Apparatus for cleaning a fluid sample probe
First Claim
1. In an apparatus for cleaning an exterior surface of a fluid sample probe, said apparatus comprising a probe-cleaning body having (i) an endless wall defining an elongated passageway having a predetermined diameter adapted to receive an elongated, cylindrically-shaped fluid sample probe, said endless wall having a screw-threaded channel formed therein for entraining a cleaning fluid about the exterior surface of the probe located Within the passageway, such entrained cleaning fluid being adapted to wash the exterior surface of the probe when relative movement is produced between the probe and probe-cleaning body, the improvement comprising:
- means defining a first endless annular chamber in said endless wall at one end of said passageway, said first endless annular chamber having a diameter greater than said predetermined of said predetermined of said passageway and being in fluid communication with said screw-threaded channel and encircling the probe located within said passageway;
means for introducing cleaning fluid into said first endless annular chamber and means for removing said cleaning fluid at an opposite end of said one end of said passageway.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A sample probe wash chamber for cleaning the exterior of a sample probe. The probe wash chamber includes an interior threaded passageway between a wash fluid inlet and outlet. The inlet tangentially opens into an annular chamber formed adjacent one end of the threaded passageway. The outlet opens into a second annular chamber formed adjacent the other end of the threaded passageway and has a vacuum applied to it. The outlet can open perpendicularly into the second annular chamber to remove any moisture from the end of the sample probe positioned at the outlet opening. The probe wash chamber and the sample probe are movable with respect to one another and preferably the probe wash chamber is movable over the sample probe for multiple sample aspiration and cleaning operations.
45 Citations
5 Claims
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1. In an apparatus for cleaning an exterior surface of a fluid sample probe, said apparatus comprising a probe-cleaning body having (i) an endless wall defining an elongated passageway having a predetermined diameter adapted to receive an elongated, cylindrically-shaped fluid sample probe, said endless wall having a screw-threaded channel formed therein for entraining a cleaning fluid about the exterior surface of the probe located Within the passageway, such entrained cleaning fluid being adapted to wash the exterior surface of the probe when relative movement is produced between the probe and probe-cleaning body, the improvement comprising:
- means defining a first endless annular chamber in said endless wall at one end of said passageway, said first endless annular chamber having a diameter greater than said predetermined of said predetermined of said passageway and being in fluid communication with said screw-threaded channel and encircling the probe located within said passageway;
means for introducing cleaning fluid into said first endless annular chamber and means for removing said cleaning fluid at an opposite end of said one end of said passageway. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
- means defining a first endless annular chamber in said endless wall at one end of said passageway, said first endless annular chamber having a diameter greater than said predetermined of said predetermined of said passageway and being in fluid communication with said screw-threaded channel and encircling the probe located within said passageway;
Specification