METHOD FOR REDUCING TEST CYCLE TIME AND FOR IMPROVING MEASURING ACCURACY AT A LEAK TESTING PROCESS

摘要

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus forreducing the test cycle time and for improving the measuringaccuracy of a leak testing process of a container. The processcomprises the steps of providing a pressure difference as aninitial predetermined pressure between the exterior of a closedcontainer and the interior of the closed container withoutdestroying the integrity of the container. The pressure exteriorto the sealed container is measured for a certain time. Thismeasurement determines the pressure integrity of the closedcontainer. The method also includes the step of minimizing thevolume of the exterior of the closed container wherein the sizeof that volume determines the test cycle time and the measuringaccuracy. The invention further comprises a test chamber whichis closable and contains a cavity for introducing the containerunder test. A means is provided for installing or introducinga pressure difference at an initial predetermined value betweenthe exterior of the container under test and the interior of thecavity. A measuring unit is provided for measuring the pressurevalue which is dependent on the pressure difference and theleakage of the container. The shape of the cavity is at leastsubstantially geometrically similar to the shape of the containerso as to minimize the volume of the cavity outside the sealedcontainer under test.