US3596501A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for determining vacuum level in sealed containers
Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
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Filing: 1969-08-06
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Granted: 1971-08-03
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Expires: 1989-08-06
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for testing the vacuum level in sealed containers includes a support for the container having an accelerometer attached thereto. The container and support is accelerated by an impacting hammer to cause hydrodynamic oscillations of the contents in the container which in turn are transmitted to and sensed by the accelerometer. If the vacuum level in the container is insufficient, the oscillations are damped and if the vacuum level is sufficient the container contents freely oscillate to produce vibrating oscillations in the container support. The accelerometer produces signals having characteristics correlated to the vibrating oscillations and the containers are accepted or rejected in response to the accelerometer signals.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald R Forry
- 👤 Charles A Cummings
- 👤 Robert Russell
- 👤 Ben C Peralta
- 👤 Albert M Schaffer
- 👤 Dale A Denny
- 👤 William H Welch
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 12:49
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01M; G01M3/00; G01M3/02; G01M3/04; G01M3/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
131 words
Sealed-container-vacuum-testing apparatus comprisIng: means supporting the sealed container, impacting means for abruptly accelerating the container with a force sufficient to produce first hydrodynamic oscillations of the container contents when a first vacuum level obtains in the container and second hydrodynamic oscillations of the container contents when a second vacuum level obtains in the container, the first and second hydrodynamic oscillations being transmitted to the supporting means to produce first and second vibrational oscillations of said supporting means corresponding to said first and second hydrodynamic oscillations respectively, vibrational-oscillation-sensing means mounted on said supporting means for generating first and second electric signals in response to and corresponding with said first and second vibrational oscillations respectively, and discriminating means responsive to said first and second signals to measure the vacuum level in said container.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
131 words
Sealed-container-vacuum-testing apparatus comprisIng: means supporting the sealed container, impacting means for abruptly accelerating the container with a force sufficient to produce first hydrodynamic oscillations of the container contents when a first vacuum level obtains in the container and second hydrodynamic oscillations of the container contents when a second vacuum level obtains in the container, the first and second hydrodynamic oscillations being transmitted to the supporting means to produce first and second vibrational oscillations of said supporting means corresponding to said first and second hydrodynamic oscillations respectively, vibrational-oscillation-sensing means mounted on said supporting means for generating first and second electric signals in response to and corresponding with said first and second vibrational oscillations respectively, and discriminating means responsive to said first and second signals to measure the vacuum level in said container.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said vibrational-oscillation-sensing means is an accelerometer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said supporting means comprises a plate upon which said container is adapted to be mounted in an upright position, spring means normally urging said plate toward said impacting means, and said accelerometer is mounted on said plate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for abruptly accelerating the container comprises a collar constructed and arranged to receive the top of said container therein in contacting relationship therewith, and hammer means for striking said collar to accelerate the collar, whereby when said collar is struck the acceleration is imparted to the container.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
124 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said supporting means comprises a plurality of plates, each of said plates being adapted to mount one of said containers in an upright position, a testing station including said means for abruptly accelerating said container, means for sequentially moving each of said plates and their associated containers relative to said testing station and into alignment with said impacting means, spring means normally urging each of said plates in a direction toward each of said impacting means, and said vibrational-oscillation-sensing means comprises a plurality of accelerometers one each mounted on each of said plates, whereby the accelerometer of the plate located in said testing station generates said first or second signals when the container is accelerated in said station.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
78 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said impacting means comprises a plurality of hammer members, one each pivotally mounted above one of said plates, a plurality of impact-transmitting members one each associated with one of said hammer members and constructed to contact the container and be impacted by the hammer member, and cam-actuating means associated with said testing station for pivoting the hammer member located at the testing station to impact the impact-transmitting member at the testing station.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said testing station is stationary, and said moving means consecutively in order moves said plates and their associated hammer members and impact-transmitting members into and out of said station.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said means for abruptly accelerating said container includes a ring constructed and arranged to receive the top of said container therein in contacting relationship therewith, and said moving means includes piston means attached to each of said plates for positioning the containers in said contacting relationship.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
128 words
A method of testing the vacuum in a sealed container comprising; abruptly accelerating the container with a force sufficient to produce first hydrodynamic oscillations of the container contents when a first vacuum level obtains in the container and second hydrodynamic oscillations of the container contents when a second vacuum level obtains in the container, overcoming the inertia of a seismic mass and setting the mass into oscillatory motion relative to the container in response to the first and second hydrodynamic oscillations, sensing the characteristics of said oscillatory motion, and accepting the container in response to the oscillatory motion of the seismic mass produced by said first hydrodynamic oscillations and rejecting the container in response to the oscillatory motion of the seismic mass produced by said second hydrodynamic oscillations.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
128 words
A method of testing the vacuum in a sealed container comprising; abruptly accelerating the container with a force sufficient to produce first hydrodynamic oscillations of the container contents when a first vacuum level obtains in the container and second hydrodynamic oscillations of the container contents when a second vacuum level obtains in the container, overcoming the inertia of a seismic mass and setting the mass into oscillatory motion relative to the container in response to the first and second hydrodynamic oscillations, sensing the characteristics of said oscillatory motion, and accepting the container in response to the oscillatory motion of the seismic mass produced by said first hydrodynamic oscillations and rejecting the container in response to the oscillatory motion of the seismic mass produced by said second hydrodynamic oscillations.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said container is accepted or rejected in response to the frequency and amplitude of the oscillatory motion of the seismic mass.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the container is abruptly accelerated by percussion.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
119 words
Apparatus for testing the vacuum in a sealed container comprising; means for abruptly accelerating the container and its contents with a force sufficient to produce hydrodynamic oscillations of its contents, means for producing an oscillating waveform signal in response to and corresponding with said hydrodynamic oscillations, means for counting the number of waves of said waveform signal which exceed a predetermined amplitude over a predetermined time duration, delay means for delaying the commencement of said time duration for a predetermined time after the initiation of the abrupt acceleration of the container, and means for accepting the container if the wave count exceeds a predetermined number and rejecting the container if the wave count is less than said predetermined number.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
119 words
Apparatus for testing the vacuum in a sealed container comprising; means for abruptly accelerating the container and its contents with a force sufficient to produce hydrodynamic oscillations of its contents, means for producing an oscillating waveform signal in response to and corresponding with said hydrodynamic oscillations, means for counting the number of waves of said waveform signal which exceed a predetermined amplitude over a predetermined time duration, delay means for delaying the commencement of said time duration for a predetermined time after the initiation of the abrupt acceleration of the container, and means for accepting the container if the wave count exceeds a predetermined number and rejecting the container if the wave count is less than said predetermined number.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
60 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said means for producing the oscillating waveform signal comprises; means for supporting the container in direct contact therewith and moveable in response to the hydrodynamic oscillations of the container, and an accelerometer firmly mounted on the supporting means, said accelerometer being responsive to the movement of the supporting means for generation of said signal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said means for abruptly accelerating the container comprises a percussion member which imparts a blow to the container.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
103 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said means for counting includes, comparator means having said waveform signal as an input, and reference means providing a reference input of a predetermined magnitude to said comparator means, said comparator means producing an output signal in response to each wave of the waveform signal input which has a greater amplitude than the magnitude of said reference input, and producing no output signal when a wave of the waveform signal input has an amplitude less than the magnitude of said reference input, and said means for counting counts the number of output signals of said comparator means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said waveform input signal comprises an oscillating electrical voltage of variable amplitude and said reference input comprises an electrical voltage of a steady predetermined magnitude.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said delay means prevents the counting of said comparator means output signals during a time other than said time duration.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-08-02 | 1975-02-01 | 1975-08-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-08-02 | 1979-02-01 | 1979-08-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-08-02 | 1983-02-01 | 1983-08-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |