Test adapter having reference opening

Abstract

The invention relates to a test adapter (1) having a reference opening (10), to a system for identifying leaks in test objects, and to a method for identifying leaks in test objects. In order to be inserted into a wall (61) of a test object (60) having a volume (62) delimited by the wall (61), the test adapter (1) has a reference opening (10) which opens into the volume when the test adapter (10) is inserted.

Description

[0001] Test adapter with reference opening

[0002] The invention relates to a test adapter with a reference opening, a system for detecting leaks in test objects and a method for detecting leaks in test objects according to the independent claims.

[0003] When handling chemicals and / or biological substances, microorganisms, or to maintain cleanliness levels, it is common practice to work in cleanrooms wearing protective equipment or to use a small cleanroom accessible from the outside through protective equipment, such as gloves. Such small cleanrooms or boxes are also called glove boxes or isolators.

[0004] To ensure the long-term protective effect of the measures taken, regular leak testing of protective equipment is necessary. Such testing of test objects can usually be performed using pressure measuring devices. To calibrate or test pressure measuring devices, it is common practice to puncture test objects, such as gloves, with a small hole, for example, with a cannula, and to record the pressure drop curve resulting from the pressure measurement. If the pressure measuring device detects a comparable pressure drop curve when testing a test object, the test object has at least one hole. Differences in the pressure drop curves can be used to roughly estimate the size of the leak.

[0005] The object of the invention is to make the above-mentioned method more reliable and to enable a more precise determination of a leak size.

[0006] This object is achieved by a test adapter according to claim 1, a system according to claim 11 and a method according to claim 12.

[0007] Main features of the invention are defined in the independent claims. Technically advantageous embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims, the description, and the drawings.

[0008] A test adapter according to the invention for insertion into a wall of a test object with a volume delimited by the wall, wherein the test adapter has a reference opening which opens into the volume when the test adapter is inserted, solves the technical problem.

[0009] The test adapter can be inserted into the wall of a test object, thus providing a reference opening with a precisely known, defined size in the test object. This replaces a conventional, artificially created hole created using a cannula. This ensures that the opening and thus the leakage of the test object is safe, reproducible, and verifiable when measuring a pressure drop curve and can thus be reliably used to develop parameters for subsequent calibrations. The leakage size no longer varies with the diameter of the cannula and thus additional product variations of the cannula or with differences in craftsmanship when inserting the cannula into the test object; instead, the leakage size always corresponds to that of the reference opening.

[0010] Pressure drop curves recorded during parameter development serve as reference measurements for determining actual leaks in test objects. An actually measured pressure drop curve of a test object can be compared with reference measurements. From this comparison, the actual leak size can be reliably determined because the hole size, i.e. the size of the reference opening, in the test adapter, which is used to determine the reference values, is precisely known. The reference measurements can be used, for example, to check the quality of a test object. The reference measurements can be stored, for example, in a data memory of the pressure monitoring unit. To check the quality of the test object, a pressure drop curve of a test object can be compared with reference measurements.

[0011] Test objects can include, for example, gloves or containers, pressure vessels, hazardous material containers, or other volumes enclosed by a wall that are to be tested for integrity. In particular, test objects can be pharmaceutical gloves or containers and / or volumes suitable as protective equipment or as access to a cleanroom.

[0012] In a technically advantageous embodiment, the reference opening has a diameter in the range from 50pm to 500pm, in particular from 100pm to 300pm.

[0013] Actual leaks, for example, from gloves in Giove boxes, have a diameter of 50 μm to 500 μm, especially 100 μm to 300 μm. If the reference opening advantageously has a diameter in this range, an actual leak can be more easily classified, since measurements, such as pressure drop curves from a calibration or reference measurement, are close to measurements of actual leaks and can be compared. Furthermore, no conversion from the reference opening to an actual leak is necessary, since the reference opening corresponds to an actual leak with this diameter.

[0014] In a further technically advantageous embodiment, the length of the reference opening is in the range between 10 pm and 1000 pm.

[0015] Calibration or reference measurements can be provided particularly close to actual leak measurements if the length of the reference opening approximately corresponds to the thickness of the wall of a test object. This allows the flow characteristics of an actual leak to be simulated to reduce or prevent flow-related measurement distortions. This eliminates the need for further conversions, as the length of the reference opening also corresponds to the length of an actual leak.

[0016] In a further technically advantageous embodiment, the test adapter is rotationally symmetrical, with one end having a flange-shaped head to which a shaft with an inner bore is connected, the shaft having a smaller outer diameter than the head. The insertion of the test adapter into a wall of a test object is simplified if the test adapter is rotationally symmetrical so that it can be guided through a circular hole, e.g. punched into the wall, and the distances between the test adapter and a cut edge of the hole can be arranged evenly. This simplifies the tight sealing of the test adapter to the wall. The shaft with the inner bore is inserted through the hole and the flange-shaped head rests against the inner side of the wall in the insertion direction and thus covers the distance between the shaft with the inner bore and the cut edge of the hole.

[0017] In another technically advantageous design, the reference opening extends centrally through the head to the inner bore. This makes the test adapter relatively easy to manufacture.

[0018] In a further technically advantageous embodiment, an external thread is formed on the shaft.

[0019] An external thread is particularly advantageous when inserting the test adapter into a solid wall or, for example, into an interface or pressure monitoring unit forming part of the wall. The test adapter can then be screwed directly into a corresponding opening, which would otherwise be closed with a corresponding screw-in plug. The pressure monitoring unit is then connected to a test object in such a way that the reference opening opens into the volume. This allows reference measurement values ​​to be determined without having to create an opening in the test object itself in order to insert the test adapter. These reference values ​​correspond to the pressure drop curves expected for a test object with an actual leak, due to the reference opening of the test adapter.

[0020] In a further technically advantageous embodiment, a clamping ring is screwed onto the external thread, wherein a clamping area is formed between the head and the clamping ring.

[0021] A thread for attaching a clamping ring enables the creation of a clamping area in which the wall surrounding an insertion point, like a hole, is clamped and thus sealed. This allows for recurring measurements with high repeatability. Leakage around the insertion point of the test adapter is prevented.

[0022] In a further technically advantageous embodiment, an internal thread is formed in the inner bore, into which a closure element can be screwed. This allows the reference opening to be sealed pressure-tight with minimal effort, allowing the test object to continue to be used even with the test adapter inserted.

[0023] In a further technically advantageous embodiment, the test adapter has an assembly tool with two halves, wherein the interconnected halves enclose a cavity in which the test adapter can be accommodated.

[0024] A two-part assembly tool, which forms a cavity in which the test adapter can be accommodated, enables safe transport and protected storage of such a measuring tool.

[0025] In a further technically advantageous embodiment, one of the halves has a torque application geometry that interacts with a corresponding geometry of the head in such a way that the half can be used as an insertion tool. This half is thus designed as an assembly tool, thus reducing the amount of accessories associated with the test adapter. A torque application geometry that interacts with the geometry of the head enables gentle and precise insertion of the test adapter.

[0026] A system according to the invention for detecting leaks in test objects comprises at least one test adapter according to the invention and at least one pressure monitoring unit, such that a test object can be connected to the pressure monitoring unit, so that a volume of a test object can be subjected to a pressure and this pressure can be recorded over time, wherein a data processing unit with a data memory is provided, which can record the pressure and the time and compare them with reference data.

[0027] The advantages of the system arise from the described advantages of the features of the test adapter, to which reference is hereby made.

[0028] A test method according to the invention for detecting leaks in test objects using a test adapter according to the invention or a system according to the invention comprises the following steps: a. Inserting a test adapter into a test object; b. Measuring a pressure in the test object and recording the pressure measurements over time; c. Creating a pressure drop curve from the recorded data and time.

[0029] The advantages of the test method according to the invention arise from the aforementioned advantages of the test adapter, to which reference is hereby made. Further features, details, and advantages of the invention emerge from the wording of the claims and from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings. They show:

[0030] Fig. 1 a schematic view of a test adapter

[0031] Fig. 2 is a sectional view along the edge AA of Fig. 1

[0032] Fig. 3 a sectional view of a test adapter with clamping ring and closure element

[0033] Fig. 4 a sectional view of a test adapter with assembly tool

[0034] Fig. 5 a schematic representation of a system for detecting leaks in test objects

[0035] Fig. 6 a schematic representation of a test procedure for detecting leaks in test objects

[0036] Fig. 1 shows a rotationally symmetrical test adapter 1 for insertion into a wall of a test object with a reference opening 10, a flange-shaped head 11 and an inner bore 13. Also shown is a cutting edge AA.

[0037] Fig. 2 shows a section along the cutting edge AA from Fig. 1 of the rotationally symmetrical test adapter 1 for insertion into a wall of a test object with a reference opening 10, a flange-shaped head 11 at one end and an adjoining shaft 12 with an inner bore 13, wherein the shaft 12 has a smaller outer diameter than the head 11. An internal thread 40 extends along the inner bore 13, while an external thread 20 extends along the shaft 12.

[0038] Fig. 3 shows the test adapter 1 for insertion into a wall of a test object with a reference opening 10, wherein a clamping ring 30 is screwed onto the external thread 20 and forms a clamping area 31 with the head 11. A closure element 41 is screwed into the internal thread 40, thereby closing the reference opening 10 in a pressure-tight manner.

[0039] Fig. 4 shows the test adapter 1 with the clamping ring 30 and an assembly tool 50, which has two halves 51 that are connected to each other and form a cavity in which the test adapter 1 is received. Fig. 4 also shows a torque application geometry 52 of one of the halves 51.

[0040] Fig. 5 shows a system for detecting leaks in test objects with the test adapter 1, which is inserted into a wall 61 of a test object 60, wherein the test adapter 1, the reference opening 10, opens into a volume 62 of the test object 60. The wall 61 is clamped in the clamping area 31, which is formed by the head 11 and the clamping ring 30. The test object 60 is connected via an interface 71 to a pressure monitoring unit 70, wherein the pressure monitoring unit 70 is connected to a data processing unit 72.

[0041] Fig. 6 shows schematically a test method for detecting leaks in test objects using a test adapter or a system for detecting leaks in test objects with a first method step (a), a second method step (b) and a third method step (c).

[0042] The invention is not limited to one of the embodiments described above, but can be modified in many ways.

[0043] All features and advantages arising from the claims, the description and the drawing, including design details, spatial arrangements and method steps, can be essential to the invention both individually and in a wide variety of combinations.

[0044] Reference symbol list

[0045] I Test adapter

[0046] 10 Reference opening

[0047] II Flange-shaped head

[0048] 12 shaft

[0049] 13 inner bore

[0050] 20 external threads

[0051] 30 clamping ring

[0052] 31 clamping area

[0053] 40 internal threads

[0054] 41 Closure element

[0055] 50 assembly tools

[0056] 51 half

[0057] 52 Torque application geometry

[0058] 60 test objects

[0059] 61 Wall of a test object

[0060] 62 volumes

[0061] 70 Pressure monitoring unit

[0062] 71 Interface

[0063] 72 Data processing unit a Process step a) b Process step b) c Process step c)

Claims

Patent claims 1. Test adapter (1) for insertion into a wall (61), in particular of a test object (60) having a volume (62) delimited by the wall (61), wherein the test adapter (1) has a reference opening (10) which opens into the volume (62) when the test adapter (1) is inserted.

2. Test adapter (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the reference opening (10) has a diameter in the range from 50 μm to 500 μm, in particular from 100 μm to 300 μm.

3. Test adapter (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a length of the reference opening (10) is in the range between 10 pm and 1000 pm.

4. Test adapter (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the test adapter (1) is rotationally symmetrical, wherein it has a flange-shaped head (11) at one end, to which a shaft (12) with an inner bore (13) is connected, wherein the shaft (12) has a smaller outer diameter than the head (11).

5. Test adapter (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the reference opening (10) extends centrally through the head (11) to the inner bore (13).

6. Test adapter (1) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that an external thread (20) is formed on the shaft (12).

7. Test adapter (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that a clamping ring (30) is screwed onto the external thread (20), a clamping area (31) being formed between the head (11) and the clamping ring (30).

8. Test adapter (1) according to one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that an internal thread (40) is formed in the inner bore (13), into which a closure element (41) can be screwed.

9. Test adapter (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has an assembly tool (50) with two halves (51), wherein the interconnected halves (51) enclose a cavity in which the test adapter (1) can be received.

10. Test adapter (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that one of the halves (51) has a torque application geometry (52) which interacts with a corresponding geometry of the head (11) in such a way that this half (51) can be used as an insertion tool.

11. A system for detecting leaks in test objects, comprising: a. at least one test adapter (1) according to one of the preceding claims; b. at least one pressure monitoring unit (70) with an interface (71) such that a test object (60) can be connected to the pressure monitoring unit (70) so that a volume (62) of a test object (60) is subjected to a pressure and this pressure can be recorded over time, c. a data processing unit (70) with a data memory (72) which records the pressure and the time.

12. A test method for determining leaks in test objects using a test adapter (1) according to any one of claims 1-10 or a system according to claim 11, comprising the following steps: a. Inserting a test adapter (1) into a test object (60); b. Measuring a pressure in the test object (60) and recording the pressure measurements over time; c. Creating a pressure drop curve from the recorded data and the time.

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