Measuring and testing – Internal combustion engine or related engine system or... – Compression
Patent
1999-06-21
2000-12-05
Raevis, Robert
Measuring and testing
Internal combustion engine or related engine system or...
Compression
G01M 1500
Patent
active
061551082
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Aluminum cylinder heads generally include sintered powder metal valve seat inserts in order to provide sufficient durability. Occasionally, the valve seat inserts must be properly installed into the cylinder head. An improperly installed valve seat insert will leave a gap between the aluminum cylinder head and the sintered powder metal valve seat insert. If the gap exceeds a threshold value, the valve seat insert will insufficiently line the aluminum cylinder head. Eventually, the cylinder head around the gap near the valve seat insert will fail, requiring expensive repair. Currently, there is no way of quickly measuring the size of the gap between the valve insert and the aluminum cylinder head.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an inspection system for inspecting installation of the valve seat inserts into bores in an aluminum cylinder head. Generally a camera takes an image of the valve seat insert and a portion of the cylinder head adjacent the valve seat insert. The image is analyzed to determine the size of any gap between the valve seat insert and the cylinder head. When the gap exceeds a predetermined value, the installation of the valve seat insert is determined to be defective.
In one embodiment, a CCD camera is used to take images of the valve seat insert. A mirror assembly mounted at an outer end of a lens of the CCD camera directs the image of the gap area into the CCD camera. By rotating the mirror, the CCD camera can obtain images from around the inner periphery of the gap area.
Generally, the valve seat insert and the aluminum cylinder head will be more reflective of light than the gap. The reduced reflectivity of the gap is measured by the CCD camera and detected by software. The size of the gap is automatically determined by the CPU and compared to a predetermined threshold. If the predetermined threshold is exceeded, the CPU indicates that the valve seat insert has been installed incorrectly, such as by a visual or audible warning.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The above, as well as other advantages of the present invention, will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment when considered in the light of the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 illustrates a valve seat insert inspection system of the present invention; and
FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the CCD camera of the inspection system of FIG. 1 being inserted into a valve seat insert.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the present invention provides an inspection system 20 for inspecting the installation of valve seat inserts 22 into bores 24 in an aluminum cylinder head 26. The inspection system 20 generally comprises a camera 30 such as a CCD camera, providing an image to a CPU 32 having a monitor 34. The camera 30 is provided with a lens 38. A mirror assembly 40 is mounted at an outer end of the lens 38. The mirror 40 provides the necessary visualization of the gap 41 between the valve seat insert 22 and the cylinder head 26. The mirror 40 may be convex in order to provide a wider view around the periphery of the bore 24. Alternatively, the mirror 40 could provide reflective surfaces at several angles to provide images from sample areas the periphery of the bore. Alternatively, the mirror 40 could be mechanically moved to take sample images around the inner periphery of the bore 24. The lens 38 is selected to provide the necessary magnification and standoff distance to view and measure the gap 41. A light source 42 is provided to illuminate the aluminum cylinder head 26 and valve seat insert 22, such that the aluminum cylinder head 26 and valve seat insert 22 will reflect light, while the gap 41 between the two will be darker. The light source 42 may be mounted adjacent the lens 38. The camera 30, lens 38, mirror 40 and light source 42 are preferably mounted on the end of a movable robot arm 44 which can move the camera 30, lens 38, mirror 40 and ligh
Cobra Machine Tool Co., Inc.
Raevis Robert
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