Leak testing device and method
AssigneeCincinnati Test Systems, Inc.
InventorStephen Kent McGregor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A leak testing device includes a body portion and a purge gas supply. The body portion defines a cavity. The cavity is operable to enclose a portion of a part to be leak tested. The body portion also comprises at least one fluid port operable to deliver a purge gas to the cavity. The purge gas supply is in fluid communication with that at least one fluid port. The purge gas supply is configured to supply a purge gas through the at least one fluid port. The purge gas is operable to purge the cavity of at least a portion of an atmospheric tracer gas contained in the cavity.
Claims20
A leak testing device comprising:
- (a) a body portion including an outer wall and defining a cavity formed therein, wherein the cavity is configured to receive at least a portion of a part to be leak tested, wherein the body portion further comprises a channel disposed between the outer wall and the cavity, wherein the channel extends around at least a portion of the cavity, wherein the body portion further comprises at least one fluid port configured to communicate a purge gas to the channel.
A purging device comprising at least one body portion configured to receive at least a portion of a part inserted into the at least one body portion for leak testing, wherein the at least one body portion defines at least one part cavity portion formed within the at least one body portion, wherein the body portion comprises at least one purge inlet that is in fluid communication with a purge channel positioned within the at least one body portion, wherein a positive pressure is applied within the purge channel to remove atmospheric gas from the purge channel, wherein the at least one body portion further defines at least one opening formed within the at least one body portion, wherein the at least one opening extends outwardly from the purge channel and is configured to provide fluid communication between the purge channel and atmospheric air.
A method of leak testing a part using a leak testing device, wherein the leak testing device defines at least one cavity formed therein, wherein the leak testing device further comprises a channel extending around at least a portion of the cavity, wherein the leak testing device further defines at least one inlet port in communication with the channel, the method comprising:
- (a) inserting at least a portion of a part to be leak tested such that the at least one cavity surrounds at least a portion of the part;
- (b) delivering a purging gas through the at least one inlet port into the channel to purge
- at least a portion of atmospheric gas contained within the channel from the channel;
- (c) applying a continual flow of the purging gas to develop a positive pressure within at least a portion of the channel that prevents atmospheric tracer gas from entering the at least one cavity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.