O P E R A T I N G

M A N U A L

linc84en1-04 (1610)

Catalog No.
155 80155 81

Adjustable Helium Test Leak TL3-5 / TL4-6

0-2
Content.fm(1610)

Operating Manual1Technical Data

1-1

2

Supplied Equipment

1-3

3Operating and Handling

1-4

3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4

First Use or Changing the Type of Gas
1-6
Changing the Reservoir Cylinder without Changing the Type of Gas 1-10
Storage when unused
1-13
Maintenance
1-13

4

Applications

1-14

4.1
4.2

Use for Vacuum Leak Detection
Use for Overpressure Leak Tests (Sniffer Probe)1-141-14

5

Using Search Gases other than Helium

1-17

6Adjustment of leak rate

1-19

7

Spare Parts

1-24

Content.fm(1610)

Operating ManualContent

Content

0-3

INFICON-Service
If an appliance is returned to INFICON, indicate whether the appliance is free ofsubstances damaging to health or whether it is contaminated. If it is contaminated also
indicate the nature of hazard.

Indicates procedures that must be strictly observed to prevent damage to, ordestruction of, the test leak.

The references to diagrams, e.g. (2/5), consist of the Fig. No. and the Item No. in thatorder.

(1610)

CautionOperating Manual

For this please use the form provided in the Annex. INFICON must return any appliancewithout a declaration of contamination to the sender’s address.

General Note

Content.fm

The right of alterations in the design and the technical data is reserved. The illustrations
are not binding.

0-4

Content1

Technical Data

Chapter 1-3.fm(1610)

Operating Manual

Test Leak
Leak rate adjustment range TL3-5

10-3 ... 10-5 mbar l/s

Leak rate adjustment range TL4-6

10-4 ... 10-6 mbar l/s

Nominal leak rate TL3-5

5 · 10-5 mbar l/s

Nominal leak rate TL4-6

5 · 10-6 mbar l/s

Uncertainty of the nominal leak rate1)
Temperature coefficient
Leak type
Calibrated forConnecting flange
Manometer reading± 10%
Negligible
CapillaryHelium
DN 16 ISO-KF-1 ... +15 bar (overpressure)

Helium cylinder
Test gas
PurityBottle capacity
Filling pressure
Filling amount
Inlet pressure max.

Helium 5.0
99.999 Vol.-%
1l
12 bar12 lmax. 12 bar

WeightWith gas cylinder:
Without gas cylinder:

425 g300 g1) with manometer reading 0 bar and p<1 mbar at connecting flange.

Technical Data1-1

Operating Manual(1610)
Chapter 1-3.fm

Fig. 1-1 Dimensional drawing (all measures in mm)

1-2

Technical DataSupplied Equipment•

1 test leak complete with manometer, gas-reservoir shut-off valve and leak shut-offvalve•

1 helium bottle (HE 5.0; 12 bar; 1 l)•

1 holder for setting up the helium bottle with test leak•

Installation instructions for the holder

Chapter 1-3.fm(1610)

Operating Manual2

Supplied Equipment

1-3

3

Operating and Handling
Always unscrew valve for a short time only. The leak outlet area on valve should not betouched, particularly not with your fingers or greasy objects.

CautionThe reservoir cylinder is pressurised.
Protect it against direct sun light, temperatures over 50 °C and damage.

Operating Manual

Retain the protection cap for the flange and fit it each time the test leak is removed.

Chapter 1-3.fm

The holder included is used for safe storage of the test leak. It is installed according to
the mounting instructions included, see Fig. 1-2.

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Holder1-4

Operating and Handling

Operating Manual(1610)
Chapter 1-3.fm

Fig. 1-2 Test leak TL 3-5 / 4-6, complete
Pos.
12
3
4

Description
overpressure manometer for test gas pressure
test gas supply shut-off valve
vent screw
body with leak apillary

Pos.
56
78

Description
connecting flange DN 16 ISO-KF
shut-off valve for leak outlet orifice
test gas bottle
holderOperating and Handling

1-5

3.1

First Use or Changing the Type of Gas
Close all valves and the vent screw.
Unscrew old test gas bottle.
Remove protective cap from new test gas bottle.
Screw in the new reservoir (hand tight) until to the stop.

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Operating Manual

1234Chapter 1-3.fm

Fig. 1-3

1-6

Operating and Handling

Operating Manual

5Open the test gas supply on the reservoir (the knob turns downwards!)

Fig. 1-4
The pressure gauge must now indicate the pressure of the gas bottle.
Close the blocking valve on the reservoir (the knob turns upwards!).

Chapter 1-3.fm(1610)

6

Fig. 1-5
Operating and Handling

1-7Open the vent screw so far that the pressure drops to 0 bar (purge).

Fig. 1-6
Close the vent screw.

Fig. 1-7

1-8

Operating and Handling

Chapter 1-3.fm(1610)

8

Operating Manual

7

Open the test gas supply, so that the pressure reaches the pressure of the test gascylinder.

Operating Manual

9Fig. 1-8
Close test gas supply.

Chapter 1-3.fm(1610)

10Fig. 1-9
Operating and Handling

1-9

Repeat process steps 6. to 10. twice so as to ensure that the gas reservoir in front of thetest leak has been exchanged completely.

3.2

Changing the Reservoir Cylinder without Changing
the Type of Gas
Close all valve. (the knob turns upwards!)
Unscrew the old test gas bottle.

Fig. 1-10

1-10

Operating and Handling

Chapter 1-3.fm(1610)

12

Operating Manual

The test leak will now be ready. The desired pressure can be adjusted with the ventingscrew.

Operating Manual

3

After removing the protective cap screw on the new test gas bottle.

Fig. 1-11

4

Open the test gas supply.

Chapter 1-3.fm(1610)The manometer displays now the test gas bottle pressure.

Fig. 1-12
Operating and Handling

1-11

Close the test gas supply.

Operating Manual

5Fig. 1-13
Open the vent screw so far, that the pressure drops to the desired pressure.

Fig. 1-14

1-12

Operating and Handling

Chapter 1-3.fm(1610)

6

Operating Manual

7Fig. 1-15
The Helium test leak is now ready for operation.

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3.3

Storage when unused
Put the protective cap on the connection flange DN 16 KF and make sure that all valves
and the vent screw are closed. Store the Helium test leak in a lying position or standing
upright in the holder, protected against impact shock and high temperatures

3.4
Chapter 1-3.fm

Close the vent screw.

Maintenance
It is recommended to retighten the union nut of the valve (Fig. 1-2/2) from time to time ata torque of 2.5 Nm by turning it in clockwise direction (how often this is required depends
on how much the test leak is used). Thereafter it must be easily possible to turn the knob
with two fingers.

Operating and Handling

1-13

Applications

4.1

Use for Vacuum Leak Detection
The test leak TL3-5 / TL4-6 can be fitted by its DN 16 KF flange connection to any leakdetector or any vacuum apparatus and can then be used for tuning the mass
spectrometer as well as for checking response time and detection sensitivity.
To adjust the test leak rate see chapter 6, Fig. 1-20 and Fig. 1-21.

4.2

Use for Overpressure Leak Tests (Sniffer Probe)

Operating Manual

4Fig. 1-16

1-14

Applications

Chapter 1-3.fm(1610)The Helium test leak TL3-5 / TL4-6 is set up in holder (see Fig. 1-1/2). By unscrewing thevalve at the swivel nut the Helium test leak TL3-5 / TL4-6 becomes accessible for a sniffer
probe tip.

Operating Manual

The leak outlet orifice itself is on the face of the sealed-in tubulation which is now visible.

Fig. 1-17Caution(1610)

Clogging of the leak capillary.
The size of the leak outlet orifice can change or get choked due to contamination

Chapter 1-3.fm

Caution
Do not touch the leak outlet orifice with the fingers or with greasy objects.

Applications

1-15

Caution

The measured leak rate depends on the distance between sniffer tip and leak, and also
on the speed at which the sniffer tip is moved past the leak.

Chapter 1-3.fm(1610)The size of the leak depends on the pressure as indicated on the pressure gauge and canbe determined from the leak rate diagrams.

Operating Manual

When no longer using the test leak anymore always close the valve.

1-16Applications

5Using Search Gases other than Helium

Operating Manual

When using test gases other than helium, leak rates can only approximately bedetermined, the reason being that the 10-8 to 10-4 mbar·I/s range includes just thetransition-flow region between molecular and laminar gas flow. Moreover, the individual
flow profile of the respective capillary affects the conversion factor. In the molecular flowregion (leak rates < 1 · 10-5 mbar l/s) the leak rate q of different gases at otherwise equal
conditions depends on the gas type as:qx-------=q HeM He----------Mx(1610)

M= relative molecular mass
In the laminar flow region the leak rate depends on the gas type as:

Chapter 1-3.fm

q x  He------- = --------q He  x
= dynamic viscosity

Using Search Gases other than Helium

1-17

HeR 134a

AirAr

H2



1,96

1,36

1,82

2,210,88



4102

28402

Chapter 1-3.fm(1610)The resulting values must be used according to the predominant type of gas flow, i.e. forleak rates lower than 10-5 mbar·I/s mainly molecular flow and for leak rates higher than
10-5 mbar·I/s mainly laminar flow can be assumed.

Operating Manual

Some values of dynamic viscosity  in 10-5 Pa•s.

1-18

Using Search Gases other than Helium

Operating Manual

6Adjustment of leak rate
The nominal leak rate was measured during production at a test gas pressure of 1 bar(abs.) vs. a pressure of lower than 1 mbar at the connecting flange and is shown on thelabel. The adjustment diagrams are valid for nominal leak rate of 5 · 10-5 mbar l/s ± 10%
for the test leak TL 3-5 and a nominal leak rate of 5 · 10-6 mbar l/s ± 10% for the test leak
TL 4-6. The leak rate is pressure dependent and can be found in the diagrams Leak Rate/
Pressure (see Fig. 1-18 to Fig. 1-21). Upon request, individual calibration of a single test
leak as a function of the search-gas pressure can be made in our factory at cost price.
If you suspect the nominal leak rate has changed after longer use, also recalibration of
the test leak can be made in our factory against charge. When demanding higheraccuracy we recommend a recalibration once a year.

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If a calibration certificate is required, it can be issued by our Cologne factory. Calibrationand calibration certificates are available to order against charge.
The test leak rates depend on the adjusted pressure [bar rel], see the following diagrams.
If a significant deviation from the nominal leak rate of 5 · 10-5 resp. 5 · 10-6 mbar l/s occurs,

Chapter 1-3.fm

a factor can be calculated based on the leak rate diagrams. The nominal leak rate is to bemultiplied by this factor.
Calculation of the factor:Adjustment of leak rate

1-19

Diagram Leak Rate / Pressure Chapter 1-3.fm(1610)

Operating Manual Fig. 1-18 Diagram Test Leak TL3-5

1-20

Adjustment of leak rate

Diagram Leak Rate / Pressure Chapter 1-3.fm(1610)

Operating Manual 

Fig. 1-19 Diagram Test Leak TL4-6
Adjustment of leak rate

1-21

Diagram Leak Rate / Pressure 

Chapter 1-3.fm(1610)

Operating Manual Fig. 1-20 Diagram Test Leak TL3-5

1-22

Adjustment of leak rate

Diagram Leak Rate / Pressure 

Chapter 1-3.fm(1610)

Operating Manual Fig. 1-21 Diagram Test Leak TL4-6
Adjustment of leak rate

1-23

Spare Parts
Item

Ref. No.

Helium (12 bar, 1 l)

200 003 342

Chapter 1-3.fm(1610)

Operating Manual

71-24

Spare Parts

Spare Parts

1-25

Chapter 1-3.fm(1610)

Operating Manual

1-26
Spare Parts
Chapter 1-3.fm(1610)

Operating ManualSpare Parts

1-27

Chapter 1-3.fm(1610)

Operating Manual

INFICON GmbH, Bonner Strasse 498, D-50968 Cologne, Germany
Phone: +49 (0)221 347-40 Fax: +49 (0)221 347-41429 E-mail: leakdetection@inficon.com
UNITED STATES TAIWAN JAPAN KOREA SINGAPORE GERMANY FRANCE UNITED KINGDOMVi s i t o ur w eb s i t e f o r c on ta c t i nf o rma t i on an d o t he r s al es of f i c e s w or l dwi de . w w w. i n fi c o n . com

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