Method of testing seal lip bond strength to metal substrate and apparatus therefor

摘要

A method of testing one of bond or fatigue strength of an elastomeric seal lip to a metal substrate and apparatus therefor is provided. The method and apparatus avoid causing inadvertent damage to the seal lip during testing. Further, the method and apparatus allow a tensile force to be applied along an axis of the seal lip along which the seal lip extends regardless of the angle of inclination of the seal lip relative to a central axis of a metal substrate to which the seal lip is attached. Accordingly, accurate and repeatable test results indicating one of bond strength of the seal lip to the metal substrate or fatigue strength of the seal lip are obtained via the method and apparatus.

主权项

1. A method of testing a bond or fatigue strength of a seal lip on a metal substrate, comprising:
providing a seal assembly having a metal substrate with an elastomeric seal lip bonded thereto; operably fixing the seal assembly to a support plate and orienting a seal lip axis along which the seal lip extends to extend along a predetermined axis; clamping the seal lip between pair of clamping fingers without causing damage to the seal lip; pulling the seal lip with a force imparted by the clamping fingers along the predetermined axis until the seal lip either separates from the metal substrate or tears; providing each of the clamping fingers with a recessed clamping surface adjacent to a free end of the clamping fingers and a raised surface extending outwardly and away from the recessed clamping surface; and clamping the seal lip between the recessed clamping surfaces and bringing the raised surfaces into abutment with one another.