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US 5,361,626 AGranted
Method and apparatus for detecting leaks in sealed packages
AssigneeUnited States Surgical Corporation
InventorsFrancis D. Colligan, Lloyd S. Brown
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Abstract
A hydrocarbon leak detector apparatus detects defectively sealed packages by monitoring for the presence of a volatile hydrocarbonaceous substance that leaks from defective packages. The apparatus includes one or more sealable chambers, a vacuum generator pump, a hydrocarbon detector and conduit means for delivering air from the chamber(s) to the hydrocarbon detector.
Claims33
A method for evaluating integrity of a sealed package comprising:
- depositing a volatile hydrocarbonaceous substance within a package:
- sealing the package:
- placing the package in a sealable chamber;
- sealing said chamber;
- pulling a vacuum in said chamber after said chamber has been sealed:
- maintaining the vacuum in said chamber for a predetermined time period and then allowing gas into said chamber to relieve the vacuum;
- sealing said chamber after the vacuum has been relieved;
- and
- monitoring said chamber for the presence of said volatile hydrocarbonaceous substance.
6 more elements
An apparatus for evaluating the integrity of a sealed package which comprises:
- (i) a plurality of sealable chambers;
- (ii) a vacuum generator pump;
- (iii) a hydrocarbon detector;
- and
- (iv) means for selectively delivering gas from any one of said sealable chambers to said hydrocarbon detector.
2 more elements
An apparatus for evaluating the integrity of a sealed package which comprises:
- (i) a sealable chamber;
- (ii) a vacuum generator pump;
- (iii) a gas chromatograph;
- and
- (iv) conduit means for delivering air from said chamber to said gas chromatograph.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.