Patent ID: 7430895
Filing Date: 2008-10-07
Classification: G01M

Abstract:
1. Apparatus for monitoring bead fusion quality of molded foam parts comprising: a chamber having a fixed volume, for selectively retaining a quantity of a selected gas at a pre-specified pressure level; an adjustment valve provided to adjust the pressure of said quantity of gas retained in said chamber to said pre-specified pressure level; a nozzle adapted for insertion into a selected one of said molded parts, for introducing a stream of said selected gas under pressure into the interior of said selected part; a conduit and a single release valve coupled to provide a flow path extending from said chamber to said nozzle, wherein said single release valve is the only valve to be included in said flow path between said chamber and said nozzle, and said single release valve is operable to release said quantity of gas from said chamber, to flow along said flow path; a sensor for measuring the flow rate of said quantity of gas, as said quantity of gas flows along said flow path to said nozzle; and an indicator mechanism responsive to operation of said flow sensor to indicate whether or not said measured gas flow rate exceeds a pre-specified level associated with bead fusion quality.