Patent US3262524A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3841156A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3841156A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Combined depth indicator and water sampler
Assignee: Gulf Research and Development Co
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Filing: 1972-12-14
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Granted: 1974-10-15
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Expires: 1992-12-14
Abstract
Abstract A device for sampling a fluid such as water and for determining the pressure and therefore the depth of the water at the sampling location. A single hose is used for both upward flow for sample taking and downward flow to operate a back pressure valve having a sealed pre-set loading chamber to resist opening by pressure from the surface. The pressure exerted by the fluid in the hose automatically increases with increasing depth, and thus the surface measured pressure required to open the valve correlates to depth.
Inventors
- 👤 C Wolfe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 02:30
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N1/00; G01N1/02; G01N1/10; G01N1/12; G01C; G01C13/00; G01C13/008
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
304 words
Apparatus for sampling a fluid at a sampling location, delivering the sample to a remote location vertically spaced an unknown distance from the sampling location and determining at the remote location the pressure at the sampling location comprising a flexible conduit having a first end adapted to be located at the remote location and a second end connected to sampling apparatus adapted to be located at the sampling location; said sampling apparatus comprising a sampling conduit having one end connected to said second end of the flexible conduit, a check valve in the sampling conduit and adjacent the second end, said check valve being adapted to allow flow only in one direction from the sampling conduit through the second end and through the flexible conduit to the first end, a pressure relief valve positioned adjacent the second end having an inlet communicating with the sampling conduit between the check valve and the first end and an outlet for communicating with the other end of the sampling conduit at the sampling location, said pressure relief valve being set to be opened at a predetermined pressure and constructed and arranged to permit flow only from the first end of the conduit through the pressure relief valve upon application of a pressure at the first end of the conduit exceeding the predetermined pressure for opening the valve; suction means connected to the conduit at the first end for drawing a sample through the sampling conduit from the sampling location, pressure means connected to the conduit at the first end for delivering a fluid of the same phase as the sampled fluid through the flexible conduit at a pressure to overcome the predetermined pressure setting of the pressure relief valve, and means at the remote location for measuring the pressure in the flexible conduit at the remote location.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
304 words
Apparatus for sampling a fluid at a sampling location, delivering the sample to a remote location vertically spaced an unknown distance from the sampling location and determining at the remote location the pressure at the sampling location comprising a flexible conduit having a first end adapted to be located at the remote location and a second end connected to sampling apparatus adapted to be located at the sampling location; said sampling apparatus comprising a sampling conduit having one end connected to said second end of the flexible conduit, a check valve in the sampling conduit and adjacent the second end, said check valve being adapted to allow flow only in one direction from the sampling conduit through the second end and through the flexible conduit to the first end, a pressure relief valve positioned adjacent the second end having an inlet communicating with the sampling conduit between the check valve and the first end and an outlet for communicating with the other end of the sampling conduit at the sampling location, said pressure relief valve being set to be opened at a predetermined pressure and constructed and arranged to permit flow only from the first end of the conduit through the pressure relief valve upon application of a pressure at the first end of the conduit exceeding the predetermined pressure for opening the valve; suction means connected to the conduit at the first end for drawing a sample through the sampling conduit from the sampling location, pressure means connected to the conduit at the first end for delivering a fluid of the same phase as the sampled fluid through the flexible conduit at a pressure to overcome the predetermined pressure setting of the pressure relief valve, and means at the remote location for measuring the pressure in the flexible conduit at the remote location.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
131 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which the pressure relief valve comprises a valve body having an inlet communicating through the flexible conduit with the pressure means, a diaphragm in said valve body, an adjustable spring engaging one surface of the diaphragm constructed and arranged to keep the valve closed with a predetermined pressure, a valve seat in the valve body, a valve plug actuated by the diaphragm adapted to move from a closed position in engagement with the valve seat to an open position, and a port providing communication between the inlet of the valve and the side of the diaphragm opposite the spring whereby pressure applied to the fluid by the pressure means is exerted against the diaphragm in opposition to the force exerted by the spring.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 including means for operating the suction means and pressure means alternately.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including a bypass line around the check valve, and the pressure relief valve is in the bypass line.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
52 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 in which the check valve, pressure relief valve and bypass line are enclosed within a sampler housing, and float means and weight means are positioned in the sampler housing to control the attitude of the sampler as it moves through the fluid to be sampled.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 in which a screen is in the conduit line between the sampling location and the bypass.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as set forth In claim 1 in which the fluid is a liquid and the remote location is above the sampling location.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
296 words
A method of delivering samples of a fluid taken at a sampling location to a remote location vertically spaced from the sampling location and determining at the remote location the difference in elevation of the sampling location and the remote location comprising extending a flexible conduit from the remote location to the sampling location, said flexible conduit connected to a sampling conduit having a check valve therein permitting flow from the sampling location to the remote location, setting a pressure relief valve to open at a predetermined pressure higher than the static head of a column of the fluid having a height equal to the difference in elevation of the sampling location and the remote location, connecting the pressure relief valve into the sampling conduit between the check valve and the remote location arranged whereby the pressure relief valve is at substantially the elevation of the sampling location and permits flow from the remote location through said pressure relief valve to the sampling location, drawing a sample through the sampling conduit to the remote location, thereafter pumping a second fluid of the same phases as the fluid sampled and of known density from the remote location through the conduit and into the pressure relief valve, increasing the pressure on the second fluid to exceed the predetermined pressure of the pressure relief valve and cause flow therethrough, measuring at the remote location the pressure on the second fluid required to overcome the predetermined pressure of the pressure relief valve, subtracting the pressure measured at the remote location from the predetermined pressure at which the pressure relief valve is set to give the static head of the fluid being sampled at the pressure relief valve, and converting the static head to the depth of the fluid being sampled.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
296 words
A method of delivering samples of a fluid taken at a sampling location to a remote location vertically spaced from the sampling location and determining at the remote location the difference in elevation of the sampling location and the remote location comprising extending a flexible conduit from the remote location to the sampling location, said flexible conduit connected to a sampling conduit having a check valve therein permitting flow from the sampling location to the remote location, setting a pressure relief valve to open at a predetermined pressure higher than the static head of a column of the fluid having a height equal to the difference in elevation of the sampling location and the remote location, connecting the pressure relief valve into the sampling conduit between the check valve and the remote location arranged whereby the pressure relief valve is at substantially the elevation of the sampling location and permits flow from the remote location through said pressure relief valve to the sampling location, drawing a sample through the sampling conduit to the remote location, thereafter pumping a second fluid of the same phases as the fluid sampled and of known density from the remote location through the conduit and into the pressure relief valve, increasing the pressure on the second fluid to exceed the predetermined pressure of the pressure relief valve and cause flow therethrough, measuring at the remote location the pressure on the second fluid required to overcome the predetermined pressure of the pressure relief valve, subtracting the pressure measured at the remote location from the predetermined pressure at which the pressure relief valve is set to give the static head of the fluid being sampled at the pressure relief valve, and converting the static head to the depth of the fluid being sampled.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-10-14 | 1978-04-15 | 1978-10-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-10-14 | 1982-04-15 | 1982-10-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-10-14 | 1986-04-15 | 1986-10-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |