Balloon catheter apparatus for internal combustion engine component leak detection and high pressure leak detection
AssigneeRedline Detection, LLC
InventorsZACHARY M. PARKER, KENNETH A. PIERONI
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An inflatable, balloon-type catheter apparatus which is conformable to fit most all intake and exhaust systems to delivery pressure (with or without smoke) to test the fluid integrity of the fluid system. The device is configured to be inserted into the canal of the intake or exhaust system and inflated to seal off the fluid system. The pressurized smoke is passed through the inflated inlet adapter to test for leaks.
Claims20
A universal inlet adapter for a leak detection device using a pressurized detection media for detecting a leak in a fluid system having a fluid duct, the universal inlet adapter comprising:
- an inflatable bladder having a pair of opposed end wall portions and a tubular wall coupled to the pair of opposed end wall portions, the inflatable bladder having an internal reservoir and being selectively transitional between an inflated configuration and a deflated configuration, the inflatable bladder being configured to be engagable with the fluid duct to form a fluid tight seal therebetween as the inflatable bladder transitions from the deflated configuration to the inflated configuration;
- and
- a test fluid delivery tube extending through the inflatable bladder such that a portion of the inflatable bladder is disposed radially outward from the test fluid delivery tube, the test fluid delivery tube being fluidly connectable with the leak detection device for delivering the pressurized detection media into the fluid duct for testing.
A method of testing the fluid integrity of a fluid system having a fluid duct, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a leak detection device including:
- an inflatable bladder having a pair of opposed end wall portions and a tubular wall coupled to the pair of opposed end wall portions, the inflatable bladder having an internal reservoir and being selectively transitional between an inflated configuration and a deflated configuration, the inflatable bladder being configured to be engagable with the fluid duct to form a fluid tight seal therebetween as the inflatable bladder transitions from the deflated configuration to the inflated configuration;
- and
- a test fluid delivery tube extending through the inflatable bladder such that the inflatable bladder is disposed radially outward from the test fluid delivery tube;
- inserting the leak detection device into the fluid duct;
- inflating the inflatable bladder to create a fluid tight seal between the inflatable bladder and the fluid duct;
- and
- directing a test media into the fluid system via the test fluid delivery tube.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.