A method for distinguishing a test gas escaping from a leak in a test object (21) from an interfering gas in the environment of the test object (21) during sniffing leak detection, having the steps: suctioning gas from the environment of the test object (21) in the region of the outer surface of the test object by means of a sniffing tip, which has a suction opening (14), which is connected, for gas conduction, to a sensor (18), which is designed to determine the test gas partial pressure of the test gas in the suctioned gas flow; varying, with periodic repetition, the flow intensity of the suctioned gas flow; setting a total pressure of the suctioned gas at the sensor (18) of at least 80 percent of the total pressure of the gas in the atmosphere (23) surrounding the test object (21); avoiding fluctuations of the total pressure of the suctioned gas at the sensor (18) of more than 10 percent; measuring the test gas partial pressure of test gas contained in the suctioned gas flow by means of the sensor (18); indicating that the test object (21) has a leak if the measured test gas partial pressure has a varying component, the average amplitude of which lies above a threshold value and which follows the variation of the suctioned gas flow.

A device for measuring the pressure at the test gas inlet of a mass-spectrometric leak detector, wherein a mass spectrometer is connected to the inlet of a high vacuum pump, having its outlet connected to the inlet of a pre-vacuum pump, wherein the inlet of the pre-vacuum pump is connected to the test gas inlet, and wherein the inlet of the pre-vacuum pump and at least one intermediate inlet of the high vacuum pump are connected to each other by a connection line comprising a flow throttle.

A sniffer probe for a gas analyzer is provided herein, the sniffer probe designed to suction gas and can be connected to the gas analyzer and includes a sniffer tip with a suction opening, such that gas is suctioned through the suction opening along a central perpendicular to the suction opening, and the sniffer tip has at least one elongate gas-guiding element, which is arranged substantially parallel to the central perpendicular and distally protrudes beyond the suction opening.

A method for detecting fluctuations in the amount of test gas detected by a sniffer probe of a leak detector in the gas flow from around a test piece pressurized with an oxygen-free test gas containing at least an amount of CO.sub.2, wherein an amount of oxygen in the ambient air is measured.

The invention relates to a method for detecting leakage of a hollow component, comprising the steps of sealing said hollow component (1, 31), creating a pressure difference P1 and P2 between said hollow component interior and an adjacent compartment/enclosure (2, 32), putting a tracer gas in one of the hollow component or said compartment/enclosure, waiting for an enriching time T and then carrying out a step of transferring, via a non-selective or selective restriction (6, 7; 49), the content of said hollow component or said compartment/enclosure (2; 32) into which tracer gas has not been put, in order to concentrate, in a volume downstream of said restriction (6, 7; 49), the tracer gas that said content may possibly contain, and then in looking for the presence of tracer gas in said volume. The invention also relates to an installation for implementing the method.

A leak detector is provided for leak-testing objects that are to be tested by spraying tracer gas, the leak detector including: a detection inlet configured to be connected to an object that is to be tested; a pumping device including a vacuum line connected to the detection inlet, a rough-vacuum pump connected to the vacuum line, and a turbomolecular vacuum pump connected to the vacuum line, a delivery of which is connected to the rough-vacuum pump; and a gas detector connected to the turbomolecular vacuum pump, the pumping device further including an ancillary pump connected to the rough-vacuum pump and being configured to lower an ultimate-vacuum pressure of tracer gas in the rough-vacuum pump. A leak detection method for leak-testing objects that are to be tested by spraying tracer gas is also provided.

A test probe for filter leakage detection. The test probe (1) has an elongated housing (5) with a longitudinal inlet portion for admitting gas into a first chamber of the housing through an inlet of the inlet portion, and an outlet portion for letting gas out of a second chamber of the housing through an outlet of the outlet portion. Further, the test probe has an intermediate element comprising a throttling portion. The intermediate element is arranged between the inlet portion and the outlet portion, wherein the first and second chambers are fluidly interconnected via the throttling portion, wherein the throttling portion is elongated and extends longitudinally of the housing, wherein the throttling portion is arranged to cause a smaller vacuum upstream of the throttling portion than downstream of the throttling portion when gas is sucked through the test probe.

A method for leak testing components including loading a subject component to be tested into a vacuum chamber; securing the subject component by a tooling that seals the inlets of two Circuits; selectively setting a series of valves to provide access to vacuum systems, or to a charge system that can supply tracer gas to the Circuits; pumping a main test chamber to provide a vacuum level suitable for sampling by a mass spectrometer; testing the subject component for continuity ensure there are no blockages within the subject component; charging Circuit 1 with a tracer gas to a desired test pressure; sensing via a mass spectrometer for tracer gas; selectively setting valves to seal off Circuit 2 from a vacuum test chamber; pressurizing Circuit 2 with a tracer gas to a desired test pressure; evacuating the Circuits of the tracer gas; and unloading the subject component from the vacuum chamber.

A spray device for detecting leaks is provided, including: a duct including an inlet configured to be connected to a tracer gas source, and an outlet; a valve interposed between the inlet and the outlet; a casing receiving the duct and the valve; at least one probe arranged in the duct, the at least one probe being configured to measure a parameter revealing a presence of the tracer gas in the duct; and at least one information device borne by the casing, configured to provide information on the presence of tracer gas in the duct in relation to a measurement performed by the at least one probe.

A method for displaying gas concentration values on a graphical display of a leak detector comprises detecting a presence of a gas using a gas sensor. A signal is generated by the gas sensor and transmitted from the gas sensor to a processor. The received signal is processed to determine a gas concentration value and a corresponding time stamp. The gas concentration values and corresponding time stamps are displayed graphically as they are determined and newly determined gas concentration values and corresponding time stamps are displayed in relation to previously determined gas concentration values and time stamps in streaming manner.