US3842659A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for testing the helium tightness of tubular bodies
Assignee: Pont a Mousson SA
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Filing: 1972-12-29
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Granted: 1974-10-22
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Expires: 1992-12-29
Abstract
Abstract Method and apparatus for testing the helium-tightness of a tubular body. The method comprises the steps of creating a vacuum inside said body, subjecting each of the points of said body a plurality of times to a flow of helium directed onto the outer surface of the body and, at the same time, isolating, drawing off and accumulating any helium which has passed through the wall of said body, and only this helium, the accumulation being effected at optimum pressure and concentration for detection in a chamber connected to a helium detector, and detecting the accumulated helium.
Inventors
- 👤 M Bacroix
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 08:08
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01M; G01M3/00; G01M3/02; G01M3/04; G01M3/20; G01M3/22; G01M3/222
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
146 words
A method for testing the heliumtightness of a tubular body of a series of tubular bodies comprising the steps of creating a vacuum inside said body, subjecting said body to a flow of helium directed onto the outer surface of the body by displacing axially of the body an annular helium supply region surrounding the body and, at the same time, drawing off, isolating, and accumulating any helium which has passed through the wall of said body, and only said any helium, the accumulation being effected at optimum pressure and concentration for detection in a chamber connected to a helium detector, and detecting the accumulated helium, the helium supply region being maintained at a distance from the two ends of the tubular body while the tubular body which has just been tested is being replaced by a new tubular body of said series of tubular bodies.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
146 words
A method for testing the heliumtightness of a tubular body of a series of tubular bodies comprising the steps of creating a vacuum inside said body, subjecting said body to a flow of helium directed onto the outer surface of the body by displacing axially of the body an annular helium supply region surrounding the body and, at the same time, drawing off, isolating, and accumulating any helium which has passed through the wall of said body, and only said any helium, the accumulation being effected at optimum pressure and concentration for detection in a chamber connected to a helium detector, and detecting the accumulated helium, the helium supply region being maintained at a distance from the two ends of the tubular body while the tubular body which has just been tested is being replaced by a new tubular body of said series of tubular bodies.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
124 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, comprising moving the helium supply region from an initial position substantially midway between the ends of the tubular body to an end of the tubular body, commencing operations comprising the subjection of the tubular body to the flow of helium, the isolation of the helium which has passed through its wall and the accumulation and detection of the helium which has passed through its wall, said operations being pursued while shifting the helium supply region from the said end of the tubular body to the opposite end of the tubular body, stopping movement of the helium supply region for a given period of time, stopping said operations and returning the helium supply region to said initial position.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
159 words
An apparatus for testing the helium-tightness of a tubular body of a series of tubular bodies, comprising in combination: means for closing opposite ends of said body and means for creating a vacuum inside said body; a movable annular helium-projecting assembly having a longitudinal axis encompassing said body with sufficient clearance between said body and the assembly to permit displacing the assembly longitudinally of said body, helium supply means included in the assembly for putting helium in contact with the outer surface of said body; means for deplacing the assembly longitudinally of said body between two extreme positions adjacent the ends of said body; a helium detecting device, and means putting the detecting device in communication with the interior of said body; and means for precluding the contamination of said body closing means and the vicinity of said closing means by helium when replacing a tested body of said series of bodies by a new body of said series.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
159 words
An apparatus for testing the helium-tightness of a tubular body of a series of tubular bodies, comprising in combination: means for closing opposite ends of said body and means for creating a vacuum inside said body; a movable annular helium-projecting assembly having a longitudinal axis encompassing said body with sufficient clearance between said body and the assembly to permit displacing the assembly longitudinally of said body, helium supply means included in the assembly for putting helium in contact with the outer surface of said body; means for deplacing the assembly longitudinally of said body between two extreme positions adjacent the ends of said body; a helium detecting device, and means putting the detecting device in communication with the interior of said body; and means for precluding the contamination of said body closing means and the vicinity of said closing means by helium when replacing a tested body of said series of bodies by a new body of said series.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
95 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the vacuum-creating means comprise a unit for creating a vacuum and pipe means putting the unit in communication with the interior of said body, the means for putting the detecting device in communication with the interior of said body comprising second pipe means extending through one of said body end closing means and the following, connected to the second pipe means in series relation in the indicated order: an isolating valve, a diaphgram, a large-section chamber, a helium detector and a unit for creating a high vacuum.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
126 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the annular assembly comprises an annular box structure having a U-shaped longitudinal radial section, a middle hollow ring which is secured within the box structure and defines therein a centre annular chamber for blowing helium onto the outer surface of said body and for connection to a source of helium, means defining radial orifices in the hollow ring for putting the annular chamber in communication with the outer surface of said body, and two annular recesses constituting suction chambers defined by the annular chamber in the box structure for excess helium, said recesses opening radially onto said axis of the annular assembly and means for putting the recesses in communication with a device for drawing off excess helium.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
82 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, adapted to test a tubular body in the form of a pipe having a socket, wherein the movable assembly comprises an extension means defining an auxiliary annular chamber opening radially onto said axis of the assembly, said auxiliary chamber being adapted to overlap, in one of said extreme positions of said assembly, the socket of said pipe to be tested and means for putting the auxiliary annular chamber in communication with a source of helium.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
127 words
An apparatus for testing the helium-tightness of a tubular body, comprising in combination: means for creating a vacuum inside said body; a movable annular helium-projecting assembly having a longitudinal axis and including supply means for putting helium in contact with the outer surface of said body; means for deplacing the assembly longitudinally of said body between two extreme positions; a helium detecting device, and means putting the detecting device in communication with the interior of said body, the helium supply means comprising a middle annular region for putting the helium in contact with the outer said surface of said body, and two annular regions on each side of said middle region for drawing off excess helium which has not been drawn through the wall of said body.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
127 words
An apparatus for testing the helium-tightness of a tubular body, comprising in combination: means for creating a vacuum inside said body; a movable annular helium-projecting assembly having a longitudinal axis and including supply means for putting helium in contact with the outer surface of said body; means for deplacing the assembly longitudinally of said body between two extreme positions; a helium detecting device, and means putting the detecting device in communication with the interior of said body, the helium supply means comprising a middle annular region for putting the helium in contact with the outer said surface of said body, and two annular regions on each side of said middle region for drawing off excess helium which has not been drawn through the wall of said body.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
177 words
An apparatus for testing the helium-tightness of a tubular body, comprising in combination: means for creating a vacuum inside said body; a movable annular helium-projecting assembly having a longitudinal axis and comprising an annular sleeve structure for encompassing the body, the sleeve structure having a plurality of longitudinally-extending sectors articulated to each other for pivoting about a longitudinally extending axes between a closed position and an opened position to open the sleeve structure and allow the sleeve structure to be moved away from said body and supply means for putting helium in contact with the outer surface of said body; means for displacing the assembly longitudinally of said body between two extreme positions; a helium detecting device, and means putting the detecting device in communication with the interior of said body; a device for suspending the sleeve structure from said means for displacing the assembly; a mechanism for raising the sleeve structure away from the tubular body; and a device controlling the opening and closing of the sectors of the sleeve structure with respect to each other.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
177 words
An apparatus for testing the helium-tightness of a tubular body, comprising in combination: means for creating a vacuum inside said body; a movable annular helium-projecting assembly having a longitudinal axis and comprising an annular sleeve structure for encompassing the body, the sleeve structure having a plurality of longitudinally-extending sectors articulated to each other for pivoting about a longitudinally extending axes between a closed position and an opened position to open the sleeve structure and allow the sleeve structure to be moved away from said body and supply means for putting helium in contact with the outer surface of said body; means for displacing the assembly longitudinally of said body between two extreme positions; a helium detecting device, and means putting the detecting device in communication with the interior of said body; a device for suspending the sleeve structure from said means for displacing the assembly; a mechanism for raising the sleeve structure away from the tubular body; and a device controlling the opening and closing of the sectors of the sleeve structure with respect to each other.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
59 words
An apparaTus as claimed in claim 8, comprising a device for supporting and rolling the sleeve structure on said body, the suspension device and the sleeve structure constituting two elements of which two elements one is integral with a member, and the other has means defining a substantially vertical slot, the member being substantially vertically movable in the slot.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
202 words
An apparatus for testing the helium-tightness of a tubular body, comprising in combination: means for creating a vacuum inside said body; a movable annular heliumprojecting assembly having a longitudinal axis and comprising an annular sleeve structure for encompassing the body, the sleeve structure having a plurality of longitudinally-extending sectors articulated to each other for pivoting about longitudinally extending axes between a closed position and an opened position to open the sleeve structure and allow the sleeve structure to be moved away from said body and supply means for putting helium in contact with the outer surface of said body; means for displacing the assembly longitudinally of said body between two extreme positions; a helium detecting device, and means putting the detecting device in communication with the interior of said body; a device for suspending the sleeve structure from said means for displacing the assembly; a mechanism for raising the sleeve structure away from the tubular body; and a device controlling the opening and closing of the sectors of the sleeve structure with respect to each other, the sleeve structure having three sectors two of which sectors are articulated on each side of a third sector which is connected to the raising mechanism.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
202 words
An apparatus for testing the helium-tightness of a tubular body, comprising in combination: means for creating a vacuum inside said body; a movable annular heliumprojecting assembly having a longitudinal axis and comprising an annular sleeve structure for encompassing the body, the sleeve structure having a plurality of longitudinally-extending sectors articulated to each other for pivoting about longitudinally extending axes between a closed position and an opened position to open the sleeve structure and allow the sleeve structure to be moved away from said body and supply means for putting helium in contact with the outer surface of said body; means for displacing the assembly longitudinally of said body between two extreme positions; a helium detecting device, and means putting the detecting device in communication with the interior of said body; a device for suspending the sleeve structure from said means for displacing the assembly; a mechanism for raising the sleeve structure away from the tubular body; and a device controlling the opening and closing of the sectors of the sleeve structure with respect to each other, the sleeve structure having three sectors two of which sectors are articulated on each side of a third sector which is connected to the raising mechanism.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
158 words
An apparatus for testing the helium-tightness of a tubular body, comprising in combination: means for creating a vacuum inside said body; a movable annular helium-projecting assembly having a longitudinal axis and comprising an annular sleeve structure for encompassing the body, the sleeve structure having a plurality of longitudinally extending sectors articulated to each other for pivoting about longitudinally extending axes between a closed position and an opened position to open the sleeve structure and allow the sleeve structure to be moved away from said body and supply means for putting helium in contact with the outer surface of said body; means for displacing the assembly longitudinally of said body between two extreme positions; a helium detecting device, and means putting the detecting device in communication with the interior of said body, the sleeve structure comprising an inner cylindrical casing and an outer cylindrical shell, which casing and shell are defined by said sectors when in said closed position.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
158 words
An apparatus for testing the helium-tightness of a tubular body, comprising in combination: means for creating a vacuum inside said body; a movable annular helium-projecting assembly having a longitudinal axis and comprising an annular sleeve structure for encompassing the body, the sleeve structure having a plurality of longitudinally extending sectors articulated to each other for pivoting about longitudinally extending axes between a closed position and an opened position to open the sleeve structure and allow the sleeve structure to be moved away from said body and supply means for putting helium in contact with the outer surface of said body; means for displacing the assembly longitudinally of said body between two extreme positions; a helium detecting device, and means putting the detecting device in communication with the interior of said body, the sleeve structure comprising an inner cylindrical casing and an outer cylindrical shell, which casing and shell are defined by said sectors when in said closed position.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the casing has portions defining housings and the device for supporting and rolling the sleeve structure on said body comprises rollers mounted in the housings to roll along said body.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
82 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 12, comprising a device for suspending the sleeve structure from said means for displacing the assembly, the sleeve structure being connected to the suspension device in such manner as to be unbalanced, one of said rollers having the highest position among said rollers and located in an extreme position on the heavier side of the sleeve structure, resiliently yieldable means being associated with said one of said rollers to bias it downwardly of the sleeve structure.
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) | 1977-10-21 | 1978-04-22 | 1978-10-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-10-21 | 1982-04-22 | 1982-10-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-10-21 | 1986-04-22 | 1986-10-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |