A detection device for a valve core assembly and a method of use

Abstract

This invention relates to a testing device and method for valve core assemblies. The testing device includes: a support base with a testing cavity formed inside for accommodating the valve core assembly. An air inlet is provided on the side wall of the testing cavity, communicating with the testing cavity to introduce gas into it; a limiting component disposed at the lower part of the support base for limiting the valve core assembly; and a pressing drive component movably disposed on the support base, with its driving end extending into the testing cavity to drive the valve core assembly. Air is introduced into the testing cavity through the side wall air inlet, effectively removing impurities from the surface of the valve core assembly. The rebound of the pressing drive component determines the flexibility of the valve core assembly. By integrating the impurity removal process and the flexibility testing process into a single testing device, testing efficiency is improved and testing costs are reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of testing equipment technology, and specifically to a testing device and method for valve core assemblies. Background Technology

[0002] The automotive air conditioning system is one of the core components ensuring driving and riding comfort. The valve core of the automotive air conditioning pipe, as a key sealing and control element in the system, is equivalent to an automatic check valve. Its main function is to control the inflow and outflow of refrigerant, prevent backflow, and ensure the normal operation and sealing performance of the air conditioning system. Its working condition directly affects the cooling effect, sealing reliability, and service life of the air conditioning system. The valve core is constantly exposed to the complex environment of the car's engine compartment, easily accumulating dust, oil, and other impurities. Furthermore, the precision of the fit between its internal core rod, mounting base, and spring directly determines its rebound performance. If the rebound is inflexible, stuck, or the seal fails, it can lead to refrigerant leakage, insufficient air conditioning cooling, and other malfunctions. In severe cases, all refrigerant may need to be drained and replaced, resulting in resource waste and increased maintenance costs.

[0003] Currently, the production and testing of valve cores in automotive air conditioning pipes requires cleaning the valve cores before testing their rebound performance to ensure product quality. The cleaning process primarily removes impurities from inside the valve core to prevent them from affecting the fit between the valve stem and spring, which could lead to abnormal rebound or poor sealing. Existing cleaning methods often involve manual handheld blowers, which are inconsistent in operation, incomplete in coverage, and prone to leaving blind spots, thus affecting the accuracy of subsequent testing results.

[0004] In the rebound performance testing process, because the valve core is small in size and located in the fixed seat, a rod is needed to apply force to the valve core to test its rebound performance. Due to its small size, it is difficult to align the rod with the valve core, resulting in low testing efficiency.

[0005] Based on the shortcomings of the existing technology, in order to solve the problems of incomplete cleaning of valve cores in automotive air conditioning pipes, inaccurate rebound performance testing, low operating efficiency, and high testing costs, there is an urgent need for a special tool that can integrate valve core air blowing cleaning and rebound performance testing to improve testing efficiency and accuracy, ensure the product quality of valve cores, and guarantee the stable operation of automotive air conditioning systems. Summary of the Invention

[0006] This invention addresses the existing technical problems by providing a testing device and method for valve core assemblies.

[0007] The technical solution of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned technical problems is as follows: A testing device for valve core assemblies, comprising: A support base has a detection cavity inside for accommodating a valve core assembly. An air inlet is provided on the side wall of the detection cavity and communicates with the detection cavity for introducing gas into the detection cavity. A limiting component is disposed at the lower part of the support base and is used to limit the valve core assembly; A press-drive assembly is movably mounted on the support base, and the drive end of the press-drive assembly extends into the detection chamber to drive the valve core assembly to move.

[0008] Based on the above technical solution, the present invention can be further improved as follows: Furthermore, the pressing drive assembly includes a pressing block and a probe rod. The pressing block is slidably disposed within the mounting cavity of the support base. The upper end of the probe rod is connected to the pressing block, and the lower end extends into the detection cavity and is correspondingly disposed with the valve core assembly core rod.

[0009] Furthermore, the pressing drive assembly also includes a pressure cap, which is installed on the upper end of the support base, and the pressing block is slidably inserted into the guide hole of the pressure cap.

[0010] Furthermore, the limiting assembly includes a limiting seat and a spherical limiting member. The limiting seat is disposed on the outside of the support seat, and the spherical limiting member is disposed between the support seat and the limiting seat, for limiting the valve core assembly.

[0011] Furthermore, an elastic reset element is provided between the support base and the limiting base.

[0012] Furthermore, the spherical limiting member is evenly provided in multiple circumferential directions, and the side wall of the detection cavity is provided with a receiving hole adapted to the spherical limiting member. The spherical limiting member protrudes inward from the receiving hole to limit the valve seat of the valve core assembly.

[0013] Furthermore, a gradually expanding accommodating space is formed between the outer wall of the support seat and the inner wall of the limiting seat.

[0014] Furthermore, the limiting seat is provided with a conical cavity, the opening of the conical cavity gradually increases from top to bottom, and the angle α of the conical cavity is 20°-30°.

[0015] Furthermore, a limiting protrusion is provided at the lower end of the conical cavity.

[0016] The beneficial effects of the testing device of this invention are as follows: The testing device for valve core assemblies provided by this invention effectively removes impurities from the surface of the valve core assembly by introducing air into the testing chamber through the side wall air inlet; by utilizing the cooperation of the limiting component and the pressing drive component, automatic limiting and stable pressure testing of the valve core assembly is achieved; the pressing drive component drives the valve core assembly to move, and the rebound of the pressing drive component is used to determine whether there is any jamming in the valve core assembly, thereby judging the flexibility of the valve core assembly; by using a spherical limiting component in conjunction with a gradually expanding accommodating space from top to bottom, it ensures stable limiting of the valve core assembly during the test and facilitates rapid release of the valve core assembly after the test, significantly improving testing efficiency and accuracy. By integrating the impurity removal process and the flexibility testing process into one testing device, testing efficiency is improved and testing costs are reduced.

[0017] The present invention also discloses a method of using the above-described testing device for valve core assemblies, comprising the following steps: Clamping: The valve core assembly is placed into the testing chamber, and the limiting assembly limits the valve core assembly; Cleaning: Apply a downward force to the press drive assembly, which drives the core rod to move downward, opening the valve core assembly. Gas is then introduced into the detection chamber through the air inlet, and the gas blows and cleans the valve core assembly. Test: By pressing or releasing the press drive assembly, the flexibility of the valve core assembly is tested based on the rebound state of the press drive assembly. Unloading: The limit component releases its limit on the valve core assembly, and the valve core assembly is removed.

[0018] The beneficial effects of the method of this invention are as follows: Through four consecutive steps—clamping, cleaning, testing, and unloading—the entire process of valve core assembly, from clamping and fixing to impurity cleaning and flexibility testing, is fully automated, effectively reducing manual intervention. In the clamping stage, a limiting component precisely limits the valve core assembly, ensuring its stability and preventing displacement during testing. In the cleaning stage, the valve core is opened by a pressing drive component, and the gas introduced through the intake port thoroughly blows through the internal channels and surface of the valve core, effectively removing residual impurities and avoiding the randomness and blind spots of manual cleaning. In the testing stage, the pressing and releasing of the pressing drive component allows for direct observation of its rebound speed and smoothness, accurately judging the flexibility of the valve core assembly's core rod and return spring, solving the problems of difficult alignment and low efficiency in traditional testing. In the unloading stage, the limiting component quickly releases the constraint on the valve core assembly, enabling convenient removal and placement. The entire process is simple to operate and the steps are clear, significantly improving testing efficiency and accuracy while reducing the intensity of manual operation. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the detection device of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the detection device of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the support base of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the support base of the present invention.

[0020] The reference numerals in the attached drawings are as follows: 10, support base; 11, mounting cavity; 12, detection cavity; 13, air inlet; 14, receiving hole; 15, threaded hole; 20, probe rod; 30, pressure cap; 40, pressing block; 50, limit seat; 51, limit protrusion; 60, elastic reset element; 70, spherical limit element; 80, valve core assembly; 81, valve seat; 82, core rod; 83, return spring. Detailed Implementation

[0021] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the present invention, the technical solutions of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort should fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0022] It should be noted that the terms "first," "second," etc., in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of this invention are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence. The terms "vertical," "upper," "lower," "horizontal," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the 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, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of the invention.

[0023] like Figures 1 to 4 As shown, this invention discloses a testing device for valve core assemblies, including a support base 10, a limiting component, and a pressing drive component. The support base 10 has a testing cavity 12 formed inside to accommodate a valve core assembly 80. An air inlet 13 is provided on the side wall of the testing cavity 12, and the air inlet 13 communicates with the testing cavity 12. The air inlet 13 is located above the valve core assembly 80. An external air source introduces compressed gas into the testing cavity 12 through the air inlet 13. The airflow effectively removes dust, oil, and other impurities adhering to the surface and interior of the valve core assembly 80, ensuring the accuracy of subsequent testing data. The limiting component is located at the lower part of the support base 10 and is mainly used to accurately position and limit the valve core assembly 80 placed in the test chamber 12 to prevent it from tilting during the test. The pressing drive assembly is movably mounted on the support base 10. The driving end of the pressing drive assembly can extend into the detection chamber 12 to drive the valve core assembly 80. Specifically, the driving end of the pressing drive assembly directly acts on the core rod 82 of the valve core assembly 80. When the pressing drive assembly is working, it applies axial pressing force to the core rod 82, forcing the core rod 82 to move downward and compress the return spring 83 of the valve core assembly 80. This opens the gap between the lower end of the valve core assembly 80 (i.e., the core rod 82) and the valve seat 81 of the valve core assembly 80, allowing airflow to blow away impurities between the core rod 82 and the valve seat 81, ensuring that the core rod 82 can return to its normal position.

[0024] The pressing drive assembly includes a pressing block 40 and a probe 20. The upper end of the support base 10 has a mounting cavity 11, within which the pressing block 40 is slidably inserted. The upper end of the probe 20 is connected to the pressing block 40 (either by threaded connection, interference fit, or integral molding), while the lower end of the probe 20 extends into the detection cavity 12, its end fitting with the top of the core rod 82 to ensure uniform force application to the core rod 82. The pressing block 40 drives the probe 20 to move smoothly downwards axially, precisely acting on the core rod 82. Through direct contact between the probe 20 and the core rod 82, precise force application to the core rod 82 is achieved, avoiding the difficulties in operation and potential uneven force application caused by directly pressing the core rod 82.

[0025] Furthermore, the cross-sectional area of ​​the probe 20 is larger than that of the core rod 82, making it easier for operators to quickly align the probe 20 with the core rod 82, reducing the difficulty of alignment during manual operation. This is especially beneficial for the compact valve core assembly 80, significantly improving operational convenience and testing efficiency. Simultaneously, the larger cross-sectional area of ​​the probe 20 allows for more stable pressure transmission during force application, reducing the risk of bending or damage to the core rod 82 due to force application point misalignment, thus ensuring the stability of the testing process and the uniformity of force distribution on the core rod 82.

[0026] To further improve the guiding accuracy of the drive, the pressing drive assembly also includes a pressure cap 30. The pressure cap 30 is installed on the upper end of the support base 10, and a guide hole is provided in the center of the pressure cap 30. The pressing block 40 is slidably inserted into the guide hole, and the upper end of the pressing block 40 protrudes from the guide hole to facilitate the application of force to the pressing block 40. Specifically, a threaded hole 15 is provided on the side wall of the support base 10. Screws or bolts pass through the threaded hole 15 to fasten the pressure cap 30 and prevent the pressure cap 30 from falling off. The pressure cap 30 prevents the pressing block 40 and the probe rod 20 from falling out of the support base 10, and the guide hole in the center of the pressure cap 30 guides and limits the movement of the pressing block 40 to prevent it from deviating during the pressing process and to ensure the coaxiality of the probe rod 20 and the core rod 82.

[0027] Furthermore, the lower outer periphery of the pressing block 40 is provided with a radial flange, and the inner wall of the guide hole of the pressure cover 30 is provided with an annular limiting step at the corresponding position. When the pressing block 40 is reset upward, the radial flange abuts against the limiting step, limiting the maximum reset stroke of the pressing block 40 and preventing it from coming out of the pressure cover 30.

[0028] The limiting assembly includes a limiting seat 50 and a spherical limiting member 70. The limiting seat 50 is sleeved on the outside of the support seat 10 at the detection cavity 12. The limiting seat 50 can move up and down along the axial direction of the support seat 10. The spherical limiting member 70 (such as a steel ball) is placed between the support seat 10 and the limiting seat 50 to limit the valve core assembly 80. Specifically, multiple spherical limiting members 70 are provided and evenly arranged around the circumference of the detection cavity 12. The side wall of the support seat 10 is provided with corresponding receiving holes 14 that are adapted to the spherical limiting members 70. The inward part of the spherical limiting member 70 protrudes from the receiving hole 14 to limit the valve seat 81 of the valve core assembly 80. In this embodiment, four spherical limiting members 70 are evenly arranged around the circumference, and four corresponding receiving holes 14 are provided around the side wall of the detection cavity 12. In the limited position, the spherical limiting member 70 protrudes from the inner surface of the receiving hole 14 and directly abuts against the limiting groove on the outer wall of the valve seat 81, thereby limiting the valve seat 81. After the valve core assembly 80 is placed into the detection chamber 12, the part of the spherical limiting member 70 protruding into the detection chamber 12 abuts against the limiting groove of the valve seat 81, thereby limiting and axially positioning the valve core assembly 80, preventing it from rotating or moving axially during the detection process, and ensuring the accuracy of the detection results.

[0029] A gradually expanding accommodating space is formed between the outer wall of the support base 10 and the inner wall of the limiting base 50. When the limiting base 50 moves downward along the axial direction of the support base 10, the inner wall of the limiting base 50 presses against the limiting member 70, causing it to move inward toward the detection cavity 12, thereby clamping and limiting the valve core assembly 80. When the limiting base 50 moves upward, the compressive force on the spherical limiting member 70 decreases, allowing it to move outward toward the detection cavity 12, thus releasing the limiting of the valve core assembly 80 and facilitating its removal. This structural design cleverly utilizes the axial movement of the limiting base 50 to control the radial position of the spherical limiting member 70, achieving rapid clamping and release of the valve core assembly 80, making operation convenient and efficient.

[0030] The limiting seat 50 has a conical cavity with an opening that gradually increases from top to bottom. The conical cavity cooperates with the outer wall of the support seat 10 to form a receiving space. The angle α of the conical cavity is 20°-30°. This angle range allows the inner wall of the conical cavity to exert a moderate radial compressive force on the spherical limiting member 70. When the angle α is too large (e.g., greater than 30°), when the limiting seat 50 moves upward a small distance, the spherical limiting member 70 can only move a limited distance towards the inside of the detection cavity 12, which may result in insufficient clamping force on the valve core assembly 80 and ineffective limiting. Conversely, when the angle α is too small (e.g., less than 20°), the inclination of the inner wall of the conical cavity is too steep. When the limiting seat 50 moves upward, the radial compressive force on the spherical limiting member 70 will increase sharply, which may not only cause over-clamping of the valve core assembly 80 and damage the outer surface of the valve seat 81, but also increase the resistance to the vertical movement of the limiting seat 50, affecting the smoothness of operation. Setting the angle α to 20°-30° ensures that the spherical limiting member 70 provides a stable and reliable clamping force to the valve core assembly 80, while also making the movement of the limiting seat 50 easier and more convenient, ensuring a smooth and efficient clamping and release process. In this embodiment, the angle α of the tapered guide surface is 25°.

[0031] An elastic reset member 60 is provided between the support base 10 and the limiting seat 50. The elastic reset member 60 can be a compression spring sleeved on the outside of the support base 10, with its upper end abutting against the annular shoulder on the outer periphery of the support base 10 and its lower end abutting against the upper end face of the limiting seat 50. When it is necessary to remove the valve core assembly 80, the limiting seat 50 is pulled upward. The limiting seat 50 overcomes the elastic force of the elastic reset member 60 and slides upward along the support base 10. At this time, the spherical limiting member 70 gradually moves outward a certain distance under its own weight. The spherical limiting member 70 separates from the valve core assembly 80, releasing the limiting of the valve core assembly 80. The valve core assembly 80 can then fall freely from the lower opening of the detection chamber 12 or be removed. When another valve core assembly 80 to be tested is installed in the support seat 10, the external force applied to the limiting seat 50 is removed, the elastic reset member 60 releases its elastic potential energy, and pushes the limiting seat 50 downward to reset, so that the limiting seat 50 compresses the spherical limiting member 70 again, causing the spherical limiting member 70 to move inward and abut against the valve seat 81 of the valve core assembly 80, thereby realizing the automatic reset of the limiting seat 50 and the re-limiting of the valve core assembly 80. This ensures the rapid response and stable operation of the limiting component during continuous testing, without the need for manual reset of the limiting seat 50, thus improving the automation level and operating efficiency of the overall testing device.

[0032] The lower end of the tapered guide surface is provided with a limiting protrusion 51, which is arranged circumferentially along the inner wall of the limiting seat 50. The limiting protrusion 51 provides a support for the spherical limiting member 70 at its lowest position, preventing it from falling completely to the bottom of the limiting seat 50 when not in operation, so that the limiting seat 50 can smoothly contact the spherical limiting member 70 and drive it to move during the next inspection.

[0033] The present invention also discloses a method for using a testing device for valve core assemblies, specifically including the following steps: Clamping: The valve core assembly 80 is placed into the detection chamber 12, and the limiting component limits the valve core assembly 80. Specifically, the valve core assembly 80 is first placed into the detection chamber 12 from the lower opening, so that the upper end face of the valve seat 81 contacts the spherical limiting member 70 and pushes the spherical limiting member 70 to move outward temporarily. When the limiting groove on the valve seat 81 reaches the position of the spherical limiting member 70, the spherical limiting member 70 is squeezed inward into the limiting groove of the valve seat 81 under the pressure of the inner wall of the limiting seat 50, thus completing the positioning of the valve core assembly 80. Cleaning: A downward force is applied to the pressing drive assembly, which drives the core rod 82 to move downward, opening the valve core assembly 80. Gas is then introduced into the detection chamber 12 through the air inlet 13, and the gas cleans the valve core assembly 80. Specifically, a downward force is applied to the pressing block 40 of the pressing drive assembly, which drives the probe 20 to move downward. The probe 20 contacts the core rod 82, causing the core rod 82 to compress the return spring 83 and move downward. The lower end of the core rod 82 separates from the valve seat 81, thus opening the valve core assembly 80. Compressed gas is then introduced into the detection chamber 12 through the air inlet 13, and the gas passes through the valve core assembly 80 to clean it. Test: By pressing or releasing the press drive assembly, the flexibility of the valve core assembly 80 is tested based on the rebound state of the press drive assembly. Specifically, after the cleaning operation is completed, the press block 40 of the press drive assembly is released, and the core rod 82 moves upward to reset under the action of the return spring 83. At this time, the press block 40 can be pressed continuously. By judging the rebound freedom of the press block 40, it is determined whether the core rod 82 is stuck, thereby determining the flexibility of the valve core assembly 80. Unloading: The limiting component releases its restriction on the valve core assembly 80, and the valve core assembly 80 is removed; specifically, after the test is completed, the limiting seat 50 is pulled upward, the spherical limiting part 70 separates from the valve seat 81, the valve seat 81 is released, and the valve core assembly 80 is taken out from the lower end of the test chamber 12, completing the test process.

[0034] In summary, the detection device of the present invention has a compact structure and is easy to operate. It achieves rapid and accurate positioning and clamping of the valve core assembly 80 through the limiting component, and, in conjunction with the pressing drive component, applies stable force to the core rod 82. This not only efficiently completes the cleaning of the valve core assembly 80 but also accurately detects the flexibility of the core rod 82, effectively ensuring the detection quality and efficiency of the valve core assembly 80. Its ingenious mechanical structure design, such as the gradually expanding accommodating space, the optimized angle of the conical cavity, and the application of the elastic reset component 60, enables the device to operate stably and reliably in all stages, including clamping, cleaning, testing, and unloading, significantly reducing the intensity of manual operation and improving the automation level and consistency of the detection.

[0035] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A testing device for valve core assemblies, characterized in that, include A support base (10) has a detection cavity (12) inside for accommodating a valve core assembly (80). An air inlet (13) is provided on the side wall of the detection cavity (12). The air inlet (13) communicates with the detection cavity (12) and is used to introduce gas into the detection cavity (12). A limiting component is disposed at the lower part of the support base (10) and is used to limit the valve core assembly (80); The pressing drive assembly is movably disposed on the support base (10), and the driving end of the pressing drive assembly extends into the detection cavity to drive the valve core assembly (80) to move.

2. The testing device for valve core assemblies according to claim 1, characterized in that, The pressing drive assembly includes a pressing block (40) and a probe (20). The pressing block (40) is slidably inserted into the mounting cavity (11) in the support base (10). The upper end of the probe (20) is connected to the pressing block (40), and the lower end extends into the detection cavity (12) and is correspondingly set with the core rod (82) of the valve core assembly (80).

3. The testing device for valve core assemblies according to claim 2, characterized in that, The pressing drive assembly also includes a pressure cap (30), which is installed on the upper end of the support base (10), and the pressing block (40) is slidably inserted into the guide hole of the pressure cap (30).

4. The testing device for valve core assemblies according to claim 1, characterized in that, The limiting component includes a limiting seat (50) and a spherical limiting member (70). The limiting seat (50) is disposed on the outside of the support seat (10), and the spherical limiting member (70) is disposed between the support seat (10) and the limiting seat (50) for limiting the valve core assembly (80).

5. The testing device for valve core assemblies according to claim 4, characterized in that, An elastic reset member (60) is provided between the support base (10) and the limiting base (50).

6. The testing device for valve core assemblies according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that, The spherical limiting member (70) is evenly provided in a plurality of circumferentially, and the detection cavity (12) has a receiving hole (14) adapted to the spherical limiting member (70) on its side wall. The spherical limiting member (70) protrudes inward from the receiving hole (14) to limit the valve seat (81) of the valve core assembly (80).

7. The testing device for valve core assemblies according to claim 6, characterized in that, A gradually expanding accommodating space is formed between the outer wall of the support base (10) and the inner wall of the limiting base (50).

8. The testing device for valve core assembly according to claim 7, characterized in that, The limiting seat (50) is provided with a conical cavity, the opening of the conical cavity gradually increases from top to bottom, and the angle α of the conical cavity is 20°-30°.

9. The testing device for valve core assembly according to claim 7, characterized in that, The lower end of the conical cavity is provided with a limiting protrusion (51).

10. A method of using the testing device for valve core assemblies according to any one of claims 1-9, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: Clamping: Place the valve core assembly (80) into the detection chamber (12), and the limiting assembly limits the valve core assembly (80); Cleaning: Apply a downward force to the press drive assembly, the press drive assembly drives the core rod (82) to move downward, opens the valve core assembly (80), and introduces gas into the detection chamber (12) through the air inlet (13), the gas blows and cleans the valve core assembly (80); Test: By pressing or releasing the press drive assembly, the flexibility of the valve core assembly (80) is tested based on the rebound state of the press drive assembly; Unloading: The limiting component releases the limiting of the valve core assembly (80) and removes the valve core assembly (80).

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