The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 11, 2001
Filed:
Mar. 20, 2000
William A. Veronesi, Hartford, CT (US);
Frederick T. Olender, Somers, CT (US);
Richard A. Hart, North Granby, CT (US);
United Technologies Corporation, Hartford, CT (US);
Abstract
The present invention is a photo-acoustic leak detection system that detects whether gas is leaking from a component. The system includes multiple beams wherein one beam is not absorbed by the gas and is used as a baseline measurement, while another beam absorbs the gas and emits an increased signal. Upon contact with the gas, an acoustic sensor senses the reaction or lack thereof between the gas and the beams, thereby allowing a signal processor to receive the respective alternating sensor signals after which the processor calculates the difference between the first and second signals to determine whether a leak exists. The photo-acoustic leak detection system also includes a beam combining means which forces the multiple beams to enter an acousto-optic cell at the same location. The acousto-optic cell, in turn, which is controlled by a signal controlling apparatus, sequentially and alternately diffracts the multiple beams at the same predetermined angle. Use of an acousto-optic cell removes the limitations inherent with mechanical parts, which, in turn, increases the sensitivity of the photo-acoustic leak detection system.