Power purged liquid sampler

Claim 2

Apparatus for taking measured samples of liquids with or without solids therein, comprising a closed metering chamber, a volume control tube extending into the chamber and having a lower end above the bottom thereof, the liquid being sampled entering the chamber through the control tube, a source of positive and negative pressure operatively connected to the chamber near the top thereof, control means for causing said source selectively to apply pressure and suction to the chamber, said pressure blowing out the control tube and said suction drawing liquid into the chamber, and a level controller in the chamber above the lower end of the control tube and connected to said source to operate the latter to shut off the suction and start the pressure when liquid in the chamber reaches a predetermined level, said pressure forcing liquid out through the control tube until the level of the liquid reaches the lower end of said tube.

Claim 3

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including an outlet at the bottom of the chamber, a shut-off valve controlling said outlet, and means for opening said valve after the liquid level reaches the lower end of the tube.

Claim 4

Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in which said control means includes means causing the pressure and suction to be applied to the metering chamber alternatively for predetermined periods.

Claim 5

Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in which said control means includes means for applying the pressure to the metering chamber for predetermined periods, and means for cutting off the suction when the vacuum created thereby in the chamber reaches a predetermined level.

Claim 6

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said control means includes means causing the pressure and suction to be applied to the metering chamber alternatively for predetermined periods.

Claim 7

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said control means includes means for applying the pressure to the metering chamber for predetermined periods, and means for cutting off the suction when the vacuum created thereby in the chamber reaches a predetermined level.

Claim 8

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said control tube is adjustable vertically relative to the metering chamber.

Claim 9

Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 in which said level controller is connected to said control means to stop the latter when the liquid reaches said predetermined level.

Claim 10

Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 including an outlet at the bottom of the chamber, a closed shut-off valve controlling said outlet, means for applying pressure to the chamber after the liquid has reached the predetermined level, and means for opening said valve a predetermined time after the liquid has reached the predetermined level.

Claim 11

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which said level controller is connected to said control means to stop the latter when the liquid reaches said predetermined level.

Claim 12

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including an outlet at the bottom of the chamber, a closed shut-off valve controlling said outlet, means for applying pressure to the chamber after the liquid has reached the predetermined level, and means for opening said valve a predetermined time after the liquid has reached the predetermined level.

Claim 13

Apparatus for taking measured samples of liquid with or without solids therein, comprising a closed metering chamber, a volume control tube extending into the chamber and having a lower end above the bottom thereof, the liquid being sampled entering the chamber through the control tube, a source of positive and negative pressure operatively connected to the chamber near the top thereof, a program timer to cause said power source alternatively to apply pressure and suction to the chamber during predetermined periods, a level controller in the chamber above the lower end of the control tube, and a purge timer set into operation by the level controller when the liquid in the chamber reaches a predetermined level above the lower end of the control tube, said purge timer being connected to over-ride the program timer and to cause said power source to cut off the suction and to apply pressure to the chamber to expel liquid therefrom through the control tube until the liquid level reaches the lower end of said tube.

Claim 14

Apparatus for taking measured samples of liquid with or without solids therein, comprising a closed metering chamber, a volume control tube extending into the chamber and having a lower end above the bottom thereof, the liquid being sampled entering the chamber through the control tube, a source of positive and negative pressure operatively connected to the chamber near the top thereof, a program timer to cause said power source alternatively to apply pressure and suction to the chamber during predetermined periods, a level controller in the chamber above the lower end of the control tube, and a purge timer set into operation by the level controller when the liquid in the chamber reaches a predetermined level above the lower end of the control tube, said purge timer being connected to over-ride the program timer and to cause said power source to cut off the suction and to apply pressure to the chamber to expel liquid therefrom through the control tube until the liquid level reaches the lower end of said tube.

Claim 15

Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 including an outlet at the bottom of the chamber, a shut off valve controlling said outlet, said purge timer being connected to open the shut-off valve a predetermined time after having started the expulsion of the liquid through the control tube to cause liquid to be forced out through said outlet.

Claim 16

Apparatus as claimed in claim 13 in which said purge timer includes means to close the shut-off valve before it causes suction to be applied to the metering chamber.

Claim 17

Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 in which said control tube is adjustable vertically relative to the metering chamber.

Claim 18

Apparatus for taking measured samples of liquids with or without solids therein, comprising a closed metering chamber, a volume control tube extending into the chamber and having a lower end above the bottom thereof, the liquid being sampled entering the chamber through the control tube, a source of positive and negative pressure operatively connected to the chamber near the top thereof, a blower timer to cause said power source to apply pressure to the chamber during predetermined periods, a vacuum-operated control in communication with the chamber connected to stop the power source from applying suction to the chamber and to start said blower timer when the vacuum created in the chamber reaches a predetermined level, a level controller in the chamber above the lower end of the control tube and connected to said source to operate the latter to shut off the suction and start the pressure when liquid in the chamber reaches a predetermined level, said pressure forcing liquid out through the control tube until the level of the liquid reaches the lower end of said tube.

Claim 19

Apparatus for taking measured samples of liquids with or without solids therein, comprising a closed metering chamber, a volume control tube extending into the chamber and having a lower end above the bottom thereof, the liquid being sampled entering the chamber through the control tube, a source of positive and negative pressure operatively connected to the chamber near the top thereof, a blower timer to cause said power source to apply pressure to the chamber during predetermined periods, a vacuum-operated control in communication with the chamber connected to stop the power source from applying suction to the chamber and to start said blower timer when the vacuum created in the chamber reaches a predetermined level, a level controller in the chamber above the lower end of the control tube and connected to said source to operate the latter to shut off the suction and start the pressure when liquid in the chamber reaches a predetermined level, said pressure forcing liquid out through the control tube until the level of the liquid reaches the lower end of said tube.

Claim 20

Apparatus as claimed in claim 16 including a purge timer started by said level controller when the liquid reaches said predetermined level, said purge timer being connected to cause said power source to cut off the suction and to apply pressure to the chamber to expel liquid therefrom thrOugh the control tube until the liquid level reaches the lower end of said tube.

Claim 21

Apparatus for taking measured samples of liquids with or without solids therein, comprising a closed metering chamber, an inlet tube opening into the chamber spaced above the bottom thereof, the liquid being sampled entering the chamber through the inlet tube, a source of positive and negative pressure operatively connected to the chamber near the top thereof, control means for causing said source selectively to apply pressure and suction to the chamber, said pressure blowing out the inlet tube and said suction drawing liquid through said inlet tube into the chamber, a level controller in the chamber and connected to said force to operate the latter to shut off the suction and start the pressure when the liquid in the chamber reaches a predetermined level, an outlet at the bottom of the chamber, and means for closing and opening said outlet, said pressure forcing liquid out of the chamber when applied thereto while the outlet is open.

Claim 22

Apparatus for taking measured samples of liquids with or without solids therein, comprising a closed metering chamber, an inlet tube opening into the chamber spaced above the bottom thereof, the liquid being sampled entering the chamber through the inlet tube, a source of positive and negative pressure operatively connected to the chamber near the top thereof, control means for causing said source selectively to apply pressure and suction to the chamber, said pressure blowing out the inlet tube and said suction drawing liquid through said inlet tube into the chamber, a level controller in the chamber and connected to said force to operate the latter to shut off the suction and start the pressure when the liquid in the chamber reaches a predetermined level, an outlet at the bottom of the chamber, and means for closing and opening said outlet, said pressure forcing liquid out of the chamber when applied thereto while the outlet is open.

Claim 23

Apparatus as claimed in claim 18 including means for operating said closing and opening means to open said outlet when the pressure is applied to the liquid after the suction is shut off.