Portable vacuum test tool for detection of leaks in sealed gaps

A portable testing apparatus to detect pressure disturbance across a sealed gap comprising:

• an elastomeric, air impervious sheet sized and shaped to overlap a gap between an opening in a structure and an insert for said opening, said sheet having an inside surface capable of forming a vacuum seal between said inside surface and said structure;
• a vacuum plenum attached to said sheet said plenum comprising a flexible molded rubber olenum adhered with adhesive means to said inside surface of said sheet such that said plenum interfaces with said sealed gap, said plenum extending through and sealing with said sheet;
• means for attaching said plenum to a vacuum source,
• channels extending from said plenum along said inside surface of said sheet having openings therein for uniformly distributing and drawing a vacuum between said sheet and said structure and through said gap;
• and
• means for detecting a pressure disturbance across said gap when said vacuum is drawn therethrough.

A method of detecting air leaks across a sealed gap comprising:

• attaching a vacuum source to a vacuum test tool, said vacuum test tool comprising i) an elastomeric, air impervious sheet sized and shaped to overlap a gap between an opening in a structure and an insert for said opening, said gap containing a seal therein, said sheet having an inside surface capable of forming a vacuum seal between said inside surface and said structure, ii) a vacuum plenum attached to said sheet said plenum comprising a flexible molded rubber plenum adhered with adhesive means to said inside surface of said sheet such that said molded rubber plenum may interface with said gap, said plenum extending through and sealing with said sheet, iii) means for attaching said plenum to a vacuum source, and iv) channels extending from said plenum along said inside surface of said sheet having openings therein for uniformly distributing and drawing a vacuum between said sheet and said structure and through said gap,
• placing said air impervious sheet over said sealed gap such that said sheet fully overlaps said gap;
• positioning said sheet such that said channels intersect said gap such that air in said gap is evacuated, thereby drawing a vacuum against said seal;
• and
• locating pressure disturbances across said seal by means for detecting a pressure disturbance across said gap when said vacuum is drawn therethrough.