Test Piece for Testing a Washing Performance of an Industrial Washing Machine

Abstract

A test piece (10) for testing a washing performance of an industrial washing machine includes a first side element (11) with at least one first plane surface (21) and also a second side element (12) with at least one second plane surface (22). The first side element (11) is connectable to the second side element (12) so that the first plane surface (21) faces the second plane surface (22). The first plane surface (21) includes first bores (31), and the second plane surface (22) includes second bores (32). When the first side element (11) is connected to the second side element (12), the first bores (31) are arranged in axial extension of the second bores (32), and a plastically deformable foil (40) is disposed between the first plane surface (21) and the second plane surface (22).

Claims

1-11: (canceled)

12. A test piece (10) for testing a washing performance of an industrial washing machine, comprising: a first side element (11) with at least one first plane surface (21) that comprises first bores (31); a second side element (12) with at least one second plane surface (22) that comprises second bores (32); and a plastically deformable foil (40), wherein the first side element (11) is connectable to the second side element (12) such that the first plane surface (21) faces the second plane surface (22), and wherein, when the first side element (11) is connected to the second side element (12), the first bores (31) are arranged in axial extension of the second bores (32) and the plastically deformable foil (40) is disposed between the first plane surface (21) and the second plane surface (22).

13. The test piece (10) of claim 12, wherein the foil (40) is a metallic foil (40).

14. The test piece (10) of claim 13, wherein the foil (40) is an aluminium foil (40).

15. The test piece (10) of claim 12, wherein the first bores (31) comprise both first through-bores (33) and first blind bores (34), and the second bores (32) comprise both second through-bores (35) and second blind bores (36).

16. The test piece (10) of claim 15, wherein, when the first side element (11) is connected to the second side element (12), the first blind bores (34) are arranged in axial extension of the second through-bores (35) and the second blind bores (36) are arranged in axial extension of the first through-bores (33).

17. The test piece (10) of claim 12, wherein an external geometry of the test piece (10) corresponds identically to an external geometry of a workpiece to be washed by the washing machine.

18. The test piece (10) of claim 17, wherein the test piece (10) simulates a hydraulic gearshift device of a vehicle gear mechanism.

19. The test piece (10) of claim 12, wherein the test piece (10) consists of a metal.

20. The test piece (10) of claim 19, wherein the test piece (10) consists of aluminum.

21. The test piece (10) of claim 12, wherein the test piece (10) comprises at least one additional side element (13) with at least one respective plane surface (23).

22. The test piece (10) of claim 21, wherein a respective additional foil (40) is inserted between each two mutually abutting plane surfaces (21, 22, 23).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] In the following, example aspects of the invention will be elucidated in exemplary manner with reference to example embodiments represented in the Figures.

[0034] FIG. 1 shows, in exemplary manner, an embodiment of a test piece according to example aspects of the invention for testing a washing performance of an industrial washing machine,

[0035] FIG. 2 shows, in exemplary manner, the first side element and also the foil of the test piece from FIG. 1 after a washing process,

[0036] FIG. 3 shows, in exemplary manner, a further embodiment of a test piece according to example aspects of the invention for testing a washing performance of an industrial washing machine, and

[0037] FIG. 4 shows the test piece from FIG. 3 in a state in which all three side elements are connected to one another.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] Reference will now be made to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are shown in the drawings. Each embodiment is provided by way of explanation of the invention, and not as a limitation of the invention. For example, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be combined with another embodiment to yield still another embodiment. It is intended that the present invention include these and other modifications and variations to the embodiments described herein.

[0039] Similar subject-matters, functional units and comparable components have been denoted by the same reference symbols across all the Figures. These subject-matters, functional units and comparable components have been realised identically as regards their technical features, unless explicitly or implicitly stated otherwise in the description.

[0040] FIG. 1 shows, in exemplary manner, a embodiment of a test piece 10 according to example aspects of the invention for testing a washing performance of an industrial washing machine (not represented in FIG. 1). The test piece 10 consists, in accordance with the example, of aluminium and includes a first side element 11 and also a second side element 12, which in FIG. 1 are not connected to one another but have been arranged loosely side by side. As can be seen, both the first side element 11 and the second side element 12 exhibit a plane surface 21, 22, respectively. The first side element 11 is capable of being connected to the second side element 12 in such a manner that in the connected state of the side elements 11 and 12 the first plane surface 21 abuts or faces the second plane surface 22. As can further be seen, the first plane surface 21 exhibits first bores 31. In exactly the same way, the second plane surface 22 exhibits second bores 32. The first bores 31 alternately take the form of first through-bores 33 and of first blind bores 34. Similarly, the second bores alternately take the form of second through-bores 35 and of second blind bores 36. In a state where the first side element 11 is connected to the second side element 12, the first blind bores 34 are arranged in axial extension of the second through-bores 35 and, conversely, in the connected state the second blind bores 36 are arranged in axial extension of the first through-bores 33. Furthermore, a plastically deformable foil 40 made of aluminium can be seen, which can be inserted between the first plane surface 21 and the second plane surface 22.

[0041] The external geometry of the test piece 10 corresponds, according to the illustrated example embodiment, to a hydraulic gearshift device of a gear mechanism, for the cleaning of which the industrial washing machine to be tested has been provided. Inasmuch as the external geometry of the test piece 10 corresponds to the external geometry of the gearshift device, the test piece 10 can be channelled into the washing machine like a gearshift device and, where appropriate, even together with several of the gearshift devices, and can be subjected there to a washing process. During the washing process, the test piece 10 is blasted with water under high pressure; in particular, the water pressure is conducted selectively into the first and second through-bores 33, 35, so that the water pressure also pressurises the foil 40 within the first and second through-bores 33, 35 and can bring about a plastic deformation, according to the water pressure, of the foil 40 there in the region of the respective through-bore 33, 35.

[0042] FIG. 2 shows, in exemplary manner, the first side element 11 and also the foil 40 of the test piece 10 from FIG. 1 after a washing process. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the foil 40 exhibits a series of plastic deformations 41, each of which is a measure of the water pressure and consequently of the washing performance to which the foil 40 has been subjected at the place in question. As can further be seen, the plastic deformations 41 of the foil 40 point alternately in a direction out of FIG. 2 and in a direction into FIG. 2, this having been caused by the fact that the first blind bores 34 are arranged in axial extension of the second through-bores 35, and conversely, and that the blind bores 34, 36 are in each instance arranged alternately with through-bores 33, 35 in the first and second surfaces 21, 22, respectively.

[0043] FIG. 3 shows, in exemplary manner, a further possible embodiment of a test piece 10 according to example aspects of the invention for testing a washing performance of an industrial washing machine (not represented in FIG. 3). As can be seen, the test piece 10 shown in FIG. 3 includes of a first side element 11, a second side element 12 and a third side element 13. The first side element 11 and the third side element 13 can each be arranged on the second side element 12, so that the first plane surface 21 of the first side element 11 abuts or faces a second plane surface 22 of the second side element 12, and similarly a third plane surface 23 of the third side element 13 abuts or faces a further second plane surface 22 of the second side element 12. A foil 40 can be inserted in each instance between the first plane surface 21 and the second plane surface 22 and also between the third plane surface 23 and the further second plane surface 22.

[0044] FIG. 4 shows the test piece 10 from FIG. 3 in a state in which all three side elements 11, 12, 13 are connected to one another. To be seen, furthermore, are the first through-bores 33 in the first side element and also two fastening bores 50 via which the first side element 11 can be connected to the second side element 12 by screws.

[0045] Modifications and variations can be made to the embodiments illustrated or described herein without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. In the claims, reference characters corresponding to elements recited in the detailed description and the drawings may be recited. Such reference characters are enclosed within parentheses and are provided as an aid for reference to example embodiments described in the detailed description and the drawings. Such reference characters are provided for convenience only and have no effect on the scope of the claims. In particular, such reference characters are not intended to limit the claims to the particular example embodiments described in the detailed description and the drawings.

REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0046] 10 test piece [0047] 11 first side element [0048] 12 second side element [0049] 13 third side element [0050] 21 first plane surface [0051] 22 second plane surface [0052] 23 third plane surface [0053] 31 first bore [0054] 32 second bore [0055] 33 first through-bore [0056] 34 first blind bore [0057] 35 second through-bore [0058] 36 second blind bore [0059] 40 foil [0060] 41 plastic deformation [0061] 50 fastening bore