Patent ID: 7231840
Filing Date: 2007-06-19
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A liquid thickness measuring and sampling device comprising: an elongated tubular casing having an opening at a lower end thereof, for admitting into the casing a liquid to be sampled; a valve assembly, at the lower end of the tubular casing, comprising a resiliently biased valve member and a valve body mounted to the tubular casing, wherein a bottom end of the valve body defines a valve seat; the resiliently biased valve member supported by the valve body at a pivot point for movement between open and closed positions to allow the liquid to be sampled to enter the casing when in the open position and to seal the liquid sample in the casing when in the closed position, wherein the valve member is resiliently biased by a torsion spring situated about the pivot point for rotation of the valve member into the closed position, and further wherein the valve member is pivotally movable about an axis that is in a plane transverse to a vertical axis of the tubular casing; a retaining member, attached to the valve body, and engageable with the resiliently biased valve member so as to maintain the valve member in an open position while the device is lowered into the liquid; the retaining member being controllably operative to disengage the valve member and allow the valve member to move to the closed position, to thereby trap a sample of liquid within the tubular casing during a withdrawal of the measuring device from the liquid being sampled; and wherein the pivot point is located at a lower end of the valve body.