Injector test machine

1. A test machine adapted to perform high pressure fuel injector tests on several types of fuel injectors, any of said several types of fuel injectors having an injector body extending along a longitudinal axis from a head to a spray nozzle tip, the head being provided with an electric connector for transmitting command signals to an actuator cooperating with a valve member which controls spray through holes provided in said spray nozzle tip, said test machine comprising:

a test chamber, wherein any of said several types of fuel injectors can be fixed on a test feature by means of manually operable clamps and wherein said manually operable clamps comprise latch toggle clamps.

2. A test machine as claimed in claim 1 , wherein each of the toggle clamps comprise a handle articulated about a fixation member for stretching a resilient ring, said fixation member being fixed to the test feature.

3. A test machine as claimed in claim 2 , wherein said resilient ring is engaged in a hook arranged on the head.

4. A test machine as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said test feature comprises a base member on which is arranged an interface member, said base member being attached to the test machine and being common to all of said several types of fuel injectors, and the interface member being specifically designed for a particular one of said several types of fuel injectors.

5. A test machine as claimed in claim 4 , wherein said interface member is a sleeve provided with a through bore adapted to receive a nozzle of the injector wherein it is sealingly inserted, the head of the fuel injector protruding outside the sleeve.

6. A test machine as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the sleeve is further provided with drillings for inter-connecting a high pressure fuel inlet to an injector fuel inlet.

7. A test machine as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the base member is moveable relative to the test machine and, the sleeve is fixed onto the base member.

8. A test machine as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the base member is fixed relative to the test machine and the sleeve is moveable relative to the base.

9. A test machine as claimed in claim 4 , wherein said test feature is adapted to move between a mounting position and a test position, the mounting position being suitable for arranging the injector on said test feature, and the test position being suitable for performing testing on said injector.

10. A test machine as claimed in claim 9 , wherein in said test position the longitudinal axis is substantially parallel to an opening access provided to enable an injector to be entered and installed in said test chamber.

11. A test machine as claimed in claim 10 , wherein in said mounting position, the test feature is tilted toward said opening access to ease installation of the injector on the test feature.

12. A test machine as claimed in claim 11 , wherein in said mounting position the longitudinal axis of the injector arranged in the interface member extends through said opening access.

13. A test machine as claimed as in claim 1 , further comprising an electronic command unit in a memory of which test methods executable by the test machine are uploaded.

14. A test machine as claimed in claim 13 , further comprising a display connected to said command unit for an operator to select a particular test.

15. A test machine as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the test machine has a substantially parallelepiped body enclosing said test chamber, said body having a front wall provided with said access opening.

16. A test machine as claimed in claim 15 , wherein said display is arranged on the front wall, above the access opening.

17. A method of using the test machine as claimed in claim 15 , said method comprising the steps of:

providing the injector to be tested;

providing the sleeve adapted to the injector;

tilting the base member to the mounting position;

clamping said sleeve on the base member;

inserting the injector into the sleeve;

rigidly fixing said injector by downwardly pulling the handles of the latch toggle clamps;

tilting the base member back to the test position;

locking the base member into said test position;

closing the access opening by means of a door;

selecting on the display the type of injector to be tested; and

selecting on the display the test to be executed.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising the following steps after the steps of claim 17 :

accessing the injector that has been tested and unlocking and tilting the base member to the mounting position;

releasing the latch toggle clamps by upwardly pulling the handles of said latch toggle clamps; and

removing the injector from the sleeve.

19. A test machine as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said manually operable clamps are configured to clamp any of said several types of fuel injectors against said test feature.