US 5,850,036 A · Apparatus for leak testing vehicle wheels

Abstract

An apparatus for checking leakage of a test gas through a wheel. The apparatus comprises wheel recognition apparatus for generating a first signal indicative of selected parameters of a wheel, a test cell for applying a differential pressure of a test gas through a selected portion of the wheel, and detecting apparatus for determining a leak rate of the test gas through the selected portion of the wheel. The detecting apparatus generates a second signal indicative of the leak rate. The apparatus of the invention also includes a microprocessor operatively connected to the recognition apparatus for receiving and processing the first signal to determine the model of the wheel from among a group of preselected model wheels. The apparatus is also operatively connected to the test cell for controlling operation of the detecting apparatus according to the model of the wheel, and operatively connected to the detecting apparatus for receiving and processing the second signal to generate a record of the leak rate. The invention also includes a method of manufacturing vehicle wheels wherein, after testing a wheel to determine a leak rate of a test gas through a selected portion of the wheel, the wheel is automatically permanently identified with that leak rate.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A test cell for a mass spectrometer leak detection system, including:

a lower plate;
a upper plate selectively movable relative to said lower plate and adapted to cooperate with said lower plate and an object to be leak tested to define a first chamber, said upper plate having a radially outer surface;
a bell portion selectively movable relative to said lower plate and said upper plate, said bell portion having an opening into an interior thereof, said opening having a rim which may be sealed against said lower plate to enclose said upper plate and an object to be leak tested within said interior of said bell portion;
an inflatable seal disposed about said radially outer surface of said upper plate, which, when inflated, seals against said upper plate and said bell portion, and which in cooperation with said upper plate, said lower plate, said bell portion, and an object to be leak tested which is sealed against said upper and lower plates, defines an outer chamber around the object to be leak tested;
a source of a test gas selectively communicating with one of said inner and outer chambers;
and
a conduit adapted to provide selective communication between the other of said inner and outer chambers and a mass spectrometer leak detector.

4 more elements

An apparatus for checking leakage of a test gas through a wheel, comprising:

a vision system for generating a first signal indicative of selected parameters of the wheel;
a test cell for applying a differential pressure of a test gas through a selected portion of the wheel being checked;
detecting apparatus for quantitatively determining a leak rate of the test gas through said selected portion of the wheel being checked and generating a second signal indicative of said leak rate;
and
a microprocessor operatively connected to said vision system for receiving and processing said first signal to determine the model of the wheel being checked, and operatively connected to said test cell for controlling operation of said detecting apparatus according to the model of the wheel being checked, and operatively connected to said detecting apparatus for receiving and processing said second signal to generate a quantified permanent record of said leak rate.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Apparatus for leak testing vehicle wheels

Life of this patent

Apparatus for leak testing vehicle wheels

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18