Patent US4626958A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3578758A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3578758A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Orifice gross leak tester
Assignee: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
•
Filing: 1969-05-07
•
Granted: 1971-05-18
•
Expires: 1989-05-07
Abstract
Abstract An orifice leak tester for use with a helium mass spectrometer is disclosed. The leak tester comprises a sample chamber, wherein an article to be tested is supported on a wire screen; an orifice formed in a wall common to the sample chamber and mass spectrometer specimen chamber; and means for directing a purging gas over the orifice and through the sample chamber. A specimen pressurized with helium gas is introduced into the previously purged sample chamber. Helium gas effusing from a leaking specimen flows through the pressure limiting orifice and is detected by the spectrometer.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas L Altshuler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 21:47
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01M; G01M3/00; G01M3/02; G01M3/04; G01M3/20; G01M3/202
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
179 words
Apparatus for testing for leaks in articles, said apparatus being intended for use in combination with suitable equipment for detecting a selected gas and the articles to be tested being subjected to a pressurized environment comprising said detection gas prior to testing, said apparatus comprising: A. a test chamber means communicating with the detection equipment; B. means defining a sample chamber having a large area opening in a first wall portion thereof through which pressurized articles to be tested may be inserted; C. means for sealing said opening after test article insertion; D. orifice defining means in a second wall portion common to both said sample chamber defining means and said test chamber, said orifice means providing a fluid communication path of substantially minimal length between said sample chamber and said test chamber; E. means for purging said sample chamber with a gas to which the detection equipment is nonresponsive subsequent to thE insertion of articles into said sample chamber; and F. a screen mounted in said sample chamber for supporting the test articles above said orifice defining means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
179 words
Apparatus for testing for leaks in articles, said apparatus being intended for use in combination with suitable equipment for detecting a selected gas and the articles to be tested being subjected to a pressurized environment comprising said detection gas prior to testing, said apparatus comprising: A. a test chamber means communicating with the detection equipment; B. means defining a sample chamber having a large area opening in a first wall portion thereof through which pressurized articles to be tested may be inserted; C. means for sealing said opening after test article insertion; D. orifice defining means in a second wall portion common to both said sample chamber defining means and said test chamber, said orifice means providing a fluid communication path of substantially minimal length between said sample chamber and said test chamber; E. means for purging said sample chamber with a gas to which the detection equipment is nonresponsive subsequent to thE insertion of articles into said sample chamber; and F. a screen mounted in said sample chamber for supporting the test articles above said orifice defining means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
181 words
Apparatus for testing for leaks in articles, said apparatus being intended for use in combination with suitable equipment for detecting a selected gas and the articles to be tested being subjected to a pressurized environment comprising said detection gas prior to testing, said apparatus comprising: A. a test chamber means communicating with the detection equipment; B. means defining a sample chamber having a large area opening in a first wall portion thereof through which pressurized articles to be tested may be inserted; C. means for sealing said opening after test article insertion; D. orifice defining means in a second wall portion common to both said chamber defining means and said test chamber, said orifice means providing a fluid communication path of substantially minimal length between said sample chamber and said test chamber; E. means for purging said sample chamber with a gas to which the detection equipment is nonresponsive subsequent to the insertion of articles into said sample chamber; F. an aperture in said second wall portion; and G. a diaphragm bridging said aperture and having a small diameter hole therein.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
181 words
Apparatus for testing for leaks in articles, said apparatus being intended for use in combination with suitable equipment for detecting a selected gas and the articles to be tested being subjected to a pressurized environment comprising said detection gas prior to testing, said apparatus comprising: A. a test chamber means communicating with the detection equipment; B. means defining a sample chamber having a large area opening in a first wall portion thereof through which pressurized articles to be tested may be inserted; C. means for sealing said opening after test article insertion; D. orifice defining means in a second wall portion common to both said chamber defining means and said test chamber, said orifice means providing a fluid communication path of substantially minimal length between said sample chamber and said test chamber; E. means for purging said sample chamber with a gas to which the detection equipment is nonresponsive subsequent to the insertion of articles into said sample chamber; F. an aperture in said second wall portion; and G. a diaphragm bridging said aperture and having a small diameter hole therein.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
253 words
Apparatus for testing for leaks in articles, said apparatus being intended for use in combination with suitable equipment for detecting a selected gas and the articles to be tested being subjected to a pressurized environment comprising said detection gas prior to testing, said apparatus comprising: A. a test chamber means communicating with the detection equipment; B. means defining a sample chamber having a large area opening in a first wall portion thereof through which pressurized articles to be tested may be inserted; C. means for sealing said opening after test article insertion; D. orifice defining means in a second wall portion common to both said sample chamber defining means and said test chamber, said orifice means providing a fluid communication path of substantially minimal length between said sample chamber and said test chamber; E. means for purging said sample chamber with a gas to which the detection equipment is nonresponsive subsequent to the insertion of articles into said sample chamber; F. an aperture in said second wall portion; G. a diaphragm bridging said aperture and having a small diameter hole therein; and H. said hole in said diaphragm is of such size and shape that viscous flow therethrough of the gas to be detected will occur, said flow being at a rate whereby the pressure in the detection equipment will remain in its operating range and a sufficient amount of detection gas to enable testing will remain in said sample chamber after a period equal to the response time of the detection equipment.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
253 words
Apparatus for testing for leaks in articles, said apparatus being intended for use in combination with suitable equipment for detecting a selected gas and the articles to be tested being subjected to a pressurized environment comprising said detection gas prior to testing, said apparatus comprising: A. a test chamber means communicating with the detection equipment; B. means defining a sample chamber having a large area opening in a first wall portion thereof through which pressurized articles to be tested may be inserted; C. means for sealing said opening after test article insertion; D. orifice defining means in a second wall portion common to both said sample chamber defining means and said test chamber, said orifice means providing a fluid communication path of substantially minimal length between said sample chamber and said test chamber; E. means for purging said sample chamber with a gas to which the detection equipment is nonresponsive subsequent to the insertion of articles into said sample chamber; F. an aperture in said second wall portion; G. a diaphragm bridging said aperture and having a small diameter hole therein; and H. said hole in said diaphragm is of such size and shape that viscous flow therethrough of the gas to be detected will occur, said flow being at a rate whereby the pressure in the detection equipment will remain in its operating range and a sufficient amount of detection gas to enable testing will remain in said sample chamber after a period equal to the response time of the detection equipment.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3126734A
Cited
US3247706A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-05-17 | 1974-11-16 | 1975-05-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-05-17 | 1978-11-16 | 1979-05-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-05-17 | 1982-11-16 | 1983-05-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |