Method and apparatus for leak detection and non-destructive testing

A method for detecting faults in a body, comprising the steps of:

• applying a fluorescent material to the body in a manner to concentrate the florescent material in a pattern indicative of the location of a fault in the body;
• activating a pulsed flashtube light source to emit pulsed ultraviolet output;
• filtering light from the light source through a dichroic filter that provides for the transmission of more pulsed ultraviolet light than visible light;
• shining the pulsed ultraviolet light transmitted from the filter on to the body to cause the fluorescent pattern to fluoresce;
• and
• detecting faults in the body by the fluorescence of the fluorescent material pattern.

A system for use with a body to be tested for faults using fluorescent material, the system comprising:

• a casing,
• a reflector,
• a pulsed ultraviolet bulb which pulses at a frequency to cause the fluorescent material to pulse at a frequency which is detectable by the human eye, and
• a dichroic lens,
• wherein the casing has an open end in which the reflector rests, the pulsed ultraviolet bulb sits within the reflector in such a manner to direct light emitted from the pulsed ultraviolet bulb through the open end of the casing, and the dichroic lens encloses the open end of the casing in order to reflect into the system substantially more visible light than the lens absorbs and to transmit from the system substantially more pulsed ultraviolet light than the lens absorbs or reflects.

A system for use with a body to be tested for faults using fluorescent material, the system comprising:

• a handheld casing,
• a reflector,
• a high pressure arc lamp pulsed ultraviolet flashtube, said flashtube being less than or equal to 10 watts, and
• a dichroic lens,
• wherein the casing has an open end in which the reflector rests, the pulsed ultraviolet flashtube sits within the reflector in such a manner to direct light emitted from the flashtube through the open end of the casing, and the dichroic lens encloses the open and of the casing in order to transmit from the system substantially more pulsed ultraviolet light than visible light.