Sampling device and method
First Claim
1. A method of capturing a sample of a material of interest, said method comprising:
- providing a sampling device, said sampling device including a reciprocative sample capture element located within an outer tube and adapted for extension and retraction with respect thereto;
a sample capture pocket located near a distal end of said sample capture element, said sample capture pocket adapted to capture a volume of material and having a processing material receiving port and a material expulsion port therein, said ports in communication with corresponding channels in said sample capture element when said sample capture element is in a retracted position; and
sampling lines leading from said channels in said sample capture element;
positioning a sampling end of said sampling device in or near a sample of a material of interest;
causing said sample capture element of said sampling device to extend from said outer tube into said material of interest, thereby filling said sample capture pocket in said sample capture element with an amount of said material;
causing said sample capture element of said sampling device to retract into said outer tube, thereby trapping a sample of said material of interest in said sample capture pocket;
processing said sample of material in situ within said sample capture pocket; and
discharging said sample of material from said sample capture pocket to a downstream location.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An in situ autosampling method and associated sampling device for capturing a material sample from a vessel. Methods of the present invention make use of a sampling device having an extendable sample capture element with a concave sample capture pocket located near a distal end thereof. The sample capture pocket is adapted to capture a known volume of material when the sample capture element is extended into said material. The material sample remains trapped in the sample capture pocket upon sample capture element retraction. Ports in the sample capture pocket may be placed in communication with corresponding material transfer channels extending through the sample capture element to allow for the in situ processing of a material sample, and the subsequent discharge of the sample to an analyzer or another downstream location.
71 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A method of capturing a sample of a material of interest, said method comprising:
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providing a sampling device, said sampling device including a reciprocative sample capture element located within an outer tube and adapted for extension and retraction with respect thereto;
a sample capture pocket located near a distal end of said sample capture element, said sample capture pocket adapted to capture a volume of material and having a processing material receiving port and a material expulsion port therein, said ports in communication with corresponding channels in said sample capture element when said sample capture element is in a retracted position; and
sampling lines leading from said channels in said sample capture element;positioning a sampling end of said sampling device in or near a sample of a material of interest; causing said sample capture element of said sampling device to extend from said outer tube into said material of interest, thereby filling said sample capture pocket in said sample capture element with an amount of said material; causing said sample capture element of said sampling device to retract into said outer tube, thereby trapping a sample of said material of interest in said sample capture pocket; processing said sample of material in situ within said sample capture pocket; and discharging said sample of material from said sample capture pocket to a downstream location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 26)
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16. A method of capturing a sample of a material of interest, said method comprising:
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providing an autosampling device, said autosampling device including a reciprocative sample capture element located within an outer tube and adapted for extension and retraction with respect thereto;
a sample capture pocket located near a distal end of said sample capture element, said sample capture pocket adapted to capture a volume of material when extended and to trap said volume of material when retracted, said sample capture pocket having a port for receiving processing material therein and a port for expelling material therefrom, said ports in communication with corresponding channels in said sample capture element when said sample capture element is in a retracted position; and
sampling lines leading from said channels in said sample capture element;connecting said autosampling device to an actuator adapted to produce a selective extension and retraction of said sample capture element; positioning a sampling end of said autosampling device in or over a sample of a material of interest; activating said actuator to cause said sample capture element of said autosampling device to extend from said outer tube into said material of interest, thereby filling said sample capture pocket in said sample capture element with an amount of said material; activating said actuator to cause said sample capture element of said autosampling device to retract into said outer tube, thereby trapping a sample of said material of interest in said sample capture pocket; processing said sample of material in said sample capture pocket by passing a processing material thereto via a sampling line, a corresponding channel in said sample capture element, and a processing material receiving port in said sample capture pocket; and discharging said sample of material from said sample capture pocket to a downstream location via an expulsion port in said sample capture pocket, a corresponding channel in said sample capture element, and a sampling line connected thereto. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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27. A sampling device for capturing a sample of a material of interest, said device comprising:
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a reciprocative sample capture element located within an outer tube and adapted for extension and retraction with respect thereto; a sample capture pocket located near a distal end of said sample capture element, said sample capture pocket adapted to capture a volume of material; a processing material receiving port located in said sample capture pocket; a material expulsion port located in said sample capture pocket; corresponding channels in said sample capture element, said channels in communication with said ports when said sample capture element is in a retracted position; a sampling line leading from a channel in said sample capture element to at least one supply of processing material to supply processing material to said sample capture pocket for the in situ processing of a material sample; and a sampling line leading from a channel in said sample capture element to at least one downstream vessel for receiving material expelled from said sample capture pocket. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification