention with government platen 36 and bottom platen 40 to form a tightly sealed inner first compartment 80. Is implemented as The government platen seal ring 38 and the bottom platen seal ring 42 are axially engaged with the pair of drum rim flanges 82 to form the inner first compartment 80. The outer compartment 34 moves vertically along the air cylinders 48 and the volume reduction disc 72 is lowered and raised by the air cylinder 50. At the appropriate time, the volume reduction disc 72 is lowered to the rest position on the government platen 36. The outer compartment 34 is then lowered until seated on the bottom platen sealing ring 42. The disc 72 reduces the volume of the outer compartment 34 to form an annular helium compartment 84 (see FIG. 4) that bypasses the wheel 62 and the defined inner compartment 80, while at the same time the outer compartment 34. Surrounds the drum wheel 62.

The annular helium compartment 84 consists of a volume reduction disc 72, a bottom platen 40, an outer compartment 34, and a portion of the wheel 62 lying between the government platen 36 and the bottom platen 40. The volume of the space between the upper portion of the outer compartment 34 and the volume reduction disk 72 is not included in the annular helium compartment 84 (when the outer compartment 34 is in the lower position). . The plurality of helium supply inlets 52 for supplying exploration gas to the helium compartment 84 are in gaseous communication with the helium compartment 84. The inner compartment 80 is under vacuum and a sample of the atmosphere in the wheel 62 indicates whether exploration gas has leaked from the helium compartment 84 to the inner compartment 80 through the structure of the wheel 62. Analyze to confirm. In addition, the detection device 10 has a structure for storing, predicting, supplying, purging and cleaning the exploration gas and also cleaning the government platen 36 having the exploration gas through the plurality of blow nozzles 46. It includes.

In the following description, helium is used as the exploration gas because the mass spectrometer, which is an analyzing device, is sensitive to gas molecules. The exploration gas selected to act as a mixing element must be able to be ionized. Helium can be ionized, whereas an inert gas or other more active gas (oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, carbon, etc.) is in its natural state combined.

In a suitable embodiment, the support platform 44 serves as a table for supporting the bottom platen 40, the wheel 62 and the vacuum inlet line 32 extending therefrom. The support platform 44 is used to support the air cylinders 48, 50 used to guide the vertical movement of the outer compartment 34, the volume reduction disc 72 and the government platen 36. There is no additional vertical restriction within the upper support structure 45 (shown in FIG. 1). The support platform 44 and the support structure 45 are only meant to maintain a sufficiently spaced relationship so that the leak detection device 10 can be operated therebetween.

The air cylinder 50 includes a shaft 86 extending from the upper support structure 45 toward the support platform 44. The shaft 86 is slidably mounted to the support structure 45 by the pneumatic expansion device 88 (see FIG. 5) to allow for selective and vertical axial movement with respect to the support platform 44. Pneumatic expansion device 88 is a solenoid operated pneumatic jack in a suitable embodiment. It may be any conventional device, such as an electric motor driven actuator, mounted on the far end of the shaft 86 (as opposed to the pneumatic expansion device 88), which is equipped with a government platen 36, which is the shaft 86. And screw is fastened. For convenience of illustration, the government platen 36 may be a flat plate or a disc having a diameter of about 61 cm (2 ft), but is not limited thereto. In one embodiment, the government platen 36 may have a hole (not shown) formed therein to enable gaseous communication through the hole. The government platen 36 is controlled by a solenoid operated air cylinder 50 to act to seal the internal cavity of the drum wheel 62. The air cylinder 50 is combined with a standard four-way solenoid valve to cause vertical movement on the government platen 36. The air cylinder 50 includes a single cylinder driver that is electrically operated and also air driven.

The government platen 40 is mounted to the government of the support platform 44 and positioned generally parallel to the government platen 36. Sealing rings 38 and 42 are mounted on opposing facing surfaces inward of the top and bottom platens 36 and 40. In a suitable embodiment, the sealing rings 37, 42 comprise an annular ring molded of elastomeric material of sufficient diameter to come into contact with the wheel rim flanges 82. Suitably, the sealing ring 38 is coaxially mounted on the government platen 36 by a plurality of mechanical fasteners 74.

In a suitable embodiment, the bottom platen sealing ring 42 is not fastened to the bottom platen 40 with fasteners 74. However, in alternative embodiments mechanical fasteners may be used. When the government platen 36 is moved by the shaft 86 to engage the wheel 62 mounted to the government of the bottom platen 40, the inner fruit 80 is platen 36, 40 And is defined and defined by the internal cavities of the rim flanges 82 and the wheel 62.

Also shown in FIGS. 2-4 are outer compartments 34 generally coaxial with shaft 86. The outer compartment 34 is an air cylinder controlled from a pneumatic air jack device 89 to enable vertical axial movement of the outer compartment 34 relative to the platens 36, 40 and the support platform 44. 48 is mounted on the pair of slides freely. The outer compartment 34 includes a cup-shaped housing 90 having a cylindrical wall 92 that forms an enclosing end 94. A generally coaxial central hole 96 formed in the enclosing end 94 of the cylindrical wall 92 allows the shaft 86 to pass through the housing 90. A pair of vent holes 97 is provided in the enclosing end 94 which is always open to allow the housing 90 to be vented with the atmosphere and also to provide a passage for the gas vacuum line 54.

The pair of air cylinders 48 is such that each cylinder 48 has a first end mounted to the support structure 45 (see also FIG. 1) and an opposite second end mounted to the surrounding end 94 of the housing 90. To the top of the cup-shaped housing 90. The air cylinders 48 move the housing 90 from the engaged position shown in FIG. 4 to the stationary platen 36 and the support platform 44 from the engaged position shown in FIGS. Electrically actuated pneumatic devices that selectively move axially along axis 86. Downward movement of the housing 80 is assisted by gravity. The cylindrical wall 92 extends generally vertically downward from the periphery of the surrounding end 94 of the housing 90. In the cylindrical wall 91 a plurality of gas inlet holes 100 are shaped so that the helium supply inlet 50 can communicate with the annular helium compartment 84. The holes 100 are suitably positioned symmetrically toward the bottom portion of the cylindrical wall 92. One embodiment includes a group of eight holes 100 distributed circumferentially.

The annular flange 102 extends radially inward from the bottom edge of the cylindrical wall 92. The inwardly extending annular flange 102 defines a bottom hole 104 that forms an open end of the cup-shaped housing 90 to allow the wheel 62 and the government platen 36 to pass into the interior of the housing 90. do. A helium compartment sealing ring 70 is mounted to the annular flange 102 and extends radially inward from the annular flange 102, which engages with the government or bottom platens 36, 40, respectively, to provide a seal. Extend inwardly.

2-4 show volume disc 72 that is slidably mounted coaxially to enable vertical axial movement on axis 86, respectively. The disc 72 is disposed in the housing 90 and dimensioned to engage and seat the top surface of the annular flange 102 when the detection device 10 is in the rest position. Disc 72 is dimensioned to ride closely to the inner surface of cylindrical wall 92 so as to reduce the volume of exploratory gas exiting through bottom hole 104 while reducing the volume of annular helium compartment 84. do.

The detection device 10 is designed to accommodate a range of wheel dimensions. In order to obtain inconsistent test results, the determined volume of exploration gas injected into the annular helium compartment 84 should be proportional to the volume around the test wheel 62. In order to meet these conditions, for wheels 62 of different dimensions, the volume of the helium and air mixture should be proportional to the volume inside the inner compartment 80 within the wheel 62. The disc 72 serves to adjust the volume in the outer compartment 34 to achieve these needs in cooperation with the prospective well of the exploration gas described below. As shown in detail in FIG. 4, the positions of the outer compartment 34 and the disc 72 are controlled according to the wheel cavity, so that the annular dimension is proportional to the wheel 62 under test for the volume of the inner compartment 80. Helium compartment 84 is formed. The walls of the wheel 62 form part of the boundary between the inner compartment 80 and the annular helium compartment 84.

The detection device 10 includes a gas supply device for providing exploration gas to the annular helium compartment 84. In general, the gas supply device is associated with a pressurized flow control system 20 (shown in FIG. 6). The flow control system 200 is in gas state communication with the annular helium compartment 84 via a gas connection line 110 (see FIG. 5). The flow control system 200 includes a compressed helium gas source 202 and a standard pressure regulator 204 and a flow control device 206, each of which is in communication with a gas connection line 110. Compressed helium is inert and nonflammable and the gas connection line 110 delivers helium to the plurality of helium supply inlets 52 to distribute the exploration gas sufficiently symmetrically to the annular compartment 84. In the gas connection line 110, a helium injection valve 112 is disposed between the compressed gas source 202 and the helium supply inlet 52 connected to the circular gas supply loop 130. Helium injection valve 112 enables selective delivery of helium to annular helium compartment 84. In a suitable embodiment, the helium infusion valve 112 is operated by an electrically controlled solenoid (shown in FIG. 7).

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the present invention also includes a vacuuming device for enabling sampling of the atmosphere of the inner compartment 80 to the exploration gas (FIGS. 1 to 4). The vacuum pulp 114 (shown as a connecting portion) is in gaseous communication with the inner compartment 80. Satisfactory is any conventionally available vacuum pump that provides a pressure of 10 −1 torr or a pressure of 100 μm Hg. While a vacuum pump that provides a low pressure as described herein can be used with the same amount of reduction in cycle time, a pressure of 10-1 torr or 100 μm Hg is sufficient to operate the present invention under moderate time pressure. Do. The vacuum inlet line 32 connects the vacuum pump 114 with the inner compartment 80 through the main vacuum line 30. The bottom vacuum valve 26 is interposed between the inner compartment 80 and the vacuum pump 114 to selectively apply vacuum to the inner compartment 80 and the main vacuum line 30. A vacuum filter (not shown) is interposed between the vacuum pump 114 and the bottom vacuum valve 26 to prevent oil fumes from passing into the inner compartment 80. In a suitable embodiment, the bottom vacuum valve 26 is operated by an electric solenoid while the vacuum release valve 116 is connecting the main vacuum line 30 with the atmosphere. The vacuum discharge valve 28 selectively seals the vacuum discharge line 116 from the atmosphere. In a suitable embodiment, the vacuum release valve 258 is electrically operated.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the vacuum manifold 16 is also in gaseous communication with the vacuum pump 114 and the inner compartment 80 as well as the main vacuum line 30. The vacuum manifold 16 is located in the boundary region formed by the government vacuum valve 18, the detection valve 22, the sample separation valve 20 and the vacuum lines extending from the gauges 12 and 14. Vacuum pipes. In a suitable embodiment, the vacuum valve 18 is entirely connected between the vacuum manifold 16 and the main vacuum line 30 and the sample separation valve 20 is connected within the gas vacuum line 54. Vacuum manifold 16 assists in developing and preserving the high degree of vacuum needed to properly operate mass spectrometer 60.

The detection valve 22 is interposed between the mass spectrometer 60 and the sample separation valve 20 and the vacuum gauges 12 and 14 are vacuum manifolds between the government vacuum valve 18 and the detection valve 22. It is attached to the pole 16. Each vacuum gauge 12, 14, which may be any suitable conventionally available instrument, is a vacuum gauge switch 118 and 120 in the form of energizing an electrical circuit when a specified vacuum level is reached. Each). The sample connection line 122 makes the detection valve 22 communicate with the mass spectrometer 60, which analyzes a sample of the atmosphere from the inside of the inner compartment 80.

The mass spectrometer 60 is isolated from the leak detection device 10 by the detection valve 22 and is activated for the entire cycle of the leak detection device 10. The mass spectrometer 60 receives a sample of the atmosphere from the inner compartment 80 through the vacuum manifold 16 and the sample connecting line 122. Normally, connecting line 122 is closed when mass spectrometer 60 is activated. A small suction pump (not shown) located inside the mass spectrometer 60 is always activated. When detection valve 22 is closed, mass spectrometer 60 does not receive atmospheric samples from manifold 16. When the detection valve 22 is open, a small amount of air sample is vacuum sucked into the mass spectrometer 60. If the helium exploration gas concentration is below a predetermined level, the small suction pump draws a sample that contains no helium. If the exploration gas concentration is above a predetermined level, helium will be detected.

The mass spectrometer 60 includes a detection switch (not shown) which includes a pair of conductors extending therefrom and is also open or closed. The detection switch operates to open if the analyzer of the mass spectrometer 60 exhibits insufficient helium dynamics, but closes if the helium concentration is above a predetermined level. The detection switch, operated to close, activates the electrical system (see FIG. 7) to indicate a leakage wheel. The detection valve 22 also selectively communicates the inner compartment 80 with the mass spectrometer 60.

The operation of the various valves may be performed manually, but FIG. 7 of a suitable embodiment shows the operation of the aforementioned solenoid operated valves and indicator lights. The solenoids are electrically and sequentially operated to actuate a plurality of valves. As described below, the circuitry described above provides a method of monitoring a process by the various indicators described above.

The present invention is also directed to FIGS. 1-4 to extract residual exploration gas remaining below the government platen 36 and near the bottom platen after the tested prior wheel 62 has been removed from the detection device 10. It includes a gas discharge device shown. In particular, in a suitable embodiment the pair of blow nozzles 46 is mounted adjacent the bottom platen 40 on the support platform 44. The blow nozzle 46 is directed upward relative to the support platform 44 such that swirling current is caused by the delivered air. As will be described later, the air blower 124 (shown in FIG. 7) is in gas state communication with the pair of blow nozzles 46 by the air blower connecting line 126, thereby making an incorrect analysis by the mass spectrometer 60. To prevent the results, a moving air mass or current is provided that moves to sweep the residual exploration gas trapped in the inner compartment 80. The air blower 124 is electrically operated and is integrated into the electrical circuit as described (previously) in connection with FIG.

In another form, the compressed air source is optionally connected with a pair of blow nozzles 46, wherein the electrically operated solenoid is operated to open or close the intervening compressed air source valve (see FIG. 6). Air comprising a plurality of air cylinders (pneumatic jacks) 48 and a pneumatic air jack device 89 for the outer compartment 34 and a pneumatic expansion device 88 (for the government platen 36). Each pneumatically actuated (air actuated) device comprising a cylinder 50 can be operated with a local low pressure air supply (shown in FIG. 6).

A cross-sectional view of the bottom of the annular helium compartment 84 is shown in FIG. 5 showing the gas connection line 110 across the helium injection valve 112. The gas connection line 110 terminates in a circular gas supply loop 130 surrounding a portion of the housing 90, with eight helium supply inlets 52 evenly distributed around the circumference of the circular gas supply loop 130. It is. The helium supply inlets 52 are each T-shaped fittings that penetrate the cylindrical wall 92 of the cup-like housing 90. In a perspective view showing the cross-sectional line in a direction towards the bottom platen 40, the first contact line is an annular flange 102 located at the base of the cylindrical wall 92. The next contact line is the end edge of the helium compartment sealing ring 70 where the rest of the annular helium compartment 84 is bounded by the side edge of the wheel rim flange 82 and the cross section through the side of the drum wheel 62. Built. Spot marks located between the annular flange 102 and the side edges of the wheel rim flange 82 indicate helium exploration gas. The view through the wheel 62 downwards shows the opening 132 in the bottom platen 40 for the vacuum inlet line 32 to penetrate. If leakage of exploration gas occurs across the boundary layer on the side of the drum wheel 62, defects in the structural integrity of the wheel 62 are indicated. (Shown in FIGS. 1-4) Vacuum pump 114 Draws a vacuum through the inlet line 32 to vacuum the inner compartment 80 of the surrounding environment.

After helium gas is injected into the annular compartment 84 through the eight helium supply inlets 52, the exploration gas will drift in the sealed annular helium compartment 84 due to the injection rate applied to the exploration gas. When the catastrophe gas appears in the inner compartment 80, the existing environment mixed with the exploration gas forms a mixture, which is discharged by the vacuum inlet line 32 and the main vacuum line 30 and the vacuum manifold 16 for analysis. ) Is sent to the mass spectrometer 60. Operation of the vacuum valve system is described below in connection with FIGS. 6 and 7.

The operation of the vacuum valve system is controlled by the electric circuit 300 shown in FIG. In FIG. 7 there are five vacuum valves operating in a timed sequence as described below. The bottom vacuum valve 26 is located in the main vacuum line 30 to provide the necessary vacuum at the bottom of the detection device 10 to vacuum the inner compartment 80 and to connect and disconnect the main vacuum supply. do. The government vacuum valve 18 is located in the vacuum manifold 16 to control the vacuum supply in the vacuum manifold 16 and also allows the helium exploration gas to flow from the helium supply inlet 52 to the annular compartment 84. Help bring in. The vacuum release valve 28 is located in the main vacuum line 30 and the vacuum discharge line 116 to serve to release the vacuum from the inner compartment 80 when the testing of the wheel 62 is complete. The sample separation valve 20 is located in the vacuum manifold 16 and serves to extract a mixture of air and helium (or only air in the absence of leakage) from the interior compartment 80. The mixture sample is simultaneously held to await injection into mass spectrometer 60. Finally, the detection valve 22 located at the inlet of the mass spectrometer 60 in the sample connection line receives the sample mixed from the sample separation valve 20 and supplies it to the mass spectrometer 60 in a timed order.

FIG. 6 shows a pressurized flow control system 200 showing the parts needed to start supply of exploration gas to annular helium compartment 84 and then supply low pressure air for purging residual exploration gas. It is. Such components include helium measuring valve 208, measuring cylinder valve 210, measuring cylinder 212, helium injection valve 112, outer compartment cleaning valve 214, government platen solenoid valve 216, outer compartment Solenoid valve 218, air blowing (platen wash) valve 124, air blower connection line 126, blow nozzles 46, gas connection line 110, circular gas supply loop 130, and a plurality of Helium supply inlets 52 are also included. In addition, FIG. 6 shows valve pilots for the detection valve 22, the sample separation valve 20, the government vacuum valve 18, the bottom vacuum valve 26 and the vacuum discharge valve 28. have. Finally, low pressure air source 220 is shown and also includes an air manual valve 222 and an air cleaning, lubrication and conditioning device 224. The low pressure air source 220 is continuous with the air line 226.

One of the many unique features of the present invention is to predict the exact volume of exploration gas to use for any particular wheel under test. The predictive well device is coupled with the pressurized flow control system 200 and also includes in particular a helium measuring valve 208, a measuring cylinder valve 210, a measuring cylinder 212 and a helium injection valve 112. Once the predictive well and injection of the helium exploration gas is complete, sweeping of the residual exploration gas is accomplished by using the outer compartment valve 214 and the air blow valve 124 in cooperation with the air line 226.

During the initial evacuation step, the vacuum switch 118 of the vacuum A gauge 12 closes when the degree of vacuum increases. Under such conditions, the helium measuring valve 208 opens while the helium infusion valve 112 is closed. Measuring cylinder 212 includes a piston that is pneumatically actuated and springs back. The piston moves in the measuring cylinder 212 to create a compartment in the measuring cylinder 212. When the measuring cylinder valve 210 is open, pressurized air from the low pressure air source 220 moves freely through the air line 226 and the measuring cylinder valve 210. The low pressure air passing through the measuring cylinder valve 210 flows into the bottom of the measuring cylinder 212 to propel the piston to the stroke of the compartment in the measuring cylinder 212. When the measuring cylinder valve 210 is closed, the piston springs back to the bottom of the measuring cylinder 212.

During the predictive phase, the measuring cylinder valve 210 is closed and the helium measuring valve 208 is open so that helium can pass from the gas source 202 through the helium measuring valve 208 and accumulate in the measuring cylinder 212. Can be. The dimensions of the wheel 62 under test affect the length of time required to introduce the initial vacuum into the system. Once the initial vacuum reaches the operating level, the vacuum B gauge 14 closes the vacuum B switch 120 to position the electrical actuators in the vacuum valves to supply helium exploration gas to the annular helium compartment 84. However, until the vacuum B switch 14 is actuated, the helium measuring valve 208 remains open so that probe gas can accumulate in the measuring cylinder 212. Therefore, the volume of exploration gas accumulated in the measuring cylinder 212 is directly proportional to the time taken to draw the required vacuum and thus proportional to the volume of the inner compartment 80 of the wheel 62 under test.

When the vacuum B switch 120 is closed, the helium measuring valve 208 is closed and the helium infusion valve 112 is open. At this time, the measuring cylinder valve 210 is opened to allow the low pressure air from the air line 226 to pass through the measuring cylinder valve 210 into the measuring cylinder 212. Low pressure air propels the piston in the measuring cylinder 212 to the top of the compartment to extract the helium exploration gas through the helium injection valve 112 opened from the measuring cylinder 212. The exploration gas passes out through the gas connection line 110 into the circular gas supply loop 130. The exploration gas then passes through a plurality of helium supply inlets 52 that supply the exploration gas to the annular helium compartment 84.

After the helium exploration gas has been withdrawn from the measuring cylinder 212, the measuring cylinder valve 210 prevents air from passing through the air line 226 into the cylinder 212 and also the spring of the cylinder 212 normalizes the piston. It is closed so that it can be returned to the position. Therefore, the volume of helium exploration gas is measured by the time the helium exploration gas has flowed during the predictive well phase. This time interval determines how much helium exploration gas was required to accumulate in the compartment of the measuring cylinder 212.

At the end of the testing cycle, the helium inlet valve 112 is closed and the outer compartment flush valve 214 is opened to provide a passage for low pressure air in the air line 226 to the gas connection line 110. . The low pressure air is forced through the gas connection line 110 and the gas supply loop 130 to forcibly discharge residual exploration gas. Low pressure air also passes through the inlets 52 into the annular helium compartment 84 to clean and vent the helium exploration gas from the system for subsequent cycles. The vent hole 97 located in the enclosure end 94 allows the discharged helium exploration gas to escape from the government of the housing 90.

The air blow valve 124 is actuated while the outer compartment flush valve 214 is open to allow the annular helium compartment 84 to be cleaned. At this time, the low pressure air freely passes through the air blowing connecting line 126 and the blowing nozzle 46 to clean the area around the bottom platen 40. Therefore, during the predictive well step of measuring and feeding the helium exploration gas to the annular helium compartment 84 and the evacuation step of passing uncalibrated wash air in the range of 6.3 to 7.0 kg / cm 2 (90 to 100 psi) to clean the system While the only fluid piping system is used.

Each valve pilot in the government platen solenoid valve 216, the outer compartment solenoid valve 218, and the five vacuum operated valves 18, 20, 22, 26, 28 includes a standard four-way solenoid valve. . Each valve includes a valve sphere (not shown), which passes the vacuum effect when the sphere is in the first position and blocks the vacuum effect when the sphere is in the second position. The valve sphere is pneumatically operated by an air cylinder. However, the air cylinder is electrically operated to allow or shut off the pneumatic pressure actuating the shaft for positioning the valve sphere.

In operation of the detection device 10, the outer compartment 34 is in a rest position in which the government platen 36 and associated sealing ring 38 are spaced apart from the bottom platen 40 and associated sealing ring 42. Assume the reset position returned. The government platen 36 is spaced a sufficient distance above the wheel rim flange 82 which allows the removal of the preceding wheel 62 tested and the replacement of the subsequent wheel to be tested. The volume reduction disc 72 is seated on the top surface of the annular flange 102. The location of these parts prevents the escape of residual exploration gas from the bottom of the outer compartment 34 and also prevents contamination of the inner compartment 80 before the start of evacuation and subsequent testing of the wheel. The vent holes 97 in the enclosing end 94 of the cup-like housing 90 remain open during the discharge of the probe gas.

At this time, the vacuum must be released by opening the vacuum discharge valve 28 and the flow of the exploration gas must be stopped by the closing of the helium injection valve 112. Subsequent wheels 62 to be tested are coaxially positioned at the top of the bottom platen sealing ring 42 so that the bottom wheel rim flange 82 engages the bottom platen sealing ring 42. All vacuum valves are operated in the order as described below that they are closed at the reset position between tests of each wheel 62.

Electrical circuit 300 includes solenoids and actuators for government vacuum valve 18, bottom vacuum valve 26, vacuum release valve 28, open sample separation valve 20, and detection valve 22. Further, helium measuring valve 208, helium injection valve 112, measuring cylinder valve 210, air blowing valve 124, outer compartment solenoid valve 218, outer compartment cleaning valve 214 and the government platen solenoid Also included are solenoids and actuators for the valve 216. In addition, the detection switch located in the mass spectrometer 60 is shown schematically in FIG. 7 and also indicated by reference numeral 302. 7 also shows the bottom vacuum indicator 304, detection indicator 306, government vacuum indicator 308, sample separation indicator 310, helium injection indicator 312, vacuum release indicator 314 ), Air blowing indicator 316, outer compartment flush indicator 318, power-on switch 320, power available indicator 322, reset switch 324, and A start switch 326 is shown.

Additional display devices include a white light 328 indicating a wheel that passed the leak test, a red light 330 indicating a wheel that failed the leak test, and a buzzer indicating a tested wheel with excess leakage. (332). The other components of the electrical diagram 300 of FIG. 7 are relay 336, relay 338, relay 340, relay 342, relay 344, relay 346, and relay 348. , Relay 350, relay 352, relay 354, relay 356, timer 358, timer 360, timer 362, timer 364, timer 3696, timer 368 , Switch 370, switch 372, switch 374, and switch 376.

When the leak detection device 10 is initially activated and after the preceding leak detection test is completed, the government platen 36 and the outer compartment 34 are each in the raised (stopped) position. In addition, the respective vacuum operated valves are closed, and the air blowing valve 124 is also closed. Testing of subsequent wheels 62 begins with closing power supply switch 320 which connects power input terminals 400, 401 to the electrical circuit and also illuminates power enable indicator 322. do. The start switch 326 is a two-pole spring loaded normally open push button switch, which actuates an activated lead 401 from the power switch, switches 374, (376). Switches 374 and 376 are actuated by electrical impulses from start switch 326. The first impulse on lead 403 pulses one of the switches and pulses off one of the two switches through leads 403 and 422. One of the second actuations of the start switch 326 provides a pulse that reverses the leads 403 and 422 that reverse the actuation of the switches 374 and 376. Therefore, by actuating the start switch 326, the electrical switches 374, 376 are reversed. This causes the lead 407 on the switch 374 to be activated causing the volume of the measuring cylinder 212 to decrease to zero. The government platen 36, which is connected to the conductor 407, is lowered by gravity to form an inner compartment 80 with the wheel 62 and the bottom platen 40. The bottom vacuum valve 26, the government vacuum valve 18 and the sample separation valve 20 are each opened simultaneously, but the detection valve 22 and the vacuum discharge valve 28, the air blowing valve 124 and the vacuum discharge valve ( 28 each remain closed.

The vacuum pump 114 begins to draw a vacuum into the inner compartment 80 which increases all the time and at the same time the timer 360 starts counting. Timer 360 is a 32 second timer, which is used to limit the time to allow for testing of any particular wheel. The cup-shaped housing 90 supports the volume reduction disc 72 which acts as the gravity bottom lid of the housing 90. Disc 72 remains several inches above government platen 36 to isolate inner compartment 80 from any helium contaminant residue in outer compartment 34 resulting from a previous test cycle. The disc 72 remains raised and supported by the outer compartment 34 unless the government platen 36 is sealed to the inner compartment 80 by a sufficient amount of vacuum.

The vacuum A gauge 12 is adjusted to actuate the vacuum switch 118 when the initial level of vacuum is reached in the manofold 16. Electrical lead 406 on vacuum A switch 12 is activated to actuate relays 342 and 344. The timer 366 opens the helium measuring valve 208 while the lead 424 on the relay 344 closes the measuring cylinder valve 210 so that the spring pulls the piston down and the compartment is ever larger. ) Is activated. Conductor 438 on relay 342 causes conductor 420 to cause the corresponding conductor on relay 352 to descend around inner compartment 80 until cup-shaped housing 90 seats on bottom platen 40. It is activated to activate it. The volume reduction disc 72 of the housing 90 is seated on the government platen 36 to become the government lid of the annular helium compartment 84.

The inner compartment 80 is vacuum sealed before the outer compartment 34 is lowered to a position on the bottom platen 40. However, the front and bottom platen seals 38, 42 leak, so if the outer compartment 34 descends too early, residual probe gas leaks into the inner compartment 80 and contaminates it. Therefore, when the degree of vacuum in the manifold 16 is high enough to cause contact of the vacuum switch 118, the lead wire 420 is activated to allow the outer compartment 34 to free fall. Typically, the outer compartment solenoid 218 is activated by a lead 420 that allows the air cylinders 48 to hold the outer compartment 34 in the raised position. However, when lead 420 is activated, outer housing 34 may slowly free fall onto bottom platen 40. At this time, the helium exploration gas is introduced into the measuring cylinder 212 and predicted.

As the degree of vacuum reaches a predetermined level in the manifold 16, the vacuum B switch 14 operates to close the vacuum switch 120. At this time, the bottom vacuum valve 26 is closed by the operation of the conductive wire 411 from the relay 350. The volume of helium exploration gas in the compartment of the measuring cylinder 212 is proportional to the volume of the inner compartment of the wheel 62 under test. In response to the operation of the vacuum B switch 372, the lead 408 activates the corresponding lead in the switch 372 that activates the lead 416 in the relay 346. Relay 346 activates lead 448, which activates the corresponding lead in timer 366. Lead 410 of timer 366 is activated to close helium measurement valve 208. The measuring cylinder 212 increased in volume against the spring pressure while the helium measuring valve 208 was open. The helium exploration gas slowly flowed into the measuring cylinder 212 in preparation for delivery to the annular helium compartment 84 through the helium injection valve 112.

After a delay of 1-5 seconds, relay 346 also activates lead 435 which activates the corresponding lead in relay 344. The lead 424 of the relay 344 sequentially activates the helium injection valve coil 112 to provide a passage for exploratory gas from the measurement cylinder 212 to the gas connection line 110. The lead wire 424 of the relay 344 also allows low pressure air from the air line 226 to push the plunger of the measuring cylinder 212 upward against the spring pressure to drive the helium exploration gas to the helium injection valve 112. Activates the measuring cylinder valve 210 so that it can also be pushed forward through the gas connection line 110 towards the circular gas supply loop 130. Once the measuring cylinder valve 210 is closed, the piston of the measuring cylinder 212 is retracted by the spring action.

After the vacuum B switch 14 is closed, the degree of vacuum is gradually circulated through the sample separation valve 20, the manifold 16, and the government vacuum valve 18 that are open toward the vacuum pump 114. Gradually increasing to the sample of the air mixture from The distribution of the air sample from the inner compartment 80 is continuously adjusted for several seconds by a three second timer 362 that makes the gaseous contents of the manifold 16 equal to the gaseous contents of the air mixture in the inner compartment 80. do. After 3 seconds, the timer 362 closes the government vacuum valve 18 while the lead 447 of the timer 362 activates the relay 350 causing the lead 419 to close the isolation valve 20 from each other. Activate the conductive wire 417. At the same time, the lead 415 of the timer 358 activates the corresponding lead to open the detection valve 22 controlled by the three second timer 358.

Three cases may occur during the testing of the drum wheel 62. In the first case, the drum wheel 62 does not include the penetration hole and does not allow the exploration gas to pass. In this case, the drum wheel 62 is labeled with a fine wheel. If the drum wheel 62 includes small penetration holes, the exploration gas penetrates the wheel 62, and the wheel is labeled as a bad wheel. In the worse case, large penetration holes are present so that excess volume of exploration gas can penetrate the drum wheel 62. In this case, the drum wheel 62 is marked with a very bad wheel and the test progress is stopped and finished.

For each of the three cases described above, the leak detection device 10 selects a different cycle based on the coordinated control and response of the vacuum switch 118, the vacuum switch 120, and the 32 second limit timer 360. do. The foregoing descriptions of the pressurized flow control system 200 and the electrical diagram 330 are described in detail until the detection valve 22 is opened to pass atmospheric samples from the inner compartment 80 to the mass spectrometer 60. The same is true for all situations. The result of the analysis of the gas sample by the mass spectrometer 60 determines whether the detection switch 302 in the mass spectrometer 60 is closed to activate the conductor 413. The remainder of the description of the test progress relates to the operation of the leak detection apparatus 10 resulting from the analysis of the gas sample.

If the helium concentration in the exploration gas sample is very low, the timer 358 counts to the end of the 3 second cycle since helium concentration is not detected by the mass spectrometer 60. The white light 328, which indicates a good wheel, lights up and the timer 360 stops counting. Since very low helium concentrations are not detected by the mass spectrometer 60 or analyzer, the detection switch 302 is not activated and the lead 413 connected from the detection switch 302 is not activated.

The operation of the electrical circuit 300 is as follows. When the three second cycle of timer 358 is finished, lead 433 activates the corresponding leads in relay 342 to actuate leads 407 and 450 of relay 342. Lead 450 in relay 342 activates the corresponding lead in timer 360 to activate lead W before the 32-second time limit is counted by timer 360. Lead W of timer 360 activates a white light indicating that wheel 62 under test did not leak exploration gas. At the same time, the conducting wire 438 of the relay 342 is deactivated and the conducting wire 438 of the relay 352 is deactivated at the same time so that the conducting wire from the relay 352 to the coil of the outer compartment solenoid valve 218 is at the same time. 420 is beating. This action actuates the air cylinder 48 for driving the cup-shaped housing 90 up to the rest position.

Within 3 to 10 seconds after the cup-shaped housing 90 is driven to the stop position, the detection valve 22 is closed by non-operation of the lead wire 415 after the timer 358 ends the 3 second cycle. At this time, each of the remaining vacuum operated valves including the helium injection valve 112 is in the closed position. The helium injection valve 112 is supplied with the helium exploration gas to the outer helium compartment 84 and then the outer compartment 34 is closed. It is closed until it is raised to the stop position. Relay 336 stops counting and resets the base 32 second cycle timer 360. The lead W is also connected from the timer 360 to the relay 336 so that the lead W and the relay 336 are deenergizing the open lead 451 from the contact position to the common lead 400. As a result, the lead 451 on the relay 336 changes from the contact position to the open position. The lead 451 is also connected to the timer 356 and the tire 360 so that when the lead 451 on the timer 356 is deactivated, the lead 444 on the timer 356 causes the timer 360 to end its cycle. Deactivate the wire corresponding to.

The cleaning cycle is then started by leads 439 and 440 on the three second timer 368. Lead 422 on timer 368 activates a corresponding lead on switch 376 that powers lead 425 on switch 376 and activates the corresponding lead on relay 352. At this time, the cup-shaped housing 90 reaches the stop position and the lead 425 activates the lead 434 on the relay 352. Similarly, lead 434 on timer 364 is active for 7 seconds. In addition, lead 434 on relay 352 activates lead 417 to open government vacuum valve 18 during the cleaning cycle. Conductor 434 on relay 352 further activates a corresponding line on relay 348 that activates conductor 419 to open sample isolation valve 20. Conductor 426 on relay 348 also activates air blow valve 124 and outer compartment flush valve 214 to open vacuum relief valve 28 that releases vacuum in manifold 16. Is activated. Operation of each of these valves by lead 426 on relay 348 initiates an evacuation cycle of cleaning bottom platen area 40, annular helium compartment 84, and manifold system 16.

The remaining vacuum keeps the wheel 62 fixed between the government platen 36 and the bottom platen 40 to attach a stamped insignia indicating that the wheel is not leaking or is a good wheel. Stamping the wheel can be done manually or using robots.

After stamping the wheel, the reset switch 324 is operated manually or by robots to raise the government platen 36 and clean the detection system 10. The reset switch 324 activates the leads 439 and 440 on the tire 368, which in turn reverses the order so that the respective vacuum-operated valves, air blow valves 124, and outer deletion wash valves 214 ) And deactivate the government platen solenoid coil 216 through the lead wire 407 to close the vacuum discharge valve 28 and also activate the air cylinder 50 to drive the government platen 36 upward. Let's do it. The leak detection device 10 is then positioned to test subsequent wheels.

Mass spectrometer 60 is displayed on a microvolt meter coupled to mass spectrometer 60 representing the relative proportionality (%) of helium in the gas sample distributed in manifold 16. The presence of helium in manifold 16 is detected. In addition, the presence of helium in the gas sample analyzed by the mass spectrometer 60 activates the detection switch 302 to provide power to the lead 413 as described below. The detection switch 302 is an adjustable device such that the operating point of the switch can be calibrated to contact over a range of microvolt meter readings. Therefore, the boundary point between the high helium concentration representing the bad wheel and the low helium concentration representing the flow rate wheel can be adjusted to reflect appropriate sensitivity.

The operation of the electrical circuit 300 after the conducting wire 413 in the detection switch 302 is deactivated is described below. However, lead 413 may be used to operate a robotic automated facility that determines the leak coefficient of each test wheel 62. After the lead 413 is activated, the corresponding lead of the switch 370 activates the lead R to activate the red light 330 indicating that the wheel 62 failed the leak test. In addition, the leads 413 of the mass spectrometer 60 may also correspond to corresponding relays in the relay 354 to activate the corresponding leads in the relay 354 to activate the open leads 439 and 440 in the normal state. Activate the leads. Conductors 439 and 440 activate the corresponding leads in a 3-second timer 368 that shortens the leads together so that the timer 368 starts the cleaning cycle and reset of the leak detection device 10. To work.

During the test run for the fine wheels, the reset switch 324 must be manually or automatically activated to contact the conductors 439 and 440 which frequent the timer 368. However, in the second case during the testing of the bad wheel, the lead 413 of the detection switch 302 causes the leads 439 in the relay 354 to automatically start a timer 368 to start the cleaning cycle. And short circuit 440.

Once timer 368 is activated, lead 422 is activated to actuate switch 372, switch 374 and corresponding lead in switch 376. The three switches are reset to return the leak detection device 10 to the first stage of test progress in the following manner. The switch 372 actuates the lead 416 to help open the vacuum valves and to activate the cleaning system. The switch 374 circuit-opens the lead 407 which deactivates the corresponding lead for the relay 342. The lead 438 from the relay 342 then activates the corresponding lead in the relay 350 that operates the lead 420 to cause the outer compartment solenoid 218 to be driven upward by the air cylinder 48.

At the same time, deactivation of the conductor 407 activates the government platen solenoid 216, which causes the air cylinder 50 to drive the government platen 36 up to the stop position. The wheel 62 under test is no longer secured between the government platen 36 and the bottom platen 40. Therefore, any attempt to stamp a marker of good wheel on the wheel that failed the leak test would tip the wheel. The switch 376 activates the lead 425 to automate a seven second timer 364 that adjusts the length of time for cleaning the detection device 10 with the probe gas. Lead 434 of timer 364 activates the corresponding lead of relay 348. The lead 426 of the relay 348 is activated to operate the electrical coils in the vacuum release valve 28, the air blow valve 124 and the outer compartment cleaning valve 214 during the seven second discharge cycle.

Switches 374 and 376 are identical, each having a common wire 400 connected to a chassis return. In addition, the wires 403 and 422 are connected to the respective switches. The two leads are connected in reverse order within switches 374 and 376. In the switch 374, when electrical energy is supplied to the lead 422, the lead 407 is separated from the power lead 401. However, when electrical energy is supplied to lead 403, switch 374 is repositioned so that lead 407 is activated to restart the test cycle. Since the leads 403 and 422 are connected in reverse order on the switch 376, when electrical energy is supplied to the lead 422, the lead 425 is activated by the power lead 401. However, when electrical energy is supplied to the lead 403, the lead 425 is separated from the power lead 401.

The detection apparatus 10 returns through complete progression when the wheel has passed the leak test and when the wheel has failed the leak test. Therefore, after the vacuum B switch 14 is operated in the case of testing the fine wheel, the timer 356 and the tire 36 stop counting to end the test cycle. In the case of testing a bad wheel, after the vacuum B switch 14 is actuated, the conductors 439 and 440 of the relay 354 are shorted to activate the timer 368. In principle, this action bypasses the reset switch 324 which also terminates the cycle.

As will be described later, the simple operation of the vacuum B switch 14 indicates that the wheel is superior and does not leak, or the wheel leaks and fails the leak detection test. If the level of vacuum in manifold 16 does not reach a level sufficient to operate vacuum B switch 14, a very poor leak in test wheel 62 is indicated. Under these conditions, the remainder of the test cycle continues for less than 40 seconds.

When the test wheel 62 includes a large hole for passing exploration gas through the structure of the wheel, the capacity of the vacuum pump 114 is limited. Under these conditions, the degree of vacuum increases very slowly and takes longer than three seconds allocated by the limit timer 360. If the vacuum level required to operate the mass spectrometer 60 is not reached, then the vacuum switch 120 is not closed and the timer 360 responds to stop the development of the vacuum. The absolute maximum length of the cycle of the detection device 10 is 55 seconds. Therefore, if the wheel 62 includes a large hole sufficient to hinder the development of the required vacuum within the time limits described above, the timer 356 and the timer 360 are in progress so that the conveyor system that supplies and takes out the wheels does not stop. Stop and end the test cycle.

Timer 356 and timer 360 start counting at the start of each test cycle. Timer 360 is a basic 32 second limit timer, which fails the wheel if the test does not complete within the allotted 32 seconds. The timer 356 is a 40 second limit timer that counts 8 seconds more than the timer 360 to provide a cleaning function of the detection device 10.

If the vacuum switch 120 does not touch within the allotted 32 seconds of the timer 360, the lead wire 445 is activated for 8 seconds, which additionally takes the timer 356 to complete the 40 second cycle. Conductor 445 from timer 360 activates the buzzer to provide an audible signal that the wheel under test fails. During eight seconds while lead 445 is active, the vacuum actuation system is reset and the cleaning cycle is complete. After the timer 360 completes the 40 second cycle, the lead 445 of the timer 360 is inactive and the detection device 10 is reset.

During the resetting of the detection device 10, the lead 445 activates a relay 350 that activates the lead 447 that activates the lead 419 closing the sample separation valve 20. In addition, the lead 411 of the relay 350 actuates and closes the bottom vacuum valve 26. Under conditions in which the working vacuum has been reached to close the vacuum switch 120, the detection device 10 will complete the normal cycle within 32 seconds allocated. Under these conditions, lead 408 on vacuum B switch 14 will activate the corresponding lead of switch 372. The detection device 10 will continue the test cycle to determine whether the wheel under test is satisfactory or not. However, the bottom vacuum valve 26 and the sample separation valve 20 were closed before the end of 40 second counting by the timer 356 for the following reasons.

Mass spectrometer 60 requires a high degree of vacuum to operate correctly and also stops the cycle when this level of vacuum is not achieved. In order to correctly reset the detection device 10 for subsequent test cycles, the vacuum in the manifold 16 must be released and a gas sample containing a high concentration of helium must be found. In order to properly clean such a system, each of the vacuum operated valves is opened to allow the low pressure air supplied through the outer compartment flush valve 214 and the air blow valve 124 to flush the interior of the manifold 16. Must be returned. If the detection valve 22 is open for cleaning while the vacuum level in the manifold 16 is below the normal operating level, the mass spectrometer 60 is damaged.

In order to avoid damaging the mass spectrometer 60, the bottom vacuum valve 26 and the sample separation valve 20 were closed by operation of the relay 350 as described above. In effect, this action isolates the wheel 62 from the progress of vacuuming. Large holes in the wheel 62 allow exploration gas to pass through and hinder the development of vacuum. The vacuum pump 114 continues to introduce vacuum into the manifold 16 through the government vacuum valve 18. The detection valve 22 remains closed until the degree of vacuum in the manifold 16 reaches an operating level that closes the vacuum switch 120. A three second timer 358 activates lead 415, which opens detection valve 22 to complete the analysis and cleaning steps of the cycle. Since the required level of vacuum has been achieved, the mass spectrometer 60 is not damaged. The atmospheric sample from the inner compartment 80 passes through the detection valve 22 and enters the mass spectrometer 60 for analysis. Due to the large holes in the wheel to be tested, the sample has a high helium concentration (%).

The detection switch 302 is open in the normal state, but closes in response to the high concentration of helium in the gas sample activating the conducting wire 413. The corresponding lead activates switch 370 to activate lead R, which illuminates red light 330 indicating that the wheel is failing. At this time, the values of the detection device 10 are to be rejected upon completion of the test cycle even if the wheel under test includes only a minor leak. Thus, once the lead 413 of the detection switch 302 is activated, the electrical system 300 reacts to the wheel that failed with only a small leak in a cleaning and resetting manner as described above.

The electrical diagram shown in FIG. 7 is just one of several optional electrical designs useful for meeting the test format of a vacuum operated system. Thus, the electrical diagram 300 shown in FIG. 7 is provided as an example and is not limited to the present invention.

As can be seen from the foregoing, the leak detection apparatus of the present invention can test each drum wheel for air leakage in a quick and effective manner, which is reliable and contradicts the normal operation of the wheel. This is accomplished by principles without this. In addition, the detection device is fully automatic and also resets immediately after providing a stamped label for each good wheel for subsequent post-testing identification in every test cycle. The detection device may be equipped with robots that obviate the need for the presence of an operator.

In addition to the wheels, the system of the present invention may also be used to test metal castings for fluid leakage, such as air conditioning pumps, water pumps, power steering, compressor housings, engine cylinder blocks, cylinder heads, carburetor housings, and transmission housings. have.

Claims (10)

A device for detecting fluid leakage in a casting having a cavity, the apparatus comprising: a sealing device for sealing the cavity of the casting to make an inner compartment in the cavity, and an open bottom for covering the casting and making an annular compartment around the inner compartment An enclosing device having a vacuum chamber; a vacuuming device in communication with the inner compartment for forming a vacuum in the inner compartment; a supply apparatus penetrating the enclosing device for injecting exploration gas into the annular compartment; and a volume of the inner compartment. A measuring device in gas communication with the gas supply device for automatically preliminarily measuring the volume of the exploration gas supplied to the annular compartment determined by the control chamber, and disposed in the evacuation device to control the vacuum in the device and capture the mixture sample from the inner compartment. Valve device and a tom indicating leak through the casting by analyzing the mixture sample And a detection device in gas communication with the inner compartment to detect the presence of dead gas. 2. A fluid leakage detection device according to claim 1, wherein the measuring device comprises a measuring cylinder for receiving the exploration gas from the exploration gas storage device and holding the exploration gas for delivery to the gas supply device. The fluid leak detection apparatus of claim 1, wherein the evacuation device comprises a first vacuum switch operated by a first degree of vacuum level in the inner compartment to initiate a preliminary measurement of the exploratory gas in the flow control device. 2. The system of claim 1, including an exhaust device through the enclosure for injecting large amounts of air into the annular compartment from a low pressure air source to remove exploration gas and clean the annular compartment at the end of the leak detection test cycle. Fluid leakage detection device characterized in that. The fluid leak detection apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a helium injection valve for transferring the exploration gas from the measurement device to the supply device. 2. The lifting device of claim 1, wherein the lifting device is mechanically connected to the enclosing device to vertically move the enveloping device during the leak detection sequence, and the exploration gas is released after the enveloping device is vertically moved by the lifting device at the end of the leak detection order. And a discharge device installed directly below the enclosing device for cleaning the device contained therein. The vertically movable government platen of claim 1, wherein the seating is seated on the government platen to move axially with the government platen to adjust the volume of the annular compartment in proportion to the volume of the drum wheel. And a volume reduction disc positioned between the enclosing ends of the vertically movable cup-shaped housing of the device and having a central penetration for receiving a central axis attached to the central air cylinder. 6. The first vacuum switch of claim 2, 4 or 5, wherein the vacuuming device is operated by a first degree of vacuum level in the inner compartment to initiate a preliminary measurement of the exploratory gas in the flow control device. Fluid leakage detection device comprising a. The fluid leak detection apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the cast product is a drum wheel. A method of detecting fluid leakage in a casting, the method comprising: sealing a cavity to form an interior compartment in a cavity in the casting, evacuating the interior compartment to create a vacuumed atmosphere, and an annular compartment surrounding the casting Placing a sealed casting in a housing for forming, preliminarily measuring a portion of the exploration gas in proportion to the volume of the inner compartment, and detecting the leakage of the exploration gas into the vacuumed atmosphere of the inner compartment Supplying the probe gas of the pre-measured portion to the annular compartment, operating a plurality of vacuum line valves to control the evacuated atmosphere, and evacuating the evacuated atmosphere in the inner compartment to perform chemical analysis. Sampling a portion, and collecting sampled portions in a vacuumed atmosphere to detect exploration gas. Phase and a liquid leakage detection method comprising the step of displaying the analysis result of the sample with extraction portion in such a manner that exhibits a leak in the presence of a gas exploration within the evacuated atmosphere for the cast product.

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