MXPA06004439A - Compression tester adapter apparatus and method - Google Patents

Abstract

A compression tester adapter includes a plug fitting, a connector fitting and a flexible hose connected to the plug fitting and to the connector fitting to adapt a standard internal combustion engine cylinder compression tester hose assembly to a 16-millimeter threaded spark plug socket in an internal combustion engine cylinder head.

Description

COMPRESSION TEST ADAPTER APPARATUS AND METHOD FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to engine diagnostics. More particularly, the present invention relates to compression testers of internal combustion engine cylinder.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Compression testers are used to measure the compression pressure in a single cylinder of an internal combustion engine. A typical compression tester consists of a compression pressure gauge with a pressure measurement range, for example, 0-300 pounds per square inch (Puig), and a compression pressure hose assembly that attaches to the meter of compression pressure. Typically, the compression tester hose assembly connects to a receptacle in a motor cylinder head. Therefore, the spark plug is removed from the cylinder head, and the compression tester hose assembly is screwed into the spark plug hole, or receptacle, in order to establish a fluid communication between the compression pressure gauge and the cylinder motor. The motor is then driven for several revolutions, typically using the motor igniter, in order to measure the maximum compression pressure in the motor cylinder.

Compression pressure is used to test internal combustion test engines for proper compression for each cylinder. Improper compression can cause rough running or running, explosions and poor fuel economy. Low compression in a cylinder can be an indication of worn or damaged piston rings, valves, head gasket and timing chain worn or damaged. A high compression reading may indicate an accumulation of carbon in the cylinder. If the compression pressure gauge remains at the same value for several strokes, and then begins to rise, the cylinder may have a stuck valve.

Standard spark plug receptacles typically include nominal threads of 14 millimeters (mm), nominal threads of 18 millimeters, nominal threads of 12 millimeters or nominal threads of 10 millimeters. However, some newer engines use other spark plug thread sizes. For example, the Ford Tritonmarc three-valve V8 engine family uses 16-millimeter nominal threads. In addition, the spark plug receptacles on the Ford Tritonmarca three-valve V8 engines are located in the spark plug wells that are relatively deep, and the spark plug receptacles include a sealing surface at the inner end of the receptacle. Therefore, it is desirable to provide a method and apparatus for compression testing of an engine with nominal 16 millimeter spark plug receptacles located in relatively deep spark plug wells having a sealing surface at the inner end of the receptacle.

SYNTHESIS OF THE INVENTION The above requirements are satisfied, to a large extent, by the present invention, wherein in one aspect an apparatus is provided which in some embodiments facilitates the compression test of a motor that includes nominal 16-mm spark plug receptacles in spark plug wells relatively deep ones having a sealing surface at an inner end of the receptacle.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a compression tester adapter includes a generally cylindrical plug fitting which has an external thread, a cylinder segment and a plug end. The external thread and the cylinder segment have a combined axial length greater than 0.75 inches. The compression tester adapter also includes a connector fitting with a clamping interconnect, and a hose attached to the plug fitting and connector fitting.

According to another aspect of the invention, a compression tester adapter includes means for engaging a threaded plug receptacle in an internal combustion engine cylinder head when the distance from the upper end from the spark plug socket thread to the cylinder chamber is greater than 0.75 inches. The compression tester adapter also includes means for clamping a compression tester spark plug hose and flexible means for transmitting a compressed gas. further, the compression tester adapter includes means for fixing the flexible means for transmitting to the means for engaging and the means for fastening.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a method for adapting a compression tester spark plug hose for use with a spark plug receptacle includes the step of engaging a threaded spark plug receptacle on an internal combustion engine cylinder head. , when the distance from the top end of the spark plug socket thread to the cylinder chamber is greater than 0.75 inches. The method also includes holding a compression tester spark plug hose and transmitting a compressed gas.

Therefore, certain incorporations of the invention have been delineated, rather broadly, so that the detailed description thereof can be understood here better, and in order that the present contribution to the art can be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional embodiments of the invention that will be described below and which will form the subject matter of the appended claims thereto.

In this aspect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. . The invention is capable of incorporations in addition to those described that are being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is understood that the phraseology and terminology used here, as well as the extract, are for the purposes of description and should not be seen as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception on which this description is based can easily be used as a basis for the design of other structures, methods and systems to carry out various purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be seen as including such equivalent constructions in that they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 illustrates an exemplary compression tester configuration that includes a compression tester adapter according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view illustrating the compression tester adapter of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detailed view of a plug fitting that is compatible with the compression tester adapter.

Figure 4 is a detailed view of a connector fitting that is compatible with the compression tester adapter of Figure 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The invention will now be described with reference to the figures of the drawings, in which like reference numbers refer to like parts. An embodiment in accordance with the present invention provides a compression tester adapter for adapting a standard compression tester hose assembly for connection to a nominal 16 millimeter (mm) threaded plug receptacle.

The compression tester adapter includes a plug fitting, a connector fitting and a flexible hose connected to the plug fitting and connector fitting, providing a sealed and uninterrupted fluid communication between a hole in the plug fitting and a clamping interconnect of the connector accessory.

An embodiment of the present apparatus of the invention and the method is illustrated in Figure 1. In said Figure 1 a compression tester 10 is shown including a compression pressure gauge 12, a compression tester hose assembly 14 and a compression tester adapter 16. Compression tester adapter 16 allows it to be connected to the standard compression tester hose assembly 14 to a spark plug socket 18 with 16 mm nominal threads in an inner compression motor cylinder head twenty.

The compression tester adapter 16 and the compression tester hose assembly 14 allow the connection of the compression pressure gauge 12 to the cylinder head 20 in order to provide fluid communication between a cylinder and the motor and gauge. compression pressure 12. Therefore, when the motor is driven through typically three or more revolutions, the compression pressure gauge 12 perceives the maximum compression pressure developed in the engine cylinder. A typical compression pressure gauge 12 is capable of measuring pressures in a range of, for example, up to 0-300 pounds per square inch.

An embodiment of the compression tester adapter 16 is illustrated in FIG. 2. The compression tester adapter 16 includes a plug fitting 22 and a connector fitting 24, which are connected to the two ends of a flexible hose 26. In FIG. A preferred embodiment of the invention, the flexible hose 26 is approximately 4.31 inches in length, allowing access to the spark plug receptacle located at the bottom of a spark plug well of relative depth, eg, more than two inches deep. This configuration has the advantage that the compression tester 10 (see Figure 1) can be adapted to reach the 18-inch spark plug receptacle, for example, a Ford Tritonmarca three-valve engine, including the V8 versions of 4.6 liters and of 5.4 liters.

As shown in Fig. 2, the plug fitting adapter 16 adapter 22 includes a cylinder segment 28 with the external threads 30 configured to engage the internal threads of nominal size 16 millimeters, and an orifice 72 to allow the entry of compressed air from a motor cylinder into the compression tester adapter 16. The plug fitting 22 is fixedly attached to the flexible hose 26 using a crimped reinforcing clamp 34.

The compression tester adapter 16 also includes a connector fitting 24, which has a diamond protrusion 36 or on its outer surface to assist in manual rotation of the compression fitting 16 in order to screw the plug fitting 22 into a receptacle of spark plug 18 (see figure 1). The connector fitting 24 is fixedly fastened to the flexible hose 236 with a crimped clamp 40, and includes a clamping interconnect 38. As a preferred embodiment of the invention, the clamping interconnect 38 includes the internal threads, for example, the nominal threads of 14 mm. The clamping interconnect 38 allows the clamping of the compression tester adapter 16 to a standard compression tester hose assembly 14 (see Figure 1) as those included with the Kal Equip® 2504 and 2506 models, and the CP7828 and CP7827 Actron® manufactured by Actron, Inc., of Ohio, United States of America.

Figure 3 illustrates a plug fitting 22 according to an embodiment of the invention. The plug fitting 22 includes a flange segment 42 near the plug end which is inserted into the spark plug receptacle 18 (Figure 1). The flange segment 42 provides a guide surface for centering the plug fitting 22 in a spark plug receptacle. The plug fitting 22 also includes a packing seat 44 with a diameter smaller than that of the flange segment 42, between the flange segment 42 and a cylinder segment 28, which has a diameter larger than that of the segment of flange 42 For example, a preferred embodiment of the plug fitting 22 includes a flange segment 42 with a diameter of approximately 0.375 inches, a packing seat 44 with a diameter of approximately 0.25 inches, and a cylinder segment 28 with a diameter of approximately of 0.55 inches. In this preferred example embodiment, the flange segment 42 is approximately 0.125 inches wide with a 0.03 inch by 45 ° chamfer at the plug end, the packing seat 44 is approximately 0.156 inches wide, and the cylinder segment 28 is approximately 0.37 inches wide with a 0.03 inch by 45 ° chamfer at its plug end. (Alternatively, these widths can be referred to axial lengths).

An external nominal metric thread of 16 millimeters 30 or threads that can be configured generally in compliance with the International Standards Organization (ISO) specification 261, is machined into the outer surface of the cylinder segment 28. For example, in a preferred embodiment, the external thread 30 has a nominal diameter of approximately 0.63 inches and a maximum final tilt diameter of 0.5915 inches (after a plate finish has been applied to the plug fitting 22) with an axial length about 0.5 inch and a 0.03 inch by 45 ° chamfer at the thread plug end, and the cylinder segment 28 continues approximately 0.09 inch beyond the outer end of the thread. The plug fitting 22 also includes an eyebrow segment 42 with a diameter larger than that of the cylinder segment 28. At the end of the plug fitting 22 opposite the flange segment 42 is a tube end 48 of the plug fitting 22 , which includes a tube segment 50 and a hose connector segment 54. The tube segment 50 includes a straight protrusion 52 and the hose connector segment 54 includes a serrated edge profile 56, which helps hold the flexible hose 26 (see figure 2) to plug fitting 22.

The plug fitting 22 further includes an internal air duct 58 comprising a cylindrical hole, eg, 0.110 inch in diameter, through the center of the plug fitting 22 along its longitudinal axis with a hole 60 in the plug, or flange, end and an opening 62 in the tube end 48. The plug end of the flange segment 42 and the cylinder segment 28 are machined with a chamfered edge 64 and 66 to prevent damage to the plug fitting 22 or to the spark plug receptacle threads when the plug fitting is inserted into the spark plug receptacle.

The plug fitting is configured to accommodate a gasket 68 in the packing seat 44 to seal against a tapered edge at the bottom of the spark plug receptacle 18 (see Figure 1). The gasket 68 is retained by the shoulders of the flange segment 42 and the cylinder segment 28. A preferred embodiment of the plug fitting 22 includes a ring type gasket 0 68 made of an elastic material that conforms to the seat surface of packing 44, such as natural or artificial rubber, or an elastomer which provides a waterproof seal against the tapered bottom edge of the spark plug receptacle 18 to facilitate measurement of the maximum compression pressure developed in the motor cylinder.

The 16 mm nominal external threads 30 on the plug fitting 22 shown in Fig. 3 have a tilt diameter, an outer or crest diameter, an internal or root diameter of approximately 16 millimeters and a shape similar to that of the threads of a model number PZT2FE Motorcraft® spark plug, available from Ford Motor Company of Michigan, United States of America. However, the precise diameter and shape of the external threads 30 on the plug fitting 22 depends on the specification or the standard required by the design of the compression tester adapter in order to match the threads of a plug adapter. particular spark plug 18. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the external threads 30 of the plug fitting 22 are configured in accordance with the specification of the International Standards Organization (ISO) 261 of the 16 mm metric nominal thread standard, M16 x 1.5-6G. Other embodiments of the invention may include variations of this standard thread or another 16 mm nominal thread standard. The compression tester adapter facilitates the use of an existing compression tester with an engine that includes a nominal 16-millimeter spark plug receptacle, such as the Ford Tritonmarca three-valve V8 engine family.

An embodiment of the connector fitting 24 is illustrated in Figure 4. The connector fitting 24 includes a cylinder segment 70 with a diamond protrusion 36 machined on the outer surface of the cylinder segment 70. The cylinder segment 70 includes a chamfered edge in the cylinder segment 70. each of said ends 72 and 74. Some preferred embodiments of the invention include a receptacle 76 with the internal threads 78 to provide a holding interconnect 38.

A preferred embodiment of the compression tester adapter includes a connector fitting 24 with internal threads 78 configured in accordance with the specification of the International Standards Organization (ISO) nominal thread standard of 261 metric 14 millimeters, M14 x 1.25-6H. Various embodiments of the compression tester adapter include a clamping interconnect 38 or receptacle 76 with standard threads dimensioned differently, for example, nominal threads of 14 millimeters, nominal threads of 18 millimeters, nominal threads of 12 millimeters or nominal threads of 10 millimeters The receptacle 76 opens on an internal air duct 80, which comprises a cylindrical hole, for example 0.110 inches in diameter, through the center of the connector fitting 24 along its longitudinal axis with an opening 82 in the tube end or in the opposite of the connector accessory 24. In this end of the connector fitting 24 is a tube end 84 comprising a tube segment 86 and a hose connector segment 88. Tube segment 86 includes a straight protrusion 90 and hose connector segment 88 includes a serrated edge profile 92, which aids in the attachment of flexible hose 26 ( see figure 2) to connector fitting 24.

Although the connector fitting 24 shown in FIG. 4 includes a receptacle 76 with internal threads 78, the fastening interconnect 38 of attachment fitting 24 in other embodiments may include any suitable connector interconnection, eg, a quick disconnect coupling connector. of the type used in some existing compression tester assemblies, such as the Actron® CP7828 and CP7827 models manufactured by Actron Manufacturing Company, of Ohio, United States of America.

In a preferred embodiment of the compression tester adapter the plug fitting and the connector fitting are machined from cold rolled carbon steel, and include a glossy nickel coating finish. However, in other embodiments, these accessories may include any suitable material, such as aluminum, bronze, set iron or the like.

Referring again to Figure 2, the flexible hose 26 includes a hollow central duct of a generally cylindrical shape along the longitudinal axis of the flexible tube 26 for transmitting compressed air from the plug fitting 22 to the connector fitting 24, and therefore to the compression pressure gauge 12 (see figure 1). The compression tester adapter provides a continuous, uninterrupted, sealed, and air-tight fluid communication path between the port 32 in the plug fitting 22 and the holding interface 38 of the connector fitting 24.

The plug accessory 22 and the connector accessory 24 are attached to the flexible hose 26 by inserting the tube ends 49 and 84 (see Figure 3 and Figure 4) at both ends of the flexible hose 26 and the crimping steel reinforcement clamps 34 and 40 on the outside of the flexible hose 26 to compress the flexible hose 26 over the tube ends 48 and 84 (see Figure 3 and Figure 4). Thus, the connector fitting 24 and the cap fitting 22 are fixedly fastened to the flexible hose 26 so that the plug fitting 22 can be screwed into a spark plug receptacle by manually rotating the compression tester adapter by path of the outer surface of the diamond protrusion 36 of the connector fitting 24. The various embodiments including a flexible hose 26 have the advantage that the compression tester adapter can be installed in a spark plug receptacle that is not accessible with an accessory one piece, rigid and straight adapter.

The flexible hose 26 is made of a grease and oil resistant material, such as natural or artificial rubber, or polymer, and includes one or more reinforcing sleeves including a mesh or braid oriented on the inclination, that is, approximately 45 ° diagonal to the longitudinal axis of the flexible tube 26. A preferred embodiment of the invention includes two textile braid reinforcements between the inner tube of the seamless nitrile rubber and the outer neoprene cover. An alternate incorporation includes two metal mesh reinforcing sleeves. Other embodiments may include any suitable reinforcement sleeve configurations including one or more mesh or metal or textile braid sleeves. In some embodiments the metal or textile mesh or braid can be oriented to a different orientation, for example, parallel to the longitudinal axis of the flexible tube 26 or at a different angle, for example at an angle of 30 ° to the longitudinal axis of the flexible tube 26 In addition, another alternate embodiment of the invention includes a flexible hose made of a single flexible material and does not include a reinforcing sleeve.

The various embodiments of the invention that include a metal or textile braid or mesh reinforcing sleeve, or multiple reinforcing sleeves, have the advantage that the reinforcing sleeve transfers the torsional force or moment placed on the connector fitting 24 when the surface The exterior of the diamond protrusion 36 is rotated to thread the external threads 30 of the plug fitting 22 into the spark plug receptacle. Therefore, the reinforcement sleeve carries the majority of the torsional force or moment load when the compression tester adapter is tightened inside or released from a spark plug receptacle.

An alternate embodiment of the invention includes a plug accessory end and a machined connector fitting end of a single metal supply. In this embodiment, one end of the compression tester adapter 16 is configured with the features described above for the plug fitting 22 of Figure 3, except for the tube end 48, which is not included; the opposite end is configured with the features described above for the connector fitting 24 of Figure 4, except for the tube end 84, which is not included. Therefore, this incorporation does not include a flexible hose but rather comprises a machined, rigid and single fitting with a plug end and a connector end.

The many features and advantages of the invention are evident from the detailed description and therefore are intended for the appended claims which cover all the features and advantages of the invention which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. In addition, since numerous modifications and variations will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation illustrated and described and therefore all modifications and appropriate equivalents can be taken within the scope of the invention. of the present invention.

Claims (28)

R E I V I N D I C A C I O N S

1. A compression tester adapter, comprising: a generally cylindrical plug fitting, including an external thread, a cylinder segment and a plug end, the external thread and the cylinder segment include a combined axial length greater than 0.75 inches; a connector accessory including a clamping interconnection; Y a hose attached to the plug fitting and connector fitting.

2. The compression tester adapter as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that the diameter of the cylinder segment is smaller than the internal diameter of a 16 mm nominal internal thread of a spark plug receptacle.

3. The compression tester adapter as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that the plug fitting further includes a flange segment near the plug end with a flange diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the cylinder segment.

. The compression tester adapter as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that the plug fitting further includes a packing seat between the cylinder segment and the flange segment, the packing seat includes a reduced diameter which is more smaller than the flange diameter.

5. The compression tester adapter as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that the plug fitting further includes a gasket fitted in the packing seat and configured to form a seal against a periphery of a tapered seat near a inner end of the spark plug receptacle in an internal combustion engine cylinder head.

6. The compression tester adapter as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that the plug fitting further includes: a first tube end opposite the plug end, wherein the hose is attached to the plug fitting on the first tube end; Y a first conduit configured to permit fluid communication through the plug fitting between the plug end and the first tube end.

7. The compression tester adapter as claimed in clause 6, characterized in that the plug accessory further includes a hole in the plug end configured to provide access to the first conduit.

8. The compression tester adapter as claimed in clause 6, characterized in that the plug fitting further includes a hose connector towards the first tube end configured to engage an inner surface of the hose, the hose connector includes a segment of tube with a straight protuberance and an external toothed edge profile segment.

9. The compression tester adapter as claimed in clause 6, characterized in that the plug fitting further includes an opening in the first tube end that provides access to the first tube, the opening being configured to allow fluid communication between the plug fitting and the hose.

10. The compression tester adapter as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that the plug fitting further includes an eyebrow segment with an eyebrow diameter that is larger than the diameter of the cylinder segment.

11. The compression tester adapter as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that the external thread is configured with a nominal diameter of 16 millimeters and a thread pitch of 1.5 millimeters.

12. The compression tester adapter as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that the clamping interconnect includes a receptacle configured with an internal thread on an inner surface of the receptacle.

13. The compression tester adapter as claimed in clause 12, characterized in that the internal thread is configured with a nominal diameter of 14 millimeters.

14. The compression tester adapter as claimed in clause 12, characterized in that the internal thread is configured with a nominal diameter of 18 millimeters.

15. The compression tester adapter as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that the connector accessory fastening interconnect is configured to engage a quick disconnect coupling of compression tester.

16. The compression tester adapter as claimed in clause 1, further characterized by comprising: a first clamp configured to engage an outer surface of the hose; Y a second clamp configured to engage the outer surface of the hose, wherein the first clamp is clamped on the first hose end of the plug fitting to fix the hose to the plug fitting, and the second clamp is clamped on the second end of the hose. Connector hose connector to fix the hose to the connector fitting.

17. The compression tester adapter as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that the plug fitting further includes: a clamping end to hold the compression test spark plug hose; a second tube end, wherein the hose is attached to the connector fitting at the second tube end; and a second air duct configured to permit fluid communication through the connector fitting between the clamping end and the second tube end.

18. The compression tester adapter as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that the connector fitting is generally cylindrical in shape and further includes: a cylinder segment at the clamping end with an outer diamond protrusion; a receptacle in the cylinder segment that opens inside the second conduit; an internal thread on the inner surface of the receptacle; a hose connector to the second tube end configured to engage an inner surface of the hose that includes a tube segment with a straight protrusion and an outer toothed edge profile segment; Y an opening in the second end of the tube providing access to the second conduit, the opening being configured to allow fluid communication between the connector fitting and the hose.

19. The compression tester adapter as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that the hose further comprises a flexible tube that includes: a first hose end; a second end of hose; Y a hollow central duct including a first opening in the first end of the hose and a second opening in the second end of the hose configured to provide fluid communication between the first end of the hose and the second end of the hose, wherein the first hose end is attached to the plug fitting and the second hose end is connected to the connector fitting, providing sealed fluid communication between the plug fitting and the connector fitting.

20. The compression tester adapter as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that the hose further comprises at least one reinforcing sleeve of metal mesh or braid or -textil wherein the braid or mesh is oriented on an inclination.

21. The compression tester adapter as claimed in clause 1, further characterized by comprising: a compression pressure gauge; Y a spark plug hose connected to the clamping interconnection and to the compression pressure gauge.

22. A compression tester adapter, comprising: means for engaging a threaded spark plug receptacle in an internal combustion engine cylinder head, wherein the distance between the upper end of the spark plug receptacle thread to the cylinder chamber is greater than 0.75 inches; means for holding a compression tester spark plug hose; flexible means for transmitting a compressed gas; means for fixing the flexible means for transmitting to the means for hooking; Y means for fixing the flexible means for transmission to the means for fastening.

23. The compression tester adapter as claimed in clause 22, further characterized in that it comprises means for creating an air-tight seal essentially against a periphery of a tapered seat near an inner end of the spark plug socket.

24. The compression tester adapter as claimed in clause 23, further characterized in that it comprises guiding means for centering the means for engaging and retaining the means for creating an air-tight seal.

25. The compression tester adapter as claimed in clause 22, characterized in that the means for engaging are configured to engage an internal thread configured with a nominal diameter of 16 millimeters and a thread pitch of 1.5 millimeters.

26. A method for adapting a compression tester spark plug hose for use with a spark plug receptacle, comprising the steps of: engaging a threaded spark plug receptacle in an internal combustion engine cylinder head, wherein the distance from the end Top of the spark plug socket thread to the cylinder chamber is greater than 0.75 inches; hold a compression tester spark plug hose; Y transmit a compressed gas to the compression tester spark plug hose.

27. The method as claimed in clause 26, further characterized in that it comprises the step of creating an air-tight seal essentially against a periphery of a tapered seat near an inner end of the spark plug receptacle.

28. The method as claimed in clause 26, characterized in that the spark plug receptacle thread is configured with a nominal diameter of 16 millimeters and a thread pitch of 1.5 millimeters. SUMMARY A compression tester adapter that includes a plug fitting, a connector fitting, and a flexible hose connected to the plug fitting and the connector fitting to adapt an internal combustion engine cylinder compression tester hose assembly to a plug receptacle. 16 mm threaded spark plug in a cylinder head of internal combustion engine.