Patents by Inventor Randolf Rolff
Randolf Rolff has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 10837857Abstract: The invention relates to a gas leakage search device including a test gas spray device for spraying a test object with a test gas, a vacuum assembly for evacuating the test object, wherein the vacuum assembly has a vacuum pump and a gas detector downstream of the test object for measuring the test gas proportion, and an analysis unit which evaluates the measurement signal of the gas detector. The invention is characterized in that a data communication connection is established between the spray device and the analysis unit; the spray device is designed to detect at least one point in time of the spraying process and to transmit same to the analysis unit, and the analysis unit is designed to output the corresponding measured test gas proportion at the transmitted point in time of the spraying process.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2017Date of Patent: November 17, 2020Assignee: INFICON GmbHInventors: Hjalmar Bruhns, Ernst Franke, Ralf Kilian, Jörn Liebich, Norbert Moser, Jochen Puchalla-König, Norbert Rolff, Randolf Rolff, Daniel Wetzig
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Publication number: 20190120715Abstract: The invention relates to a gas leakage search device including a test gas spray device for spraying a test object with a test gas, a vacuum assembly for evacuating the test object, wherein the vacuum assembly has a vacuum pump and a gas detector downstream of the test object for measuring the test gas proportion, and an analysis unit which evaluates the measurement signal of the gas detector. The invention is characterized in that a data communication connection is established between the spray device and the analysis unit; the spray device is designed to detect at least one point in time of the spraying process and to transmit same to the analysis unit, and the analysis unit is designed to output the corresponding measured test gas proportion at the transmitted point in time of the spraying process.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 28, 2017Publication date: April 25, 2019Inventors: Hjalmar Bruhns, Ernst Franke, Ralf Kilian, Jörn Liebich, Norbert Moser, Jochen Puchalla-König, Norbert Rolff, Randolf Rolff, Daniel Wetzig
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Patent number: 8850866Abstract: In order to functionally test a leak detector (20) that comprises a partial pressure sensor (21), a testing device (30) having a variable volume (33) is connected to the leak detector. Said testing device can be a syringe. By changing the volume (33), the partial pressure of the test gas contained in the ambient air is changed. A test is carried out to check whether the leak detector (20) indicates the change. According to the invention, a vacuum pumping device having mechanical vacuum pumps is not required. The method is suitable for testing vacuum systems that contain a vacuum pumping device that is used in the leak test to generate a required vacuum. The service technician can perform the functional test of the leak detector (20) separately from the system and the vacuum pumping device.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2010Date of Patent: October 7, 2014Assignee: Inficon GmbHInventor: Randolf Rolff
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Patent number: 8537019Abstract: The sniffing leak detector comprises a sniffing probe, a suction device and gas detector. An operator-activated switch initiates the beginning of a measuring operation. The switch starts a time measurement, wherein an alarm signal is generated by a signal transmitter at the end of a predetermined measuring period. The sniffing leak detector allows for an operator guidance from measuring point (MP) to measuring point, wherein the measuring period is predetermined and an adherence to the measuring period is monitored.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2006Date of Patent: September 17, 2013Assignee: Inficon GmbHInventors: Randolf Rolff, Norbert Moser, Sandra Seitz
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Patent number: 8416091Abstract: An illumination device is provided at the handle-piece of a sniffing probe, in which the illumination device illuminates the region to be inspected. This incorporation considerably facilitates handling of the sniffing probe in difficult-to-access and poorly illuminated regions, for sniffing probes used for detecting gases, for example, for detecting a gas leakage in a cooling device of a motor vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2005Date of Patent: April 9, 2013Assignee: Inficon GmbHInventors: Randolf Rolff, Ralf Kilian, Jörn Liebich, Norbert Moser, Norbert Rolff
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Patent number: 8117886Abstract: A leak detector comprising a base appliance provided with a gas detector, a vacuum pump, and a control device. A sniffer probe is connected to the base appliance. A test leak device containing the supply of test gas is arranged in a separate sub-housing. The sub-housing also contains a temperature sensor, a processor, and a data memory. The processor corrects the measured temperature according to a sample, and modulates the light of a light barrier. The processor is connected to the control device in the base appliance by a data cable.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2007Date of Patent: February 21, 2012Assignee: Inficon GmbHInventors: Norbert Rolff, Randolf Rolff, Sandra Seitz, Werner Grosse Bley, Thomas Boehm, Daniel Wetzig
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Publication number: 20120031162Abstract: In order to functionally test a leak detector (20) that comprises a partial pressure sensor (21), a testing device (30) having a variable volume (33) is connected to the leak detector. Said testing device can be a syringe. By changing the volume (33), the partial pressure of the test gas contained in the ambient air is changed. A test is carried out to check whether the leak detector (20) indicates the change. According to the invention, a vacuum pumping device having mechanical vacuum pumps is not required. The method is suitable for testing vacuum systems that contain a vacuum pumping device that is used in the leak test to generate a required vacuum. The service technician can perform the functional test of the leak detector (20) separately from the system and the vacuum pumping device.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 10, 2010Publication date: February 9, 2012Applicant: INFICON GMBHInventor: Randolf Rolff
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Patent number: 7802461Abstract: In leak detection, the signal generated by a test gas is superposed by interferences which fade as the vacuum generation in a container proceeds. Depending on the negative slope of the volume signal (MS), a lower indication limit (AG) is calculated. Upon activation of a zero function, the volume signal (MS) is not reduced to zero but only to the level of the indication limit (AG). Any exceeding of the indication limit is identified as a leak. Thus, the maximum sensitivity of the leak detection is guaranteed at any time.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2005Date of Patent: September 28, 2010Assignee: Inficon GmbHInventors: Jörn Liebich, Randolf Rolff, Ralf Kilian
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Publication number: 20090212960Abstract: The sniffing leak detector comprises a sniffing probe, a suction device and gas detector. An operator-activated switch initiates the beginning of a measuring operation. The switch starts a time measurement, wherein an alarm signal is generated by a signal transmitter at the end of a predetermined measuring period. The sniffing leak detector allows for an operator guidance from measuring point (MP) to measuring point, wherein the measuring period is predetermined and an adherence to the measuring period is monitored.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2006Publication date: August 27, 2009Applicant: INFICON GMBHInventors: Randolf Rolff, Norbert Moser, Sandra Seitz
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Publication number: 20090188302Abstract: A leak detector comprising a base appliance provided with a gas detector, a vacuum pump, and a control device. A sniffer probe is connected to the base appliance. A test leak device containing the supply of test gas is arranged in a separate sub-housing. The sub-housing also contains a temperature sensor, a processor, and a data memory. The processor corrects the measured temperature according to a sample, and modulates the light of a light barrier. The processor is connected to the control device in the base appliance by a data cable.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 1, 2007Publication date: July 30, 2009Inventors: Norbert Rolff, Randolf Rolff, Sandra Seitz, Werner Grosse Bley, Thomas Boehm, Daniel Wetzig
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Publication number: 20090013766Abstract: In leak detection, the signal generated by a test gas is superposed by interferences which fade as the vacuum generation in a container proceeds. Depending on the negative slope of the volume signal (MS), a lower indication limit (AG) is calculated. Upon activation of a zero function, the volume signal (MS) is not reduced to zero but only to the level of the indication limit (AG). Any exceeding of the indication limit is identified as a leak. Thus, the maximum sensitivity of the leak detection is guaranteed at any time.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 24, 2005Publication date: January 15, 2009Applicant: Inficon GmbHInventors: Jorn Liebich, Randolf Rolff, Ralf Kilian
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Patent number: 7444854Abstract: A leak test apparatus includes a housing having an interior sized for retaining a plurality of instrument components including a control unit. A sniffer gun is linked to the instrument components, the sniffer gun having an intake point, and a test leak includes a gas reservoir, a constriction, an opening suited for introducing the intake point of said sniffer gun, and a temperature sensor. The temperature sensor is linked, either by means of a wired connection or wirelessly to the control unit for signal transfer.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2006Date of Patent: November 4, 2008Assignee: Inficon GmbHInventors: Thomas Böhm, Werner Grosse Bley, Randolf Rolff, Sandra Seitz, Norbert Rolff
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Publication number: 20080223112Abstract: Sniffing probes are frequently used for detecting leaking gases in difficult-to-access and poorly visible environments, for example for detecting a gas leakage in a cooling device of a motor vehicle. It is an object of the invention to improve handling of the sniffing probe. According to the invention, the object is achieved by providing an illumination device (25) at the handle-piece (14) of the sniffing probe (11), which illumination device (25) illuminates the region to be inspected. This considerably facilitates handling of the sniffing probe in difficult-to-access and poorly illuminated regions.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2005Publication date: September 18, 2008Applicant: Inficon GmbHInventors: Randolf Rolff, Ralf Kilian, Jorn Licbich, Norbert Moser, Norbert Rolff
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Patent number: 7331216Abstract: A leak rate measuring device contains a strip spectrometer in which the ion path of the respective gas is influenced by at least one variable influencing quantity. When a gas having a predetermined mass is detected, and leakages of a gas having other predetermined masses interfere with this detection due to lack of selectivity of the spectrometer, the influencing quantity is modulated in a sinusoidal manner, and the wanted signal is subsequently selected in a lock-in amplifier. This modulation enables, for example, the elimination of the interfering influence of underground water during the leak rate measurement while using helium as a test gas.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2004Date of Patent: February 19, 2008Assignee: Inficon GmbHInventors: Ludolf Gerdau, Randolf Rolff, Ralf Kilian
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Publication number: 20070039377Abstract: A leak test apparatus includes a housing having an interior sized for retaining a plurality of instrument components including a control unit. A sniffer gun is linked to the instrument components, the sniffer gun having an intake point, and a test leak includes a gas reservoir, a constriction, an opening suited for introducing the intake point of said sniffer gun, and a temperature sensor. The temperature sensor is linked, either by means of a wired connection or wirelessly to the control unit for signal transfer.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 16, 2006Publication date: February 22, 2007Applicant: Inficon GmbHInventors: Thomas Bohm, Werner Grosse Bley, Randolf Rolff, Sandra Seitz, Norbert Rolff
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Patent number: 7168287Abstract: A reference leakage device for a leak sniffer detector that is equipped with a sniffing tip and a control unit. The reference leakage device includes a gas reservoir and a constriction wherefrom there is released a specific amount of test gas, at least during calibration. A sensor is located in the constriction for detecting the approach of the sniffing tip wherein the device further is capable of transmitting signals to control unit of the leak detector.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2003Date of Patent: January 30, 2007Assignee: Inficon GmbHInventor: Randolf Rolff
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Publication number: 20060283235Abstract: A leak rate measuring device contains a strip spectrometer in which the ion path of the respective gas is influenced by at least one variable influencing quantity. When a gas having a predetermined mass is detected, and leakages of a gas having other predetermined masses interfere with this detection due to lack of selectivity of the spectrometer, the influencing quantity is modulated in a sinusoidal manner, and the wanted signal is subsequently selected in a lock-in amplifier. This modulation enables, for example, the elimination of the interfering influence of underground water during the leak rate measurement while using helium as a test gas.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 10, 2004Publication date: December 21, 2006Inventors: Ludolf Gerdau, Randolf Rolff, Ralf Killian
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Patent number: 7107821Abstract: A leak indicator including a housing that houses components of the indicator as well as a test leak, and test leaks that are suitable for integration into a leak indicator.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2001Date of Patent: September 19, 2006Assignee: Inficon GmbHInventors: Thomas Bohm, Werner Grobe Bley, Randolf Rolff
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Publication number: 20060150707Abstract: The invention concerns a reference leakage device (14) for leak sniffer detector (1) equipped with a sniffing tip (8) and a control unit (6). Said reference leakage device (14) comprises a gas reservoir (31) and a constriction (33) wherefrom there is released a specific amount of test gas, at least during calibration. The reference leakage device (14)4) is characterised in that in the constricted zone (33) there is located a sensor (42) detecting the approach of the sniffing tip and in that said device includes means for transmitting signals to the control unit (6) of the leak detector. 4) Translator's note: The German text states “1” here whereas “14” would be more in line with the drawing figures and the remaining text. Therefore the “14” has been assumed for the translation.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 14, 2003Publication date: July 13, 2006Inventor: Randolf Rolff
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Patent number: 7030381Abstract: A method for detecting a test gas present at a measuring location, using an infrared gas analyzer having a cuvette, an infrared light source, an infrared detector, and two gas lines. A first gas line is adapted to take up a measuring gas at a measuring location that may contain a test gas to the cuvette. The second gas line is adapted to take up gas from the surroundings of the measuring location (i.e., reference gas), that may contain a test gas background that is to be taken into consideration when detecting the test gas taken up at the measuring location. To improve the sensitivity of the analyzer, only one cuvette and the measuring gas is taken up at the measuring location and the reference gas is fed to the cuvette such that each gas is alternately present therein.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2001Date of Patent: April 18, 2006Assignee: Inficon GmbHInventors: Ralf Kilian, Randolf Rolff, Gerhard Küster, Ralf Hirche