US 5,147,551 AGranted

Solids and semi-solids sampling apparatus, method, and fluid injection apparatus

AssigneeDynatech Precision Sampling Corporation

InventorJulius P. Averette

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

Apparatus for processing solids and semi-solids specimens for the extraction therefrom of non-solids or fluid components for analysis. As a sub-assembly, the solids preparation and extraction device can be employed in combination with other sub-assemblies of an automated fluid injector which includes, or further includes, (B) a syringe, (C) an injector feed for introducing a fluid specimen into the syringe, and (D) a feed tray, magazine or carrousel for transporting fluid-specimen containing bottles, or vials for pick up of fluid therefrom by the injector feed assembly for delivery to the syringe. The apparatus embodiment also includes compartmented bottles, or vials, transportable via said feed tray to the solids preparation and extraction sub-assembly, within which a weighed amount of a solids or semi-solids specimen can be placed, crushed and the non-solids components thereof extracted, and removed; and also the process for extracting said non-solids component.

Claims22

Dependent claims

Apparatus for the liquid extraction and separation for analysis of a non-solids component, or components, from a solid or semi-solids specimen via the use of

a bottle with two open ends each of which is closed and sealed by an open-centered septum-covered cap, compartmented to provide a first compartment separated from an adjoining second compartment by a partitioning member selectively permeable to the flow of gas from said second compartment, but impermeable to the flow of liquid from said first compartment to said second compartment, the first compartment being adapted for the receipt of a weighed portion of said solid or semi-solids specimen, for receiving liquid, and expelling gases via its covering open-centered septum-covered cap, with said second compartment being adapted for receiving gas via its covering open-centered septum-covered cap, and expelling gases via the gas-liquid selective partitioning member into said first compartment,
which comprises
a generally upright frame structure, inclusive of an abuttment which carries a first tubular needle through which a liquid can be delivered to the first compartment of said compartmented bottle on insertion of said first tubular needle through the open-centered septum-covered cap of said first compartment, and a second tubular needle through which gas can be exhausted from said first compartment,
an elevator mounted upon said upright structure, said elevator including an elevator carriage which carries a tubular needle through which a gas can be delivered to said second compartment via insertion of said tubular needle through the open-centered septum cap of said second compartment and distributed via the selectively gas-liquid permeable member into the first compartment for contact with the solids or semi-solids, vertically movable upwardly and downwardly upon said upright frame structure,
a motor means for driving said elevator, and elevator carriage, upwardly and downwardly upon said generally upright frame structure,
a heater provided with a side wall surrounding an enclosure within which the elevator carriage with a transported compartmented bottle can be withdrawn, and
a means for crushing and grinding the weighed solid or semi-solids specimen carried within the first compartment of said compartmented bottle to facilitate dispersal of the solids or semi-solids specimen within the liquid supplied to said first compartment, pick up the non-solids component, or components, by the gas entering said first compartment from the second compartment, and dispersal of said non-solids component, or components, for
analysis via ejection of the gas through the second tubular needle carried by the frame structure abuttment.

5 more elements

In apparatus for the liquid extraction and separation for analysis of a non-solids component, or components, from a solid or semi-solids specimen via the use of one or more bottles, each of which is characterized as having two open ends sealed by an open-centered septum-covered cap, compartmented to provide a first compartment separated from an adjoining second compartment by a partitioning member selectively permeable to a flow of gas from said second compartment, but impermeable to a flow of liquid from said first compartment to said second compartment, said second compartment being adapted for receiving gas via its covering open-centered septum-covered cap, and expelling gas via the gas-liquid selective partitioning member into said first compartment, with said first compartment being adapted for the receipt of a weighed portion of said solids or semi-solids specimen, for receiving liquid for contact with said particulate solids or semi-solids specimen to extract said non-solids component, or components, and contact of said liquid-solids dispersed mixture with gas from said second compartment for the pick up of said non-solids component, or components therefrom, and expelling the gas via its open-centered septum covered cap for analysis, the combination comprising

a housing,
an upright frame structure mounted upon said housing, said upright frame structure including an abuttment which carries a first tubular needle through which a liquid can be delivered to the first compartment of said compartmented bottle on insertion of said first tubular needle through the open-centered septum-covered cap of said first compartment, and a second tubular needle through which gas can be exhausted from said first compartment,
an elevator mounted upon said generally upright frame structure, the elevator including an elevator carriage, a lower portion of which carries a tubular needle through which a gas can be delivered to said second compartment via insertion of said tubular needle through the open-centered septum cap of said second compartment and distributed via the selectively gas-liquid permeable member into the first compartment for contact with the solids or semi-solids, vertically movable upwardly and downwardly upon said upright frame structure,
a motor means for driving said elevator, and elevator carriage, upwardly and downwardly upon said generally upright frame structure,
a carrousel feed tray rotatably mounted upon said housing for carrying said compartmented bottles for pick up by said elevator,
a motor means for driving said carrousel feed tray, and
a means for crushing and grinding a weighed solid or semi-solids specimen carried within the first compartment of said compartmented bottle to facilitate dispersal of the solids or semi-solids specimen within the liquid supplied to said first compartment, pick up the non-solids component, or components, by the gas entering said first compartment from the second compartment, and dispersal of said non-solids component, or components, for analysis via ejection of the gas through the second tubular needle carried by the frame structure abuttment.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 07/512,194Filed 20 Apr 1990
Granted: 15 Sep 1992
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification13 codes

G01N 35/1079
Devices for transferring samples or any liquids to, in, or from, the analysis apparatus, e.g. suction devices, injection devices: with means for…
B01D 11/0219
Solid material in other stationary receptacles: fixed bed of solid material
B01D 11/0288
Of solids: applications, solvents
G01N 1/28
Sampling; Preparing specimens for investigation: preparing specimens for investigation including physical details of chemical methods covered…