Abstract: A method and device for quickly testing the sealing effectiveness of a shaft seal of the type having a radial shaft-engaging lip. A rotatable test shaft has an outer periphery preferably slightly smaller than the shaft for which the seal lip is designed, and the lip of the seal to be tested engages that periphery. The shaft centerline has a predetermined degree of offset from its own axis of rotation, so that the seal lip is subjected to a predetermined shaft runout when the test shaft is rotated at a desired speed. A stationary means supports the seal in a normally leak-tight manner and cooperates with the test shaft and seal to provide a chamber. Air is sent under a desired pressure to the chamber, and it is determined whether there is leakage of air from said chamber.

Abstract: A pneumatic cylinder having a manually retractible piston therein operative to draw a vacuum upon the sealing of a readily compressible sealing head about an area to be tested for leakage. A spring loaded lever selectively engages between the piston manipulating handle and the cylinder end upon a retraction of the piston to provide a generally uniform application of vacuum pressure and maintain the applied pressure which is in turn registered on an attached vacuum gauge communicating with the cylinder near the seal.

Abstract: The casing of an external leak tester for joints in oil well pipes is greatly reinforced in a compact manner by a cage which is symmetrical about two planes oriented at right angles to each other -- each plane containing the axis of the pipe to be tested. Four parallel pins interconnect the components of the cage, and one such pin (a lock pin) is retractable by piston means in order to permit the cage and thus the casing to open wide for lateral reception of the pipe. A plurality of means are provided to effect precise and rapid alignment of apertures in the cage, in order that the piston-operated lock pin may be inserted without binding to thereby lock the cage in closed condition. Cylinder-operated hooks are provided to effect augmented sealing compression of the sealing means for the test chamber, and to close the cage to the position at which the lock pin may be inserted as indicated above.

Abstract: Apparatus having cup-shaped sealing members of resilient material carried by a plunger with their rim portions faced toward each other. The rims are successively contracted when the plunger assembly is moved into an associated cylindrical sleeve, with exterior areas of the rims in sealing contact with the inner cylindrical surface of the sleeve. There is a closed space between the sealing members in which liquid is trapped under pressure as the plunger is moved into the sleeve.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting leaks in a joint between a tube sheet and a tube end fitted into an opening in the sheet comprising a barrel having a near end adjacent one side of said sheet; sealing means between said near end and said face, said sealing means surrounding said joint, a draw rod axially mounted in said barrel for reciprocal motion toward and away from said sheet, one end of said rod adapted to project into said tube, means for reciprocating said rod, a radially expandable plug adjacent said one end, the end of said rod being spaced from plug, resilient means between the end of said rod and said plug, means for expanding said plug radially when said rod is moved in a first direction away from said sheet, a chamber in said barrel adjacent said near end, means for introducing vacuum or pressure into said chamber, a gauge in communication with said chamber whereby the pressure in said chamber can be measured, means for isolating said chamber from the source of said vacuum or pressure.

Abstract: A valve having means for measuring leakage through the valve. The valve body has a small heater in the leakage flow path downstream of the upstream seal and a heat sensor upstream of the downstream seal in the leakage path; fluid that leaks past the upstream seal is heated and its presence detected by the heat sensor which then indicates the fact that the valve is leaking.