Automotive
VTI's custom leak-testing solutions meet the most stringent requirements of the automotive industry, making sure their manufacturing processes maintain maximum efficiency. From manual pressure-change testing to automated high-vacuum tracer gas testing, we provide any necessary equipment or service for making sure each unit is ready for the next stage of assembly.
Airbag Inflator Helium Leak Test System
Overview
VTI’s Airbag Inflator Helium Leak Test System is engineered to provide safe and reliable fine leak test for varying sized Units Under Test (UUT).
This custom system is comprised of two completely independent leak test circuits with a shared PLC control system to allow asynchronous leak testing. The chambers are designed to be close fitting to the cylindrical part to minimize vacuum chamber volume and increase efficiency of the system. These chambers are interchangeable to allow flexibility to test different sized UUT. To ensure the test data matches the correct UUT, a stationary bar scanner is mounted inside of the light curtain to scan the UUT right before the leak test begins.
The control system is integrated with the customer’s database to provide real-time data. It is also interlocked with other equipment on the production line to guarantee testing requirements are met in production.
- Product: Air Bag Inflator
- Tracer Gas: Helium
- Leak Reject Rate: 1 x 10⁻⁶ atm-cc/sec of Helium
- TAKT Time: 15 Seconds
- Pre-Charged: Yes
- Pump Size: 13.9 CFM
- Chamber Volume: Varys as Needed
- Installation Date: 2005
Automotive Radiator Helium Accumulation Leak Test System
Overview
VTI’s Automotive Radiator Helium Accumulation Leak Test System is engineered to provide a reliable fine accumulation leak test for industrial manufacturing.
The robust swing chamber doors allow for ease of operator load / unload of Unit Under Test (UUT). Once the UUT is manually loaded the operator uses the foot pedal switch to engage the VTI Smart Connect to seal to the part. Then the system fills the UUT with Helium and measures the leak rate by accumulating Helium in the sealed box. At the conclusion of the accumulation test, the tracer gas is recovered and the residual tracer gas is evacuated from the part to limit release of tracer gas near the accumulation station. A NIST-traceable verification leak is always open to the chamber to ensure that a helium signal is being detected at the proper level for every test cycle. At the end of a pass cycle, an industrial label printer provides a serial number for future key component tracking.
The control system is integrated with the customer’s database to provide real-time data. It is also interlocked with other equipment on the production line to guarantee testing requirements are met in production.
- Product: Radiator
- Tracer Gas: Helium
- Leak Reject Rate: 2.7 x 10⁻⁴ atm-cc/sec of Helium from 25 psig into atm
- TAKT Time: 40 Seconds
- Charge-In-Chamber
- Pump Size: 5.6 CFM
- Chamber Volume: 7 ft³
- Installation Date: 2014
Automotive Torque Converter Helium Leak Test System
Overview
VTI’s Automotive Torque Converter Helium Leak Test System is engineered to provide a fully automated, safe and reliable turnkey leak detection solution.
This fully automated system is comprised of two stations, the Pretest to find large leaks and the Helium Leak Test to find fine leaks. Two independently actuated grippers are used to load / unload the Unit Under Test (UUT). VTI’s SmartConnect fixtures are used to provide a reliable seal to the part and permit the evacuation, tracer gas fill, and venting of the UUT. When a UUT results in a pass it will be directed down the conveyor accordingly, if the UUT results in a fail it will be sent down a separate conveyer for further testing.
The control system is integrated with the customer’s database to provide real-time data. It is also interlocked with other equipment on the production line to guarantee testing requirements are met in production.
- Product: Torque Converters
- Tracer Gas: Helium
- Leak Rate: 1.1 x 10⁻⁴ atm-cc/sec Helium at atm into vacuum
- TAKT Time: 36 Seconds
- Charge-In-Chamber
- Blower Size: 706 CFM
- Pump Size: 130 CFM
- Chamber Volume: 3.85 ft³
- Installation Date: 2013
Automotive Transmission Cast Component Pressure Decay Tester
Overview
VTI’s Automotive Transmission Cast Component Pressure Decay Tester is engineered to provide a safe and reliable gross leak test.
This custom system is comprised of two independent fixtures to test two parts simultaneously. These two test stands are designed to allow robotic insertion and removal of the Unit Under Test (UUT). A robotic arm brings the UUT to the station, places it in the appropriate fixture, and upon receipt of the “handshaking” acknowledgement from the robot, the Pressure Decay test sequence commences. A clamping fixture seals the part, the part is filled to the test pressure, and then the drop in pressure is monitored for acceptance. Passing tests are challenged with a NIST-traceable verification leak to preclude false acceptance.
The control system is integrated with the customer’s database to provide real-time data. It is also interlocked with other equipment on the production line to guarantee testing requirements are met in production.
- Product: Transmission Subassembly
- Tracer Gas: Nitrogen
- Leak Reject Rate: 19 atm-cc/sec from 1.5 Bar into Atm
- TAKT Time: 21.5 Seconds
- Installation Date: 2012
Dual 2 Volt Battery Cell Leak Test System Overview
Overview
VTI’s Dual Battery Cell Leak Test System is engineered to provide reliable and efficient leak testing.
This robust top-down style chamber with cell presence sensors has the capability to test either one or two cells per cycle. Once in place, fixtures will be manually connected to the Units Under Test (UUT) which will control the evacuation, tracer gas fill, and venting of the UUT. This system is equipped with a pressure differential sensor to limit the cell wall pressure differential. This ensures the cell walls on the battery will neither explode or implode during evacuation and venting, resulting in a safe and reliable leak test solution.
The control system is integrated with the customer’s database to provide real-time data. It is also interlocked with other equipment on the production line to guarantee testing requirements are met in production.
- Product: 2 Volt Batteries
- Tracer Gas: Helium
- Leak Rate: 1 x 10⁻⁴ atm-cc/sec Helium at 2 psia into Vacuum
- Machine Time: 60 Seconds
- Charge-In-Chamber
- Pump Size: 130 CFM
- Chamber Volume: 6.7 ft³
- Installation Date: 2015
12V Battery with VTI Patented Vacuumulation™ Helium Leak Test System
Overview
VTI’s Vacuumulation™ Battery Helium Leak Test System is engineered to provide reliable and efficient leak testing for 12 Volt Batteries.
The Vacuumulation™ is a hybrid-technique between traditional hard vacuum mass spectrometer and atmospheric accumulation leak detection methods. This method allows for increased leak testing sensitivity while reducing capital costs. This system is equipped with a pressure differential sensor to limit the cell wall differential. This ensures the cell walls on the battery will neither explode or implode during evacuation and venting, resulting in a safe and reliable leak test. VTI’s custom seal fixtures connect to the six ports of the battery for the evacuation, tracer gas fill, and venting of the UUT.
The control system is integrated with the customer’s database to provide real-time data. It is also interlocked with other equipment on the production line to guarantee testing requirements are met in production.
- Product: 12 Volt Batteries
- Tracer Gas: Helium
- Leak Rate: 1 x 10⁻⁴ atm-cc/sec Helium at 2psia into vacuum
- TAKT Time: 60 Seconds
- Charge-In-Chamber
- Pump Size: 60 CFM
- Chamber Volume: 3ft³
- Installation Date: 2011
460 Gallon Diesel Fuel Tank Helium Leak Test System (HLTS)
Overview
VTI’s Diesel Fuel Tank HLTS is engineered to provide reliable leak testing for the production of welded steel and aluminum diesel fuel tanks.
This robust bottom-up style chamber door was designed to be level with the customer’s floor. This design allows for the Unit Under Test (UUT) to be easily loaded / unloaded onto a roll around cart. A pressure differential sensor is incorporated into this system to ensure the pressure differentials on the walls of the UUT are controlled to customer requested limits. This ensures the UUT will neither explode or implode during evacuation and venting, resulting in a safe and reliable leak test. This system is equipped with an 1,550 gallon capacity Helium recovery system to improve efficiency and conserve Helium.
The control system is integrated with the customer’s database to provide real-time data. It is also interlocked with other equipment on the production line to guarantee testing requirements are met in production.
- Product: 460 Gallon Diesel Fuel Tank
- Tracer Gas: Helium
- Leak Rate: 1.2 x 10⁻⁵ atm-cc/sec from 5 psia into vacuum
- TAKT Time: 10 Minutes
- Charge-In-Chamber
- Blower Size: 11,335 CFM
- Pump Size: 495 CFM
- Chamber Volume: 327 ft³
- Installation Date: 2015