Patent ID: 6526809
Filing Date: 2003-03-04
Classification: G01M

Abstract:
A method for leak testing at least one closed container, whereby the contents of said container comprise at least one liquid component, comprising the steps of:a) placing said container in a vacuum chamber; b) sealing said vacuum chamber; c) applying a vacuum to said vacuum chamber and lowering the pressure within said chamber to a pressure that is below the vapor pressure of said at least one liquid component, by means of a pumping arrangement thereby causing some of said liquid within said closed container to be drawn out of said closed container when a leak is present in said at least one closed container; d) removing said vacuum source by isolating said pumping arrangement; e) determining whether a leak is present in said at least one closed container by monitoring the increase of pressure in said vacuum chamber as a leak indicative signal wherein a relatively steady increase in pressure over time is indicative of system outgassing and wherein oscillatory perturbations in the pressure versus time curve is indicative of boiling liquid and therefore a leak in at least one closed container.