Apparatus for conducting leakage tests on sealed packages

• US 6,609,414 B2
• Filed: 07/19/2001
• Issued: 08/26/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: MOCON, Inc. (Ametek Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: MOCON, Inc. (Ametek Incorporated)
• Inventors: Mayer, Daniel W., Loebig, Craig K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lefkowitz, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): CYGAN, MICHAEL T
• Application Number:
  US09/909,385
• Publication Number:
  US 20030015021A1
• Time in Patent Office: 768 Days
• Field of Search: 73/407, 73/498, 73/52
• US Class Current: 73/40.7
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/227 for flexible or elastic containers
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/38 by using light G01M3/02 takes precedence

Abstract

A fixture for testing a sealed container for possible leakage, having a removable cover and a silicon gel gasket affixed to the undersurface of the cover, and having a lower housing with a cavity for receiving the sealed container, the container top surface being isolated from the rest of the container surfaces by the silicon gel gasket.

Claims

1. An apparatus for testing for a gas leak through an opening in an otherwise sealed container, comprising:

a) a lower housing having a cavity sized to receive said container in a chamber formed by said cavity, and having a gas outlet for removing gas accumulated in said chamber;

b) a housing cover sized for sealable fitting against said lower housing, and having a silicon gel gasket sized for sealable fitting against said container, thereby forming a chamber in the housing cover in the region adjacent the container;

said silicon gel gasket further comprising a silicon gel layer and a mesh fabric proximately centered in said silicon gel layer;

c) passages through said housing cover and into said housing cover chamber, connectable to a source of trace gas and to an exhaust port; and

d) a gas sensor connected to said lower housing gas outlet, having means for measuring the gas content in said chamber.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said silicon gel gasket further comprises a first outer layer having a first tacky coating which affixes the silicon gel against the undersurface of said housing cover.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said silicon gel gasket further comprises a second outer layer, on a silicon gel outer surface opposite said first outer layer, said second outer layer comprising a second tacky layer coating, less tacky than said first coating, for sealing against a surface of said container, but being removable therefrom.

4. An apparatus for testing a container for gas leaks, wherein the container has a porous cover which passes gas readily, comprising

a) a housing having a cavity formed to accept the container with the cover proximate the top of the cavity, the bottom of said cavity having an outlet gas conduit connected to a sensor;

b) a cover housing sized for snugly fitting over said housing cavity, said cover housing having means for introducing gas into said container through said porous cover;

c) a gasket made from two layers of silicon gel material separated by a mesh material, the two layers of silicon gel material being bonded to the mesh material, said gasket being affixed to the underside of said cover housing and sized to fit against said porous cover adjacent an edge thereof; and

d) means for compressing said cover housing against said housing and to simultaneously compress said silicon gel material against the respective edges of said porous cover;

whereby a seal is created, isolating said cover from the remainder of said container.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said gasket further comprises a coating of tacky adhesive on a surface of one of said two layers of silicon gel, said adhesive having a sufficiently strong adhesive to adhere non-removably to said cover housing, and further comprises a less tacky adhesive on another surface of a layer of silicon gel, said adhesive being peelable from contact with said porous cover material.