Sample extracting device and adding device

Details Sample extracting device and adding device Sample extracting device and adding device

2000-12-19

2004-03-23

Ludlow, Jan (Department: 1743)

Chemistry: analytical and immunological testing

Automated chemical analysis

With conveyance of sample along a test line in a container...

C436S180000, C422S105000, C073S864220, C073S864240

Reexamination Certificate

active

06709870

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sample extracting device and an adding device. In particular, the present invention relates to a valve which can be used as a sampling valve for extracting (sampling) a sample from a sample tank (a sample stock tank, a reaction adjusting tank, a stirring/mixing tank, or the like) used in chemical plants, industrial facilities, experiment facilities, or the like, or which can be used for adding an additive to a sample, and the present invention also relates to a sample extracting device and an adding device using this valve.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 13
illustrates an example of a conventional sampling valve for sampling a sample from a sample tank.
The sample valve is structured such that a T-valve
202
which is formed in a substantial T-shape is provided at the bottom of a tank
200
. By opening and closing the T-valve
202
by an actuator
204
or the like, a predetermined amount of the sample can be removed via a pipe
206
.
However, in the sampling valve having the structure illustrated in
FIG. 13
, a liquid flow-out opening
208
of the pipe
206
is disposed lower than the solution surface of the sample in the tank
200
. Thus, when the T-valve
202
is opened, the air remaining in the pipe passes through the pipe
206
and enters into the tank
200
. If the sample is a liquid, the sample liquid becomes foamy due to the air, which may present problems in using the sample or the like.
Generally, with a sampling valve of this type of structure, it is desirable to appropriately clean the T-valve
202
and the pipe
206
. However, when the sample in the tank
200
chemically changes or the state of the sample changes, the interior of the pipe cannot be cleaned quickly after sampling the sample. Thus, it is difficult to carry out sampling continuously in a state in which there are no impurities.
Further, in this sampling valve, structurally, cleaning of the interior of the pipe
206
is difficult, and it is easy for the cleaning liquid to remain in the pipe
206
. An additional structure, such as a pipe for guiding the cleaning liquid within the pipe
206
or a valve for starting and stopping supply of the cleaning liquid, must be provided separately, such that the structure becomes complex on the whole, and the cost thereof increases.
FIG. 14
illustrates a conventional sampling valve
230
in which a movable element
234
provided between fixed elements
232
,
236
is rotated so as to switch the sampling path, and a predetermined amount of a sample is sampled (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 5-141549). With a specific sampling path selected, a corresponding valve
238
is opened and cleaning liquid is sucked in by a suction means
240
so as to be made to flow through and clean the sampling path.
However, in this sampling valve
230
as well, although the selected sampling path is cleaned, a pipette portion
242
, whose distal end portion is disposed within the sample liquid, cannot be cleaned unless the sample tube containing the sample is removed. As a result, the sample cannot be sampled for checking changes in the properties over time.
FIG. 15
illustrates a conventional sampling valve
260
(see JP-A-6-241328) which is different than the above-described structures. This sampling valve
260
is provided with a nozzle
264
which forks off from a pipe
262
. A predetermined amount of the fluid in the pipe
262
is extracted and used as a sample for testing or the like. The sample valve
260
has a ball valve structure such that even a minute amount of liquid does not remain in the valve at the time of opening and closing, and a circulating piece
265
can be cleaned.
However, as long as the continuously flowing sample exists in the pipe
262
, the circulating piece
265
can be cleaned even at the sampling valve
260
. However, if a portion of the sampled fluid already remains in the nozzle
264
, the interior of the nozzle
264
is not cleaned, and thus, there is the possibility that impurities may remain.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the aforementioned, an object of the present invention is to provide a valve which enables reliable cleaning of an interior of a sample tube, and a sample extracting and adding device using the valve.
A first aspect of the present invention is a device for extracting a sample from a container, the device comprising: (a) a cleaning tube; and (b) a sample tube having an opening, the sample tube being switchably mounted relative to the cleaning tube, between a sampling position at which the sample tube opening is placed in fluid communication with the environment for contacting a sample in a container, and a cleaning position at which the opening is placed in fluid communication with the cleaning tube for cleaning the sample tube.
The sample tube and the cleaning tube are moved relatively by a moving means. In a state in which the first opening portion is at the sampling position, the stored sample stored in the container flows from the first opening portion into the sample tube and flows to the second opening portion, and the stored sample can be extracted.
The sample tube and the cleaning tube are moved relatively by the moving means. In a state in which the first opening portion is at the cleaning position, the cleaning liquid is injected into the first opening portion from the cleaning tube, and the interior of the sample tube can be cleaned. At this time, the injected cleaning liquid flows out from the second opening portion. Because the cleaning liquid flows from the first opening portion to the second opening portion, the interior of the sample tube, i.e., the entire region over which the sample flows, can be cleaned.
If the cleaning liquid can flow between the first opening portion and the second opening portion, the direction of flow thereof is not particularly limited. Namely, the cleaning liquid may be injected from the second opening portion and discharged from the first opening portion.
Further, it is not only possible for the stored sample to be taken in from the first opening portion and the sample to be extracted from the second opening portion, but also, conversely, the sample may be injected from the second opening portion and added into the container from the first opening portion. In the latter case, the first opening portion does not necessarily have to communicate with the stored sample. For example, the sample may be injected and added into the container from above. Further, a state in which there is no sample in the container (i.e., the container is empty) is also possible.
By moving the sample tube and the cleaning tube relative to one another along the longitudinal direction of the sample tube, the first opening portion can be moved between the sampling position and the cleaning position. Thus, the structure for relatively moving the sample tube and the cleaning tube is simple.
Further, because the cleaning tube is provided integrally with the sample tube, as compared with a case in which the cleaning tube is provided as a member separate from the sample tube and is provided at the exterior of the sample tube, the cleaning tube can be provided and the cleaning liquid can be injected into the sample tube in a smaller space.
A second aspect of the present invention is a device for introducing an additive to a sample in a container, the device comprising: (a) a reservoir for holding an additive for introduction to a sample in a container; (b) a cleaning tube; and (c) a sample tube connected in fluid communication to the reservoir, the sample tube having an opening and being switchably mounted relative to the cleaning tube, between an adding position at which the opening of the sample tube is placed in fluid communication with the environment for introducing the additive to the sample, and a cleaning position at which the opening is placed in fluid communication with the cleaning tube for cleaning the sample tube.
When the first opening portion of the valve is at the sampling position, by

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