Patent US3837215A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3837215A
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US
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Method and apparatus for testing sealed containers
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1973-05-21
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Granted: 1974-09-24
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Expires: 1993-05-21
Abstract
Abstract Method and apparatus for automatically non-destructively testing and classifying sealed containers. The containers are passed through a sealed vacuum or pressure chamber and expand or contract because of differential pressure acting on the container walls. The magnitude of the leak rate is computed by a central programming unit through a series of measurements, error corrections, and computations of container wall travel and velocity of wall travel. Each container is classified by the magnitude of its leak rate in comparison with operator programmed accept/reject limits. Multiple sensors are used simultaneously in the chamber during each test cycle to achieve efficient economic use of the high speed data processing electronics.
Inventors
- 👤 T Massage
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 18:59
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01M; G01M3/00; G01M3/02; G01M3/36; G01M3/363; G01M3/26; G01M3/32; G01M3/3281; G01M3/329
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
127 words
The method of testing a sealed container for leaks which comprises: placing said sealed container within a test chamber; changing the pressure within said test chamber over a first time period to a preselected value; measuring a physical dimension of said container at the end of said first time period and producing a first output signal proportional thereto; maintaining said pressure at said preselected value; measuring said physical dimension at the end of a second time period and producing a second output signal proportional thereto; measuring the difference between said first and second output signals and producing a differential signal proportional thereto; and measuring the rate of change of said differential signal and producing a thiRd output signal proportional to the leak rate of said sealed container.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
127 words
The method of testing a sealed container for leaks which comprises: placing said sealed container within a test chamber; changing the pressure within said test chamber over a first time period to a preselected value; measuring a physical dimension of said container at the end of said first time period and producing a first output signal proportional thereto; maintaining said pressure at said preselected value; measuring said physical dimension at the end of a second time period and producing a second output signal proportional thereto; measuring the difference between said first and second output signals and producing a differential signal proportional thereto; and measuring the rate of change of said differential signal and producing a thiRd output signal proportional to the leak rate of said sealed container.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
In the method of claim 1, measuring said physical dimension prior to said first time period and producing a correction signal proportional thereto; and reducing each of said first and second signals by the amount of said correction signal.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
179 words
The method of testing a sealed container for leaks which comprises: placing said sealed container within a test chamber; changing the pressure within said test chamber over a first time period to a preselected value; measuring a physical dimension of said container shortly after the beginning of said first time period and producing a first signal proportional thereto; measuring said physical dimension upon attaining said preselected pressure value and producing a second signal proportional thereto; maintaining said pressure at said preselected value for a second time period; measuring the difference between said first and second signals and producing an expansion signal proportional thereto; measuring said physical dimension shortly after attaining said preselected pressure value and producing a third signal proportional thereto; measuring said physical dimension at the end of said second time period and producing a fourth signal proportional thereto; measuring the difference between said third and fourth signals and producing a return signal proportional thereto; dividing said return signal by said expansion signal and producing an output signal proportional to the rate of return of said physical dimension.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
179 words
The method of testing a sealed container for leaks which comprises: placing said sealed container within a test chamber; changing the pressure within said test chamber over a first time period to a preselected value; measuring a physical dimension of said container shortly after the beginning of said first time period and producing a first signal proportional thereto; measuring said physical dimension upon attaining said preselected pressure value and producing a second signal proportional thereto; maintaining said pressure at said preselected value for a second time period; measuring the difference between said first and second signals and producing an expansion signal proportional thereto; measuring said physical dimension shortly after attaining said preselected pressure value and producing a third signal proportional thereto; measuring said physical dimension at the end of said second time period and producing a fourth signal proportional thereto; measuring the difference between said third and fourth signals and producing a return signal proportional thereto; dividing said return signal by said expansion signal and producing an output signal proportional to the rate of return of said physical dimension.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
In the method of claim 3, measuring said physical dimension prior to said first time period and producing a correction signal proportional thereto; and reducing each of said first, second, third, and fourth signals by the amount of said correction signal.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
265 words
The method of testing a sealed container for leaks which comprises: placing said sealed container within a test chamber; measuring a physical dimension of said container and producing a correction signal proportional thereto; changing the pressure within said test chamber over a first time period to a preselected value; measuring said physical dimension shortly after the beginning of said first time period and producing a first signal proportional thereto; subtracting said correction signal from said first signal to produce a corrected first signal; measuring said physical dimension upon attaining said preselected pressure value and producing a second signal proportional thereto; subtracting said correction signal from said second signal to produce a corrected second signal; maintaining said pressure at said preselected value for a second time period; measuring the difference between said corrected first and second signals and producing an expansion signal proportional thereto; measuring said physical dimension shortly after attaining said preselected pressure value and producing a third signal proportional thereto; subtracting said correction signal from said third signal to product a corrected third signal; measuring said physical dimension at the end of said second time period and producing a fourth signal proportional thereto; subtracting said correction signal from said fourth signal to produce a corrected fourth signal; measuring the difference between said corrected third and fourth signals and producing a return signal proportional thereto; dividing said return signal by said expansion signal to produce an output signal proportional to the rate of return of said physical dimension; and comparing said output signal with a preselected standard to determine acceptance or rejection of said container.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
265 words
The method of testing a sealed container for leaks which comprises: placing said sealed container within a test chamber; measuring a physical dimension of said container and producing a correction signal proportional thereto; changing the pressure within said test chamber over a first time period to a preselected value; measuring said physical dimension shortly after the beginning of said first time period and producing a first signal proportional thereto; subtracting said correction signal from said first signal to produce a corrected first signal; measuring said physical dimension upon attaining said preselected pressure value and producing a second signal proportional thereto; subtracting said correction signal from said second signal to produce a corrected second signal; maintaining said pressure at said preselected value for a second time period; measuring the difference between said corrected first and second signals and producing an expansion signal proportional thereto; measuring said physical dimension shortly after attaining said preselected pressure value and producing a third signal proportional thereto; subtracting said correction signal from said third signal to product a corrected third signal; measuring said physical dimension at the end of said second time period and producing a fourth signal proportional thereto; subtracting said correction signal from said fourth signal to produce a corrected fourth signal; measuring the difference between said corrected third and fourth signals and producing a return signal proportional thereto; dividing said return signal by said expansion signal to produce an output signal proportional to the rate of return of said physical dimension; and comparing said output signal with a preselected standard to determine acceptance or rejection of said container.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
150 words
Apparatus for simultaneously testing a plurality of sealed containers which comprises: a test chamber for receiving said containers; means for changing the pressure in said chamber over a first time period and holding said pressure at a preselected value over a second time period; means within said chamber for measuring a physical dimension of each of said containers and producing a Plurality of signals, each proportional to said physical dimension of a different one of said containers; means for sampling each of said signals at preselected times and pressures throughout a test cycle; means for calculating from said signal samples the rate of return of said physical dimension of each of said containers to its original value; means for comparing the rate of return of each of said containers with a preselected rate; and means responsive to said comparing means for indicating the accept/reject status of each of said containers.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
150 words
Apparatus for simultaneously testing a plurality of sealed containers which comprises: a test chamber for receiving said containers; means for changing the pressure in said chamber over a first time period and holding said pressure at a preselected value over a second time period; means within said chamber for measuring a physical dimension of each of said containers and producing a Plurality of signals, each proportional to said physical dimension of a different one of said containers; means for sampling each of said signals at preselected times and pressures throughout a test cycle; means for calculating from said signal samples the rate of return of said physical dimension of each of said containers to its original value; means for comparing the rate of return of each of said containers with a preselected rate; and means responsive to said comparing means for indicating the accept/reject status of each of said containers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said pressure changing means comprises: an evacuated holding tank; and means for placing said holding tank in fluid flow relationship with said test chamber.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said sampling means comprises: a first memory connected to receive and store said signal at a time prior to said first time period.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said holding tank includes a vacuum pump connected to maintain said tank essentially continuously evacuated.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said placing means comprises: a second holding tank substantially smaller than the first holding tank; and valve means for alternately connecting said second tank to said first tank and to said test chamber.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3751972A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-09-23 | 1978-03-25 | 1978-09-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-09-23 | 1982-03-25 | 1982-09-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-09-23 | 1986-03-25 | 1986-09-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |