Radiator leak test system and method

Abstract

This invention belongs to the field of sealing test technology and discloses a radiator sealing test system and method. The radiator sealing test system includes a test fixture, a sealing mechanism, an inflation mechanism, and a test mechanism. The sealing mechanism seals the end of the heat pipe or the mounting hole, forming an independent airtight space inside the shell. The inflation mechanism then delivers tracer gas into the shell and maintains positive pressure, which makes the pressure inside the shell greater than the pressure in the sealing cavity, creating a leakage driving force. The larger pressure difference allows the tracer gas at tiny leaks to escape more quickly, improving detection efficiency and quality and shortening the detection cycle. On the other hand, it also reduces the pressure requirements of the external high-pressure gas source, which helps save equipment and energy.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of sealing test technology, and in particular to a radiator sealing performance test system and method. Background Technology

[0002] Electronic devices such as mobile phones generate a lot of heat during operation. To ensure their performance and lifespan, a heat sink is usually required. The heat sink includes a housing and heat pipes. One end of the heat pipe is installed in the mounting hole on the heat sink, and the other end can extend to the heat-generating part (such as the processor). With the help of the heat pipe, heat can be conducted from the heat source to the cooling medium inside the housing for heat dissipation.

[0003] Air tightness is a key quality indicator in the production of radiators. Poor sealing between the casing and heat pipes can allow external moisture and dust to enter the radiator, affecting heat dissipation efficiency and even causing radiator failure. Therefore, air tightness testing is necessary after assembly.

[0004] However, current airtightness testing methods mostly involve conducting separate airtightness tests on the casing and heat pipe. This method cannot reflect the actual effect of filling and sealing the gap between the two after the heat pipe is installed into the casing mounting hole, and it is easy to miss leaks at the assembly interface.

[0005] Therefore, the above problems urgently need to be solved. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The purpose of this invention is to provide a radiator sealing performance testing system and method to improve the measurement quality and efficiency of radiator airtightness testing.

[0007] To achieve this objective, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0008] A method for testing the airtightness of a radiator, the radiator comprising a housing and heat pipes, wherein the heat pipes are disposed within mounting holes in the housing, and the radiator comprises:

[0009] Step S1: Perform an airtightness test on the housing. If the test result is qualified, proceed to step S2.

[0010] Step S2: Install the heat pipe to the housing, so that one end of the heat pipe communicates with the housing through the mounting hole on the housing, and seal the gap between the heat pipe and the mounting hole;

[0011] Step S3: Place the housing with the heat pipe into the sealed cavity, seal the other end of the heat pipe, and connect the inside of the housing to the tracer gas source;

[0012] Step S4: Introduce tracer gas into the interior of the housing and make the pressure inside the housing greater than the pressure inside the sealed cavity;

[0013] Step S5: Detect the content of tracer gas in the sealed cavity. If the content is lower than the preset threshold, the airtightness test result between the shell and the heat pipe is deemed qualified.

[0014] Preferably, prior to step S4, the radiator airtightness testing method further includes:

[0015] Vacuum was evacuated from the sealed cavity and the interior of the housing, respectively.

[0016] Preferably, the radiator airtightness testing method further includes:

[0017] Step S6: Add cooling medium to the shell that has passed the airtightness test between the shell and the heat pipe, and seal the heat pipe;

[0018] Step S7: Place the housing with the sealed heat pipe into the sealed cavity and perform a vacuum treatment on the sealed cavity so that the pressure inside the sealed cavity is less than the internal pressure of the housing;

[0019] Step S8: Detect the content of the cooling medium in the sealed cavity. If the content is lower than the preset threshold, the airtightness test result of the radiator is deemed qualified.

[0020] Preferably, step S1 includes:

[0021] The mounting hole is sealed, and the interior of the housing is connected to the tracer gas source;

[0022] Tracer gas is supplied into the interior of the housing, and the pressure inside the housing is made greater than the pressure inside the sealed cavity;

[0023] The content of tracer gas in the sealed cavity is detected. If the content is lower than a preset threshold, the airtightness test result of the shell is deemed qualified.

[0024] Preferably, the tracer gas is hydrogen or helium.

[0025] A radiator sealing performance testing system, wherein the radiator includes a housing and heat pipes, the heat pipes being disposed within mounting holes in the housing, and includes:

[0026] A test fixture having a sealed cavity for accommodating a radiator;

[0027] A sealing mechanism is used to seal the heat pipe or the mounting hole to keep the interior of the housing sealed.

[0028] An inflation mechanism, communicating with the interior of the housing, is configured to deliver tracer gas into the interior of the housing and to make the pressure inside the housing greater than the pressure inside the sealed cavity;

[0029] The testing mechanism, connected to the sealed cavity, is configured to detect the content of tracer gas in the sealed cavity and determine whether its content exceeds a preset threshold.

[0030] Preferably, the sealing mechanism includes:

[0031] A sealing head, penetrating the test fixture, has a sealed state for sealing the heat pipe or the mounting hole and a separated state away from the heat pipe or the mounting hole;

[0032] A first sealing part is disposed between the sealing head and the test fixture, and is configured to seal the gap between the sealing head and the test fixture;

[0033] A side-push assembly is connected to the sealing head and is configured to push the sealing head to move, thereby switching the sealing head between the separated state and the sealed state.

[0034] Preferably, the sealing head is provided with a gas flow channel opposite to the heat pipe or the mounting hole, and the inflation mechanism communicates with the interior of the housing through the gas flow channel.

[0035] Preferably, a pressure sensor is provided between the side-push assembly and the sealing head, the pressure sensor being communicatively connected to the side-push assembly, and the pressure sensor being configured to detect the pressure applied by the sealing head to the radiator.

[0036] Preferably, the test fixture includes:

[0037] The lower fixture has a receiving groove for accommodating the sealing mechanism;

[0038] The upper fixture is adapted to connect with the lower fixture;

[0039] A lifting assembly is disposed between the upper fixture and the lower fixture, and is used to control the upper fixture and the lower fixture to switch between mold opening and mold closing;

[0040] The pressing component, connected to the upper fixture, has a clearance groove disposed opposite to the body portion of the housing. The pressing component is configured to press against the head of the housing when in the mold-closed state, and the clearance groove avoids the body portion.

[0041] The beneficial effects of this invention are:

[0042] The radiator sealing test system and method proposed in this invention utilizes a sealing mechanism to seal the end of the heat pipe or the mounting hole, creating an independent airtight space inside the casing. Then, a gas-filling mechanism is used to deliver tracer gas into the casing and maintain positive pressure, which makes the pressure inside the casing greater than the pressure in the sealing cavity, creating a leakage driving force. The larger pressure difference allows the tracer gas at tiny leaks to escape more quickly, improving detection efficiency and quality, and shortening the detection cycle. On the other hand, it also reduces the pressure requirements of the external high-pressure gas source, which helps to save equipment and energy. Attached Figure Description

[0043] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the radiator sealing performance testing system of the present invention;

[0044] Figure 2 This is one of the structural schematic diagrams of the test fixture and sealing mechanism in this invention;

[0045] Figure 3 In this invention Figure 2 Enlarged view of a portion of point A in the middle;

[0046] Figure 4 This is one of the structural schematic diagrams of the lower fixture and sealing mechanism in this invention;

[0047] Figure 5 This is the second schematic diagram of the structure of the lower fixture and sealing mechanism in this invention;

[0048] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the upper fixture and the pressing assembly in this invention;

[0049] Figure 7 yes Figure 6 Enlarged view of section B in the middle.

[0050] In the picture:

[0051] 100. Radiator; 110. Housing; 120. Heat pipe;

[0052] 1. Test fixture; 11. Lower fixture; 111. Positioning pin; 112. Receiving groove; 12. Upper fixture; 121. Clearance groove; 13. Lifting assembly; 14. Pressing assembly; 141. Pressing block; 142. Elastic element; 143. Guide rod; 144. First limiting sleeve; 145. Second limiting sleeve;

[0053] 2. Sealing mechanism; 21. Sealing head; 211. Connecting pipe; 212. Second sealing part; 213. Push rod; 214. Gas flow channel; 22. First sealing part; 23. Side push assembly; 231. Connecting seat; 232. First pusher; 233. Second pusher. Detailed Implementation

[0054] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the invention and not intended to limit it. Furthermore, it should be noted that, for ease of description, the accompanying drawings show only the parts relevant to the present invention, and not all of the structures.

[0055] In the description of this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "connected," "linked," and "fixed" 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. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0056] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can include direct contact between the first and second features, or contact between the first and second features through another feature between them. Furthermore, "above," "over," and "on top" of the second feature includes the first feature directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature includes the first feature directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0057] In the description of this embodiment, the terms "upper," "lower," "left," and "right," etc., refer to the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for ease of description and simplification of operation, 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 the present invention. In addition, the terms "first" and "second" are used only for distinction in description and have no special meaning.

[0058] A heatsink consists of a housing and heat pipes. One end of the heat pipe is installed into a mounting hole on the heatsink, while the other end extends to a heat-generating component (such as a processor). The heat pipes transfer heat from the heat source to the cooling medium inside the housing, thus dissipating heat. Air tightness is a key quality indicator in the heatsink manufacturing process. However, current air tightness testing often involves separate tests on the housing and heat pipes. This method fails to reflect the actual sealing effect between the heat pipes and the mounting hole after installation, and may miss leaks at the assembly interface.

[0059] Please see Figures 1 to 7Therefore, this embodiment proposes a method for testing the airtightness of a radiator, which includes the following steps:

[0060] Step S1: Perform an airtightness test on the housing 110. If the test result is qualified, proceed to step S2.

[0061] Step S2: Install the heat pipe 120 to the housing 110, so that one end of the heat pipe 120 is connected to the housing 110 through the mounting hole on the housing 110, and seal the gap between the heat pipe 120 and the mounting hole.

[0062] Step S3: Place the housing 110 with heat pipe 120 into the sealed cavity, seal the other end of heat pipe 120, and connect the inside of housing 110 to the tracer gas source;

[0063] Step S4: The tracer gas is supplied to the interior of the housing 110 and the pressure inside the housing 110 is made greater than the pressure inside the sealing cavity. By making the pressure inside the housing 110 greater than the pressure inside the sealing cavity, as long as there is a small leak in the gap between the heat pipe 120 and the mounting hole, the tracer gas will enter the sealing cavity under the action of the pressure difference.

[0064] Step S5: Detect the content of tracer gas in the sealed cavity. If the content is lower than the preset threshold, the airtightness test result between the shell 110 and the heat pipe 120 is deemed qualified.

[0065] Understandably, when performing an airtightness test on the radiator 100, the housing 110 is first tested separately to confirm that there is no leakage in the housing 110. Then, the heat pipe 120 is installed into the mounting hole and sealed, for example, by filling the space between the heat pipe 120 and the mounting hole with sealant. Subsequently, the gap between the housing 110 and the heat pipe 120 is tested. This setup can eliminate the interference of leakage in the housing 110 on the final result judgment, ensuring that the tracer gas detected in step S5 comes only from the assembly and sealing part between the heat pipe 120 and the mounting hole, making the judgment more accurate and reliable, and improving the test quality and efficiency of the airtightness test of the radiator 100.

[0066] Furthermore, after step S3 and before step S4, the radiator airtightness testing method also includes:

[0067] Vacuum was evacuated from the sealed cavity and the interior of the housing 110.

[0068] It is understandable that by simultaneously evacuating the inside of the sealed cavity and the housing 110, the original air, water vapor and other background gases in the sealed cavity and the housing 110 can be effectively removed, avoiding interference with the detection results caused by the tracer gas components (such as trace tracer gas residues in the environment) that may be contained in these gases. And after evacuation, the inside of the sealed cavity is close to absolute vacuum (the pressure is much lower than the atmospheric pressure). At this time, even if a tracer gas with a lower pressure (such as slightly higher than the atmospheric pressure) is introduced into the housing 110, a driving force far higher than the conventional pressure difference can be formed. On the one hand, the larger pressure difference can make the tracer gas at the tiny leakage point escape more quickly, shortening the detection cycle; on the other hand, it also reduces the pressure requirement for the external high-pressure gas source, which is beneficial to saving equipment and energy consumption.

[0069] The radiator airtightness detection method further includes:

[0070] Step S6: Add a cooling medium to the housing 110 with a qualified airtightness test result between the housing 110 and the heat pipe 120, and block and seal the heat pipe 120; The heat pipe 120 is preferably a copper pipe in the prior art. Both ends of the copper pipe are provided with openings to facilitate the delivery of the cooling medium into the housing 110 through the copper pipe during filling. When sealing, the heat pipe 120 can be bent and the excess part can be cut off to complete the blocking and sealing of the heat pipe 120.

[0071] Step S7: Place the housing 110 with the sealed heat pipe 120 in the sealed cavity, and evacuate the sealed cavity to make the pressure in the sealed cavity less than the internal pressure of the housing 110; With such a setting, under the action of the pressure difference, the cooling medium in the leakage part can be driven to escape faster. Even if the leakage aperture is extremely small (micrometer level), measurable concentrations of cooling medium molecules can be generated with the assistance of vacuum, and the detection sensitivity is much higher than the normal pressure holding method or the bubble method.

[0072] Step S8: Detect the content of the cooling medium in the sealed cavity. If the content is lower than the preset threshold, it is determined that the airtightness test result at the blocking of the heat pipe 120 is qualified, that is, the airtightness test result of the radiator 100 is qualified. It is understandable that after the airtightness of the heat pipe 120 assembly interface is qualified, the cooling medium is further added and the heat pipe 120 is finally sealed, and then the overall cooling medium leakage detection is carried out. In step S8, the content of the cooling medium in the sealed cavity is directly detected instead of introducing an additional tracer gas to simulate the actual working state of the radiator 100, so as to accurately detect the detection quality at the blocking of the heat pipe 120.

[0073] In this embodiment, step S1 includes:

[0074] Seal the mounting holes and connect the inside of the housing 110 to the tracer gas source;

[0075] Tracer gas is supplied into the interior of housing 110, and the pressure inside housing 110 is made greater than the pressure inside the sealed cavity;

[0076] The content of tracer gas in the sealed cavity is detected. If the content is lower than the preset threshold, the airtightness test result of the housing 110 is deemed qualified.

[0077] It is understandable that the detection method in step S1 is the same as the detection methods in steps S3 to S5. Compared with the traditional independent air tightness test, which often uses the air pressure holding method (such as compressed air or water test) or differential pressure method, the use of tracer gas method can further improve the accuracy of the detection results.

[0078] The tracer gas is either hydrogen or helium. Hydrogen and helium have extremely small molecular weights and strong penetrating power, which further improves the accuracy of the measurement results. Furthermore, helium is an inert gas and hardly reacts with any other substances at room temperature; although hydrogen has some reducing properties, it does not corrode or oxidize common metals (copper, aluminum, stainless steel) or sealing materials (rubber, silicone, epoxy resin) in the absence of open flame and oxygen. Therefore, when hydrogen or helium is used for the airtightness testing of radiator 100, it will not cause rust, corrosion cracking, or deterioration of the sealing filling material inside the casing 110. It can be directly discharged or recycled after testing, leaving no residual impact on radiator 100.

[0079] Based on the above, this embodiment also proposes a radiator sealing performance testing system, which includes a test fixture 1, a sealing mechanism 2, an inflation mechanism, and a testing mechanism. The test fixture 1 has a sealing cavity for accommodating the radiator 100; the sealing mechanism 2 is used to seal the heat pipe 120 or the mounting hole so that the interior of the housing 110 is in a sealed state; the inflation mechanism is connected to the interior of the housing 110 and is configured to deliver tracer gas into the interior of the housing 110 and make the pressure inside the housing 110 greater than the pressure inside the sealing cavity; the testing mechanism is connected to the sealing cavity and is configured to detect the content of tracer gas in the sealing cavity and determine whether its content exceeds a preset threshold. The testing mechanism is preferably a helium mass spectrometer leak detector in the prior art.

[0080] It is understandable that by using the sealing mechanism 2 to seal the end of the heat pipe 120 or the mounting hole, an independent airtight space is formed inside the housing 110. Then, by using the gas filling mechanism to deliver tracer gas into the housing 110 and maintain positive pressure, the pressure inside the housing 110 can be greater than the pressure in the sealing cavity, forming a leakage driving force. The larger pressure difference can, on the one hand, allow the tracer gas at the tiny leak to escape more quickly, improving detection efficiency and detection quality, and shortening the detection cycle; on the other hand, it also reduces the pressure requirements of the external high-pressure gas source, which is beneficial for saving equipment and energy consumption.

[0081] It should be noted that the detection method in step S1 is the same as that in steps S3 to S5. Therefore, the same radiator sealing test system can be used to test the housing 110, the assembly surface between the housing 110 and the heat pipe 120, and the sealing point of the heat pipe 120. When testing the housing 110 and the assembly surface between the housing 110 and the heat pipe 120, different sealing mechanisms 2 can be used. As for the sealing point of the heat pipe 120, it has already completely sealed the radiator 100. Therefore, there is no need to set up a sealing mechanism 2. It is sufficient to place the radiator 100 in the sealing cavity. Of course, different radiator sealing test systems can also be used to perform different test steps to improve the test efficiency. This will not be elaborated on here.

[0082] In this embodiment, the sealing mechanism 2 includes a sealing head 21, a first sealing part 22, and a side-push assembly 23. The sealing head 21 penetrates the test fixture 1 and has a sealed state for sealing the heat pipe 120 or the mounting hole and a separated state away from the heat pipe 120 or the mounting hole. The first sealing part 22 is disposed between the sealing head 21 and the test fixture 1 and is configured to seal the gap between the sealing head 21 and the test fixture 1. The side-push assembly 23 is connected to the sealing head 21 and is configured to push the sealing head 21 to move so that the sealing head 21 switches between the separated state and the sealed state. Understandably, after the product to be tested (such as a single housing 110 or a housing 110 with a heat pipe 120) is placed in the sealing cavity, the sealing head 21 is pushed toward the mounting hole or heat pipe 120 by the side push assembly 23 and sealed. During the movement of the sealing head 21, the first sealing part 22 can form a seal between the test fixture 1 and the sealing head 21 to maintain the sealing degree of the sealing cavity. The first sealing part 22 is preferably an O-ring, a lip seal, or a bellows sealing assembly.

[0083] For the housing 110 with heat pipe 120, the sealing head 21 includes a connecting pipe 211, a second sealing part 212, and a push rod 213. The connecting pipe 211 has an insertion hole for the heat pipe 120 and is connected to the side push assembly 23. The second sealing part 212 is annular and is disposed inside the connecting pipe 211. It has an initial state of loose fit with the heat pipe 120 and a tight state. When the second sealing part 212 is in the initial state, the heat pipe 120 can slide into the second sealing part 212. The push rod 213 is connected to the side push assembly 23. The push rod 213 is slidably disposed inside the connecting pipe 211 and is used to push the second sealing part 212 when the heat pipe 120 is inserted into the connecting pipe 211, so that the second sealing part 212 switches from the initial state to the tight state. Understandably, the side-push assembly 23 allows the heat pipe 120 to be inserted into the connecting pipe 211 through the insertion hole. At this time, the second sealing part 212 (preferably a sealing ring) is loosely fitted (i.e., clearance fit) with the heat pipe 120 in its initial state. The inner diameter of the insertion hole in the connecting pipe 211 is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the heat pipe 120. The heat pipe 120 can be easily and smoothly inserted into the second sealing part 212 without scratches or deformation due to friction, effectively protecting the structural integrity and thermal conductivity of the heat pipe 120. Subsequently, the push rod 213 can push the second sealing part 212 to deform, radially gripping the outer wall of the heat pipe 120. This design avoids sliding friction between the second sealing part 212 and the heat pipe 120 during insertion, extending the service life of the second sealing part 212 and ensuring that the sealing force is evenly applied to the circumference of the heat pipe 120 during gripping, thus guaranteeing sealing performance.

[0084] Furthermore, the end of the connecting pipe 211 facing away from the heat sink 100 is provided with a flange, and the first sealing part 22 is embedded in the side of the flange facing the test fixture 1. The flange can provide a hard limit for the movement of the sealing head 21, and when the sealing head 21 reaches the end of its stroke, the first sealing part 22 can be compressed between the test fixture 1 and the flange to ensure the sealing between the connecting pipe 211 and the test fixture 1.

[0085] Correspondingly, the side-push assembly 23 includes a connecting seat 231, a first pusher 232, and a second pusher 233. The connecting seat 231 is connected to the connecting pipe 211; the first pusher 232 is connected to the connecting seat 231 and is used to push the connecting seat 231 to move; the second pusher 233 is disposed on the connecting seat 231 and connected to the push rod 213. It can be understood that the first pusher 232 is connected to the connecting seat 231 and is responsible for pushing the connecting pipe 211 to move towards the radiator 100, that is, pushing the entire sealing head 21 to move towards the radiator 100 to achieve the positioning of the heat pipe 120; the second pusher 233 is disposed on the connecting seat 231 and connected to the push rod 213 and is responsible for driving the push rod 213 to move, thereby pushing the second sealing part 212 to deform and hold the heat pipe 120, forming a seal between the connecting pipe 211 and the push rod 213. Both the first pusher 232 and the second pusher 233 are preferably linear drive structures in the prior art, such as linear cylinders or linear electric cylinders, which realize the precise timing of insertion followed by gripping.

[0086] Furthermore, the outer diameter of the second sealing part 212 is embedded in the inner wall of the connecting pipe 211. This arrangement allows the second sealing part 212 to obtain stable radial and axial constraints inside the connecting pipe 211. When the heat pipe 120 is inserted or removed, even with a certain axial friction force, the second sealing part 212 will not shift, curl, or come out of the connecting pipe 211, ensuring that the second sealing part 212 remains in the preset position after multiple reciprocating actions, significantly improving long-term reliability. Moreover, when the outer diameter of the second sealing part 212 is constrained by the inner wall of the connecting pipe 211, during the movement of the second sealing part 212 pushed by the push rod 213, the second sealing part 212 can only deform in the direction of the inner hole, thereby uniformly gripping the inserted heat pipe 120.

[0087] Furthermore, the sealing head 21 is provided with a gas flow channel 214 opposite to the heat pipe 120 or the mounting hole, and the inflation mechanism communicates with the interior of the housing 110 through the gas flow channel 214. It can be understood that the inflation mechanism delivers tracer gas to the interior of the housing 110 through the gas flow channel 214 inside the sealing head 21, and uses the heat pipe 120 or the mounting hole as the opening for gas to enter the housing 110. This does not change the structural design of the radiator 100 itself, and after the test, no secondary sealing treatment of the housing 110 is required, which helps maintain the original quality of the radiator 100.

[0088] In addition, the radiator sealing test system also includes a vacuum mechanism, which is connected to the interior of the sealing cavity or housing 110 and is used to extract the gas inside.

[0089] For the sealed cavity, the test fixture 1 is provided with a vacuum channel, and the vacuum mechanism is connected to the vacuum channel to facilitate the extraction of gas from the sealed cavity. For the housing 110, the vacuum mechanism is connected to the gas flow channel 214 to facilitate the extraction of gas from the housing 110.

[0090] For the housing 110 without heat pipe 120, the sealing head 21 is preferably made of nitrile rubber and has a gas flow channel 214 inside. Under the action of the side push assembly 23, the sealing head 21 can abut against the mounting hole and the gas flow channel 214 can connect with the mounting hole. This not only allows the vacuuming mechanism to extract the gas in the housing 110, but also allows the inflation mechanism to inflate the housing 110.

[0091] In this embodiment, a pressure sensor is provided between the side-push assembly 23 and the sealing head 21. The pressure sensor is communicatively connected to the side-push assembly 23 and is configured to detect the pressure applied by the sealing head 21 to the heat sink 100. It is understood that the pressure sensor detects the pressure value exerted by the sealing head 21 on the heat sink 100 (heat pipe 120 or the area around the mounting hole) in real time and feeds the signal back to the controller (such as a PLC or proportional valve drive circuit) of the side-push assembly 23. When the detected pressure is lower than the target range, the side-push assembly 23 increases the output thrust; when the pressure exceeds the safety threshold, the side-push assembly 23 automatically reduces the pressure or stops. This configuration can prevent permanent dents or cracks at the edge of the mounting hole of the heat pipe 120 or housing 110 under excessive clamping force, improving detection quality. It also avoids false leaks caused by insufficient sealing due to excessively low pressure, ensuring detection accuracy.

[0092] The housing 110 includes a main body and a head connected to the main body. The head is used to install the heat pipe 120 and has a greater structural strength than the main body. The main body is often a thin plate structure. To ensure that the housing 110 is fixed in the sealing cavity while avoiding damage to the main body, in this embodiment, the test fixture 1 includes a lower fixture 11, an upper fixture 12, a lifting assembly 13, and a pressing assembly 14. The lower fixture 11 has a receiving groove 112 for accommodating the sealing mechanism 2, wherein the side pushing assembly 23 can push the sealing head 21 to slide within the receiving groove 112. The upper fixture 12 is adapted to be connected to the lower fixture 11. The lifting assembly 13 is disposed between the upper fixture 12 and the lower fixture 11 and is used to control the upper fixture 12 and the lower fixture 11 to switch between mold opening and mold closing. The pressing assembly 14 is connected to the upper fixture 12 and has a relief groove 121 disposed opposite to the main body of the housing 110. The pressing assembly 14 is configured to press against the head of the housing 110 when it is in the mold closing state, and the relief groove 121 avoids the main body.

[0093] Understandably, the lifting assembly 13 can drive the upper fixture 12 and the lower fixture 11 to move closer to each other. The lifting assembly 13 is preferably a linear cylinder or ball screw structure as used in the prior art. During the mold closing process, the pressing assembly 14 can press against the head of the housing 110 and cooperate with the lower fixture 11 to fix the radiator 100. At this time, the clearance groove 121 can avoid direct compression of the main body, preventing deformation of the housing 110, crushing of the heat pipe 120, or leakage of the sealant, further improving the inspection quality.

[0094] Furthermore, when in the mold-closed state, the distance between the main body and the bottom of the clearance groove 121 is 0.1 mm to 0.3 mm, preferably 0.2 mm. It is understood that when tracer gas is supplied internally, the main body will expand outward. Under the action of the clearance groove 121, excessive outward expansion can be avoided, further ensuring the test quality of the heat sink 100.

[0095] The pressing assembly 14 includes a pressing block 141 and an elastic element 142. The pressing block 141, with a relief groove 121, can be slidably connected to the upper fixture 12; the elastic element 142 is disposed between the upper fixture 12 and the pressing block 141. It is understood that the radiator 100 housing 110 has thickness or flatness tolerances during manufacturing. If a rigidly connected pressing block 141 is used, the housing 110 may be compressed too tightly and deformed. Under the action of the elastic element 142, which can be a spring, rubber pad, or gas spring, the pressing block 141 first contacts the head of the housing 110 during mold closing, and then the elastic element 142 is compressed, causing the pressing block 141 to undergo adaptive displacement relative to the upper fixture 12. This flexible pressing mechanism can automatically compensate for dimensional fluctuations in the height direction of the housing 110, ensuring that each tested radiator 100 receives appropriate and consistent pressing force.

[0096] Furthermore, during compression, the elastic element 142 converts the excess stroke into elastic potential energy, rather than converting it all into destructive pressure. Even after the upper jig 12 is in place, the pressure block 141 can still retreat a certain distance under the buffer of the elastic element 142, thereby limiting the maximum clamping force within a safe range and effectively protecting the structural integrity of the radiator 100.

[0097] Furthermore, the pressing assembly 14 also includes a guide rod 143, a first limiting sleeve 144, and a second limiting sleeve 145. The guide rod 143 is connected to the upper fixture 12, and the elastic element 142 is sleeved on the guide rod 143 to prevent the elastic element 142 from shifting during compression. The first limiting sleeve 144 is disposed on the upper fixture 12; the second limiting sleeve 145 is disposed on the pressing block 141 and is opposite to the first limiting sleeve 144. When the mold is closed, the first limiting sleeve 144 and the second limiting sleeve 145 abut against each other. It can be understood that the first limiting sleeve 144 and the second limiting sleeve 145 directly abut against each other in the mold-closed state, forming a rigid mechanical limit. When the mold is closed, the pressing block 141 first contacts the head of the housing 110 and compresses the elastic element 142. As the upper fixture 12 continues to descend, the first limiting sleeve 144 and the second limiting sleeve 145 gradually approach each other until they abut against each other. At this point, the elastic element 142 reaches the set maximum compression amount (determined by the initial gap between the two limit sleeves, which is not specifically limited here). The further clamping force of the upper fixture 12 will be directly transmitted by the limit sleeves, and the elastic element 142 will no longer be compressed. This ensures that the compression amount of the elastic element 142 is precisely controlled within the preset range, so that the clamping force will not be insufficient due to insufficient compression, nor will the elastic element 142 be permanently deformed or its elasticity decayed due to excessive compression.

[0098] In this embodiment, the housing 110 is provided with at least two positioning holes; the lower fixture 11 is provided with positioning pins 111 that are adapted to and inserted into the positioning holes. It is understood that the positioning holes are built into the housing 110, requiring no additional openings. The positioning pins 111 ensure that the radiator 100 has a unique and definite placement posture within the sealed cavity. During each test, the relative positions of the radiator 100 housing 110, the heat pipe 120, and the sealing mechanism 2 remain highly consistent, avoiding problems such as inaccurate alignment of the sealing head 21, uneven sealing pressure, or damage to the heat pipe 120 due to manual placement deviations, thereby significantly improving the repeatability and reliability of batch testing.

[0099] Obviously, the above embodiments of the present invention are merely examples for clearly illustrating the present invention, and are not intended to limit the implementation of the present invention. Those skilled in the art will be able to make various obvious changes, readjustments, and substitutions without departing from the scope of protection of the present invention. It is neither necessary nor possible to exhaustively describe all embodiments here. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for testing the airtightness of a radiator, wherein the radiator (100) includes a shell (110) and a heat pipe (120), characterized in that, include: Step S1: Perform an airtightness test on the housing (110). If the test result is qualified, proceed to step S2. Step S2: Install the heat pipe (120) into the housing (110), so that one end of the heat pipe (120) is connected to the housing (110) through the mounting hole on the housing (110), and seal the gap between the heat pipe (120) and the mounting hole; Step S3: Place the housing (110) with the heat pipe (120) into the sealed cavity, seal the other end of the heat pipe (120), and connect the interior of the housing (110) to the tracer gas source; Step S4: Supply tracer gas into the interior of the housing (110) and make the pressure inside the housing (110) greater than the pressure inside the sealed cavity; Step S5: Detect the content of tracer gas in the sealed cavity. If the content is lower than the preset threshold, the airtightness test result between the shell (110) and the heat pipe (120) is deemed qualified.

2. The radiator airtightness testing method according to claim 1, characterized in that, After step S3 and before step S4, the radiator airtightness testing method further includes: Vacuuming is performed on the sealed cavity and the interior of the housing (110).

3. The method for testing the airtightness of a radiator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The method for testing the airtightness of the radiator also includes: Step S6: Add cooling medium to the shell (110) whose airtightness test result between the shell (110) and the heat pipe (120) is qualified, and seal the heat pipe (120); Step S7: Place the heat pipe (120) with the sealing completed together with the housing (110) in the sealed cavity, and perform vacuum treatment on the sealed cavity so that the pressure in the sealed cavity is less than the internal pressure of the housing (110); Step S8: Detect the content of cooling medium in the sealed cavity. If the content is lower than the preset threshold, the airtightness test result of the radiator (100) is deemed qualified.

4. The method for testing the airtightness of a radiator according to claim 1, characterized in that, Step S1 includes: The mounting hole is sealed, and the interior of the housing (110) is connected to the tracer gas source; Tracer gas is supplied into the interior of the housing (110), and the pressure inside the housing (110) is made greater than the pressure inside the sealed cavity; The content of tracer gas in the sealed cavity is detected. If the content is lower than a preset threshold, the airtightness test result of the shell (110) is determined to be qualified.

5. The method for testing the airtightness of a radiator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The tracer gas is hydrogen or helium.

6. A radiator sealing performance testing system, wherein the radiator (100) includes a housing (110) and a heat pipe (120), the heat pipe (120) being disposed within a mounting hole in the housing (110), characterized in that, include: The test fixture (1) has a sealed cavity for accommodating the heat sink (100); A sealing mechanism (2) is used to seal the heat pipe (120) or the mounting hole so that the interior of the housing (110) is sealed. An inflation mechanism, communicating with the interior of the housing (110), is configured to deliver tracer gas into the interior of the housing (110) and to make the pressure inside the housing (110) greater than the pressure inside the sealed cavity; The testing mechanism, connected to the sealed cavity, is configured to detect the content of tracer gas in the sealed cavity and determine whether its content exceeds a preset threshold.

7. The radiator sealing performance testing system according to claim 6, characterized in that, The sealing mechanism (2) includes: The sealing head (21) penetrates the test fixture (1) and has a sealing state for sealing the heat pipe (120) or the mounting hole and a separation state away from the heat pipe (120) or the mounting hole; A first sealing part (22) is disposed between the sealing head (21) and the test fixture (1) and is configured to seal the gap between the sealing head (21) and the test fixture (1); A side-push assembly (23) is connected to the sealing head (21) and is configured to push the sealing head (21) to move so that the sealing head (21) switches between the separated state and the sealed state.

8. The radiator sealing performance testing system according to claim 7, characterized in that, The sealing head (21) is provided with a gas flow channel (214) that is opposite to the heat pipe (120) or the mounting hole, and the inflation mechanism communicates with the interior of the housing (110) through the gas flow channel (214).

9. The radiator sealing performance testing system according to claim 7, characterized in that, A pressure sensor is provided between the side push assembly (23) and the sealing head (21), the pressure sensor is communicatively connected to the side push assembly (23), and the pressure sensor is configured to detect the pressure applied by the sealing head (21) to the heat sink (100).

10. The radiator sealing performance testing system according to claim 6, characterized in that, The test fixture (1) includes: The lower fixture (11) has a receiving groove (112) for accommodating the sealing mechanism (2); The upper fixture (12) is adapted to be connected with the lower fixture (11); A lifting assembly (13) is disposed between the upper fixture (12) and the lower fixture (11) for controlling the upper fixture (12) and the lower fixture (11) to switch between mold opening and mold closing; The pressing component (14), connected to the upper fixture (12), has a relief groove (121) disposed opposite to the body portion of the housing (110). The pressing component (14) is configured to press against the head of the housing (110) when in the mold-closed state, and the relief groove (121) avoids the body portion.

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