Sealing and Testing Segmented Tools

摘要

A substantially air-tight triple seal arrangement along a seam between first and second tool segments comprises inner, middle and outer seals forming first and second substantially air tight vacuum chambers.

主权项

1. A method of sealing and testing the integrity of seals between at least two segments of a tool, comprising:
arranging an inner seal, an outer seal and a middle seal to form first and second seal chambers between the two tool segments; applying a vacuum to each of the first and second seal chambers; and detecting a leak in the inner seal or the outer seal by sensing a change in vacuum pressure within the first and second seal chambers.