LEAK TEST USING A BLOCKING DEVICE

Abstract

A method for leak testing a test specimen includes the following steps: placing the test specimen in a test chamber, testing a leak-tightness of the test specimen in the test chamber, opening the test chamber and removing the test specimen if the leak test has determined that the test specimen is leak-tight, and blocking the test chamber from opening to prevent a removal of the test specimen if the leak test has determined a leak in the test specimen. A leak testing device includes a test chamber receiving the test specimen, a leak detector connected to the test chamber, and a blocking device.

Claims

1-13. (canceled)

14. A method for leak testing a test specimen, the method comprising the following steps: placing the test specimen in a test chamber; testing a leak-tightness of the test specimen in the test chamber; opening the test chamber and removing the test specimen if the leak test has determined that the test specimen is leak-tight; and blocking the test chamber from opening to prevent a removal of the test specimen if the leak test has determined a leak in the test specimen.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the test chamber is automatically blocked depending on a result of the leak test.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein to release the blocking, an electronic or mechanical key is required.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein to release the blocking, an electronic or mechanical key is required.

18. The method according to claim 14, wherein the test chamber is blocked with a blocking device actuated by a control device, and wherein the control device receives information about the leak test from a measuring device carrying out the leak test.

19. The method according to claim 14, wherein the test chamber is blocked by applying or holding a vacuum inside the test chamber.

20. The method according to claim 14, wherein the test chamber is blocked by applying a mechanical force.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the mechanical force is applied by a blocking device.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the blocking device is a mechanical closing device.

23. The method according claim 14, wherein the test chamber containing the test specimen is evacuated to a test chamber internal pressure that is lower than a pressure inside the test specimen for testing the leak-tightness of the test specimen, in order to detect gas entering the test chamber from a leak in the test specimen.

24. The method according to claim 14, wherein the test specimen for testing the leak-tightness of the test specimen has a pressure inside that is increased to a pressure that is higher than the pressure inside the test chamber in order to detect gas entering the test chamber from a leak in the test specimen according to the accumulation principle.

25. The method according to claim 14, wherein the step of testing the leak-tightness of the test specimen is carried out with a measuring device in the form of a pressure measuring device or a gas detector or a gas analyzer, and a measuring signal of the measuring device is transmitted to a blocking device actuating a control device.

26. A leak testing device for testing a leak-tightness of a test specimen, comprising: a test chamber receiving the test specimen; a leak detector connected to the test chamber; and a blocking device configured to block the test chamber in order to prevent a removal of the test specimen if a measuring signal of the leak detector corresponds to a leaking test specimen and to enable the test chamber to be opened if the measuring signal corresponds to a non-leaking test specimen.

27. The leak testing device according to claim 26, further comprising a vacuum pump connected to the test chamber for to evacuating the test chamber.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0018] The FIGURE shows a block diagram of the leak testing device according to the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0019] With reference to the FIGURE, an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure is explained in more detail. The FIGURE shows a block diagram of the leak testing device according to the disclosure.

[0020] A test specimen 12 to be tested for leaks is placed inside a test chamber 14. The test chamber 14 is a conventional vacuum chamber and is shown in the closed state in the FIGURE. A vacuum pump 18 is vacuum-connected to test chamber 14 in order to evacuate it to a pressure that is lower than the pressure inside test specimen 12. In the event of a leak in test specimen 12, test gas will escape from the inside of test specimen 12 into the inside of test chamber 14 in the area outside test specimen 12.

[0021] A leak detector 16 is also vacuum-connected to the inside of test chamber 14 in a gas-conducting manner for leak measurement. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, leak detector 16 is included in the gas line path connecting test chamber 14 to vacuum pump 18. Other configurations are conceivable. The leak detector 16 can be a conventional gas detector, a gas analyzer or a pressure measuring device to monitor the pressure inside test chamber 14. Valves required for the leak test are available, but are not shown in the FIGURE for reasons of simplicity.

[0022] As soon as leak detector 16 measures test gas that has escaped from the interior of test specimen 12 or, in the case of a pressure measuring device, measures a pressure increase that indicates a leak in test specimen 12, leak detector 16 sends an electronic signal to a control device 22 electronically connected to leak detector 16. The control device 22 is configured to automatically generate a control signal that activates a blocking device 20 to prevent test chamber 14 from opening in the event of a measuring signal from leak detector 16 that indicates a leaking test specimen 12. For this purpose, control device 22 is electrically connected to blocking device 20. The blocking device 20 can be a mechanical lock or a lock that locks test chamber 14. Alternatively or additionally, blocking device 20 can also be a valve that connects the interior of test chamber 14 with the atmosphere surrounding test chamber 14 and which is opened before test chamber 14 is opened in order to ventilate test chamber 14. To block test chamber 14, the valve remains closed so that ventilation of test chamber 14 is prevented. The vacuum pressure inside the test chamber is then so high that a human operator cannot open test chamber 14. The closing force for closing the test chamber is then generated by the vacuum pressure. Alternatively or additionally, the closing force can be applied as a mechanical force by a closing device.

[0023] It is also conceivable that control device 22 activates vacuum pump 18 or an additional vacuum pump or keeps it in operation in order to maintain or even increase the vacuum pressure inside test chamber 14. In this case, blocking device 20 could be understood as part of the vacuum pump or as an additional vacuum pump.

[0024] If an operator now wants to remove test specimen 12 from test chamber 14 after the leak test has shown that test specimen 12 has a leak, the operator must use a key to deactivate blocking device 20. The key can be a mechanical key, for example, to unlock a mechanical closing device or to give control device 22 the command to deactivate blocking device 20. The key can also be an electronic key in the form of a password, which the user must enter into an operation terminal of control device 22. In any case, the operator who wants to remove test specimen 12 from test chamber 14 must take an additional action to remove a leaking test specimen from test chamber 14 than in the case of a leak-tight test specimen. This reduces the risk of confusing a leaking test specimen with the group or amount of test specimens previously tested as leak-tight.