Patent ID: 7568833
Filing Date: 2009-08-04
Classification: G01J

Abstract:
1. Method for certification for a uniformity of temperature tolerance of a heater blanket by infrared thermography, comprising the steps of: a) preparing a heater blanket to be certified, confining said heater blanket within a vacuum bag arranged above a support made of thermally insulating material, said heater blanket being arranged substantially horizontally with respect to said support; b) arranging a reference thermocouple in direct contact with said heater blanket; c) generating a vacuum inside said vacuum bag; d) arranging an IR camera opposite said heater blanket so that a geometrical axis of the lens of said camera forms an angle of, substantially, 90 degrees with a plane of said heater blanket; e) connecting a power supply to said heater blanket for a first heating time period until a temperature measured by said thermocouple on the surface of said heater blanket is higher than ambient temperature; f) keeping said power supply connected during a second time period for stabilization of the temperature; g) recording an IR image or a sequence of IR images of said heater blanket during operation by means of said IR camera; h) storing the image or the sequence of images recorded; i) interrupting the power supply to said heater blanket and allowing the heater blanket to cool; and j) processing the stored image or sequence of images to determine the uniformity of temperature tolerance of the heater blanket.