US 2014/0151242 A1 · LEAK DETECTION FORMULA, ANALYZER AND METHODS OF USE

Abstract

Detecting a leak from a site in a sealed system with a source of pressurized gas which is capable of passing through the site, a composition of matter which adheres to the surfaces of the system and which is capable of showing the presence of the gas escaping from the site. The method includes: injecting gas into the system to a pressure in excess of the surrounding pressure, and covering the external surface with the composition to identify the location of the site by the interaction of the escaping gas with the composition. The composition is foam that includes a surfactant which forms a least one bubble in the presence of escaping gas and an indicator which changes color in the presence of the escaping gas. The leak is an opening down to at least the size of a hole 0.001″ in diameter. A gas detector may also be used.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A detector for identifying the presence of a gas escaping from a sealed system, the detector including:

a housing;
a sensor connected to the housing which is capable of detecting the presence of the gas leaking from the sealed system;
an air pump for pumping the gas to the sensor;
and
an alert system, incorporated in the housing, which is activated when the sensor detects the presence of the gas.

2 more elements

A method of detecting leaks from one or more leak sites in a sealed system having one or more external surfaces selected from the group including surfaces which can be seen, surfaces which are easy to reach, surfaces which are hard to reach, and surfaces which cannot be seen with the unaided eye;

the method including the use of a source of pressurized gas external to the sealed system which gas is capable of passing through the one or more leak sites;
the method further including the use of a detector including a housing and a sensor element capable of detecting the presence of the gas passing through the one or more leak sites;
the method including the steps of:
injecting the gas from the external source into the sealed system to a pressure in excess of the pressure surrounding the sealed system;
and
scanning with the detector over at least some of the one or more external surfaces for the presence of the gas escaping from at least one leak site in the sealed system to identify at least the base location of the leak.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

14/025,500Filed 12 Sep 2013

Priority

25 May 2010

Published

5 Jun 2014

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

G01N 27/70
Using electric discharge to ionise a gas: and measuring current or voltage
G01M 3/226
For pipes, cables or tubes; for pipe joints or seals; for valves; for welds; for containers, e.g. radiators: for containers, e.g. radiators
G01N 27/419
Using cells , i.e. more than one cell and probes with solid electrolytes: measuring voltages or currents with a combination of oxygen pumping…
G01N
Investigating or analysing materials by determining their chemical or physical properties

Family

Application61/348,078Us provisional application · filed 25 May 2010

Application13/115,516Continuation in part · filed 25 May 2011

Application61/759,782Us provisional application · filed 1 Feb 2013

Application13/789,179Continuation in part · filed 7 Mar 2013

Application14/025,500Continuation in part

US 2014/0257721 A1Published application

US 9,390,565 B2Related patent

US 2014/0151242 A1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Leak detection formula, analyzer and methods of use

Life of this patent

Leak detection formula, analyzer and methods of use

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims12