Measuring and testing – With fluid pressure – Motor part or auxiliary
Patent
1997-04-02
1999-03-16
Brock, Michael
Measuring and testing
With fluid pressure
Motor part or auxiliary
73 498, 73119R, G01M 302
Patent
active
058833021
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
THIS INVENTION relates to pressure testing.
More particularly, it relates to a method of and apparatus for pressure testing engine components of the type having a cavity therein through which cooling water can circulate, there being ports which lead from a face of the engine component into the cavity. The cylinder head of a water-cooled internal combustion engine is an example of such a component.
Engine components of this type can be pressure tested by closing the ports and then establishing a pressure differential between the inside and outside of the cavity. If there are any cracks in the engine component, water or air that is used to pressurise the cavity will escape through the cracks and this can then be detected, for example, by inspecting the engine component for seepage in the event that water is used to pressurise the cavity, or by immersing the engine component in a bath of water or by wetting the outside thereof with a soapy solution in the event that air is used to pressurise the cavity.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,617,824 discloses a method of pressure testing engine components in which the ports are blanked off by port closing elements which are pressed onto the face of the engine component by means of a plexiglass pressure plate. Plexiglass is a synthetic plastics material. A disadvantage of using plexiglass is that when it is subjected to stress it tends to become milky as a result of microscopic cracks developing in the material. As a consequence it becomes opaque, making it difficult clearly to view the engine component through the plate.
According to the present invention there is provided a method of pressure testing an engine component of the type having a cavity therein through which cooling water can circulate, there being ports which lead from a face of the engine component into the cavity, which method comprises, in respect of each of the ports, closing the port by pressing a port closing element onto the face so as to blank off the port, and thereupon establishing a pressure differential between the inside and outside of the cavity, the port closing elements being pressed onto the face by means of a transparent glass plate.
The glass plate may be a laminated glass plate, comprising two or more layers of glass.
The glass of the glass plate, whether in a single layer or laminated, may be toughened glass, ie the type of glass that is used for the windscreens of modern motor vehicles.
The glass plate may be pressed onto the port closing elements via a steel frame, there being a layer of elastomeric material between a load bearing face of the steel frame and the glass plate.
Further according to the invention there is provided apparatus for testing an engine component of the type having a cavity therein through which cooling water can circulate, there being ports which lead from a face of the engine component into the cavity, which apparatus comprises means for supporting the engine component, port closing elements for blanking off the ports, and a transparent glass plate for pressing the port closing elements onto the face.
The glass plate may be a laminated glass plate, comprising two or more layers of glass, and may be held in a steel frame extending peripherally of the glass plate.
There may be a layer of elastomeric material between a load bearing face of the frame and the glass plate.
The glass plate may be held in the steel frame by means of an elastomeric adhesive.
The invention extends to a pressure plate for use in the method defined above, the pressure plate comprising a glass plate which is mounted in a steel frame, and there being a layer of elastomeric material between a load bearing face of the steel frame and the glass plate.
The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.
In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a side view of apparatus for testing engine components in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus;
FIG. 3 is a plan view of a pressure plate used in the apparatus; and
FIG. 4 is a section
REFERENCES:
patent: 4030258 (1977-06-01), Anders
patent: 4171636 (1979-10-01), Bergeron
patent: 4617824 (1986-10-01), Cybulski et al.
patent: 4860575 (1989-08-01), Robinson
patent: 5095738 (1992-03-01), Roeschlaub
Brochure: PMD Piccinotti PT120 pressure tester (undated).
Brochure: QUELO pressure tester (undated).
Brock Michael
Kent & Swart Investments CC
LandOfFree
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