Apparatus for pressure testing the porosity and strength of cartons and containers

Claim 1

APPARATUS FOR TESTING THE AIR PERMEABILITY OF A SEALED PACKAGE IN WHICH THE PACKAGE INCLUDES A PUNCTURABLE CONTAINER WALL PORTION OF NON-METALLIC MATERIAL, COMPRISING IN COMBINATION A SOURCE OF GASEOUS PRESSURE INCLUDING MEANS REGULATING THE PRESSURE TO A VALUE BELOW THAT WHICH WILL BURST THE CONTAINER; CONTROL VALVE MEANS CONNECTED IN SERIES TO SAID SOURCE OF GASEOUS PRESSURE; A PIERCING PRONE ASSEMBLY CONNECTED IN SERIES TO SAID CONTROL VALVE MEANS AND INCLUDING A PIERCING PROBE HAVING MEANS FOR PUNCTURING SAID WALL PORTION, SAID ASSEMBLY INCLUDING STOP MEANS HAVING RADIALLY EXTENSIBLE PORTIONS FOR ENGAGING THE INTERIOR SURFACE OF SAID WALL PORTION, SAID STOP MEANS INCLUDING A SLEEVE MOUNTED ON SAID PIERCING PROBE, OPERATING MEANS ON SAID PIERCING PROBE CONNECTED TO SAID SLEEVE FOR EXTENDING AND RETRACTING SAID SLEEVE AND OPERATING SAID EXTENSIBLE PORTIONS FROM THE EXTERIOR OF SAID CONTAINER WALL PORTION, MANUALLY OPERABLE SEALING MEANS ON SAID SLEEVE FOR ENGAGING THE EXTERIOR OF SAID WALL PORTION AND CLAMPING SAID WALL PORTION AND PREVENTING LEAKAGE ABOUT SAID PIERCING PROBE, AND A TESTING APPARATUS CONNECTED IN SERIES TO SAID SOURCE OF GASEOUS PRESSURE AND SAID CONTAINER, SAID TESTING APPARATUS INCLUDING CONTROL PORTIONS INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID SOURCE OF GASEOUS PRESSURE AND SAID CONTAINER WHEREBY AFTER THE CONTAINER HAS BEEN CHARGED TO A PREDETERMINED PRESSURE, THE SOURCE OF GASEOUS PRESSURE MAY BE DIRECTED TO THE TESTING APPARATUS IN OPPOSITION TO THE PRESSURE CHARGE IN SAID CONTAINER, SAID TESTING APPARATUS INCLUDING INDICIA MEANS FOR ASCERTAINING THE RELATIVE PRESSURE LOSS BETWEEN THE INITIAL PRESSURE CHARGE THEREIN AND THAT AT THE SOURCE.