초록 ▼

Method and apparatus for testing leak integrity of a workpiece such as a wheel rim in which the rim is positioned within an air-tight housing with the axial rim edges is sealing engagement with opposed wall portions of the housing so as to form first and second chambers within the housing internally

Method and apparatus for testing leak integrity of a workpiece such as a wheel rim in which the rim is positioned within an air-tight housing with the axial rim edges is sealing engagement with opposed wall portions of the housing so as to form first and second chambers within the housing internally and externally of the rim. One of such chambers is supplied with air under pressure. Microphones are positioned in the other chamber for detecting leakage of air through the rim as a function of intensity of ultrasonic radiation emitted thereby. The test apparatus is calibrated to detect air leakage that exceeds a pre-specified maximum allowable air flow rate by removably mounting a calibration orifice on a test workpiece, with the orifice being sized to provide the pre-specified maximum allowable leakage flow rate for a satisfactory workpiece at the operating pressure of the apparatus. With the test workpiece in place, the detection electronics is adjusted to indicate an unsatisfactory workpiece when the microphone output exceeds the level associated with air flow through the test orifice.

대표청구항 ▼

Apparatus for testing a workpiece of predetermined contour for air leak integrity specified by a maximum allowable air flow rate at a specified pressure, said apparatus comprising: an air-tight housing, means for positioning a workpiece in sealing engagement with portions of said housing so as to fo

Apparatus for testing a workpiece of predetermined contour for air leak integrity specified by a maximum allowable air flow rate at a specified pressure, said apparatus comprising: an air-tight housing, means for positioning a workpiece in sealing engagement with portions of said housing so as to form first and second chambers within said housing internally and externally of the workpiece, means for supplying air at a test pressure to one of said chambers, means for detecting leakage of air through the workpiece into the other of said chambers and thereby indicating absence of leak integrity at the workpiece, and means for calibrating said leakage-detecting means to said maximum allowable flow rate at said specified pressure comprising: a test part having a contour coordinated with said predetermined workpiece contour for sealing engagement with said portions of said housing to form said first and second chambers, and means on said test part forming an orifice for controlled leakage of air between said chambers, said orifice having a size coordinated with said test pressure to permit air flow through said orifice at a flow rate corresponding to said maximum allowable flow rate at said specified pressure.