US 12,066,354 B2
Leak detection device
Gaël Tos, Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse (FR); Olivier Perrot, Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse (FR); Sébastien Larroque, Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse (FR); Anthony De Faria, Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse (FR); Carlos Da Cunha, Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse (FR); Vincent Fraysse, Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse (FR); and David Hassler, Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse (FR)
Assigned to Gaztransport et Technigaz, Saint Remy les Chevreuse (FR)
Appl. No. 17/612,352
Filed by GAZTRANSPORT ET TECHNIGAZ, Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse (FR)
PCT Filed May 15, 2020, PCT No. PCT/EP2020/063718
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Nov. 18, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/234193, PCT Pub. Date Nov. 26, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 1905302 (FR), filed on May 21, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0316977 A1, Oct. 6, 2022
Int. Cl. G01M 3/20 (2006.01); G01M 3/22 (2006.01)
CPC G01M 3/205 (2013.01) [G01M 3/226 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A leak detection device for detecting a leak in a test zone of a sealing membrane of a sealed and thermally insulating tank, the leak detection device comprising:
a portable leak detection bell-like member, the leak detection bell-like member comprising a main body which is configured to be placed above the test zone and a sealing joint which is connected to the main body and which is configured to define a detection chamber between the main body and the test zone, the sealing joint being configured to come into contact with the sealing membrane and having a closed contour which surrounds the detection chamber, the detection bell-like member further comprising a carrying handle which is provided with a control member which can be manually activated to produce a control signal, the control member being positioned on or in the immediate vicinity of the carrying handle so as to be able to be activated by the hand of a user holding the carrying handle,
a gas suction circuit which is configured to connect the detection chamber to a vacuum pump, the gas suction circuit being provided with a controlled valve which can be switched into an open state to connect the detection chamber to the vacuum pump and a closed state to isolate the detection chamber from the vacuum pump, and
a control unit which is configured to switch the controlled valve in response to the control signal.