US4320653A — Method of and apparatus for measuring the rate of…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 213 words

Method of measuring the rate of leak in a test object subjected to the establishment of vacuum conditions and in which test object liquids and/or their vapors are present, using the pressurized method and measuring the absolute pressure, wherein the improvement comprises connecting a measuring tank to the test object and valving the connection for selectively interconnecting the measuring tank and the test object, evacuating the test object and measuring tank, providing the measuring tank and test object in intercommunication for equalizing the pressure therebetween and closing off the interconnection therebetween after a time, removing the vapors within the measuring tank for reducing the partial pressure therein, measuring the pressure of the gases in the measuring tank, providing intercommunication between the vacuum pump and the measuring tank and evacuating the test object and the measuring tank to a final pressure, closing off the vacuum pump and the measuring tank while affording intercommunication between the test object and the measuring tank for effecting pressure equalization therebetween, closing off the intercommunication between the test object and the measuring tank, removing the vapor contents of the measuring tank for reducing the partial pressure therein, measuring the pressure in the measuring tank and based on the measured pressures and the time difference determining the rate of leak.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 213 words

Method of measuring the rate of leak in a test object subjected to the establishment of vacuum conditions and in which test object liquids and/or their vapors are present, using the pressurized method and measuring the absolute pressure, wherein the improvement comprises connecting a measuring tank to the test object and valving the connection for selectively interconnecting the measuring tank and the test object, evacuating the test object and measuring tank, providing the measuring tank and test object in intercommunication for equalizing the pressure therebetween and closing off the interconnection therebetween after a time, removing the vapors within the measuring tank for reducing the partial pressure therein, measuring the pressure of the gases in the measuring tank, providing intercommunication between the vacuum pump and the measuring tank and evacuating the test object and the measuring tank to a final pressure, closing off the vacuum pump and the measuring tank while affording intercommunication between the test object and the measuring tank for effecting pressure equalization therebetween, closing off the intercommunication between the test object and the measuring tank, removing the vapor contents of the measuring tank for reducing the partial pressure therein, measuring the pressure in the measuring tank and based on the measured pressures and the time difference determining the rate of leak.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 44 words

Method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein in removing the vapors from the measuring tank the partial pressure of the vapor in the measuring tank are reduced so that the relative difference to the final pressure attainable by a vacuum pump is small.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 20 words

Method, as set forth in claim 1, evacuating the test object and the measuring tank by using a vacuum pump.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 26 words

Method, as set forth in claim 1, including removing the vapor for reducing the partial pressure by cooling parts of the contents of the measuring tank.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 24 words

Method, as set forth in claim 1, including removing the vapor for reducing the partial pressure by absorbing the vapor from the measuring tank.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 26 words

Method, as set forth in claim 4, including returning the measuring tank to ambient temperature prior to evacuating and the measuring tank to the final pressure.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 34 words

Method, as set forth in claim 1, including removing the vapors from within the measuring tank so that the vapors removed do not contact the device for measuring the pressure in the measuring tank.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 189 words

Apparatus for measuring the rate of leak in a test object comprising a test object, a vacuum pump, a first conduit connecting said vacuum pump to said test object, a first valve located in said first conduit between said test object and said vacuum pump so that communication between said test object and vacuum pump can be selectively effected, a pressure gauge, a second conduit spaced from said first conduit and connected to said pressure gauge, a measuring tank located in said second conduit spaced from said pressure gauge, a first branch line connected at one end to said first conduit between said test object and said first valve and at the other end to said second conduit on the opposite side of said measuring tank from said measuring gauge, a second branch line connected at one end to said first conduit between said first valve and said vacuum pump and at the other end to said second conduit between said measuring tank and said measuring gauge, and means connected to said measuring tank for removing vapor therefrom so that the removed vapors do not contact said measuring gauge.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 189 words

Apparatus for measuring the rate of leak in a test object comprising a test object, a vacuum pump, a first conduit connecting said vacuum pump to said test object, a first valve located in said first conduit between said test object and said vacuum pump so that communication between said test object and vacuum pump can be selectively effected, a pressure gauge, a second conduit spaced from said first conduit and connected to said pressure gauge, a measuring tank located in said second conduit spaced from said pressure gauge, a first branch line connected at one end to said first conduit between said test object and said first valve and at the other end to said second conduit on the opposite side of said measuring tank from said measuring gauge, a second branch line connected at one end to said first conduit between said first valve and said vacuum pump and at the other end to said second conduit between said measuring tank and said measuring gauge, and means connected to said measuring tank for removing vapor therefrom so that the removed vapors do not contact said measuring gauge.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 31 words

Apparatus, as set forth in claim 8, wherein said means comprise a cooling device connected to said measuring tank spaced from the connection between said measuring tank and said measuring gauge.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 66 words

Apparatus, as set forth in claim 8, wherein said means comprise an absorption trap located in said second conduit on the opposite side of said measuring tank from said measuring gauge and a fourth valve located in said second conduit between said absorption trap and the connection of said first branch line to said second conduit for selectively interconnecting said absorption trap and said measuring tank.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1985-03-22	1985-09-21	1986-03-23	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1989-03-22	1989-09-21	1990-03-23	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1993-03-22	1993-09-21	1994-03-23	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method of and apparatus for measuring the rate of leak

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