Apparatus for testing watertightness of a railcar

• US 5,925,816 A
• Filed: 12/19/1997
• Issued: 07/20/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ABB Traction Incorporated (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: ABB Traction Incorporated (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Kovacs, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): LARKIN, DANIEL SEAN
• Application Number:
  US08/994,491
• Time in Patent Office: 578 Days
• Field of Search: 73/40, 73/49.2, 73/49.3, 73/52
• US Class Current: 73/40
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/146 for containers, e.g. radiators

Abstract

An apparatus for testing watertightness of a railcar comprises a blower fan apparatus with an exhaust duct and an exhaust outlet that can be sealed against an aperture in the railcar. The fan blower of the apparatus is capable of providing an airflow to the railcar to provide a pressure differential of between about 0.5 to about 2.5 inches of H₂ O between an interior of the railcar and an exterior of the railcar. The blower is operated to provide air to the railcar to provide a pressure differential, causing bubbles to form in a liquid solution applied to the exterior surface of the railcar. The railcar is marked for subsequent repair at locations where bubbles are detected.

Claims

1. A passenger railcar in combination with apparatus for testing watertightness of said passenger railcar, said apparatus comprising:

a fan blower having an electric motor and a blower, with an exhaust duct and an exhaust outlet;

means for locating said exhaust outlet adjacent an aperture in said passenger railcar;

means for sealing said exhaust outlet adjacent said aperture in said passenger railcar;

said fan blower being capable of providing an airflow to said passenger railcar to provide a pressure differential of between about 0.5 to about 2.5 inches of H₂ O between an interior of said passenger railcar and an exterior of said passenger railcar;

whereby a liquid solution having the ability to form bubbles may be applied to an exterior surface of said railcar and forms detectable bubbles by escape of air from said railcar at leakage points in said passenger railcar.

2. A passenger railcar and apparatus in accordance with claim 1, said fan blower being capable of providing an air flow to said railcar to provide a pressure differential of between about 1.5 to about 2.5 inches of H₂ O between said interior and said exterior of said passenger railcar.

3. A passenger railcar and apparatus in accordance with claim 2, said fan blower being capable of providing an airflow to said railcar to provide a pressure differential of about 2.0 inches H₂ O between said interior and said exterior of said passenger railcar.

4. A passenger railcar and apparatus in accordance with claim 1, said fan blower being capable of providing an airflow of 5300 cfm at a pressure differential of 1.0 inches H₂ O at ambient temperatures to said passenger railcar.

5. A passenger railcar and apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for locating said exhaust outlet comprises a mobile self-propelled land vehicle with a lifting apparatus for lifting said fan blower.

6. A passenger railcar and apparatus in accordance with claim 5, wherein said mobile self-propelled land vehicle comprises a fork lift.

7. A passenger railcar and apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said fan blower comprises a constant speed motor blower.

8. A passenger railcar and apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said aperture comprises a window in said passenger railcar.

9. Apparatus for testing watertightness of a passenger railcar, comprising:

a fan blower having an electric motor and a blower, with an exhaust duct and an exhaust outlet;

means for locating said exhaust outlet adjacent an aperture in said railcar;

means for sealing said exhaust outlet adjacent said aperture in said railcar;

said fan blower being capable of providing an airflow of at least 5300 cfm to said passenger railcar to provide a pressure differential of between about 1.0 to about 2.5 inches of H₂ O between an interior of said railcar and an exterior of said railcar although said passenger railcar may not be airtight even without any leaks, whereby a liquid solution having the ability to form bubbles may be applied to an exterior surface of said railcar and forms detectable bubbles by escape of air from said railcar at leakage points in said railcar.

10. Apparatus in accordance with claim 9, said fan blower being capable of providing an air flow to said railcar to provide a pressure differential of between about 1.5 to about 2.5 inches of H₂ O between said interior and said exterior of said railcar.

11. Apparatus in accordance with claim 10, said fan blower being capable of providing an airflow to said railcar to provide a pressure differential of about 2.0 inches H₂ O between said interior and said exterior of said railcar.

12. Apparatus in accordance with claim 9, wherein said means for locating said exhaust outlet comprises a mobile self-propelled land vehicle with a lifting apparatus for lifting said fan blower.

13. Apparatus in accordance with claim 9, wherein said mobile self-propelled land vehicle comprises a fork lift.

14. Apparatus in accordance with claim 9, wherein said fan blower comprises a constant speed motor blower.

15. Apparatus in accordance with claim 9, wherein said aperture comprises a window in said railcar.

16. A passenger railcar in combination with apparatus for testing watertightness of said passenger railcar, said apparatus comprising:

a fan blower having an electric motor and a blower, with an exhaust duct and an exhaust outlet;

means for locating said exhaust outlet adjacent an aperture in said passenger railcar;

means for sealing said exhaust outlet adjacent said aperture in said passenger railcar;

said fan blower being capable of providing an airflow of at least 5300 cfm to said passenger railcar to provide a pressure differential of between about 1.0 to about 2.5 inches of H₂ O between an interior of said passenger railcar and an exterior of said passenger railcar although said passenger railcar may not be airtight even without any leaks;

whereby a liquid solution having the ability to form bubbles may be applied to an exterior surface of said railcar and forms detectable bubbles by escape of air from said railcar at leakage points in said passenger railcar.

17. A passenger railcar and apparatus in accordance with claim 16, said fan blower being capable of providing an air flow to said railcar to provide a pressure differential of between about 1.5 to about 2.5 inches of H₂ O between said interior and said exterior of said railcar.

18. A passenger railcar and apparatus in accordance with claim 17, said fan blower being capable of providing an airflow to said railcar to provide a pressure differential of about 2.0 inches H₂ O between said interior and said exterior of said railcar.

19. A passenger railcar and apparatus in accordance with claim 16, wherein said means for locating said exhaust outlet comprises a mobile self-propelled land vehicle with a lifting apparatus for lifting said fan blower.

20. A passenger railcar and apparatus in accordance with claim 19, wherein said mobile self-propelled land vehicle comprises a fork lift.

21. A passenger railcar and apparatus in accordance with claim 16, wherein said fan blower comprises a constant speed motor blower.

22. A passenger railcar and apparatus in accordance with claim 16, wherein said aperture comprises a window in said railcar.