Balloon testing device

A device for testing an elongated elastic sleeve having a pair of opposed ends, comprising:

• first retaining means comprising an elongated inflation member to receive one end of the sleeve, with said inflation member having an orifice communicating with the inside of the sleeve when the sleeve is placed on the inflation member and having a passageway communicating with the orifice, and a first clamp member having a pair of opposed movable jaws on opposed sides of the inflation member;
• first means for selectively moving the jaws of the first clamp member between a first open position with the jaws spaced from the inflation member, and a second closed position with the jaws gripping the sleeve against the inflation member;
• second retaining means comprising an elongated support member to receive the other end of the sleeve, and a second clamp member having a pair of opposed movable jaws on opposed sides of the support member;
• second means for selectively moving the jaws of the second clamp member between a first open position with the jaws spaced from the support member, and a second closed position with the jaws gripping the sleeve against the support member;
• means for selectively inflating the sleeve through the passageway of said inflation member;
• first means for rotatably supporting the first clamp member about an axis;
• second means for rotatably supporting the second clamp member about said axis;
• and
• means for simultaneously rotating the first and second clamp members about said axis.

A device for testing an elongated elastic sleeve having a pair of opposed ends, comprising:

• means for releasably retaining the opposed ends of the sleeve, said retaining means comprising clamp means for selectively gripping one end of the sleeve, said clamp means comprising a support member to receive one end of the sleeve, and a pair of jaws on opposed sides of the support member, and including means for selectively moving the jaws between a first open position with the jaws spaced from the support member, and a second closed position with the jaws gripping the sleeve against the support member, said support member comprising an elongated illumination member;
• means for transmitting light to the illumination member;
• and
• means for inflating a central portion of the sleeve intermediate its ends.

A device for testing an elongated elastic sleeve having a pair of opposed ends, comprising:

• means for releasably retaining the opposed ends of the sleeve;
• means for inflating a central portion of the sleeve intermediate its ends;
• a pair of switch means spaced a sufficient distance from each other to require the use of both hands for simultaneous actuation thereof;
• and
• means responsive only to simultaneous actuation of both switch means for initiating operation of the device.

A device for testing an elongated elastic sleeve having a pair of opposed ends, comprising:

• first retaining means comprising an elongated inflation member to receive one end of the sleeve, with said inflation member having an orifice communicating with the inside of the sleeve when the sleeve is placed on the inflation member and having a passageway communicating with the orifice, and a first clamp member having a pair of opposed movable jaws on opposed sides of the inflation member;
• first means for selectively moving the jaws of the first clamp member between a first open position with the jaws spaced from the inflation member, and a second closed position with the jaws gripping the sleeve against the inflation member;
• second retaining means comprising an elongated support member to receive the other end of the sleeve, said support member comprising an illumination member, and a second clamp member having a pair of opposed movable jaws on opposed sides of the support member;
• second means for selectively moving the jaws of the second clamp member between a first open position with the jaws spaced from the support member, and a second closed position with the jaws gripping the sleeve against the support member;
• means for selectively inflating the sleeve through the passageway of said inflation member;
• and
• means for supplying light to the illumination member.

A device for testing an elongated elastic sleeve having a pair of opposed ends, comprising:

• first retaining means comprising an elongated inflation member to receive one end of the sleeve, with said inflation member having an orifice communicating with the inside of the sleeve when the sleeve is placed on the inflation member and having a passageway communicating with the orifice, and a first clamp member having a pair of opposed movable jaws on opposed sides of the inflation member;
• first means for selectively moving the jaws of the first clamp member between a first open position with the jaws spaced from the inflation member, and a second closed position with the jaws gripping the sleeve against the inflation member;
• second retaining means comprising an elongated support member to receive the other end of the sleeve, and a second clamp member having a pair of opposed movable jaws on opposed sides of the support member;
• second means for selectively moving the jaws of the second clamp member between a first open position with the jaws spaced from the support member, and a second closed position with the jaws gripping the sleeve against the support member;
• means for selectively inflating the sleeve through the passageway of said inflation member;
• first means for supporting the first clamp member;
• second means for supporting the second clamp member with the second clamp member spaced from the first clamp member, and with the support member generally aligned with the inflation member;
• first drive means for moving the first supporting means and modifying the distance between the first and second clamp members;
• second drive means for moving the second supporting means and modifying the distance between the first and second clamp members;
• means for initiating one of the first and second jaw moving means to move the jaws of the associated clamp member from open to closed position and grip one end of the sleeve;
• means responsive to the jaw initiating means to initiate at least one of the first and second drive means and modify the spacing between the inflation and support members from a distance greater than the length of the sleeve to a distance less than the length of the sleeve;
• and
• means responsive to the drive initiating means for initiating the other of the first and second jaw moving means to move the jaws of the associated clamp member from open to closed position and grip the other end of the sleeve.

A device for testing an elongated elastic sleeve having a pair of opposed ends, comprising:

• first retaining means comprising an elongated inflation member to receive one end of the sleeve, with said inflation member having an orifice communicating with the inside of the sleeve when the sleeve is placed on the inflation member and having a passageway communicating with the orifice, and a first clamp member having a pair of opposed movable jaws on opposed sides of the inflation member;
• first means for selectively moving the jaws of the first clamp member between a first open position with the jaws spaced from the inflation member, and a second closed position with the jaws gripping the sleeve against the inflation member;
• second retaining means comprising an elongated support member to receive the other end of the sleeve, and a second clamp member having a pair of opposed movable jaws on opposed sides of the support member;
• second means for selectively moving the jaws of the second clamp member between a first open position with the jaws spaced from the support member, and a second closed position with the jaws gripping the sleeve against the support member;
• means for selectively inflating the sleeve through the passageway of said inflation member;
• first means for supporting the first clamp member;
• second means for supporting the second clamp member with the second clamp member spaced from the first clamp member, and with the support member generally aligned with the inflation member;
• first drive means for moving the first supporting means and modifying the distance between the first and second clamp members;
• second drive means for moving the second supporting means and modifying the distance between the first and second clamp members;
• means for initiating the first jaw moving means to move the jaws of the first clamp member from the open to closed position and grip one end of the sleeve after placement of said sleeve one end on the inflation member in the open position of the first clamp member;
• and
• means for initiating the second drive means responsive to closure of the first clamp member for moving the second supporting means toward the first supporting means from a first position with the support member spaced a distance from the other end of the sleeve and a second position with the support member received in said other end of the sleeve with the jaws of the second clamp member in the open position.

A device for testing an elongated elastic sleeve having a pair of opposed ends, comprising:

• first retaining means comprising an elongated inflation member to receive one end of the sleeve, with said inflation member having an orifice communicating with the inside of the sleeve when the sleeve is placed on the inflation member and having a passageway communicating with the orifice, and a first clamp member having a pair of opposed movable jaws on opposed sides of the inflation member;
• first means for selectively moving the jaws of the first clamp member between a first open position with the jaws spaced from the inflation member, and a second closed position with the jaws gripping the sleeve against the inflation member;
• second retaining means comprising an elongated support member to receive the other end of the sleeve, and a second clamp member having a pair of opposed movable jaws on opposed sides of the support member;
• second means for selectively moving the jaws of the second clamp member between a first open position with the jaws spaced from the support member, and a second closed position with the jaws gripping the sleeve against the support member;
• means for selectively inflating the sleeve through the passageway of said inflation member;
• frame means comprising first means for supporting the first retaining means, second means for supporting the second retaining means, and means for pivotally mounting the first and second supporting means to permit movement of the first and second clamp members between a first testing position and a second testing position spaced from the first position;
• and
• means for applying a relatively constant force to the frame means opposing movement between said first and second positions.

A device for testing an elongated elastic sleeve having a pair of opposed ends, comprising:

• first retaining means comprising an elongated inflation member to receive one end of the sleeve, with said inflation member having an orifice communicating with the inside of the sleeve when the sleeve is placed on the inflation member and having a passageway communicating with the orifice, and a first clamp member having a pair of opposed movable jaws on opposed sides of the inflation member;
• first means for selectively moving the jaws of the first clamp member between a first open position with the jaws spaced from the inflation member, and a second closed position with the jaws gripping the sleeve against the inflation member;
• second retaining means comprising an elongated support member to receive the other end of the sleeve, and a second clamp member having a pair of opposed movable jaws on opposed sides of the support member;
• second means for selectively moving the jaws of the second clamp member between a first open position with the jaws spaced from the support member, and a second closed position with the jaws gripping the sleeve against the support member;
• means for selectively inflating the sleeve through the passageway of said inflation member;
• a frame assembly comprising, first support means comprising a first upright arm, and a first support arm extending from the first upright arm and being inclined at an acute angle relative to said first upright arm, with said inflation member and first clamp member being retained by a lower end of the first support arm, and second support means generally aligned with the first support means and comprising a second upright arm, and a second support arm extending from the second upright arm and being inclined at an acute angle relative to said second upright arm, with said support member and second clamp member being retained by a lower end of said second support arm.