System for testing the sealing of a sealing component

Abstract

The utility model relates to a system (15) used for testing the sealing performance of a sealing component, the sealing component (1) to be tested comprises at least two parts (3 and 4) attached to each other and at least one flexible wall (3 or 4), and the system (15) comprises a device (17) used for testing the sealing performance and comprising at least one pressure source (19); a test support (21) intended to accommodate the component (1) to be tested and connected to a pressure source (19); the test support (21) is configured such that, on the one hand, only one joining zone (11) of the portions (3 and 4) of the component (1) is pressurized by means of the pressure source (19) and, on the other hand, at least one portion of the flexible wall (3 or 4) of the component (1) remains free when the component (1) is mounted in the support (21), the device (17) being configured to measure a characteristic value, it is thus possible to determine the sealing property of the sealing element (1) at the joining region (11).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the field of systems for testing the tightness of sealed components such as some types of batteries, cans, etc. or for detecting leakage of the sealed components and methods for testing the tightness on sealed components. The utility model also focuses on components with metal shells, which are preferably completely filled with materials that do not evaporate or evaporate very little. Background Art

[0002] In fact, the device according to the utility model is advantageously applied to an object comprising at least two parts attached to each other and at least one flexible wall, and the utility model aims to check the sealing at the junction area of ​​the at least two parts of the sealing component. In addition, the sealing component to be tested usually has no internal free space (or volume) or has very little internal free space.

[0003] This type of object corresponds in particular to button-type batteries such as button cells, certain angular batteries, certain jars, etc.

[0004] In practice, testing the seal or detecting leaks on this type of article is not easy and the methods used may often not be very effective or even inefficient.

[0005] For example, in the case of a leak-tightness test on a button cell, the so-called method for "sealed assembly" may not work because it requires the object to be tested to have a sufficiently large internal free space or volume, which is not the case with button cells.

[0006] Another possibility for testing the leak tightness of button cells is to place them in a vacuum so that the electrolyte they contain evaporates, however this method has several drawbacks, such as being sensitive to temperature, being limited in the scale of leaks that can be detected, typically leaking around 10-3sccm, or not being able to work with electrolytes that are difficult to evaporate or cannot evaporate at all (if the electrolyte is completely dry or in a solid state).

[0007] Detecting leaks by electrical means is also not possible due to the fact that sealed components, button cells, cans etc. usually have a conductive (usually metal) housing.

[0008] Another possible testing method is to use a mass spectrometer and a tracer gas such as helium or hydrogen.

[0009] The component to be tested is placed in a sealed chamber into which a pressurized tracer gas is injected, and then, after purging the gas from the chamber or changing the chamber, the concentration of the tracer gas is measured over time. The disadvantages of this so-called tracer gas method are that it is expensive (especially the tracer gas) and slow, in fact, this method takes several minutes (especially due to the transfer of the tracer gas to the test chamber for its quantification). This type of test method is not particularly compatible with testing on a production line.

[0010] Furthermore, this method behaves very imperfectly when the component to be tested has no free space to be filled, the tracer gas accumulating in pores on the surface of the component that do not correspond to electrolyte leaks. Furthermore, even if the tracer gas could enter the component, the latter would not necessarily accumulate at the defect and would therefore not be detected, since the electrolyte would theoretically have to escape from said defect.

[0011] Therefore, the system and method according to the present invention described below make it possible to at least partially remedy the above-mentioned technical problems. Utility Model Content

[0012] Therefore, the present invention relates to a system for testing the tightness of a sealing component, the sealing component to be tested comprising at least two parts attached to each other and at least one flexible wall, the system comprising:

[0013] - a device for testing the leak tightness, comprising at least one pressure source;

[0014] - a test support intended to accommodate the component to be tested and connected to a pressure source;

[0015] the test support being configured on the one hand so that only one joining zone of the portion of the component is pressurized by means of a pressure source and on the other hand so that at least one portion of the flexible wall of the component remains free when the component is mounted in the support,

[0016] The device is configured to measure a characteristic value making it possible to determine the tightness of the sealing component at the joining area.

[0017] Therefore, this test system is configured to apply pressure or overpressure in an area where there is a high probability of leakage from the component being tested, so that gas (such as air) can enter therein, while allowing the flexible wall of the sealing component to move or deform, thereby making it possible for the shell of the component to expand if there is a leak in the component or the sealing level is insufficient.

[0018] According to a possible characteristic, the device for testing the tightness is configured to measure the pressure variation over time at the junction area of ​​the sealing parts.

[0019] Measuring the pressure variation over time makes it possible to check for the presence of defects at the joint and to quantify the level of leakage encountered by the joint.More specifically, the measurements are advantageously carried out in a sealing test volume covering the joint of the component being tested or delimited by said joint.

[0020] According to another possible characteristic, the means for testing the tightness are configured to measure the movement of the flexible wall of the sealing member.

[0021] Indeed, if the flexible wall moves (or deforms), this indicates the presence of a leak at the junction area.Depending on the movement of the flexible wall, it is possible to quantify the level of leakage present at the junction area of ​​the sealing component.

[0022] According to another possible characteristic, the at least one flexible wall is exposed to a vacuum or at least to a pressure below atmospheric pressure.

[0023] The fact of placing the outer zone under vacuum towards said at least one flexible wall makes it possible to promote its movement and facilitate the entry of pressurized gas at the junction of the sealing parts.

[0024] According to another possible characteristic, the system comprises additional means for testing the leak tightness, said means being means for testing the leak tightness using a tracer gas.

[0025] The tracer gas is, for example, one or more electrolytes such as helium, hydrogen, a hydrogen-nitrogen mixture, etc. contained in the object to be tested.

[0026] The use of a tracer gas makes it possible to detect smaller leaks and to integrate in a complementary manner into the leak tightness check of components which may have defects of very different magnitudes.

[0027] According to another possible characteristic, the additional means for testing the leak tightness comprise a mass spectrometer.

[0028] The utility model also relates to a method for testing the sealing property of a sealing component, wherein the sealing component comprises at least two parts attached to each other and at least one flexible wall, and the method comprises:

[0029] - mounting the sealing member in a test support configured so that the at least one flexible wall is free to move, ie can deform under the minimum possible stress;

[0030] - applying pressure to the joint area of ​​the sealing member;

[0031] - Using the device for testing the sealing property, characteristic physical values ​​are measured to determine the sealing property of the sealing component.

[0032] According to a possible feature, the characteristic physical value measured by the device for testing the tightness is the pressure variation over time in the joint area of ​​the tested component. More specifically, a decrease in the pressure value over time indicates the presence of a leak at the joint area.

[0033] According to another possible characteristic, the characteristic value measured by the device for testing the tightness is the movement of said at least one flexible wall. In fact, the movement of said at least one flexible wall indicates the presence of a leak at the junction area of ​​the sealing part.

[0034] According to another possible feature, the method further comprises:

[0035] - vacuuming or reducing the at least one flexible wall to a pressure below atmospheric pressure.

[0036] The fact that a negative pressure is created at the flexible wall (outside the component) makes it possible to optimize the detection of leaks at the joint area of ​​the sealing component.

[0037] According to possible features, the method further comprises:

[0038] - injecting a pressurized tracer gas into the joint area of ​​the tested component;

[0039] - Measuring the concentration variation of the tracer gas to determine the sealing level of the tested component, in particular at the joint area. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] The present invention will be better understood and other objects, details, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent during the following description of specific embodiments of the present invention given only by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0041] Figure 1 (marked as [ Figure 1 ]) is a schematic representation of an example of a sealing component intended to be tested by a system according to the present invention;

[0042] Figure 2 (marked as [ Figure 2 ]) is a highly schematic representation of a system for testing sealing according to the present invention;

[0043] Figure 3 (marked as [ Figure 3 ])yes Figure 2 A highly schematic perspective and exploded view of a test support of FIG.

[0044] Figure 4 (marked as [ Figure 4 ])yes Figure 3 a highly schematic cross-sectional view of a test support of;

[0045] Figure 5 (marked as [ Figure 5 ]) is a flow chart of a method for testing sealing according to the utility model;

[0046] Figure 6 (marked as [ Figure 6 ])yes Figure 5 A flow chart of an alternative embodiment of a method of. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0047] [ Figure 1 ] is a schematic representation of an example of a sealing component (more specifically, here a button cell 1).

[0048] However, it should be noted that the sealing component can also be an angular battery, a can, etc., or any other component or object that meets the following conditions: it comprises at least two parts attached to each other (specifically, at the joining area) and at least one flexible wall or any other area of ​​the component that is capable of deformation.

[0049] It should be noted that more particular attention is paid to sealing components which contain no or little internal free space and / or contain an electrically conductive housing.

[0050] [ Figure 1 The button cell 1 of ] comprises a housing 2 consisting of a cover 3 and a container 4, which respectively form the positive and negative poles of the battery 1. Conventionally, the housing 2 comprises a polymer seal 5 positioned by compression between the cover 3 and the container 4. This polymer seal 5 is preferably made of polypropylene, but it can also be made of polyethylene or other polyolefin-based thermoplastic resins. The seal 5 is glued to the cover 3 and the container 4 by means of a colloid layer 6, which preferably extends over the entire surface of the seal 5.

[0051] The area of ​​the button cell 1 where it is necessary to test the seal is the junction 11 (i.e. the contact area between the various parts of the sealing components) between the cover 3, container 4 and polymer seal 5. The cover 3 and container 4 themselves are similar to flexible walls that can deform when pressure (or force) is applied.

[0052] [ Figure 2 ] itself is a schematic representation of a system 15 for testing leak tightness according to the present invention.

[0053] The system 15 thus comprises:

[0054] - a device 17 for testing the leak tightness, comprising at least one pressure source 19;

[0055] A test support 21 , intended to house the component 1 to be tested, here a button cell, and connected to the device 17 and to the at least one pressure source 19 .

[0056] The test support 21 is configured so that, on the one hand, only one joining zone 11 of the parts 3, 4 and 5 of the component 1 is pressurized by means of the pressure source 19 and, on the other hand, at least one portion of the flexible wall 3 or 4 of the component remains free when the component is mounted in the support 21.

[0057] Said device 17 is in particular configured to measure characteristic values ​​(physical values) making it possible to determine the tightness of the sealing component 1. More specifically, the device 17 is, for example, configured to measure the change in pressure over time in the joint zone 11, in particular by means of a pressure sensor (absolute or relative). If the pressure decreases over time, this indicates that there is an opening (or defect) at the joint zone 11 and that the pressurized gas (for example air) injected by said device 17 (at the joint zone 11) permeates the component 1.

[0058] In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the device 17 may be configured to measure the movement of the flexible wall 3 or 4 of the sealing component 1. In fact, the movement of the wall 3 or 4 under the influence of the pressure on the joint zone 11 indicates that there is an infiltration of pressurized gas into the component 1 and that there is at least one leak. The measurement of the movement of the wall 3 or 4 (or more generally, the change in the volume of the housing of the component 1) is carried out in particular by means of an optical sensor using a mechanical comparator in contact with the wall 3 or 4, and / or by measuring the change in the air flow from an orifice placed close to the wall 3 or 4, and / or by measuring the change in pressure in the sealed volume around the housing of the component 1.

[0059] In an alternative embodiment, the device 17 for testing the tightness may measure both the pressure variation at the junction 11 and the movement of the value of the flexible wall 3 or 4 in order to detect possible leaks on the sealing component 1 more robustly.

[0060] More specifically, the pressure source 19 of the device 17 may be a compressor, a connection to a compressed air network, or simply a pressurized gas cylinder.

[0061] Regarding the test support 21, it includes more specifically [ Figure 3 ]and[ Figure 4 ], the two parts 21b and 21c being shaped to define a housing 21a for housing the component 1 to be tested, and a plurality of o-rings 20 which make it possible in particular to isolate the joining zone 11 of the component 1 from the outside. Figure 4] can be seen more specifically that the shaping of the support 21, o-ring 20 and joining area 11 of the component defines the test volume 50 (the volume that is intended to be pressurized).

[0062] The support 21 is thus configured so as to make it possible for at least one flexible wall 3 or 4 to move freely, in particular by providing one or more notches 23 in one of the parts of the support 21 .

[0063] Advantageously, the recess 23 of the support 21 forms a cavity 52 which can be evacuated or at least reduced to a pressure below atmospheric pressure in order to facilitate the movement of the flexible wall 3 or 4. This reduction of the pressure prevailing in the cavity 52 is performed, for example, by means of a pump 25.

[0064] like[ Figure 2 ]arrive[ Figure 4 ] more specifically shown, the support 21 comprises, for example, individual channels 40 arranged in the portions 21b and 21c of the support 21. The channels 40 are configured to ensure fluid communication between the junction area 50 and / or the cavity 52 and other elements of the system 1.

[0065] The system 1 also includes pipelines 36, valves 38 and 41, with two and three paths respectively, configured to connect the volume 50 and / or cavity 52 of the joining area 11 (via the channel 40) to various elements of the system 1, such as the sealing device 17, the pressure source 19, the pump 25, etc.

[0066] It should also be noted that the support 21 advantageously comprises a purge circuit 42 (at [ Figure 2 ]), the purge circuit is configured to purge the test volume 50 of the joining area 11 to atmospheric pressure and / or to bring the test volume to atmospheric pressure.

[0067] Furthermore, the system 15 according to the invention optionally comprises additional means 27 for testing the leak tightness, in particular means for testing the leak tightness using a tracer gas. Said additional means 27 for testing the leak tightness comprises in particular a mass spectrometer and a tracer gas reserve.

[0068] It should be noted that the additional device 27 is also connected to the volume 50 of the joining region 11 and / or to the cavity 52 , in particular via the line 36 , the channel 40 , the valves 38 and 41 .

[0069] Said system 15 thus makes it possible to implement a method 100 for testing the tightness of a sealing component 1 described previously.

[0070] [ Figure 5 The method 100 according to the present invention more specifically shown in FIG. 1 includes:

[0071] - mounting S1 the sealing member 1 in a test support 21 configured so that the at least one flexible wall 3 or 4 of the sealing member 1 is free to move (or deform);

[0072] - Applying pressure S2 to the joint area 11 of the sealing component 1;

[0073] The physical value of the characteristic S3 is measured using the device for testing the sealing property 17 to determine the sealing property of the sealing component 1 , and more specifically the sealing level of the joining zone 11 .

[0074] The characteristic value measured by the device 17 for testing the leak tightness is advantageously the pressure variation over time in the joint zone 11 of the component 1 to be tested, more specifically in the test volume 50 .

[0075] In an alternative embodiment, the characteristic value measured by the device 17 for testing the tightness is the movement of the at least one flexible wall 3 or 4 .

[0076] In another alternative embodiment, the at least one flexible wall 3 or 4 of the sealing member 1 is evacuated or reduced to a pressure below atmospheric pressure.

[0077] [ Figure 6 ] shows an alternative embodiment of the method described above, the method 200 for testing the sealing thus comprises:

[0078] - Injecting S4 pressurized tracer gas into the joint area 11 of the tested component 1;

[0079] -Measure the concentration variation of S5 tracer gas over time to determine the sealing level of the tested component 1.

[0080] It should be noted that the measurement S5 of the concentration variation of the tracer gas can be performed in the test volume 50 formed by the junction area 11 and the support 21 of the tested component 1, but can also be performed in a different test chamber after the component 1 has been transferred to the different test chamber.

[0081] Furthermore, when carrying out a concentration measurement S5 in the support 21 after injecting S4 the tracer gas, it is advantageous to previously purge the test volume 50 by means of the purge circuit 42 and then evacuate it before carrying out the measurement S5.

Claims

1. A system (15) for testing the tightness of a sealing component, the sealing component (1) to be tested comprising at least two flexible walls (3, 4) attached to each other, the system (15) comprising: - a device (17) for testing the leak tightness, comprising at least one pressure source (19); - a test support (21) for receiving the component (1) to be tested and connected to the pressure source (19); The test support (21) is configured on the one hand so that only one test volume (50) of the junction area (11) of the flexible walls (3, 4) of the component (1) is pressurized by means of the pressure source (19) and on the other hand so that at least one portion of the flexible walls (3, 4) of the component (1) remains free when the component (1) is mounted in the support (21), It is characterized in that the device (17) is configured to measure a characteristic value to determine the sealing performance of the sealing component (1) at the joining area (11).

2. The system (15) according to claim 1, characterized in that The device (17) is configured to measure changes in pressure at the junction area (11) of the sealing component (1).

3. The system (15) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The device (17) is configured to measure the movement of at least one of the flexible walls (3, 4) of the sealing member (1).

4. The system (15) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The at least one flexible wall (3, 4) is exposed to a vacuum or at least to a pressure below atmospheric pressure.

5. The system (15) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that It comprises an additional device (27) for testing the leak tightness, said device (27) being a device for testing the leak tightness using a tracer gas.

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