Leak detection device and leak detection method

Abstract

The invention relates to a leak detection apparatus and a leak detection method. Disclosed is a leakage detection device for performing leakage detection on a machine to be detected by using gas as a medium, the leakage detection device comprising: a gas storage tank for storing gas; the vacuum pump is used for vacuumizing; the plurality of branches are coupled to the gas storage tank and can convey gas from the gas storage tank to various types of to-be-detected machines for leakage detection, and one type of to-be-detected machine can be coupled to one corresponding branch; the branch valves are coupled to the ends, away from the gas storage tank, of the corresponding branches respectively; and the plurality of vacuum valves are respectively coupled at the positions, farther away from the air storage tank than the corresponding branch valves, of the corresponding branches, so that the vacuum pump is coupled to each branch through each vacuum valve.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the production of machines, and more particularly to a leakage detection device and a corresponding leakage detection method for performing leakage detection on a machine using gas as a medium. Background Art

[0002] During the production process of the machine, gas can be used as a medium to detect the machine for leakage. The leakage detection device may include a gas storage tank and multiple gas supply branches, so that the machine to be tested can be coupled to the corresponding gas supply branches, so that gas is transported from the gas storage tank to the machine to be tested via the gas supply branches for leakage detection. After the leakage detection is completed, the gas in each gas supply branch can be discharged by a vacuum pump. Summary of the invention

[0003] One of the purposes of the present disclosure is to provide an improved leakage detection device and leakage detection method.

[0004] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a leakage detection device for performing leakage detection on a machine to be tested using gas as a medium, the leakage detection device comprising: a gas storage tank for storing gas; a vacuum pump for evacuating; a plurality of branches coupled to the gas storage tank, capable of transporting gas from the gas storage tank to a plurality of types of machines to be tested for leakage detection, wherein one type of machine to be tested can be coupled to a corresponding branch; a plurality of branch valves, respectively coupled to an end of the corresponding branch away from the gas storage tank; a plurality of vacuum valves, respectively coupled to a location of the corresponding branch further away from the gas storage tank than the corresponding branch valve, so that the vacuum pump is coupled to each branch via each vacuum valve.

[0005] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a leakage detection method for performing leakage detection on a machine to be tested using gas as a medium, the method comprising: using the leakage detection device as described above, coupling the machine to be tested to the corresponding branch; closing all branch valves and vacuum valves; opening the branch valve on the branch so that gas is transported from the gas tank to the machine to be tested through the branch; performing leakage detection on the machine to be tested; closing the branch valve on the branch and opening the vacuum valve on the branch so that a vacuum pump can extract gas in the branch; and operating the vacuum pump to draw a vacuum.

[0006] Other characteristic features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] The included drawings are for illustrative purposes and are only used to provide examples of possible structures and arrangements of the inventive apparatus disclosed herein and methods of applying the same to computing devices. These drawings in no way limit any changes in form and detail that may be made to the embodiments by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the embodiments. The embodiments will be more easily understood through the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals represent similar structural elements.

[0008] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a leak detection device is shown.

[0009] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a leakage detection device according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0010] Figure 3 A flow chart of a leakage detection method according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0011] Note that in the embodiments described below, the same reference numerals are sometimes used in common between different drawings to represent the same parts or parts with the same functions, and their repeated descriptions are omitted. In this specification, similar reference numerals and letters are used to represent similar items, so once an item is defined in one drawing, it does not need to be further discussed in subsequent drawings.

[0012] For ease of understanding, the positions, sizes, and ranges of various structures shown in the drawings and the like sometimes do not represent actual positions, sizes, and ranges, etc. Therefore, the disclosed invention is not limited to the positions, sizes, and ranges, etc. disclosed in the drawings and the like. In addition, the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, and some features may be exaggerated to show details of specific components. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0013] Various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the relative arrangement of components and steps, numerical expressions and numerical values ​​set forth in these embodiments do not limit the scope of the present disclosure unless otherwise specifically stated.

[0014] The following description of at least one exemplary embodiment is merely illustrative in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure and its application or use. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that they are merely illustrative of exemplary ways that may be used to implement the present invention, rather than an exhaustive approach.

[0015] Technologies, methods, and apparatus known to ordinary technicians in the relevant field may not be discussed in detail, but where appropriate, such technologies, methods, and apparatus should be considered part of the authorization specification.

[0016] Figure 1A schematic diagram of a leakage detection device 100 is shown.

[0017] The leakage detection device 100 includes: a gas tank 110 for storing gas; a vacuum pump 120 for vacuuming; a plurality of branches 130 coupled to the gas tank 110, capable of transporting gas from the gas tank 110 to various types of machines to be tested 101 for leak detection, wherein one type of machine to be tested 101 can be coupled to a corresponding branch 131; a plurality of branch valves 140, respectively coupled to one end of the corresponding branch 130 away from the gas tank 110; a vacuum valve 150, coupling the vacuum pump 120 between the gas tank 110 and the plurality of branches 130; and a main valve 160 coupled to the gas tank 110, so that the plurality of branches 130 are coupled to the gas tank 110 via the main valve 160.

[0018] exist Figure 1 In the example shown, the plurality of branches 130 includes branches 131 , 132 , and 133 , and the plurality of branch valves 140 includes branch valves 141 , 142 , and 143 . Exemplarily, the machine under test 101 is coupled to the branch 131 .

[0019] During the leak detection process, after the machine 101 to be tested is coupled to the branch 131, the main valve 160 is opened, and all the branch valves 140 and the vacuum valve 120 are closed. After that, the branch valve 141 on the branch 131 is opened, so that the gas is transported from the gas tank 110 to the machine 101 to be tested through the branch 131, so as to perform a leak detection on the machine to be tested. At this time, the branch valves 142 and 143 remain closed, but the gas is also supplied to the branches 132 and 133.

[0020] After the leak detection is completed, the branch valve 141 on the branch 131 is closed, and the vacuum valve 150 is opened. Then the vacuum pump 120 is operated to pump out the gas in the plurality of branches 130. At this time, the gas in the branches 132 and 133 is also pumped out.

[0021] It can be seen that when the gas is pumped away, the gas filled in the branches 131, 132, 133 is wasted because the gas is not used. In some applications, the branches 131, 132, 133 may be long, so the amount of gas filled in the branches 131, 132, 133 is large, which leads to a large amount of gas being wasted.

[0022] In the current leak detection technology, although the machine to be tested is only coupled to a corresponding gas supply branch, during the leak detection process, all gas supply branches connected to the gas storage tank are supplied and filled with gas. Moreover, after the leak detection is completed, it is necessary not only to discharge the gas filled in the corresponding gas supply branch coupled to the machine to be tested, but also to discharge the gas filled in other branches, although these gases are not used. This causes great waste.

[0023] Figure 2 FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a leakage detection device 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] The leakage detection device 200 is used to perform leakage detection on a machine to be tested 201 using gas as a medium, and may include: a gas tank 210 for storing gas; a vacuum pump 220 for vacuuming; a plurality of branches 230 coupled to the gas tank 210, capable of transporting gas from the gas tank 210 to various types of machines to be tested 201 for leakage detection, wherein one type of machine to be tested 201 can be coupled to a corresponding branch 231; a plurality of branch valves 240, respectively coupled to one end of the corresponding branch 230 away from the gas tank 210; a plurality of vacuum valves 250, respectively coupled to a location of the corresponding branch 230 further away from the gas tank 210 than the corresponding branch valve 240, so that the vacuum pump 220 is coupled to each branch 230 via each vacuum valve 250.

[0025] exist Figure 2 In the example shown, the plurality of branches 230 include branches 231, 232, and 233, and the plurality of branch valves 240 include branch valves 241, 242, and 243. Exemplarily, the machine under test 201 is coupled to the branch 231. In other embodiments, the plurality of branches 230 may include more or fewer branches. In a preferred embodiment, the number of branches 230 may be determined according to the characteristics of the machine under test 201 and the needs of a specific application scenario. For example, the number of branches 230 may be determined according to the number of types of the machine under test 201, so that one type of the machine under test corresponds to a corresponding branch, thereby enabling one type of machine under test to be coupled to a corresponding branch.

[0026] When the leakage detection device 200 is used to perform leakage detection on the machine 201 to be tested, the branch valve 241 on the corresponding branch 231 can be opened, so that the gas is transported from the gas storage tank 210 to the machine 201 to be tested through the corresponding branch 231. After the leakage detection is completed, the branch valve 241 on the corresponding branch 231 can be closed, and the vacuum valve 251 on the corresponding branch 231 can be opened, so that the vacuum pump 220 can extract the gas in the branch 231.

[0027] At this time, the branch valve 241 coupled to the end of the branch 231 away from the gas tank 210 (i.e., close to the machine to be tested 201) is closed. Therefore, in the branch 231, only a small amount of gas on the side of the branch valve 241 close to the machine to be tested 201 will be sucked away by the vacuum pump 220 and wasted, while a large amount of gas on the side of the branch valve 241 close to the gas tank 210 is retained for subsequent use. In this way, there is no need to introduce too many additional components, and the waste of gas is effectively reduced on the basis of extremely low additional component costs. This realizes a more cost-effective leak detection device, which significantly saves the gas consumed in the leak detection process.

[0028] Preferably, the branch valve 240 is coupled to be as far away from the gas tank 210 as possible, that is, as close to the machine 201 to be tested as possible.

[0029] In a preferred embodiment, the leakage detection device 200 may further include a main valve 260 coupled to the gas tank 210, so that the plurality of branches 230 are coupled to the gas tank 210 via the main valve 260. The main valve 260 is provided at the gas tank 210 to facilitate the inspection and replacement of each branch 230 of the leakage detection device 200.

[0030] In a preferred embodiment, the leakage detection device 200 may further include an identification device 270 for determining the type of the machine to be tested 201. The identification device 270 may determine the type of the machine to be tested 201 by various methods, for example, by reading received information, by reading previously stored information, by analyzing the characteristics of the machine to be tested, by reading a label on the machine to be tested, etc. In a preferred embodiment, the identification device 270 may determine the type of the machine to be tested 201 by reading order information related to the machine to be tested 201.

[0031] In a further preferred embodiment, after the identification device 270 determines the type of the machine 201 under test, the leakage detection device 200 may automatically couple the machine 201 under test to the corresponding branch 231 according to the determined type of the machine 201 under test.

[0032] In some embodiments, the type of the machine under test 201 may be determined by an operator, and the operator may manually couple the machine under test 201 to a corresponding branch 231 according to the determined type of the machine under test 201 .

[0033] In a preferred embodiment, the gas may be helium. In other embodiments, the gas may be other gases suitable as a medium for leak detection, such as other inert gases. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the gas used as a medium for leak detection may be appropriately selected according to the specific application scenario.

[0034] In some embodiments, the machine to be tested 201 may be an engine (eg, an engine of a car). The leakage detection device 200 may be used to perform leakage detection on the engine.

[0035] Figure 3 A flow chart of a leakage detection method 300 according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0036] Method 300 starts at step 301 and proceeds to optional step 302 .

[0037] In step 302, the type of the machine 201 to be tested is determined. In a preferred embodiment, the type of the machine 201 to be tested can be determined by the identification device 270. In a preferred embodiment, the identification device 270 can determine the type of the machine 201 to be tested by reading the received information and / or the stored information. For example, the identification device 270 can determine the type of the machine 201 to be tested by reading the order information related to the machine 201 to be tested. In addition, the identification device 270 can also determine the type of the machine 201 to be tested by analyzing the characteristics of the machine to be tested, reading the label on the machine to be tested, etc.

[0038] Furthermore, in other embodiments, the type of the machine 201 to be tested may be determined by an operator.

[0039] Afterwards, in step 304, the machine 201 to be tested may be coupled to the corresponding branch 231 according to the type of the machine 201 to be tested. In a preferred embodiment, the machine 201 to be tested may be automatically coupled to the corresponding branch 231 in response to the identification device 270 determining the type of the machine 201 to be tested. In other embodiments, the machine 201 to be tested may be manually coupled to the corresponding branch 231 by an operator according to the type of the machine 201 to be tested.

[0040] Then, in step 306, the main valve 260 is opened (when the leakage detection device 200 includes the main valve 260), and all the branch valves 240 and the vacuum valve 250 are closed. Then, in step 308, the branch valve 241 on the corresponding branch 231 is opened, so that the gas is transported from the gas storage tank 210 to the machine 201 to be tested through the corresponding branch 231.

[0041] Afterwards, in step 310, a leakage test is performed on the machine to be tested 201. In a preferred embodiment, the leakage test can be appropriately performed on the machine to be tested 201 according to the characteristics of the machine to be tested 201 and the needs of a specific application scenario.

[0042] After the leakage detection is completed, in step 312 , the branch valve 241 on the corresponding branch 231 is closed, and the vacuum valve 251 on the corresponding branch 231 is opened, so that the vacuum pump 220 can pump away the gas in the branch 231 .

[0043] At this time, the branch valve 241 coupled to the end of the branch 231 away from the gas tank 210 (i.e., close to the machine 201 to be tested) is closed. Therefore, in the branch 231, only a small amount of gas on the side of the branch valve 241 close to the machine 201 to be tested will be sucked away by the vacuum pump 220 and wasted, while a large amount of gas on the side of the branch valve 241 close to the gas tank 210 is retained for subsequent use. In this way, there is no need to introduce too many additional components, and the waste of gas is effectively reduced on the basis of extremely low additional component costs. This realizes a more cost-effective leak detection method, which significantly saves the gas consumed in the leak detection process.

[0044] In a preferred embodiment, in step 312, when all branch valves 241, 242, 243 are closed, the vacuum valves 251, 252, 253 on all branches 231, 232, 233 can be opened so that the vacuum pump 220 can remove possible waste gas in all branches 231, 232, 233. These waste gases may be caused by factors such as undesirable sealing. At this time, similarly, the branch valves 242, 243 coupled to the ends of the branches 232, 233 away from the gas tank 210 (i.e., close to the machine to be tested 201) remain closed. Therefore, in the branches 232, 233, a large amount of gas on the side of the branch valves 242, 243 close to the gas tank 210 will not be removed by the vacuum pump 220 and wasted, and only a very small amount of waste gas that may exist on the side of the branch valves 242, 243 close to the machine to be tested 201 will be removed by the vacuum pump 220.

[0045] This ensures that possible waste gas in other branches 232, 233 is extracted, thereby effectively preventing these possible waste gas from adversely affecting the subsequent leakage detection process. This further improves the accuracy of the leak detection result, thereby ensuring the quality of the machine to be tested.

[0046] Thereafter, in step 314 , the vacuum pump 220 is operated to draw a vacuum.

[0047] In a preferred embodiment, helium can be used as a medium to perform leak detection on the machine to be tested. In other embodiments, other gases suitable as a medium for leak detection can be used, such as compressed air or other inert gases. Those skilled in the art will understand that the gas used as a medium for leak detection can be appropriately selected according to the characteristics of the machine to be tested and the needs of a specific application scenario.

[0048] In some embodiments, the leak detection method 300 may be used to perform leak detection on an engine (eg, an engine of an automobile).

[0049] The above method can be implemented in software, hardware, or a combination of software and hardware.

[0050] In all examples shown and discussed herein, any specific values ​​should be interpreted as merely exemplary and not as limiting. Therefore, other examples of the exemplary embodiments may have different values.

[0051] It should also be understood that when the term “include / comprises” is used in this document, it indicates the presence of the specified features, integers, steps, operations, units and / or components, but does not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, units and / or components and / or their combinations.

[0052] Although some specific embodiments of the present invention have been shown in detail by example, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the above examples are intended to be illustrative only and do not limit the scope of the present invention. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the above embodiments can be modified without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. The scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A leakage detection device for performing leakage detection on a machine to be tested using gas as a medium, the leakage detection device comprising: Gas tanks, used to store gas; Vacuum pump, used for vacuuming; A plurality of branches coupled to the gas storage tank, capable of delivering gas from the gas storage tank to a plurality of types of machines to be tested for leak detection, wherein one type of machine to be tested can be coupled to a corresponding one of the branches; A plurality of branch valves are respectively coupled to an end of the corresponding branch away from the gas storage tank; A plurality of vacuum valves are respectively coupled to corresponding branches at locations farther away from the gas storage tank than corresponding branch valves, so that the vacuum pump is coupled to each branch via each vacuum valve. 2 . The leakage detection device according to claim 1 , further comprising a main valve coupled to the gas storage tank, so that the plurality of branches are coupled to the gas storage tank via the main valve.

3. A leakage detection device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, further comprising an identification device for determining the type of machine to be tested.

4. The leakage detection device according to claim 3, wherein the identification device determines the type of the machine to be detected by reading the received information and / or the stored information.

5. The leak detection device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the gas is helium.

6. A leak detection method for performing leak detection on a machine to be tested using gas as a medium, the method comprising: Adopting the leakage detection device as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, coupling the machine to be tested to the corresponding branch; Close all branch valves and vacuum valves; Open the branch valve on the corresponding branch so that the gas is transported from the gas tank to the machine to be tested through the corresponding branch; Conduct leak detection on the machine under test; Close the branch valve on the corresponding branch and open the vacuum valve on the corresponding branch so that the vacuum pump can extract the gas in the corresponding branch; The vacuum pump operates to draw a vacuum.

7. The leak detection method according to claim 6, further comprising: Before the vacuum pump is operated, with all branch valves closed, open all vacuum valves on all branches so that the vacuum pump can extract possible gas from all branches.

8. The leakage detection method according to claim 6 or 7, wherein in the case where the leakage detection device comprises a main valve, the method further comprises: After coupling the machine to be tested to the branch circuit, the main valve is opened and all branch circuit valves and vacuum valves are closed.

9. The leakage detection method according to claim 6 or 7, wherein in the case where the leakage detection device includes an identification device, coupling the machine to be tested to the corresponding branch further comprises: Determining the type of the machine to be tested by the identification device; According to the determined type of the machine under test, the machine under test is automatically coupled to the corresponding branch.

10. The leak detection method according to claim 6 or 7, wherein helium is used as a medium to perform leak detection on the machine to be tested.

Images