Direct mount system for a fluid sampling pump and method

A sampling pump and interface apparatus for mounting the sampling pump to a flow line having a sampling nipple secured thereto, the apparatus comprising:

• the sampling pump including a pump manifold having a hot loop passageway with a first hot loop entry port, a second hot loop exit port, and a third port spaced opposite the second port with respect to the first port for transmitting fluid from the sampling pump, each of the first, second, and third port passing through a lower face of the pump manifold, the pump having an inlet along the hot loop passageway in the pump manifold, and a inlet valve assembly for controlling fluid flow from the hot loop passageway in the pump manifold into the pump;
• and
• the interface including (a) an interface body having a hot loop entry passageway for maintaining communication between the flow line and the first hot loop entry port, a hot loop return passageway for maintaining fluid communication between the second hot loop exit port and the flow line, and a tapered thread at a lower end of the interface body for sealing engagement with mating threads on the sampling nipple, (b) first and second fittings, (c) first and second nipples each having an upper end for sealing engagement with the second hot loop exit port and the third port in the pump manifold, respectively, and threaded lower end for engagement with a corresponding one of the first and second fitting, (d) an interface plate having first and second passageways for receiving portions of the first and second nipples, respectively, and a flow passageway spaced between the first and second passageways for transmitting fluid from the hot loop entry passageway in the interface body to the first hot loop entry port, (e) a spacer nipple having an upper end for sealing engagement with the first hot loop entry port and a lower end in fluid communication with the hot loop entry passageway in the interface body, and (f) securing means for fixing the position of the interface plate with respect to the interface body such that the pump and pump manifold may be mounted directly to the flow line by the interface.

A method of interconnecting a sampling pump to a flow line having a sampling nipple secured thereto, the sampling pump including a pump manifold having a hot loop passageway with a first hot loop entry port, a second hot loop exit port, and a third port spaced opposite the second port with respect to the first port and transmitting fluid from the pump to a container, with the first, second and third ports passing through a lower face in the pump manifold, and a pump inlet along the hot loop passageway in the pump manifold, the method comprising:

• forming an interface body having (a) a hot loop entry passageway therethrough, (b) a hot loop return passageway therethrough, (c) tapered threads at a lower end of the interface body:
• forming first and second nipples;
• forming a spacer nipple:
• forming an interface plate having first and second passageways and a flow passageway spaced between the first and second passageways;
• threading the interface body to the sampling nipple to obtain sealing engagement between the interface body and the sampling nipple;
• interconnecting each of the first and second nipples to the second and third ports in the pump manifold, respectively;
• interconnecting the spacer nipple to the first port in the pump manifold;
• placing the plate over exposed ends of the first and second nipples such that the nipples pass through the respective first and second passageways in the plate;
• sealing each of the first and second nipples with the plate;
• thereafter rotating the plate and the pump as an assembly with respect to the interface body so that the pump has a desired rotational position;
• and
• thereafter fixing the position of the plate with respect to the interface body.