LACO awarded patent

LACO Technologies, Inc. has been awarded an utility patent for our Hybrid Accumulation Test System (HATS™). Issued March 2011 The United States Patent No. 7,905,132, outlines “Leak Testing using [a] Tracer Gas Permeable Membrane.”
Full press release here.

HATS™ test sequence:

1. A test part is loaded into the vacuum chamber and connected to the helium charge system while the Helium Leak Detector is on, which is protected from air inrush shock by the HATS membrane.

2. The fill valve is opened and the test part is filled with helium.

3. Concurrently, the valve is opened to the vacuum pump and a vacuum is drawn in the test chamber. Over time, helium leaks from the test part and fills the vacuum chamber, permeates the HATS™ membrane and is measured by the leak detector. Any dirt or oil from the test part is prevented from reaching the leak detector by the HATS™ membrane.

4. After the leak detector assesses the size of the leak, the vent valve is opened and air fills the test chamber. The part is replaced and the sequence begins again.

LACO’s HATS™ system allows customers to helium leak test production components without the need of using the traditional hard vacuum test method. The HATS™ method is ideal for testing parts that are contaminated with oil, grease, water, dust, or for parts that cannot be exposed to a full vacuum environment for testing. Using traditional leak testing methods these contaminants could travel to the leak detector and damage expensive equipment, require intensive maintenance, and prevent accurate and reliable readings.

How does HATS™ work? Read more here.

Find more details about how to use HATS™ in the Helium Leak Testing Heavily Contaminated Products Application Note.

Call 801.486.1004 or email info@lacotech.com our team to find out if LACO's HATS™ Leak Testing System is right for your testing application.