Abstract: Method and apparatus for the testing of fluidic devices. An adaptor that provides a temporary interface with such a device is affixed to it and used to direct a gaseous medium into the device for the testing of its various portions.

Abstract: A test cup for pressure testing tubing comprising an elastomeric sleeve having a belled end, and further including an axially extending tubular portion positioned concentrically within the belled end and defining therewith a fluid-receiving cavity. The tubular portion is mounted to an internal metallic tube which projects axially into the sleeve beyond the reach of the fluid-receiving cavity in concentric relation to the bore through the sleeve. At its end opposite the belled end, the sleeve has embedded therein a plurality of circumferentially spaced reinforcing ring segments of generally L-shaped cross-section.

Abstract: Containers having top head openings are inserted axially without prealignment into a test chamber which houses a sealing member having a sealing surface radially continuous about the container insertion axis. The container interior and the extent of the test chamber encircling the container are commonly pressurized and the sealing device is displaced to seal the container openings. The encircling test chamber extent is then vented to atmospheric pressure and pressure change in the test chamber is monitored.

Abstract: Apparatus for deflecting a pointer in proportion to the rotational speed of a shaft comprises a support, a governor mounted on the support, an indicator mounted on the support and an angled calibrating lever pivotally mounted on the support and connecting the governor to the indicator. The governor includes an input member adapted to be operably connected to the shaft for rotation therewith and an output member movable in a given direction (typically parallel to the axis of shaft rotation) to a degree generally related to the rotational speed of the shaft. The indicator includes a drum, a pointer operably connected to the drum for movement therewith, and a flexible member at least partially wound about the drum so that the drum is rotated by the unwinding of the flexible member therefrom. The angled calibrating lever has one leg bearing against the output member for motion therewith and the other leg secured to a portion of the flexible member for unwinding the flexible member from the drum.

Abstract: Breaks in heat seals between a paper member and a clear plastic member are detected by providing a paper member with a relatively dark coloration, for example dark blue, dark green or dark red, at least in the area of the heat seal, heat sealing the clear plastic member to the paper member in the desired seal area whereby upon breaking the heat seal there is a distinct color contrast between the break in the heat seal and the relatively dark coloration of the paper and any remaining heat sealed area. The method is especially suited for the manufacture of sterilizable packages or pouches for medical implements.

Abstract: A novel process and apparatus are disclosed which permit an air-stream interface to be maintained in a continuous vulcanization cable production process in order to enable accurate optical measurements of the cable to be taken at all times. Specifically, a baffle assembly is provided in conjunction with a high pressure, high temperature steam supply and a high pressure air supply to maintain a clear air region in a steam vulcanization chamber. The baffle assembly together with interconnected air and steam supply lines and an exhaust line provides a flow pattern which permits an optical window within the clear air region to be maintained in a clear and unobstructed state so that optical measurements can be continuously conducted while the vulcanization process is in operation.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to a temporary enclosure for a pipe. It includes a recessed opening in a body having an internal O-ring seal mechanism for engaging the end of a pipe. It is held to the pipe by incorporating a surrounding lip about the exterior of the pipe. The lip supports at spaced locations around the periphery three or four sets of pipe gripping devices. Each set incorporates a link which is pivoted to an arcuate body having serrated teeth on the innerface which contacts the pipe. As pressure is increased in the pipe, the device is forced off of the pipe. When this occurs, the connective link rotates, causing the peripheral gripper with teeth to bite into the pipe and thereby grip and hold the pipe.

Abstract: A bottle inspection apparatus has an inspection stand and sorter for sorting defective plastic bottles from conforming bottles. The inspection stand has an extendible rod. A conical shaped nozzle is mounted at the end of the rod. The conical nozzle seals itself against a bottle aperture when extended for a predetermined amount of time. A low pressure air stream is operably connected to the nozzle and passes through the nozzle and into the inspected bottle. A pressure sensitive switch means is operably connected to the low pressure air stream. A blocking solenoid valve is operably attached to the pressure sensitive switch means and controls a high pressure air stream sorter. The pressure switch is actuated when a sufficiently high pressure is built up within the bottle within the predetermined limited amount of time the conical nozzle is sealing the bottle aperture. The blocking solenoid is deactivated when the pressure sensitive switch means is actuated.

Abstract: An apparatus for testing the surface quality of a vessel mouth including a test head adapted to be placed over the vessel mouth, a line connecting the test head to a supply of test gas, a passageway through the test head for introducing gas into the vessel, and a pressure measuring instrument connected to the gas line for generating an electrical signal when a pressure change of a predetermined tolerance value occurs. A sealing washer of spring stiffness is mounted on the test head for bearing against the vessel mouth and a valve is provided in the test head to open the passageway when the washer is pressed against the vessel and to close the passageway when the test head is removed from the vessel. In addition, the sealing washer and valve may be pivotable and means for generating a fault signal may be provided for generating a signal when the washer has been pivoted a predetermined amount.

Abstract: A leak detector for checking leakage of passageways in automotive engines which applies a pressure to a passageway and detects leakage, the detector including two parts which seal opposite sides of a passageway and a connecting member which extends through the passageway and sealably holds these parts in place.

Abstract: An improved, long lasting sealing ring for closing the open end of a can while vacuum is applied thereto to test for porosity. The ring comprises an outer pad of soft elastomer material made preferably of polyeurathane of relatively low durometer and having an internal cavity with a peripheral groove into which is fitted a mounting assembly comprising an annular steel or metal adapter plate encased within a relatively hard durometer elastomer, preferably polyeurathane, disk which has a novel sharp-edged peripheral configuration which functions to embed into an inturned flange on the pad and thus effectively seals the disk with the pad.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are disclosed for externally testing flanged or hubbed connections used on fluid conducting conduits. A ring gasket fits between the faces of the connecting flanges or hubs to effect a fluid tight seal. A test ring also fits between the faces of the hub or flange connection in a manner so as to form a space between the test ring and the ring gasket. Seal means closes the space between the test ring and the faces of the flanges or hubs. The outside diameter of the test ring is confined within fastening means which secures the hubs or flanges together. Fluid under pressure, used to test the effectiveness of the ring gasket seal, is applied to the space between the ring gasket and the test ring seal means. The pressure in that space falls when the ring gasket is defective but remains constant if the ring gasket is sound. Following the test, fluid pressure is bled off the space between the ring gasket and the test ring seal means.

Abstract: A leak detection system capable of efficiently dry-testing containers such as steel drums of large capacity. The system includes a test station constituted by a hermetically-sealed chamber adapted to receive a container to be tested and provided with a retractable head coupled to an external fill assembly. The head functions to sealably engage the bung hole or other container opening and to fill the container with pressurized air, the pressure within the container being maintained during the test period at a constant level, whereby physical distortion of the container is controlled. The pressure within the test chamber is sensed and the output of the sensor is applied to a data processor wherein the influence of temperature on the test chamber pressure is discounted by means of a waveform scanning technique, making it possible to determine the extent to which the container under test is heated and to predict the error pressure in the chamber due to thermal effects.

Abstract: A supporting fixture for pipe to be pressure-tested. The fixture includes a cage-like structure to receive an elbow, the structure being composed of opposing cage-like cradle segments defining a pipe elbow enclosure. The ends of the segments have respective semicircular flange portions to which is bolted a disc for sealing the end of a pipe elbow received in the enclosure. In the case where the elbow has a length of pipe attached thereto, a two-segment retaining cage structure is employed for the free end portion of the pipe section, also having a disc bolted thereto for sealing the pipe, the segments of the said latter retaining cage structure being connected to the elbow cage by tie rods. In the case where two elbows are joined by an intervening length of pipe, two elbow-retaining cage structures are employed, connected by tie rods. The elbow cage segments may be hinged together.

Abstract: A device for obturating leaky tubes in heat exchangers, characterized in that it comprises a sleeve adapted to be sealingly mounted in an orifice, or port, of the upper wall of said heat-exchanger, a vertical stem provided, at the lower end thereof, with an arm of variable length at right angles to said stem, the free end of said arm being integral with an assembly carrying a deformable capsule with a vertical axis adapted to penetrate into one of said tubes and to obturate said tube after having been deformed, means integral with said assembly adapted to deform said capsule, means for dissociating said capsule from said assembly, means for carrying said arm to rotate about the vertical axis of said stem, means for vertically moving said arm and means for varying the length of said arm.

Abstract: Cigarettes are tested with air streams which are caused to pass lengthwise through the fillers while the cigarettes move sideways past a testing station. One or two stationary chambers for air at subatmospheric or superatmospheric pressure are mounted at the testing station so that the ends of cigarettes which are being tested extend into the chamber or chambers. The air pressure in the chamber or chambers equals or approximates the pressure of air streams at the respective ends of the wrappers of cigarettes so that air in the chamber or chambers prevents the streams from communicating with the atmosphere during testing. The streams are monitored for changes in pressure. Such changes are indicative of defects of cigarettes and signals which are produced during monitoring are used to segregate defective cigarettes from satisfactory cigarettes.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting leaks in a joint between a tube sheet and a tube end fitted into an opening in the sheet comprising a barrel having a near end adjacent one side of said sheet; sealing means between said near end and said face, said sealing means surrounding said joint, a draw rod axially mounted in said barrel for reciprocal motion toward and away from said sheet, one end of said rod adapted to project into said tube, means for reciprocating said rod, a radially expandable plug adjacent said one end, the end of said rod being spaced from plug, resilient means between the end of said rod and said plug, means for expanding said plug radially when said rod is moved in a first direction away from said sheet, a chamber in said barrel adjacent said near end, means for introducing vacuum or pressure into said chamber, a gauge in communication with said chamber whereby the pressure in said chamber can be measured, means for isolating said chamber from the source of said vacuum or pressure.

Abstract: A testing apparatus for cigarettes or the like has a rotary drum having axially parallel flutes for cigarettes, at least one ring-shaped carrier which is adjacent to one end and is driven at the speed of the drum about an axis which makes a small acute angle with the axis of the drum so that successive increments of the carrier approach the respective end of the drum during travel toward a testing station and move away from the drum during travel beyond the testing station. The carrier supports engaging elements in the form of pins or elastic sleeves which engage the adjacent ends of cigarettes during travel past the testing station. The pins can penetrate into relatively soft fillers of cigarettes and thereby cause a transducer to produce signals which are used for segregation of the respective cigarettes. The sleeves can engage the ends of wrappers of cigarettes during travel past the testing station to admit into the fillers a pressurized testing fluid or to draw a testing fluid through the fillers.

Abstract: A pipeline closing head, for use in testing a pipeline after it has been laid on a submerged bed by subjecting the pipeline temporarily to internal pressure through the use of filling and emptying balls, is constituted by a hollow cylindrical body having a crowned closing element at one end and containing, at its other end, an air tight chamber housing the filling and emptying balls. Ducts and control valves through which fluid is supplied to said chamber to activate the filling and emptying balls and supply fluid pressure to the interior of the pipeline are housed within the cylindrical body so that they do not overhang the closing head, which may slide along a conventional ramp for the pipeline.

Abstract: A system for testing opening-equipped containers for leakage during the entire period, which is usually relatively long, between the time that such containers are fabricated by the manufacturer thereof and the time that they are filled by the user with the product intended therefor. The system includes a testing method, a particular test closure or cap and structural relationship thereof with a container opening, and apparatus for establishing a pressure differential between the interior and exterior of any container under test.