Method and apparatus of flow analysis

Claim 1

An apparatus of flow analysis comprising: a common flow path having a sample introducing nozzle; a plurality of branch flow paths each connected to said common flow path; means for detecting a flow path blockage, said means being disposed in a first branch flow path; means for removing the blockage by cleaning said common flow path when said flow path blockage is detected by said flow path blockage detecting means; a measuring electrode disposed in a second branch flow path, said measuring electrode being apt to be affected by a pressure change in the flow path; and means for introducing a sample into said second branch flow path after the blockage in said common flow path is removed.

Claim 2

An apparatus of flow analysis comprising: a common flow path having a sample introducing nozzle; a plurality of branch flow paths each connected to said common flow path; means for detecting a flow path blockage, said means being disposed in a first branch flow path; means for removing the blockage by cleaning said common flow path when said flow path blockage is detected by said flow path blockage detecting means; a measuring electrode disposed in a second branch flow path, said measuring electrode being apt to be affected by a pressure change in the flow path; and means for introducing a sample into said second branch flow path after the blockage in said common flow path is removed.

Claim 8

A method of flow analysis, the method comprising the steps of: causing a common flow path to communicate with a first branch flow path by valve means, and shutting off a path between said common flow path and a second branch flow path by said valve means; introducing a liquid sample into said common flow path while said common flow path is communicating with said first branch flow path; measuring whether said liquid sample has reached a predetermined position in said first branch flow path from said common flow path within a predetermined time; cleaning said common flow path with a cleaning fluid when said liquid sample has not reached said predetermined position within said predetermined time; shutting off a path between said common flow path and said first branch flow path, and causing said common flow path to communicate with said second branch flow path; and introducing said liquid sample into said second branch flow path from said common flow path while said common flow path is communicating with said second branch flow path, and thereafter detecting a gas contained in said liquid sample with a gas measuring electrode disposed in said second branch flow path.

Claim 9

A method of flow analysis, the method comprising the steps of: causing a common flow path to communicate with a first branch flow path by valve means, and shutting off a path between said common flow path and a second branch flow path by said valve means; introducing a liquid sample into said common flow path while said common flow path is communicating with said first branch flow path; measuring whether said liquid sample has reached a predetermined position in said first branch flow path from said common flow path within a predetermined time; cleaning said common flow path with a cleaning fluid when said liquid sample has not reached said predetermined position within said predetermined time; shutting off a path between said common flow path and said first branch flow path, and causing said common flow path to communicate with said second branch flow path; and introducing said liquid sample into said second branch flow path from said common flow path while said common flow path is communicating with said second branch flow path, and thereafter detecting a gas contained in said liquid sample with a gas measuring electrode disposed in said second branch flow path.

Claim 13

A method of flow analysis, the method comprising the steps of: causing a common flow path having a sample intake tube to communicate with a first branch flow path having a sample liquid detector and an electrolyte measuring electrode, and shutting off a path between said common path and a second branch flow path having a gas measuring electrode; introducing a liquid sample into said common flow path while said common flow path is communicating with said first branch flow path; measuring whether said liquid sample has reached a position of measurement by said sample detector in said first branch flow path from said common flow path within a predetermined time; cleaning said flow path with a cleaning fluid when said liquid sample has not reached said position of measurement within said predetermined time; following said cleaning step, introducing said liquid sample into said first branch flow path from said common flow path, and detecting ions contained in said liquid sample with said electrolyte measuring electrode; shutting off the path between said common flow path and said first branch flow path, and causing said common flow path to communicate with said second branch flow path; and introducing said liquid sample into said second branch flow path from said common flow path while said common flow path is communicating with said second branch flow path; and detecting a gas contained in said liquid sample with said gas measuring electrode.

Claim 14

A method of flow analysis, the method comprising the steps of: causing a common flow path having a sample intake tube to communicate with a first branch flow path having a sample liquid detector and an electrolyte measuring electrode, and shutting off a path between said common path and a second branch flow path having a gas measuring electrode; introducing a liquid sample into said common flow path while said common flow path is communicating with said first branch flow path; measuring whether said liquid sample has reached a position of measurement by said sample detector in said first branch flow path from said common flow path within a predetermined time; cleaning said flow path with a cleaning fluid when said liquid sample has not reached said position of measurement within said predetermined time; following said cleaning step, introducing said liquid sample into said first branch flow path from said common flow path, and detecting ions contained in said liquid sample with said electrolyte measuring electrode; shutting off the path between said common flow path and said first branch flow path, and causing said common flow path to communicate with said second branch flow path; and introducing said liquid sample into said second branch flow path from said common flow path while said common flow path is communicating with said second branch flow path; and detecting a gas contained in said liquid sample with said gas measuring electrode.

Claim 15

An apparatus for flow analysis, the apparatus comprising: a common flow path provided with a sample intake tube; a first flow path disposed with a sample liquid detector; a second flow path disposed with a gas measuring electrode; means for supplying a cleaning liquid to said common path; valve means for causing said common flow path to communicate with or be shut off from said first flow path, for causing said common flow path to communicate with or be shut off from said second flow path, and for directing a flow of said cleaning fluid to said common flow path; control means for controlling said valve means so that said common flow path communicates with said first flow path and, at the same time, said common flow path is shut off from said second flow path for at least a predetermined time, said control means additionally controlling said cleaning liquid supplying means to supply the cleaning liquid when no signal is received from said sample liquid detector until a predetermined time period elapses, said control means further controlling said valve means so that said common flow path is shut off from said first flow path and, at the same time, said common flow path communicates with said second flow path after a liquid sample is introduced to a position of detection by said sample liquid detector; means for introducing said liquid sample into said second flow path from said common flow path while said common flow path is communicating with said second flow path; and means for displaying a result of a measurement of the gas based on a detection signal from said gas measuring electrode which detects the gas contained in said gas sample introduced into said second flow path.

Claim 16

An apparatus for flow analysis, the apparatus comprising: a common flow path provided with a sample intake tube; a first flow path disposed with a sample liquid detector; a second flow path disposed with a gas measuring electrode; means for supplying a cleaning liquid to said common path; valve means for causing said common flow path to communicate with or be shut off from said first flow path, for causing said common flow path to communicate with or be shut off from said second flow path, and for directing a flow of said cleaning fluid to said common flow path; control means for controlling said valve means so that said common flow path communicates with said first flow path and, at the same time, said common flow path is shut off from said second flow path for at least a predetermined time, said control means additionally controlling said cleaning liquid supplying means to supply the cleaning liquid when no signal is received from said sample liquid detector until a predetermined time period elapses, said control means further controlling said valve means so that said common flow path is shut off from said first flow path and, at the same time, said common flow path communicates with said second flow path after a liquid sample is introduced to a position of detection by said sample liquid detector; means for introducing said liquid sample into said second flow path from said common flow path while said common flow path is communicating with said second flow path; and means for displaying a result of a measurement of the gas based on a detection signal from said gas measuring electrode which detects the gas contained in said gas sample introduced into said second flow path.