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US 8,261,622 B2Granted
System for sampling sludge
AssigneeGAG/Sim-Tech Filters, Inc.
InventorGary L. Koteskey
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device and method for sampling a fluid, especially a fluid of varying densities, are provided. The device includes a retention tube configured to receive a sample of the fluid, and can include a support jacket to support the retention tube. A control member is positioned within the retention tube with a plug attached to the distal end. The plug is movable away from the opening to facilitate laminar flow of the fluid into the retention tube. The plug can sealably engage the retention tube by affixing a portion of the control member. The device can be jolted to cause the control member to stretch, which disengages the plug temporarily, thereby releasing a lab sample portion from the retention tube. The rest of the sample of fluid can be released by completely releasing the plug from sealing contact.
Claims16
A sampling device for sampling a fluid, the device comprising:
- a retention tube comprising a wall defining an interior space with a first cross-sectional area, the retention tube having an upper end and a lower end and an opening at the lower end to receive a sample of said fluid;
- a control member having a proximal end and a distal end, the control member being at least partially positioned within the interior space of the retention tube, the proximal and distal ends of the control member extending through and past the respective upper and lower ends of the retention tube;
- and
- a plug coupled to the distal end of the control member, the plug being movable to a position adjacent to the retention tube and above the lower end of the retention tube to facilitate flow of said fluid into the retention tube during insertion of the retention tube into said fluid, the plug comprising a portion having a second cross-sectional area larger than the first cross-sectional area of the interior space of the retention tube, the plug being configured to sealably engage the opening of the retention tube so that a sample of said fluid is retained within the interior space of the retention tube,
- wherein the plug comprises a top, a flange, and a middle portion coupled between the top and the flange, the top being configured to self-center into the opening of the retention tube, the middle portion having a cylindrical body having a cross-sectional area sized to fit within the opening of the retention tube, the plug comprising a removable gasket having an aperture sized to slidably engage the middle portion of the plug, the removable gasket comprising a material having a lower durometer than a material of the top, the flange, and the middle portion of the plug.
2 more elements
A sampling device for sampling a fluid, the device comprising:
- a first member and a second member each having a wall defining an interior space with a first cross-sectional area, each member having an upper end and a lower end, each member being removably coupled to one another to define a retention tube having an opening to receive a sample of said fluid;
- a coupling having a first end configured to receive the upper end of the first member and a second end configured to receive the lower end of the second member;
- a control member having a proximal end and a distal end, the control member being at least partially positioned within the interior spaces of the coupled first and second members, the proximal and distal ends of the control member extending through and past the ends of the retention tube;
- and
- a plug coupled to the distal end of the control member, the plug being movable to a position away from the opening of the retention tube to facilitate flow of said fluid into the interior spaces of the coupled first and second members during insertion of the retention tube into said fluid, the plug comprising a portion having a second cross-sectional area larger than the first cross-sectional area of the interior spaces, the plug portion being configured to sealably engage the opening of the retention tube so that a sample of said fluid is retained within the interior spaces of the first and second members,
- wherein the control member comprises an elasticity adapted to stretch momentarily under a jolt to the retention tube to cause the plug to disengage from the opening so that a portion of the retained sample is released from the opening of the retention tube.
3 more elements
A method of obtaining a sample of a body of fluid, the method comprising:
- providing a sampling device for sampling the body of fluid, the device comprising a retention tube comprising a wall defining an interior space, the retention tube having an upper end and a lower end and an opening at the lower end to receive a sample of said fluid, a control member having a proximal end and a distal end, the control member being at least partially positioned within the interior space of the retention tube, a plug coupled to the distal end of the control member and free to float within the body of fluid to a position adjacent to the retention tube;
- lowering the device into the body of fluid, wherein the plug floats away from the opening to permit the filling of the retention tube with a sample of the body of fluid without interaction with the plug;
- applying a withdrawing force to the proximal end of the control member to sealably engage the plug with the opening of the retention tube so that the sample is retained within the retention tube;
- and
- lifting the device with the retained sample out of the body of fluid without disengaging the sealably engaged plug,
- wherein the control member comprises an elasticity configured to stretch momentarily under a jolt, and the method comprises jolting the retention tube with the retained sample while the plug is sealably engaged with the opening of the retention tube so that the control member is stretched momentarily to cause the plug to disengage from the opening so that a portion of the retained sample is released from the opening of the retention tube.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.