Leak detection system

A leak detection system, comprising:

• a test chamber connected to a vacuum pump;
• a filling means for filling a test piece with helium gas;
• a transfer means for transferring the test piece between a ready-for-detection position in which the test piece is ready to be carried into the test chamber and a filling-operation position in which an operation of filling the test piece with helium gas by the filling means is performed;
• a carrying means for carrying the test piece from the ready-for-detection position on the transfer means to a detection position inside the test chamber;
• a sealing means for hermetically sealing the test chamber in a state in which a helium-gas-filled test piece is in the detection position;
• and
• a leak detecting means for detecting helium to be leaked out of the test piece when, after having sealed the test chamber by the sealing means, the test chamber is evacuated by the vacuum pump to a predetermined pressure
• wherein a lower surface of the test chamber is open to access and the transfer means is a turntable which can be driven to rotate;
• wherein the carrying means includes:
• at least two supporting plates for respectively supporting thereon a test piece, the supporting plates being disposed on an upper surface of, and at a predetermined distance from each other in a circumferential direction of, the turntable;
• and
• a drive means for lifting each of the supporting plates by passing through the turntable so as to bring a peripheral portion of the supporting plate into abutment with the lower surface of the test chamber, the peripheral portion being positioned in a circumference of the test piece;
• and
• wherein the supporting plate also serves as the sealing means for hermetically sealing the test chamber.