Portable sampling apparatus and system

Abstract

A portable sampling system and method for use with a cargo tank's vapor control valve or other suitable tank entry device to enable an operator to extract and bottle a product sample in place without transfer of the collected sample to another container thereby using the same container for both collection and bottling and without transfer of the collected sample through an open atmosphere. A built-in sampling valve and sample bottle fill attachment are associated with a hand held gauging apparatus for collection of the product sample free of human contact therewith, a vapor return hose assembly couples the built-in sampling valve and bottle fill attachment to the gauging apparatus for eliminating vapor release to the atmosphere and to protect an end user from possible exposure to toxic vapors. A tape reel mechanism is connected with a sampling barrel through which a product sampling tube connected with a tape reel housed in a tape reel housing is lowered into the tank to obtain the product sample, a vapor control valve is coupled between the sampling barrel and the tank, and when the vapor control valve and the sampling valve are opened, the product sampling tube is lowered into the tank through the sampling valve and the vapor control valve, then the product sampling tube is withdrawn and the vapor control valve is closed thereby fluidly disconnecting the reel housing from the tank and any internal pressure, the sampling valve is then closed and the fluid from the product sampling tube is discharged through the sample bottle fill attachment to the container.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.