Reducing thermal effects during leak testing
AssigneeInterTech Development Company
InventorsDavid J. Balke, Jacques E. Hoffman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Embodiments of the inventive subject matter include a method and apparatus for performing a leak test. A fluid flows through a first aperture of a product and at least a portion of the fluid is allowed to exit the product through a second aperture while the fluid is flowing through the first aperture. The second aperture is closed in response to determining that a first threshold parameter is reached. The first aperture is closed in response to determining that a second threshold parameter is met. Then, a leak test can be performed.
Claims23
A method comprising:
- allowing fluid flow of a fluid into a product through a first aperture of the product via a first valve, wherein the product at least in part defines a volume under test;
- while the fluid is flowing through the first aperture, allowing at least a portion of the fluid to exit the product through a second aperture of the product via a second valve to remove heat created through adiabatic heating of the fluid;
- while the fluid is flowing through the first aperture and the second aperture, determining that a first threshold for a parameter of the volume under test is reached;
- in response to determining that the first threshold is reached, closing the second valve;
- determining that a second threshold for the parameter of the volume under test is reached;
- in response to determining that the second threshold is reached, closing the first valve;
- opening, after the closing of the first valve, a third valve, wherein the third valve controls fluid flow between the volume under test and a measuring apparatus;
- and
- performing, by the measuring apparatus after the opening of the third valve, one or more leak test measurements on the volume under test.
One or more non-transitory machine-readable storage media, the one or more non-transitory machine-readable storage media having instructions stored therein, which when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
- causing fluid to be introduced through a first aperture of a product via a first valve, wherein at least a portion of the fluid passes through the product and exits through a second aperture of the product via a second valve, wherein the product at least in part defines a volume under test;
- determining that a first threshold for a parameter of the volume under test is reached;
- in response to determining that the first threshold is reached, causing the second valve to close;
- determining that a second threshold for the parameter of the volume under test is reached;
- in response to determining that the second threshold is reached, causing the first valve to close;
- opening, after the first valve is closed, a third valve, wherein the third valve controls fluid flow between the volume under test and a measuring apparatus;
- and after the opening of the third valve, causing one or more leak test measurements to be performed by the measuring apparatus.
A leak testing apparatus for testing a product under test for leaks, the leak testing apparatus comprising:
- a fluid supply configured to provide fluid to the product under test via a first valve, wherein the product under test at least in part defines a volume under test;
- and
- a controller configured to:
- cause the fluid supply to provide fluid via the first valve to the product under test, and while the fluid is flowing to the product under test allowing at least a portion of the fluid to exit the product under test through a second valve;
- while the fluid is flowing to the product under test and exiting the product under test, determine that a first condition for the volume under test is met;
- in response to the determination that the first condition is met, cause the second valve to close;
- determine that a second condition for the volume under test is met;
- in response to the determination that the second condition is met, cause the first valve to close;
- after the first valve closes, cause a third valve to open, wherein the third valve controls fluid flow between the volume under test and a measuring apparatus;
- and
- after the third valve opens, cause the measuring apparatus to perform a leak test measurement.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.