Leak test fixture and method for using same

Patent · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1976

OSTI ID:862497

Hawk, Lawrence S ^[1]

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1. Knoxville, TN

A method and apparatus are provided which are especially useful for leak testing seams such as an end closure or joint in an article. The test does not require an enclosed pressurized volume within the article or joint section to be leak checked. A flexible impervious membrane is disposed over an area of the seamed surfaces to be leak checked and sealed around the outer edges. A preselected vacuum is applied through an opening in the membrane to evacuate the area between the membrane and the surface being leak checked to essentially collapse the membrane to conform to the article surface or joined adjacent surfaces. A pressure differential is concentrated at the seam bounded by the membrane and only the seam experiences a pressure differential as air or helium molecules are drawn into the vacuum system through a leak in the seam. A helium detector may be placed in a vacuum exhaust line from the membrane to detect the helium. Alternatively, the vacuum system may be isolated at a preselected pressure and leaks may be detected by a subsequent pressure increase in the vacuum system.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States Energy (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 3949596
• OSTI ID: 862497
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

/73/
adjacent
adjacent surfaces
air
alternatively
apparatus
applied
article
bounded
checked
closure
collapse
concentrated
conform
detect
detected
detector
differential
disposed
drawn
edges
enclosed
especially
especially useful
essentially
evacuate
exhaust
experiences
fixture
flexible
helium
impervious
increase
isolated
joined
joint
leak
leak testing
leaks
line
membrane
method
molecules
outer
outer edge
outer edges
placed
preselected
preselected vacuum
pressure
pressure differential
pressure increase
pressurized
provided
require
sealed
seam
seamed
seams
section
selected pressure
subsequent
surface
surfaces
testing
useful
vacuum
vacuum exhaust
volume