To separate each of a plurality of samples of a fluid from a body of the fluid and deposit each sample into a different one of a plurality of bottles, the downwardly extending outlet of a funnel, being offset from a vertical axis of rotation of the funnel, orbits step-by-step in a circle around the vertical axis above a distributing plate as the funnel rotates to guide fluid into each of a plurality of separated inlets in the distributing plate as the fluid is pumped from the body of the fluid through intake and funnel hoses and into the large, circular upwardly extending inlet of the funnel, with the outlet of the funnel hose being positioned at a fixed location lying along an imaginary circle the downward projection of which lies within the inlet of the funnel. To guide the samples from the funnel outlet into separate bottles, the distributing plate includes a circle of inlets beneath the orbit of the funnel outlet to receive the samples and two concentric circles of outlets, with each outlet: (1) communicating with a different inlet through a passageway, which passageway extends in a different direction from the inlet than the two adjacent passageways, so that the the inlets are all in one central circle between the two circles of outlets; and (2) being positioned over the open end of a different bottle, with the bottles forming two circles of circumferentially-spaced bottles.
To pump fluid into sample containers, a distributor arm of a sample collector is calibrated as to position in a computer memory and is moved from position to position over different containers while a counter in computer memory keeps track of its position. When the distributor arm is over the designated container, samples are pumped into the container. To pump the fluid into the container, the rollers of a peristaltic pump are supported to prevent the rollers from compressing the tube more than the thickness of the walls of the tube. A tube holder rotates along with the roller assembly of the peristaltic pump and keeps the tube in line with the rollers.
A fluid collecting and separating vessel comprising side walls forming a lateral enclosure, a bottom member attached to the lower perimeter of the side walls and including a pair of spaced apart fluid discharge openings and a pair of attached funnels, each having a hollow substantially cone shaped upper portion surrounding one of the openings and a walled drainage tube depending from the point of the cone, where the base of the cone is a closed plane figure congruent with one half of the lower perimeter of the side walls.
An automatic liquid sampling and flow measuring apparatus provided as a unitary structure within a case, and capable of collecting liquid samples at selected intervals, measuring flow rate through a channel at selected intervals, and collecting and storing sampling and flow rate data for later retrieval. The apparatus is provided with its own self-contained microprocessor for automatically controlling sampling operations, calculating flow rate on the basis of signals from a sensor, and storing data relating to sample collection and flow rate measurement. The stored data can be called up on a display of the apparatus, or can be transferred via a portable transfer unit to an external output device, such as a printer capable of producing a hard copy of the data.
A fluid flow sampler having a peristaltic pump which periodically draws a sample volume of effluent from a sewer main through a supply line to a collecting chamber wherein the pH is recorded after which the sampled effluent is transferred to an agitated and cooled holding chamber. The supply lines are valve controlled to delay delivery to the collecting chamber until steady state conditions are achieved in the supply line. The supply lines are air purged when the pump is not operating and lines are underground which are connected to a sampler inside a building thereby eliminating line freezing. The entire operation of obtaining, holding and maintaining the representative samples is programable and completely automatic.
An automatic fluid sampling and monitoring apparatus provided as a unitary structure, and capable of collecting fluid samples at selected intervals, monitoring the level of a condition of the fluid at selected intervals, and collecting and storing sampling and fluid condition data for later retrieval. Sampling operations may be controlled on the basis of time and/or levels of a fluid condition being monitored. Where the apparatus also incorporates an internal flow measuring assembly, or is connected with an external flow meter, sampling operations may also be controlled on the basis of flow rate. The apparatus includes a self-contained microprocessor for automatically controlling sampling operations, calculating fluid condition levels on the basis of signals from a sensor, and storing data relating to sample collection and the fluid condition. Stored data can be called up on a display of the apparatus, or transferred via a portable transfer unit to an external output device, such as a printer, for producing a hard copy of the data.
