Patent US4793427A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3629699A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus for dielectric testing of containers having an expandable capacitive electrode
Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Co
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Filing: 1969-05-22
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Granted: 1971-12-21
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Expires: 1989-05-22
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for dielectrically testing the bottom region of a container to determine the existence of pinholes, inhomogeneities, and thin walls which comprises in part an expandable element adapted to be inserted into the neck of a container to be tested and thereafter expanded into testing position wherein one plate of a capacitance element is formed by the expansion of the element into testing position.
Inventors
- 👤 Raymond G Voss
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 16:27
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N27/00; G01N27/02; G01N27/04; G01N27/20; G01N27/205; G01N27/22; G01N27/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
224 words
Apparatus for dielectrically testing the bottom region of a container of dielectric material comprising in combination: a. an elongated positioning means adapted to be inserted into a container to be tested; b. an expandable element connected to said positioning means for electrical conduction and adapted to expand from a nontesting position to a testing position to perform dielectric testing of the bottom region of said container when acting in cooperation with a means to form an electrical field from the expandable element to a capacitance plate; and c. means to expand said element in response to said element being placed in testing position by said positioning means; d. wherein said elongated positioning means comprises a rod of less size than the container opening; e. wherein said expandable element is attached to the end of said rod and is of less size than said container opening when in nontesting position and is of substantially the same size as the bottom of said container when expanded to testing position; and f. wherein said means to expand said element further comprises a plunger attached to the end region of said rod and adapted to expand said element upon response to said plunger striking the bottom of said container when said rod positions said expandable element in the vicinity of the bottom of the container to be tested.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
224 words
Apparatus for dielectrically testing the bottom region of a container of dielectric material comprising in combination: a. an elongated positioning means adapted to be inserted into a container to be tested; b. an expandable element connected to said positioning means for electrical conduction and adapted to expand from a nontesting position to a testing position to perform dielectric testing of the bottom region of said container when acting in cooperation with a means to form an electrical field from the expandable element to a capacitance plate; and c. means to expand said element in response to said element being placed in testing position by said positioning means; d. wherein said elongated positioning means comprises a rod of less size than the container opening; e. wherein said expandable element is attached to the end of said rod and is of less size than said container opening when in nontesting position and is of substantially the same size as the bottom of said container when expanded to testing position; and f. wherein said means to expand said element further comprises a plunger attached to the end region of said rod and adapted to expand said element upon response to said plunger striking the bottom of said container when said rod positions said expandable element in the vicinity of the bottom of the container to be tested.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
137 words
a source of electrical potential connected between said plate and said expandable element so as to form an electrical field through the bottom region of said container when said expandable element is expanded to testing position and placed in the vicinity of the bottom region of said container; b. wherein said means to position the bottom region of said container adjacent to said means to form an electric field comprises a wall of substantially the same size and configuration as the container bottom, said wall adapted to retain said container in a position where the bottom of said container is adjacent to said plate; and c. wherein said means to move said positioning means comprises a means to insert said positioning means through said container opening and into the vicinity of the bottom region of said container.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
137 words
a source of electrical potential connected between said plate and said expandable element so as to form an electrical field through the bottom region of said container when said expandable element is expanded to testing position and placed in the vicinity of the bottom region of said container; b. wherein said means to position the bottom region of said container adjacent to said means to form an electric field comprises a wall of substantially the same size and configuration as the container bottom, said wall adapted to retain said container in a position where the bottom of said container is adjacent to said plate; and c. wherein said means to move said positioning means comprises a means to insert said positioning means through said container opening and into the vicinity of the bottom region of said container.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
69 words
The apparatus of claim 1 a. wherein the end region of said rod contains an elongated cavity with an axis of elongation substantially coaxial with the axis of the rod; b. wherein said expandable element comprises relatively thin fingers of electrically conductive material disposed peripherally around the interior of said elongated cavity and extending outward from said cavity; and c. wherein said means to expand said element further comprises:
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
57 words
said plunger slidably mounted within the expandable element and adapted to expand said element when moved from a position beyond the end of said expandable element to a position within said cavity, said movement resulting from the plunger striking the bottom of said container as the rod moves toward the vicinity of the bottom of said container.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
57 words
said plunger slidably mounted within the expandable element and adapted to expand said element when moved from a position beyond the end of said expandable element to a position within said cavity, said movement resulting from the plunger striking the bottom of said container as the rod moves toward the vicinity of the bottom of said container.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
101 words
a second spring of greater compressive strength than said first spring, said second spring residing between the bottom of said plunger cavity and said plunger foot and adapted to force said first spring of lesser compressive strength to allow said plunger to retract into said rod cavity and expand said expandable element as said rod causes the plunger foot to strike the bottom of the conTainer, said second spring also being adapted to allow said plunger foot to retract after the said element has been expanded and thus move said expanded element into the vicinity of the bottom of the container.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
101 words
a second spring of greater compressive strength than said first spring, said second spring residing between the bottom of said plunger cavity and said plunger foot and adapted to force said first spring of lesser compressive strength to allow said plunger to retract into said rod cavity and expand said expandable element as said rod causes the plunger foot to strike the bottom of the conTainer, said second spring also being adapted to allow said plunger foot to retract after the said element has been expanded and thus move said expanded element into the vicinity of the bottom of the container.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 2 a. wherein said plunger contains an elongated cavity with the axis of elongation substantially coaxial with said first plunger; b. wherein said means to expand said element further comprises:
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
114 words
The apparatus of claim 3 a. wherein said rod cavity is substantially cylindrical and substantially coaxial with said rod; b. wherein said plurality of flexible fingers attached around the periphery of said rod cavity are adapted to expand to a size and configuration substantially similar to the bottom of said container when in testing position; and c. wherein said plunger cavity is substantially cylindrical and substantially coaxial with said plunger, said plunger has an end of greater cross section than said fingers in the region adjacent to said rod when in nontesting position, said plunger end adapted to cause said fingers to expand to testing position when said plunger slides into said rod cavity.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 4 a. wherein said container bottom is circular; and b. wherein said flexible fingers are constructed to expand to a cross section of circular configuration of substantially the same size as said container bottom.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 4 a. wherein said container bottom is elliptical; and b. wherein said flexible fingers are constructed to expand to a cross section of elliptical configuration of substantially the same size as said container bottom.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 4 a. wherein said container bottom is rectangular; and b. wherein said flexible fingers are constructed to expand to a cross section of rectangular configuration of substantially the same size as said container bottom.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
84 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a. means to form an electrical field from the expandable element of said dielectric testing means, through the bottom region of said container, and to a means to form an electric field in cooperation with said expandable element; b. means to position the bottom region of said container adjacent to said means to form an electric field in cooperation with said expandable element; and c. means to move said positioning means into a container to be tested.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 8 for testing the bottom region of a container with a bottom of substantially larger area than the cross section of the container opening: a. wherein said means to form an electrical field from the expandable element comprises:
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3417327A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-12-20 | 1975-06-21 | 1975-12-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-12-20 | 1979-06-21 | 1979-12-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-12-20 | 1983-06-21 | 1983-12-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |