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 sniffer probe for a leak detector for monitoring the leaktightness of an object to be tested by tracer gas includes an end piece created in the form of a rigid tube, a housing, a connection member connecting the end piece to the housing, and a sampling duct to sample a gas at a first end of the end piece. The connection member includes a main body that is elastically deformable such that it can adopt a deformed position, making it possible for the end piece to pivot when acted upon by a force and to return to the initial rest position.

The invention relates to a leak detection device comprising: a portable leak detection bell-like member comprising a sealing joint and configured to define a detection chamber between the main body and the test zone, the detection bell-like member further comprising a carrying handle which is provided with a control member which can be manually activated to produce a control signal, a gas suction circuit which is intended to connect the detection chamber to a vacuum pump, the gas suction circuit being provided with a controlled valve which can be switched into an open state to connect the detection chamber to the vacuum pump and a closed state to isolate the detection chamber from the vacuum pump, and a control unit which is configured to switch the controlled valve in response to the control signal.

A leak detection device (10) comprising a gas detector (12), a vacuum pump (14), a port for a test object (22) and a gas conducting path connecting the port to the gas detector (12) and the vacuum pump (14), is characterized in that the port (16) comprises a controllable isolation valve (20) for the selective opening or closing of the port (16), and that a pressure measurement device (24) for measuring the pressure at the port (16) is provided and the connection line (18) comprises a controllable venting valve (V3, V3a) for selectively allowing gas from the surrounding atmosphere to flow to the port (16) in a pulse-like manner, wherein the leak detection device (10) is configured to measure the pressure p(t1) at the port (16) at a first time t1 before the opening of the venting valve, thereafter to open and close the venting valve in a pulse-like manner and to measure the pressure p(t2) at the port (16) at least at a time t2>t1 after the closing of the venting valve and to determine, whether the isolation valve (20) is open or closed based on the measured pressures p(t1), p(t2).

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 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.

Systems, devices and methods including a handheld sensing device comprising: a sensor configured to measure ambient methane, ethane, propane, butane, and/or pentane concentrations; and a handle, where the sensor is disposed on a first end of the handle; control electronics comprising: a processor having addressable memory, the processor in communication with the sensor, where the processor is configured to: receive the measured ambient gas concentrations; and detect elevated ambient gas concentrations that may be attributed to a natural gas emissions source based on the measured ambient gas concentrations.

A leak detection device for combined integral and localizing leak detection, comprising a test specimen port (14), a test specimen high vacuum pump (16), the inlet of which is connected with the test specimen port (14), at least one pre-vacuum pump (20), the inlet of which is connected via a test specimen line (18) with the outlet (19) of the test specimen high vacuum pump (16), and a gas detector (32) connected with the pre-vacuum pump (20), which is connected via at least a first gas line (28) with the test specimen high vacuum pump (16), the test specimen line (18) and/or the specimen port (14) such that gas from the test specimen port (14) is supplied to the gas detector (32) via the gas line (28) for gas analysis, characterized in that a gas pressure measuring volume (22) connected with a gas pressure sensor is configured in the test specimen line (18) such that, during the gas measurement with the gas detector (32), an integral leak detection can be carried out by measuring the pressure profile in the gas pressure measuring volume (22).

A method for recognizing the presence of leakages from sealed containers includes defining a detection zone in which a sealed container will be placed, putting the detection zone in communication with at least one gas sensor through at least one duct, introducing a flushing gas into the detection zone through the duct, placing a container in the detection zone; and sucking a gas flow from the detection zone through the duct and transferring it to a first sensor. The gas flow that reaches the first sensor is either transferred to a second sensor or to the first sensor for a second time. The signals generated by the two sensors, or the two signals generated by the same sensor, are processed for determining the presence of a gas leakage in the container.

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.