Equipment for Testing a Calibrated Gas Leak on a Tyre Valve, Plug for Such Equipment, and Associated Method for Controlling Leak Detection

A test plug for use in testing a calibrated leak of pressurized gas from a vehicle gas pressurized tire, the testing plug comprising:

• a test support comprising a body having a top surface, a bottom surface, the body further having a first inner wall and a first shoulder defining a top orifice open to the top surface and having a first diameter, the bottom surface defining a bottom orifice open to the bottom surface and having a second diameter smaller than the top orifice first diameter, the bottom orifice in communication with the top orifice;
• a head comprising:
• a first portion having a bottom end;
• a second portion axially extending from the first portion having a top end opposite the first portion bottom end, the first portion and the second portion defining an axial interior chamber axially extending through the first portion and at least a portion of the second portion, the interior chamber open through the first portion bottom end;
• the test plug further defining an orifice having a calibrated cross-section operable to allow a predetermined flow rate of pressurized gas flow through the calibrated cross-section orifice, the head positioned in the test support top orifice whereby the head first portion bottom end abuttingly engages the test support first shoulder thereby placing the calibrated cross-section orifice in communication with head interior chamber and the test support bottom orifice, wherein on engagement of the test support body with a tire valve the head second portion top end applies a pressure force to a valve member thereby releasing pressurized gas from the tire through the test plug calibrated cross-section orifice.

A method for testing a calibrated leak of pressurized gas from a tire, the method comprising the steps of:

• engaging a test plug with a tire valve, the test plug having a calibrated cross-section orifice defining a predetermined gas flow rate through the test plug;
• applying a pressure force to a tire valve member by the testing plug to release a pressurized gas from an interior of a tire;
• releasing a portion of the pressurized gas from the interior of the tire through the test plug calibrated cross-section orifice;
• and
• measuring a change in gas pressure in the interior of the tire as a result of the released gas through the test plug.