Sniffer probe with shield

Abstract

To provide a sniffer probe that can easily detect leaks in the rear part of a pipe to be investigated. The sniffer probe (10) for aspirating gas has at least one sniffer tip (11) provided with an inlet (16). The inlet (16) is connected by a connecting line to a main sniffer line that can be connected to a gas leak detector. The sniffer tip (11) is provided with a flexible, elongated shield (30) in the region of the inlet (16) that protrudes from the sniffer tip (11) to shield the inlet (16) on all sides from the environment (38) outside the sniffer probe (10).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a sniffer probe of a gas leak detector for detecting gas leaks.

Background Art

[0002] When detecting a gas leak, the sniffer probe is used to move along the surface of the area suspected of having a gas leak in the object to be inspected. For this purpose, the sniffer probe has a sniffer tip provided with a gas suction port, and a gas mixture to be analyzed is sucked from the gas suction port. Usually, the rear end portion of the sniffer probe, which is on the side opposite to the gas suction port, is connected by a main sniffer line to a gas leak detector that analyzes the sucked gas.

[0003] In automatic sniffer leak detection for pipes, it is difficult to detect gas leaks in the rear part of the pipe under investigation. In the case of a conventional sniffer probe, for the rear part of the target pipe, it is necessary to increase the gas flow rate to suck the leaked gas together with air. Therefore, the sensitivity of gas leak detection decreases. In another method, it is necessary to wrap the probe around the pipe, which takes time. Especially in the piping system of a refrigeration device, it is difficult to increase the gas flow rate for the rear part of the pipe under investigation so as to detect a leak on the order of 0.5 g / a.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] One object of the present invention is to provide a sniffer probe, particularly a sniffer probe that facilitates leak detection for the rear part of the pipe under investigation.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The leak detection device of the present invention is determined by the configuration of claim 1.

[0006] Therefore, the present invention is a sniffer probe including at least one sniffer tip having a suction port, and in a connection line, preferably in the sniffer probe, for example, a connection line extending into the sniffer tip connects the suction port and the main sniffer line, and the main sniffer line can be connected to a gas leak detector or is connected to a gas leak detector.

[0007] In the present invention, the sniffer tip is provided with a flexible and elongated shielding body protruding from the sniffer tip so as to shield the suction port from all sides in the region of the suction port from the environment outside the sniffer probe. Shielding from all sides means that there is only a gap of about several millimeters or less, preferably less than 1 millimeter, between adjacent shielding bodies, and through this gap, gas flows from the external environment into the suction port and is sucked in.

[0008] That is, the shielding body forms an inspection space in contact with the suction port for the object to be inspected, and the sniffer tip and the shielding body protruding from the sniffer tip enclose the entire space except for a slight gap, so that the inspection space can be shielded from the environment outside the sniffer probe by the shielding body. Preferably, this gap is desirably about 1 / 10 or less of the diameter of the suction port. In this way, the sniffer probe and the shielding body protruding from the sniffer probe form something like the wall of the inspection space, suppressing the gas turbulence generated, for example, during ejection while allowing the gas in the region of the shielding body to pass through.

[0009] The gap between adjacent shielding bodies is desirably about 1 / 10 or less, preferably about 1 / 100 or less of the diameter of the suction port. That is, if the diameter of the suction port is 4 mm, the gap between adjacent shielding bodies is desirably less than 0.4 mm, preferably less than 40 μm. The diameter of the suction port means the maximum value of the distance between both edges of the suction port. That is, the "diameter" does not necessarily assume that the suction port is circular in shape.

[0010] The sniffer tip can be configured as an arm of the sniffer tip. Specifically, the sniffer probe may include a plurality of, for example, two arms with an inspection space formed therebetween. The shield projects from at least one arm.

[0011] At least one of the arms is provided with at least one, preferably a plurality of, flexible shields on the side facing the inspection space. Preferably, the shield projects perpendicularly from the arm to define the inspection space, thereby shielding the suction port from the environment outside the sniffer probe. The shield may be an elastic fibrous body and / or a brush-shaped hair material. Since the shield shields the sniffer tip and the suction port from the environment outside the sniffer probe so that the main movement of air during gas suction is inward from outside the sniffer probe into the space, the main sniffer line will mainly perform suction from within the inspection space. This reduces the likelihood that the air turbulence in the area outside the sniffer probe will affect the suction of the leaked gas from the leak part.

[0012] The shield can be formed as a flexible fiber. By arranging a plurality of fibers closely side by side, the fibers form a wall-like enclosure that shields the inspection space 20 from the environment outside the sniffer probe. As a variant, the shield may be provided in the form of a flexible wall.

[0013] Advantageously, the shield is arranged in the edge region of the inner side of each arm that faces the inspection space. More preferably, the shield is arranged throughout the edge region of each arm so as to surround the entire inspection space and shield the inside of the inspection space and the suction port from the environment outside the sniffer probe.

[0014] When a sniffer probe is pressed against an object to be inspected, such as a pipe, the fibrous body follows the object to be inspected, encloses a part of the object to be inspected located in the inspection space, and shields the part from the external environment. In this way, an inspection space for a movable object to be inspected that can be pressed against the object to be inspected is formed. When suction is performed from the suction port of the sniffer probe into the inspection space, a gas such as air from the environment outside the sniffer probe flows into the inspection space through the shielding body from the outside. At this time, it is possible to prevent the leaked gas from the leak part of the object to be inspected from being stirred in the inspection space in the shielding area of the shielding body due to the turbulent flow of the air in the environment outside the sniffer probe.

[0015] Advantageously, a shielding body is provided on each of the two arms so as to extend from opposite sides into the space between the two arms. At this time, it is preferable that at least a part of the shielding body extends to approximately the middle of the distance between the arms so as to shield at least most of the inspection space from the environment.

[0016] Each shielding body has a first end installed on the corresponding arm and a second end on the side opposite to the first end. The distance between the second ends of the shielding bodies on opposite sides extending toward each other from different arms is preferably small, arbitrarily less than 1 / 10 of the diameter of the suction port, and preferably less than 1 / 100 of the diameter of the suction port.

[0017] In order to prevent the shielding body from being bent by an object to be inspected, such as a pipe to be suction-inspected, located in the inspection space, resulting in a free space without the shielding body, by providing at least two types of lengths of shielding bodies, the shielding of the formed space may be performed by the shorter shielding body at least. Overall, it is desirable that as many edge regions as possible in the inspection space are occupied by the shielding body even when the object to be inspected is arranged in the inspection space and the shielding body is locally bent.

[0018] For this purpose, shields of different lengths may be arranged in a row, each row may consist of shields of the same length, and rows of shields of different lengths may be arranged alternately.

[0019] Preferably, at least most, preferably all, of the suction ports are desirably surrounded or shielded by the shields.

[0020] The sniffer probe may be configured in a fork shape in the region of the front end of each arm, and may be formed in a state where the rear ends of the respective arms, which are on the opposite side to the front end, are connected to each other.

[0021] Preferably, the rear ends of the arms terminate at a common base element. For example, the base element may be configured as a gripping part and includes a main sniffer line. The arms may be formed in a Y shape or a U shape, and a U-shaped design is advantageous. When the arms have a U-shaped design, the suction port is formed in the region of the front end of the inner side facing the inspection space of the corresponding arm. Then, by simply pressing the U-shaped fork against the piping system so that the piping system to be suction-inspected fits within the inspection space, it becomes possible to perform a suction inspection of any side of the object to be inspected (for example, the piping system to be inspected) by means of the suction port.

[0022] Preferably, the inner sides of each arm facing the inspection space are provided parallel to each other in the region of the front end, so that the shields also extend parallel to each other.

[0023] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0024]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0025] The sniffer probe includes two arms 12, 14 that form a U shape. The rear ends of the two arms 12, 14 are integrally connected to a central base element 28. The base element 28 includes a main sniffer line (not shown), and the main sniffer line is connected to a gas leak detector. The front ends 22, 24 of the two arms 12, 14, which are opposite to the rear ends, are spaced apart from each other, and an inspection space 20 for the piping system to be inspected is formed therebetween.

[0026] On both sides of the inspection space 20, suction ports 16, 18 are formed in the inner portions 26 of the two arms 22, 24 that are in contact with the inspection space 20. As a modification, only one of the two arms 22, 24 may be provided with the suction port 16 and the other arm 24 may not have the suction port 18, or a single suction port 16 may be arranged at the center of the region of the base element 28 between the two arms 22, 24. As a modification, the suction port may be provided in the shielding region using a capillary.

[0027] Each of the suction ports 16, 18 is formed in the front region of the front ends 22, 24 of the respective arms 12, 14. Each of the suction ports 16, 18 is gas-conductively connected to the main sniffer line by separate connection lines (not shown) extending into the respective arms 12, 14.

[0028] In the region of the front ends 22, 24, the inner portions 26 of the two arms 12, 14 are provided parallel to each other. This makes it possible to set the orientation of the sniffer probe 10 with respect to the piping system to be inspected such that the region to be inspected of the piping system is accommodated within the inspection space 20.

[0029] From the inner portions 26 of both arms 12, 14, flexible shields in the form of elastic fibers or brush bristles project in a brush shape into the inspection space 20 or demarcate the inspection space 20. The shields 30 are arranged parallel to each other.

[0030] The shielding body is arranged only in the edge region 36 of the inner parts 26 of the two arms 12, 14. The wall region 36 separates the inner part from the outside and encloses the entire suction ports 16, 18. Thus, the shielding body protruding from the edge region 36 of the inner part 26 forms a gas-permeable wall that shields the inspection space 20 from the environment 38 outside the sniffer probe 10.

[0031] Each of the two arms 12, 14 is provided with one or more rows 32 of long shielding bodies 30 and / or one or more rows 34 of short shielding bodies 30. The shielding bodies in the row 34 are formed shorter than the shielding bodies 30 in the row 32. The rows 32 and 34 are arranged alternately such that one row 34 is positioned between two adjacent rows 32 and one row 32 is positioned between two adjacent rows 34. The long shielding bodies 30 in the row 32 each extend to the center of the inspection space 20. Thus, the shielding bodies 30 in the row 32 are in almost contact with each other in the central region of the inspection space 20. In contrast, each short shielding body 30 in the row 34 is formed to be only about half the length of the shielding body 30 in the row 32. Therefore, in the central region of the inspection space 20, a space for the object to be inspected is left between the opposite shielding bodies 30 that extend from the opposite arms 22, 24 and surround or shield the inspection space 20. Thus, the object to be inspected introduced into the inspection space 20 will bend the long shielding bodies 30 in the row 32 more than the short shielding bodies 30 in the row 34.

[0032] As a variant, it is also conceivable to arrange the long shielding bodies 30 and the short shielding bodies 30 alternately without arranging them in rows of the same length. Here, the short fibrous bodies 30 can be sandwiched one by one between a plurality of long shielding bodies, and the long fibrous bodies 30 can be sandwiched one by one between a plurality of short shielding bodies.

[0033] The shield 30 shields the suction ports 16 from the environment outside the sniffer probe 10 so as to suppress the influence of the turbulent flow of air in the region outside the inspection space 20 on the air flow toward the suction ports 16, 18 in the inspection space 20.

[0034] In a further embodiment (not shown), only one arm configured as a sniffer tip is provided, and the arm has a suction port in the region of the sniffer tip. Here, a flexible and elongated shield projects in the region of the suction port. The shield can be a hairy and elongated fiber and / or a flexible wall. As an important point of the present invention, the inspection space in contact with the suction port is shielded on all sides from the environment outside the sniffer probe by the shield so that only a gap of 1 / 5 or less of the diameter of the suction port, preferably less than 1 / 10 or less than 1 / 100 of the same diameter, remains between adjacent shields. The shield forms a wall that surrounds and / or defines the entire inspection space. The present invention includes the following content as an embodiment. 〔Aspect 1〕 A sniffer probe (10) for sucking in gas, having at least one sniffer tip (11) provided with a suction port (16), In the sniffer probe (10), the suction port (16) is connected to a main sniffer line that can be connected to a gas leak detector by a connection line, The sniffer tip (11) is provided with a flexible and elongated shielding body (30) in the region of the suction port (16), and the shielding body (30) protrudes from the sniffer tip (11) so as to shield the suction port (16) from the environment (38) outside the sniffer probe (10) on all sides. Sniffer probe (10). 〔Aspect 2〕 The sniffer probe (10) according to Aspect 1, wherein the gap between adjacent shielding bodies is about 1 / 10 or less, preferably about 1 / 100 or less of the diameter of the suction port. 〔Aspect 3〕 In the sniffer probe according to Aspect 1 or 2, the shielding body (30) forms an inspection space (20) for the inspection object to be inspected at a position in contact with the suction port (16), and the inspection space is shielded from the environment (38) outside the sniffer probe (10) on all sides. 〔Aspect 4〕 In the sniffer probe (10) according to any one of Aspects 1 to 3, the sniffer tip (11) is formed by at least one arm (12), and the shielding body (30) protrudes from the side of the arm (12) facing the inspection space (20). 〔Aspect 5〕 In the sniffer probe (10) according to Aspect 4, the sniffer probe (10) includes at least two separate arms (12, 14) with the inspection space (20) formed therebetween, and one or more of the arms (12, 14) have the suction port (16) on the side facing the inspection space (20). 〔Aspect 6〕 In the sniffer probe (10) according to any one of Aspects 1 to 5, a plurality of shielding bodies (30) surround the suction port (16). 〔Aspect 7〕 In the sniffer probe (10) according to any one of aspects 1 to 6, a plurality of shields (30) are provided in the form of flexible, preferably elastic fibers, preferably in the form of brush-shaped hair materials. The sniffer probe (10) is characterized in this. 〔Aspect 8〕 In the sniffer probe (10) according to any one of aspects 1 to 6, the shield (30) forms a flexible wall that shields the inspection space (20) from the environment (38) outside the sniffer probe (10). The sniffer probe (10) is characterized in this. 〔Aspect 9〕 In the sniffer probe (10) according to any one of aspects 1 to 8, the shield (30) is disposed only in the edge region (36) that separates the inspection space (20) and the external environment (38) on the side (26) of the arms (12, 14) facing the inspection space (20). The sniffer probe (10) is characterized in this. 〔Aspect 10〕 In the sniffer probe (10) according to any one of aspects 1 to 9, the shield (30) is disposed on both arms (12, 14) on both sides of the inspection space (20), and each demarcates the inspection space (20) or shields the inspection space (20) from the environment. The sniffer probe (10) is characterized in this. 〔Aspect 11〕 In the sniffer probe (10) according to aspect 10, at least a part of the shield (30) extends to approximately the center of the space (20). The sniffer probe (10) is characterized in this. 〔Aspect 12〕 In the sniffer probe (10) according to any one of aspects 1 to 11, shields (30) of at least two types of lengths are provided. Preferably, shields (30) of the same length are arranged in rows (32, 34), and the rows (32) of long shields (30) and the rows (34) of short shields (30) are arranged alternately. The sniffer probe (10) is characterized in this. 〔Aspect 13〕 In the sniffer probe (10) according to any one of aspects 1 to 12, at least a part of the shield (30) surrounds most of the space (20). The sniffer probe (10) is characterized in this. 〔Aspect 14〕 In the sniffer probe (10) according to any one of aspects 1 to 13, the two arms (12, 14) are connected to each other in a fork shape at their rear ends, and the suction ports (16, 18) are provided at the front ends (22, 24) on the side opposite to the rear ends, characterized by the sniffer probe (10). 〔Aspect 15〕 In the sniffer probe (10) according to aspect 14, the two arms (12, 14) are formed in a U shape, characterized by the sniffer probe (10). 〔Aspect 16〕 In the sniffer probe (10) according to any one of aspects 1 to 15, the suction ports (16, 18) are formed in the inner portions (26) of the corresponding arms (12, 14) facing the inspection space (20), characterized by the sniffer probe (10). 〔Aspect 17〕 In the sniffer probe (10) according to aspect 16, the inner portions (26) are formed parallel to each other in the region of the front ends (22, 24) of the two arms (12, 14), characterized by the sniffer probe (10). 〔Aspect 18〕 In the sniffer probe (10) according to any one of aspects 1 to 17, the arms (12, 14) are connected at their rear ends to a base element (28) including the main sniffer line and connectable to a gas leak detector, characterized by the sniffer probe (10).

Description of Symbols

[0035] 10 Sniffer probe 11 Sniffer tip 12, 14 Arms 16 Suction port 20 Inspection space 22, 24 Front end parts in front of the arms 30 Shield 32, 34 Rows of shields 36 Edge region

Claims

1. A sniffer probe (10) for sucking in gas, comprising: at least one sniffer tip (11) provided with a suction port (16); In the sniffer probe (10), the suction port (16) is connected by a connecting line to a main sniffer line connectable to a gas leak detector. The sniffer tip (11) is provided, in the region of the suction port (16), with a flexible and elongated shielding body (30). By forming a flexible wall permeable to gas with respect to an inspection space (20) of an object to be inspected, which is located adjacent to the suction port (16), the shielding body (30) protrudes from the sniffer tip (11) so as to shield the suction port (16) on all sides from the environment (38) outside the sniffer probe (10). The sniffer tip (11) and the shielding body (30) protruding from the sniffer tip shield the inspection space (20) on all sides from the environment (38) outside the sniffer probe (10). The sniffer tip (11) comprises at least two separate arms (12, 14) with the inspection space (20) formed therebetween, and at least one of the arms (12, 14) has the suction port (16) on the side facing the inspection space (20), and the shielding body (30) protrudes from at least one of the arms (12, 14) on the side facing the inspection space (20). A sniffer probe (10) is characterized in that.

2. The sniffer probe (10) according to claim 1, wherein the gap between adjacent shielding bodies is about 1 / 10 or less of the diameter of the suction port. A sniffer probe (10) is characterized in that.

3. In the sniffer probe (10) according to claim 1 or 2, the shielding body (30) is arranged only in an edge region (36) separating the inspection space (20) from the external environment (38) on the side (26) of the arm (12, 14) facing the inspection space (20). A sniffer probe (10) is characterized in that.

4. In the sniffer probe (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the shielding body (30) is arranged on two arms (12, 14) on both sides of the inspection space (20), and the two arms define the inspection space (20) or shield the inspection space (20) from the environment, characterized in that the sniffer probe (10).

5. In the sniffer probe (10) according to claim 4, at least a part of the shielding body (30) extends to substantially the center of the inspection space (20), characterized in that the sniffer probe (10).

6. In the sniffer probe (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, the two arms (12, 14) are connected to each other in a fork shape at the rear ends, and the suction ports (16, 18) are provided at the front ends (22, 24) on the side opposite to the rear ends, characterized in that the sniffer probe (10).

7. In the sniffer probe (10) according to claim 6, the two arms (12, 14) form a U shape, characterized in that the sniffer probe (10).

8. In the sniffer probe (10) according to claim 7, in the region of the front ends (22, 24) of the two arms (12, 14), the inner sides (26) of the two arms (12, 14) are formed parallel to each other, characterized in that the sniffer probe (10).

9. In the sniffer probe (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, the arms (12, 14) are connected at the rear ends to a base element (28) that includes the main sniffer line and can be connected to a gas leak detector, characterized in that the sniffer probe (10).

10. In the sniffer probe (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, a plurality of shielding bodies (30) surround the suction port (16), characterized in that the sniffer probe (10).

11. In the sniffer probe (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, a plurality of shielding bodies (30) are provided in the form of flexible fibers, characterized in that the sniffer probe (10).

12. In the sniffer probe (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, shields (30) of at least two types of lengths are provided, and the shields (30) of the same length are arranged in rows (32, 34), and the rows (32) of the long shields (30) and the rows (34) of the short shields (30) are arranged alternately. The sniffer probe (10) is characterized by this.

13. In the sniffer probe (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, at least a part of the shield (30) surrounds most of the inspection space (20). The sniffer probe (10) is characterized by this.

14. In the sniffer probe (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, the suction ports (16, 18) are formed in the inner portions (26) of the respective arms (12, 14) facing the inspection space (20). The sniffer probe (10) is characterized by this.

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