Patent US4289091A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4025311A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Programmed fluid sampling and analysis apparatus
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1976-01-09
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Granted: 1977-05-24
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Expires: 1996-01-09
Abstract
Abstract A programmed fluid sampling and analysis apparatus and method includes apparatus for the programmer controlled sampling of a fluid stream in order to subject the fluid sample to an automated analysis of the ion or molecular concentrations of the chemicals of the sampled fluid. The sampled stream and appropriate reagents are impelled by a gas through the apparatus according to a program so that the sample fluid and reagents ultimately mix in a vessel wherein the mixtures are analyzed by a colorimeter or by specific element-ion sensitive probes connected to electronic amplifying and recording equipment. A programmed analysis of the sensor output is provided on a strip chart recorder. The apparatus includes a fluid sampling and transport device for delivering an aliquot of sampled fluid to a reaction chamber under the influence of a programmed pulse of compressed air. An aliquot of one or more reagents is similarly provided to the reaction chamber from a reagent sampling and transport device. The structures of the fluid sampling device, the reagent sampling device and the reaction chamber, in combination with the components of the system, permit automated analysis of a fluid stream. The details of the programmed circuit for performing the analysis are also disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 Julius H. Bochinski
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 12:23
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N35/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
357 words
A controlled apparatus for incrementally sampling a fluid in order to subject a discrete portion of the sampled fluid to analysis and having the capability of transporting at least said discrete portion of the sampled fluid free from contact with mechanical pumps by propulsion caused by gas, said apparatus comprising the combination of: gas supply means for supplying gas to propel said discrete fluid portion and at least a reagent in said apparatus in a predetermined sequence upon command; fluid collecting and transporting means for both discretely collecting at least a portion of said fluid at a first location and transporting a predetermined portion of the sampled fluid to another location in response to a gas from said gas supply means; reagent collecting and transporting means for both collecting a known aliquot of at least one reagent related to said predetermined portion of said sampled fluid and transporting said known aliquot to said another location in response to a gas from said gas supply means; reactor means for providing a reaction zone at said another location for receiving and reacting said sampled fluid portion and said reagent portion, said reactor means including means for draining the reactor means of spent solution of said sampled fluid and said reagent in response to gas from said gas supply means; means for programming the transportation of the predetermined portion of the sampled stream from said fluid collecting and transport means and said reagent portion from said reagent collecting and transport means by programming the supply of a gas to said fluid collecting and transport means and said reagent collecting and transport means; means for analyzing the reaction products in said reaction zone to determine the ion concentration of predetermined chemicals of said fluid; said draining means being in communication with said gas supply means and said reaction zone for draining said reaction means from said reaction zone after analysis of said reaction products is complete in response to a gas from said gas supply means controlled by said programming means; and means in circuit with said analyzing means and said programming means for providing a signal representative of said analysis.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
357 words
A controlled apparatus for incrementally sampling a fluid in order to subject a discrete portion of the sampled fluid to analysis and having the capability of transporting at least said discrete portion of the sampled fluid free from contact with mechanical pumps by propulsion caused by gas, said apparatus comprising the combination of: gas supply means for supplying gas to propel said discrete fluid portion and at least a reagent in said apparatus in a predetermined sequence upon command; fluid collecting and transporting means for both discretely collecting at least a portion of said fluid at a first location and transporting a predetermined portion of the sampled fluid to another location in response to a gas from said gas supply means; reagent collecting and transporting means for both collecting a known aliquot of at least one reagent related to said predetermined portion of said sampled fluid and transporting said known aliquot to said another location in response to a gas from said gas supply means; reactor means for providing a reaction zone at said another location for receiving and reacting said sampled fluid portion and said reagent portion, said reactor means including means for draining the reactor means of spent solution of said sampled fluid and said reagent in response to gas from said gas supply means; means for programming the transportation of the predetermined portion of the sampled stream from said fluid collecting and transport means and said reagent portion from said reagent collecting and transport means by programming the supply of a gas to said fluid collecting and transport means and said reagent collecting and transport means; means for analyzing the reaction products in said reaction zone to determine the ion concentration of predetermined chemicals of said fluid; said draining means being in communication with said gas supply means and said reaction zone for draining said reaction means from said reaction zone after analysis of said reaction products is complete in response to a gas from said gas supply means controlled by said programming means; and means in circuit with said analyzing means and said programming means for providing a signal representative of said analysis.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said reagent collecting and transport means includes means for collecting a known aliquot of a second reagent and transporting said known aliquot of said second reagent also related to said predetermined portion of said sampled fluid to said another location.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
73 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said gas supply means is an air supply means for supplying air in a predetermined sequence to said fluid collecting and transport means and said reagent collecting and transport means, said air supply means being controlled by said programming means to cause said predetermined portion of said sampled fluid and said known aliquot of said reagent to be transported respectively to said reaction zone.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said circuit means include readout means for measuring a difference in absorbence as the ratio of a signal representative of transmitted light through said sampled fluid prior to the addition of a reagent to the signal after the addition of at least one reagent.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
68 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said fluid collecting and transport means comprises: means for selecting and containing said predetermined portion of the sampled fluid, said selecting and containing means being in communication with said programmed gas supply means so that said known aliquot is caused to be transported from said selecting and containing means by said gas supply means when gas is supplied thereto.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
108 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said containing means include a sample tube immersed in said fluid for receiving a sample of said fluid therein; a gas supply tube connected to said sample tube at a predetermined location intermediate the length thereof, and means for maintaining the height of said fluid sample at a constant level, a difference in location between the constant level of said fluid sample and said predetermined location defining said sampled fluid portion within said sample tube, said sampled fluid portion being transported to said reaction zone upon admission of a gas to said sample tube through said gas supply tube.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said fluid collecting and transport means include a vessel for containing said fluid, said sample tube being immersed within said vessel and said constant level maintaining means includes an overflow port in said vessel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said programming means include valve means in circuit with said gas supply means and said gas supply tube, and means for selectively actuating said valve means to cause a gas to be supplied to said gas supply tube.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
71 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said reagent collecting and transport means comprises: means for selecting and containing said known aliquot of a reagent, said selecting and containing means being in communication with said programmed gas supply means so that said known aliquot of said reagent is caused to be transported from said selecting and containing means by said gas supply means when a gas is supplied thereto.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
101 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein said selecting and containing means include a sample tube immersed in said reagent for receiving said reagent therein, a gas supply tube connected to said reagent tube at a predetermined location, and means for maintaining the height of said reagent at a constant level, a difference in location between the constant level of said reagent and said predetermined location defining said known aliquot of said reagent within said sample tube, said predetermined portion being transported to said reaction zone upon admission of gas to said sample tube through said gas supply tube.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
76 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said reagent collecting and transport means include a vessel for containing said sample, said containing tube being immersed within said vessel and said constant level maintaining means include a reservoir for said reagent connected to said vessel at about the height of said constant level so that when the reagent in the vessel drops below said height, reagent from said reservoir restores the reagent to said height.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said programming means include valve means in circuit with said gas supply means and said gas supply tube and means for selectively actuating said valve means to cause gas to be supplied to said gas supply tube.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
80 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said reactor means include first containing means for receiving said sampled fluid and said reagent to provide a reaction zone therefor; second containing means for receiving the reaction products of said fluid and said reagent; said draining means connecting said first and said second containing means and structurally adapted to prevent in cooperation with said gas supply means and said programming means the passage of reaction products therethrough under quiescent conditions.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein said draining means include a disengagement zone, said gas supply means communicating with said gas disengagement zone and said programmed gas supply means for supplying a gas to said reactor means in a predetermined sequence.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 14 wherein said analyzing means include a colorimeter, the optical portion of which is in optical communication with the reaction products in said first containing means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 14 wherein said reactor means is structured so that said fluid and said reagent remain suspended in said reaction zone when said gas supply means is off.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
76 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 14 wherein said gas supply means communicating with said disengagement zone include a first tube, the passage of gas through which is controlled by first valve means in said programming means, a second tube communicating with said first tube and controlled by second valve means in said programming means, the reaction products remaining in said reaction zone when said first valve means and said second valve means are closed.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
72 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 14 wherein said gas supply means communicating with said disengagement zone include a first tube, the passage of gas through which is controlled by first valve means in said programming means, and second valve means in said programming means in communication with said draining means, the reaction products remaining in said reaction zone when said first valve means and said second valve means are closed.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
157 words
A liquid dispensing apparatus comprising: means for selecting and containing a predetermined portion of a sampled liquid, said selecting and containing means being in communication with programmed gas supply means so that said predetermined portion of the sampled liquid is caused to be transported from said selecting and containing means by said gas supply when gas is supplied thereto, said selecting and containing means including a sample tube immersed in said liquid for receiving said sample therein, a gas supply tube connected to said sample tube at a predetermined location intermediate said sample tube, and means for maintaining the height of said sample at a constant level, a difference between the location of said constant level of said fluid and said predetermined location defining said predetermined portion of said collected fluid within said sample tube, said predetermined portion being transported from said sample tube upon admission of gas to said sample tube through said gas supply tube.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
157 words
A liquid dispensing apparatus comprising: means for selecting and containing a predetermined portion of a sampled liquid, said selecting and containing means being in communication with programmed gas supply means so that said predetermined portion of the sampled liquid is caused to be transported from said selecting and containing means by said gas supply when gas is supplied thereto, said selecting and containing means including a sample tube immersed in said liquid for receiving said sample therein, a gas supply tube connected to said sample tube at a predetermined location intermediate said sample tube, and means for maintaining the height of said sample at a constant level, a difference between the location of said constant level of said fluid and said predetermined location defining said predetermined portion of said collected fluid within said sample tube, said predetermined portion being transported from said sample tube upon admission of gas to said sample tube through said gas supply tube.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 19 wherein said liquid dispensing apparatus includes a vessel for containing said sample, said sample tube being immersed within said vessel and said constant level maintaining means include an overflow port in said vessel.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 20 wherein said constant level maintaining means include reservoir means for storing said liquid, said reservoir means communicating with said vessel to maintain the liquid level constant within said vessel.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
137 words
In an apparatus for reacting a plurality of fluids, a reactor means including first containing means for receiving at least a first fluid and a second fluid to provide a reaction zone therefor; second containing means for receiving the reaction products of said first and second fluids; drain means connecting said first and said second containing means and structurally adapted to prevent, in cooperation with programmed gas supply means, the passage of reaction products therethrough under quiescent conditions, said drain means including a disengagement zone, said gas supply means communicating with said disengagement zone; said programmed air supply means supplying air to said reactor means in a predetermined sequence to prevent reaction products from draining through said drain means when said gas supply means is in a first condition and causing said draining in a second condition.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
137 words
In an apparatus for reacting a plurality of fluids, a reactor means including first containing means for receiving at least a first fluid and a second fluid to provide a reaction zone therefor; second containing means for receiving the reaction products of said first and second fluids; drain means connecting said first and said second containing means and structurally adapted to prevent, in cooperation with programmed gas supply means, the passage of reaction products therethrough under quiescent conditions, said drain means including a disengagement zone, said gas supply means communicating with said disengagement zone; said programmed air supply means supplying air to said reactor means in a predetermined sequence to prevent reaction products from draining through said drain means when said gas supply means is in a first condition and causing said draining in a second condition.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 22 wherein said reactor means are structured so that said first and second fluids remain suspended in said reaction zone when said gas supply means is in said first condition; said suspension being maintained by a column of fluid and gas in said drain means and said second containing means.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
88 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 23 wherein said gas supply means communicating with said disengagement zone includes a first tube, the passage of air through which is controlled by first valve means operated by programming means, a second tube communicating with said first tube and controlled by second valve means operated by said programming means, the reaction products remaining in said reaction zone when said first valve means and said second valve means are closed, and draining therefrom when one of said valve means is open.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
75 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 23 wherein said gas supply means communicating with said disengagement zone includes a first tube, the passage of gas through which is controlled by first and second valve means operated by programming means, in communication with said drain means such that substantially no draining occurs when said first valve means and said second valve means are closed, and draining occurs when one of said valve means is open.
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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) | 1980-05-23 | 1980-11-22 | 1981-05-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-05-23 | 1984-11-22 | 1985-05-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-05-23 | 1988-11-22 | 1989-05-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |