Pneumatic glove tester with clamping wire

Abstract

The invention relates to a pneumatic testing device for an electrically insulating glove (4), comprising: a bellows (1) and an inflation button (11), the bellows being configured to compress when a pressure is applied to an upper face (111) of the inflation button (11); an intermediate section disposed between a lower portion (13) of the bellows (1) and a fitting portion (3); the fitting portion (3) being configured to be inserted into the sleeve of a glove (4), the fitting portion (3) comprising an air outlet valve configured to convey the air coming from the compression of the bellows (1); an elastic cord (22) attached at the intermediate section (2) to the attachment point (23), the elastic cord (1) being configured to surround the glove (4) on the fitting portion (3) and to hold it by tightly clamping the glove (4).

Description

[0001] PNEUMATIC GLOVE TESTER WITH TIGHTENING WIRE

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] This application generally concerns the field of personal protective equipment (PPE), and more specifically pneumatic testers used to ensure the conformity of insulating gloves.

[0004] STATE OF THE ART

[0005] PPE is an essential safety element designed to ensure the physical safety of an operator in the face of the inherent dangers of their mission. For example, in the European Union, PPE is classified into three categories, and in the United States into four categories, depending on the severity of the risk they protect against.

[0006] In this context, insulating gloves intended for work on an electrical network are generally among the highest categories of PPE, due to the very severe bodily damage that electrocution can potentially cause.

[0007] Ensuring the functional integrity of this equipment throughout its lifetime is therefore essential and requires the user to carry out visual checks by inflation before each use. Such a test is recommended in particular by the EN 60903 and IEC 60903 standards. These checks make it possible to detect a breach in the glove's integrity by detecting possible air leaks, but above all, thanks to its expansion, to carry out a meticulous inspection of the entire external surface of the glove to detect possible cuts, stains, burns and other alterations. The use of suitable devices for insulating glove inflation is supposed to improve these checks by making them quick and easy to carry out.

[0008] However, the Applicant has noticed that these pneumatic testers suffer from several drawbacks. Firstly, it is very difficult to place the glove on the tester, because the seal is achieved by wide elastic bands or independent hook-and-loop fasteners, which are liable to come loose.

[0009] Second, removing the insulating glove from these pneumatic testers after the test procedure involves a sudden decompression that can eject the insulating glove from the user's hands, the elastic or hook-and-loop fasteners, or even the tester itself.

[0010] STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0011] An aim of the present application is to remedy the aforementioned drawbacks by proposing a new pneumatic tester. For this purpose, according to a first aspect of the invention, a pneumatic testing device for an electrically insulating glove is proposed, comprising:

[0012] - a bellows and an inflation button disposed at the top of the bellows, the bellows being configured to compress when pressure is exerted on an upper face of the inflation button;

[0013] - an intermediate section arranged between a lower part of the bellows and a fitting part;

[0014] - the fitting portion being configured to be inserted into the sleeve of a glove, the fitting portion comprising an air outlet valve configured to bring the air resulting from the compression of the bellows into the glove for inflating the glove;

[0015] - an elastic cord attached to the intermediate section at the attachment point and a free end, the elastic cord being configured to surround the glove on the fitting part and hold it by providing a tight fit on the glove.

[0016] The device is advantageously completed by the following characteristics, taken alone or in any of their technically possible combinations: a depressurization button configured to allow controlled evacuation of air from the glove to be tested when said depressurization button is pressed. said intermediate section comprises at least one locking notch configured to receive and lock the free end of the elastic cord tightened on the glove. the intermediate section comprises a disc edge on the periphery of which are distributed several notches configured to receive and lock the free end of the elastic cord tightened on the glove. the depressurization button is arranged on the intermediate section. a flexible ring adapted to be arranged on the fitting part. a magnet for fixing the device, said magnet being housed in the inflation button.the bellows is configured to adopt a stable position when the inflation button compresses the bellows beyond the intermediate section.

[0017] The invention also relates in its first aspect to a method of using the test device according to the invention, the method comprising steps in which:

[0018] - a fitting part of a device according to one of the preceding claims is inserted into the sleeve of a glove to be tested,

[0019] - the elastic cord of said device is tightened around the glove and the fitting part,

[0020] - the glove is inflated by pressing the inflation button. The process is advantageously completed by the following steps:

[0021] - the free end of the elastic cord is put in place and locked on a notch in the intermediate part.

[0022] - after checking the glove, the depressurization button is pressed to evacuate the air from the glove in a controlled manner.

[0023] According to a second aspect of the invention, there is also provided a pneumatic testing device for an electrically insulating glove, comprising:

[0024] - a bellows and an inflation button;

[0025] - a fitting portion configured to be inserted into the sleeve of a glove, said fitting portion comprising an air outlet valve for inflating the glove with air from the bellows; said device comprising a depressurization button configured to allow controlled evacuation of air from the glove to be tested when said depressurization button is pressed.

[0026] The device according to the second aspect of the invention is advantageously supplemented by the following characteristics, taken alone or in any of their technically possible combinations:

[0027] - the depressurization button is arranged on a section which is intermediate between on the one hand the bellows and the inflation button and on the other hand the fitting part;

[0028] The invention also relates in its second aspect to a method of using the test device according to the invention, the method comprising steps in which:

[0029] - a fitting part of a device of the aforementioned type is inserted into the sleeve of a glove to be tested,

[0030] - the glove is inflated by pressing the inflation button,

[0031] - after checking the glove, the depressurization button is pressed to evacuate the air from the glove in a controlled manner.

[0032] The method according to the second aspect of the invention is supplemented by the following steps when technically possible:

[0033] - after inserting the sleeve of the glove onto the fitting part of a device according to the invention, the elastic cord of said device is tightened around the glove and the fitting part; - the end of the elastic cord is put in place and locked onto a notch in the intermediate part.

[0034] DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

[0035] Other characteristics, aims and advantages of the invention will emerge from the following description, which is purely illustrative and non-limiting, and which must be read in conjunction with the appended drawings in which:

[0036] Figure 1 illustrates a schematic view of the device on which the glove to be tested is not inflated and the elastic cord is not held;

[0037] Figure 2 illustrates a schematic view of the device in operation, where the glove to be tested is under pressure and the elastic cord is held stationary;

[0038] Figure 3 illustrates a schematic view of the device alone, in a configuration made compact by folding the bellows;

[0039] Figure 4 illustrates a schematic sectional view of the pressure relief button.

[0040] Throughout the figures, similar elements have identical references.

[0041] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0042] Figure 1 illustrates the pneumatic device and a glove to be tested 4 in a pre-test configuration. The main body consists of three sections from top to bottom. The first section consists of a flexible bellows 1 at the top of which is arranged an inflation button 11. The bellows 1 is capable of being compressed so as to vary its internal volume. The bellows 1 has a shape which flares from the inflation button 11 towards an intermediate section 2 of the pneumatic device.

[0043] The inflation button 11 is rigid and comprises an upper face 111 intended to receive a pressure compressing the bellows 1, that is to say that pressing the inflation button 11 reduces the internal volume of the bellows 1, in order to expel the air that it contains towards the intermediate section 2 of the pneumatic device. When the pressure on the inflation button 11 is released, the flexibility of the bellows 1 causes its internal volume to increase until it returns to the initial volume, by sucking in air through a valve not shown.

[0044] The inflation button 11 is in the form of a disc that is more rigid than the bellows 1. Preferably, the inflation button 11 comprises on its upper face a magnet 12, for example in the form of a ring, sized to make the device adhere to a ferromagnetic surface, for example a horizontal wall of a vehicle, in order to store it more easily.

[0045] In another embodiment, the bellows 1, made of flexible material, is capable of being compressed to reach a fixed position illustrated in Figure 3. This fixed position, in which the bellows 1 has a reduced profile, is reached for example by pressing the inflation button 11 at its top until it is beyond the intermediate section 2, the bellows 1 then being at least partially turned back on itself. In this configuration, the pneumatic tester has a reduced volume which makes it easier to store.

[0046] The second section 2 is rigid and has a disc-shaped profile with a larger diameter than that of the first section. This section 2 includes an attachment point 23 where a fixed end of an elastic cord 22 is located. On the edge of the disc of section 2 there is one or more radial notches 24 configured so that the elastic cord 22 can be received and blocked therein. Section 2 also includes a depressurization button 25.

[0047] A third section 3 is a generally cylindrical part, onto which the glove 4 is fitted thanks to its own elasticity, the section 3 preferably being of a diameter greater than that of standard insulating gloves 4. The lower face of the section 3 comprises an air outlet valve (not shown) pumped by the bellows 1 when pressure is exerted on the inflation button 11. The back and forth movement of the bellows 1 makes it possible to bring air into the gain depending on the pressure exerted on the bellows 1 via the inflation button 11.

[0048] Typically, the various parts that make up the device (with the exception of the spring such as spring 26 and the elastic cord 22) are molded parts made of Polypropylene or Polyvinyl Chloride or Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) or Ethylene-Propylene-Diene Monomer (EPDM). The diameter of the fitting part (section 3) is between 1 and 30 centimeters, while the disc has a diameter between 10 and 40 centimeters. It is also provided as a variant to mount a flexible ring (not shown in the figures), with a diameter between 1 and 5 centimeters, on section 3 to increase the overall diameter in order to fit insulating gloves 4 of any size. The overall diameter without the flexible ring is typically between 10 and 13 centimeters, and with the flexible ring between 13 and 15 centimeters.

[0049] Elastic cable 22 is a cable wrapped in a protective sheath or a single-material elastic cord without a sheath, of length and diameter adapted to the application.

[0050] Figure 2 illustrates a mode of operation of the device illustrated in Figure 1. Repeated presses on the inflation button 11 actuate the bellows 1, which blows air into the glove to be tested 4.

[0051] The latter, fitted onto the fitting part 3, is held in place by the elastic cord 22. The elastic cord 22 is preferably wound in several turns (2 to 5 for example) around the part fitted onto the section 3 of the glove to be tested 4. After winding, the remaining length of the elastic cord 22 is wedged in a notch 24 configured to immobilize it, for example by pinching. The elastic cord 22 is thus put under tension between its free end 222 at the attachment point 23 and an immobilization point at the notch 24. This tension blocks the glove to be tested 4 in place and allows the elastic cord 22 to ensure the tightness of the glove to be tested 4 against the pressure of the air blown in by the bellows 1. At the end of the test procedure, the user releases the air from the glove 4 in a controlled manner by pressing the depressurization button 25.The depressurization button 25 (figure 4) is for example a valve normally closed by a spring 26 mounted on a stud 27.

[0052] He then removes the elastic cord 22 from its notch 24 and releases the tightening of the glove 4 which can then be used if no fault has been observed during the inspection. Such an arrangement allows for an improvement in ergonomics and facilitates the user's operations. The elastic cord 22, integral with the test device because it is fixed to the fixing point 23, allows easy installation of the glove to be tested 4 on the device by holding the device in one hand and the elastic cord 22 in the other to be wound and then wedged in a notch 24.

[0053] Subsequently, the depressurization button 25 allows a gradual exit of the air from inside the glove to be tested 4, unlike the models of the prior art where the fasteners of the glove to be tested 4 had to be removed directly, which caused a detrimental expulsion of the glove under the effect of the pressure.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Pneumatic testing device for electrically insulating glove (4), comprising: - a bellows (1) and an inflation button (11) arranged at the top of the bellows (1), the bellows being configured to compress when pressure is exerted on an upper face (111) of the inflation button (11); - an intermediate section arranged between a lower part (13) of the bellows (1) and a fitting part (3); - the fitting part (3) being configured to be inserted into the sleeve of a glove (4), the fitting part (3) comprising an air outlet valve configured to bring the air resulting from the compression of the bellows (1) into the glove (4) for inflating the glove (4); - an elastic cord (22) attached to the intermediate section (2) at the attachment point (23) and a free end (222), the elastic cord (1) being configured to surround the glove (4) on the fitting part (3) and hold it by providing a tight tightening on the glove (4).

2. Device according to claim 1, comprising a depressurization button (25) configured to allow controlled evacuation of air from the glove to be tested (4) when said depressurization button (25) is pressed.

3. Device according to one of claims 1 and 2, in which said intermediate section (2) comprises at least one locking notch (24) configured to receive and lock the free end (222) of the elastic cord (22) tightened on the glove (4).

4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, in which the intermediate section (2) comprises a disc edge at the periphery of which are distributed several notches (24) configured to receive and block the free end (222) of the elastic cord (22) tightened on the glove (4).

5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, in which the depressurization button (25) is arranged on the intermediate section (2).

6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a flexible ring adapted to be arranged on the fitting part (3).

7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a magnet (12) for fixing the device, said magnet (12) being housed in the inflation button (11).

8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, in which the bellows (1) is configured to adopt a stable position when the inflation button (11) compresses the bellows beyond the intermediate section (2).

9. Pneumatic testing method for electrically insulating glove (4), wherein - a fitting part (3) of a device according to one of the preceding claims is inserted into the sleeve of a glove (4) to be tested, - the elastic cord (22) of said device is tightened around the glove (4) and the fitting part (3), - the glove (4) is inflated by pressing the inflation button (11).

10. Method according to claim 9, in which, the device being a device according to one of claims 2 or 3, the free end (222) of the elastic cord (22) is put in place and locked on a notch (24) of the intermediate part (2).

11. Method according to one of claims 9 or 10, in which, the device being a device according to one of claims 4 or 5, after checking the glove (4), the depressurization button (25) is actuated to evacuate the air from the glove (4) in a controlled manner.

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