Hollow container fault detector

Abstract

A leakage analyzer method and apparatus for detecting faults in hollow structures such as polypropylene tubing and the like. The apparatus includes a hollow elongated test chamber through which the tubing is passed. At the outlet end of the chamber, a rear stop member prevents the tubing from passing completely through the test chamber as it is being fed thereto. When the trailing edge of the tubing passes a predetermined point, a rear stop member positions the structure in said chamber so that clamping means positioned at both the front and rear of the test chamber can be energized to clamp about the tubing and at the same time seal the respective ends of the test chamber. Plug members are positioned in the respective ends of the tubing and are expanded to seal the ends of the structure. A fluid such as air is introduced into the chamber and about the outside periphery of the tubing until the pressure in the chamber reaches a predetermined level. A means is positioned in one of the plug members for detecting the pressure within the tubing and if the pressure rises above a predetermined limit after a preselected period of time, a fail signal is generated which causes the tubing to be transported to a predetermined location after the plugs and clamping means have been removed from the tubing and test chamber. Holes as small as 0.005 inch and even smaller can be accurately detected. Timing circuits are provided to control the cycle repetition while pass/fail circuits control subsequent routing of each tube with automatic counters monitoring the total number of tubes tested, total number of failed tubes, and total number of successful tubes.