Customer
Our client is a European manufacturer of products for sanitary fittings (tap heads, thermostatic cartridges, etc.).
Tested product
Thermostatic cartridge
Thermostatic cartridges are components of fittings. They are used to regulate the water temperature of thermostatic taps. The cartridge adjusts the flow of hot water mixing with cold water to obtain the required mixed water temperature.
Objective
Design a valve test bench that can adjust and test thermostatic cartridges and locate the 38°C position.
Problematic issues
The test bench shall be equipped with several stations, allowing the testing and adjustment of several cartridges simultaneously with a single operator.
The bench shall be able to combine multiple test functions with automated temperature control.
Solution and result
The bench proposed by our engineers is a test and adjustment bench in production with simplified functions. It meets the specifications for both adjustment and testing of cartridges.
During the automatic cycle, the following functions are performed
Leak test
The pumps bring the water to the desired pressure, then the outlet valve and the inlet valves are closed. The program then measures the pressure drops in the thermostatic cartridges. Any leakage detected stops the test instantly.
Temperature adjustment
The motorised actuator rotates the cartridge temperature control until the desired temperature is reached
Anti-scald test
The anti-scald test ensures that the water flow is cut off in the event of a loss of cold water supply.
The bench allows the adjustment and testing of thermostatic cartridges on 2 stations, in masked time. The test results are saved in a file for production statistics.
The bench is also equipped with an engraving system to mark the 38°C position, and a blowing system to eliminate excess water.
