Device for cavity preservation of motor vehicles

Abstract

Device (1) for cavity preservation of motor vehicles (2), comprising at least one tool (3, 4) having at least one nozzle (9-12) with a defined opening configuration, wherein the tool (3, 4) is designed to introduce a preservation fluid into at least one cavity (5-8) of a motor vehicle (2), in particular in a spraying process, wherein a determining device (13) is designed to determine a flow parameter, in particular the flow rate, of the preservation fluid through the at least one nozzle (9-12) and to determine a quality parameter describing the quality of the preservation of the cavity (5-8) as a function of the flow parameter.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for cavity preservation of motor vehicles, comprising at least one tool having at least one nozzle with a defined opening configuration, wherein the tool is designed to introduce a preservation fluid into at least one cavity of a motor vehicle, in particular in a spraying process.

[0002] Devices and methods for cavity preservation in motor vehicles are generally known from the prior art. Typically, cavity preservation involves injecting a preservative fluid into motor vehicle cavities that cannot otherwise be provided with a suitable protective layer, such as areas that are too small for the application of a dip coating, meaning that the coating cannot be reliably deposited in these areas. To prevent corrosion of the motor vehicle or body in this area, a preservative fluid is injected into these cavities for cavity preservation. Wax, for example, can be used as the preservative fluid; this can be injected into the cavities and cured.

[0003] Modern motor vehicles require a large number of application points where the preservation fluid must be injected. The arrangement and number of application points generally vary depending on the vehicle type, with numbers of over 100 individual application points being common. Complex controls and inspections are necessary for quality assurance, particularly to ensure that the preservation fluid has been sufficiently injected into all cavities. For example, deterioration of the tool or the preservation fluid may occur during the process that initially go unnoticed during injection, such as the clogging of a nozzle or opening in the tool.

[0004] This can lead to the preservation fluid not being sufficiently applied or introduced into the affected cavity. To monitor the quality of cavity preservation, it is common practice, for example, to visually inspect all of the vehicle's cavities using an endoscope. Due to the large number of individual application points for each vehicle, this requires a significant amount of time and effort. If the inspection is only carried out randomly, a tool failure between two random checks may result in the corresponding number of vehicles that were preserved in this area having to be reworked or at least inspected.

[0005] The invention is based on the object of providing an improved device for cavity preservation of motor vehicles in which quality control is improved.

[0006] The object is achieved by a device according to claim 1. The dependent claims relate to possible embodiments.

[0007] As described, the invention relates to a device for cavity preservation of motor vehicles, comprising at least one tool having at least one nozzle with a defined opening configuration. In other words, the tool can have one or more nozzles, each nozzle in turn having at least one opening, in particular a plurality of openings arranged in a specific opening configuration. The opening configuration can basically be understood as the number, arrangement and size or size distribution of the individual openings. In particular, different openings, i.e. differently arranged, aligned and dimensioned openings, can be combined to form the opening configuration. In particular, each tool or each nozzle has an individual opening configuration that is tailored to the introduction of the preservation fluid into the cavity assigned to the nozzle.The orifice configuration of the nozzle or tool can also be referred to or considered as the “fingerprint” of the nozzle or tool.

[0008] To introduce the preservative fluid into the cavity, the tool with the nozzle is inserted into the cavity, and the preservative fluid is introduced, in particular sprayed, from the nozzle into the cavity. Unlike flooding processes, which are also used in the prior art, the present application primarily relates to a spraying process. In the spraying process, the preservative fluid is sprayed specifically into the assigned cavity, so that significantly smaller quantities of preservative fluid need to be introduced compared to a flooding process—namely, only the amount that is intended to remain in the cavity.

[0009] The invention is based on the finding that the device has a determining device or the device is assigned a determining device which is designed to determine a flow parameter, in particular the flow rate, of the preservation fluid through the at least one nozzle and to determine a quality parameter describing a quality of the preservation of the cavity as a function of the flow parameter. In other words, the determining device can determine the flow parameter, which forms the basis for determining the quality parameter describing the quality of the preservation of the cavity, while the introduction of the preservation fluid is being carried out. For this purpose, the determining device determines the flow parameter of the preservation fluid through the at least one nozzle. On the basis of the flow parameter, for example the flow rate, i.e. the volume flow orBy measuring the flow rate, i.e., the volume of preservative fluid per unit of time, it can be determined whether the desired amount of preservative fluid has been safely introduced into the cavity. Impairments of the tool or nozzle, or of at least one opening in the opening configuration, change the flow parameter in such a way that the determination device can directly determine the influence on the quality parameter.

[0010] If, for example, the nozzle or one of its openings is impaired in its opening configuration, if one of the openings is blocked, or if any other error occurs, this inevitably leads to a change in the flow parameter, for example a reduction in the flow of the preservative fluid through the opening or through the nozzle. Any parameter that describes, influences, or is dependent on the flow can be monitored as a flow parameter, for example the pressure, the volume flow, the viscosity, the opening cross-section, the amount of preservative fluid, the time required to introduce the preservative fluid, and the like. If the flow parameter deviates from a specified target value, for example if a limit value is exceeded, this can lead to the output of a corresponding quality parameter.The quality parameter can basically be output in any way, in particular as “OK” or “not OK”.

[0011] In the device it can be provided that the flow parameter describes a specific volume flow of the at least one nozzle. As explained above, for each nozzle, due to the individual opening configuration, the specific volume flow of the preservation fluid through the nozzle or from the nozzle into the cavity can be determined using the flow parameter. This is individual for each application tool, since each nozzle with the different opening configuration has a different number, size, size distribution and orientation of the openings and different amounts of preservation fluid are to be introduced into the different cavities. Further parameters can relate to the different application tools, for example different hose lengths. The differences in the flow parameters can be caused by the specific volume flows for the different nozzles orfor the different application tools. For example, the flow parameter can be determined as a tool-specific volume flow, e.g., per cavity.

[0012] The determination device can further be configured to determine the quality parameter depending on a deviation of the flow parameter from a reference value of the flow parameter. The reference value can be determined, for example, based on at least one reference measurement. It is also possible to specify the reference value for the at least one nozzle. For example, the reference value can be specified based on the amount of preservation fluid to be introduced into the individual cavity. This can be translated or converted into the flow parameter.

[0013] When determining the flow parameter for the nozzle, it can be determined whether the desired amount of preservation fluid was introduced in the required time, so that the cavity was preserved with the required quality. When determining the deviation, at least one limit value can be taken into account, so that even if the deviation between the reference value and the flow parameter is below the limit value, a positive quality parameter can still be output. The limit value can, for example, take into account fluctuations in the measurement or between two similar or equivalent introduction processes. If the deviation exceeds the limit value, the quality parameter can be output as negative, i.e. the quality of the cavity preservation is "not OK". In this case, a manual inspection and / or rework of the cavity preservation of the cavity can be initiated.

[0014] According to a further development of the device, the determination device can be designed to determine the reference value by averaging flow parameters from a plurality of preservative fluid introduction processes. As already described, the reference value is advantageously determined for each individual nozzle or for each individual tool, since the tools and also the nozzles can differ from one another with regard to the flow parameter. To prevent external influences on the introduction process from affecting the determination of the quality parameter, the reference value is advantageously determined by averaging a plurality of introduction processes.This allows slow-onset changes, such as changes in ambient temperature, which also cause changes in the preservative fluid, such as its viscosity, to be eliminated when determining the reference value, or the reference value can change along with the process window.

[0015] Furthermore, the device can be designed to determine the reference value based on a temporally rolling data set of specific flow parameters, in particular comprising a defined number of the most recent introduction processes. According to this embodiment, the reference value for the flow parameter is to be determined from a temporally rolling data set. The temporally rolling data set is determined from flow parameters that were previously determined for the same application tool or for the same nozzle. In other words, the flow parameters for the individual introduction processes, for example, for the individual motor vehicles to be preserved, are stored, and the reference value is determined from these by averaging.

[0016] For example, a defined number of the most recently carried out injection processes can be examined, with the flow parameters determined therein being used to calculate the reference value. Advantageously, flow parameters for injection processes that do not meet the quality requirements can be excluded from the averaging process. In other words, the reference value is calculated by averaging the most recently recorded flow parameters that correspond to the reference value or the limit value of the reference value. In principle, any value can be used as the defined number, for example 10,000. The temporally rolling data set allows changes in the process window, which are due to seasonal factors, for example, to be taken into account, thus preventing an incorrect “not OK” assessment that may arise due to changed climatic conditions or(seasonal) changes in environmental conditions.

[0017] The determination device assigned to the device or formed as a component of the device can further be configured to determine the flow parameter for at least two different tools, wherein each tool, in particular each nozzle, has an individual nozzle configuration and / or opening configuration. The nozzle configuration is understood to mean the arrangement or the number of individual nozzles of each tool. As already described, each tool, which can also be referred to as an "application tool" in the context of this application, is individually configured with regard to the at least one nozzle and its openings.

[0018] Each application tool is assigned to at least one cavity of the motor vehicle and forms a so-called "puncture" or application point. For example, each nozzle can have openings of different sizes, for example between 0.5 and 1.5 mm. Each nozzle can provide a defined number of openings, for example between 1 and 40 openings. The determination device therefore determines the flow parameter for different tools separately in order to be able to determine an individual quality parameter for each puncture point or application point and thus for each tool. Advantageously, in the event of a negative quality parameter, it can be immediately determined which application point or cavity needs to be inspected / reworked, so that inspection / rework of the remaining cavities is not necessary.

[0019] The determination device can further be developed such that it is designed to establish different reference values ​​for flow parameters for different tools, in particular for each tool and / or for each nozzle and / or for each introduction process. As previously described, the application tools as well as the nozzles and their opening configurations differ between the individual tools such that a comparison of the individual tools with one another is not readily possible. By establishing the reference value individually for the individual tools or for the individual nozzles and thus for the individual introduction processes, it can be ensured that the determination of the quality parameter for the individual processes can be carried out advantageously.

[0020] The described device can be further developed such that the determination device is designed to identify a fault, in particular a pre-measured fault, depending on the determined flow parameter. As described, the flow parameter can have a plurality of different parameters or be influenced by a plurality of different parameters.

[0021] By way of example only, the flow parameter can include an introduction time, a quantity of preservation fluid to be introduced or introduced, a pressure of the preservation fluid, a viscosity of the preservation fluid, a flow rate of the preservation fluid, a volume flow of the preservation fluid, a volume of the preservation fluid, a temperature of the preservation fluid, and the like, or can be influenced by these parameters. If a deviation of the flow parameter from the reference value occurs, this deviation or the determined flow parameter can be determined and compared with at least one previously measured error case. The determination device can then optionally output the error case. If, for example, a reduction in the flow rate and an increase in pressure occur, it can be assumed that at least one opening is blocked.If a reduction in pressure and an increase in flow rate occur, a hose line break or tear can be assumed. The examples given are transferable to any other failure scenarios and can be identified using pre-measured failure scenarios, for example, simulated failure scenarios, especially automated ones.

[0022] The device can further be designed to release the motor vehicle and / or to submit it for a follow-up inspection and / or reworking depending on the determined quality parameter. As previously described, the quality parameter can be output to describe the quality of the cavity sealing of the motor vehicle. If the quality parameter meets the requirements, the cavity sealing is rated as "OK", and the motor vehicle can be released. If the determination of the flow parameter results in a negative quality parameter, the motor vehicle can be submitted for a follow-up inspection so that the cavity in question can be inspected. Depending on the result of the follow-up inspection, the motor vehicle can be reworked. It is also possible to submit the motor vehicle for reworking without a follow-up inspection.

[0023] In addition to the device, the invention relates to a method for determining a quality parameter of a cavity preservation of motor vehicles, wherein a preservation fluid is introduced into at least one cavity of a motor vehicle by means of at least one tool having at least one nozzle with a defined opening configuration, in particular in a spraying method, wherein a flow parameter, in particular a flow rate, of the preservation fluid through the at least one nozzle is determined and, depending on the flow parameter, a quality parameter describing a quality of the preservation of the cavity is determined.

[0024] All advantages, details, embodiments, and / or features described with reference to the device are fully applicable to the method. The method can, in particular, be carried out on the device described above.

[0025] The invention is explained using exemplary embodiments with reference to the figures. The figures are schematic representations and show: Fig. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a device for cavity preservation of motor vehicles according to an embodiment; and Fig. 2 a schematic representation of a flow diagram of a method for determining a quality parameter of a cavity preservation of motor vehicles according to an embodiment.

[0026] Fig. 1 shows a device 1 which is basically designed for cavity preservation of motor vehicles 2. Purely by way of example, the device 1 has two tools 3, 4 which are designed to introduce preservative fluid, in particular a preservative liquid or a pasty preservative, for example paraffin or wax, into cavities 5-8 of the motor vehicle 2 or onto a frame or body of the motor vehicle 2. In principle, the number of tools 3, 4, which can also be referred to as application tools, can be selected as desired. Likewise, each tool 3, 4 can have any number of nozzles 9-12. Each tool 3, 4 can have exactly one nozzle 9-12 or several nozzles 9-12 as a nozzle configuration. The nozzles 9-12 are not shown in detail, wherein each nozzle 9-12 has an individual opening configuration.Each of the nozzles 9-12 is designed for one of the cavities 5-8 and therefore has a defined number of openings designed according to the geometry of the cavity 5-8. Each opening configuration can therefore have a defined number of differently sized, arranged, and aligned openings.

[0027] The device 1 also has a determination device 13 designed to determine a flow parameter of the tools 3, 4 or for each of the nozzles 9-12. The flow parameter can be influenced by various parameters, for example, a pressure of the preservation fluid, a temperature of the preservation fluid, a volume flow of the preservation fluid, an introduction time, an amount of preservation fluid to be introduced or introduced, the viscosity of the preservation fluid, and the like. Such parameters can be detected by the determination device 13 or by sensors (not shown in detail), which are assigned, for example, to the nozzles 9-12 or their supply lines. The device 1 has suitable sensors for this purpose, which are designed, for example, as flow sensors, to determine a volume flow or a flow rate through the individual nozzles 9-12.For example, device 1 can have a volume flow sensor or flow sensor for each supply line to nozzles 9-12. Likewise, a pressure sensor can be used to monitor the pressure in nozzles 9-12 or their supply lines.

[0028] Based on the determined flow parameter, the determination device 13 determines a quality parameter for the cavity preservation performed or the process for introducing the preservation fluid. The quality parameter indicates, for example, whether the cavity preservation is rated as "OK" or "NOT OK." The flow parameter and the quality parameter can be determined individually for each cavity 5-8. If a deviation occurs in one of the flow parameters, the device 1 or the determination device 13 can indicate which cavity 5-8 needs to be inspected or reworked, and which tool 3, 4, or which nozzle 9-12 needs to be checked.

[0029] To output the quality parameter, the determination device 13 can specifically compare the current flow parameter with a reference value. For this purpose, a limit value can be established so that if the flow parameter deviates from the reference value by more than the limit value, reworking or re-inspection of the cavity 5-8 or an inspection of the tool 3, 4 can be initiated. If the deviation lies within the limit value, a positive quality parameter can be output. The reference value is based in particular on an averaging of the flow parameters for the individual nozzles 9-12 over the last recorded injection processes, in particular the last flow parameters found to be satisfactory. Large numbers are suitable here in order to include long-term changes in the ambient conditions of the device 1, for example seasonal environmental changes that influence the flow parameter.

[0030] Fig. 2 shows a purely schematic flow chart in the form of a block diagram of a method for determining a quality parameter of a cavity preservation of motor vehicles 2. Here, the quality parameter can, as already described above with regard to Fig. 1, during the insertion process or, in principle, without additional manual or visual inspection. The quality parameter is determined, as described, based on the flow parameter recorded during the insertion process.

[0031] The method can, for example, start in a block 14, in which the flow parameter is determined during the introduction process of the preservation fluid. As described, a separate flow parameter is determined for each nozzle 9-12, since the individual nozzles 9-12 and also the tools 3, 4 differ in terms of their flow parameters. The flow parameters can, as described, be determined based on various sensor values, for example flow, pressure, quantity, volume, volumetric flow, time, viscosity, temperature, or any combination thereof. For example, an applied quantity of preservation fluid can be deduced from a detected flow or volumetric flow and the time required for this.

[0032] The determined flow parameter can then be fed to a block 15, where the flow parameter is compared with a reference value. Like the flow parameters themselves, a separate reference value is provided for each flow parameter, as they are not comparable with one another. As already described, the reference value is calculated by averaging the flow parameters of previous injection processes. Injection processes found to be defective are excluded or eliminated from the data set. For example, a rolling data set can be created from a defined number of the most recently determined flow parameters, for example, the last 10,000. The defined number can be adjusted as required.

[0033] By comparing the flow parameter with the reference value, a deviation can be determined, which is then evaluated in relation to a limit value. A quality parameter is determined from this evaluation in block 16. If the deviation is below the limit value, a positive quality parameter, for example "OK," can be output. In this case, a branch can be made from block 16 to block 17, by which the motor vehicle 2 can be released. As described, the flow parameter is determined individually for each nozzle 9-12 and individually compared with a reference value, so that individual quality parameters are also determined. In particular, a branching to block 17 is only carried out if the quality parameter is "OK" or positive for all cavities 5-8 of the motor vehicle 2.

[0034] If the deviation between the flow parameter and the reference value exceeds the previously defined limit, the program branches to block 18, in which the motor vehicle 2 is sent for rework or inspection. Here, together with the quality parameter, information can be output as to which of the cavities 5-8 needs to be inspected or reworked. The output error can thus be related to and localized for the individual motor vehicle 2 and, there, to the respective cavity 5-8. Furthermore, the tool 3, 4 or the individual nozzle 9-12 that caused the error can be displayed to enable targeted maintenance of the device 1, for example, to check the displayed nozzle 9-12 and / or its supply line.

[0035] Optionally, a branch can be made to block 19, in which error identification can be carried out. Depending on the characteristics of the determined flow parameter, a pre-measured error case can be selected from a set of pre-measured error cases. For example, error cases can be simulated in advance and the resulting flow parameters determined. For example, one of the openings of a nozzle 9-12 can be specifically blocked and the resulting flow parameter determined. Flow parameters therefore have different characteristics for different error cases. Depending on the deviation, the determined flow parameter can be compared with error parameters and, for example, automatically, the error case to which the determined flow parameter most closely corresponds can be output.This improves troubleshooting because, for example, it is possible to directly display which error is present in which nozzle 9-12.

[0036] The advantages, details, and features described in relation to the embodiments can be combined with each other as desired, are interchangeable, and are transferable to each other. As described, the method can be Fig. 2 on the device in Fig. 1 can be executed. List of reference symbols 1 device 2 motor vehicles 3, 4 tools 5-8 cavity 9-12 nozzle 13 Determination device 14-19 Blocks

Claims

[1] Device (1) for cavity preservation of motor vehicles (2), comprising at least one tool (3, 4) having at least one nozzle (9-12) with a defined opening configuration, wherein the tool (3, 4) is designed to introduce a preservation fluid into at least one cavity (5-8) of a motor vehicle (2), in particular in a spraying process, characterized by a determination device (13) which is designed to determine a flow parameter, in particular the flow, of the preservation fluid through the at least one nozzle (9-12) and to determine a quality parameter describing a quality of the preservation of the cavity (5-8) as a function of the flow parameter. [2] Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that the flow parameter describes a specific volume flow of the at least one nozzle (9-12). [3] Device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized bythat the determining device (13) is designed to determine the quality parameter as a function of a deviation from a reference value of the flow parameter. [4] Device (1) according to claim 3, characterized by that the determining device (13) is designed to determine the reference value by averaging flow parameters from a plurality of introduction processes of the preservative fluid. [5] Device (1) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized by that the determining device (13) is designed to determine the reference value based on a time-rolling data set of certain flow parameters, in particular comprising a defined number of the last introduction processes. [6] Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized byin that the determining device (13) is designed to determine the flow parameter for at least two different tools (3, 4), wherein each tool (3, 4), in particular each nozzle (9-12), has an individual nozzle configuration and / or opening configuration. [7] Device (1) according to claim 6, characterized by in that the determining device (13) is designed to define different reference values ​​for flow parameters for different tools (3, 4), in particular for each tool (3, 4) and / or for each nozzle (9-12) and / or for each introduction process. [8] Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the determining device (13) is designed to identify a fault, in particular a pre-measured fault, as a function of the determined flow parameter. [9] Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the device (1) is designed to release the motor vehicle (2) and / or to subject it to a follow-up inspection and / or post-processing depending on the determined quality parameter. [10] Method for determining a quality parameter of a cavity preservation of motor vehicles (2), wherein a preservation fluid is introduced into at least one cavity (5-8) of a motor vehicle (2) by means of at least one tool (3, 4) having at least one nozzle (9-12) with a defined opening configuration, in particular in a spraying process, characterized by that a flow parameter, in particular a flow, of the preservation fluid through the at least one nozzle (9-12) is determined and, depending on the flow parameter, a quality parameter describing a quality of the preservation of the cavity (5-8) is determined.

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