Patent ID: 8210058
Filing Date: 2012-07-03
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A sample cylinder including: a tubular member defining a sidewall of a cylinder chamber and having first and second ends; a solid piston movably positioned in the chamber and selectively movable toward and away from the first and second ends, said solid piston having opposing flat end surfaces and sliding seals about the circumference to seal against the sidewall of the tubular member; a first end member mounted to the tubular member and covering said first end; a second end member mounted to the tubular member and covering said second end; a plurality of tie rods connecting said first end member to said second end member to mechanically capture said tubular member; a liquefied natural gas sample chamber formed in said second end member and defined by a sidewall, a bottom wall and said solid piston; said second end member further defining an inlet to the liquefied natural gas sample chamber and an outlet to the liquefied natural gas sample chamber, both said inlet and said outlet to the liquefied natural gas sample chamber each being secured by a of shut off valve to isolate the liquefied natural gas chamber from atmosphere; said second end member further defining a cooling heat exchanger and a cooling heat exchange chamber; said cooling heat exchange chamber having an inlet and an outlet in fluid communication with a source of liquefied natural gas to cool the cooling heat exchanger, the second end cap, the sidewall and the bottom wall of the liquefied natural gas chamber; and said second end member, said cooling heat exchanger, said inlet and said outlet to said cooling heat exchanger, said solid piston, said tubular member, the first and the second sliding seals and a O-ring seal to seal said second end member to said tubular member are all capable of withstanding temperatures down to about −256° F.