Leak detection system
OwnerJames H. Wadeinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for detecting leaks in pasteurization plates and the like wherein the plate forms a chamber with a support surface and a gasket, a vacuum is formed in the chamber, and leaks in the plate detected by passing a gas through the plate and sensing the presence of said gas in the chamber.
Claims15
Apparatus for detecting leaks in a plate, such as a pasteurization plate, having an inner body portion defining a plurality of ribs and channels, an outer body portion disposed about said inner body portion, and a separating rib positioned between said body portions and extending continuously circumferentially about said inner body portion, said device comprising:
- a support for said plate, said support defining a support surface and a gasket extending outwardly from said support surface, said gasket adapted to engage the separating rib of said plate along the entire length of said separating rib with at least some of the plate inner body portion being spaced from said support surface:
- a member engageable with said plate on the side of said plate disposed away from said support surface for urging said separating rib and gasket together to form a seal therebetween whereby a substantially gas-tight chamber is formed between said inner body portion and said support surface, said member defining an open interior portion in at least partial registry with the plate inner portion whereby said plate inner portion is in communication with ambient atmosphere on the side of the plate disposed away from said support surface and whereby said plate may be manually accessed through said member open interior portion;
- vacuum pump means for pumping air from said chamber to form a vacuum within said chamber;
- means positionable within said member open interior portion and selectively moveable relative to said plate within said member open interior portion for directing a gas against the plate on the side of said plate disposed away from said support surface;
- and
- gas sensing means for sensing the presence of said gas in air pumped from said substantially gas-tight chamber.
A method for detecting leaks in a plate having an inner body portion defining a plurality of ribs and channels, an outer body portion disposed about said inner body portion, and a separating rib positioned between said body portions and extending continuously circumferentially about said inner body portion, said method comprising the steps of:
- positioning a plate over a support surface having a gasket extending outwardly therefrom;
- engaging the separating rib and the gasket along the entire length of said separating rib with at least some of the plate inner body portion being spaced from said support surface;
- urging said engaged separating rib and gasket together to form a seal therebetween whereby a substantially gas-tight chamber is formed between said inner body portion and said support surface;
- pumping air from said chamber to form a vacuum in said chamber;
- after forming said vacuum, directing a gas a first time against said plate over a substantial portion of said plate on the side thereof disposed away from said support surface;
- sensing the presence of said gas in said chamber while directing said gas the first time;
- and
- directing gas toward said plate a second time after the presence of gas in said chamber is sensed while directing said gas the first time, said gas during said step of directing gas the second time being directed toward said plate in a narrow stream in the general area of the plate where gas was directed the first time when the presence of gas in the chamber was sensed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.