Fluid sampling device

• US 4,046,012 A
• Filed: 11/19/1976
• Issued: 09/06/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The United States Of America As Represented By The National Aeronautics And Space Administration
• Original Assignee: United States Administrator of National Aeronautics and Space Administration
• Inventors: Studenick, David K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swisher, S. Clement
• Application Number:
  US05/743,249
• Time in Patent Office: 291 Days
• Field of Search: 73/421.5 R, 73/421.5 A, 250/288
• US Class Current: 73/863.33
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/26 with provision for intake from several spaces
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00336 Analysers adapted for operation in microgravity, i.e. spaceflight
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0004 Gaseous mixtures, e.g. polluted air gaseous biological material G01N33/497; exhaust gas of internal combustion engines G01M15/102

Abstract

A fluid sampling device for selectively sampling multiple fluids including a support frame. A plurality of fluid inlet devices extend through the support frame and each of the fluid inlet devices include a longitudinal aperture extending therethrough. An opening device that is responsive to a control signal selectively opens the aperture for passing the fluid therethrough. A closing device that is responsive to another control signal selectively closes the aperture for terminating further fluid flow therethrough.

Claims

1. A fluid sampling device for selectively sampling multiple fluids comprising:

a support frame;

a plurality of fluid inlet means extending through said support frame, each of said inlet means having an aperture extending therethrough;

means responsive to a control signal for selectively opening said aperture for passing said fluid therethrough; and

means responsive to another control signal for selectively closing said aperture for terminating further fluid flow therethrough.

2. The fluid sampling device of claim 1 wherein said support frame includes:

a first flange having a plurality of openings extending thererthrough for receiving a portion of each of said fluid inlet means; and

a second flange spaced from and axially aligned with said first flange and having a plurality of openings extending therethrough for receiving another portion of each of said fluid inlet means.

3. The fluid sampling device of claim 1 wherein each of said fluid inlet means includes:

tube means having a portion of said aperture longitudinally extending therethrough;

fluid receiving means having another portion of said aperture longitudinally extending therethrough;

means for holding said tube means and said fluid receiving means for maintaining a substantially axial alignment of said portion of said aperture in said tube means with said another portion of said aperture in said fluid receiving means; and

sleeve means surrounding said fluid receiving means, holding means and a portion of said tube means and forming an annular space therebetween.

4. The fluid sampling device of claim 3 wherein each of said fluid inlet means further includes:

an insulating coating surrounding said portion of said tube means within said sleeve means; and

an electrical heater surrounding a portion of said insultor coating and responsive to an additional control signal for removing contaminated fluids from said tube means.

5. The fluid sampling device of claim 4 wherein:

said holder means includes an outwardly and circumferentially extending flange within said annular space; and

said sleeve means includes an inwardly and circumferentially extending flange axially spaced from said flange on said holder means.

6. The fluid sampling device of claim 5 wherein each of said inlet means further includes a bellows within said annular space and surrounding said tube means, said bellows being connected between said outwardly extending flange and said inwardly extending flange for providing thermo isolation of said tube means to reduce heat loss from said electrical heater.

7. The fluid sampling device of claim 3 wherein said fluid receiving means and said holder means have substantially the same coefficient of expansion.

8. The fluid sampling device of claim 7 wherein said fluid receiving means is formed from a material having a composition in the range of 65-70% SiO₂, 3-7% Al₂ o₃,17-18% B₂ O₃, 1% Li₂ O, 1-2% Na₂ O₁ and 2-8% K₂ O.

9. The fluid sampling device of claim 7 wherein said fluid receiving means is formed from a material having a composition substantially of 70% S_i O₂, 3% A1₂ O₃, 17% B₂ O₃, 1% Li₂ O, 1% Na₂ O and 8% K₂ O.

10. The fluid sampling device of claim 7 wherein said holder mans is formed from a material having a composition substantially of 54% Fe, 29% Ni, and 17% Co.

11. The fluid sampling device of claim 1 wherein each of said opening means includes:

actuator means adjacent to each of said fluid inlet means and responsive to said control signal; and

shearing means in sealing engagement between said actuator means and said fluid inlet means, said shearing means being separated upon activation of said actuator means by said control signal for exposing said aperture to said fluid.

12. The fluid sampling device of claim 11 wherein said actuator means includes:

a cylinder;

a first movable piston within said cylinder;

a first rod connected to said piston;

a second movable piston within said cylinder axially aligned with and spaced from said first rod;

a second rod connected to said second piston and having a portion thereof within said cylinder and another portion thereof extending from a first end of said cylinder;

an expander within said cylinder between said first piston and a second end of said cylinder and being responsive to said control signal; and

a contact plate having one end in sealing engagement with said shearing means and another end spaced from and in alignment with said second rod.

13. The fluid sampling device of claim 12 wherein said fluid inlet means and said shearing means are formed at an angle to each of said actuator means.

14. The fluid sampling device of claim 11 wherein said shearing means is tubular.

15. The fluid sampling device of claim 14 wherein said shearing means includes an intermediately located weakened portion.

16. The fluid sampling device of claim 15 wherein said shearing means is formed of ceramic.

17. The fluid sampling device of claim 1 wherein each of said closing means includes;

actuator means adjacent to each of said fluid inlet means and responsive to said another control signal; and

movable clamping means responsive to said actuator means and having a portion thereof overlapping a portion of said fluid inlet means for deforming said portion of said fluid inlet means and closing said aperture upon activation by said actuator means.

18. The fluid sampling device of claim 17 wherein said actuator means includes;

a bellows; and

an expander within said bellows which is responsive to said another control signal for expanding said bellows upon activation by said another control signal.

19. The fluid sampling device of claim 17 wherein said portion of said fluid inlet means is a deformable tube.

20. The fluid sampling device of claim 19 wherein said movable clamping means includes:

a first arm having a first end overlapping said deformable tube;

a second arm pivotably connected to said first arm and having a first end overlapping said deformable tube oppositely positioned from said first end of said first arm;

a first linking bar pivotably connected at one end to a second end of said first arm;

a second linking bar pivotably connected at one end to a second end of said second arm; and

a support platform abutting said actuator means and pivotably connected to the other ends of said first and second linking bars.

21. The fluid sampling device of claim 20 wherein said first end of said first arm includes a substantially flat surface adjacent to said deformable tube and said first end of said second arm includes a land adjacent to said deformable tube and having the longitudinal axis of said land transverse to the longitudinal axis of said deformable tube.