Measuring and testing – Sampler – sample handling – etc. – Capture device
Patent
1989-08-08
1990-10-02
Noland, Tom
Measuring and testing
Sampler, sample handling, etc.
Capture device
G01N 112
Patent
active
049600028
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a sampler for liquid substances, especially a water sampler, comprising a body, a sampling container fitted with a sealable bottom and cover, as well as means for closing the sampling container of a sampler to be immersed in liquid upon a lowering cable at a desired depth by means of a weight dropped along said cable.
This type of samplers are particularly useful in limnological studies for picking up water samples from desired depths. The device is lowered down to s sampling depth in an open condition, it is closed by means of a weight dropped along a fastening cable and lifted up to the surface.
Various samplers have been used a long time for studying the condition and quality of waterways. Previously known is a so-called "Ruttner" sampler, comprising a cylindrical container whose bottom and cover, while maintaining their orientation, can be brought into an opened position from which a mechanism extending through the container retracts the sampler into a closed position whenever desired. Prior known are also models in which the covers at a lowering stage are set to be parallel to the vertical walls of a container portion, whereby the covers do not interfere with the changing of water in the container cylinder. In these models, at least the bottom cover is closed by means of a spring or lever system released with a throw weight. Prior known are also devices in which a cylinder is closed at a sampling depth by means of rubber plugs pulled into position by a rubber band stretched through the cylinder.
The following drawbacks can be mentioned in connection with the prior art samplers. Due to its poor flowthrough, the "Ruttner" type carries water from above down to the release depth. Since that model, the same as other models, has structural elements in its container cylinder, the equipment is hard to keep clean and objectionable matter may be released into a sample.
In models, wherein the flaps are hinged to open sideways, a drawback in intensive use and corrosion-inducing circumstances is that the spring systems of said covers are easily damaged and this, among other things, tends to cause leaks through the bottom cover. The samplers are generally heavy and daily work may take even several hours subjecting a worker to extra stress. In normal operation, the samplers must be held manually during drainage and e.g. the discharge cock is ordinarily at the bottom and thus difficult to handle. Aside from a few models used by marine researchers, the samplers cannot be fastened in series to one and the same cable in order to essentially reduce the working hours and often e.g. save expensive vessel-operating time.
The release mechanisms of the prior art models generally employ springs whose strength changes over extended use, which is why the device may release itself at a wrong depth or a throw weight shall not be sufficient to release it at all.
Structurally many samplers are complicated, include a plurality of minor components and modern rapid working techniques cannot be applied to their manufacture.
An object of the invention is to eliminate these drawbacks encountered in the above prior art samplers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention, this objective is resolved in a manner that a sampling container is mounted for axial movement on a body external of the container, that the body is provided with a release mechanism for suspending the container therefrom in an upper position relative to the body upon an opened, laterally hinged cover, that means are provided for locking in an open position the laterally hinged bottom of the container in said upper position, and that the container released by a release mechanism is adapted to slide under gravity down the body to a lower position, the cover being adapted to be closed by the action of gravity and the bottom and/or the lower section of said body being provided with means which, as the container is moving downwards under gravity, force the bottom to close and to remain closed.
The relea
REFERENCES:
patent: 1857537 (1932-05-01), Frank et al.
patent: 1887859 (1932-11-01), Pearce
patent: 3459048 (1969-08-01), Bicknell
patent: 3489012 (1970-01-01), Niskin
patent: 3714830 (1973-02-01), Keir
patent: 3815422 (1974-06-01), Niskin
patent: 3845303 (1974-10-01), Richards et al.
patent: 4593570 (1986-06-01), Niskin
patent: 4754654 (1988-07-01), Johnson et al.
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