Sample collector

Claim 2

A fluid control system for guiding the fluid from a body of fluid through a sample collector into a plurality of containers, comprising: channel-inlet means having internal wall portions defining a plurality of channel inlets; channel-outlet means having internal wall portions defining a plurality of channel outlets; channel means for guiding fluid applied to at least one of said channel inlets to at least one of said channel outlets; certain of said channel outlets being adapted to be positioned directly over a different one of said containers, whereby fluid applied to one of said channel-inlets is guided into one of said containers without passing through any curved lengths of tubes; sample-collector inlet means having internal walls defining at least one sample-collector inlet; pump outlet means having internal walls defining, at least one pump outlet; pump means for pumping fluid between said sample-collector inlet and said pump outlet; fluid-guide outlet means having internal walls defining at least one fluid-guide outlet; rotatable fluid-guide means for receiving fluid from said pump outlet and guiding said fluid to different ones said channel inlets; said pump outlet means being stationary and communicating with said fluid-guide means; said rotatable fluid-guide means including fluid-guide inlet means for communicating with said stationary pump outlet while said movable fluid-guide means rotates, whereby said pump outlet assumes different positions with respect to said rotatable fluid-guide means while remaining in communication with the interior thereof; said rotatable fluid-guide means having a vertical axis of rotation; said rotatable fluid-guide means including drive means for rotating said rotatable fluid-guide means about said vertical axis of rotation; said fluid-guide inlet meanS having internal walls defining a fluid-guide inlet; said channel means including a distributor plate; said distributor plate including a plurality of recesses and perforations; said recesses defining said channel-inlet means and said perforations defining said channel-outlet means.

Claim 3

A fluid control system according to claim 1 in which: said rotatable fluid-guide means includes a funnel means having a funnel inlet and a funnel outlet; said funnel means includes a tubular rim defining said funnel inlet; said tubular rim being lower and larger than said pump outlet; and said pump outlet being positioned so that its vertical projection downward lies within said rim, whereby said rim may rotate without said vertical projection falling outside of said rim.

Claim 4

A fluid control system according to claim 2 in which: said funnel outlet is lower than said rim; and said funnel outlet is offset from said vertical axis of rotation, whereby said funnel outlet orbits about said vertical axis of rotation to assume different positions above different ones of said channel inlets.

Claim 5

A fluid control system according to claim 3 in which: the pump outlet is located a substantial radial distance from said vertical axis of rotation; and said fluid control system further includes timing means for periodically energizing said pump means and said funnel drive means; said timing means includes adjustable interval-timer means for adjusting the start of the first time interval at which said pump means and funnel drive means are energized.

Claim 6

A fluid control system according to claim 4 in which: said sample-collector-inlet means includes a first section of hose adapted to receive said fluid drawn from said body of fluid; said pump outlet includes a second section of hose; and said second section of hose has one end positioned above said funnel inlet.

Claim 7

A fluid control system according to claim 3 in which: said channel-inlet means are in a line; and said channel-outlet means are offset from said line, whereby said containers are offset from said line.

Claim 8

A fluid control system according to claim 6 in which said channel-outlet means are offset into at least a second and a third line of channel-outlet means, whereby said containers may be staggered.

Claim 9

A fluid control system according to claim 7 in which: said first-mentioned line forms a circle, whereby said funnel outlet passes over each distributor recess when said funnel means rotates one complete revolution; and said second and third lines are circles with said second line being on the opposite side of said first-mentioned line as said third line, whereby said containers may be arranged into two side-by-side circles of containers.

Claim 10

A fluid control system according to claim 7 in which the said pump outlet is located a substantial radial distance from the said vertical axis of rotation.

Claim 11

A fluid control system for guiding the fluid from a body of fluid through a sample collector into a plurality of containers, comprising: a distributor plate having internal walls defining a plurality of distributor inlets, a plurality of distributor outlets and a plurality of distributor passageways; said distributor inlets opening upwardly from said distributor plate; said distributor outlets being perforations through said distributor plate; each of certain ones of said distributor passageways being channels opening upwardly from said distributor plate and connecting a different one of said distributor inlets to a different one of said distributor outlets, whereby fluid entering one of said distributor inlets is guided by said distributor passageway to one of said distributor outlets; each of said distributor outlets being adapted to be positioned over a different one of said containers, whereby fluid applied to one of said distributor inlets from the top of said distributor plate is guided to one of saId containers beneath said distributor plate; each of said distributor inlets being in one line; sample-collector-inlet means having internal walls defining at least one sample collector inlet; pump outlet means having internal walls defining at least one pump outlet; pump means for pumping fluid between said sample-collector-inlet and said pump outlet; fluid-guide inlet means having internal walls defining a fluid-guide inlet; fluid-guide outlet means having internal walls defining at least one fluid-guide outlet; and movable fluid-guide for receiving fluid from said pump outlet and guiding said fluid to different ones of said distributor inlets, whereby said fluid is guided to different ones of said containers; said distributor outlets being offset from said line of distributor inlets into at least second and third lines, whereby said containers are staggered into two lines of containers; said second line being on the opposite side of said first-mentioned line from said third line, whereby said containers may be arranged into side-by-side lines of containers; and said first-mentioned line being a circle, whereby said fluid-guide outlet may apply fluid to said distributor inlets by moving in a circle.

Claim 12

A fluid control system for guiding the fluid from a body of fluid through a sample collector into a plurality of containers, comprising: a distributor plate having internal walls defining a plurality of distributor inlets, a plurality of distributor outlets and a plurality of distributor passageways; said distributor inlets opening upwardly from said distributor plate; said distributor outlets being perforations through said distributor plate; each of certain ones of said distributor passageways being channels opening upwardly from said distributor plate and connecting a different one of said distributor inlets to a different one of said distributor outlets, whereby fluid entering one of said distributor inlets is guided by said distributor passageway to one of said distributor outlets; each of said distributor outlets being adapted to be positioned over a different one of said containers, whereby fluid applied to one of said distributor inlets from the top of said distributor plate is guided to one of saId containers beneath said distributor plate; each of said distributor inlets being in one line; sample-collector-inlet means having internal walls defining at least one sample collector inlet; pump outlet means having internal walls defining at least one pump outlet; pump means for pumping fluid between said sample-collector-inlet and said pump outlet; fluid-guide inlet means having internal walls defining a fluid-guide inlet; fluid-guide outlet means having internal walls defining at least one fluid-guide outlet; and movable fluid-guide for receiving fluid from said pump outlet and guiding said fluid to different ones of said distributor inlets, whereby said fluid is guided to different ones of said containers; said distributor outlets being offset from said line of distributor inlets into at least second and third lines, whereby said containers are staggered into two lines of containers; said second line being on the opposite side of said first-mentioned line from said third line, whereby said containers may be arranged into side-by-side lines of containers; and said first-mentioned line being a circle, whereby said fluid-guide outlet may apply fluid to said distributor inlets by moving in a circle.

Claim 13

A fluid control system for guiding fluid from a body of fluid through a sample collector into a plurality of containers, comprising: sample collector inlet means having internal walls defining at least one sample collector inlet; sample collector outlet means having internal walls defining a plurality of sample collector outlets; each of said sample collector outlets being adapted to be positioned over a different container; flow means for guiding fluid applied to said sample collector inlet to at least one of said sample collector outlets at a time, whereby a plurality of said containers may have fluid applied to them through different ones of said sample collector outlets at different times; said flow means including movable means for assuming different positions each of which guides said fluid from said sample collector inlet to a different one of said sample collector outlets; control means for moving said movable means from one position to another upon receiving an internal signal, whereby different ones of said containers are filled; said control means including switch means for providing an interval signal to said control means upon being actuated and a d.c. clock means for periodically actuating said switch means; said d.c. clock means including a d.c. clock having first and second sides, an hour hand on said first side and a central shaft extending through said d.c. clock from said first side to said second side; means for driving said hour hand from said central shaft; said switch means being attached to said central shaft near the second side of said d.c. clock, whereby said switch means is actuated by the rotation of said central shaft.

Claim 14

A fluid control system for guiding fluid from a body of fluid through a sample collector into a plurality of containers, comprising: sample collector inlet means having internal walls defining at least one sample collector inlet; sample collector outlet means having internal walls defining a plurality of sample collector outlets; each of said sample collector outlets being adapted to be positioned over a different container; flow means for guiding fluid applied to said sample collector inlet to at least one of said sample collector outlets at a time, whereby a plurality of said containers may have fluid applied to them through different ones of said sample collector outlets at different times; said flow means including movable means for assuming different positions each of which guides said fluid from said sample collector inlet to a different one of said sample collector outlets; control means for moving said movable means from one position to another upon receiving an internal signal, whereby different ones of said containers are filled; said control means including switch means for providing an interval signal to said control means upon being actuated and a d.c. clock means for periodically actuating said switch means; said d.c. clock means including a d.c. clock having first and second sides, an hour hand on said first side and a central shaft extending through said d.c. clock from said first side to said second side; means for driving said hour hand from said central shaft; said switch means being attached to said central shaft near the second side of said d.c. clock, whereby said switch means is actuated by the rotation of said central shaft.

Claim 15

A fluid control system according to claim 11, in which: said switch means includes a reed switch and a magnet; one of said reed switch and said magnet being mounted to said central shaft for rotation therewith in a plane parallel to said second side; and the other of said reed switch and said magnet being mounted such that said magnet actuates said reed switch during one portion and reactuates said reed switch during another portion of the revolution of said central shaft.

Claim 16

A fluid control system for guiding the fluid from a body of fluid from a sample collector into a plurality of removable containers, comprising: sample-collector-inlet means having internal walls defining at least one sample-collector-inlet and at least one discharge opening; pump means for causing fluid to flow between said sample-collector-inlet and said discharge opening; fluid-guide outlet means having internal walls defining at least one fluid-guide outlet; fluid-guide means having internal walls witH a substantially tubular rim defining a fluid-guide inlet, for guiding fluid between said fluid-guide inlet and said fluid-guide outlet means; said tubular rim being larger than said discharge opening; said discharge opening being positioned so that its vertical projection downward lies within said rim; said discharge opening being stationary and communicating with said fluid-guide inlet, whereby fluid is guided from the stationary discharge opening into said fluid-guide means without passing through any curved, movable tubes; said fluid-guide outlet means including internal walls communicating with the interior of said fluid-guide means; said containers being arranged side-by-side in at least one closed path; said closed path having a center; an ice compartment within said closed path; and drive means for moving said internal walls of said fluid-guide outlet means in a circular path about said center to bring the interior of said fluid-guide means into communication with the interior of said containers through a plurality of different open paths without confining tubes, whereby said fluid flows from said fluid-guide outlet means into said containers without passing through any long, curved tubes.

Claim 17

A fluid control system for guiding the fluid from a body of fluid from a sample collector into a plurality of removable containers, comprising: sample-collector-inlet means having internal walls defining at least one sample-collector-inlet and at least one discharge opening; pump means for causing fluid to flow between said sample-collector-inlet and said discharge opening; fluid-guide outlet means having internal walls defining at least one fluid-guide outlet; fluid-guide means having internal walls witH a substantially tubular rim defining a fluid-guide inlet, for guiding fluid between said fluid-guide inlet and said fluid-guide outlet means; said tubular rim being larger than said discharge opening; said discharge opening being positioned so that its vertical projection downward lies within said rim; said discharge opening being stationary and communicating with said fluid-guide inlet, whereby fluid is guided from the stationary discharge opening into said fluid-guide means without passing through any curved, movable tubes; said fluid-guide outlet means including internal walls communicating with the interior of said fluid-guide means; said containers being arranged side-by-side in at least one closed path; said closed path having a center; an ice compartment within said closed path; and drive means for moving said internal walls of said fluid-guide outlet means in a circular path about said center to bring the interior of said fluid-guide means into communication with the interior of said containers through a plurality of different open paths without confining tubes, whereby said fluid flows from said fluid-guide outlet means into said containers without passing through any long, curved tubes.

Claim 18

A fluid control system in accordance with claim 13 in which said internal walls of said fluid-guide means slope inwardly and downwardly between said fluid-guide inlet and said fluid-guide outlet means, whereby said fluid flows along said walls between said fluid-guide inlet and said fluid-guide outlet means under the influence of gravity.

Claim 19

A fluid control system in accordance with claim 13 further including a tightly sealed compartment; at least a portion of said drive means being in said tightly sealed compartment.

Claim 20

A fluid control system in accordance with claim 13 further including a tightly sealed compartment; at least a portion of said pump means being in said tightly sealed compartment.

Claim 21

A fluid control system in accordance with claim 13 further including volume control means for controlling the volume of fluid pumped by said pump means.

Claim 22

A fluid control system according to claim 17 in which said volume control means includes a volume measuring means for measuring the volume of fluid pumped by said pump means independently from the speed of the pump means.

Claim 23

A fluid control system according to claim 18 in which said measuring means is in a location separated from said fluid.

Claim 24

A fluid control system in accordance with claim 13 further including: timing means for periodically energizing said pump and said drive means; said timing means including adjustable interval-timing means for adjusting the start of the first timed interval at which said pump and drive means are energized.

Claim 25

A fluid control system in accordance with claim 20 further including a tightly sealed compartment; at least a portion of said timing means being in said tightly sealed compartment.

Claim 26

A fluid control system according to claim 20 in which said timing means includes means for resetting said timing means.

Claim 27

A fluid control system according to claim 20 in which said timing means includes means for shutting off the power to said timing means when the last bottle is filled.

Claim 28

A fluid control system according to claim 13 in which: said pump means includes means for pumping fluid under pressure and a plurality of tubes for guiding fluid from said body of fluid into and through at least a portion of said fluid control system; all of said tubes being directly connected to said pressure, whereby fluid is guided within said fluid control system without passing through any tubes not under pressure.

Claim 29

A fluid control system according to claim 13 further including means for stopping said drive means when said internal walls of said fluid-guide outlet means are positioned with the interior of said fluid-guide outlet means in communication with the interior of one of said containers.