SPACE STATION MODULE LEAKS DETECTOR Russian patent published in 2015 - IPC G01M3/40 H05H3/00 B64G4/00 

FIELD: aircraft engineering.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to gas-discharge (plasma) instruments for testing of spacecraft to leaks. Device comprises case (8) with intake chambers (9-11), sealed shutters (12, 13) and ionisation sensors (IS). The latter comprises ion source with electron gun (EGS) (1), accelerating screen (2) and grounded screen (3-5), deflecting plates (6) and ions receiver (IR) (7). Mike sensor (14) and thermocouple sensor (15) are arranged in the area of intake chambers. IR (7) is connected with amplifier (16), control board (17), receiver (18) and GPS antenna (20), feeder (19), main antenna (21) and PROM (22). EGS (1) develops the flow of electrons between screens (2) and (3) for ionisation of gas. With no electric field at plates (6) ions of the component being registered flow into IR (7). Change in expulsion pulse at screen (2) and field at plates (6) allows the separation of ions so that IR (7) receives ions of only identical mass. Gas flow after intake chamber and ionisation zone (2, 3) acts on sensors (14, 15) to activate them at notable gas efflux at close leak points. At remote leak points, registration is executed with the help of IS. Changeover of sensors (14, 15) and IS occurs automatically. Signal from IR (7) via amplifier (16) comes to board (17) which collects and codes the data on location and characteristics of leaks to be transmitted to PROM (22). Precise coordinates and tome from GPS are fed from receiver (18) and antenna (20). Spacecraft pilot controls board (17) via device (19) and antenna (21).

EFFECT: higher precision and validity.

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