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.

1 .- 23 . (canceled)  
   
   
       24 . An apparatus for supplying either a portion of a primary liquid, drawn from a primary liquid stream flowing along a path of primary liquid flow through an interior region of the apparatus, or alternatively for supplying a portion of fluid of known chemical composition, drawn from a sealed-mouth vial that can periodically be positioned in the path of primary liquid flow, to a fluid connection point along a fluid line to an inlet of a chemical analyzer, said apparatus comprising: 
 (a) a structure defining an interior region of the apparatus and providing at least three separate passageways from outside the structure to the interior region;    (b) a first of said passageways comprising a primary-liquid inlet extending from outside the structure to a primary-liquid inlet location in said interior region;    (c) a second of said passageways comprising a primary-liquid outlet extending from a primary-liquid outlet location in said interior region to outside the structure;    (d) wall portions defining a path of primary liquid flow through said interior region, said path extending between the primary-liquid inlet location and the primary-liquid outlet location to channel a flow of primary liquid along said path when primary liquid is supplied to the apparatus and also providing vial access to said path for periodically positioning a vial of a known fluid at least partially in said path;    (e) a third of said passageways comprising a first-conduit entrance extending from outside the structure to said path, said first-conduit entrance being different from said primary-liquid inlet and said primary-liquid outlet; and,    (f) a first conduit located in said first-conduit entrance with a first-conduit inlet section having both a needle end and an aperture positioned in said path, and a first conduit outlet section terminating at a fluid connection point, thereby allowing primary liquid to be supplied through the aperture to the fluid connection point when primary liquid is flowed in the path;    further wherein the needle end of the first-conduit inlet section is positioned to pierce a sealed mouth of a vial of fluid of known chemical composition when the vial is periodically positioned in the path, thereby allowing the fluid of known chemical composition to be supplied through the aperture to the fluid connection point instead of the primary liquid.    
   
   
       25 . An apparatus according to  claim 24 , wherein primary liquid drawn from said path for analysis and, when desired, known fluid drawn from said vial for analysis, must flow within at least that portion of the first-conduit inlet section which is positioned in the path to reach the fluid connection point.  
   
   
       26 . An apparatus according to  claim 24 , further comprising a sealed-mouth vial containing a fluid of known chemical composition positioned in the path thereby to provide a known fluid sample to the fluid connection point while maintaining the same fluid flowpath between the aperture of the first-conduit inlet section and the fluid connection point.  
   
   
       27 . An apparatus according to  claim 24  wherein the path of primary liquid flow contains no liquid contact surfaces that, on contact with a primary liquid flowing along said path, would modify the chemical composition of the primary liquid.  
   
   
       28 . An apparatus according to  claim 24  wherein the chemical composition of the primary liquid supplied through the aperture to the fluid connection point when primary liquid is flowed in the path would be the same as the chemical composition of the primary liquid in the path.  
   
   
       29 . An apparatus according to  claim 24  wherein the chemical composition of the primary liquid at the primary-liquid inlet would be the same as the chemical composition of the primary liquid at the primary-liquid outlet.  
   
   
       30 . An apparatus for supplying either a portion of water, drawn from a primary water stream flowing along a path of primary water flow through an interior region of the apparatus, to an inlet of a chemical analysis instrument comprising a TOC analyzer for measuring TOC in water and, when desired, for supplying fluid of known chemical composition to the inlet of the instrument, said apparatus comprising: 
 (a) a structure defining an interior region of the apparatus and providing at least three separate passageways from outside the structure to the interior region;    (b) a first of said passageways comprising a primary-water inlet extending from outside the structure to a primary-water inlet location in said interior region;    (c) a second of said passageways comprising a primary-water outlet extending from a primary-water outlet location in said interior region to outside the structure;    (d) wall portions defining a path of primary water flow through said interior region, said path extending between the primary-water inlet location and the primary-water outlet location to channel a flow of primary water along said path when primary water is supplied to the apparatus and also providing vial access to said path for periodically positioning a vial of a known fluid at least partially in said path;    (e) a third of said passageways comprising a first-conduit entrance extending from outside the structure to said path, said first-conduit entrance being different from said primary-water inlet and said primary-water outlet; and,    (f) a first conduit located in said first-conduit entrance with a first-conduit inlet section having both a needle end and an aperture positioned in said path, and a first-conduit outlet section connected with said TOC analyzer whereby a sample of primary water flowing in said path is supplied through the aperture to the TOC analyzer for measurement of its TOC concentration;    further wherein the needle end of the first-conduit inlet section is positioned for penetrating a sealed mouth of a vial of fluid of known chemical composition when the vial is periodically positioned in the path, thereby allowing the fluid of known chemical composition to be supplied through the aperture to the TOC analyzer.    
   
   
       31 . An apparatus according to  claim 30 , wherein said sample of primary water and said fluid of known chemical composition flow to the connected TOC analyzer along the same fluid flowpath.  
   
   
       32 . An apparatus according to  claim 30  wherein the path of primary water flow contains no water contact surfaces that, on contact with primary water flowing along said path, would modify the chemical composition of the primary water.  
   
   
       33 . An apparatus according to  claim 30  wherein the chemical composition of the primary water supplied through the aperture to the TOC analyzer when primary water is flowed in the path would be the same as the chemical composition of the primary water in the path.  
   
   
       34 . An apparatus according to  claim 30  wherein the chemical composition of the primary water at the primary-water inlet would be the same as the chemical composition of the primary water at the primary-water outlet.  
   
   
       35 . An apparatus for supplying a portion of liquid drawn from a flowing primary liquid stream in an interior region of the apparatus to a sampling outlet located outside the interior region and fluidically coupled to the interior region and, when desired, for supplying fluid of known chemical composition in a controlled condition to the sampling outlet, said apparatus comprising: 
 (a) a structure defining an interior region of the apparatus and providing at least three separate passageways from outside the structure to the interior region;    (b) wall portions defining a liquid flow path through the interior region between a liquid inlet at a first of said passageways and a discharge outlet at a second of said passageways for flowing a primary liquid stream through said interior region;    (c) a communication path comprising a hollow conduit extending between the sampling outlet and the liquid flow path via a third of the passageways, said hollow conduit having an opening in said liquid flow path for supplying a portion of liquid drawn from a primary liquid stream flowing along the liquid flow path to the sampling outlet; and    (d) a communication path comprising a hollow conduit extending, when desired, between the inside of a vial of the fluid of known chemical composition and the sampling outlet, said hollow conduit having an opening positioned in said vial of fluid of known chemical composition for supplying a portion of said fluid of known chemical composition to the sampling outlet without inviting contamination, wherein at least a portion of the communication path between the vial of the fluid of known chemical composition and the sampling outlet comprises at least a portion of the communication path between the sampling outlet and the liquid flow path.    
   
   
       36 . An apparatus according to  claim 35  wherein the liquid flow path contains no liquid contact surfaces that, on contact with a primary liquid stream flowing along said path, would modify the chemical composition of the primary liquid stream.  
   
   
       37 . An apparatus according to  claim 35  wherein the chemical composition of the portion of liquid drawn from the primary liquid stream and supplied to the sampling outlet when a primary liquid stream is flowed in the liquid flow path would be the same as the chemical composition of the primary liquid stream in the path.  
   
   
       38 . An apparatus according to  claim 35  wherein the chemical composition of the primary liquid stream at the liquid inlet would be the same as the chemical composition of the primary liquid stream at the discharge outlet.