Sampler with magazine system

• US 5,319,986 A
• Filed: 07/15/1993
• Issued: 06/14/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mesa Laboratories Inc.
• Original Assignee: Computer Control Corporation (Core Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rumore, Frank C., Padden, Harvey F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Noland, Thomas P.
• Application Number:
  US08/092,280
• Time in Patent Office: 334 Days
• Field of Search: 73/863.01, 73/863.21, 73/863.23, 73/863.24, 73/863.25, 73/863.71, 73/864.34, 73/864.35, 73/864.91, 55/270, 422/63, 422/64, 422/65, 422/104, 436/45, 436/47, 436/48, 436/49
• US Class Current: 73/863.21
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/2214 by sorption
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/2273 Atmospheric sampling
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/405 by adsorption or absorption
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/185 Conveyor of containers successively filled

Abstract

A tube magazine for a sampling system has a plurality of sampler tube receiving spaces for receiving sampler tubes. The sampler tubes can be separated from the system as a unit, and transported to another location for analysis. A first part of the system includes a plurality of introducing devices disposed for introducing gaseous fluid into corresponding ones of the sampler tubes; and a second part which forms with the sampler tubes a replaceable magazine which is readily removable from the first part, whereby the corresponding introducing devices and receiving spaces are simultaneously brought into fluid communication when the first and second parts are connected together. Advantageously, each of the sampler tube receiving spaces has a central, elongated axis, the axes of the sampler tube receiving spaces being parallel to each other; a trap tube receiving space for receiving a trap tube, the trap tube receiving space being surrounded by the sampler tube receiving spaces, the trap tube receiving space having an elongated, central axis which is parallel to the axes of the sampler tube receiving spaces; and a common end space for providing fluid communication between the trap tube receiving space and each of the sampler tube receiving spaces. A selector valve system can be provided for selectively introducing fluid into the sampler tube receiving spaces.

Claims

1. A sampler magazine system, comprising:

a plurality of sampler tube receiving spaces for receiving sampler tubes;

a first part which includes a plurality of introducing means disposed in said first part for introducing gaseous fluid into corresponding ones of the sampler tubes; and

a second part which forms with the sampler tubes a replaceable magazine which is readily removable with the sampler tubes from the first part and which includes at least a portion of each of the sampler tube receiving spaces, whereby the second part and the sampler tubes are separable as a unit from the means for introducing the fluid into the sampler tubes, and whereby the introducing means and the corresponding receiving spaces are simultaneously brought into fluid communication with each other when the first and second parts are connected together.

2. The sampler magazine system of claim 1, further comprising:

a trap tube receiving space which is adjacent to the sampler tube receiving spaces; and

a common end space for providing fluid communication between the trap tube receiving space and each of the sampler tube receiving spaces, the common end space being within the second part.

3. The sampler magazine system of claim 2, further comprising a selector valve system for selectively introducing said gaseous fluid into the sampler tube receiving spaces such that said fluid flows through a selected one of the sampler tubes.

4. The sampler magazine system of claim 3, wherein the fluid flows into a common space from the selected tube, and then flows into a trap tube associated with the sampler tubes.

5. The sampler magazine system of claim 4, wherein the fluid flows through the selected tube in a first direction, then through the common space in a second direction, and then through the trap tube in a direction which is opposite to the first direction.

6. The sampler of claim 1, further comprising recording means associated with the second part and adapted for recording information relative to the fluid introduced into the sampler tubes.

7. The sampler of claim 6, wherein said recording means is adapted for recording information relative to fluid introduced into each respective sampler tube as a function of the position of the respective tube within the second part.

8. A sampler, comprising:

(A) a magazine system which includes;

(1) a plurality of sampler tube receiving spaces for receiving sampler tubes, each of the sampler tubes receiving spaces having a central, elongated axis, the axes of the sampler tube receiving spaces being parallel to each other;

(2) a trap tube receiving space for receiving a trap tube, the trap tube receiving space being surrounded by the sampler tube receiving spaces, the trap tube receiving space having an elongated, central axis which parallel to the axes of the sampler tube receiving spaces; and

(3) a common end space for providing fluid communication between the trap tube receiving space and each of the sampler tube receiving spaces; and

(B) a selector valve system for selectively introducing fluid into the sampler tube receiving spaces such that fluid flows through a selected one of the sampler tubes in a first direction, then through the common end space in a radially inward direction, and then through the trap tube in a second direction, the second direction being opposite to the first direction; and

wherein the magazine system includes first and second parts which are separable from each other, the first part including means for providing fluid communication between the selector valve system and the sampler tubes, the second part including the common end space and at least a portion of each of the sampler tube receiving spaces, whereby the second part and the sampler tubes are separable from the selector valve system and the first part of the magazine system.

9. The sampler of claim 8, further comprising the sampler tubes and the trap tube, the sampler tubes and the trap tube including extracting means for extracting material to be sampled from fluid flowing through the sampler and trap tubes.

10. The sampler of claim 9, wherein the extracting means includes means for adsorbing or absorbing material from air flowing through the sampler and trap tubes.

11. The sampler of claim 8, further comprising positioning means for correctly positioning the sampler tubes with respect to the selector valve system.

12. The sampler of claim 11, wherein the positioning means includes posts which extend between the first and second parts of the magazine system, and spaces for receiving the posts, wherein one of the posts will fit within only one of the spaces for receiving the posts.

13. The sampler of claim 8, further comprising a cover for covering the sampler tubes when the second part of the magazine system is separated from the first part of the magazine system.

14. The sampler of claim 13, wherein the cover, the second part, and the sampler tubes located therein form a transportable unit.

15. The sampler of claim 8, wherein the second part of the magazine system has an end surface, the sampler further comprising an end plate which is secured to the second part of the magazine system, the common end space being defined by the end surface and the end plate.

16. The sampler of claim 8, wherein the first and second parts define a seam therebetween, the magazine system including sealing means for preventing fluid communication between the atmosphere and the sampler tubes through the seam.

17. The sampler of claim 16, wherein the sealing means maintains the sampler tubes within the second part of the magazine system when the second part is separated from the first part of the magazine system.

18. The sampler of claim 17, wherein the sealing means includes first and second sets of O-rings, the first set of O-rings being located within the first part of the magazine system, the second set of O-rings being located within the second part of the magazine system, wherein the second set of O-rings fit more snugly against the sampler tubes than do the first set of O-rings.

19. The sampler of claim 17, wherein the sealing means includes first and second sets of O-rings, the first set of O-rings being located within the first part of the magazine system, the second set of O-rings being located within the second part of the magazine system, wherein the first set of O-rings are arranged so as to be close to the ends of the sampler and trap tubes, whereby the sampler and trap tubes remain within the second part of the magazine when the second part is separated from the first part.

20. The sampler of claim 8, wherein the magazine system includes a third part which is located between the first and second parts, the third part being separable from the first and second parts, each of the sampler tube receiving spaces being located within the first, second and third parts of the magazine system, whereby the sampler is operable with sampler tubes having different lengths.

21. The sampler of claim 8, wherein the sampler tube receiving spaces have a smaller diameter within the second part than within the first part.

22. The sampler of claim 8, further comprising registration posts which interconnect the first part and the second part and which locate the first and second parts in a predetermined positional relationship.

23. The sampler of claim 22, wherein the registration posts have a predetermined positional relationship with the sampler tube receiving spaces.

24. The sampler of claim 22, wherein the registration posts fit within spaces in the second part slightly more tightly than the sampler tubes fit within the second part.