DOE Patents title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Instrument for measurement of vacuum in sealed thin wall packets

Abstract

An instrument is disclosed for the measurement of vacuum within sealed packets, the packets having a wall that it can be deformed by the application of an external dynamic vacuum to an area thereof. The instrument has a detector head for placement against the deformable wall of the packet to apply the vacuum in a controlled manner to accomplish a limited deformation or lift of the wall with this deformation or lift monitored by the application of light as via a bifurcated light pipe. Retro-reflected light through the light pipe is monitored with a photo detector. A change (e.g., a decrease) of retro-reflected light signals the wall movement such that the value of the dynamic vacuum applied through the head be to achieve this initiation of movement is equal to the vacuum within the packet. In a preferred embodiment a vacuum plate is placed beneath the packet to ensure that no deformation occurs on the reverse surface of the packet. A vacuum can be applied to a recess in this vacuum plate, the value of which can be used to calibrate the vacuum transducer in the detector head. 4 figs.

Inventors:
; ;
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
46325
Patent Number(s):
5406831
Application Number:
PAN: 8-130,261
Assignee:
Martin Marietta Energy Systems, Inc., Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
DOE Contract Number:  
AC05-84OR21400
Resource Type:
Patent
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: 18 Apr 1995
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
44 INSTRUMENTATION, INCLUDING NUCLEAR AND PARTICLE DETECTORS; VACUUM GAGES; DESIGN; MEASURING METHODS; CALIBRATION; VISIBLE RADIATION; PHOTODETECTORS

Citation Formats

Kollie, T G, Thacker, L H, and Fine, H A. Instrument for measurement of vacuum in sealed thin wall packets. United States: N. p., 1995. Web.
Kollie, T G, Thacker, L H, & Fine, H A. Instrument for measurement of vacuum in sealed thin wall packets. United States.
Kollie, T G, Thacker, L H, and Fine, H A. Tue . "Instrument for measurement of vacuum in sealed thin wall packets". United States.
@article{osti_46325,
title = {Instrument for measurement of vacuum in sealed thin wall packets},
author = {Kollie, T G and Thacker, L H and Fine, H A},
abstractNote = {An instrument is disclosed for the measurement of vacuum within sealed packets, the packets having a wall that it can be deformed by the application of an external dynamic vacuum to an area thereof. The instrument has a detector head for placement against the deformable wall of the packet to apply the vacuum in a controlled manner to accomplish a limited deformation or lift of the wall with this deformation or lift monitored by the application of light as via a bifurcated light pipe. Retro-reflected light through the light pipe is monitored with a photo detector. A change (e.g., a decrease) of retro-reflected light signals the wall movement such that the value of the dynamic vacuum applied through the head be to achieve this initiation of movement is equal to the vacuum within the packet. In a preferred embodiment a vacuum plate is placed beneath the packet to ensure that no deformation occurs on the reverse surface of the packet. A vacuum can be applied to a recess in this vacuum plate, the value of which can be used to calibrate the vacuum transducer in the detector head. 4 figs.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Apr 18 00:00:00 EDT 1995},
month = {Tue Apr 18 00:00:00 EDT 1995}
}

Patent:
Search for the full text at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Note: You will be redirected to the USPTO site, which may require a pop-up blocker to be deactivated to view the patent. If so, you will need to manually turn off your browser's pop-up blocker, typically found within the browser settings. (See DOE Patents FAQs for more information.)

Save / Share: