Device for the detection of leaks and module for the detection of leaks

• US 10,794,793 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2016
• Issued: 10/06/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pfeiffer Vacuum
• Original Assignee: Pfeiffer Vacuum
• Inventors: Jourdan, Pascal, Ducimetiere, Laurent
• Primary Examiner(s): West, Paul M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shabman, Mark A
• Application Number:
  US15/776,633
• Publication Number:
  US 20180328808A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,401 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/20 using special tracer materials, e.g. dye, fluorescent material, radioactive material
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/24 Suction devices G01N1/22 - G01N1/2294 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/2276 Personal monitors
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0009 General constructional details of gas analysers, e.g. portable test equipment G01N1/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/014 Hand-worn input/output arrangements, e.g. data gloves

Abstract

There is provided a leak detection device configured to check tightness of an object to be tested by a tracer gas, the device including a sniffing probe configured to be connected to a leak detector and/or a spray blower configured to be connected to a source of the tracer gas; and a glove to which the sniffing probe and/or the spray blower is attached. There is also provided a module for detection of leaks, including the device configured to check the checking the tightness of the object to be tested by the tracer gas.

Claims

1. A device for detection of leaks and being configured to check tightness of an object to be tested by a tracer gas, the device comprising:

a sniffing probe configured to be connected to a leak detector;

a glove to which the sniffing probe is attached,

wherein the sniffing probe includes a line for circulation of gases and comprises a first orifice for an inlet or an outlet of the gases and a second orifice configured to be connected to the leak detector; and

a predefined conductance arranged between the first and the second orifices of the line for circulation of gases of the sniffing probe, the predefined conductance being configured to limit a flow of gas configured to be drawn in via a pumping device of the leak detector.

2. The device for the detection of leaks according to claim 1, wherein the line for circulation of gases is flexible.

3. The device for the detection of leaks according to claim 1, wherein the line for circulation of gases passes through the glove by being integrated into the glove.

4. The device for the detection of leaks according to claim 1, wherein the line for circulation of gases extends along a part of the glove and is configured to cover a finger of a user, and leads to a level of an extremity of the part of the glove corresponding to a tip of the finger.

5. The device for the detection of leaks according to claim 1, further comprising a control device carried by the glove and being configured to communicate with a control unit of the leak detector.

6. The device for the detection of leaks according to claim 5, wherein the control device includes at least one means of activation configured to control an initiation of a measurement of a concentration of the tracer gas and/or of a reinitialization of a background noise of the leak detector.

7. The device for the detection of leaks according to claim 5 wherein the control device includes means of wireless communication to communicate with the control unit of the leak detector.

8. The device for the detection of leaks according to claim 5, wherein the control device carried by the glove includes a means of activation configured to operate an opening of a valve permitting passage of a flow of the tracer gas in the line for circulation of gases of the spray blower.

9. The device for the detection of leaks according to claim 1, further comprising a display device carried by the glove and being configured to display a measurement signal from the leak detector and/or to provide information of a state of the leak detector.

10. The device for the detection of leaks according to claim 9, wherein the display device includes a screen configured to display any change in a concentration of the tracer gas over time measured by the leak detector.

11. The device for the detection of leaks according to claim 9, wherein the display device includes means of wireless communication to communicate with a control unit of the leak detector.

12. The device for the detection of leaks according to claim 1, further comprising an illumination device carried by the glove.

13. The device for the detection of leaks according to claim 1, further comprising a camera carried by the glove and a remote visualization system configured to display images taken by the camera.

14. The device for the detection of leaks according to claim 13, wherein the remote visualization system is further configured to display images taken earlier by the camera.

15. The device for the detection of leaks according to claim 1, further comprising at least one filter arranged between the first and the second orifices of the line for circulation of gases.

16. A module for detection of leaks comprising:

a leak detector and/or a source of tracer gas; and

a leak detection device according to claim 1.

17. The module for detection of leaks according to claim 16, wherein the leak detector includes a control unit configured to communicate with a control device carried by the glove of the leak detection device.

18. The module for detection of leaks according to claim 16, further comprising a valve permitting passage of a flow of the tracer gas in the line for circulation of gases of a spray blower, an opening of the valve being configured to operate via a means of activation of a control device carried by the glove.

19. A device for detection of leaks and being configured to check tightness of an object to be tested by a tracer gas, the device comprising:

a spray blower configured to be connected to a source of the tracer gas;

a glove to which the spray blower is attached,

wherein the spray blower includes a line for circulation of gases and comprises a first orifice for an inlet or an outlet of the gases and a second orifice configured to be connected to the source of the tracer gas.

20. The device for the detection of leaks according to claim 19, wherein the line for circulation of gases is flexible.

21. The device for the detection of leaks according to claim 19, wherein the line for circulation of gases passes through the glove by being integrated into the glove.

22. The device for the detection of leaks according to claim 19, wherein the line for circulation of gases extends along a part of the glove and is configured to cover a finger of a user, and leads to a level of an extremity of the pan of the glove corresponding to a tip of the finger.

23. The device for the detection of leaks according to claim 19, further comprising a control device carried by the glove and being configured to communicate with a control unit of the device for detection of leaks.

24. The device for the detection of leaks according to claim 23, wherein the control device includes at least one means of activation configured to control an initiation of a measurement of a concentration of the tracer gas and/or of a reinitialization of a background noise of the device for detection of leaks.

25. The device for the detection of leaks according to claim 23, wherein the control device includes means of wireless communication to communicate with the control unit of the device for detection of leaks.

26. The device for the detection of leaks according to claim 23,

wherein the control device carried by the glove includes a means of activation configured to operate an opening of a valve permitting passage of a flow of the tracer gas in the line for circulation of gases of the spray blower.

27. The device for the detection of leaks according to claim 19, further comprising a display device carried by the glove and being configured to display a measurement signal from the leak detector and/or to provide information of a state of the device for detection of leaks.

28. The device for the detection of leaks according to claim 21, wherein the display device includes a screen configured to display any change in a concentration of the tracer gas over time measured by the device for detection of leaks.

29. The device for the detection of leaks according to claim 27, wherein the display device includes means of wireless communication to communicate with the control unit of the device for detection of leaks.

30. The device for the detection of leaks according to claim 19, further comprising an illumination device carried by the glove.

31. The device for the detection of leaks according to claim 19, further comprising a camera carried by the glove and a remote visualization systema configured to display images taken by the camera.

32. The device for the detection of leaks according to claim 31, wherein the remote visualization system is further configured to display images taken earlier by the camera.

33. The device for the detection of leaks according to claim 19, further comprising at least one filter arranged between the first and the second orifices of the line for circulation of gases.

34. A module for detection of leaks comprising:

a leak detector and/or a source of tracer gas; and

a leak detection device according to claim 19.

35. The module for detection of leaks according to claim 34, wherein the leak detector includes a control unit configured to communicate with a control device carried by the glove of the leak detection device.

36. The module for detection of leaks according to claim 34,

further comprising a valve permitting passage of a flow of the tracer gas in the line for circulation of gases of the spray blower, an opening of the valve being configured to operate via a means of activation of a control device carried by the glove.