Leak tester

Abstract

A leak tester is used to perform a leak test on a work such as a wheel by detecting trace gas being leaked from the work. Herein, the work is installed in a chamber and is tightly held between seals. A leak tester seal is constructed using a work seal base, on which a number of channels are formed like circular rings, which are sequentially arranged with equal intervals. For example, an interval of distance between centers of adjoining channels is set at 1.27 cm to cope with different kinds of tire wheels, diameters of which are determined in accordance with the prescribed standard. Incidentally, each channel has a rectangular shape in section. In addition, a number of sealing members, made of elastic material, are formed like circular rings, which are fitted into the channels respectively. At installation of the work into the chamber of the leak tester, a rim of the wheel is pressed against the sealing member buried in the channel of the work seal base. Because the sealing member is securely supported by the channel, the sealing member is hard to be deformed, so that abrasion can be reduced. Incidentally, the leak tester uses a rubber plug, having a special design, with which a valve hole of the wheel is closed. Furthermore, the leak tester uses an instrument exclusively used for insertion and extraction of the rubber plug.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.