Flow regulation system utilizing shear valve and pilot fluid

Claim 2

A flow regulation system for supplying fluid samples at substantially constant flow rate comprising, sample storage means, means to pump said samples into said storage means, means to pump said samples out Of said sample storage means for supply at substantially constant flow rate, sample storage means transfer means for transferring said sample storage means between operative connection with said means to pump said samples into said sample storage means and said means to pump said samples from said sample storage means, and means to introduce a bubble of air to said samples stored in said sample storage means during the transfer of the sample storage means by said sample storage means transfer means between operative connection with said means to pump samples into said sample storage means and said means to pump said samples from said sample storage means.

Claim 3

In a flow regulation system as in claim 1 wherein, said sample storage means transfer means comprise shear valve means having relatively movable valve plates with matable sample flow passages formed therein, said valve plates being arranged to provide, in a first relative position thereof, a flow passage through mated sample flow passages between a source of supply of said samples, said sample storage means, and said means to pump said samples into said sample storage means, respectively, and being arranged to provide, in a second relative position thereof, a flow passage through mated sample flow passages between said sample storage means and said means to pump said samples from said sample storage means.

Claim 4

In a flow regulation system as in claim 2 further comprising, additional matable flow passages formed in said relatively movable valve plates, said valve plates being arranged to provide, in a third relative position thereof intermediate said first and second relative positions thereof, a flow passage through mated sample flow passages between a source of compressed air and said sample storage means to supply said bubble of air to said sample stored in said sample storage means.

Claim 5

In a flow regulation system as in claim 2 where, said means to pump said samples out of said sample storage means comprise means to introduce a pilot fluid at substantially constant flow rate to said sample storage means to displace said fluid samples from said sample storage means for supply at a correspondingly, substantially constant flow rate.

Claim 6

In a flow regulation system as in claim 4 wherein, said means to pump said samples into said sample storage means comprise means to draw said samples into said sample storage means from a source of supply of said samples.

Claim 7

In a flow regulation system as in claim 4 further comprising, additional matable flow passages formed in said relatively movable valve plates, said valve plates being arranged to provide, in a third relative position thereof intermediate said first and second relative positions thereof, a flow passage through mated sample flow passages between a source of compressed air and said sample storage means to supply said bubble of air to said sample stored in said sample storage means.

Claim 8

In a flow regulation system as in claim 6 wherein, said means to pump said samples into said sample storage means comprise means to draw said samples into said sample storage means from a source of supply of said samples.

Claim 9

In a flow regulation system as defined in claim 1 wherein, said means to pump said samples into said sample storage means comprise means to draw said samples into said sample storage means from a source of supply of said samples.

Claim 10

In a flow regulation system as in claim 1 wherein, said means to pump said samples out of said sample storage means comprise means to introduce a pilot fluid at substantially constant flow rate to said sample storage means to displace said fluid samples from said sample storage means for supply at a correspondingly, substantially constant flow rate.

Claim 11

In a flow regulation system as in claim 9 wherein, said means to pump said samples into said sample storage means comprise means to draw said samples into said sample storage means from a source of supply of said samples.

Claim 12

A flow regulation system as in claim 1 wherein, said sample storage means comprise first sample storage means and second sample storage means, respectively, and said sample storage means transfer means are operable to simultaneously operatively connect said first sample storage means to said means to pump said samples into said sample storage means, and to operatively connect said second sample storage means to said means to pump said samples out of said sample storage means at substantially constant flow rate.

Claim 13

In a flow regulation system as in claim 11 wherein, said sample storage means transfer means comprise shear valve means having relatively movable valve plates with matable sample flow passages formed therein, said valve plates being arranged to provide, in a first relative position thereof, a flow passage through mated sample flow passages between a source of supply of said samples, said sample storage means, and said means to pump said samples into said sample storage means, respectively, and being arranged to provide, in a second relative position thereof, a flow passage through mated sample flow passages between said sample storage means and said means to pump said samples from said sample storage means.

Claim 14

In a flow regulation system as in claim 12 wherein, said means to pump said samples out of said sample storage means comprise means to introduce a pilot fluid at substantially constant flow rate to said sample storage means to displace said fluid samples from said sample storage means for supply at a correspondingly, substantially constant flow rate.

Claim 15

A flow regulation system for supplying fluid samples at substantially constant flow rate comprising, sample storage means, means to pump said samples into said sample storage means, means to pump said samples out of said sample storage means for supply at substantially constant flow rate, and sample storage means transfer means for transferring said sample storage means between operative connection with said means to pump said samples into said sample storage means and said means to pump said samples from said sample storage means, said sample storage means comprising sample storage means for a first portion of said samples and sample storage means for a second portion of said samples, and said sample storage means transfer means being operable to simultaneously and independently operatively connect said sample storage means for a first portion of said samples and said sample storage means for a second portion of said samples to said means to pump said samples from said sample storage means whereby, said first and second portions of said samples may be simultaneously and independently pumped from said sample storage means at substantially constant flow rate.

Claim 16

A flow regulation system for supplying fluid samples at substantially constant flow rate comprising, sample storage means, means to pump said samples into said sample storage means, means to pump said samples out of said sample storage means for supply at substantially constant flow rate, and sample storage means transfer means for transferring said sample storage means between operative connection with said means to pump said samples into said sample storage means and said means to pump said samples from said sample storage means, said sample storage means comprising sample storage means for a first portion of said samples and sample storage means for a second portion of said samples, and said sample storage means transfer means being operable to simultaneously and independently operatively connect said sample storage means for a first portion of said samples and said sample storage means for a second portion of said samples to said means to pump said samples from said sample storage means whereby, said first and second portions of said samples may be simultaneously and independently pumped from said sample storage means at substantially constant flow rate.

Claim 17

A flow regulation system as in claim 14 wherein, said sample storage means comprise first sample storage means and second sample storage means, respectively, and said sample storage means transfer means are operable to simultaneously operatively connect said first sample storage means to said means to pump said samples into said sample storage means, and to operatively connect said second sample storage means to said means to pump said samples out of said sample storage means at substantially constant flow rate.

Claim 18

In a flow regulation system as in claim 15 wherein, said sample storage means transfer means comprise shear valve means having relatively movable valve plates with matable sample flow passages formed therein, said valve plates being arranged to provide, in a first relative position thereof, a flow passage through mated sample flow passages between a source of supply of said samples, said sample storage means, and said means to pump said samples into said sample storage means, respectively, and being arranged to provide, in a second relative position thereof, a flow passage through mated sample flow passages between said sample storage means and said means to pump said samples from said sample storage means.

Claim 19

In a flow regulation system As in claim 16 wherein, said means to pump said samples out of said sample storage means comprise means to introduce a pilot fluid at substantially constant flow rate to said sample storage means to displace said fluid samples therefrom for supply at a correspondingly, substantially constant flow rate.