US3681997A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Composite pipeline sampler
Assignee: Chevron USA Inc
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Filing: 1971-03-16
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Granted: 1972-08-08
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Expires: 1991-03-16
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for obtaing a composite and proportional sample of liquid flowing through a pipeline in which an obstruction is installed to produce a pressure drop sufficient to cause appreciable flow through a sampling line connected to the pipeline upstream and downstream of the obstruction. A sampler pump connected into the sampling line periodically displaces a predetermined portion of the liquid flowing through the pipeline into a sample container maintained full of liquid and at a pressure enough higher than the vapor pressure of the most volatile component present in the product to be sampled to prevent vaporization of the volatile components of the liquid sampled. An accumulator in the line from the sample container to a displacement liquid reservoir protects the sample container from drops in pressure that might cause vaporization of the sample, and a bypass and rupture plug assembly protects the sample container from excessive pressure.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul V Allen
- 👤 Edward W Mcallister
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 06:19
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N1/00; G01N1/02; G01N1/10; G01N1/20; G01N1/2035
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
174 words
Apparatus for obtaining a composite sample of liquids flowing through a pipeline comprising a sample line to be connected into the pipeline, a sampler pump having an inlet connected to the sample line, a sample container, a sample delivery line connected to the outlet of the sampler pump and to the upper end of the sample container, a check valve in the sample delivery line allowing flow only in the direction from the sampler pump to the sample container, a displacement liquid line extending from the lower end of the sample container, a displacement liquid reservoir connected to the end of the displacement liquid line remote from the sample container, a pressure regulator in the displacement liquid line between the displacement liquid reservoir and the sample container adapted to maintain pressure in the sample container higher than the pressure in the displacement liquid reservoir, and a gas-filled accumulator connected to the displacement liquid line between the pressure regulator and the sample container to maintain pressure in the sample container during shutdown of the pipeline.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
174 words
Apparatus for obtaining a composite sample of liquids flowing through a pipeline comprising a sample line to be connected into the pipeline, a sampler pump having an inlet connected to the sample line, a sample container, a sample delivery line connected to the outlet of the sampler pump and to the upper end of the sample container, a check valve in the sample delivery line allowing flow only in the direction from the sampler pump to the sample container, a displacement liquid line extending from the lower end of the sample container, a displacement liquid reservoir connected to the end of the displacement liquid line remote from the sample container, a pressure regulator in the displacement liquid line between the displacement liquid reservoir and the sample container adapted to maintain pressure in the sample container higher than the pressure in the displacement liquid reservoir, and a gas-filled accumulator connected to the displacement liquid line between the pressure regulator and the sample container to maintain pressure in the sample container during shutdown of the pipeline.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
226 words
Apparatus for obtaining a composite sample of liquids flowing through a pipeline comprising a sample line to be connected into the pipeline, a sampler pump having an inlet connected to the sample line, a sample container, a sample delivery line connected to the outlet of the sampler pump and to the upper end of the sample container, a check valve in the sample delivery line allowing flow only in the direction from the sampler pump to the sample container, a displacement liquid line extending from the lower end of the sample container, a displacement liquid reservoir connected to the end of the displacement liquid line remote from the sample container, a pressure regulator in the displacement liquid line between the displacement liquid reservoir and the sample container adapted to maintain pressure in the sample container higher than the pressure in the displacement liquid reservoir, a bypass line having an inlet opening into the displacement liquid line between the pressure regulator and the sample container and an outlet opening into the displacement liquid line between the displacement liquid reservoir and the pressure regulator, a rupture disc in the bypass line, and a spring-loaded check valve in the bypass line between the rupture disc and the displacement reservoir adapted to maintain pressure in the bypass line at the rupture disc higher than pressure in the displacement liquid reservoir.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
226 words
Apparatus for obtaining a composite sample of liquids flowing through a pipeline comprising a sample line to be connected into the pipeline, a sampler pump having an inlet connected to the sample line, a sample container, a sample delivery line connected to the outlet of the sampler pump and to the upper end of the sample container, a check valve in the sample delivery line allowing flow only in the direction from the sampler pump to the sample container, a displacement liquid line extending from the lower end of the sample container, a displacement liquid reservoir connected to the end of the displacement liquid line remote from the sample container, a pressure regulator in the displacement liquid line between the displacement liquid reservoir and the sample container adapted to maintain pressure in the sample container higher than the pressure in the displacement liquid reservoir, a bypass line having an inlet opening into the displacement liquid line between the pressure regulator and the sample container and an outlet opening into the displacement liquid line between the displacement liquid reservoir and the pressure regulator, a rupture disc in the bypass line, and a spring-loaded check valve in the bypass line between the rupture disc and the displacement reservoir adapted to maintain pressure in the bypass line at the rupture disc higher than pressure in the displacement liquid reservoir.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
84 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including a bypass having an inlet opening into the displacement liquid line between the sample container and the pressure regulator and an outlet opening into the displacement liquid line between the displacement liquid reservoir and the pressure regulator, a rupture disc in the bypass, and a spring-loaded check valve permitting flow from the rupture disc to the displacement liquid reservoir and adapted to maintain pressure in the rupture disc higher than pressure in the displacement liquid reservoir.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
111 words
In apparatus for taking a composite sample including a sample from a pipeline including a sample line connected into the pipeline, a sampler pump adapted to pump liquid from the sample line through a sample delivery line to a sample container, a displacement liquid reservoir, a displacement liquid line from the lower end of the sample container to the displacement liquid reservoir, and a pressure regulator in the displacement liquid line, the improvement comprising a gas-filled accumulator connected into the displacement liquid line between the pressure regulator and the sample container, and pressure-operated check valves in the sample delivery line permitting flow only from the sampler pump to the sample container.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
111 words
In apparatus for taking a composite sample including a sample from a pipeline including a sample line connected into the pipeline, a sampler pump adapted to pump liquid from the sample line through a sample delivery line to a sample container, a displacement liquid reservoir, a displacement liquid line from the lower end of the sample container to the displacement liquid reservoir, and a pressure regulator in the displacement liquid line, the improvement comprising a gas-filled accumulator connected into the displacement liquid line between the pressure regulator and the sample container, and pressure-operated check valves in the sample delivery line permitting flow only from the sampler pump to the sample container.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
298 words
Apparatus for collecting a composite sample of liquids flowing through a pipeline comprising an obstruction in the liquid pipeline adapted to cause a pressure differential in the pipeline, a sample line having an inlet connected into the pipeline upstream of the obstruction and an outlet connected into the pipeline downstream of the obstruction whereby pipeline liquids flow continually through the sample line, a sampler pump having an inlet connected to the sample line and an outlet, a sample container, a sample delivery line extending from the outlet of the sampler pump to the upper end of the sample container, a check valve in the sample delivery line permitting flow only from the sampler pump to the sample container, a displacement liquid reservoir, a displacement liquid line extending from the lower end of the sample container to the lower end of the displacement liquid reservoir, a line connected to the upper end of the displacement liquid reservoir and to the pipeline downstream of the obstruction, a pressure regulator in the displacement liquid line loaded to maintain pressure in the sample container higher than the pressure in the displacement liquid reservoir and prevent flow from tHe displacement liquid reservoir to the sample container, a bypass line having an inlet opening into the displacement liquid line between the pressure regulator and sample container and an outlet opening into the displacement liquid line between the pressure regulator and displacement liquid reservoir, a rupture disc in the bypass line, a check valve in the bypass line between the rupture disc and the displacement liquid reservoir loaded to maintain pressure in the bypass line at the rupture disc higher than pressure in the displacement liquid reservoir, and a gas-filled accumulator opening into the displacement liquid line between the pressure regulator and the sample container.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
298 words
Apparatus for collecting a composite sample of liquids flowing through a pipeline comprising an obstruction in the liquid pipeline adapted to cause a pressure differential in the pipeline, a sample line having an inlet connected into the pipeline upstream of the obstruction and an outlet connected into the pipeline downstream of the obstruction whereby pipeline liquids flow continually through the sample line, a sampler pump having an inlet connected to the sample line and an outlet, a sample container, a sample delivery line extending from the outlet of the sampler pump to the upper end of the sample container, a check valve in the sample delivery line permitting flow only from the sampler pump to the sample container, a displacement liquid reservoir, a displacement liquid line extending from the lower end of the sample container to the lower end of the displacement liquid reservoir, a line connected to the upper end of the displacement liquid reservoir and to the pipeline downstream of the obstruction, a pressure regulator in the displacement liquid line loaded to maintain pressure in the sample container higher than the pressure in the displacement liquid reservoir and prevent flow from tHe displacement liquid reservoir to the sample container, a bypass line having an inlet opening into the displacement liquid line between the pressure regulator and sample container and an outlet opening into the displacement liquid line between the pressure regulator and displacement liquid reservoir, a rupture disc in the bypass line, a check valve in the bypass line between the rupture disc and the displacement liquid reservoir loaded to maintain pressure in the bypass line at the rupture disc higher than pressure in the displacement liquid reservoir, and a gas-filled accumulator opening into the displacement liquid line between the pressure regulator and the sample container.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 in which the sampler pump is a plunger-operated pump of variable stroke and means actuate the pump with a frequency proportional to the rate of flow through the pipeline.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-08-08 | 1976-02-07 | 1976-08-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-08-08 | 1980-02-07 | 1980-08-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-08-08 | 1984-02-07 | 1984-08-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |