Leak test fixture and method for using same
Abstract
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.
- Inventors:
-
- Knoxville, TN
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 862497
- Patent Number(s):
- 3949596
- Assignee:
- United States of America as represented by United States Energy (Washington, DC)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01M - TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-26
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- leak; fixture; method; apparatus; provided; especially; useful; testing; seams; closure; joint; article; require; enclosed; pressurized; volume; section; checked; flexible; impervious; membrane; disposed; seamed; surfaces; sealed; outer; edges; preselected; vacuum; applied; evacuate; surface; essentially; collapse; conform; joined; adjacent; pressure; differential; concentrated; seam; bounded; experiences; air; helium; molecules; drawn; detector; placed; exhaust; line; detect; alternatively; isolated; leaks; detected; subsequent; increase; pressure increase; especially useful; pressure differential; adjacent surfaces; outer edge; selected pressure; preselected vacuum; outer edges; leak testing; vacuum exhaust; /73/
Citation Formats
Hawk, Lawrence S. Leak test fixture and method for using same. United States: N. p., 1976.
Web.
Hawk, Lawrence S. Leak test fixture and method for using same. United States.
Hawk, Lawrence S. Thu .
"Leak test fixture and method for using same". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/862497.
@article{osti_862497,
title = {Leak test fixture and method for using same},
author = {Hawk, Lawrence S},
abstractNote = {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.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1976},
month = {Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1976}
}