Film Chamber with Retaining Profile

Abstract

The invention relates to a film chamber for receiving a test object to be tested for the presence of a leak, including at least two film layers and at least two frame elements, each of which has a sealing surface so that the two frame elements lie against each other in a gas-tight manner in order to hermetically seal the film chamber. Each of the two film layers has at least one retaining profile in a wall region, and each of the two frame elements has at least one retaining groove in the frame element sealing surface in order to receive a retaining profile such that the two film layers are held between the two frame elements substantially by a formfitting connection.

Claims

1. A film chamber for receiving a test object to be tested for the presence of a leak, comprising at least two film layers and at least two frame elements, each of which has a sealing surface so that the two frame elements lie against each other in a gas-tight manner in order to hermetically seal the film chamber, wherein each of the two film layers has at least one retaining profile in a wall portion, and each of the two frame elements has at least one retaining groove in the frame element sealing surface in order to receive a retaining profile such that the two film layers are held between the two frame elements substantially by a form-fitting connection.

2. The film chamber of claim 1, wherein each film layer comprises the retaining profile either integrally or as a separate member glued or welded thereto.

3. The film chamber of claim 1, wherein the retaining profile and the retaining groove are designed to be complementary with each other and the retaining groove is designed to be undercut.

4. The film chamber of claim 1, wherein an edge of each retaining profile forms a traverse seen in cross section.

5. The film chamber of claim 1, wherein each frame element is provided with a gas-carrying element such that the gas-carrying element prevents the retaining pro-file from inadvertently slipping out of the retaining groove.

6. The film chamber of one of the claim 1, wherein a gas-tight seal is provided between the sealing surfaces of the two frame elements.

7. The film chamber of claim 6, wherein the seal is pro-vided by at least two spaced apart sealing lips respectively retained in a retaining groove in one of the frame elements.

8. The film chamber of claim 7, wherein a ventilation channel is provided in one of the two frame elements between the two sealing lips.

9. The film chamber of claim 6, wherein a ventilation channel evacuation of the film chamber is provided in at least one of the two frame elements between the seal and the retaining profile.

10. The film chamber of claim 2, wherein each film layer comprises the retaining profile molded thereto.

11. The film chamber of claim 2, wherein the retaining profile and the retaining groove are designed to be complementary with each other and the retaining groove is designed to be undercut.

12. The film chamber of claim 10, wherein the retaining profile and the retaining groove are designed to be complementary with each other and the retaining groove is designed to be undercut.

13. The film chamber of claim 2, wherein an edge of each retaining profile forms a traverse seen in cross section.

14. The film chamber of claim 2, wherein each frame element is provided with a gas-carrying element such that the gas-carrying element prevents the retaining pro-file from inadvertently slipping out of the retaining groove.

15. The film chamber of claim 3, wherein each frame element is provided with a gas-carrying element such that the gas-carrying element prevents the retaining pro-file from inadvertently slipping out of the retaining groove.

16. The film chamber of claim 4, wherein each frame element is provided with a gas-carrying element such that the gas-carrying element prevents the retaining pro-file from inadvertently slipping out of the retaining groove.

17. The film chamber of claim 2, wherein a gas-tight seal is provided between the sealing surfaces of the two frame elements.

18. The film chamber of claim 3, wherein a gas-tight seal is provided between the sealing surfaces of the two frame elements.

19. The film chamber of claim 7, wherein a ventilation channel for evacuation of the film chamber is provided in at least one of the two frame elements between the seal and the retaining profile.

20. The film chamber of claim 8, wherein a ventilation channel for evacuation of the film chamber is provided in at least one of the two frame elements between the seal and the retaining profile.

Description

[0010] The following is a detailed explanation of an embodiment of the invention with reference to the Figures. In the Figures:

[0011] FIG. 1 is a section through the film chamber and

[0012] FIG. 2 shows the detail indicated as II in FIG. 1.

[0013] The film chamber 12 has two film layers 14, 16 placed against each other at their edge portions and enclosing a test object in the middle between them. Each film layer 14, 16 has a circumferential retaining profile 20 in its edge portion, which is formed integrally with the respective film layer 14, 16. The retaining profile 20 of the film layer 14 is inserted into a retaining groove 22 of a first edge element 24. The retaining profile 20 of the lower film layer 16 is inserted into a retaining groove 22 of a second frame element 26. The retaining grooves 22 are each formed in a surface of the respective frame element 24, 26. The retaining grooves 22 are circumferential depressions whose shape is complementary with the shape of the respective retaining profile 20. Each retaining profile 20 is designed as a circumferential protrusion in the edge portion of the film layer. Each film layer 14, 16 may in particular also have a plurality of different circumferential profiles engaging a plurality of corresponding retaining grooves with different circumferential profiles formed in the respective frame element.

[0014] The frame elements 24, 26 are placed against each other by their clamping surfaces 28, wherein a seal 30 is retained between the clamping surfaces 28 in order to provide a gas-tight connection for a hermetically closed film chamber 12. The seal 30 is formed by two spaced apart sealing lips which are each retained in a seal groove 31 of the one frame element 24 and are pressed against the clamping surface 28 of the other retaining element 28. In said one of the two frame elements 24 a ventilation channel 36 is formed between the two sealing lips, via which the gap between the two sealing lips and the adjacent clamping surfaces 28 can be evacuated. Further, a ventilation channel 38 is provided in one of the two frame elements 24 between the seal 30 and the retaining profiles 20 of the film layers 14, 16. The gap between the two film layers 14, 16, and thus the film chamber 12, is evacuated through this ventilation channel 38.

[0015] Each retaining groove 22 is covered by a gas-carrying element 32 so as to secure the respective retaining profile 20 against slipping from the retaining groove 22. Each gas-carrying element 22 is fastened to the respective clamping surface 28 by means of a hook-and-loop-type fastener 34.

[0016] The invention offers the advantage that the film layers 14, 16 do not have to be lamped in the two frame elements 24, 26 by surface pressure in order to create a stable connection that is sufficiently resistant to tensile stress. The frame elements have to be pressed against each other using only so much force that a gas-tight connection is formed. The engagement between the retaining profile 20 and the retaining groove 22 forms a form-fitting, gas-tight seat allowing for a sufficient tensile stress resistance of the respective film layer 14, 16.