Repair method
The repair method for oil leaks in devices with liquid gaskets seals leaks by applying and scraping a coloring agent followed by a repair agent, addressing the inefficiency of disassembly-based repairs and ensuring adhesion in complex environments.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
- Filing Date
- 2024-11-15
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-27
AI Technical Summary
Existing methods for repairing oil leaks in devices using liquid gaskets require disassembly and reassembly, which is time-consuming.
A repair method involving applying a coloring agent of a different color, scraping it off, and then applying a repair agent to the joint area to seal the leak without disassembling the device.
The method effectively seals oil leaks without disassembling the equipment, ensuring reliable adhesion of the repair agent by removing adhesion-inhibiting layers and using fluorescent paint for visibility in dimly lit environments.
Smart Images
Figure 2026087131000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a repair method.
Background Art
[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a method for a device in which members are joined using a liquid gasket, FIPG (Formed In Place Gasket). After disassembling the device into members, a new FIPG is applied and then reassembled.
Prior Art Documents
Patent Documents
[0003]
Patent Document 1
Summary of the Invention
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0004] When oil leakage occurs from a joint portion by FIPG, as described in Patent Document 1, if the device is disassembled once, a new FIPG is applied and then reassembled, the work will take a long time.
Means for Solving the Problems
[0005] A repair method to solve the above problem is a repair method for repairing oil leakage from a joint, which is the part where multiple members are joined together by a liquid gasket, in a device in which multiple members are joined together by the liquid gasket. This repair method includes the step of applying a coloring agent of a different color from the coated surface to the portion of the surface of the device that surrounds the oil leakage location at the joint. The above repair method includes the step of scraping off the coated surface on which the coloring agent has been applied, along with the coloring agent, until no coloring agent remains. The above repair method includes the step of applying a repair agent that can adhere to both the liquid gasket joining the members together and the members themselves, to the portion where the coloring agent has been scraped off, so as to cover the oil leakage location. [Effects of the Invention]
[0006] The above repair method allows you to repair oil leaks without disassembling the equipment. [Brief explanation of the drawing]
[0007] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing the location of oil leaks in an engine. [Figure 2] Figure 2 shows the engine shown in Figure 1 viewed from a different direction. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a flowchart showing the procedure for the repair method according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram showing the area of the engine surface to be treated in the repair method of the embodiment. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram showing how the repair agent is applied to the engine in the repair method of the embodiment. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram showing an example of equipment to which the modified repair method can be applied. [Modes for carrying out the invention]
[0008] Below, one embodiment of the repair method will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 5. <Engine 10 Configuration> As shown in Figure 1, in the engine 10, the cylinder head 11 is assembled to the cylinder block 12. Hereafter, the component formed by combining the cylinder head 11 and the cylinder block 12 will be referred to as the engine body 20 of the engine 10.
[0009] As shown in Figure 1, a chain cover 13 is attached to the end of the engine body 20. The engine body 20 and the chain cover 13 are joined to each other by a liquid gasket 14. The liquid gasket 14 is a FIPG (Formed In Place Gasket).
[0010] As shown in Figure 1, the chain cover 13 is fastened to the end face of the engine body 20 by multiple bolts. The first bolt 15 fastens the chain cover 13 to the end face of the cylinder head 11 on the engine body 20. The second bolt 16 fastens the chain cover 13 to the end face of the cylinder block 12 on the engine body 20.
[0011] Figure 2 shows the engine 10 as viewed from position A in Figure 1, in the direction of the dotted arrow in Figure 1. The chain cover 13 is joined to the cylinder head 11 above the dashed line in Figure 2. The chain cover 13 is joined to the cylinder block 12 below the dashed line in Figure 2.
[0012] As shown in Figure 1, the liquid gasket 14 is bonded to the joint where the engine body 20 and the chain cover 13 are joined. The area outside the dashed line in Figure 2 is where the liquid gasket 14 is interposed between the engine body 20 and the chain cover 13. As shown in Figure 2, the liquid gasket 14 is bonded to the edge of the chain cover 13. The first bolt 15 and the second bolt 16 fasten the engine body 20 and the chain cover 13 together, passing through the liquid gasket 14.
[0013] Thus, the engine 10 is a device in which multiple components, including the cylinder head 11, the cylinder block 12, and the chain cover 13, are joined together via a liquid gasket 14.
[0014] If the area to which the liquid gasket 14 is applied is not properly cleaned, the liquid gasket 14 may not adhere sufficiently to the component, and oil leakage may occur from the joint between the components. In Figure 1, point PL, indicated by an X, shows an example of the location of an oil leak.
[0015] When the engine 10 starts from a cold state, the cylinder head 11 is the first to expand due to heat. At the joints between the cylinder head 11 and the chain cover 13, and between the cylinder block 12 and the chain cover 13, sufficient surface pressure is applied to the bolted sections, making oil leaks less likely. On the other hand, the sections between the bolts at the joints have lower surface pressure than the bolted sections. Therefore, as shown at point PL in Figure 1, the liquid gasket 14 is stretched as the cylinder head 11 expands in the section between the first bolt 15 and the second bolt 16 at the joint, making oil leaks more likely.
[0016] Figure 3 shows the procedure for repairing an oil leak from a joint in engine 10. The following describes the procedure for repairing the oil leak, referring to Figures 3 through 5.
[0017] <Procedure of repair method> As shown in FIG. 3, an operator attempting to repair an oil leak first cleans and degreases the portion around the oil leak location on the surface portion of the engine 10 in the operation of step S11. When starting the series of operations shown in FIG. 3, the liquid gasket 14 may be deformed and protrude outside the engine 10 from the joint portion. In the operation of step S11, when the liquid gasket 14 protrudes outside the engine 10 from the joint portion, the operator removes the protruding portion, which is the portion where the liquid gasket 14 protrudes from the engine 10.
[0018] FIG. 4 shows a range R, which is the portion to be processed in the repair method shown in FIG. 3, on the surface portion of the engine 10. The range R is set in a portion surrounding the oil leak location at the joint portion so as to include the entire oil leak location. As shown in FIG. 4, the range R is set to include the entire joint portion located between the first bolt 15 and the second bolt 16.
[0019] In the operation of step S11, the operator cleans and degreases the portion of the range R on the surface portion of the engine 10. Also, in the operation of step S11, when the liquid gasket 14 protrudes within the range R, the operator removes the protruding portion.
[0020] The operator who has performed the operation of step S11 then performs the operation of step S12. In the operation of step S12, the operator applies a coloring agent to the portion of the range R on the engine 10. At this time, the operator uses a paint that is a different color from the surface portion of the engine 10, which is the application surface, and the liquid gasket 14 and is a fluorescent color as the coloring agent. For example, in the operation of step S12, the operator colors the portion of the range R using a marker pen.
[0021] The worker who performed step S12 then proceeds to step S13. In step S13, the worker scrapes off the portion of the engine 10's surface that was colored in step S12, specifically the area R. At this time, the worker scrapes off the colored surface until no colorant remains, along with the colorant itself. The worker performs step S13 using, for example, a rotary tool.
[0022] The worker who performed step S13 then proceeds to step S14. In step S14, the worker cleans and degreases the area R that was removed in step S13.
[0023] The worker who performed step S14 then proceeds to step S15. In step S15, the worker applies the repair agent 17 to the engine 10. Figure 5 shows the application of the repair agent 17 to the engine 10.
[0024] The repair agent 17 can adhere to both the liquid gasket 14 that is joining components together in the engine 10 and the components in the engine 10. For example, the repair agent 17 is a liquid gasket 14 that has the property of adhering to the liquid gasket 14 that is already adhering to the engine 10 and joining components together.
[0025] In Figure 5, the repair agent 17 is applied along the joint within range R. In step S15, the worker applies the repair agent 17 to cover the oil leak area in the area where the coloring agent has been scraped off.
[0026] An adhesion-inhibiting layer may be formed on the surface of the engine 10 where an oil leak has occurred. This adhesion-inhibiting layer may be formed, for example, by a mold release agent used when the component was molded by die casting.
[0027] The repair agent 17 may adhere to the surface of the material by bonding with hydroxyl groups present on the material's surface. However, if the surface of the material is covered with an adhesion-inhibiting layer, the repair agent 17 cannot bond with the hydroxyl groups and adhere. Thus, the adhesion-inhibiting layer is a layer that inhibits the adhesion of the repair agent 17 to the material.
[0028] The repair method shown in Figure 3 involves coloring the area to which the repair agent 17 will adhere in step S12, and then removing the adhesion-inhibiting layer on the surface of the component by scraping off the colored portion in step S13. This allows the repair agent 17 applied in step S15 to adhere to the surface of the engine 10.
[0029] In step S15, the worker applies the repair agent 17 to the engine 10, completing the series of operations shown in Figure 3. The repair agent 17, which has adhered to the surface of the engine 10, seals the oil leak, thereby repairing the oil leak.
[0030] <Operation of this embodiment> In some cases, an adhesion-inhibiting layer may be formed on the surface of the component, which inhibits the adhesion of the repair agent 17 to the component. In this case, even if the repair agent 17 is applied to seal the oil leak, the repair agent 17 cannot be fixed to the oil leak location.
[0031] The above repair method involves removing the adhesion-inhibiting layer and then applying the repair agent 17 to seal the oil leak. This allows the repair agent 17 to adhere to the oil leak. <Effects of this embodiment> (1) The above repair method can stop oil leaks by applying the repair agent 17 to the oil leak location. As a result, the above repair method can repair oil leaks without disassembling the equipment.
[0032] (2) The repair method is as follows: In an engine 10 in which a chain cover 13 is attached to the end of the engine body 20, which is assembled to the cylinder block 12 with the cylinder head 11, via a liquid gasket 14, if the oil leak is located at the joint between the first bolt 15 and the second bolt 16, apply a coloring agent to the area including the entire joint between the first bolt 15 and the second bolt 16.
[0033] If the area to be colored is set too narrowly, the treatment of the area to which the repair agent 17 is to be bonded may be insufficient. In the above repair method, when oil leakage occurs between the first bolt 15 and the second bolt 16, the area to be colored is determined so as to include the entire joint located between the bolted parts. This allows the above repair method to set the colored area to a range that can reliably cover the oil leak. Furthermore, with the above repair method, the colored area is set using the position of the bolt as a guide, making it easy for the worker to set the range.
[0034] (3) The repair method uses fluorescent paint as a coloring agent. It is possible that the oil leak may need to be repaired in a dimly lit place, such as when the equipment is installed in a vehicle. Therefore, it is desirable that the coloring agent be a color that makes the colored area easily visible. The above repair method involves applying fluorescent paint to the component. This makes it easy for the worker to see the area to be scraped.
[0035] (4) The repair method includes a step (S11) of cleaning and degreasing the area to be treated with the coloring agent before applying the coloring agent. The repair method also includes a step (S14) of cleaning and degreasing the area that has been scraped off after the area to which the coloring agent has been applied has been scraped off.
[0036] If the material is contaminated with mud or oil, the coloring agent will not adhere well. Also, if the coloring agent is scraped off, debris may remain on the scraped area. In this case, the repair agent 17 will not adhere well to the scraped area.
[0037] In the above repair method, the treated area is cleaned and degreased before coloring and after scraping off the colored portion. This makes it easier for the coloring agent and repair agent 17 to adhere to the surface.
[0038] <Example of changes> The above embodiment can be implemented with the following modifications. The above embodiment and the following modifications can be combined with each other to the extent that they do not contradict each other technically.
[0039] In the example above, an oil leak occurring at the joint between the first bolt 15 and the second bolt 16 in engine 10 is being repaired. The repair method can be applied to other locations as well.
[0040] The repair method can be applied to any oil leak occurring at a joint in the engine 10, even if the oil leak is not located between the first bolt 15 and the second bolt 16. The repair method can be applied to equipment other than the engine 10. Figure 6 shows an example of equipment to which the modified repair method can be applied. The equipment shown in Figure 6 comprises a first member 18 and a second member 19 as components. The first member 18 and the second member 19 are joined to each other by a liquid gasket 14.
[0041] In Figure 6, point PL2, indicated by an "X," shows an example of the location of an oil leak. The repair method is applicable when oil leaks occur at joints in equipment where multiple components are joined together by a liquid gasket 14, as shown in Figure 6. For example, the repair method can be applied to a transmission where multiple components are joined together via a liquid gasket 14.
[0042] The above repair method applies treatment to a portion of the joint R, which includes the entire joint located between the first bolt 15 and the second bolt 16. The area treated in the repair method is not limited to the above-described portion of the joint R. For example, the area treated in the repair method may include a portion of the joint located between the first bolt 15 and the second bolt 16.
[0043] • The repair method does not require the use of fluorescent paint as a coloring agent. The repair method does not necessarily include a step of cleaning and degreasing the area to be treated with the coloring agent before applying the coloring agent. The repair method does not necessarily include a step of cleaning and degreasing the area after scraping off the area to which the coloring agent has been applied. [Explanation of Symbols]
[0044] 10...Engine, 11...Cylinder head, 12...Cylinder block, 13...Chain cover, 14...Liquid gasket, 15...First bolt, 16...Second bolt, 17...Repair agent, 18...First component, 19...Second component, 20...Engine body
Claims
1. This is a repair method for repairing oil leakage from a joint, which is the portion where multiple components are joined together by a liquid gasket, in a device in which multiple components are joined together by a liquid gasket. The steps include applying a coloring agent of a different color from the coated surface to the portion of the surface of the equipment that surrounds the oil leak location at the joint, The steps include scraping off the coated surface to which the coloring agent has been applied, along with the coloring agent, until no coloring agent remains. The step of applying a repair agent that can adhere to both the liquid gasket joining the aforementioned members and the aforementioned members to the portion where the coloring agent has been scraped off, so as to cover the oil leak location. including Repair method.
2. In an engine in which a chain cover is attached to the end of the engine body, which has the cylinder head assembled to the cylinder block, via the liquid gasket, The joint located between the first bolt that fastens the chain cover to the end face of the cylinder head in the engine body and the second bolt that fastens the chain cover to the end face of the cylinder block in the engine body, If the aforementioned oil leak location is present, The coloring agent is applied to the area including the entire joint located between the first bolt and the second bolt. The repair method according to claim 1.
3. As the coloring agent, fluorescent paint is used. The repair method according to claim 1 or claim 2.
4. Before applying the coloring agent, the step of cleaning and degreasing the area to which the coloring agent will be applied, The steps include: after scraping off the portion to which the coloring agent has been applied, cleaning and degreasing the scraped portion; including The repair method according to claim 1 or claim 2.