A leak test device and method for a drive axle assembly

Abstract

The application relates to a leakage test device of a drive axle assembly, which comprises a supporting assembly, a torque applying assembly and a force simulating assembly, wherein an output axle shaft in the drive axle assembly is rotationally connected to the supporting assembly around an axis parallel to a second direction and slides relative to the supporting assembly along the second direction, the torque applying assembly is connected to an input shaft in the drive axle assembly to drive the input shaft to rotate around an axis parallel to a first direction, and the force simulating assembly comprises at least one actuator arranged on a drive axle housing, wherein the actuator is configured to provide a preset simulation force along the longitudinal direction of the actuator to the drive axle housing, and the first direction and the second direction are perpendicular to each other. The application simulates the force conditions of the drive axle assembly in use through the multiple actuators in the leakage test device of the drive axle assembly, so as to effectively detect whether there is a leakage phenomenon or a leakage risk between the drive axle housing and the speed reducer or other components in the drive axle assembly.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of drive axle assembly testing technology, and in particular to an oil leakage testing device and method for drive axle assemblies. Background Technology

[0002] The vehicle chassis is equipped with a drive axle assembly. After the drive axle assembly is assembled, its airtightness is usually tested to check whether all functions are normal. If there is oil leakage between the main reducer and the axle housing mating surface in the drive axle assembly, it will accelerate the wear and tear of various components and is not conducive to the long-term safe operation of the vehicle.

[0003] In related technologies, the drive axle assembly is usually immersed in water to observe whether bubbles are generated in order to detect whether the drive axle assembly is leaking oil. However, after using traditional detection methods to detect oil leaks in the drive axle assembly, a large amount of water will remain on the drive axle assembly, making subsequent cleaning operations cumbersome. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Therefore, it is necessary to provide a test device and method for oil leakage of drive axle assembly to address the problem of difficulty in effectively detecting oil leakage in drive axle assembly.

[0005] According to one aspect of this application, an oil leakage testing device for a drive axle assembly is provided. The drive axle assembly includes a drive axle housing, an input shaft rotatably disposed within the drive axle housing about an axis parallel to a first direction, and an output wheel axle rotatably disposed within the drive axle housing about an axial direction parallel to a second direction. The oil leakage testing device for the drive axle assembly includes a support assembly, a torque application assembly, and a force simulation assembly, wherein the output wheel axle is rotatably connected to the support assembly about an axis parallel to the second direction. ， And slide relative to the support assembly in the second direction; the torque application assembly is connected to the input shaft to drive the input shaft to rotate about an axis parallel to the first direction; the force simulation assembly includes at least one actuator disposed on the drive axle housing, wherein the actuator is configured to provide a preset simulated force to the drive axle housing along the longitudinal direction of the actuator, the first direction and the second direction being perpendicular to each other.

[0006] In one embodiment, at least one actuator includes a first linear actuator extending along a first direction and a second linear actuator extending along a third direction, wherein the first direction, the second direction, and the third direction are perpendicular to each other.

[0007] In one embodiment, at least one actuator includes a plurality of first linear actuators spaced apart in the drive axle housing along a second direction, and a plurality of second linear actuators spaced apart in the drive axle housing along the second direction. 。

[0008] In one embodiment, the drive axle assembly further includes a reducer disposed within the drive axle housing, with the end of the input shaft away from the torque application assembly connected to the output wheel shaft via the reducer.

[0009] In one embodiment, the drive axle assembly further includes a joint provided on the drive axle housing, one end of the reducer connected to the input shaft is rotatably connected to the joint, and the oil leakage test device further includes a camera, the focus of which coincides with the joint.

[0010] In one embodiment, the torque application assembly includes a bearing housing, a lever arm shaft, and a third linear actuator. The bearing housing includes a first bearing housing and a second bearing housing disposed opposite to each other along a first direction. The lever arm shaft passes through the first bearing housing and the second bearing housing along the first direction. One end of the lever arm shaft is connected to an input shaft. The third linear actuator is connected to the lever arm shaft and is used to drive the lever arm shaft to rotate about an axis parallel to the first direction.

[0011] In one embodiment, the support assembly includes a bracket and a rotating plate, the rotating plate being rotatably connected to the bracket about an axis in a second direction, and the output wheel axle passing through the rotating plate along the second direction.

[0012] According to another aspect of this application, a method for testing oil leakage of a drive axle assembly is provided. The method for testing the oil leakage of the drive axle assembly using the aforementioned oil leakage testing device includes: applying a preset simulated force to the drive axle housing and running it for a preset time; if oil leakage occurs in the drive axle assembly, the test is stopped, indicating that the drive axle assembly is in a state of unqualified sealing; if no oil traces are observed after the preset time is reached, it indicates that the drive axle assembly is in a state of qualified sealing.

[0013] In one embodiment, a preset simulated force is applied to the drive axle housing for a preset time, specifically including collecting road spectrum data, analyzing and calculating the load at each location based on the road spectrum data, and applying a preset simulated force corresponding to the load to the drive axle housing based on the load.

[0014] In one embodiment, the drive axle assembly further includes a reducer disposed within the drive axle housing, with the end of the input shaft away from the torque application component connected to the output wheel shaft via the reducer; before applying a preset simulated force to the drive axle housing and running for a preset time, the oil leakage test method further includes pre-tightening the bolt fasteners at the connection between the drive axle housing and the reducer according to the minimum pre-tightening force.

[0015] In the technical solution of this application, the stress simulation component in the drive axle assembly oil leakage test device simulates the stress condition of the drive axle assembly during use. The stress simulation component includes multiple actuators that can provide a preset simulated force along the longitudinal direction of the actuators, thereby effectively detecting whether there is oil leakage or oil leakage risk between the drive axle housing and the reducer or other components in the drive axle assembly. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of an oil leakage testing device for a drive axle assembly according to an embodiment of this application.

[0017] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a torque application component according to an embodiment of this application;

[0018] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a support component according to an embodiment of this application;

[0019] Figure 4 This is a flowchart of an oil leakage detection method for a drive axle assembly according to an embodiment of this application.

[0020] Figure label:

[0021] Oil leakage test device 100 for drive axle assembly;

[0022] Support assembly 11; bracket 111; rotating plate 112; transition plate 113; first clamping plate 114; second clamping plate 115;

[0023] Torque application assembly 12; first bearing housing 121; second bearing housing 122; lever arm shaft 123; third linear actuator 124;

[0024] Force simulation component 13; first linear actuator 131; second linear actuator 132;

[0025] Camera 14;

[0026] Drive axle assembly 200; drive axle housing 21; input shaft 22; output wheel shaft 23; reducer 24;

[0027] First direction F1; Second direction F2; Third direction F3;

[0028] Preset time T. Detailed Implementation

[0029] To make the above-mentioned objects, features, and advantages of the present invention more apparent and understandable, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Many specific details are set forth in the following description to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, the present invention can be practiced in many other ways different from those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar modifications without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0030] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the terms "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "length," "width," "thickness," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "clockwise," "counterclockwise," "axial," "radial," and "circumferential" indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this invention.

[0031] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. In the description of this invention, "a plurality of" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0032] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "linking," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components, unless otherwise explicitly limited. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0033] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can mean that the first feature is in direct contact with the second feature, or that the first feature is in indirect contact with the second feature through an intermediate medium. Furthermore, "above," "over," and "on top" of the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0034] It should be noted that when an element is referred to as being "fixed to" or "set on" another element, it can be directly on the other element or there may be an intervening element. When an element is considered to be "connected to" another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or there may be an intervening element. The terms "vertical," "horizontal," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," and similar expressions used herein are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent the only possible implementation.

[0035] Typically, the drive axle assembly 200 may not have any oil leakage in the initial stage after assembly, but oil leakage may appear after a period of use. The usage history has an important influence on this. Traditional detection methods, on the one hand, leave a large amount of residual water on the drive axle assembly 200 after inspection, which is not easy to clean. On the other hand, traditional detection methods can only detect whether there is oil leakage in the initial stage after assembly, but cannot effectively detect potential oil leakage risks.

[0036] Therefore, it is necessary to provide a test device and method for oil leakage of drive axle assembly to address the problem that it is difficult to effectively detect oil leakage or risks in drive axle assembly.

[0037] See Figure 1 , Figure 1 This diagram illustrates the overall structure of an oil leakage testing device 100 for a drive axle assembly 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The drive axle assembly 200 includes a drive axle housing 21, an input shaft 22 rotatably disposed within the drive axle housing 21 about an axis parallel to a first direction F1, and an output wheel axle 23 rotatably disposed within the drive axle housing 21 about an axial direction parallel to a second direction F2. The oil leakage testing device 100 for the drive axle assembly 200 includes a support assembly 11, a torque application assembly 12, and a force simulation assembly 13. The output wheel... Shaft 23 is rotatably connected to support assembly 11 about an axis parallel to the second direction F2 and slides relative to support assembly 11 along the second direction F2. Torque application assembly 12 is connected to input shaft 22 to drive input shaft 22 to rotate about an axis parallel to the first direction F1. Force simulation assembly 13 includes at least one actuator disposed on drive axle housing 21, wherein the actuator is configured to provide a preset simulated force to drive axle housing 21 along the longitudinal direction of the actuator, and the first direction F1 and the second direction F2 are perpendicular to each other.

[0038] It is understood that this application uses the force simulation component 13 in the oil leakage test device 100 of the drive axle assembly 200 to simulate the force condition of the drive axle assembly 200 during use. The force simulation component 13 includes multiple actuators fixed on the gantry and can provide a preset simulated force along the longitudinal direction of the actuator, thereby fully simulating the actual deformation of the drive axle assembly 200 during use, and thus effectively detecting whether there is oil leakage or oil leakage risk between the drive axle housing 21 and the reducer 24 or other components in the drive axle assembly 200.

[0039] For example, in some embodiments, at least one actuator includes a first linear actuator 131 extending along a first direction F1 and a second linear actuator 132 extending along a third direction F3, wherein the first direction F1, the second direction F2, and the third direction F3 are perpendicular to each other. Thus, by using the perpendicularly arranged first linear actuator 131 and second linear actuator 132, it is beneficial to synthesize simulated forces of various directions and magnitudes within the plane, thereby fully simulating the complex alternating forces experienced by the drive axle housing 21 when the vehicle is traveling on different road conditions, and the deformation of the drive axle housing 21 under these alternating forces.

[0040] Furthermore, at least one actuator includes a plurality of first linear actuators 131 spaced apart along the second direction F2 on the drive axle housing 21, and a plurality of second linear actuators 132 spaced apart along the second direction F2 on the drive axle housing 21. That is, this application evenly distributes a plurality of first linear actuators 131 and a plurality of second linear actuators 132 at different positions on the drive axle housing 21 to simulate the force conditions of the drive axle assembly 200 at various positions during actual operation, thereby further improving the simulation effect of the oil leakage detection device 100 of the drive axle assembly 200 on real working conditions.

[0041] In some embodiments, it should be understood that the drive axle assembly 200 also includes a reducer 24 disposed within the drive axle housing 21, with the end of the input shaft 22 away from the torque application assembly 12 connected to the output wheel shaft 23 via the reducer 24. In this way, the rotational motion of the input shaft 22 can be converted into the rotational motion of the output wheel shaft 23 via the reducer 24, and the transmission ratio can be changed by different gear ratios within the gear set of the reducer 24, thereby controlling the rotational speed of the output wheel shaft 23.

[0042] Optionally, the input shaft 22, the output shaft 23, and the reducer 24 can mesh in a helical gear manner, thereby making the transmission process smoother and reducing noise during the oil leakage test.

[0043] In some embodiments, the drive axle assembly 200 further includes a joint on the drive axle housing 21, with one end of the reducer 23 connected to the input shaft 22 rotatably connected to the joint. The oil leakage testing device 100 of the drive axle assembly 200 also includes a camera, the focal point of which coincides with the joint. Thus, during the oil leakage detection experiment, if oil stains appear between the drive axle housing 21 and the reducer 24, the camera can clearly capture the relevant images, facilitating the recording of experimental data by the experimenter.

[0044] As one implementation method, specifically as follows: Figure 2 The schematic diagram of the torque application assembly 12 shown includes a bearing housing, a lever arm shaft 123, and a third linear actuator 124. The bearing housing includes a first bearing housing 121 and a second bearing housing 122 arranged opposite each other along a first direction F1. The lever arm shaft 123 passes through the first bearing housing 121 and the second bearing housing 122 along the first direction F1, and one end of the lever arm shaft 123 is connected to the input shaft 22. The third linear actuator 124 is connected to the lever arm shaft 123 and is used to drive the lever arm shaft 123 to rotate about an axis parallel to the first direction F1. Here, the first bearing housing 121 and the second bearing housing 122 are fixed to the ground, and the lever arm shaft 123 is connected to the third linear actuator 124 through a tooling. The first bearing housing 121 and the second bearing housing 122 can eliminate the additional bending moment caused by the load applied by the third linear actuator 124, thereby realizing the conversion of force load into torque load and driving the lever arm shaft 123 to rotate.

[0045] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a support component 11 according to an embodiment of the present application. The support component 11 includes a bracket 111 and a rotating plate 112. The rotating plate 112 is rotatably connected to the bracket 111 about the axis of the second direction F2, and the output wheel axle 23 passes through the rotating plate 112 along the second direction F2.

[0046] It is worth noting that the experimental testing mainly involves the coupling of torsional and sliding motions at the two hub ends of the output axle 23. Therefore, it is necessary to eliminate motion interference at the hub ends caused by the interaction of multiple motion forms to meet the requirements of the testing experiment. The support assembly 11 provided in this application includes a bracket 111 fixed on the ground and a rotating plate 112 rotatably connected to the bracket 111 about an axis in the second direction F2. The output axle 23 passes through and is fixed in the central hole of the rotating plate 112 along the second direction F2. In this way, on the one hand, the output axle 23 can move relative to the bracket 111 along the second direction F2; on the other hand, the output axle 23 can also rotate with the rotating plate 112 relative to the bracket 111 about an axis in the second direction F2, thereby resolving motion interference at the hub ends and providing technical support for experimental testing.

[0047] Furthermore, the support assembly 11 also includes a transition plate 113 connected to the rotating plate 112 along the second direction F2, and the transition plate 113 is connected to both ends of the output wheel shaft 23. The transition plate 113 has openings of different sizes to adapt to different types of drive axle assemblies 200. The support assembly 11 also includes a first clamping plate 114 and a second clamping plate 115 bolted to the bracket 111 along the second direction F2. The rotating plate 112 is clamped between the first clamping plate 114 and the second clamping plate 115, making the rotational movement of the rotating plate 112 more stable.

[0048] According to another aspect of this application, a method for testing oil leakage in a drive axle assembly 200 is provided. Figure 4 This is a flowchart of an oil leakage detection method for a drive axle assembly according to an embodiment of this application.

[0049] The method for testing the oil leakage test device 100 of the drive axle assembly 200 includes: applying a preset simulated force to the drive axle housing 21 and running for a preset time T; if the drive axle assembly 200 shows signs of oil leakage, the test is stopped, indicating that the drive axle assembly 200 is in a state of unqualified sealing; if no oil traces are observed after the preset time T is reached, it indicates that the drive axle assembly 200 is in a state of qualified sealing.

[0050] It is understood that the present application provides a durability test method that fully considers the impact of usage history on the test results. By applying a preset simulated force to the drive axle housing 21 and running it for a preset time T, the method assesses whether there is oil leakage or risk of oil leakage at the joint surface between the drive axle housing 21 and the reducer 24 under a specified load history.

[0051] It should be noted that the drive axle assembly 200 does not initially exhibit oil leakage at the mating surfaces; rather, leakage often occurs after a period of use, with the time factor playing a significant role. Other methods measure misalignment and clearance under standard installation conditions and compare the results with the properties of the sealant used at the mating surfaces to determine if the deformation meets the sealant's requirements, thus predicting the reliability of the seal. However, this method generally only detects whether the drive axle assembly 200 currently exhibits oil leakage. This application, on the other hand, operates under a preset simulated force for a preset time T. The deformation of the drive axle assembly 200 iterates over time, thus more closely resembling real-world operating conditions and effectively detecting potential oil leakage risks in the drive axle assembly 200.

[0052] Furthermore, a preset simulated force is applied to the drive axle housing 21 for a preset time T. This includes: collecting road spectrum data; analyzing and calculating the load at each location based on the road spectrum data; and applying a preset simulated force corresponding to the load at each location to the drive axle housing 21. It should be noted that this experimental method employs test load spectrum technology. The load spectrum samples are derived from user road spectra to match actual user conditions. After collecting user road spectra using big data, the forces at each location need to be extracted. Based on the load spectrum enhancement principle, the test load spectrum of the drive axle assembly 200 at each location, as well as the phase relationship of each load, are analyzed and calculated. Then, the drive axle assembly 200 is installed on the oil leakage test device 100, a camera is mounted, and the focus is adjusted to the mating surface between the drive axle housing 21 and the reducer 24. Finally, multiple first linear actuators 131 and multiple second linear actuators 132 apply the load at each location, forming various preset simulated forces with variable magnitude and direction.

[0053] In some embodiments, as a preferred implementation, the drive axle assembly 200 further includes a reducer 24 disposed within the drive axle housing 21. The end of the input shaft 22 furthest from the torque application component 12 is connected to the output wheel shaft 23 via the reducer 24. Before applying a preset simulated force to the drive axle housing 21 and running for a preset time T, the oil leakage test method further includes pre-tightening the bolts at the connection between the drive axle housing 21 and the reducer 24 according to the minimum pre-tightening force. It is understood that the mating surface has the greatest risk of oil leakage at this time. If no oil traces are found during the test under this condition, it indicates that the drive axle assembly 200 is well-sealed and the product quality is reliable. Therefore, pre-tightening the connecting bolts according to the minimum pre-tightening force and adding the specified amount of lubricating oil can provide sufficient assurance for the reliability of the test results.

[0054] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any way. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0055] The embodiments described above are merely illustrative of several implementations of the present invention, and while the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention patent. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of the present invention, and these all fall within the protection scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of this invention patent should be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A device for testing oil leakage in a drive axle assembly, characterized in that, The drive axle assembly includes a drive axle housing, an input shaft rotatably disposed within the drive axle housing about an axis parallel to a first direction, and an output wheel axle rotatably disposed within the drive axle housing about an axial direction parallel to a second direction. The oil leakage testing device for the drive axle assembly includes: The output wheel axle is rotatably connected to the support assembly about an axis parallel to the second direction. ， And slide relative to the support component along the second direction; A torque application component is connected to the input shaft to drive the input shaft to rotate about an axis parallel to the first direction; The force simulation component includes at least one actuator disposed on the drive axle housing; The actuator is configured to provide a preset simulated force to the drive axle housing along the longitudinal direction of the actuator; The first direction and the second direction are perpendicular to each other.

2. The oil leakage testing device for the drive axle assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The at least one actuator includes a first linear actuator extending along the first direction and a second linear actuator extending along a third direction; Wherein, the first direction, the second direction, and the third direction are perpendicular to each other.

3. The oil leakage testing device for the drive axle assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that, The at least one actuator includes a plurality of first linear actuators spaced apart in the drive axle housing along the second direction, and a plurality of second linear actuators spaced apart in the drive axle housing along the second direction.

4. The oil leakage testing device for the drive axle assembly according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, The drive axle assembly also includes a reducer disposed within the drive axle housing; The end of the input shaft away from the torque application component is connected to the output wheel shaft via the reducer.

5. The oil leakage testing device for the drive axle assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that, The drive axle assembly also includes a joint provided on the drive axle housing, and one end of the reducer connected to the input shaft is rotatably connected to the joint. The oil leakage test device for the drive axle assembly also includes a camera, the focus of which coincides with the joint.

6. The oil leakage testing device for the drive axle assembly according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, The torque application component includes: The bearing housing includes a first bearing housing and a second bearing housing disposed opposite to each other along the first direction; A lever arm shaft, passing through the first bearing housing and the second bearing housing along the first direction, with one end of the lever arm shaft connected to the input shaft; and A third linear actuator is connected to the lever arm shaft and is used to drive the lever arm shaft to rotate about an axis parallel to the first direction.

7. The oil leakage testing device for the drive axle assembly according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, The support components include: support; A rotating plate is rotatably connected to the bracket about an axis in the second direction, and the output wheel shaft passes through the rotating plate along the second direction.

8. A method for testing oil leakage in a drive axle assembly, characterized in that, A method for testing the oil leakage of a drive axle assembly according to any one of claims 1-7, wherein the oil leakage testing method comprises: The preset simulated force is applied to the drive axle housing for a preset time; If the drive axle assembly leaks oil, the test shall be stopped, indicating that the drive axle assembly is in a state of unqualified sealing. If no oil stains are observed after the preset time, it indicates that the drive axle assembly is in a properly sealed state.

9. The method for testing oil leakage in a drive axle assembly according to claim 8, characterized in that, The process of applying the preset simulated force to the drive axle housing and running for a preset time specifically includes: Collect road spectrum data, analyze and calculate the load at each location based on the road spectrum data; According to the load, a preset simulated force corresponding to the load is applied to the drive axle housing.

10. The method for testing oil leakage in a drive axle assembly according to claim 8, characterized in that, The drive axle assembly also includes a reducer disposed within the drive axle housing, and the end of the input shaft away from the torque application assembly is connected to the output wheel shaft via the reducer; Before applying the preset simulated force to the drive axle housing and running for a preset time, the oil leakage test method further includes: The bolts at the connection between the drive axle housing and the reducer are pre-tightened to the minimum pre-tightening force.

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