# US 12,761,105 B2 · Leak test using a blocking device

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- Number: US 12,761,105 B2
- Document ID: US12761105B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/711,954
- Filed: 2022-10-31
- Published: 2025-01-16
- Granted: 2026-10-13
- Earliest claimed: 2021-11-29
- Assignees: Inficon GmbH
- Applicants: INFICON GmbH
- Inventors: Stefan Mebus
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12761105B2

## CPC

- G01M 3/229: {removably mounted in a test cell}
- G01M 3/3281: {removably mounted in a test cell}
- G01M: TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

A method for leak testing a test specimen includes the following steps: placing the test specimen in a test chamber, testing a leak-tightness of the test specimen in the test chamber, opening the test chamber and removing the test specimen if the leak test has determined that the test specimen is leak-tight, and blocking the test chamber from opening to prevent a removal of the test specimen if the leak test has determined a leak in the test specimen. A leak testing device includes a test chamber receiving the test specimen, a leak detector connected to the test chamber, and a blocking device.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for leak testing a test specimen, the method comprising the following steps:
placing the test specimen in a test chamber;
testing a leak-tightness of the test specimen in the test chamber;
opening the test chamber and removing the test specimen if the leak test has determined that the test specimen is leak-tight; and
blocking the test chamber from opening to prevent a removal of the test specimen if the leak test has determined a leak in the test specimen.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein to release the blocking, an electronic or mechanical key is required.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the test chamber is blocked with a blocking device actuated by a control device, and wherein the control device receives information about the leak test from a measuring device carrying out the leak test.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the test chamber is blocked by applying or holding a vacuum inside the test chamber.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method according claim 1, wherein the test chamber containing the test specimen is evacuated to a test chamber internal pressure that is lower than a pressure inside the test specimen for testing the leak-tightness of the test specimen, in order to detect gas entering the test chamber from a leak in the test specimen.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the test specimen for testing the leak-tightness of the test specimen has a pressure inside that is increased to a pressure that is higher than the pressure inside the test chamber in order to detect gas entering the test chamber from a leak in the test specimen according to the accumulation principle.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of testing the leak-tightness of the test specimen is carried out with a measuring device in the form of a pressure measuring device or a gas detector or a gas analyzer, and a measuring signal of the measuring device is transmitted to a blocking device actuating a control device.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the test chamber is automatically blocked depending on a result of the leak test.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method according to claim 8, wherein to release the blocking, an electronic or mechanical key is required.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the test chamber is blocked by applying a mechanical force.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method according to claim 10, wherein the mechanical force is applied by a blocking device.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method according to claim 11, wherein the blocking device is a mechanical closing device.

### Claim 13

A leak testing device for testing a leak-tightness of a test specimen, comprising:
a test chamber receiving the test specimen;
a leak detector connected to the test chamber; and
a blocking device configured to block the test chamber in order to prevent a removal of the test specimen if a measuring signal of the leak detector corresponds to a leaking test specimen and to enable the test chamber to be opened if the measuring signal corresponds to a non-leaking test specimen.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The leak testing device according to claim 13, further comprising a vacuum pump connected to the test chamber for to evacuating the test chamber.