Patent · US Active

Sniffing leak detector

US8915122B2 · kind B2 · utility

2Cited by
2References
13Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 5, 2010
Grant dateDec 23, 2014
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 23, 2031

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01M3/205
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

The invention relates to a sniffing leak detector comprising a sniffing line (11) and a feed line (33) that leads to a vacuum pump (16). A distribution point (24) from which a branch line (25) leads to a test gas sensor (15) is provided on the feed line (33). In order for the intermediate pressure (P2) at the distribution point (24) to be independent of feed fluctuations of the vacuum pump (16), a throttle (D2) comprising a supercritically operated orifice (20) is provided between the distribution point (24) and the vacuum pump (16). The pressure drop at the orifice (20) is greater than half the intermediate pressure (P2) at the distribution point (24). The flow at the orifice (20) is thus blocked, wherein the flow (Q) remains constant regardless of changes of the pump pressure (P3). Changes of the intermediate pressure (P2) are thus prevented so that the sensitivity and signal stability of the test gas sensor (15) is unaffected by changes of the pump pressure.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.