Patents by Inventor Werner Grosse

Werner Grosse 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).

  • Patent number: 7971471
    Abstract: The gas sensor has a selectively permeable membrane which is composed of silicon material and is provided with a heating device on the outside. The membrane closes an evacuated housing which contains a pressure sensor. When evacuating the area surrounding the housing, the heat dissipation is changed as a result of the quick change in the total pressure of the surrounding air, with the result that signal drift arises despite temperature regulation of the membrane. The disclosure provides at least one second heating device whose temperature is regulated independently of the first heating device. As a result, the membrane temperature is highly constant even in the case of severely changing total pressure in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Inficon GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Grosse Bley, Daniel Wetzig
  • Publication number: 20110018545
    Abstract: The helium sensor comprises a housing that encloses a detection chamber. A side of the housing is closed by a permeable wall that is selective for helium. In the detection chamber, there is located an ion getter pump comprising an anode, a cathode and a magnetic field. The cathode, or a cathode leg is made of beryllium. Beryllium has a low atomic mass, whereby the likewise light-weight helium ions can be better incorporated into the cathode material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Applicant: INFICON GMBH
    Inventors: Werner Grosse Bley, Daniel Wetzig
  • Patent number: 7874201
    Abstract: The leakage search assembly has a main device which contains a vacuum pump and a test gas sensor, and a hand-held sniffing probe. Capillary lines which connect the sniffing probe to the basic assembly contain valves by means of which these lines can be selectively opened. In a leakage search mode, the capillary line having the larger cross section is open. This results in leaks also being found from a greater distance. The dead time before response of the test gas sensor is shortened. Once a leak has been located, the assembly is switched to the leakage rate measurement mode, in which only the capillary line with the smaller cross section is open. This results in quantitative determination of the leakage rate with high accuracy and high stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: INFICON GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Grosse Bley, Sandra Seitz
  • Publication number: 20100326169
    Abstract: A sniffing leak detector comprises a handle with a sniffing tip. Located at the sniffing tip is a measurement gas suction opening and a reference gas suction opening. The reference gas suction opening is intended for suctioning ambient gas. The reference gas suction opening is aligned substantially the same as the measurement gas suction opening such that both suction openings are sensitive in the same direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2009
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Inventors: Werner Grosse-Bley, Ludolf Gerdau, Gerhard Küster, Ulrich Döbler
  • Publication number: 20100253376
    Abstract: The leak detector comprises a basic unit that is connected to a probe by a hose. The probe tip is placed against test zones of the test object. In case that test gas escapes from the test object, this is detected by a test gas detector in the base unit. According to the disclosure, a position determining system is provided which comprises a transmitter, a receiver that is disposed inside the probe, and a supply and evaluation unit. Thereby, the presence of the probe tip in the individual test zones is monitored and confirmed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2008
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Inventors: Werner Grosse Bley, Gerhard Küster
  • Patent number: 7793534
    Abstract: A selective gas sensor is for determining the presence of a test gas, for example, helium includes an evacuated housing, sealed by a selectively gas-permeable membrane. The membrane is part of a sight glass, whereby the glass pane is provided with a hole, sealed by the membrane made from a silicon material. The frame of the membrane wall is connected to the housing by means of a high-vacuum soft-metal seal. The housing can also form one of the electrodes of the gas pressure sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Inficon GmbH
    Inventor: Werner Grosse Bley
  • Patent number: 7717681
    Abstract: A leak detector operating according to the counterflow principle comprises a first high vacuum pump that operates in series with a primary pump. A second high vacuum pump is branched at a connecting point and an entry side thereof is connected to a mass spectrometer. A light test gas in the form of helium flows through the second high vacuum pump in a direction opposite to a transport direction. A conduit connecting an inlet to the entry side of the first high vacuum pump is devoid of restricted flow zones and valves in such a way that the pumping capacity of the leak detector is high for helium, thereby reducing the response time thereof. A valve for blocking the conduit leading via the first high vacuum pump is arranged between the exit side thereof and the entry side of the primary pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Inficon GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Böhm, Ulrich Doebler, Ralf Hirche, Werner Grosse Bley
  • Publication number: 20090288477
    Abstract: The leakage search assembly has a main device which contains a vacuum pump and a test gas sensor, and a hand-held sniffing probe. Capillary lines which connect the sniffing probe to the basic assembly contain valves by means of which these lines can be selectively opened. In a leakage search mode, the capillary line having the larger cross section is open. This results in leaks also being found from a greater distance. The dead time before response of the test gas sensor is shortened. Once a leak has been located, the assembly is switched to the leakage rate measurement mode, in which only the capillary line with the smaller cross section is open. This results in quantitative determination of the leakage rate with high accuracy and high stability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2006
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Applicant: INFICON GMBH
    Inventors: Werner Grosse Bley, Sandra Seitz
  • Patent number: 7571634
    Abstract: The invention relates to a leak detector including a hand-held device with a sniffer tip. A distance detector for detecting a defined distance of the sniffer tip from the test object is provided on the sniffer tip. A test is only initiated if the distance between the sniffer tip and the test object is correct, thereby avoiding measuring errors due to wrong manual positioning of the sniffer probe. The leak detector can also be provided with an acceleration detector, which permits the test to be carried out only if the sniffer probe is kept steady.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Inficon GmbH
    Inventor: Werner Grosse Bley
  • Publication number: 20090193876
    Abstract: A sniffer leak detector comprising a detector with a quartz window, the window being selectively permeable to a tracer gas. The quartz window is located in a suction chamber that is connected to a vacuum pump. To reduce the response time, a gas guidance plate is situated in the suction chamber, the guidance plate and quartz window together delimiting a narrow gas guidance chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2006
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Inventors: Daniel Wetrzig, Werner Grosse Bley, Peter Lang, Stefan Mebus
  • Publication number: 20090188302
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2007
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Inventors: Norbert Rolff, Randolf Rolff, Sandra Seitz, Werner Grosse Bley, Thomas Boehm, Daniel Wetzig
  • Publication number: 20090173141
    Abstract: The gas sensor has a selectively permeable membrane which is composed of silicon material and is provided with a heating device on the outside. The membrane closes an evacuated housing which contains a pressure sensor. When evacuating the area surrounding the housing, the heat dissipation is changed as a result of the quick change in the total pressure of the surrounding air, with the result that signal drift arises despite temperature regulation of the membrane. The disclosure provides at least one second heating device whose temperature is regulated independently of the first heating device. As a result, the membrane temperature is highly constant even in the case of severely changing total pressure in the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2007
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Inventors: Werner Grosse Bley, Daniel Wetzig
  • Publication number: 20090120165
    Abstract: A sampling leak detector which comprises a basic device and a sniffling probe connected thereto via a tube. A visual display is located on the sniffling probe. A tactile indicator is provided in a handle. An acoustic indicator is arranged on the basic device. The detector can be switched to a detection mode in which the color in the visual display changes and the indicator are activated when a predetermined leakage rate is exceeded. The detector can also be switched to a locating mode in which leakage rate information is displayed by means of a bar of variable length and a sound is generated which has a parameter depending on the leakage rate information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2006
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Inventors: Peter Lang, Norbert Rolff, Sandra Seitz, Werner Grosse Bley
  • Publication number: 20090100909
    Abstract: A leak testing device includes a chamber which is hermetically sealed towards the environment, having a test object filled with a test gas that is positioned in the chamber. In the chamber, a partial-pressure sensor is arranged that selectively responds to the test gas, but not to the filler gas. Thus, a leak test can be simply performed without high vacuum and without mass spectrometers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2005
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Applicant: Inficon Gmbh
    Inventors: Werner Grosse Bley, Daniel Wetzig
  • Patent number: 7444854
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Inficon GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Böhm, Werner Grosse Bley, Randolf Rolff, Sandra Seitz, Norbert Rolff
  • Publication number: 20080164148
    Abstract: A selective gas sensor is for determining the presence of a test gas, for example, helium includes an evacuated housing, sealed by a selectively gas-permeable membrane. The membrane is part of a sight glass, whereby the glass pane is provided with a hole, sealed by the membrane made from a silicon material. The frame of the membrane wall is connected to the housing by means of a high-vacuum soft-metal seal. The housing can also form one of the electrodes of the gas pressure sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2005
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: Inficon GmbH
    Inventor: Werner Grosse Bley
  • Patent number: 7266991
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor (1) for helium or hydrogen with a vacuum-tight housing (2), wherein a gas consuming cold cathode array (3, 4) is arranged, in addition to a selectively active passage (9) for the gas to be detected. According to the invention, in order to improve the properties of said sensor, the housing (2) is made of glass, components of the gas passage (9) include a membrane (18) made of a silicon material having the desired selective qualities, in addition to a silicon plate (19) which supports the membrane (18) and is provided with a plurality of openings (21) and a heating element (24). The housing (2) and the selectively active gas passage (9) are joined together without polymer and elastomer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Inficon GmbH
    Inventor: Werner Grosse Bley
  • Patent number: 7254989
    Abstract: A leak detecting device of the counterflow type includes a high vacuum pump having an inlet connected to a mass spectrometer. In addition, a prevacuum pump is provided having an inlet connected to an outlet of the high vacuum pump and a leak detecting device input. A connecting conduit is further provided between the leak detecting device input and an intermediate inlet of the high vacuum pump. A first valve of variable conductance is arranged in the course of the connecting conduit. Valves with a large inner diameter are expensive while valves with a small inner diameter show considerable resistance even in a fully opened state. A second valve arranged parallel to the first adjustable valve is provided in the course of the connecting conduit; thereby allowing the first and second valves to have relatively small inner diameters arranged in the connecting conduit, wherein the combined conductance of both opened valves is considerably increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Inficon GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Böhm, Werner Grosse Bley
  • Publication number: 20070039377
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2006
    Publication date: February 22, 2007
    Applicant: Inficon GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Bohm, Werner Grosse Bley, Randolf Rolff, Sandra Seitz, Norbert Rolff
  • Publication number: 20070000309
    Abstract: A leak detecting device of the counterflow type includes a high vacuum pump having an inlet connected to a mass spectrometer. In addition, a prevacuum pump is provided having an inlet connected to an outlet of the high vacuum pump and a leak detecting device input. A connecting conduit is further provided between the leak detecting device input and an intermediate inlet of the high vacuum pump. A first valve of variable conductance is arranged in the course of the connecting conduit. Valves with a large inner diameter are expensive while valves with a small inner diameter show considerable resistance even in a fully opened state. A second valve arranged parallel to the first adjustable valve is provided in the course of the connecting conduit; thereby allowing the first and second valves to have relatively small inner diameters arranged in the connecting conduit, wherein the combined conductance of both opened valves is considerably increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2004
    Publication date: January 4, 2007
    Applicant: Inficon GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Bohm, Werner Grosse Bley