Custom Solution | Helium HATS Leak Test System for Airbag Inflator Components

A global automotive parts manufacturer required a high volume production leak test system for airbag inflators. The inflator parts were contaminated with lubrication residues, resulting in  maintenance and system downtime issues.

We engineered a custom production leak test system utilizing the LACO patented HATS™ (Hybrid Accumulation Test System) leak test method. Ideal for applications where the test part or test environment is dirty and leak rates are in the range of 10^-5 atmcc/sec and larger, the HATS method was ideal for these contaminated parts.

This method is similar to the helium accumulation method except the accumulation and measurement of the helium signal is performed under vacuum in a vacuum test chamber rather than a test chamber at atmospheric pressure. Additionally, this method uses a proprietary membrane system that conducts the helium from the test chamber to the helium mass spectrometer leak detector rather than using a traditional sniffer probe.