Vent tube apparatus, system and methods with traceable cap for vent tube intrusion detection
AssigneeEnpro, Inc
InventorsGrant Cook, Daniel Namie
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present disclosure is directed to a non-traceable vent tube and a traceable vent tube cap apparatus, system and methods incorporating a traceable material such as a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag or a magnet for use in conjunction with a filling machine during container filling operations for a quicker and more accurate detection of the location of the non-traceable vent tube or the traceable vent tube cap after becoming detached from a filling machine during filling operations, and to increase the safety of the filling operation and reduce costs and time when a malfunction occurs.
Claims16
A traceable vent tube cap apparatus for use in filling a container in a filling machine in which a non-traceable vent tube is attached to the filling machine, and is configured to vent a gas from the container during the filling process, comprising:
- a traceable vent tube cap, said traceable vent tube cap being hollow and configured to vent a gas from the container during the filling process, said traceable vent tube cap being configured to be attached to an existing non-traceable vent tube;
- and
- an indicator, said indicator being housed in said traceable vent tube cap, such that if said non-traceable vent tube or said traceable vent tube cap detaches from said filling machine, said non-traceable vent tube or said traceable vent tube cap can be detected using an indicator detection system.
A container filling system for use in filling a container in which a non-traceable vent tube is attached to a filling machine, a traceable vent tube cap is attached to said non-traceable vent tube, and said non-traceable vent tube and traceable vent tube cap are configured to vent a gas from the container during the filling process, and the system is configured to determine when said non-traceable vent tube or traceable vent tube cap malfunctions, comprising:
- a non-traceable vent tube, said non-traceable vent tube being hollow and configured to vent a gas from the container during the filling process, a traceable vent tube cap, said traceable vent tube cap attached to one end of said non-traceable vent tube, said traceable vent tube cap having an indicator, said indicator being housed in said traceable vent tube cap;
- and
- an indicator detection system, said indicator detection system comprising a detector, such that if said non-traceable vent tube or said traceable vent tube cap detaches from said filling machine, said non-traceable vent tube or said traceable vent tube cap can be detected using said indicator detection system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.