Method of detecting small gas leaks in filled aerosol containers
US3956923A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 17, 1975 |
| Grant date | May 18, 1976 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 17, 1995 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01M3/224
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A process and apparatus for detecting small gas leaks in filled, pressurized containers. Each container to be tested, or that portion of each container to be tested, is enclosed and sealed in a test chamber. The space within the test chamber is evacuated to remove any residual gas or liquid within the chamber or on the surfaces of the container. Thereafter, the evacuated chamber is sealed and held for a predetermined period of time to permit any gas leaking from the container to accumulate and diffuse throughout the chamber. A quantity of carrier gas is then introduced into the test chamber and held therein for a predetermined period of time so that the carrier gas and leakage gas may co-mingle and equilibrate. This provides an equilibrated, fixed volume of carrier gas-leakage gas mixture, the leakage gas content of which is dependent only upon the leak rate of the container. The equilibrated mixture is then transferred to a sensor. The signal produced by the sensor for each container tested is compared to the sensor's response to a predetermined leak standard of acceptable value. A method is also provided to compensate for contamination of the carrier gas and for drift of the sens…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.