Patent ID: 9541467
Date: 2017-01-10
CPC Classifications: G01M

Claim:
1. A leak detecting apparatus to indicate the presence of a leak in a fluid system that is coupled to said apparatus, said leak testing apparatus comprising: a gas inlet to receive a gas; an adjustable pressure regulator coupled to said gas inlet to provide a pressure regulated supply of the gas received from said gas inlet; a smoke generator to produce visible smoke, said smoke generator communicating with the fluid system to be tested for leaks; a gas flow path extending between said pressure regulator and said smoke generator so that the pressure regulated supply of gas is delivered to the smoke generator to carry the smoke produced by said generator to the system under test whereby the system is pressurized; pressure sensing means communicating with said pressure regulator and with said smoke generator so as to measure the pressure of the pressure regulated supply of gas provided by said pressure regulator and the pressure of the system under test with which the smoke generator communicates; a controller interconnected with said adjustable pressure regulator to adjust said pressure regulator and with said pressure sensing means so as to be responsive to the pressure of the regulated supply of gas and the pressure of the system under test, said controller adjusting the pressure of said adjustable pressure regulator until the pressure of the regulated supply of gas and the pressure of the system under test are equalized during which time the system under test is inspected for leaks; and a gas flow control switch connected within said gas flow path and having an inlet side which communicates with said adjustable pressure regulator and an outlet side which communicates with said smoke generator, said gas flow control switch electrically connected to said controller to be switched by said controller between a closed condition at which to block the flow of the pressure regulated supply of gas therethrough and an open condition at which to permit the flow of the pressure regulated supply of gas from said pressure regulator to said smoke generator, wherein said pressure sensing means includes a first pressure transducer pneumatically coupled between said controller and the inlet side of said gas flow control switch and a second pressure transducer pneumatically coupled between said controller and the outlet side of said gas flow control switch.