Automatic fluid sampling and flow measuring apparatus and method

An apparatus for automatically collecting samples from a fluid channel and for measuring fluid flow, according to modes of operation selected by a user, said modes of operation including sampling on the basis of time and/or the fluid flow rate, comprising:

• means for controlling said apparatus;
• a fluid sampling assembly having an inlet for receiving fluid from said channel;
• power means for supplying power to each element of said apparatus;
• said fluid sampling assembly, said control means and said power means comprising an integral operating unit disposed within a single case, said case being sufficiently compact so as to be receivable in a manhole;
• said integral operating unit further including at least one input connection for receiving a detected signal related to fluid flow in said channel, and means for conditioning said signal for input to said control means;
• and
• said control means comprising a microprocessor, program memory and data memory, wherein:
• said program memory stores a plurality of equations for computing values of the fluid flow rate;
• said data memory stores user-selected input parameters including operating mode selection data, at least one fluid flow-related parameter and sampling times;
• said microprocessor receives said signal related to fluid flow from said conditioning means and calculates values of fluid flow rate based on said signal, said at least one user-selected fluid flow-related parameter and a selected one of said stored equations;
• said microprocessor controls said fluid sampling assembly according to at least one of said modes of operation selected by the user, based on said user input sampling times and/or computed values of fluid flow rate;
• and
• said data memory stores fluid sampling data and fluid flow rate data.

An apparatus for automatically collecting samples from a fluid channel and for measuring a fluid flow-related variable, according to modes of operation selected by a user, said modes of operation including sampling on the basis of time and/or said fluid flow-related variable, comprising:

• means for controlling said apparatus;
• a fluid sampling assembly having an inlet for receiving fluid from said channel;
• power means for supplying power to each element of said apparatus;
• said fluid sampling assembly, said control means and said power means comprising an integral operating unit disposed within a single case, said case being sufficiently compact so as to be receivable in a manhole;
• said integral operating unit further including at least one input connection for receiving a detected signal related to fluid flow in said channel;
• and
• said control means comprising a microprocessor, program memory and data memory, wherein:
• said program memory is programmed for computing values of said fluid flow-related variable;
• said data memory stores user-selected input parameters including operating mode selection data, at least one fluid flow-related parameter and sampling times;
• said microprocessor receives said signal related to fluid flow via said input connection and utilizes said program memory to calculate a value of said fluid flow-related variable based on said signal and said at least one user-selected fluid flow-related parameter;
• said microprocessor controls said fluid sampling assembly according to at least one of said modes of operation selected by the user, based on said user input sampling times and/or computed values of said fluid flow-related variable;
• and
• said data memory stores fluid sampling data and fluid flow-related data.

A method for automatically collecting samples from a fluid channel and for measuring a fluid flow-related variable, according to modes of operation selected by a user, said modes of operation including sampling on the basis of time and/or said fluid flow-related variable, comprising the steps of:

• connecting, to an input connection of an integral operating unit, a sensing means for producing a signal related to the fluid flow in said channel;
• connecting a sample intake conduit to an inlet of a sampling assembly of said integral operating unit;
• mounting said sensing means in a detecting position relative to said channel;
• lowering a lower intake end of said conduit into fluid in said channel;
• positioning in an operable position said integral operating unit, including said fluid sampling assembly, means for supplying power to said integral operating unit, and means for controlling said integral operating unit, all disposed within a single case which is sufficiently compact so as to be receivable in a manhole;
• operating said control means, including program memory thereof programmed for computing values of said fluid flow-related variable, data memory thereof which stores user-selected input parameters including operating mode selection data, at least one fluid flow-related parameter and fluid sampling times, such that a microprocessor of said control means receives said signal from said sensing means via said input connection and utilizes said program memory to calculate the value of said fluid flow-related variable based on said signal and said at least one user-selected fluid flow-related parameter, for controlling said fluid sampling assembly according to at least one of said modes of operation selected by the user, based on said user input sampling times and/or computed values of said fluid flow-related variable;
• and
• operating said data memory of said control means for automatically storing sampling data and fluid flow-related data.