Boots – shoes – and leggings
Patent
1994-11-22
1997-05-13
Voeltz, Emanuel T.
Boots, shoes, and leggings
324420, G01R 31327
Patent
active
056298641
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a testing process for the quality control of electromagnetically actuated switching devices in which current contacts are made by actuating a magnetic armature. The testing includes a step of analyzing the vibrations or sound emissions from the switching devices occurring under operating conditions.
Carrying out functional testing and quality control of switching devices by means of an oscillation analysis during switching has already been proposed. The Japanese Patent Publication No. JP-A-01/80876 (hereinafter "the '876 publication") discusses a process for determining the contact force of a switching device. In the process of the '876 publication, vibration signals generated upon contact closure and armature closure are evaluated. Furthermore, a process of the type described at the beginning is discussed in the Russian Patent Publication No. SU-A-983 655 (hereinafter, "the '655 publication"). In the process of the '655 publication, the magnetic armature is operated with different currents in two different test cycles. The sound signals generated during this process are detected by means of an acoustic sensor and the quality of the switching device is derived therefrom. Finally, the Russian Patent Publication No. SU-A-1 272 374 (hereinafter, "the '374 publication") discusses an arrangement for the quality control of encapsulated reed contacts. In the process described in the '374 publication, the coil for the electromagnetically actuated contacts is excited and the oscillations generated by actuating the relay in the open and in the closed condition of the relay are detected and evaluated.
In addition, the Russian Patent Publication No. SU-A-907-623 (hereinafter "the '623 publication") discusses a process of the type mentioned above, in which oscillation and sound spectra are examined as a whole. Specific criteria for predicting future failure rates of a switching device are derived from the oscillations by means of statistical methods.
The object of the present invention is to improve the known testing processes by making the quality control objective. The process should be applicable to different electromagnetically actuated switching devices. Moreover, if any faults are present, the process should be able to classify them. Furthermore, the process should be able to evaluate noises in relays, in particular, motor vehicle flashing signal relays.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
The present invention achieves the above mentioned objects by detecting the sounds emitted by the switching device when it is actuated. The emitted sounds are caused by the making of the contact and by the striking of the armature. The emitted sounds are detected by means of a sensor, are separated, and are transmitted to an evaluation device. The evaluation devices discriminates the time and/or frequency curve of individual sound components. In a preferred embodiment, only the sound produced by the armature strike is evaluated. This is especially true for an application using relays as the switching devices, in which the electromagnetically actuated armature must strike the magnetic core for the purposes of closing the contacts. Thus, any contact bounce occurring, for example, can be discriminated in a simple way.
In another application of the present invention, characteristic faults of alternating voltage-actuated switching devices (such as humming or chatter) are recognized. Specifically, the sound for recognizing the fault is analyzed within a time interval in which, in good parts, the magnetic armature is at rest and no sound should occur. Any sound signals occurring are used to classify the faults. In this way, humming or chatter of the switching devices, operated with alternating current, can be recognized.
Finally, in a further application, the present invention is used to assess the sound of motor vehicle relays to determine whether it is "proper". Until now, such assessments have been carried out subjectively, by listening. To achieve this object, sound sig
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Soviet Patents Abstracts, Section EI, Week J51, 9. Feb. 1983, Derwent Publicaitons Ltd., London, GB; Class V, & SU,907 623 (Zaretskas) 28. Feb. 1982.
Soviet Patents Abstracts, Section EI, Week 8712, 1. Apr. 1987, Derwent Publications Ltd., London, GB; Class T, AN 87-085625, & SU,A,1 247 963 (OMSK Railway).
Soviet Patents Abstracts, Section EI, Week K41, 23. Nov. 1983, Derwent Publications Ltd., London, GB; Class T, AN 83788468 & SU,A,983 655 (GIMEI) .
Noe Ernst-Ludwig
Schwarz Peter
Cole Tony M.
Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
Voeltz Emanuel T.
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