Leak isolation system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10508967-B2
Application number	US-201715848573-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 20, 2017
Priority date	Mar 29, 2017
Publication date	Dec 17, 2019
Grant date	Dec 17, 2019

Abstract

A leak detection system for use in a vacuum sterilization chamber having a plurality of piping sections that are connected to the sterilization chamber through openings along an inner surface of the sterilization chamber.

First claim

Having described the invention, the following is claimed:

1. A leak detection system for use in a vacuum sterilization chamber, the vacuum sterilization chamber having an inner surface in which one or more openings are defined such that one or more piping sections are respectively connected to the vacuum sterilization chamber through the openings, the leak detection system comprising:
an elongated flexible tubing having one or more ends respectively dimensioned to connect to the openings;
one or more connectors respectively connected to the ends, the connectors being respectively dimensioned to sealingly engage the openings and to respectively communicate passages through the elongated flexible tubing with the piping sections, one or more of the connectors being inner surface connectors respectively comprising expansion members, the expansion members being respectively dimensioned to expand into sealing engagement with the openings and surface engagement with the inner surface defining the openings;
a sensing device attached to the elongated flexible tubing operable to measure changes in pressure in the piping sections; and
valves disposed relative to the sensing device and within the elongated flexible tubing, the valves being operable to selectively isolate one or more of the openings from others of the openings to enable the sensing device to measure the pressure changes in one or more of the piping sections respectively corresponding with the isolated openings.

2. A leak detection system as described in claim 1 , wherein one of the piping sections includes a vacuum source.

3. A leak detection system as described in claim 2 , wherein said vacuum source is a vacuum pump.

4. A leak detection system as described in claim 1 , wherein said inner surface connectors further respectively comprise inner passageways extending through said expansion members.

5. A leak detection system as described in claim 1 , wherein one of said connectors is an external surface connector comprising a pipe fitting dimensioned to attach to a pipe extending through said inner surface, said pipe defining one of said openings.

6. A leak detection system as described in claim 1 , wherein said elongated flexible tubing includes three tubing sections, each of the tubing sections having one of the ends of the elongated flexible tubing, two of said tubing sections respectively comprising the inner surface connectors, one of said tubing sections including an external surface connector, the external surface connector comprising a pipe fitting dimensioned to attach to a pipe extending through said inner surface, said pipe defining one of said openings.

7. A leak detection system as described in claim 6 , wherein said inner surface connectors further respectively comprise inner passageways extending through said expansion members.

8. A leak detection system as described in claim 1 , further comprising an accumulator tank of a predetermined volume connected to said elongated flexible tubing.

9. A leak detection system as described in claim 1 , wherein the ends of the elongated flexible tubing respectively include the connectors.

10. A leak detection system as described in claim 1 , wherein said elongated flexible tubing comprises one or more tubing sections connected to each other at a manifold, each of the tubing sections having one of the ends of the elongated flexible tubing, and
wherein the valves within the elongated flexible tubing are respectively disposed between the ends of the tubing sections and the manifold.

11. A leak detection system for use in a chamber, the chamber having an inner surface in which one or more openings are defined such that one or more piping sections are respectively connected to the chamber through the openings, the leak detection system comprising:
an elongated flexible tubing having one or more ends dimensioned to connect to the openings;
one or more connectors respectively connected to the ends, the connectors being respectively dimensioned to sealingly engage the openings and to respectively communicate passages through the elongated flexible tubing with the piping sections, one or more of the connectors being inner surface connectors respectively comprising expansion members, the expansion members being respectively dimensioned to expand into sealing engagement with the openings and surface engagement with the inner surface defining the openings;
a sensing device attached to the elongated flexible tubing operable to measure changes in pressure in the piping sections; and
valves disposed relative to the sensing device and within the elongated flexible tubing, the valves being operable to selectively isolate one or more of the openings from others of the openings to enable the sensing device to measure the pressure changes in one or more of the piping sections respectively corresponding with the isolated openings.

Assignees

• American Sterilizer Co

Inventors

• Obratil Jeffrey
• Clemens Joseph William
• Glaspell David James

Classifications

• G01M3/3236 Primary

  by monitoring the interior space of the containers · CPC title

• G01M3/2815 Primary

  using pressure measurements · CPC title

• G01M3/34

  by testing the possibility of maintaining the vacuum in containers, e.g. in can-testing machines · CPC title

• G01M3/28

  for pipes, cables or tubes; for pipe joints or seals; for valves {; for welds} · CPC title

• G01L19/003

  using a detachable interface or adapter between the process medium and the pressure gauge · CPC title