Method of detecting steam expansion vessel leakage
AssigneeThe Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
InventorsJoseph Alan Incavo, William Randall Dutt
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Abstract
Leaks in a steam expansion vessel, such as a flexible curing bladder, may be detected during a high temperature curing cycle by using a humidity sensor in an article curing and leak checking apparatus. The effectiveness of the humidity sensor may be enhanced by selecting or creating a path in the apparatus incorporating the humidity sensor for detecting a leakage of steam, which tends to direct escaping steam to the humidity sensor in a substantially concentrated flow. The humidity sensor may be encased in a portion of the apparatus.
Claims20
A method for detecting leaks in a steam activated expansion vessel used in industrial equipment comprising the steps of:
- (a) creating or selecting a path in the industrial equipment through which steam would travel if escaping from the steam activated expansion vessel, and
- (b) placing a absolute humidity sensor in said path to detect escaping steam.
An apparatus for curing an flexible article, said apparatus comprising
- (a) a shaping means for shaping the article during curing,
- (b) an expansion vessel within said shaping means, said expansion vessel having the capacity to withstand elevated temperatures and high pressures, said expansion vessel being inflated with steam and being used to push the article into said shaping means, and
- (c) an absolute humidity sensor located in the proximity of said expansion vessel and said shaping means for detecting escaping steam from said expansion vessel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.