US3751989A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fixture and system for treating test pieces on a rapid cycle leak detection apparatus
Assignee: Varian Medical Systems Inc
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Filing: 1971-07-02
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Granted: 1973-08-14
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Expires: 1991-07-02
Abstract
Abstract The test piece is clamped to the base of the fixture in such a way that one side of said test piece is exposed to a vacuum created by the leak detection apparatus and the other side of said test piece is exposed to a test-gas receiving chamber. The act of clamping the test piece to the base of the fixture causes the test-gas receiving chamber to be formed and simultaneously causes a test gas such as helium to fill said chamber to a predetermined pressure. After the test piece has been clamped into testing position and the test gas has filled the test-gas chamber, a mechanism is activated which admits air to said chamber at higher pressure than said test gas therein and which simultaneously activates the leak detection apparatus. Before the leak detection apparatus connects said one side of the test piece to vacuum, the high-pressure air is cut off and said test-gas chamber contains only a small quantity of high-pressure air and is not open to the source of high-pressure air. Thus, if a particular test piece has a leak, the quantity of high-pressure air passing through the leak will be insufficient to damage the delicate mechanism of the leak detection apparatus.
Inventors
- 👤 W Briggs
- 👤 P Fruzzetti
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 14:59
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01M; G01M3/00; G01M3/02; G01M3/04; G01M3/20; G01M3/202; G01M3/26
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
Leak detecting apparatus comprising means for supporting a test piece with one side thereof adapted to be exposed to a vacuum leak detector, a cover member adapted to sealingly engage the other side of said test piece to form a gas-receiving chamber between said cover member and said test piece, clamping means to force said cover member against said test piece, a test gas supply line, first valve means connected in series between said test gas supply line and said gas-receiving chamber, a gas pressure supply line, and second valve means connected in series between said gas pressure supply line and said gas-receiving chamber.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
104 words
Leak detecting apparatus comprising means for supporting a test piece with one side thereof adapted to be exposed to a vacuum leak detector, a cover member adapted to sealingly engage the other side of said test piece to form a gas-receiving chamber between said cover member and said test piece, clamping means to force said cover member against said test piece, a test gas supply line, first valve means connected in series between said test gas supply line and said gas-receiving chamber, a gas pressure supply line, and second valve means connected in series between said gas pressure supply line and said gas-receiving chamber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
Leak detecting apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising actuating means between said clamping means and said first valve means to cause said first valve means to open when said clamping means causes said cover member to sealingly engage the test piece.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
Leak detecting apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a shuttle valve connected between said test gas supply line and said first and second valve means whereby, when said second valve means is open, gas from said gas pressure supply line is prevented from reaching said test gas supply line.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
103 words
Leak detecting apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said leak detector comprises third valve means for connecting said one side of said test piece to the leak detector, means for moving said third valve means to connect said one side of said test piece to the leak detector, and actuating means between said moving means and said second valve means to cause said second valve means to close before said one side of said test piece is exposed to the leak detector; whereby, if said test piece ruptures, said gas pressure supply line will not be connected to said gas-receiving chamber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
65 words
Leak detecting apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said first valve means has an inlet port connected to said test gas supply line, an outlet port connected to said gas-receiving chamber, and a vent port connected to said outlet port when said outlet port is disconnected from said inlet port, said vent port being positioned away from the location of said gas-receiving chamber.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
118 words
Leak detecting apparatus comprising a test piece supporting member for supporting a test piece with one side of the test piece adapted to be exposed to a vacuum leak detector, a cover member adapted to sealingly engage the other side of said test piece to form a gas-receiving chamber between the cover member and the test piece, means for forcing said cover member against said test piece, said supporting member being slidingly received in an adaptor member, said adaptor member having a sealing surface positioned to engage said one side of said test piece outwardly of said supporting member, and spring means urging said supporting member away from said adaptor member in the direction of said cover member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
118 words
Leak detecting apparatus comprising a test piece supporting member for supporting a test piece with one side of the test piece adapted to be exposed to a vacuum leak detector, a cover member adapted to sealingly engage the other side of said test piece to form a gas-receiving chamber between the cover member and the test piece, means for forcing said cover member against said test piece, said supporting member being slidingly received in an adaptor member, said adaptor member having a sealing surface positioned to engage said one side of said test piece outwardly of said supporting member, and spring means urging said supporting member away from said adaptor member in the direction of said cover member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
Leak detecting apparatus as claimed in claim 6 in which said supporting member has an annular rim portion projecting toward said cover member, said rim portion having a hole therethrough, and said sealing surface being an annular surface surrounding said rim portion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
114 words
Leak detecting apparatus comprising means for supporting a test piece with one side adapted to be exposed to a vacuum leak detector and sealed from the ambient atmosphere, a cover member adapted to seAlingly engage the other side of said test piece to form a gas-receiving chamber between the cover member and the test piece, a supply line for gas under pressure, a first valve connected in series between said supply line and said gas-receiving chamber, a second valve between said one side of the test piece and the leak detector, and operating means interconnecting said first and second valves for causing said first valve to be closed when said second valve is open.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
114 words
Leak detecting apparatus comprising means for supporting a test piece with one side adapted to be exposed to a vacuum leak detector and sealed from the ambient atmosphere, a cover member adapted to seAlingly engage the other side of said test piece to form a gas-receiving chamber between the cover member and the test piece, a supply line for gas under pressure, a first valve connected in series between said supply line and said gas-receiving chamber, a second valve between said one side of the test piece and the leak detector, and operating means interconnecting said first and second valves for causing said first valve to be closed when said second valve is open.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
119 words
Leak detecting apparatus comprising means for supporting a test piece with one side thereof adapted to be exposed to a vacuum leak detector, a cover member adapted to sealingly engage the other side of said test piece to form a gas-receiving chamber between said cover member and said test piece, clamping means to force said cover member against said test piece, a test gas supply line, valve means connected in series between said test gas supply line and said gas-receiving chamber, and actuating means between said clamping means and said valve means and separated from the test piece to cause said valve means to open when said clamping means causes said cover member to sealingly engage the test piece.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
119 words
Leak detecting apparatus comprising means for supporting a test piece with one side thereof adapted to be exposed to a vacuum leak detector, a cover member adapted to sealingly engage the other side of said test piece to form a gas-receiving chamber between said cover member and said test piece, clamping means to force said cover member against said test piece, a test gas supply line, valve means connected in series between said test gas supply line and said gas-receiving chamber, and actuating means between said clamping means and said valve means and separated from the test piece to cause said valve means to open when said clamping means causes said cover member to sealingly engage the test piece.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
118 words
The method of testing for leaks in a test piece comprising the steps of positioning the test piece in a test apparatus so that one side of the test piece is adapted to be exposed to a leak detector, forming a gas-receiving chamber on the other side of the test piece, connecting a source of fluid under pressure to said gas-receiving chamber, and then disconnecting said fluid pressure source from said gas-receiving chamber while trapping in said chamber a charge of gas under pressure from said source, whereby the leak detector will be protected from the full supply of fluid under pressure which could otherwise pass through a hole in the test piece and reach the leak detector.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
118 words
The method of testing for leaks in a test piece comprising the steps of positioning the test piece in a test apparatus so that one side of the test piece is adapted to be exposed to a leak detector, forming a gas-receiving chamber on the other side of the test piece, connecting a source of fluid under pressure to said gas-receiving chamber, and then disconnecting said fluid pressure source from said gas-receiving chamber while trapping in said chamber a charge of gas under pressure from said source, whereby the leak detector will be protected from the full supply of fluid under pressure which could otherwise pass through a hole in the test piece and reach the leak detector.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-08-13 | 1977-02-12 | 1977-08-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-08-13 | 1981-02-12 | 1981-08-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-08-13 | 1985-02-12 | 1985-08-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |