Glass-sealed vessel opening device and method

摘要

A device for opening glass-sealed vessels in order either to recover a gas from or to introduce a gas into a vacuum system or other confined atmosphere comprises first vessel receiving means adapted removably to receive therein a projecting end of the glass-sealed vessel along with second vessel receiving means similarly adapted removably to receive therein the projecting end of the glass-sealed vessel, with the proximal ends of the first and second vessel receiving means being positioned adjacent each other. A flexible tubing means adapted removably to receive the proximal ends of the first and second vessel receiving means therein is provided along with first coupling means for effecting a vacuum tight seal between the flexible tubing means and a confined atmosphere and second coupling means for effecting a vacuum tight seal between the flexible tubing means and the glass-sealed vessel, whereby flexure of glass-sealed vessel, second coupling means and second vessel receiving means as a unit permits the projecting end of the glass-sealed vessel to be ruptured adjacent the proximal ends of the first and second vessel receiving means thereby to release the contents of the glass-sealed vessel into the confined atmosphere.