DESC:FIELD
The present disclosure relates to the field of internal combustion engines. In particular, the present disclosure relates to the field of testing of valves.
BACKGROUND
Typically, intake and exhaust valves configured on an engine cylinder head are 5 each received by a valve seat formed on the cylinder head to receive the valve. These valve seats are generally machined using cutting tools. If a cutting tool is chipped or broken, an uneven machining takes place on the valve seat which leads to an improper sealing between the valve and the valve seat. Also, in case the valve seat and the valve guide do not mate with each other due to some 10 intervention of foreign particles, dents, etc., a gap may be created which may cause undesired leakage of gases within the engine cylinder during engine operation.
Inspection of valve seats in cylinder heads is normally performed to test any leakage after the valve is inserted in the cylinder head during engine assembly. If 15 the cylinder head is manufactured and then shipped to a different manufacturing facility, a large number of defective heads manufactured before the problem is detected may lead to high rework or scrap costs.
To this end, to check the leakage of valve, pressure testing method is employed conventionally. Further, testing on a cylinder head machining line may be 20 performed with an air leak test plug gauge but these tests are not able to detect raised ring defects reliably. Small defects caused by a broken cutting insert are not normally visible and can be missed by an air leak test plug gauge because of their size and location. In addition, the pressure testing equipment are costly as they involve the use of microcontrollers. 25
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Therefore, there is felt a need for a valve testing apparatus that alleviates the aforementioned drawbacks.
OBJECTS
Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfies, are as follows. 5
It is an object of the present disclosure to ameliorate one or more problems of the prior art or to at least provide a useful alternative.
An object of the present disclosure is to provide a valve leakage testing apparatus for the testing of the cylinder heads on assembled engines or on a test bench.
Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a valve leakage testing 10 apparatus that is efficient and involves less expensive components;
Other objects and advantages of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following description, which is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
SUMMARY 15
The present disclosure envisages a valve leakage testing apparatus for detecting leakage between at least one valve and a head on which the valve is seated. The apparatus comprises a first plate which has at least one spring housing configured thereon. A spring is disposed within each of the at least one housing and is configured to abut the at least one valve with a pre-determined force. A second 20 plate is coupled with the first plate and configured to abut the head on which the valve is seated. The second plate has at least one valve tensioner configured thereon, which is configured to receive the spring, thereby facilitating the
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abutment of the spring onto the at least one valve. The first plate and the second plate are adapted for longitudinal reciprocatory motion to facilitate the abutment of the spring with the at least one valve, thereby applying the pre-determined force on the at least one valve, subsequent to which vaccum is created within an engine, on which the head and the at least one valve are mounted, to facilitate 5 vaccum leakage test of the at least one valve.
In an embodiment, the apparatus includes at least one guide rod that extends from the first plate, and a pneumatic cylinder that is displaceably supported on the at least one guide rod, wherein the pneumatic cylinder is coupled with the first plate to facilitate the longitudinal reciprocatory motion of the first plate and the second 10 plate.
In another embodiment, the apparatus further includes a floating adaptor that facilitates coupling between the pneumatic cylinder and the first plate. The floating adaptor is configured to facilitate the adjustment of an amplitude of the longitudinal reciprocatory motion of the first and the second plate. 15
In another embodiment, a locating pin is configured on the first plate to facilitate the alignment of the first plate with respect to the head.
In another embodiment, the apparatus includes a pneumatic adaptor configured on the first plate. The pneumatic adaptor is configured to act as a port for facilitating the extraction of air from the engine for generation of vaccum therewithin, 20 thereby facilitating leakage testing of the valves.
In another embodiment, the apparatus includes a plug configured on the second plate, the plug configured to cover a glow plug bore and an injector bore of the engine.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANYING DRAWING
A valve leakage testing apparatus of the present disclosure will now be described with the help of the non-limiting accompanying drawing, in which:
Fig. 1 illustrates schematic view of the valve leakage testing apparatus for testing inlet/exhaust valves leakage with cylinder head mounted thereon, in accordance 5 with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and
Fig. 2 illustrates a schematic view of a first plate used in the valve leakage testing apparatus of Figure 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Fig. 1 illustrates schematic view of the valve leakage testing apparatus 100 10 (hereinafter also referred to as apparatus 100) for testing inlet/exhaust valves leakage with cylinder head mounted thereon, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 2 illustrates a leak testing adaptor of the valve leakage testing apparatus of Fig. 1. The valve leakage testing apparatus 100 for detecting leakage between at least one valve VI, VE and a head on which the valve 15 VI, VE is seated. The apparatus 100 comprises a first plate 116 which has at least one spring housing 128 configured thereon. A spring 204 is disposed within each of the at least one housing 128 and is configured to abut the at least one valve VI, VE with a pre-determined force. A second plate 114 is coupled with the first plate and is configured to abut the head on which the valve is seated. The second plate 20 114 has at least one valve tensioner configured thereon, which is configured to receive the spring 204, thereby facilitating the abutment of the spring 204 onto the at least one valve VI, VE. The first plate 116 and the second plate 114 are adapted for longitudinal reciprocatory motion to facilitate the abutment of the spring with the at least one valve, thereby applying the pre-determined force on the at least 25
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one valve VI, VE, subsequent to which vaccum is created within an engine, on which the head and the at least one valve are mounted, to facilitate vaccum leakage test of the at least one valve.
The apparatus 100 includes at least one guide rod 106 that extends from the first plate 116, and a pneumatic cylinder 102 that is displaceably supported on the at 5 least one guide rod 106, wherein the pneumatic cylinder 102 is coupled with the first plate 116 to facilitate the longitudinal reciprocatory motion of the first plate 116 and the second plate 114.
The apparatus further includes a floating adaptor 110 that facilitates coupling between the pneumatic cylinder 102 and the first plate 116. The floating adaptor is 10 configured to facilitate the adjustment of an amplitude of the longitudinal reciprocatory motion of the first and the second plate 116, 114.
In an embodiment, a locating pin 130 is configured on the first plate to facilitate the alignment of the first plate 116 with respect to the head.
The apparatus further includes a pneumatic adaptor 112 configured on the first 15 plate 116. The pneumatic adaptor 112 is configured to act as a port for facilitating the extraction of air from the engine for generation of vaccum therewithin, thereby facilitating leakage testing of the valves.
The apparatus further includes a plug 210 configured on the second plate 114, which are configured to cover an glow plug bore and an injector bore of the 20 engine. In an embodiment, the engine is a compression ignition engine.
More specifically, the apparatus includes the first plate 116 (also referred to as top plate 116), and the second plate 114 (also referred to as leakage testing adaptor 114) mounted on the top plate 116, a base frame 122, a slider 120 fixed on the
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base frame 122, and a cylinder mounting plate 124. The cylinder 102 to be tested, which in an embodiment is a double acting cylinder, is mounted on the cylinder mounting plate 124. The cylinder mounting plate 124 helps the apparatus 100 to move to and fro during leakage testing. For this purpose, the floating adapter 110 is provided which helps adjust the to and fro movement of the apparatus 100. 5 During leakage testing, a cylinder head 118 mounted on the cylinder mounting plate 124 slides on the slider 120.
Furthermore, in an embodiment, the leakage testing adaptor 114 comprises the pneumatic adaptor 112, the spring housing 128, the compression spring 204, the metallic valve tensioner 206, and the rigging plug 210. Further, two guide rods 10 106 with positive end stoppers 104 on top of the guide rods 106 are provided to guide the double acting cylinder 102. The locating pin 130 is provided to locate the cylinder head 118 to align a cylinder valve pair with the respective leakage testing adaptor 114. Further, a cylinder head locating pin 132 is provided to help align the cylinder head 118 to its appropriate position. 15
With regard to Figure 2, the metallic valve tensioner 206 of the leakage testing adaptor 114 presses inlet and exhaust valves VI and VE simultaneously while checking the leakage. The metallic valve tensioner 206 gives the same force on the valves VI and VE as that of the original operating conditions while the engine is running. The compression spring 204 is also designed to work as per the 20 original operating conditions. The spring housing 128 keeps the compression spring 204 in its position and allows the compression spring 204 to compress and expand. Further, the rigging plugs 210 are provided to plug a heater glow plug bore A and an injector bore B to avoid any leakage from the bores. Furthermore, the pneumatic adaptor 112 is provided for suction of air and generation of vacuum 25 to identify leakage in a cylinder head valve. In addition, an O-ring 212 seals the
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cylinder valve pair. The entire valve leakage testing apparatus 100 is so robust that it can be used for single as well as multi cylinder engine by increasing or decreasing the leakage testing adaptor units.
TECHNICAL ADVANCES
The present disclosure described herein above has several technical advantages 5 including, but not limited to, the realization of a valve testing apparatus:
? for the testing of the cylinder heads on assembled engines or on a test bench; and
? that is efficient and involves less expensive components;
The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof 10 are explained with reference to the non-limiting embodiments in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of 15 skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific 20 embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the
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purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.
Throughout this specification the word “comprise”, or variations such as 5 “comprises” or “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.
The use of the expression “at least” or “at least one” suggests the use of one or 10 more elements or ingredients or quantities, as the use may be in the embodiment of the disclosure to achieve one or more of the desired objects or results.
Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like that has been included in this specification is solely for the purpose of providing a context for the disclosure. It is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these 15 matters form a part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the disclosure as it existed anywhere before the priority date of this application.
The numerical values mentioned for the various physical parameters, dimensions or quantities are only approximations and it is envisaged that the values 20 higher/lower than the numerical values assigned to the parameters, dimensions or quantities fall within the scope of the disclosure, unless there is a statement in the specification specific to the contrary.
While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the components and component parts of the preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that many 25
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embodiments can be made and that many changes can be made in the preferred embodiments without departing from the principles of the disclosure. These and other changes in the preferred embodiment as well as other embodiments of the disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein, whereby it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to 5 be interpreted merely as illustrative of the disclosure and not as a limitation. ,CLAIMS:A valve leakage testing apparatus for detecting leakage between at least one valve and a head on which said valve is seated, said apparatus comprising:
a first plate having:
at least one spring housing configured thereon; 5
a spring disposed within said at least one housing, said spring configured to abut said at least one valve with a pre-determined force;
a second plate coupled with said first plate and configured to abut said head, said second plate having at least one valve tensioner configured thereon, said valve tensioner configured to receive said spring, thereby 10 facilitating abutment of said spring onto said at least one valve;
said first plate and said second plate are adapted for longitudinal reciprocatory motion to facilitate the abutment of said spring with said at least one valve, thereby applying said pre-determined force on said at least one valve, subsequent to which vaccum is created within an engine, on which said 15 head and said at least one valve are mounted, to facilitate vaccum leakage test of said at least one valve.
2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, which includes:
at least one guide rod extending from said first plate; and
a pneumatic cylinder displaceably supported on said at least one guide rod, 20 wherein said pneumatic cylinder is coupled with said first plate to facilitate said longitudinal reciprocatory motion of said first plate and said second plate.
3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, which includes a floating adaptor that facilitates coupling between said pneumatic cylinder and said first plate, said floating adaptor configured to facilitate adjustment of an amplitude of said 25 longitudinal reciprocatory motion.
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4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, which includes a locating pin configured on said first plate to facilitate alignment of said first plate with respect to said head.
5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, which includes a pneumatic adaptor configured on said first plate, said pneumatic adaptor configured to act as a 5 port for facilitating extraction of air from said engine for generation of vaccum therewithin, thereby facilitating leakage testing of said valves.
6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the number of at least one guide rod ranges from two to four.
7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, which includes a plug configured on said 10 second plate, said plug configured to cover a glow plug bore and an injector bore of said engine.