Method and apparatus for obtaining a proportional-to-flow composite sample

Claim 1

A COMPOSITE SAMPLING SYSTEM COMPRISING A CONDUIT FOR CARRYING A PRODUCT STREAM FLUID, A SAMPLING DEVICE COMPRISING A FIRST CHAMBER HAVING FIRST AND SECOND SUBCHAMBERS, SAID FIRST SUB-CHAMBER OF SAID FIRST CHAMBER BEING COMMUNICATION WITH SAID PRODUCT STREAM CONDUIT, AND A SECOND CHAMBER HAVING A FIRST SUB-CHAMBER AND A SECOND VENTED SUB-CHAMBER, SAID FIRST SUB-CHAMBER AND A SECOND CHAMBER BEING IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID SECOND SUB-CHAMBER OF SAID FIRST CHAMBER, SAID CHAMBERS HAVING MOVABLE MEANS FOR SEPARATING EACH OF SAID CHAMBERS INTO SAID SUB-CHAMBERS, FLUID WITHDRAWAL MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID FIRST SUB-CHAMBER OF SAID FIRST CHAMBER, A VALVE MEANS REGULATING THE PASSAGE OF A CONSTANT VOLUME OF A DISPLACEMENT FLUID OTHER THAN SAID PRODUCT STREAM FLUID FROM THE SECOND SUB-CHAMBER OF SAID FIRST CHAMBER TO THE FIRST SUBCHAMBER OF SAID SECOND CHAMBER THEREBY PERMITTING THE FLOW OF A SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL VOLUME OF PRODUCT STREAM FLUID FROM SAID CONDUIT INTO THE FIRST SUB-CHAMBER OF SAID FIRST CHAMBER, SAID VALVE MEANS BEING PERIODICALLY ACTUATED TO PERMIT THE PASSAGE OF A CONSTANT VOLUME OF SAID DISPLACEMENT FLUID DURING EACH PERIOD PRODUCT STREAM CONMEASURING MEANS DISPOSED IN SAID PRODUCT STREAM CONDUIT FOR DETERMINING THE RATE OF FLOW OF FLUID THROUGH SAID CONDUIT AD FORMING A SIGNAL PROPORTIONAL TO SAID FLOW RATE, MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID FLOW MEASURING MEANS AND SAID VALVE MEANS AND ADAPTED TO ACTUATE SAID VALVE MEANS IN RESPONSE TO SAID SIGNAL FROM SAID FLOW MEASURING MEANS AFTER A PREDETERMINED AMOUNT OF PRODUCT, STREAM FLUID HAS PASSED THROUGH SAID PRODUCT STREAM CONDUIT PAST SAID FLOW MEASURING MEANS.