Patent ID: 6564614
Filing Date: 2003-05-20
Classification: G01M

Abstract:
An apparatus for testing a riser assembly for leaks comprising:a vacuum pump having a vacuum port; a valve, the valve having a first end and a second end, the first end of the valve being connected to the vacuum port and the second end being in fluid communication with an inside of the riser assembly; a gauge having an inlet, the inlet being in fluid communication with to an inside of the riser assembly and the second end of the valve; and a vacuum controlled switch having an input side, an output side, and a vacuum monitoring port, the vacuum monitoring port being in fluid communication with the vacuum port of the vacuum pump, the input of the vacuum controlled switch being connectable to a compressed air supply, the output of the vacuum controlled switch being connected to a valve input port of the valve, the vacuum controlled switch being configured to allow compressed air to flow from the input side through the output side to the valve input port such that valve input port controls the valve to allow fluid communication between the inside of the riser assembly and the vacuum pump when the vacuum monitoring port detects that a vacuum inside the riser assembly is below a predetermined threshold, the vacuum controlled switch further being operable to shut off fluid communication between the input side and the output side when the vacuum monitoring port detects that the vacuum inside the riser assembly is above the predetermined threshold, thereby causing the valve to isolate the inside of the riser assembly from the vacuum pump; wherein the valve is spring loaded and is controllable by air pressure input at the valve input port to move between a first position in which the vacuum pump is connected to the inside of the riser assembly through the valve so that a vacuum inside of the riser assembly may be created, and a second position in which the inside of the riser assembly is isolated from the vacuum pump and monitorable with the gauge.