Apparatus for leak testing an article by detecting with a vacuum detector the leakage of search gas through the article, the apparatus including a pumping system predominantly for evacuating the article under test together with an auxiliary pumping system for evacuating a search gas detector responsible to the search gas leaking through the article.

A system for detecting leakage in a device having a fluid-driven membrane inserted in the body, for example, a balloon pump, includes a fluid drive circuit with a moisture remover having a capacity just sufficient to remove water vapor entering the circuit due to intrinsic permeability of the membrane. An in-line humidity sensor responds quickly to an increase in vapor pressure, indicating a leak, and activates a shut-down circuit to prevent leakage of the drive fluid into the body. The system i...

A method and apparatus for testing liquid storage tanks for leakage by using apparatus to measure changes in liquid level and temperature over a predetermined period of time in which the liquid level apparatus includes means for discharging a uniform low pressure to a fixed point below the liquid level in the container and measuring any change in pressures over the predetermined period of time and in which the temperature measuring apparatus includes a liquid filled probe extending for substanti...

A method for detecting small leaks in a tank storing a liquid by measuring changes in the location of a float suspended in the liquid. The method includes the steps of sealing the float to prevent the condensation of vapors within the float, positioning the float at a preselected depth, modulating an emitted signal by an amount which varies with the changes in the location of the float, and detecting the modulated signal. Changes in the signal are indicative of small changes in the location of t...

In a leak detector of a kind suitable for mounting externally of a flexible hose to detect leakage of fluid through at least a part of the hose and generate a warning signal in response thereto, test means is provided for checking the operating capability of the detector. The test means is of a kind operable from outside of the detector, for example by means of a magnet or an ultrasonic signal. Accordingly particularly when the leak detector is used in underwater situations the operating capabil...

A method and an apparatus for detecting a possible leak in a vacuum package, in which the vacuum package is received within a wrapping wall at least essentially consisting of a gas-tight, flexible wrapping foil adapted for substantial adjustment to the contours of the vacuum package under the influence of overpressure, so that the vacuum package is tightly enveloped by the wrapping wall. Overpressure is applied to the wrapping foil such that this adjustment to the contours of the vacuum package ...

A method for detecting small leaks in a tank storing a liquid by measuring changes in the location of a float suspended in the liquid. The method includes the steps of sealing the float to prevent the condensation of vapors within the float, modulating an emitted signal by an amount which varies with the changes in the location of the float, and detecting the modulated signal. Changes in the signal are indicative of small changes in the location of the float and small leaks in the tank.

Leak detector operating according to the countercurrent principle is used in a leak detection method and includes a first high vacuum pump having an inlet which is connected to an inlet of the leak detector, a second high vacuum pump having an inlet which is connected to a mass spectrometer, and a first roughing pump having an inlet which is connected to the outlets of the first and second high vacuum pump respectively. In order, on the one hand, to detect particularly large leaks and, on the ot...

A method and apparatus is provided for detecting leaks in plastic bottles. The leak detector is sealingly engaged to the mouth of the bottle to be tested. Thereafter, a vacuum is drawn in the bottle by moving a rod having a flexible diaphragm connected thereto away from the bottle mouth. Such movement of the diaphragm while the detector is engaged to the bottle mouth results in an increased volume within the sealed area with no change in the amount of air contained within such sealed area. Accor...

A method and apparatus is provided for detecting leaks in plastic bottles. The device is capable of testing plastic bottles for leaks without relying upon an outside source of air to pressurize the bottle being tested. The bottle to be tested is grasped by a neck engaging mechanism and lifted from its support into engagement with a plug gauge connected to a free floating cylinder. Continued movement of the bottle by the neck grasping means causes such cylinder to move relative to a fixed piston ...