Device to alternately supply a fluid to an analyzer

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for supplying a portion of a fluid stream and, alternately, a fluid of known composition and concentration to an analyzer are provided. The fluid stream is directed through a series of connected chambers formed in an integral housing. A sampling needle has an inlet in one of the chambers and an outlet in fluid communication with the analyzer. When desired, a tube or vial containing a known fluid may be inserted into a chamber containing the sampling needle, so that the known fluid will be supplied to the analyzer. A second needle provides ventilation to the vial to prevent the formation of a vacuum as the known fluid is drained from the vial.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of sampling a fluid stream, comprising: 
 flowing said stream into a first chamber having an upper portion in communication with an overflow channel to allow the fluid stream to flow out of the first chamber and a lower portion at a level lower than the upper portion; allowing the stream to flow from the first chamber into the overflow channel to produce continuous flow of the fluid stream through the first chamber and overflow channels; and drawing a sample of the fluid stream from said lower portion by a conduit having an opening submerged in said fluid stream in said lower portion.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising continuously flowing said sample to a detector.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising continuously flowing said sample from the detector to said fluid stream at a point in said fluid stream downstream from said conduit opening.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said sample flows into the fluid stream in said overflow channel.  
     
     
         5 . A method of introducing a sample fluid in a container into a detector, the container including a mouth with a frangible seal therein, the method comprising: piercing the frangible seal with a first hollow needle having an opening therein; immersing said first hollow needle opening into the sample fluid; drawing the sample fluid through the first hollow needle and into a conduit in fluid communication with the first hollow needle; drawing the sample fluid through the conduit and into the detector; and removing the fluid from the detector.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the first hollow needle is mounted to a housing and extends into a first chamber in the housing, the first chamber having an open end and being sized to receive the container, and wherein said piercing step includes inserting the container into the first chamber whereby the first hollow needle pierces the frangible seal.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said first chamber includes an upper portion and a lower portion at a level below the upper portion, the first hollow needle opening being positioned in said lower portion.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said housing includes a second hollow needle with a second hollow needle opening positioned in said upper portion of the first chamber, the second hollow needle being in communication with a replacement fluid source, and further comprising drawing replacement fluid into the container through the second hollow needle as sample fluid is drawn from the container into the first hollow needle.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the replacement fluid is gas.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the replacement fluid is air.  
     
     
         11 . A method of alternatively sampling a fluid stream and introducing a sample fluid into a detector comprising: 
 (a) flowing said fluid stream into a first chamber having an upper portion in communication with an overflow channel to allow the fluid stream to flow out of the first chamber and a lower portion at a level lower than the upper portion; allowing the fluid stream to flow from the first chamber into the overflow channel to produce continuous flow of the fluid stream through the first chamber and overflow channel; drawing a portion of the fluid stream from said lower portion through a first hollow needle positioned in the first chamber with an opening in said lower portion; and    (b) inserting a container, containing said sample fluid and having a mouth with a frangible seal thereon, into the first chamber whereby the first hollow needle pierces the frangible seal to position the first hollow needle opening inside the container within the sample fluid; drawing sample fluid from the container through the first hollow needle; and flowing said sample fluid to the detector; and    (c) alternating steps (a) and (b) as desired.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first chamber has a second hollow needle therein, with a second hollow needle opening positioned in said upper portion, and wherein said inserting step included piercing the frangible seal with said second hollow needle, and wherein said step of drawing sample fluid includes drawing replacement fluid from said second hollow needle into said container.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising flowing said fluid stream portion and said sample fluid from said detector to said fluid stream downstream from said first hollow needle opening.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said second hollow needle opening is at a level higher than said overflow channel, whereby said fluid stream flows from the first chamber into said overflow channel without entering said second hollow needle opening.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said replacement fluid is air.  
     
     
         16 . A method of operating a detector comprising: 
 (a) flowing a fluid stream into a first chamber having an upper portion and a lower portion at a level lower than the upper portion; drawing a portion of the fluid stream from said lower portion through a first hollow needle positioned in the first chamber with an opening in said lower portion; and flowing said portion into the detector; and    (b) inserting a container, containing a known sample fluid and having a mouth with a frangible seal thereon, into the first chamber whereby the first hollow needle pierces the frangible seal to position the first hollow needle opening inside the container within the known sample fluid; flowing the known sample fluid to the detector.    
     
     
         17 . An apparatus for sampling a fluid stream, comprising: a housing having a first chamber with an upper portion, a lower portion at a level lower than the upper portion, and a fluid stream inlet; a first hollow needle positioned in the first chamber, the first hollow needle having a fluid stream opening positioned in said lower portion.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising a second hollow needle positioned in the first chamber, the second hollow needle having a replacement fluid opening positioned in said upper portion.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the housing further includes an overflow channel in fluid communication with the first chamber between said first hollow needle fluid stream opening and said second hollow needle replacement fluid opening to allow said fluid stream to flow from the first chamber into the overflow channel without entering the second hollow needle replacement fluid opening.  
     
     
         20 . An apparatus comprising: a sample housing having a first chamber with an upper portion, a lower portion at a level lower than the upper portion, and a fluid stream inlet; a first hollow needle positioned in the first chamber, the first hollow needle having a fluid stream opening positioned in said lower portion; and a detector, the first hollow needle being in fluid communication with the detector, whereby the first hollow needle diverts a portion of a fluid stream from the first chamber to the detector.  
     
     
         21 . An apparatus comprising: a sampler housing having a first chamber with an upper portion, a lower portion at a level lower than the upper portion, and a fluid stream inlet in communication with the first chamber, to introduce a fluid stream to the sampler housing a first hollow needle positioned in the first chamber, the first hollow needle having a fluid stream opening positioned in said lower portion; a detector, the first hollow needle being in communication with the detector; the first chamber having a top with an opening to receive a container with a mouth having a frangible seal piercable by the first hollow needle to introduce a stationary fluid to the sampler housing.  
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , further comprising a second hollow needle positioned in the first chamber, to introduce replacement fluid into said container, said frangible seal being piercable by said second hollow needle.  
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , further comprising an overflow channel in communication with the first chamber at a level below the second hollow needle opening, whereby the fluid stream flows from the first chamber into the overflow channel without entering the second hollow needle opening.