Leak detection

Apparatus is tested for leaks by enclosing it by an enclosure which includes a flexible bag in its walls, the bag passing through its mouth when the pressure in the enclosure changes as a result of a leak, or comprises a member which flexes as a result of sorption of leaking materials.

I claim:

1. Means for enclosing a joint between two flanged pipes so that said joint can be tested for leaks which comprises a resilient gas impermeable strip provided at each end with a hole and a joining piece which comprises a stud adapted to be passed through both holes of the resilient strip to hold said strip in position thus forming a circulet around the flanged pipe joint, said stud forming an axial opening therethrough to said joint thereby providing a testing port, said stud having chamfered abutments extending from its base and shaped to fill the space between the resilient strip and the pipe flanges near to the stud being formed with an enlarged head spaced from the abutments.

2. A stud for holding together the ends of a resilient gas impermeable strip which is provided at each end with a hole, to form an enclosure around a flanged pipe joint which stud is formed with

a. an enlarged head,

b. two long thin wedge-like sealing abutments which extend in opposite directions from the base of the stud and are spaced from the head, the underside of the abutments being adapted to conform to the outer edges of flanges of the flanged pipe joint to complete the enclosure under the ends of said strip and

c. an axial hole through the stud to constitute a means of passage of leaking materials to or from the enclosure.

3. An improved leak detector for detecting leaks from joints between two pipes comprising a resilient gas impermeable strip provided with holes, stud means adapted to fit through at least two of said holes for securing said strip around said joint, said stud means having chamfered abutments extending from the portion of said stud adjacent said joint so as to pass along a portion of said joint beneath said strip, said stud means further including an axial opening extending therethrough, tube means for indicating leaks having one end adapted to fit within said axial opening in said stud means and having an opposite end adapted to receive an invertible flexible bag, said opposite end being closed by said invertible flexible bag so that said bag is inverted upon the occurrence of a leak.

4. An improved leak detector as claimed in claim 3 wherein said tube means is a cylinder and said end adapted to fit within said opening comprises a push fit projection.

5. An improved leak detector as claimed in claim 3 wherein said bag is turned back over the mouth of said opposite end of said tube means and secured thereon by an adhesive.

6. An improved leak detector as claimed in claim 3 wherein said bag is turned back over the mouth of said opposite end of said tube means and secured thereon by pressure exerted from a resilient O-ring against the exterior of said tube means.

7. A method of testing an enclosure for leaks comprising the steps of:

surrounding the area of potential leakage with a flexible sealing strip,

securing said strip while simultaneously forming a port therethrough at the point said strip is secured,

sealing said strip adjacent said port in said area of potential leakage,

closing said port with invertible bag means and adjusting said bag so that upon the occurrence of a leak said bag will be inverted from its original adjustment thereby providing a visual indication of said leak.

8. An improved leak detector for detecting leaks from flanged joints between two pipes comprising a resilient gas impermeable strip provided with holes, stud means adapted to fit through at least two of said holes for securing said strip around said joint, said stud means having chamfered abutments extending from the portion of said stud adjacent said joints and shaped to fill the space between the resilient strip and the flanges of said joint near to said stud means, said stud means further including an axial opening extending therethrough, indication means associated with said stud means for indicating leaks, said indicating means comprising a flexible member which visibly flexes as a result of absorption of leaking material.

9. An improved leak detector for detecting leaks as claimed in claim 8 wherein said flexible member further comprises a tube communicating both with said axial opening in said stud means and the atmosphere, said tube being provided with a plurality of longitudinal splits in its wall at the end which communicates with the atmosphere so that on passage of leaking material through said tube sorption occurs causing said slits to bend.