LEAK TROUBLESHOOTING
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LEAK TROUBLESHOOTING If you suspect that your TMC isolation system is leaking (most often evidenced by going through air/nitrogen tanks too quickly), this guide will help you to find and fix the problem. Illustrated photos are of a CleanBench Lab Table, but items shown are common for all TMC isolation systems. As with any troubleshooting exercise, the objective is to start with the easiest and most obvious potential leak points, and work towards the hardest. So we suggest you use this order: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. All fittings. Air filter. Height control valves. The isolation modules. Plumbing schematic. 1. All fittings The fittings you’ll find on your system are shown in Figure 1 below: Male Connector, Part Number: KQ2H 07-34AS This fitting has a male “1/8 NPT” (National Pipe Thread) on one end and a “press-lock” connection (red or orange plastic) for ¼” OD flexible tubing on the other end. It is provided as one of two fittings supplied to connect to your air source and at the INPUT port of the supplied air filter & the three height control valves. 1/4x1/8 Brass Reducing Bushing, Part Number: 40-16440-162 This fitting is supplied in case the 1/8 NPT thread on the Male Connector is too small for the output fitting of your air source. It has a female 1/8 NPT thread on one end and a male 1/4 NPT on the other end. Male Elbow, Part Number: KQ2L 07-34AS Male 1/8 NPT on one end, and the press-lock on the other. This is found at the OUTPUT ports of the air filter and the three height control valves. Union Tee, Part Number: KQ2T 07-00A There are three “T’s” in a 4 isolator system, two coming from the output side of the filter to distribute the air to the input ports of the three height control valves, and one more to distribute the air from _______________

the output port of the “Master” valve (one of the three valves will be controlling two legs) to its own leg and to its “Slave” leg. All three ends of the Tee are press-lock. Connector (Straight Union), Part Number: KQ2H 07-00A This fitting is a splice for ¼” OD flexible tubing. It is used to connect the short length of special tubing that goes into each leg (at TMC, we call this short length of tubing a “pigtail”) to the tubing coming from the output port of its controlling height control valve. Press-lock fittings at each end. Extended Male Elbow, Part Number: KQ2W 07-34AS This fitting is...

2. Air Filter Part Number 86-18770-01 The Air Filter you’ll find on your system is shown in Figure 2: Using the leak detection fluid described above, check the joint where the clear collection bowl joins the main body of the filter, and around the release valve at the bottom of the bowl. If either area is leaking, there is no fix, and you will have to replace the filter. Call (800-542-9725) or email (service@techmfg.com) for prices. _____________________________________________________________________ www.techmfg.com • 978-532-6330 • 800-542-9725 (Toll Free) • Fax: 978-531-8682 Leak...

3. Height Control Valves Part Number: 86-19888-00 The Height Control Valves you’ll find on your system are shown in Figures 4 and 5): If the leak is at one of the height control valves or an isolation module, the leak can be narrowed down to the specific leg as follows: Make sure that the top is floating correctly, then shut off the air supply at the source and carefully watch to see which isolator deflates the soonest. Now you know which leg has the leak, and you just need to determine whether it is the height control valve or the isolation module. This will be described below:...

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4. Isolation Modules Isolation Module, Part Number: 64-35008-01 Isolation Module on your system is shown in Figures 3, 6, & 7: Pressurize the system and make sure the table is floating correctly. Go to the leg that deflated the soonest. You’ll notice a tube going from the output port of the valve (“Male Elbow”, see Figure 6) to the input of the leg itself (“Extended Male Elbow”, see above). Find a point in that tube where you can bend it enough to crimp it: NOTE: If there is not be enough slack in the line to accomplish this, you could temporarily replace this tube with a longer piece...

If the fluid bubbles here, then you may still be able to fix the leak by tightening the Allen Head screws that attach the clamp ring to the module. They may have loosened slightly over time, and tightening them could fix the leak. HINT: You will need to adjust the height control valve higher to get enough clearance to get at these screws. We recommend that before you do this, you adjust the supply pressure to no more than 10 psi above the pressure in the leg (the reading on the pressure gage). If there is no leak here, or if tightening the screws does not seal the leak, then you will have...

_____________________________________________________________________ www.techmfg.com • 978-532-6330 • 800-542-9725 (Toll Free) • Fax: 978-531-8682 Leak Troubleshooting – Rev. Nov. 20