TW202323784A - Sniffer probe and leak detector - Google Patents

Abstract

Sniffer probe for a leak detector (1) for monitoring the leaktightness of an object to be tested by way of tracer gas, the sniffer probe having a recognition device (28) configured to cooperate with the leak detector (1) in order that the leak detector (1) can detect a disconnection of the sniffer probe and bring about the closure of the fluidic circuit (13) if a disconnection is detected. The recognition device (28) of the probe may have an electrical component (30) of the electrical resistor or EEPROM memory type. It is thus possible to make use of the information contained in the recognition device (28).

Description

Sniffer Probes and Leak Detectors

The present invention relates to a sniffer probe and a leak detector for monitoring the leak tightness of an object to be tested via a tracer gas.

A known method of monitoring the leak tightness of an item consists in performing a "sniffing" test known as a tracer gas. A leak detector connected to a sniffer probe is used to search for the possible presence of tracer gas around an item under test filled with generally pressurized tracer gas. This method involves detecting tracer gas passing through any cracks in the object under test. The search is performed by moving the tip of the sniffer probe around the object to be tested, especially in areas prone to exhibit weaknesses in terms of leak tightness, for example around seals.

Sniffer probes generally include a flow restrictor disposed in the flow path of the gas to reduce the flow rate of the drawn gas and thus allow the gas to be pumped at atmospheric pressure. The flow of gas into the leak detector is thus controlled by design and factory settings. However, when the leak probe is disconnected from the leak detector, the flow drawn into the detector is no longer restricted. Significant influx of this gas may increase the pressure in the leak detector with a risk of failure of the analytical cell or the turbomolecular vacuum pump.

To avoid this, some sniffer probes are provided with self-closing connectors. Disconnection of the sniffer probe mechanically or automatically closes the fluid circuit in which the drawn gas is circulated, possibly shutting off the leak detector.

A disadvantage of such self-closing connectors is that they only allow connection/disconnection of purely fluid circuits. It is also impossible for these connectors to manage the connection/disconnection of electrical connections. However, an electrical connection between the sniffer probe and the leak detector is useful for the evolutionary operation of the probe equipped with electronic functions, such as allowing the leak rate to be displayed on the screen or for example to link to the current detection mode indicator light on.

Furthermore, commercially available hybrid connectors have the potential to create both fluid and electrical connections, but these connectors do not have a self-closing mechanical function.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved sniffer probe which at least partly solves the aforementioned disadvantages of the prior art.

To this end, the object of the present invention is a sniffer probe for a leak detector, which monitors the leak tightness of the object to be tested via a tracer gas, the sniffer probe having: flexible cable, at least one sampling conduit and electrical wires receiving the circuit of the sniffer probe, and A connector arranged at the end of the cable, configured to connect/disconnect the sniffer probe to/from the complementary connector of the leak detector so that in the connected state, The sampling conduit of the sniffer probe is connected to the fluid circuit of the leak detector, and the electrical circuit of the sniffer probe is connected to the control unit of the leak detector, The sniffer probe is characterized in that the sniffer probe also has an identification device configured to operate in conjunction with the leak detector so that the leak detector can detect a disconnection of the sniffer probe and if a disconnection is detected A connection causes the closure of the fluid circuit.

Disconnection of the sniffer probe can be quickly detected even if it is accidentally disconnected, and the leak detector can be protected by avoiding pressure rise in the gas analyzer or turbomolecular vacuum pump. Again, connectors made in this way can be of small size and controlled cost.

A sniffer probe may also have one or more of the following features alone or in combination.

The identification device has, for example, electrical components. The connector and the complementary connector are constructed to connect/disconnect the identification circuit of the leak detector to/from the electrical component, so that in the connected state, the electrical component closes the identification circuit, and in the disconnected state, Turn on the identification circuit.

The electrical components may be light-emitting diodes (LEDs), resistors, or electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) type memory.

Connectors may have: at least one fluid male nozzle connected to the sampling conduit and configured to operate in conjunction with the fluid female receptacle of the complementary connector of the leak detector, at least two first electrical male plugs connected to the wires of the circuit and configured to co-operate with the two first electrical female sockets of the complementary connector, and Two second electrical male plugs are connected to the electrical component and configured to work together with the second electrical female sockets of the complementary connector.

The circuit may have a processing unit and/or electrical components for the user interface of the sniffer probe.

Another object of the present invention is a leak detector for monitoring the leak tightness of the object to be tested through a tracer gas, which has: The fluid circuit connected to the sniffer inlet of the leak detector can be connected to the sniffer probe as described above, so that in the connected state, the sampling conduit of the sniffer probe is connected to the fluid circuit of the leak detector, control unit, which can be connected to the circuit of the sniffer probe, The leak detector is characterized in that the leak detector is constructed to operate in conjunction with the recognition means of the sniffer probe to detect a disconnection of the sniffer probe and to initiate closure of the fluid circuit if a disconnection is detected.

Leak detectors may also have one or more of the following features alone or in combination.

The leak detector may have at least one shut-off valve, the closing of which shuts off the fluid circuit of the leak detector, causing the shut-off valve to close if a disconnection is detected.

The control unit may be configured to operate in conjunction with the identification means of the sniffer probe to detect a disconnection of the sniffer probe and to cause closure of the shut-off valve if a disconnection is detected.

Disconnection of the sniffer probe closes, for example, the dry contact of the leak detector, which causes the shut-off valve to close.

The control unit may be configured to operate in conjunction with the identification device of the sniffer probe to determine the resistance value of the electrical components of the identification device and compare it with the resistance value in the database to identify the sniffer probe connected to the leak detector.

The control unit may be configured to operate in conjunction with the identification means of the sniffer probe to read the information contained in the memory of the electrical components of the identification means to identify the sniffer probe connected to the leak detector.

In the case of electrical components of the resistor or EEPROM memory type, it is possible to use the information contained in the identification means.

The leak detector may have a flow meter configured to measure the flow of the gas sampled by the sniffer probe and compare to the flow of the sniffer probe associated with the identification to detect a fault.

The following specific forms are examples. Although a description refers to one or more particular aspects, this does not necessarily mean that each reference applies to only one particular aspect with respect to the same particular aspect or characteristic. Individual features of different embodiments may also be combined or interchanged to provide further embodiments.

An "upstream" element is to be understood as an element that precedes another element with respect to the flow direction of the pumped gas. Relatively speaking, a "downstream" element is to be understood as an element which follows another element with respect to the direction of flow of the pumped gas.

An "object to be tested" is defined as an object or device whose leak tightness is intended to be monitored.

FIG. 1 shows an example of a leak detector 1 for monitoring the leak tightness of an object to be tested via a tracer gas.

The sniffer probe 3 is connected to the sniffer inlet 4 of the leak detector 1 by a flexible cable 5 of the probe 3 which (as will be seen below) allows the pumping of gas towards the leak detector 1 makes the fluid flow (Figure 1 indicates the flow direction of the gas to be pumped with arrows) and allows the sniffer probe 3 to be electrically connected to the leak detector 1. This cable 5 may be several meters long.

The leak detector 1 has a pumping device 6 and at least one gas analyzer 7 . The pumping device 6 has, for example, a turbomolecular vacuum pump 8 and a roughing vacuum pump 9 , which is connected to the delivery side of the turbomolecular vacuum pump 8 , for example via a first line 10 provided with a first shut-off valve 10 a.

The sniffer inlet 4 of the leak detector 1 communicates with the inlet of the turbomolecular vacuum pump 8 , for example at the stage of the turbomolecular vacuum pump 8 . For example, there are several sampling valves 11a, 11b connected to the same inlet of the turbomolecular vacuum pump 8, each sampling valve being associated with a separate flow restrictor. A flow restrictor may make it possible to control the gas flow rate to the turbomolecular vacuum pump. They are separated so that it is possible to adjust the sampling flow to the level of the leak rate by selectively opening one of the two sampling valves 11a, 11b.

At least one sampling valve 11 a , 11 b is connected to a bypass of a second line 12 arranged between the sniffer inlet 4 of the leak detector 1 and the inlet of the roughing vacuum pump 9 . The second shut-off valve 12a is connected to the second line 12, which is connected on the one hand to at least one sampling valve 11a, 11b and the branch of the sniffer inlet 4 and on the other hand to the inlet of the roughing vacuum pump 9 between the branches.

A set of lines (in particular first and second lines 10 , 12 ) of the leak connector 1 connected to the sniffer inlet 4 of the leak detector 1 and allowing circulation of the sampled gas forms a fluid circuit 13 of the leak detector 1 .

The gas analyzer 7 is, for example, a mass spectrometer. It is connected to the inlet of the turbomolecular vacuum pump 8 , for example to its air inlet or to the turbomolecular stage of the vacuum pump 8 .

The leak detector 1 also has a control unit 14 connected in particular to the gas analyzer 7 . The control unit 14 has, for example, one or more controllers, processors, computers or circuit boards and memory, especially configured to initiate a measurement cycle or background noise measurement of the leak detector 1 .

The leak detector 1 makes it possible to monitor the leak tightness of the test object by moving the sniffer probe 3 around the test object, the internal atmosphere of which contains the tracer gas. Helium or hydrogen are generally used as tracer gases because these gases pass through small crevices more easily than other gases due to their small molecular size and high movement speed.

In operation, a gas at atmospheric pressure surrounding the object under test is drawn in via the sniffer probe 3 . The portion of the gas to be analyzed that may contain tracer gas showing a leak is sampled by the gas analyzer 7 .

As can be seen more clearly in the schematic diagram of FIG. 2 , the sniffer probe 3 has, for example, an end fitting 16 (for example in the form of a metal tube) and a housing 17 (for example with a grip for the user). Hold the sniffer probe 3).

Furthermore, as schematically indicated in FIG. 3 , the sniffer probe 3 has at least one sampling conduit 18 for sampling gas at the end of the end fitting 16 .

The sniffer probe 3 may have: at least one filter arranged in the sampling conduit 18 to filter dust; and a flow restrictor arranged in the sampling conduit 18 to reduce the flow rate of the suction flow and thus allow Pump gas under force. The sniffer probe 3 may have several sampling conduits 18, each with an associated flow restrictor to make it possible to modify the sampling flow rate of the probe.

The sampling conduit 18 is thus partly formed by the end fitting 16, passing through the housing 17 and then the cable 5, up to the connector 19 of the sniffer probe 3, which is arranged at the end of the cable 5 and connected to the leak detection The complementary connector 20 of the leak detector 1 works together to specifically connect the sampling conduit 18 to the fluid circuit 13 of the leak detector 1 . The cable 5 is fixed or not fixed to the housing 17 .

The housing 17 contains, for example, a processing unit 15 , such as a circuit board, to control the electronic functions of the sniffer probe 3 ( FIG. 2 ).

The processing unit 15 is connected in particular to the control unit 14 of the leak detector 1 via wires 25 and connectors 19 , 20 , for example to allow background noise to be nulled or to control the volume of the transmitter of the leak detector 1 .

As can be seen in FIG. 2 , the user interface has for example one or more electrical switches, for example to control the leak detector 1 , for example a button-type switch 21 to control the nulling of background noise, or for example a capacitor A switch to control one or more lights 22 carried by the housing 17 and powered by the circuit board of the processing unit 15, or a capacitive detector such as configured in the housing 17 at the grip, is constructed to detect The sniffer probe 3 is grasped to bring about a cycle that activates the air inlet of the sniffer probe 3 .

The user interface may also have display means, for example to display information from the leak detector 1, such as the measured concentration of the tracer gas proportional to the activation of a series of LEDs arranged under the translucent wall 23 of the housing 17, or for example to change The colored light source 24 indicates, for example, the status of the leak detector 1 .

The display means may comprise a screen (not shown), for example to digitally display the measured concentration of the tracer gas, or as mentioned above may comprise one or more light sources, for example via color coding and/or light intensity and/or Number of blinks to display information.

The communication and power supply means between the sniffer probe 3 , in particular the processing unit 15 of the sniffer probe 3 , and the control unit 14 of the leak detector 1 are wired.

The electrical wires 25, the processing unit 15 and/or the electrical elements of the user interface (such as buttons 21, lights 22, light sources 24, screens of the sniffer probe 3, capacitive sensors or detectors) form for example Circuit for sniffer probe 3.

When the sniffer probe 3 is connected to the leak detector 1, the wire 25 of the circuit connecting the processing unit 15 of the sniffer probe 3 to the control unit 14 of the leak detector 1 passes through the wire 25 of the sniffer probe 3 Connector 19 and complementary connector 20 of leak detector 1 (Fig. 3).

On the one hand the wires 25 of the circuit allowing communication between the processing unit 15 of the sniffer probe 3 and the control unit 14 of the leak detector 1 and on the other hand the flow of sample gas from the sniffer probe 3 to the leak detector. The sampling conduit 18 of the sniffer inlet 4 of the device 1 is received in a single cable 5 of the sniffer probe 3 provided with a single connector 19 with the sniffer inlet 4 of the leak detector 1 Complementary connector 20 works together.

The connector 19 and the complementary connector 20 are configured to connect/disconnect the sniffer probe 3 to/from the leak detector 1 so that in the connected state, the sniffer probe 3 The sampling conduit 18 is connected to the fluid circuit 13 of the leak detector 1 and the electrical circuit of the sniffer probe 3 is connected to the control unit 14 of the leak detector 1 .

These connections are called "hybrid" because they are both electrical and fluid.

According to an exemplary embodiment visible in FIGS. 4 and 5 , the connector 19 of the sniffer probe 3 has at least one fluid male nozzle 26a ( FIG. 4 ) connected to the sampling conduit 18 and constructed to be connected to the leak detector 1. The fluid female receptacle 26b of the complementary connector 20 works together (FIG. 5). The female fluid socket 26b is connected to the fluid circuit 13 of the leak detector 1 .

Furthermore, the connector 19 of the sniffer probe 3 has, for example, at least two first electrical male plugs 27a (or pins) ( FIG. 4 ), which are connected to the electric wires 25 of the circuit and are constructed as complementary to the leak detector 1. The two first electrical sockets 27b of the type connector 20 work together (FIG. 5). The two first electrical female sockets 27b are connected to the control unit 14 of the leak detector 1 .

The connectors 19 and 20 may also have screw-in, clip-on or other conventional complementary assembly means.

The sniffer probe 3 has a recognition device 28 configured to operate in conjunction with the leak detector 1 so that the leak detector 1 can detect a disconnection of the sniffer probe 3 and initiate a fluid circuit if a disconnection is detected 13 off (Figure 3).

Even if there is an accidental disconnection, a disconnection of the sniffer probe 3 can thus be quickly detected and the leak detector 1 can be protected against a pressure rise in the gas analyzer 7 or the turbomolecular vacuum pump 8 . Again, connectors 19 made in this way can be of small size and controlled cost.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the leak detector 1 has at least one shut-off valve 29 , such as a solenoid valve, which closes off the fluid circuit 13 of the leak detector 1 . If a disconnection of the sniffer probe 3 is detected, the shut-off valve 29 is closed.

The shut-off valve 29 is arranged in the fluid circuit 13 in such a way that in particular a pressure rise in the gas analyzer 7 or the turbomolecular vacuum pump 8 is avoided. A shut-off valve 29 is arranged, for example, downstream of the complementary connector 20 of the leak detector 1 on the second line 12 ( FIGS. 1 and 3 ).

According to an exemplary embodiment, the control unit 14 of the leak detector 1 is configured to operate together with the identification device 28 of the sniffer probe 3 to detect a disconnection of the sniffer probe 3 and, if a disconnection is detected, Then cause the shut-off valve 29 to close.

According to another example, disconnection of the sniffer probe 3 closes the dry contact of the leak detector 1 , which triggers the closing of the shut-off valve 29 .

According to an exemplary embodiment, the identification device 28 has an electrical component 30, and the connector 19 and the complementary connector 20 are configured to connect/disconnect the identification circuit 31 of the leak detector 1 to/from the electrical component 30 for leak detection The identification circuit 31 of the device 1, so that in the connected state, the electrical component 30 turns off the identification circuit 31 ( FIG. 3 ), and in the disconnected state, the identification circuit 31 is turned on.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the electrical component 30 is an LED, a resistor or an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM).

To this end, the connector 19 of the sniffer probe 3 has, for example, two second electrical male plugs 33a (or pins) ( FIG. 4 ), connected to the electrical component 30 and configured as a complementary connection to the leak detector 1 The two second electrical female sockets 33b of the device 20 work together (FIG. 5). The second electrical female socket 33b is connected to the identification circuit 31 .

The electrical component 30 may be arranged in the connector 19 ( FIG. 3 ) or in the cable 5 or the housing 17 of the sniffer probe 3 .

In case the electrical component 30 is of the LED or resistor type, the identification circuit 31 may only supply current to see if the identification circuit 31 is off or on and thus knows whether the sniffer probe 3 is connected or disconnected (FIG. 6) .

In the circuit diagram of the identification circuit 31 demonstrated in FIG. 6, it can be seen that this identification circuit 31 has two resistors R1, R2, and when the sniffer probe 3 is connected to the leak detector 1, it is electrically connected to the sniffer probe 3. The modules 30 are connected in series. The identification circuit 31 applies a voltage V _DC to the terminals of the resistors R1 , R2 and the electrical component 30 , the electrical component 30 of the sniffer probe 3 being interposed between the resistor R1 and the voltage +V _DC .

Since V _MES = R2/(R1+R2) x V _DC , the voltage V _MES measured at the terminal of resistor R2 is proportional to the voltage V _DC . If the measured voltage V _MES is zero, this means that the sniffer probe 3 is not connected. If the measured voltage V _MES is not zero, this means that the sniffer probe 3 is connected.

The LEDs also make it possible for the user to see that the probe 3 has an effect on the connection of the detector 1 .

According to another example illustrated in FIG. 7 , the identification circuit 31 can be connected to the control unit 14 of the leak detector 1 . The control unit 14 can then be configured to work together with the identification device 28 of the sniffer probe 3 to determine the resistance value of the electrical component 30 of the identification device 28 and compare it with the resistance value of the database to identify the connection to the leak detector 1 The sniffer probe 3.

If the resistance value is infinite, this means that the sniffer probe 3 is disconnected.

In this example, when the probe 3 is connected to the detector 1 , the identification circuit 31 of the leak detector 1 and the electrical component 30 of the sniffer probe 31 are wired to form a piezoelectric bridge.

When the sniffer probe 3 is connected to the leak detector 1 , the identification circuit 31 has a resistor R1 connected in series with the resistor R _ID of the electrical component 30 of the sniffer probe 3 .

The identification circuit 31 applies a voltage V _DC to the terminals of the resistors R1, R _ID . Since V _MES = R _ID /(R1+R _{ID )} x V _DC , it is possible to deduce the resistance value of R ID by measuring the voltage V _MES at the terminal of the resistor R _ID . It is thus possible to identify the connected probe 3 based on the deduced R _ID resistance value compared with the resistance value stored in memory and associated with the sniffer probe.

On the other hand, if the measured voltage V _MES is equal to V _DC , it is possible to deduce from this that no probe is connected to the detector 1 .

According to another example illustrated in FIG. 8 , when the electrical component 30 is an EEPROM type memory, the identification circuit 31 may be connected to the leak detection circuit, for example via a data bus such as a Controller Area Network (CAN) serial bus. The control unit 14 of the device 1. The control unit 14 can then be configured to operate in conjunction with the identification means 28 of the sniffer probe 3 via the processing unit 15 to read the information contained in the memory of the electrical component 30 of the identification means 28 to identify the connection to the leak detector. Sniffer Probe 3 for Detector 1.

A lack of read memory indicates that sniffer probe 3 is disconnected.

Identifying the sniffer probe 3 by reading the memory or measuring the resistance of the electrical component 30 makes it possible to know the length of the cable 5 and the flow reduction of the sniffer probe 3, for example to determine Leak detection threshold for background noise (concentration of tracer gas).

This type of EEPROM memory type electrical component 30 has the possibility to store further information, for example serial number, date of manufacture, probe model or date of last repair.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the leak detector 1 has a flow meter 32 configured to measure the flow of the gas sampled by the sniffer probe 3 and compare it with the flow of the sniffer probe 3 associated with the identification, if If the difference is too large, a fault is detected. A large difference between the measured flow and the expected flow may be a sign of a clogged sniffer probe 3 or other malfunction of the sniffer probe 3 or leak detector 1 .

A flow meter 32 is arranged in the fluid circuit 13 of the leak detector 1 , for example on the second line 12 , for example downstream of the shut-off valve 29 .

As will be understood above, with an electrical component 30 of the resistor or EEPROM memory type, it is possible to use the information contained in the identification means 28 . It will also be appreciated that when the leak detector 1 comprises a flow meter 32 it is also possible to detect a failure of the probe 3 .

1: leak detector 3: Sniffer probe 4: Sniffer entrance 5: Flexible cable 6: Pumping device 7: Gas analyzer 8: Turbo molecular vacuum pump 9: Rough vacuum pump 10: Frontline 10a: first shut-off valve 11a: Sampling valve 11b: Sampling valve 12: Second line 12a: Second shut-off valve 13: Fluid circuit 14: Control unit 15: Processing unit 16: End fittings 17: Shell 18: Sampling catheter 19: Connector 20: Complementary connector 21: Button type switch 22: lighting lamp 23: translucent wall 24: light source 25: wire 26a: Fluid male nozzle 26b: Fluid female socket 27a: The first electrical male plug 27b: The first electric female socket 28: Identification device 29: Shut-off valve 30: Electrical components 31: Identification circuit 32: flow meter 33a: Second electrical male plug 33b: Second electric female socket

Further advantages and characteristics of the invention will become clearer from reading the following particular but not at all restrictive details of the invention, and from reference to the accompanying drawings.

[ FIG. 1 ] is a schematic diagram of an example of a leak detector connected to a sniffer probe.

[Fig. 2] is a perspective view of a sniffer probe.

[Fig. 3] is a schematic diagram of the connection between the leak detector and the sniffer probe.

[ Fig. 4 ] is a perspective view of an example of a connector of a sniffer probe.

[ Fig. 5 ] is a perspective view of an example of a complementary connector of a leak detector.

[ Fig. 6 ] A first example of a circuit diagram showing an identification circuit of a leak detector connected to an electrical component of a sniffer probe.

[ Fig. 7 ] A second example of a circuit diagram showing an identification circuit of a leak detector connected to an electrical component of a sniffer probe.

[ Fig. 8 ] A third example of a circuit diagram showing an identification circuit of a leak detector connected to an electrical component of a sniffer probe.

In these figures, the same elements bear the same reference numerals.

1: leak detector

4: Sniffer entrance

5: Flexible cable

12: Second line

13: Fluid circuit

18: Sampling catheter

19: Connector

20: Complementary connector

25: wire

28: Identification device

29: Shut-off valve

30: Electrical components

31: Identification circuit

32: flow meter

Claims (13)

A sniffer probe (3) for a leak detector (1) monitors the leak tightness of an object to be tested via a tracer gas, the sniffer probe (3) has: a flexible cable (5), at least one sampling conduit (18) and electrical wires (25) receiving the circuit of the sniffer probe (3), and The connector (19) arranged at the end of the cable (5) is constructed to connect the sniffer probe (3) to the complementary connector (20) of the leak detector (1)/from the leak detector The complementary connector (20) of the device (1) disconnects the sniffer probe (3), so that in the connected state, the sampling conduit (18) of the sniffer probe (3) is connected to the the fluid circuit (13) of the leak detector (1), and the circuit of the sniffer probe (3) is connected to the control unit (14) of the leak detector (1), The sniffer probe (3) is characterized in that: the sniffer probe (3) also has an identification device (28), constructed to work together with the leak detector (1), so that the leak detector (1 ) can detect disconnection of the sniffer probe (3) and trigger closure of the fluid circuit (13) if a disconnection is detected. The sniffer probe (3) according to claim 1, wherein the identification device (28) has an electrical assembly (30), the connector (19) and the complementary connector (20) are constructed to form the leak detector The identification circuit (31) of (1) connects the identification circuit (31) of the leak detector (1) to the electric component (30)/disconnects the leak detector (1) from the electrical component (30), so that in the connection state, the electrical component ( 30) Turn off the identification circuit (31), and in the disconnected state, turn on the identification circuit (31). The sniffer probe (3) according to claim 2, wherein the electrical component (30) is a light emitting diode (LED), a resistor or an electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM) type memory . The sniffer probe (3) according to claim 2, wherein the connector (19) has: at least one fluid male nozzle (26a), connected to the sampling conduit (18) and configured to co-operate with the fluid female socket (26b) of the complementary connector (20) of the leak detector (1), at least two first electrical male plugs (27a) connected to the electrical wire (25) of the circuit and configured to co-operate with the two first electrical female sockets (27b) of the complementary connector (20), and Two second electrical male plugs (33a) are connected to the electrical component (30) and are configured to work together with the two second electrical female sockets (33b) of the complementary connector (20). The sniffer probe (3) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the electrical circuit has a processing unit (15) and/or electrical components of the user interface of the sniffer probe (3). A leak detector (1) for monitoring the leak tightness of an object to be tested via a tracer gas, comprising: A fluid circuit (13) connected to the sniffer inlet (4) of the leak detector (1) can be connected to a sniffer probe (3) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, such that when connected state, the sampling conduit (18) of the sniffer probe (3) is connected to the fluid circuit (13) of the leak detector (1), a control unit (14), connectable to the circuitry of the sniffer probe (3), The leak detector (1) is characterized in that the leak detector (1) is constructed to work together with the identification device (28) of the sniffer probe (3) to detect the sniffer probe (3) disconnection and triggers closure of the fluid circuit (13) if a disconnection is detected. The leak detector (1) according to claim 6, which has at least one shut-off valve (29), the closing of which shuts off the fluid circuit (13) of the leak detector (1), The shut-off valve (29) is closed if a disconnection is detected. The leak detector (1) according to claim 7, wherein the control unit (14) is configured to cooperate with the identification device (28) of the sniffer probe (3) to detect the sniffer probe ( 3) and triggers the closure of the shut-off valve (29) if a disconnection is detected. The leak detector (1) according to claim 7, wherein the disconnection of the sniffer probe (3) closes the dry contact of the leak detector (1), which triggers the closing of the shut-off valve (29). The leak detector (1) according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the electrical component (30) of the identification device (28) is a resistor, and the control unit (14) is configured to communicate with the sniffer The identification device (28) of the probe (3) works together to determine the resistance value of the electrical component (30) and compare it with the resistance value in the database to identify the sniffing device connected to the leak detector (1). Detector probe (3). The leak detector (1) according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the electrical component (30) of the identification device (28) is an EEPROM type memory, and the control unit (14) is configured to communicate with the sniffer The identification device (28) of the detector probe (3) works together to read the information contained in the memory of the electrical component (30) to identify the sniffer probe connected to the leak detector (1) needle (3). The leak detector (1) according to claim 10, having a flow meter (32) configured to measure the flow of the gas sampled by the sniffer probe (3) and associated with the sniffer probe for identification (3) for comparison to detect faults. The leak detector (1) according to claim 11, having a flow meter (32) configured to measure the flow of the gas sampled by the sniffer probe (3) and associated with the sniffer probe for identification (3) for comparison to detect faults.

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