US 5,510,718 A · Container leak testing

Abstract

Apparatus for leak testing a blow molded container comprises an electrically conductive probe for extending into the interior of the container through an opening and electrically conductive earth plates for surrounding at least a major portion of the container. In order to test the container, the probe is introduced into the container by an actuator, the earth plates are placed in close proximity with the container walls by means of actuators and a high voltage is applied to the probe by way of a connecting lead. A current sensor is responsive to the occurrence of a spark between the probe and the earth plates thereby indicating the presence of a hole or weakness in the intervening container wall. Such apparatus can be implemented at relatively low cost and is highly reliable in practice, as well as requiring only a short testing cycle.

Claims11

Dependent claims

Apparatus for leak testing a container comprising an electrically conductive probe (2) for communicating with an interior of the container (3) by way of an opening (4) of the container, electrically conductive shield means (10, 11, 12;

16, 17, 18, 19;
23) closely surrounding the container and movable between open and closed positions, electrical connection means (9) for application of a high voltage relative to the shield means, and sensor means (15) for detecting current flow between the probe and the shield means indicating the presence of at least one of a hole and a weakness in an intervening wall of the container, and moving means (13, 14) for moving the shield means between the open position permitting introduction or removal of the container into or from the shield means and the closed position in which at least a major portion of the container is closely surrounded by the shield means.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Container leak testing

Life of this patent

Container leak testing

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims11