Method and apparatus for container leakage testing

Patent · Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1995

OSTI ID:869743

Kronberg, James W ^[1]

---

1. Aiken, SC

An apparatus for use in one-hundred percent leak testing of food containers used in conjunction with a tracer gas. The apparatus includes a shell with entrance and exit air locks to create a controlled atmosphere through which a series of containers is conveyed by a conveyor belt. The pressure in the shell is kept lower than the pressure in the containers and the atmosphere is made to flow with the containers so that a tracer gas placed in the packages before sealing them will leak more readily, but the leaked tracer gas will remain associated with the leaking package as it moves through the shell. The leaks are detected with a sniffer probe in fluid communication with a gas chromatograph. The gas chromatograph issues a signal when it detects a leak to an ejector that will eject the leaking container from the conveyor. The system is timed so that the series of containers can move continuously into and out of the shell, past the probe and the ejector, without stopping, yet each package is tested for leaks and removed if leaking.

• Research Organization: Savannah River Site (SRS), Aiken, SC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC09-89SR18035
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 5388446
• OSTI ID: 869743
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

method
apparatus
container
leakage
testing
one-hundred
percent
leak
food
containers
conjunction
tracer
gas
shell
entrance
exit
air
locks
create
controlled
atmosphere
series
conveyed
conveyor
belt
pressure
kept
flow
placed
packages
sealing
readily
leaked
remain
associated
leaking
package
moves
leaks
detected
sniffer
probe
fluid
communication
chromatograph
issues
signal
detects
ejector
eject
timed
move
continuously
past
stopping
tested
removed
tracer gas
air lock
controlled atmosphere
fluid communication
conveyor belt
gas chromatograph
sniffer probe
one-hundred percent
leak testing
/73/