Patent US3834588A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3834588A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sampling apparatus
Assignee: Rosemount Inc
•
Filing: 1973-07-18
•
Granted: 1974-09-10
•
Expires: 1993-07-18
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for selectively delivering measured quantities of liquid from a flowing channel to a storage vessel to produce a composite sample. A container is supplied with a continuous flow of liquid from the channel at a constant level. A dispensing tube has an inlet connected to receive air during vacuum, vent and pressure portions of an operation cycle and an outlet connected to deliver a sample to a recipient system. An air pump has an output connected to supply air under pressure through one conduit to the air lift tube which supplies the liquid from the channel and through a branch conduit to the inlet of the dispensing tube. A transfer vessel operatively connected between the inlet and outlet of the dispensing tube receives liquid from the container during the vacuum portion of the operation cycle at a level above that of the liquid remaining in the dispensing tube from a previous operation cycle. A vacuum regulator unit is operatively connected to the air pump inlet to regulate the vacuum to the dispensing tube and a pressure regulator is operatively connected to the branch conduit to regulate the pressure to the dispensing tubes. Valves responsive to a programmer operate to selectively control the flow of air from the air pump to the dispensing tube during an operation cycle.
Inventors
- 👤 R Jones
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 06:10
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N1/00; G01N1/02; G01N1/10; G01N1/14; G01N2001/1087; G01N2001/1093; G01N2001/1445; G01N2001/1463
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
225 words
Apparatus for delivering measured quantities of liquid from a channel comprising: a container for storing liquid at a level above the level of liquid in said channel; air pressure supply means; air lift means responsive to said air pressure supply means and operatively connected to said channel for providing a continuous flow of liquid to said container to maintain the level of liquid in said container substantially constant; a dispensing tube including an inlet orifice, a lower bight, a dosing vessel operatively connected between the inlet orifice and one side of the lower bight, a discharge orifice, and a transfer vessel operatively connected between the discharge orifice and the other side of the lower bight; a collecting vessel operatively connected to the inlet orifice at a level below the level of the discharge orifice and above the top of the transfer vessel; feed conduit means communicating with said storage container and the transfer vessel for selectively passing liquid from said storage container to the transfer vessel; a siphon tube having an inlet orifice operatively connected to said collecting vessel and an outlet orifice connected to discharge liquid from said collecting vessel to atmosphere at a level below the level of the dispensing tube inlet orifice and above the dosing vessel; and means for selectively providing air under pressure, vacuum, or atmosphere to said collecting vessel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
225 words
Apparatus for delivering measured quantities of liquid from a channel comprising: a container for storing liquid at a level above the level of liquid in said channel; air pressure supply means; air lift means responsive to said air pressure supply means and operatively connected to said channel for providing a continuous flow of liquid to said container to maintain the level of liquid in said container substantially constant; a dispensing tube including an inlet orifice, a lower bight, a dosing vessel operatively connected between the inlet orifice and one side of the lower bight, a discharge orifice, and a transfer vessel operatively connected between the discharge orifice and the other side of the lower bight; a collecting vessel operatively connected to the inlet orifice at a level below the level of the discharge orifice and above the top of the transfer vessel; feed conduit means communicating with said storage container and the transfer vessel for selectively passing liquid from said storage container to the transfer vessel; a siphon tube having an inlet orifice operatively connected to said collecting vessel and an outlet orifice connected to discharge liquid from said collecting vessel to atmosphere at a level below the level of the dispensing tube inlet orifice and above the dosing vessel; and means for selectively providing air under pressure, vacuum, or atmosphere to said collecting vessel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said feed conduit means is operatively connected to provide a sufficient volume of liquid to said transfer vessel for each cycle of operation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said feed conduit means is operatively connected to said air lift means to selectively pass liquid from said channel to said transfer vessel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said air pressure supply means is operatively connected to receive air under pressure from said means for selectively providing air under pressure, vacuum or atmosphere.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the level of liquid in said storage container is above the level of said feed conduit means to provide a flow of liquid from said storage container through said feed conduit means to said transfer vessel by gravity means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein there is included means for returning the liquid overflow from said container to said channel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
67 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said air pressure supply means includes: a source of air under pressure, a conduit having one end responsively connected to said source of air and the other end submerged in said channel, a horizontal conduit extending from the submerged end of said conduit having an open end adapted to fit in the flared portion of said vertically extending conduit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
65 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for selectively providing air under pressure, vacuum or atmosphere includes: an air pump having a discharge outlet connected to supply air under pressure to said air pressure supply means, an inlet connected to supply air under vacuum to said collecting vessel, said discharge outlet further connected to supply air under pressure to said collecting vessel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said feed conduit means includes a solenoid operated valve responsive to a control signal to selectively pass and block the flow of liquid from said storage container to said transfer vessel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for selectively providing air under pressure, vacuum or atmosphere includes a cylinder containing air under pressure having an output connected to supply air under pressure.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
93 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein there is included: a programming means, a first valve operatively connected to selectively provide air under pressure to said collecting vessel in response to a signal from said programming means; a second valve operatively connected to selectively provide air under vacuum to said collecting vessel in response to a signal from said programming means; and a third valve operatively connected between said collecting vessel and atmosphere to selectively provide air under vent to said collecting vessel in response to a signal from said programming means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said air pressure cylinder is the source of power for all of the valves and programming means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein is included a fourth valve operatively connected in said feed conduit means for selectively passing liquid from said container to the transfer vessel in response to a signal from said programming means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein said second valve is connected to open slightly before said fourth valve from a signal from said programming means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein there is included: a jet pump having an inlet operatively connected to receive air under pressure from said air cylinder; said jet pump having an outlet connected To supply air under vacuum to said collecting vessel.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3718438A
Cited
US3708088A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-09-09 | 1978-03-11 | 1978-09-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-09-09 | 1982-03-11 | 1982-09-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-09-09 | 1986-03-11 | 1986-09-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |