Self-powered fluid sampler

• US 6,840,121 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2003
• Issued: 01/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Incorporated (State University System of Florida)
• Original Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Incorporated (State University System of Florida)
• Inventors: Thomas, Ray Gerald, Hartl, Kevin Martin, Martin, Jonathan Bowman
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Hezron
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rogers, David A.
• Application Number:
  US10/622,747
• Publication Number:
  US 20040123681A1
• Time in Patent Office: 543 Days
• Field of Search: 738/630.1, 738/632.3, 738/633.1, 738/633.2, 738/633.3, 738/638.1, 738/638.3, 738/638.4, 738/638.6, 738/640.1, 738/641.3, 738/641.4
• US Class Current: 73/863.31
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/14 Suction devices, e.g. pumps; Ejector devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/2042 using a piston actuated by the pressure of the liquid to be sampled
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/24 Suction devices G01N1/22 - G01N1/2294 take precedence

Abstract

An automatic fluid sampler includes a substantially watertight housing and a structure for drawing fluid from outside the housing, wherein the fluid drawing structure is powered by stored potential energy within the housing. A method of automatic fluid sampling employs such samplers, and a fluid sampling system includes a plurality of interconnected samplers.

Claims

1. A fluid sampler comprising:

a substantially watertight housing, and

at least one spring-loaded syringe that stores potential energy operably connected to at least one solenoid valve that operates to release said stored potential energy, said spring-loaded syringe and said solenoid valve both contained at least partially within said housing, said spring-loaded syringe drawing fluid from outside of said housing using said stored potential energy.

2. The fluid sampler of claim 1, wherein said fluid sampler further comprises a filter assembly.

3. The fluid sampler of claim 1, wherein said housing is substantially airtight.

4. The fluid sampler of claim 1, further comprising a control device for issuing electronic activating signals, wherein said activating signals applied to said solenoid valve results in fluid being drawn into said spring-loaded syringe.

5. The fluid sampler of claim 4, wherein said control device is a microprocessor or a microcomputer.

6. The fluid sampler of claim 5, further comprising at least one of an electronic memory and a clock.

7. The fluid sampler of claim 5, further comprising at least one sensor, said sensor communicably connected to said microcomputer or said microprocessor.

8. The fluid sampler of claim 7, wherein said at least one sensor is selected from the group consisting of a pH sensor, a temperature sensor, a dissolved oxygen probe, a conductivity sensor, a salinity sensor and an ion selective electrode.

9. The fluid sampler of claim 7, wherein fluid collection can be initiated by a signal from said sensor.

10. The fluid sampler of claim 7, wherein said sampler includes a memory, said microprocessor or microcomputer processing and storing information from said sensor.

11. The fluid sampler of claim 10, wherein said stored information comprises environmental conditions present at times of fluid sampling.

12. The fluid sampler of claim 5, further comprising at least one antenna, said antenna adapted for receiving a wireless activating signal.

13. The fluid sampler of claim 12, further comprising a receiving device connected to said antenna, said receiving device adapted to receive wireless transmissions from outside of said housing.

14. The fluid sampler of claim 12, further comprising a transceiver for sending wireless signals to at least one location outside of said housing.

15. The fluid sampler of claim 1, wherein said solenoid valve when closed seals said fluid drawn from outside of said housing inside said spring-loaded syringe.

16. A fluid sampling system, comprising:

a plurality of fluid samplers, said fluid samplers each including a substantially watertight housing, and at least one spring-loaded syringe that stores potential energy operably connected to at least one solenoid valve that operates to release said stored potential energy, said spring-loaded syringe and said solenoid valve both contained at least partially within said housing, said spring-loaded syringe drawing fluid from outside of said housing using said stored potential energy,

wherein at least one of said plurality of fluid samplers is a master sampler, said master sampler including at least one antenna and a transceiver connected to said antenna.

17. The fluid sampling system of claim 16, wherein said master sampler relays instructions to and from other of said plurality of fluid samplers.

18. The fluid sampling system of claim 16, wherein said solenoid valve when closed seals said fluid drawn from outside of said housing inside said spring-loaded syringe.

19. A method for sampling fluids comprising the steps of:

providing a substantially watertight housing and at least one spring-loaded syringe that stores potential energy operably connected to at least one solenoid valve that operates to release said stored potential energy, said spring-loaded syringe and said solenoid valve both contained at least partially within said housing, and

drawing said fluid from outside of said housing into said spring-loaded syringe using said stored potential energy.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of sealing said fluid inside said spring-loaded syringe through actuation of said solenoid valve.