Atmospheric sampling apparatus

Claim 2

An improved apparatus for the collection of atmospheric samples, comprising: a sealed first container member filled with liquid material therein; a sealed second container member positioned below said sealed first container member; first container venting means for the controlled introduction of the atmosphere surrounding said apparatus into said first container; second container venting means for the controlled dispersal of the atmosphere within said second container into the surrounding atmosphere; said first container venting means and said second container venting means comprising; a plurality of septum holding members attached to said first container member and said second container member respectively and extending therein, said septum holding members forming an airtight seal with said container members; said septum holding members each having a passageway therethrough into said container members; a septum positioned within said passageway, said septum forming an airtight seal within said passageway; and a hollow needle member having an aperture proximate its tip, said needle member being insertable through said septum whereby a gaseous atmosphere may pass into or out of the container member; restrictive flow channel means between said first and second container members for the controlled passage of said liquid therethrough, said passage of liquid creating a vacuum in said first container member whereby a portion of said surrounding atmosphere is controlledly drawn through said first container venting means and into said first container member where it is retained; sample removal means for permitting the withdrawal of a desired quantity of said retained atmosphere from within said first container member; and base means for the support of said apparatus.

Claim 3

An improved apparatus for the collection of atmospheric samples, comprising: a sealed first container member; a sealed second container member, in a first operating mode being positioned below said first container member, and in a second operating mode being positioned above said first container member; a selected quantity of liquid material, in said first operating mode initially filling said first container member, and in said second operating mode initially filling said second container member; first container top venting means for the controlled introduction of the atmosphere surrounding said apparatus into said first container member in said first operating mode; first container central venting means for the controlled dispersal of the atmosphere in said first container member into the atmosphere surrounding said apparatus in said second operating mode; second container top venting means for the controlled introduction of the atmosphere surrounding said apparatus into said second container member in said second operating mode; second container central venting means for the controlled dispersal of the atmosphere in said second container member into the atmosphere outside of said apparatus in said first operating mode; said first container top venting means, said first container central venting means, said second container top venting means, and said second container central venting means each comprising; a septum holding member attached to a respective container member and extending therein, said septum holding member forming an airtight seal with the container member; said septum holding member having a passageway therethrough into the container member; a septum positioned within said passageway, said septum forming an airtight seal within said passageway; and a hollow needle member having an aperture proximate its tip, said needle member being insertable through said septum whereby a gaseous atmosphere may pass into or out of the container member as required; restrictive flow channel means between said first and second container members for the controlled passage of said liquid therethrough so as to create a vacuum, in said first operating mode in said first container member and in said second operating mode in said second container member, thereby controlledly drawing a continuous stream of said surrounding atmosphere through said first container top venting means and into said first container member in said first mode, and through said second container top venting means and into said second container member in said second mode; sample removal means for permitting the withdrawal of a desired quantity of said retained atmosphere from said apparatus; and upper and lower base means for the support of said apparatus.

Claim 4

An improved apparatus for the collection of atmospheric samples, comprising: a sealed first container member; a sealed second container member, in a first operating mode being positioned below said first container member, and in a second operating mode being positioned above said first container member; a selected quantity of liquid material, in said first operating mode initially filling said first container member, and in said second operating mode initially filling said second container member; first container top venting means for the controlled introduction of the atmosphere surrounding said apparatus into said first container member in said first operating mode; first container central venting means for the controlled dispersal of the atmosphere in said first container member into the atmosphere surrounding said apparatus in said second operating mode; second container top venting means for the controlled introduction of the atmosphere surrounding said apparatus into said second container member in said second operating mode; second container central venting means for the controlled dispersal of the atmosphere in said second container member into the atmosphere outside of said apparatus in said first operating mode; said first container top venting means, said first container central venting means, said second container top venting means, and said second container central venting means each comprising; a septum holding member attached to a respective container member and extending therein, said septum holding member forming an airtight seal with the container member; said septum holding member having a passageway therethrough into the container member; a septum positioned within said passageway, said septum forming an airtight seal within said passageway; and a hollow needle member having an aperture proximate its tip, said needle member being insertable through said septum whereby a gaseous atmosphere may pass into or out of the container member as required; restrictive flow channel means between said first and second container members for the controlled passage of said liquid therethrough so as to create a vacuum, in said first operating mode in said first container member and in said second operating mode in said second container member, thereby controlledly drawing a continuous stream of said surrounding atmosphere through said first container top venting means and into said first container member in said first mode, and through said second container top venting means and into said second container member in said second mode; sample removal means for permitting the withdrawal of a desired quantity of said retained atmosphere from said apparatus; and upper and lower base means for the support of said apparatus.

Claim 5

The invention according to claim 1 or 2 further comprising: quick drain valve means positioned between said first container member and second container member for the rapid drainage of said liquid whereby said apparatus may be quickly and easily prepared for a new sampling cycle.

Claim 6

The invention according to claim 1 in which, either the first or second container member may be utilized to obtain atmospheric samples by means of: in said first operating mode, a hollow needle member positioned through said first container top venting means and a hollow needle member positioned through said second container central venting means whereby the atmosphere surrounding said apparatus is permitted to be introduced into said first container member, and the atmosphere within said second container member is permitted to be dispensed therefrom, thereby permitting said liquid to pass from said first container member into said second container below it; and in said second operating mode, the inversion of said first and second container members and a hollow needle member positioned through said second container top venting means and a hollow needle member positioned through said first container central venting means whereby the atmosphere surrounding said apparatus is permitted to be introduced into said second container member and the atmosphere within said first container member is permitted to be dispersed therefrom, thereby permitting said liquid to pass from said second container member into said first container below it.

Claim 7

The invention according to claim 1 or 2 in which said restrictive flow channel means comprises: a tubular member having an orifice therethrough, said orifice having a diameter of 0.0032 inches whereby the passage of liquid therethrough is restrictively permitted.

Claim 8

The invention according to claim 1 in which said sample removal comprises: a hypodermic syringe for withdrawal of a desired quantity of the atmosphere to be sampled from said apparatus through insertion of said syringe through said septum and into the container to be sampled; and a sealed vacuum tub member adapted for injection of said atmospheric sample by said hypodermic syringe and for the retention therein of said sample.

Claim 9

The invention according to claim 1 or 2 in which said apparatus provides Time Weighted Average Samples of said surrounding atmosphere for chemical analysis thereof.

Claim 10

The invention according to claim 1 further including: a plurality of needle holding members affixed to said apparatus for the retention of said hollow needle members.

Claim 11

The invention according to claim 1 in which each of said hollow needle members is a Size 20 hypodermic needle.

Claim 12

The invention according to claim 1 or 2 in which first and second container members are constructed from clear acrylic plastic so as to be light in weight, inexpensive and permit viewing of the level of said liquid in the containers.

Claim 13

The invention according to claim 7 in which said apparatus controlledly draws a stream of said surrounding atmosphere into said apparatus for a period of 4 hours, thereby permitting withdrawal of an atmospheric sample having an average concentration of the chemicals present in said atmosphere over a 4 hour period.

Claim 14

The invention according to claim 1 or 2 or 11 in which said first and second container members each have a capacity of 1.25 quarts.

Claim 15

The invention according to claim 1 or 2 in which liquid comprises: common drinking water.

Claim 18

The invention according to claim 14 including the additional steps of: injecting a hypodermic syringe into said first container member; drawing a measured quantity of said atmosphere into said syringe; and injecting said measured quantity of said atmosphere into a gas chromatograph for chemical analysis thereof.