Balloon catheter apparatus for high pressure leak detection
AssigneeRedline Detection, LLC
InventorsZachary Parker, Kenneth A. Pieroni
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An inflatable, balloon-type catheter apparatus which is conformable to fit most all intake and exhaust systems to delivery pressure (with or without smoke) to test the fluid integrity of the fluid system. The device is configured to be inserted into the canal of the intake or exhaust system and inflated to seal off the fluid system. The pressurized smoke is passed through the inflated inlet adapter to test for leaks.
Claims20
A universal inlet adapter for a leak detection device using a pressurized detection media for detecting a leak in a fluid system having a fluid duct, the universal inlet adapter comprising:
- a pair of rigid end caps;
- an inflatable bladder engageable with the pair of rigid end caps and being selectively transitional between an inflated configuration and a deflated configuration, the inflatable bladder being configured to be engagable with the fluid duct to form a fluid tight seal therebetween as the inflatable bladder transitions from the deflated configuration to the inflated configuration;
- and
- a test fluid delivery tube extending through the inflatable bladder and being fluidly connectable with the leak detection device for delivering the pressurized detection media into the fluid duct for testing;
- the test fluid delivery tube having a first threaded surface that mates to a second threaded surface of one of the pair of rigid end caps, the first threaded surface and the second threaded surface being configured to enable translatable movement of the at least one of the pair of end caps relative to the test fluid delivery tube so that the distance between the first rigid end cap and the second rigid end cap is adjustable to adjust a configuration of the inflatable bladder.
A universal inlet adapter for a leak detection device using a pressurized detection media for detecting a leak in a fluid system having a fluid duct, the universal inlet adapter comprising:
- a pair of rigid end caps;
- an inflatable bladder engageable with the pair of rigid end caps and being selectively transitional between an inflated configuration and a deflated configuration, the inflatable bladder being configured to be engagable with the fluid duct as the inflatable bladder transitions from the deflated configuration to the inflated configuration;
- and
- a test fluid delivery tube extending through the inflatable bladder and being fluidly connectable with the leak detection device;
- the test fluid delivery tube and one of the pair of rigid end caps being configured to enable translatable movement of the at least one of the pair of end caps relative to the test fluid delivery tube so that the distance between the first rigid end cap and the second rigid end cap is adjustable to adjust a configuration of the inflatable bladder.
A method of testing the fluid integrity of a fluid system having a fluid duct, the method comprising the steps of:
- inserting a leak detection device into the fluid duct, the leak detection device comprising:
- a pair of rigid end caps;
- an inflatable bladder having opposed ends and being selectively transitional between an inflated configuration and a deflated configuration, the inflatable bladder being configured to be engagable with the fluid duct to form a fluid tight seal therebetween as the inflatable bladder transitions from the deflated configuration to the inflated configuration;
- and
- a test fluid delivery tube extending through the inflatable bladder, the test fluid delivery tube having a first threaded surface that mates to a second threaded surface of one of the pair of rigid end caps, the first threaded surface extending along a length greater than that of the second threaded surface to enable translatable movement of the at least one of the pair of end caps relative to the test fluid delivery tube so that the distance between the first rigid end cap and the second rigid end cap is adjustable to adjust a configuration of the inflatable bladder;
- inflating the inflatable bladder to create a fluid tight seal between the inflatable bladder and the fluid duct;
- and
- directing a test media into the fluid system via the test fluid delivery tube.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.