A sealing detection device for an electric energy metering box

Abstract

The present application relates to the technical field of sealing detection, in particular to a sealing detection device for an electric energy metering box, which can seal at least one interface part on the housing of the electric energy metering box via a sealing element, one sealing element is connected to the body of the detector through an air pipe, the sealing element is divided into a connecting section, a deformation section and a sealing section, the deformation section has a driving layer and an expansion layer from outside to inside, the driving layer has a nut which is screwed with the threaded section in the expansion layer, there is also a branch spring sheet in the expansion layer, the sealing section has an air bag wrapped with a sealing gasket, the forward rotation of the nut drives the expansion of the branch spring sheet, and at the same time, the air bag is squeezed to realize the expansion of the air passage and the sealing of the interface part; the double sealing at the interface is adjusted manually, so that the sealing effect is improved while the adaptability of the wiring diameter is improved, the influence of the transmission gas on the sealing part is also reduced, and the accuracy of the sealing detection is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of sealing test technology, specifically a sealing test device for an electricity metering box. Background Technology

[0002] As a protective enclosure installed outdoors or in humid environments, the airtightness of the electricity metering box is crucial. To prevent rainwater, moisture, and dust from entering the box, rigorous sealing tests are necessary. If the seal fails, external media can seep in through the gaps, directly disrupting the dry environment inside the box, damaging internal equipment, and creating safety hazards.

[0003] However, when conducting airtightness testing on such enclosures, it is usually necessary to temporarily seal the inlet and outlet interfaces of the enclosure first, then introduce gas into the enclosure and monitor the pressure changes. Existing technologies for airtightness testing and interface sealing of electricity metering boxes have many inconveniences and shortcomings in practical operation. Currently, most mainstream sealing methods employ traditional threaded clamping connectors (commonly known as granite plugs), rubber plugs, or inflatable air bags, followed by measuring the pressure by introducing gas. When using traditional threaded connectors or fixed-size rubber plugs, due to the varying specifications of metering boxes from different manufacturers, the size and shape of their inlet and outlet holes are difficult to standardize. Furthermore, since the diameters of the cables connected to the electricity metering boxes also vary, testing personnel must frequently prepare and change sealing components of different specifications.

[0004] Therefore, when encountering non-standard apertures, fixed-size sealing components often fail to fit properly or exhibit poor sealing interface fit due to size mismatch. Forced installation can also damage the chamber edges, making it impossible to establish an effective test seal boundary. To address these challenges, existing technologies have attempted various solutions, including the use of sealing structures. Mechanical sealing structures form a single-sided seal on one side (usually the outer side) of the chamber. However, this unidirectional force-bearing structure is prone to creating tiny leakage channels during positive or negative pressure tests due to thickness errors in the chamber wall, surface scratches, or unevenness caused by reinforcing ribs. This fails to truly simulate the chamber's protective capabilities under harsh operating conditions, leading to misleading test results and causing the testing device to inaccurately reflect the chamber's inherent protective capabilities, resulting in inaccurate airtightness test data.

[0005] Another common type of inflatable airbag sealing, while solving the orifice adaptability problem to some extent, suffers from poor stability. The surface of the airbag is easily scratched by metal burrs at the orifice, leading to leakage. Furthermore, at high test pressures, the airbag's reliance on friction for fixation is highly unreliable; insufficient friction can cause it to be forced out of the orifice by internal air pressure, creating a "cannonball effect" and posing a serious safety hazard. Additionally, if the outer seal fails due to aging or mechanical impact, the enclosure completely loses its protective capability.

[0006] Therefore, in order to solve the problem that the sealing performance of an energy meter box cannot be adapted to different wiring diameters when it is tested in a recommended sealed environment, resulting in inaccurate testing due to improper sealing, this invention designs a sealing performance testing device for an energy meter box. Summary of the Invention

[0007] This invention provides a sealing performance testing device for an electricity metering box, which solves the problem of inaccurate testing due to improper sealing caused by the inability to adapt to different wiring diameters during electricity metering box sealing performance testing. By manually adjusting the double seal at the interface, combining the outer sealing wrap-around type with the embedded inner seal, the device improves the wiring diameter compatibility and sealing effect, and reduces the impact of transmitted gas on the seal, thereby improving the accuracy of sealing performance testing.

[0008] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution: The present invention provides a sealing performance testing device for an electricity meter box. When the testing instrument body is conventionally assembled to the sealing part of the interface of the electricity meter box shell to be tested, at least one interface of the electricity meter box shell can be sealed through the sealing part. One of the sealing parts is connected to the testing instrument body through an air tube. The sealing part is divided into a connecting section, a deformable section and a sealing section. The deformable section consists of a driving layer and an expansion layer from the outside to the inside. The driving layer has a nut that is threadedly engaged with the threaded section in the expansion layer. The expansion layer also has a branch spring. The sealing section has an air bladder with an outer layer wrapped with a sealing gasket. The nut rotates in the forward direction to drive the branch spring to expand and squeeze the air bladder at the same time to expand the air passage and seal the interface. It should be noted that the branch spring is initially in a contracted state, meaning it is initially squeezing the airway, a principle equivalent to that of existing torsion springs.

[0009] By manually adjusting the double-seal structure at the interface, a combination of external sealing and embedded internal sealing is achieved. This improves adaptability to different wiring diameters, enhances the overall sealing effect, reduces interference from transmitted gas on the sealing area, and ultimately improves the accuracy of sealing performance testing. By dividing the sealing element into a connection section, a deformation section, and a sealing section, the device can be assembled to achieve connection, deformation adjustment, and final sealing step by step. The outer drive layer and inner expansion layer of the deformation section achieve dynamic sealing through threaded engagement, expansion of the branch spring, and compression of the air bladder, reducing the risk of gas leakage. This design is suitable for interfaces of different sizes and will not cause sealing failure due to differences in interface size.

[0010] Preferably, the connecting section is divided into a vent section and a rubber plug. The rubber plug seals the vent section with other seals except those connected to the detector body, allowing gas to flow through the vent section. The rubber plug is used to seal any excess seal interfaces, improving the versatility and sealing integrity of the device.

[0011] Preferably, the drive layer also includes a circular tube and a rubber ring. The circular tube is connected to the nut, and the rubber ring is located on the side of the circular tube away from the nut for external sealing of the interface. The circular tube serves as an extension support for the nut, while the rubber ring provides an initial external seal. The rubber ring can first contact the outside of the interface to form an initial barrier to prevent external dust or moisture from entering, and at the same time, it combines with the internal expansion to achieve a double seal.

[0012] Preferably, the expansion layer also includes a retaining ring and a clamp. The branch spring is divided into a contracting end and a free end. The retaining ring is installed at the contracting end, and the clamp is installed at the free end. The retaining ring drives the branch spring to reset and loosen the trachea to expand the gas tube diameter. The contracting and free states of the spring are controlled by the retaining ring and the clamp. When not in use, the spring resets, loosens the trachea, and expands the tube diameter to facilitate gas flow. At the same time, it is combined with the rotation drive to achieve reversibility.

[0013] As an elastic element, the spring can naturally return to its original position by the action of the retaining ring. However, the clamp restricts the free end from excessive expansion. It is necessary to consider that the spring conforms to the spring mechanics to avoid permanent deformation. Therefore, the degree of deformation of the spring can be judged based on the range of its opening, thereby determining whether the spring is damaged.

[0014] Preferably, the sealing section also includes a second round tube. The airbag is fixedly installed on the outside of the trachea. The second round tube is in contact with the airbag. The airbag can expand evenly when fixed on the outside of the trachea. The second round tube prevents the airbag from deforming excessively. It improves the fit when combined with the embedded seal. At the same time, the contact surface of the second round tube should take into account the pressure distribution to avoid local stress concentration.

[0015] Preferably, the branch spring has a stepped cross-section, and the contact point between the branch spring and the retaining ring has an inclined surface. The stepped cross-section and the inclined surface facilitate force transmission and reset. The stepped design increases strength, the inclined surface reduces friction, improves reset smoothness, and enhances overall stability when combined with the clamp.

[0016] Preferably, the nut of the drive layer includes an inner drive ring and an outer knob. The inner drive ring engages with the threaded section of the expansion layer, and the outer knob is sleeved outside the inner drive ring. A wave spring friction plate is provided between the outer knob and the inner drive ring. Through the threaded engagement of the inner ring and the manual operation of the outer knob, the wave spring provides friction, the outer knob is easy to grip, and the friction plate prevents loosening, ensuring precise control. Combined with the rubber ring, it achieves a stable external seal.

[0017] Preferably, the second circular tube is provided with anti-extrusion rings at both ends of the airbag. The anti-extrusion ring at the front end of the airbag is tapered. The rings at both ends of the axial direction prevent the airbag from being squeezed out when it expands. The tapered front end facilitates the insertion into the interface, thereby enhancing the durability of the airbag, improving the ease of assembly, and thus avoiding damage to the interface caused by excessive gas pressure.

[0018] Preferably, a stiffness adjustment groove is provided between adjacent branch springs, and the branch springs in different positions have different wall thicknesses to further adjust the stiffness of the springs. The stiffness groove and wall thickness allow for targeted deformation, thereby enabling the seal to adapt to irregular interfaces. The adjustment groove reduces the breakage caused by excessive local stiffness and, combined with the inclined surface, improves the overall flexibility.

[0019] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: 1. The present invention proposes a sealing performance testing device for an electricity metering box. The testing instrument body is connected to a sealing component via an air tube. After the sealing component is assembled into the interface, the nut of the drive layer is manually rotated to engage with the threaded section of the expansion layer, pushing the branch spring to expand outward and simultaneously squeezing the air bladder of the sealing section. This causes the air bladder to expand and wrap around the sealing gasket tightly against the inner wall of the interface, thereby expanding the air passage and sealing the interface. This improves the adaptability and reliability of the seal, reduces interference during gas transmission, and ensures accurate testing.

[0020] 2. The present invention proposes a sealing detection device for an electricity metering box, in which a circular tube is used to support the shape of an airbag and is associated with the compression of a branch spring to form a gas-driven inner seal combined with an outer seal of a rubber ring; at the same time, it reduces the damage to the airtight opening caused by high-speed gas flow, improves the sealing performance, enhances the uniformity and pressure resistance of the seal, and reduces the impact of gas on the seal.

[0021] 3. The present invention proposes a sealing test device for an electricity metering box, wherein an airbag is fixedly installed on the outside of the air tube, and a second round tube is in contact with the airbag. The airbag can expand evenly when fixed on the outside of the air tube, and the second round tube prevents the airbag from being excessively deformed. It improves the fit by combining with the embedded seal. The rings at both ends of the axial direction prevent the airbag from being squeezed out when it expands. The conical front end facilitates the insertion of the interface, thereby enhancing the durability of the airbag and making it adaptable to different types of interface parts. Attached Figure Description

[0022] To more clearly illustrate the specific embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the specific embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are one embodiment of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0023] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the seal of the present invention used alone; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the sealing section of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the sealing section and the deformation section of the present invention; Figure 5 This is an exploded view of the sealing element of the present invention; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the nut of the present invention; Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the branch spring of the present invention.

[0024] In the diagram: 1. Detector body; 2. Energy metering box housing; 21. Interface section; 3. Seal; 31. Connecting section; 311. Vent section; 312. Rubber stopper; 32. Deformation section; 321. Drive layer; 3211. Nut; 3212. Round tube one; 3213. Rubber ring; 322. Expansion layer; 3221. Branch spring; 3222. Snap ring; 3223. Bundle clamp; 33. Sealing section; 331. Airbag; 332. Sealing gasket; 333. Round tube two; 4. Air pipe; 5. Inner drive ring; 6. Outer knob; 7. Wave spring friction plate; 8. Anti-extrusion ring; 9. Fixing tube. Detailed Implementation

[0025] To better understand the above solution, the technical solution will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0026] like Figure 1-4 As shown, the present invention provides a sealing test device for an electricity meter box. When the tester body is conventionally assembled to the sealing member of the interface of the electricity meter box housing to be tested, the sealing member can seal at least one interface on the electricity meter box housing. There may be multiple interfaces. When multiple interfaces exist, the sealing member needs to be set separately to block the other interfaces, while the interface connected to the tester body remains unchanged. This ensures that the interior remains sealed during the test of the tester body, and thus does not affect the gas leakage caused by the interface.

[0027] The detector uses conventional gas detection technology. It compares the gas pressure when the gas supply is stable with the gas pressure after a period of supply to verify the airtightness of the internal casing of the power metering box. One of its sealing components is connected to the detector body via a gas pipe. The sealing component consists of a connecting section, a deformation section, and a sealing section. The deformation section adopts a composite structure of "inner expansion and outer pressure," which is composed of an outer driving layer and an inner expansion layer nested together. The driving layer has a key adjusting nut, which engages with the threaded section of the fixed tube in the inner expansion layer. There are also branch springs inside the expansion layer. The sealing section has an air bladder with an outer sealing gasket. Rotating the nut forward causes the branch springs to expand, while simultaneously squeezing the air bladder to expand the air passage and seal the interface. When the operator rotates the nut forward, the threaded drive converts the rotational motion into axial linear thrust and pull. The thrust mainly acts on the air bladder in the sealing section, while the pull acts on the branch springs in the expansion layer. When the branch spring is compressed, it will open radially, like the ribs of an open umbrella, thereby loosening the clamp on the air tube. At this time, the air tube at this point is set as a corrugated tube that can expand outward, or it can be in a bulging state. As a result, during the gas transmission process, when the gas flows through the narrow tube diameter to the housing of the electricity metering box, it will cause an unstable state, thereby affecting the detection results of the sealing performance inside the housing of the electricity metering box.

[0028] At the same time, the axial force will squeeze the airbag located on the outer layer of the sealing section, causing it to deform and expand in all directions. The expanding airbag will drive the sealing gasket to fit into the interface, thus forming a seal. The sealing gasket is made of rubber and can deform. When the airbag blocks the interface, the sealing gasket will further seal the interface, thereby improving the accuracy of the sealing result detection.

[0029] like Figure 2 As shown, the connecting section is designed in detail as two independent functional areas: a vent and a rubber stopper. In actual testing, the metering box usually has multiple ports, but not all ports need to be connected to the testing instrument. For the device connected to the testing instrument, the air tube passes through the vent to deliver gas; while for other unused ports that only need to be sealed, the device uses a rubber stopper to seal the vent.

[0030] By physically blocking the air passage, the vent is converted into a blind blockage. In this case, the testing personnel no longer need to carry two different types of tools, "inflatable" and "blind"; they can handle multi-hole blocking scenarios simply by switching accessories, thus improving adaptability to different diameters.

[0031] like Figure 3 , 4As shown, the drive layer also includes a circular tube and a rubber ring. The circular tube is rigidly connected to the nut and moves synchronously with the nut. The rubber ring is placed on the side of the circular tube away from the nut. When the device is inserted into the interface and the nut is tightened, a tensile force is generated inside the device, causing the rubber ring on the circular tube to press tightly against the outer surface of the metering box interface. At this time, the rubber ring forms an "end face seal," which, together with the "internal seal" formed by the internal airbag, constitutes a double seal. A simple internal seal is prone to micro-leakage due to burrs on the hole wall or manufacturing tolerances. However, the external rubber ring utilizes the relatively flat surface of the metering box to prevent external atmosphere from seeping in through thread gaps or the edge of the orifice, thereby improving the accuracy of the overall seal detection.

[0032] like Figure 7 As shown, the expansion layer also includes a retaining ring and a clamp. The branch springs within the expansion layer are divided into a constricting end and a free end. The retaining ring is mounted on the fixed tube, with the retaining ring close to the constricting end of the branch spring. This allows the retaining ring to clamp and loosen the branch spring as it moves. The clamp is mounted on the free end and is used to compress the airway and release its constriction. The branch spring has a stepped cross-section, and a bevel is provided at the contact point with the retaining ring. This bevel design utilizes the wedge principle. When the nut drives the retaining ring to move axially, the retaining ring gradually moves away from the bevel, which can convert the axial force into a radial component force that resets and expands the spring with minimal effort and smoothness. When disassembly is required after testing, the nut is rotated in the opposite direction, and the retaining ring will drive the branch spring to reset, causing it to constrict the airway, and the gas tube diameter will shrink accordingly. This ensures the continuity of the device and solves the problem of traditional expansion plugs being difficult to remove due to rubber aging or jamming.

[0033] like Figure 6 As shown, the nut of the drive layer is designed as a split structure, consisting of an inner drive ring and an outer knob. The inner drive ring directly engages with the threaded section, while the outer knob is fitted onto the outside. A wave spring friction plate is sandwiched between the two. When the tightening resistance (i.e., the sealing clamping force) is less than a set threshold, the friction plate transmits torque, causing the inner and outer parts to rotate synchronously. When the clamping force reaches the preset standard, and the resistance exceeds the static friction torque of the friction plate, the outer knob will slip and spin freely. By limiting the maximum output torque through friction transmission, the clamping force of each sealing operation is ensured to be consistent, preventing thread stripping or cracking of the housing interface due to excessive force, and avoiding sealing failure due to insufficient force.

[0034] like Figure 4 , 5As shown, the airbag is fixed to the outside of the trachea and contacts the second circular tube. The second circular tube has anti-extrusion rings at both axial ends of the airbag, with the anti-extrusion ring at the front end of the airbag being tapered. When the airbag inflates under pressure, it is blocked by the anti-extrusion rings on both sides, "locking" the airbag within the sealed area and preventing irregular extrusion. This structure not only protects the airbag from shear damage but also ensures that the sealing interface can withstand higher pressures without failure during airtightness testing.

[0035] like Figure 7 As shown, stiffness adjustment grooves are provided between adjacent branch springs, and the branch springs in different orientations have different wall thicknesses. According to the principles of mechanics of materials, the thinner the wall, the lower the bending stiffness, and the easier it is to deform. Therefore, under the same driving force, the thinner spring will deform first to fill the gaps that are farther apart (such as the major axis of the elliptical hole), while the thicker spring will deform later to provide strong support. This adaptive outward expansion greatly improves the applicability and sealing success rate of the device.

[0036] like Figure 1-7 As shown, when testing the housing of the electricity metering box, one of the seals is inserted into the air tube connected to the main body of the tester. If multiple interfaces exist, the seals blocking the vent are inserted into other interfaces, and the contracted sealing section and deformed section are inserted into the interface to be tested on the electricity metering box housing. Then, holding the fixed tube with one hand and rotating the nut with the other, the outer knob is rotated clockwise. Through the transmission of the wave spring friction plate, the inner drive ring rotates and generates axial displacement along the threaded section. This displacement, on one hand, moves the retaining ring away from the inclined surface of the branch spring, forcing the branch springs with different wall thicknesses to adaptively expand radially according to the actual shape of the hole wall until the spring and retaining ring initially contact and form a rigid frame. On the other hand, the axial thrust pushes the circular tube two to compress the air bladder. Under the constraint of the anti-extrusion ring, the air bladder is forced to expand violently radially, filling the gap between the interfaces through the sealing gasket, forming an inner seal. Simultaneously, the outer rubber ring, under the action of the axially moving circular tube one, is also pulled towards the outer wall of the box and pressed against the end face of the interface, forming an outer seal. When the knob reaches the preset torque, the outer knob slips, indicating to the operator that the sealing is complete. At this point, the detector inflates or deflates the chamber through the air tube for testing. After the test, rotating the knob in the opposite direction causes the retaining ring to move the spring and retract the air tube. Simultaneously, the air bladder contracts under the action of elastic potential energy, allowing the device to be removed. The entire process achieves "double sealing" and "shape self-adaptation" through mechanical adjustment, improving the compatibility of the wiring diameter while reducing the interference of gas transmission on the sealing interface, thereby improving the accuracy of the sealing test.

[0037] The foregoing has shown and described the basic principles and beneficial effects of the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. Various changes and modifications can be made to the present invention without departing from its effects and scope. All such changes and modifications fall within the scope of the present invention as claimed, which is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A sealing performance testing device for an electricity metering box, wherein when the testing instrument body is conventionally assembled to a sealing member on the interface of the electricity metering box housing to be tested, at least one interface on the electricity metering box housing can be sealed via the sealing member, wherein one of the sealing members is connected to the testing instrument body via an air pipe, characterized in that, The sealing component is divided into a connecting section, a deformable section, and a sealing section. The deformable section consists of a driving layer and an expansion layer from the outside to the inside. The driving layer has a nut that is threadedly engaged with the threaded section of the fixed tube in the expansion layer. The expansion layer also has a branch spring. The sealing section has an airbag with an outer layer that wraps around a sealing gasket. When the nut rotates in the forward direction, it drives the branch spring to expand and simultaneously compresses the airbag to expand the air passage and seal the interface. The expansion layer also includes a retaining ring and a clamp. The branch spring is divided into a converging end and a free end. The retaining ring is installed at the converging end, and the clamp is installed at the free end. The retaining ring drives the branch spring to reset and release the air tube, thereby expanding the gas tube diameter. The branch spring has a stepped cross-section, and the contact area between the branch spring and the retaining ring has an inclined surface; A stiffness adjustment groove is provided between adjacent branch springs, and the branch springs in different positions have different wall thicknesses.

2. The sealing performance testing device for an electricity metering box according to claim 1, characterized in that: The connecting section is divided into a vent section and a rubber stopper.

3. The sealing performance testing device for an electricity metering box according to claim 1, characterized in that: The drive layer also includes a circular tube and a rubber ring. The circular tube is connected to a nut, and the rubber ring is located on the side of the circular tube away from the nut, for external sealing of the interface.

4. The sealing performance testing device for an electricity metering box according to claim 1, characterized in that: The sealing section also includes a second round tube, and the airbag is fixedly installed on the outside of the trachea, with the second round tube in contact with the airbag.

5. The sealing performance testing device for an electricity metering box according to claim 3, characterized in that: The nut of the driving layer includes an inner driving ring and an outer knob. The inner driving ring is engaged with the threaded section of the expansion layer, and the outer knob is sleeved outside the inner driving ring. A wave spring friction plate is provided between the outer knob and the inner driving ring.

6. The sealing performance testing device for an electricity metering box according to claim 4, characterized in that: The second circular tube is provided with anti-extrusion rings at both ends of the airbag along its axial direction, and the anti-extrusion ring at the front end of the airbag is tapered.

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