Dispensing assembly to facilitate dispensing of fluid from a sample cylinder and related methods

Abstract

A dispensing assembly and related methods to facilitate dispensing of a fluid sample from a sample cylinder may include a sensor connected to one or more of conduits of the dispensing assembly and configured to provide indication of a leak in the conduits. A cap assembly may include a cap body and one or more cap conduits positioned to engage with a flush fluid source and provide fluid flow between the flush fluid source and a flush conduit. The cap assembly further may include a first quick connect coupler for connection and disconnection to a second quick connect coupler connected to a flush conduit. A pressure control device may be provided to prevent damage resulting from pressure to containers containing flush fluid. Inlet and outlet conduits connecting to the sample cylinder may configured to be flexible and align with corresponding connectors on the sample cylinder.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for leak-testing one or more fluid conduits associated with a dispensing assembly to facilitate dispensing of a fluid from a sample cylinder, the method comprising:
 closing one or more of a purge valve or a flush valve of the dispensing assembly, the one of more of the purge valve or flush valve being connected to the one or more fluid conduits at a position remote from a source of pressurized fluid;   supplying pressurized fluid from the pressurized fluid source to the one or more fluid conduits; and   monitoring a sensor connected to the one or more conduits, the sensor being positioned to provide an indication of a leak in the one or more fluid conduits.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 connecting a sample cylinder containing a fluid sample to a fixture assembly of the dispensing assembly, the fixture assembly being positioned to secure the sample cylinder and facilitate extraction of at least a portion of the fluid sample from the sample cylinder;   connecting an inlet conduit and an outlet conduit to inlet and outlet couplings of the sample cylinder;   positioning a sample receptacle for receiving the at least a portion of the fluid sample via the outlet conduit;   opening the sample cylinder via operation of an actuator associated with the fixture assembly to release the at least a portion of the fluid sample; and   opening an outlet valve connected to the outlet conduit to supply the at least a portion of the fluid sample to the sample receptacle.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising: opening an inlet valve connected to the inlet conduit to supply one or more of the flush fluid or the purge fluid to the sample cylinder, and opening a purge valve between a supply of pressurized fluid and the inlet valve to supply pressurized fluid to the sample cylinder. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein monitoring the sensor comprises monitoring a pressure gauge to identify whether pressure in the one or more fluid conduits is one or more of below a threshold pressure or dropping. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising: closing the sample cylinder, and opening the inlet valve connected to the inlet conduit to supply the flush fluid to the sample cylinder. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising opening the purge valve between the supply of pressurized fluid and the inlet valve to supply pressurized fluid to flush the one or more fluid conduits. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising opening the outlet valve and opening the purge valve to dry the one or more fluid conduits. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 checking a level of flush fluid in a first container, the first container positioned to provide a flush fluid source;   if the level of flush fluid in the first container is below a threshold level, disconnecting a quick connect coupler coupling a fluid conduit to the first container;   separating the first container from the dispensing assembly;   moving a second container providing a second flush fluid source into a position within a selected range of the fluid conduit; and   connecting a quick connect coupler to couple the fluid conduit to the second container.   
     
     
         9 . A method for leak-testing one or more fluid conduits associated with a dispensing assembly to facilitate dispensing of a fluid from a sample cylinder, the method comprising:
 connecting a sample cylinder containing a fluid sample to a fixture assembly of the dispensing assembly, the fixture assembly being positioned to secure the sample cylinder and facilitate extraction of at least a portion of the fluid sample from the sample cylinder;   connecting an inlet conduit and an outlet conduit to inlet and outlet couplings of the sample cylinder;   opening an inlet valve connected to the inlet conduit to supply one or more of the flush fluid or the purge fluid to the sample cylinder;   opening a purge valve between a supply of pressurized fluid and the inlet valve to supply pressurized fluid to the sample cylinder;   positioning a sample receptacle for receiving the at least a portion of the fluid sample via the outlet conduit;   opening the sample cylinder via operation of an actuator associated with the fixture assembly to release the at least a portion of the fluid sample;   opening an outlet valve connected to the outlet conduit to supply the at least a portion of the fluid sample to the sample receptacle; and   monitoring a pressure gauge connected to the one or more fluid conduits to identify whether one or more of the following conditions occur: (a) pressure in the one or more fluid conduits drops, or the pressure gauge indicates being below a threshold pressure, thereby to provide an indication of a leak in the one or more fluid conduits.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 closing the sample cylinder; and   opening an inlet valve connected to the inlet conduit to supply a flush fluid to the sample cylinder.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising opening the outlet valve and opening the purge valve to dry the one or more fluid conduits. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 checking a level of flush fluid in a first container providing a flush fluid source;   if the level of flush fluid in the first container is below a threshold level, disconnecting a quick connect coupler coupling a fluid conduit to the first container;   separating the first container from the dispensing assembly;   moving a second container providing a second flush fluid source into a position within a selected range of the fluid conduit; and   connecting a quick connect coupler coupling the fluid conduit to the second container.   
     
     
         13 . A method for leak-testing one or more fluid conduits associated with a dispensing assembly to facilitate dispensing of a fluid from a sample cylinder, the method comprising:
 connecting a sample cylinder containing a fluid sample to a fixture assembly of the dispensing assembly, the fixture assembly being positioned to secure the sample cylinder and facilitate extraction of at least a portion of the fluid sample from the sample cylinder;   connecting an inlet conduit and an outlet conduit to inlet and outlet couplings of the sample cylinder;   positioning a sample receptacle for receiving the at least a portion of the fluid sample via the outlet conduit;   opening the sample cylinder via operation of an actuator associated with the fixture assembly to release the at least a portion of the fluid sample;   opening an outlet valve connected to the outlet conduit to supply the at least a portion of the fluid sample to the sample receptacle; and   monitoring a sensor connected to the one or more fluid conduits, the sensor being positioned to provide an indication of a leak in the one or more fluid conduits.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising: opening an inlet valve connected to the inlet conduit to supply one or more of a flush fluid or a purge fluid to the sample cylinder, and opening a purge valve between a supply of pressurized fluid and the inlet valve to supply pressurized fluid to the sample cylinder. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein monitoring the sensor comprises monitoring a pressure gauge connected to the one or more fluid conduits to identify whether one or more of the following conditions occur: (a) pressure in the one or more fluid conduits drops, or the pressure gauge indicates being below a threshold pressure, thereby to provide an indication of a leak in the one or more fluid conduits. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising: closing the sample cylinder, and opening an inlet valve connected to the inlet conduit to supply a flush fluid to the sample cylinder. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising opening the purge valve between the supply of pressurized fluid and the inlet valve to supply pressurized fluid to flush the one or more fluid conduits. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising opening the outlet valve and opening the purge valve to dry the one or more fluid conduits. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 checking a level of flush fluid in a first container providing a flush fluid source;   if the level of flush fluid in the first container is below a threshold level, disconnecting a quick connect coupler coupling a fluid conduit to the first container;   separating the first container from the dispensing assembly;   moving a second container providing a second flush fluid source into a position within reach of the fluid conduit; and   connecting a quick connect coupler coupling the fluid conduit to the second container.   
     
     
         20 . A method for operating a dispensing assembly to facilitate dispensing of a fluid from a sample cylinder, the method comprising:
 connecting the sample cylinder containing a fluid sample to a fixture assembly of the dispensing assembly, the fixture assembly being positioned to secure the sample cylinder and facilitate extraction of at least a portion of the fluid sample from the sample cylinder;   connecting an inlet conduit and an outlet conduit to the sample cylinder;   leak-testing one or more fluid conduits associated with the dispensing assembly;   positioning a sample receptacle for receiving the at least a portion of the fluid sample via the outlet conduit;   opening the sample cylinder to release the at least a portion of the fluid sample; and   opening an outlet valve connected to the outlet conduit to supply the at least a portion of the fluid sample to the sample receptacle.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein leak-testing the one or more fluid conduits comprises:
 opening an inlet valve connected to the inlet conduit to supply one or more of a flush fluid or a purge fluid to the sample cylinder;   opening a purge valve between a supply of pressurized fluid and the inlet valve to supply pressurized fluid to the sample cylinder; and   monitoring a sensor connected to the one or more fluid conduits, the sensor being positioned to provide an indication of a leak in the one or more fluid conduits.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein monitoring the sensor comprises monitoring a pressure gauge to identify whether pressure in the one or more fluid conduits is one or more of below a threshold pressure or dropping. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising: closing the sample cylinder, and opening an inlet valve connected to the inlet conduit to supply a flush fluid to the sample cylinder. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising opening the purge valve between the supply of pressurized fluid and the inlet valve to supply pressurized fluid, thereby to flush the one or more fluid conduits. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising opening the outlet valve and opening the purge valve to dry the one or more fluid conduits. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 checking a level of flush fluid in a first container providing a flush fluid source;   if the level of flush fluid in the first container is below a threshold level, disconnecting a quick connect coupler coupling a fluid conduit to the first container;   separating the first container from the dispensing assembly;   moving a second container providing a second flush fluid source into a position within a selected range of the fluid conduit; and   connecting a quick connect coupler coupling the fluid conduit to the second container.