Method and apparatus for detecting leaks
First Claim
1. An apparatus for detecting the presence of at least one leak in a first region of a part under test and for localizing the location of the at least one leak, wherein a first side of the first region contains a tracer gas and is at a higher pressure than a second side of the first region such that the tracer gas will emanate through the at least one leak from the first side to the second side, the apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of sensors positioned proximate to the first region, wherein each of the plurality of sensors is a metal halide sensor, each sensor being configured to detect the presence of a tracer gas emanating from a leak and to provide a sensing signal;
a controller connected to the plurality of sensors and configured to provide a leak detection signal in response to at least a first sensor of the plurality of sensors detecting the presence of the tracer gas, the leak detection signal including leak detection information representative of the location of the leak in the first region based on the sensing signals received from at least the first sensor and a second sensor of the plurality of sensors; and
an indicator configured to provide a visual indication of the location of the leak, wherein the indicator includes a display configured to display a first representation of the part under-test and sensor icon positioned on the first representation, the sensor icon corresponding to a location of a first sensor which is proximate to the location of the leak.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to a sensor apparatus configured to detect the presence of a gas, such as a tracer gas and a leak detection apparatus configured to detect the present of a tracer gas and indicate the location of a leak. The sensor apparatus includes multiple sensors, each of which is a metal halide sensor. The leak detection apparatus may further be configured to quantify the leak rate at the leak location.
79 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An apparatus for detecting the presence of at least one leak in a first region of a part under test and for localizing the location of the at least one leak, wherein a first side of the first region contains a tracer gas and is at a higher pressure than a second side of the first region such that the tracer gas will emanate through the at least one leak from the first side to the second side, the apparatus comprising:
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a plurality of sensors positioned proximate to the first region, wherein each of the plurality of sensors is a metal halide sensor, each sensor being configured to detect the presence of a tracer gas emanating from a leak and to provide a sensing signal; a controller connected to the plurality of sensors and configured to provide a leak detection signal in response to at least a first sensor of the plurality of sensors detecting the presence of the tracer gas, the leak detection signal including leak detection information representative of the location of the leak in the first region based on the sensing signals received from at least the first sensor and a second sensor of the plurality of sensors; and an indicator configured to provide a visual indication of the location of the leak, wherein the indicator includes a display configured to display a first representation of the part under-test and sensor icon positioned on the first representation, the sensor icon corresponding to a location of a first sensor which is proximate to the location of the leak. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An apparatus for detecting the presence of at least one leak in a first region of a part under test and for localizing the location of the at least one leak, wherein a first side of the first region contains a tracer gas and is at a higher pressure than a second side of the first region such that the tracer gas will emanate through the at least one leak from the first side to the second side, the apparatus comprising:
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a plurality of sensors positioned proximate to the first region, wherein each of the plurality of sensors is a metal halide sensor, each sensor being configured to detect the presence of a tracer gas emanating from a leak and to provide a sensing signal; a controller connected to the plurality of sensors and configured to provide a leak detection signal in response to at least a first sensor of the plurality of sensors detecting the presence of the tracer gas, the leak detection signal including leak detection information representative of the location of the leak in the first region based on the sensing signals received from at least the first sensor and a second sensor of the plurality of sensors; and
an indicator configured to provide a visual indication of the location of the leak, wherein the indicator includes a display configured to display a first representation of the part under test and a leak graphic positioned on the first representation, the position of the leak graphic corresponding to a location of a first sensor which is proximate to the location of the leak. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification