Patents Assigned to Inficon GmbH
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Publication number: 20240361201Abstract: In a leak detection device comprising a gas analyzer, a vacuum pump, a first gas inlet, and a second gas inlet, it is provided that a first multi-way valve is connected to a first inlet and at least a first and a second outlet, wherein the inlet is connected to the first gas inlet, a second multi-way valve is connected to first inlet and at least a first and a second outlet, wherein the inlet is connected to the second gas inlet, wherein the two first outlets of the two multi-way valves are connected to the gas analyzer, and the two second outlets of the two multi-way valves are connected to the vacuum pump.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 24, 2022Publication date: October 31, 2024Applicant: INFICON GMBHInventors: Daniel Wetzig, Maximilian Reismann, Jochen Purchalla-Konig, Josef Grenz
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Publication number: 20240264030Abstract: A leak detection device (10) comprising a gas detector (12), a vacuum pump (14), a port for a test object (22) and a gas conducting path connecting the port to the gas detector (12) and the vacuum pump (14), is characterized in that the port (16) comprises a controllable isolation valve (20) for the selective opening or closing of the port (16), and that a pressure measurement device (24) for measuring the pressure at the port (16) is provided and the connection line (18) comprises a controllable venting valve (V3, V3a) for selectively allowing gas from the surrounding atmosphere to flow to the port (16) in a pulse-like manner, wherein the leak detection device (10) is configured to measure the pressure p(t1) at the port (16) at a first time t1 before the opening of the venting valve, thereafter to open and close the venting valve in a pulse-like manner and to measure the pressure p(t2) at the port (16) at least at a time t2>t1 after the closing of the venting valve and to determine, whether the isolationType: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2022Publication date: August 8, 2024Applicant: INFICON GMBHInventor: Jörn LIEBICH
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Patent number: 12044664Abstract: Method for adapting the concentration of a sample gas in a gas mixture to be analysed by a gas chromatograph assembly (10), the gas chromatograph assembly (10) comprising a sample gas inlet (20) for introducing a sample gas to be analysed, a secondary gas inlet (40), a gas chromatograph infrared sensor (12), a gas chromatograph column (26), and a gas chromatograph bypass (28) parallel to the column (26), characterized by a) introducing an amount of sample gas through the sample gas inlet (20), b) introducing an amount of secondary gas through the secondary gas inlet (40), c) mixing the sample gas and the secondary gas to a gas mixture and conducting the gas mixture via the gas chromatograph bypass (28), d) circulating the gas mixture in a gas conducting loop (52) comprising the gas chromatograph bypass (28), the gas chromatograph infrared sensor (12) and not comprising the gas chromatograph column (26), e) analysing the gas mixture thus obtained by means of gas chromatography employing the gas chromatograpType: GrantFiled: December 9, 2020Date of Patent: July 23, 2024Assignee: INFICON GmbHInventors: Johann Hellgren, Henrik Vennerberg, Fredrik Enquist
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Publication number: 20240159616Abstract: A test leak device for functional testing of a leak detection device for the leak test of a test specimen (14) filled with a liquid (12) having an internal pressure that is lower than atmospheric pressure, comprising a reservoir (102) filled with a test liquid (104), wherein the test liquid (104) has a vapor pressure of less than 500 mbar at room temperature, and the reservoir (102) comprises an outlet (106), and a pump (100) cooperating with the reservoir (102) and configured to convey the test liquid (104) from the reservoir (102) in such a way that the test liquid (104) escapes from the pump (100) through the outlet (106) in liquid form from the reservoir (102).Type: ApplicationFiled: February 3, 2022Publication date: May 16, 2024Applicant: INFICON GMBHInventor: Heike HILGERS
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Patent number: 11982651Abstract: Method for adapting the concentration of a sample gas in a gas mixture to be analysed by a gas chromatograph assembly, the assembly comprising a sample gas inlet, a secondary gas inlet, a gas chromatograph sensor, a gas chromatograph column, and a gas chromatograph bypass parallel to the column, characterized by a) introducing sample gas through the sample gas inlet, b) introducing secondary gas through the secondary gas inlet, c) mixing the sample gas and the secondary gas to a gas mixture and conducting the mixture via the bypass, d) circulating the mixture in a gas conducting loop comprising the bypass and the sensor, e) repeating steps b), c) and d) without step a) to gradually reduce the concentration of sample gas within the mixture until the concentration reaches a desired predetermined level, f) analysing the mixture by means of gas chromatography employing the column and the sensor.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2019Date of Patent: May 14, 2024Assignee: INFICON GmbHInventors: Johan Hellgren, Henrik Vennerberg
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Publication number: 20240060848Abstract: The invention relates to a film chamber (10) for testing the sealing tightness of a test specimen containing a test fluid, the film chamber comprising: at least one vacuum connection (20) which can be connected to a vacuum pump (32) and a gas detector (36); at least one flexible wall region (14) that defines a film chamber volume; and a frame (12) that surrounds the flexible wall region (14) on the outside in order to seal the film chamber volume. The film chamber is characterized in that: the vacuum connection (20) is located in a region arranged centrally with respect to the frame (12) and is radially outwardly surrounded by the frame (12); and at least one gas inlet (22, 30) for supplying a carrier gas is located in the region of the outer frame in such a way that the carrier gas flows through the gas inlet through the film chamber volume along the flexible wall region (14) radially from the outside inwardly to the vacuum connection (20).Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2021Publication date: February 22, 2024Applicant: INFICON GMBHInventors: Daniel WETZIG, Maximilian REISMANN, Josef GRENZ, Hendrik VAN TRIEST
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Publication number: 20240044737Abstract: A device for leak detection on a test specimen, comprising a mass spectrometer (12), an at least three-stage turbomolecular pump (14), the input stage (18) of which is connected to the mass spectrometer (12) and which has a first intermediate gas inlet arranged between the input pump stage and the intermediate pump stage (26) and a second intermediate gas inlet arranged between the intermediate pump stage (26) and the output pump stage (24), an at least two-stage booster pump, the input pump stage (46) of which can be connected to the test specimen to be examined and which has an intermediate gas outlet (54) arranged between the input pump stage (46) and the output pump stage (48) and a pre-vacuum pump (22) which is connected to the outlet (20) of the output pump stage (24) of the turbomolecular pump (14) and is configured to generate a pre-vacuum pressure of less than 50 mbar at the outlet (20) of the turbomolecular pump (14) and to evacuate it against atmospheric pressure, characterized in that the intermedType: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2021Publication date: February 8, 2024Applicant: INFICON GMBHInventors: Silvio DECKER, Simon MATHIOUDAKIS
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Publication number: 20240019336Abstract: A gas leak detection device for identifying a gas leak in a test object, comprising a connector (20) for the test object or a test chamber accommodating the test object, a vacuum pump (16, 18) connected to the connector (20) for evacuating the test object or the test chamber, a gas detector (12) connected to the vacuum pump (16, 18) and the connector (20) and configured for detection of a first test gas and for integral leak detection or for localized leak detection of a gas leak in the test object according to the spraying principle during continuous operation of the vacuum pump (16, 18), a gas pressure sensor (24) connected to the vacuum pump (16, 18) and the connector (20) and configured for integral measurement of the total pressure increase at the connector (20) according to the pressure increase method and/or the partial pressure increase of at least one second test gas different from the first test gas at the connector (20) according to the partial pressure increase method, and a blocking device (26) cType: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2021Publication date: January 18, 2024Applicant: INFICON GMBHInventors: Daniel WETZIG, Marcel RUTH, Silvio DECKER, Thomas GRELLMANN
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Patent number: 11852562Abstract: Sniffing leak detector including a handheld device with a sniffer tip probe including a sample gas inlet, a reference gas inlet, a gas analyzer, and a switching valve adapted to alternatingly connect the sample gas inlet to the gas analyzer and the reference gas inlet to the gas analyzer in a gas conducting manner, such that either the gas drawn through the sample gas inlet or the gas drawn through the reference gas inlet is analyzed by the gas analyzer, characterized in that the reference gas inlet is arranged in a remote distance from the sniffer tip probe and a reference gas conduit connecting the reference gas inlet and the switching valve includes a buffer chamber adapted to homogeneously mix gas drawn into the buffer chamber through the reference gas inlet with the remaining gas in the buffer chamber.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2019Date of Patent: December 26, 2023Assignee: INFICON GmbHInventors: Daniel Wetzig, Marcel Ruth
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Patent number: 11841300Abstract: A sniffer probe for a gas analyzer is provided herein, the sniffer probe designed to suction gas and can be connected to the gas analyzer and includes a sniffer tip with a suction opening, such that gas is suctioned through the suction opening along a central perpendicular to the suction opening, and the sniffer tip has at least one elongate gas-guiding element, which is arranged substantially parallel to the central perpendicular and distally protrudes beyond the suction opening.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2017Date of Patent: December 12, 2023Assignee: INFICON GmbHInventor: Silvio Decker
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Patent number: 11754525Abstract: The disclosure provides a gas detector with an ionizing device for producing ions depending on a gas to be detected. The gas detector includes a catcher for receiving the electrical current produced by the ions, and a measuring device with an electrical measuring resistor. The electrical measuring resistor produces an electrical measuring potential from the current and is surrounded, at least in part, by an electrical shield resistor, denoted by RT. The same potentials, up to a deviation of at most 25%, are applied in the longitudinal direction of the electrical measuring resistor to mutually opposed regions of the electrical measuring resistor and the electrical shield resistor.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2020Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Assignee: INFICON GmbHInventor: Norbert Rolff
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Publication number: 20230204552Abstract: In a method for the detection of gas using a gas-selective membrane, a temperature device that is designed to change the temperature of the membrane, and a detector that is designed to acquire a measurement signal on the basis of the amount of gas passing through the membrane, provision is made for the following steps: changing the temperature of the membrane using the temperature device, acquiring at least one first measuring value (Hn, Hn+1, Hn+2) using the detector at a time at which the membrane temperature adopts a first temperature value, acquiring at least one second measuring value (Ln, Ln+1) using the detector at a time at which the membrane temperature adopts a second temperature value different from the first temperature value, calculating the difference between the two measuring values, and using the difference to assess whether a gas to be detected is present.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 25, 2021Publication date: June 29, 2023Applicant: INFICON GMBHInventor: Silvio DECKER
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Patent number: 11630024Abstract: A method for testing a test specimen for the presence of a leak using a film chamber for accommodating the test specimen, wherein the film chamber comprises walls enclosing a film chamber volume, which walls include at least one flexible wall area, comprising the steps of: placing the test specimen into the film chamber, and closing the film chamber, characterized in that complete closing of the film chamber is determined on the basis of the signal of a position measuring device which detects the relative position of the film chamber walls with respect to each other.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2019Date of Patent: April 18, 2023Assignee: INFICON GmbHInventor: Norbert Rolff
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Patent number: 11441969Abstract: A method for determining the relative orientation of a gas leak relative to a sniffer leak detector includes a handpiece with a sniffer probe and a test gas inlet, a reference gas inlet disposed at the handpiece remote from the test gas inlet, a gas analyzer, and a switching valve. The switching valve is configured to alternately connect the test gas inlet and the reference gas inlet with the gas analyzer. Either gas is analyzed by the gas analyzer. Steps include supplying gas sucked in through the test gas inlet to the gas analyzer, determining the test gas concentration, switching the switching valve, supplying gas sucked in through the reference gas inlet to the gas analyzer, analyzing the test gas concentration, forming a differential signal, changing the spatial orientation of the handpiece, repeating the first through sixth steps, and determining whether the differential signal has changed.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2019Date of Patent: September 13, 2022Assignee: INFICON GmbHInventors: Marcel Ruth, Daniel Wetzig
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Patent number: 11320337Abstract: Method for testing a test piece for the presence of a leak using a foil chamber, wherein the foil chamber has walls having at least one flexible wall region to which a measurement volume adjoins and is arranged on that side of the flexible wall region opposite the foil chamber volume and is hermetically separated from the foil chamber volume, having the following steps: placing the test piece in the foil chamber, closing the foil chamber, evacuating the foil chamber and monitoring the measurement volume during evacuation of the foil chamber, using the result of the monitoring to reach a conclusion regarding the magnitude of a leak, characterized in that a venting valve connecting the measurement volume to the atmosphere is closed when the pressure in the measurement volume is below a predefined threshold value, and is opened as soon as the pressure exceeds the threshold value.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2018Date of Patent: May 3, 2022Assignee: INFICON GmbHInventors: Norbert Rolff, Silvio Decker
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Patent number: 11262296Abstract: Disclosed is a connecting device for connecting a gas sensor to a gas leak detector. The gas sensor includes an elongate sensor housing. The gas leak detector includes at least one gas connector adapted to be connected to the gas sensor. A guide rail connects to the gas leak detector, engaging with the sensor housing such that the gas connectors engage with at least one complementary second gas connector. A fastening claw includes two elastic spring legs arranged at one of the sensor housing and the gas leak detector. Each of the two spring legs includes a latching boss engaging the frontal end of the gas sensor opposite the second gas connector and a spreading element having two retaining arms. Each retaining arm includes a pulling edge, an inclined insertion portion along which the latching boss grips and pivots the spring leg, and an inclined disengagement portion.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2019Date of Patent: March 1, 2022Assignee: INFICON GmbHInventor: Sebastian Weiss
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Patent number: 11199468Abstract: A method for performing a leak-tightness test on a test object (16) in a foil chamber (10) which has at least one flexible wall region (12, 14), having the steps: using a gas or gas constituent contained in the test object as test gas for the leak-tightness test, introducing the test object into the foil chamber, evacuating the foil chamber to a pressure lower than the test gas pressure within the test object and than atmospheric pressure, introducing a carrier gas into the foil chamber into the region outside the test object, and measuring the test gas concentration of the gas mixture that forms in the foil chamber in the region outside the test object.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2015Date of Patent: December 14, 2021Assignee: Inficon GmbHInventors: Daniel Wetzig, Silvio Decker
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Patent number: 11199467Abstract: A method for distinguishing a test gas escaping from a leak in a test object (21) from an interfering gas in the environment of the test object (21) during sniffing leak detection, having the steps: suctioning gas from the environment of the test object (21) in the region of the outer surface of the test object by means of a sniffing tip, which has a suction opening (14), which is connected, for gas conduction, to a sensor (18), which is designed to determine the test gas partial pressure of the test gas in the suctioned gas flow; varying, with periodic repetition, the flow intensity of the suctioned gas flow; setting a total pressure of the suctioned gas at the sensor (18) of at least 80 percent of the total pressure of the gas in the atmosphere (23) surrounding the test object (21); avoiding fluctuations of the total pressure of the suctioned gas at the sensor (18) of more than 10 percent; measuring the test gas partial pressure of test gas contained in the suctioned gas flow by means of the sensor (18); inType: GrantFiled: September 28, 2018Date of Patent: December 14, 2021Assignee: INFICON GmbHInventor: Daniel Wetzig
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Patent number: 11143571Abstract: The invention relates to a film chamber 10 which has a film chamber wall for testing the sealing tightness of a gas-filled test specimen 38, which film chamber wall defines a chamber volume 32 for holding the test specimen 38 and has a first vacuum connection 28 for evacuating the chamber volume 32 by means of a first vacuum pump 30 connected to the first vacuum connection 28, wherein at least a portion of the film chamber wall has a flexible film 12, 14, characterized in that the film 12, 14 has two layers 20, 22 arranged adjacent to each other which surround an evacuable film interspace 26.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2018Date of Patent: October 12, 2021Assignee: INFICON GmbHInventor: Daniel Wetzig
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Patent number: RE50099Abstract: A method for distinguishing a test gas escaping from a leak in a test object (21) from an interfering gas in the environment of the test object (21) during sniffing leak detection, having the steps: suctioning gas from the environment of the test object (21) in the region of the outer surface of the test object by means of a sniffing tip, which has a suction opening (14), which is connected, for gas conduction, to a sensor (18), which is designed to determine the test gas partial pressure of the test gas in the suctioned gas flow; varying, with periodic repetition, the flow intensity of the suctioned gas flow; setting a total pressure of the suctioned gas at the sensor (18) of at least 80 percent of the total pressure of the gas in the atmosphere (23) surrounding the test object (21); avoiding fluctuations of the total pressure of the suctioned gas at the sensor (18) of more than 10 percent; measuring the test gas partial pressure of test gas contained in the suctioned gas flow by means of the sensor (18); inType: GrantFiled: December 2, 2022Date of Patent: August 27, 2024Assignee: INFICON GmbHInventor: Daniel Wetzig