PROCESS TESTING TIGHTNESS OF ARTICLES Russian patent published in 2003 - IPC

FIELD: testing equipment, tests of spacecraft, tests of articles employed in atomic, chemical industries and mechanical engineering. SUBSTANCE: in accordance with invention article filled with test gas to working pressure P_W is placed in vacuum chamber, chamber is vacuum treated, concentration of test gas in vacuum chamber is measured, pressure of test gas in article is relieved and decreased concentration of test gas in vacuum chamber is measured. Vacuum chamber is vacuum treated till equilibrium pressure is achieved in it. Concentration of test gas in vacuum chamber is measured till above-mentioned concentration reaches stabilized value. After equilibrium pressure in vacuum chamber is achieved calibrated flow ΔC_tg of test gas is supplied into vacuum chamber, value of change of concentration of test gas ΔC_tg in vacuum chamber caused by calibrated flow of test gas at moment it achieves stabilized value is measured, after measurement of value of change ΔC_min supply of calibrated flow of test gas is stopped. Then value ΔC_min of minimal registered change of concentration of test gas is established, value ΔC_art of achieved decrease of concentration of test gas in vacuum chamber caused by article is measured uninterruptedly with relief of test gas from article. With achievement of ΔC_art≥ΔC_min relief of test gas from article is stopped and residual pressure P₁ in article is measured at this moment. Degree of lack of tightness of article is determined from relation intercoupling mentioned parameters in certain manner. EFFECT: increased productivity of test of articles for tightness.