Water cut-off inspection device for grommet
AssigneeSumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
InventorsYoshihiro Araki, Katsumi Furukawa, Yoshitsugu Fujita
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An inspection device is provided for inspecting whether the gap between the front and rear sides of a grommet is watertightly sealed. The inspection device includes a cylindrical member (10) into which electric wires (4) projected from a front end of a grommet (3) are inserted and a sealing means (11) for sealing the cylindrical member. Air is supplied into the cylindrical member (10). When the air flow stops due to pressurization of the cylindrical member (10), it is determined that the grommet (3) has passed an examination. Thus, it is possible to detect the gap between the electric wires (4) with high accuracy.
Claims14
A water cut-off inspection device for use with a bundle of electric wires (4) that have been inserted into a grommet (3), said grommet (3) having a front end, and said wires (4) projecting from the front end of the grommet (3), said device being operative to determine whether a watertight seal exist between gaps between the electric wires, comprising:
- a cylindrical member (10, 100) into which said electric wires (4) projecting from the front end of said grommet (3) are inserted;
- and
- a sealing means (11) for sealing said cylindrical member (10, 100),
- wherein air is supplied into said cylindrical member (10, 100), and wherein a determination is made whether air flow stops due to pressurization of said cylindrical member (10, 100) or whether a flow of said air is detected, for determining whether said grommet (3) has passed an examination.
An inspection device for inspecting adequacy of a waterproof seal between a grommet (3) and wires (4) inserted through the grommet (3), said device comprising:
- a container (12) having a wire receptacle therein and a wire insertion opening leading to the wire receptacle, said receptacle being configured for accommodating portions of the wires (4) projecting from the grommet (3), an air supply inlet (17) communication said wire receptacle at a location spaced from said opening for delivering pressurized air to the receptacle of the container (12), a cover (19) mounted to the container (12) in proximity to the opening into said receptacle, the cover (19) being movable relative to the container (12) from an open position where said cover (19) permits insertion of said wires (4) into the receptacle of the container (12) and a closed position where the cover (19) is in sealing engagement with portions of the container (12) surrounding the opening to the receptacle;
- and
- a grommet holding frame (20) for releasable sealed engagement around an entire peripheral portion of said grommet (3), said grommet holding frame (20) being configured for releasable sealed engagement with said cover (19), whereby said sealing engagement between said container (12), said cover (19) and said grommet holding frame (20) permits pressurized air testing of the waterproof seal between the wires and the grommet by air directed through the inlet (17).
A method for testing adequacy of a seal between wires (4) and a grommet (3), said method comprising:
- providing a plurality of wires (4) projecting through a grommet (3) and at least partly sealed to the grommet (3);
- providing a container (12) having a wire receptacle therein and an opening to the receptacle;
- inserting portions of the wires (4) projecting from the grommet (3) into the receptacle of the container (12);
- sealing the grommet (3) to portions of the container (12) surrounding the opening to the wire receptacle;
- directing pressurized air into the wire receptacle of the container (12);
- measuring air flow into the receptacle of the container (12);
- and
- generating a signal for indicating at least one of a steady state air pressure and an air flow indicative of an inadequate seal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.