Gasoline blend spot sampling system and method
AssigneeWelker, Inc.
InventorJames T. Klentzman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A gasoline blend spot sampling system and method including an adjustable volume mechanism for retaining an adjustable volume of gasoline for sampling, a coolant system integrated with the adjustable volume mechanism, and a sample collection assembly using a blunt-end tube for use with an open-mouthed bottle. Various three-way valves are actuated to route gasoline through various stages of a sampling process, from a gasoline fast loop to a purge loop to a gasoline capture stage to a sample bottling stage.
Claims15
A spot sampling system for use with a source of gasoline and a source of coolant comprising:
- an adjustable volume mechanism including:
- a sample chamber in fluid communication with the source of gasoline,
- a piston movable within said sample chamber to adjust the fillable volume of the sample chamber and to expel contents of the sample chamber as required, and a coolant cavity in fluid communication with the coolant source, said coolant cavity being positioned in proximity to the sample chamber for cooling the sample chamber and any contents thereof;
- a heat exchanger in fluid communication with the coolant source and the gasoline source;
- and
- a sample collection assembly in fluid communication with the adjustable volume mechanism, said sample collection assembly including:
- an open-mouthed sample bottle,
- a bottle receiving mechanism to receive the specimen bottle for filling, and
- a blunt tube which extends through the open mouth of the sample bottle when the open-mouth sample bottle is engaged with the bottle receiving mechanism.
An adjustable volume mechanism for use with a coolant source and a gasoline source, the adjustable volume mechanism comprising:
- a sample chamber in fluid communication with the source of gasoline;
- a piston movable within said sample chamber to adjust the Tillable volume of the sample chamber and to expel contents of the sample chamber as required;
- and
- a coolant cavity having an input port and an output port, said ports being in fluid communication with the coolant source, said coolant cavity being positioned in proximity to the sample chamber for cooling the sample chamber and any contents thereof.
A method for sampling gasoline comprising the steps of:
- causing gasoline to switch from running through a fast-loop from a source back to the source, to running from the source to a heat exchanger;
- cooling said gasoline in the heat exchanger;
- passing said gasoline through a gasoline chamber in an adjustable volume mechanism for a period of time to flush any previously remaining gasoline from the heat exchanger and gasoline chamber;
- closing off the outflow from the gasoline chamber after the period of time, so as to cause gasoline to collect in the gasoline chamber and force a piston in the gasoline chamber toward a retracted position;
- determining when the volume of gasoline in the gasoline chamber has reached a predetermined volume;
- forcing the piston toward an extended position to force gasoline out of the gasoline chamber into a sample bottle for collection.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.