Method And System For Leak Testing Enclosures

• US 20200132566A1
• Filed: 03/14/2018
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bridgestone Bandag LLC (Bridgestone Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bridgestone Bandag LLC (Bridgestone Corporation)
• Inventors: ABRAHAM, Matthew J., TAYLOR, Seth D.
• Granted Patent: US 11,143,570 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 2030/0066 Tyre quality control during manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 30/0061 Accessories, details or auxiliary operations not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 17/02 Tyres
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/027 Details with respect to the testing of elastic elements, e.g. gloves, condoms
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/3218 for flexible or elastic containers

Abstract

A system for leak testing an envelope for a tire assembly can include a rim, an envelope sized to accommodate a green tire assembly and secured to the rim, a vacuum system in fluid communication with the envelope, and a controller. The controller can be configured to pressurize the envelope to a predetermined pressure, compare a slope of pressure over time to a predetermined value, and enable proceeding with a depressurization of the envelope responsive to determining the slope of the pressure over time being more than or equal to the predetermined value.

Claims

1. A system for leak testing an envelope for a tire assembly, the system comprising:

a rim;

an envelope sized to accommodate a green tire assembly and secured to the rim;

a vacuum system in fluid communication with the envelope; and

a controller configured to;

depressurize the envelope to a predetermined vacuum;

compare a slope of vacuum over time to a predetermined value; and

enable proceeding with a depressurization of the envelope responsive to determining the slope of the vacuum over time being less than or equal to the predetermined value.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the vacuum system comprises a Venturi vacuum system.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to:

activate an indicator responsive to determining the slope of the vacuum over time being more than the predetermined value.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the indicator is a warning lamp.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the indicator is an audible indicator.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein enabling proceeding with the depressurization of the envelope comprises setting a parameter value.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein enabling proceeding with the depressurization of the envelope comprises activating a switch to enable a button or other physical component to be actuated.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined vacuum is at or above −

14.7 psi.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein comparing the slope of the vacuum over time to the predetermined value comprises accessing data indicative of one or more pressure sensor measurements.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined value is between −

0 psi per second and −

1 psi per second.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the vacuum system is in fluid communication with a plurality of envelopes.

12. A process for leak testing an envelope for a tire assembly, the process comprising:

pressurizing an envelope containing a green tire assembly mounted to a rim to a predetermined pressure using a vacuum system;

comparing a slope of vacuum over time to a predetermined value; and

enabling proceeding with a depressurization of the envelope responsive to determining the slope of the vacuum over time being less than or equal to the predetermined value or activating an indicator responsive to determining the slope of the vacuum over time being more than the predetermined value.

13. The process of claim 12, wherein the vacuum system comprises a Venturi vacuum system.

14. The process of claim 12, wherein the indicator is a warning lamp or an audible indicator.

15. The process of claim 12, wherein the predetermined vacuum is at or above −

14.7 psi.

16. The process of claim 12, wherein the vacuum system is in fluid communication with a plurality of envelopes.

17. The process of claim 12, wherein enabling proceeding with the depressurization of the envelope comprises activating a switch to enable a button or other physical component to be actuated.

18. An apparatus for leak testing an envelope for a tire assembly, the apparatus comprising:

a vacuum system in fluid communication with an envelope, the envelope sized to accommodate a green tire assembly; and

a controller configured to;

depressurize the envelope to a predetermined vacuum;

compare a slope of vacuum over time to a predetermined value; and

enable proceeding with a depressurization of the envelope responsive to determining the slope of the vacuum over time being less than or equal to the predetermined value.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the vacuum system comprises a Venturi vacuum system.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the predetermined vacuum is at or above −

14.7 psi.