US3847013A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for leak testing of filled-up and closed containers
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-10-11
•
Granted: 1974-11-12
•
Expires: 1992-10-11
Abstract
Abstract Filled-up and closed containers, such as aerosol cans, which are to be tested for leaks, are fed one after another each into a separate chamber. The chambers are moving and are hermetically sealed along their path between an inlet and an outlet station. A gas sampling station disposed forwardly of the outlet serves to take a gas sample out of each chamber and feed it to a detector generating a test value signal transmitted, in case of leakage, to a signal storage which in turn is adapted to actuate removal means in response to coding means and on comparison with a threshold means. The discharge means is connected with extinguishing means for said storage means.
Inventors
- 👤 H Luy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 20:09
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01M; G01M3/00; G01M3/02; G01M3/04; G01M3/20; G01M3/22; G01M3/226; G01M3/229
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
178 words
The method of testing filled-up and closed containers for leakage of a particular gas, particularly aerosol cans containing propellent gas, comprising the following steps: a) introducing pre-sealed containers with a particular gas under pressure therein one after another at an inlet station respectively into continuously moving separate chambers; b) thereafter hermetically closing and scavenging said chambers successively with a gas other than that to be tested; c) moving said chambers and said containers sealed therein along a predetermined length of path between said inlet station and an outlet station; d) removing gas samples of predetermined volume successively out of each hermetically closed chamber upstream of said outlet station; e) feeding said sample to a detector generating a signal correlated to the quantity of particular gas detected; f) storing at least said signals surpassing a threshold value correlated to respective leaky containers; g) discharging said containers from said chambers at said outlet station; h) thereafter removing only said respective leaky containers in dependency upon the correlated stored signals surpassing the threshold value; i) and thereafter extinguishing the stored signals.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
178 words
The method of testing filled-up and closed containers for leakage of a particular gas, particularly aerosol cans containing propellent gas, comprising the following steps: a) introducing pre-sealed containers with a particular gas under pressure therein one after another at an inlet station respectively into continuously moving separate chambers; b) thereafter hermetically closing and scavenging said chambers successively with a gas other than that to be tested; c) moving said chambers and said containers sealed therein along a predetermined length of path between said inlet station and an outlet station; d) removing gas samples of predetermined volume successively out of each hermetically closed chamber upstream of said outlet station; e) feeding said sample to a detector generating a signal correlated to the quantity of particular gas detected; f) storing at least said signals surpassing a threshold value correlated to respective leaky containers; g) discharging said containers from said chambers at said outlet station; h) thereafter removing only said respective leaky containers in dependency upon the correlated stored signals surpassing the threshold value; i) and thereafter extinguishing the stored signals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1, including the step of selectively heating said containers before gas samples are removed from the chambers therein, to increase the pressure of the gas sealed therein.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 2, including the step of scavenging said empty open chambers with a gas other than that to be tested between said outlet and said inlet stations.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1, including the step of scavenging said empty open chambers with a gas other than that to be tested between said outlet and said inlet stations.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
254 words
Apparatus for testing filled-up and closed containers for leakage of a particular gas, particularly aerosol cans containing propellent gas, comprising: an endless array of separate chambers; means for moving said endless array of separate chambers along a predetermined closed path having an inlet station and a separate spaced outlet station; means for introducing pre-sealed containers with a particular gas under pressure therein one after another at the inlet station respectively into said separate chambers as they mOve past said inlet station; means for hermetically sealing each of said separate chambers with a container therein between said inlet station and said outlet station; means for removing a predetermined volume of gas successively from each of said sealed chambers upstream of said outlet station; detector means for receiving each of said samples and generating a signal correlated to the quantity of the particular gas detected; means for removing each of said containers from their respective chambers at said outlet station and conveying them along a predetermined discharge path; means for storing at least said signals surpassing a threshold value corresponding to a leaky container for a period of time at least corresponding to the period of time that it takes for the correlated container to move through said outlet station and along said predetermined discharge path a substantial distance; means responsive to said stored signals for ejecting only leaky containers from said discharge path; and means for scavenging said chambers with a gas other than the particular gas to be tested prior to sealing said chambers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
254 words
Apparatus for testing filled-up and closed containers for leakage of a particular gas, particularly aerosol cans containing propellent gas, comprising: an endless array of separate chambers; means for moving said endless array of separate chambers along a predetermined closed path having an inlet station and a separate spaced outlet station; means for introducing pre-sealed containers with a particular gas under pressure therein one after another at the inlet station respectively into said separate chambers as they mOve past said inlet station; means for hermetically sealing each of said separate chambers with a container therein between said inlet station and said outlet station; means for removing a predetermined volume of gas successively from each of said sealed chambers upstream of said outlet station; detector means for receiving each of said samples and generating a signal correlated to the quantity of the particular gas detected; means for removing each of said containers from their respective chambers at said outlet station and conveying them along a predetermined discharge path; means for storing at least said signals surpassing a threshold value corresponding to a leaky container for a period of time at least corresponding to the period of time that it takes for the correlated container to move through said outlet station and along said predetermined discharge path a substantial distance; means responsive to said stored signals for ejecting only leaky containers from said discharge path; and means for scavenging said chambers with a gas other than the particular gas to be tested prior to sealing said chambers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 5, including means for heating said pre-sealed containers prior to their reaching the position where gas samples are taken from their chamber, to effectively increase the pressure of the particular gas within the containers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said detector means produces a signal only in response to the quantity of said particular gas independent of total gas pressure and independent of the presence of air.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said storage means includes a plurality of separate electrical memory units equal in number to the number of said chambers divided by the number of separate ones of said detector means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 8, wherein a plurality of said detector means are provided for respectively receiving successive ones of gas samples from successive chambers.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said detector means produces a signal only in response to the quantity of said particular gas independent of total gas pressure and independent of the presence of air.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said storage means includes a plurality of separate electrical memory units equal in number to the number of said chambers divided by the number of separate ones of said detector means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein a plurality of said detector means are provided for respectively receiving successive ones of gas samples from successive chambers.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2112536A
Cited
US3750458A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-11-11 | 1978-05-13 | 1978-11-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-11-11 | 1982-05-13 | 1982-11-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-11-11 | 1986-05-13 | 1986-11-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |