A method and system are disclosed for monitoring vacuum integrity in a
vacuum interrupter. The method includes injecting sonic signals into a
body and detecting sonic signals reflected from the body. A composite
value is calculated from the reflected sonic signals and a determination
made based on the composite value as to whether the vacuum is acceptable.
The system includes the following components: a transducer for sending
sonic signals into a body; a receiver for receiving sonic signals
reflected from the body; a signal processor for calculating a composite
value from the sonic signals reflected from the body; and a processing
unit for determining from the composite value whether the body has an
acceptable vacuum therein.