Patent ID: 7540206
Filing Date: 2009-06-02
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A sampling apparatus for use with a sample analyzer, comprising: a sample probe insertable into a process stream; an extraction cylinder including a variable volume chamber and a piston movable by an actuator back and forth in the cylinder to increase and decrease the volume of the variable volume chamber; a sampling valve connected between the extraction cylinder and the sample probe, with a sample line connecting the sampling valve to the sample probe, and the variable volume chamber having a capacity greater than the combined volumes of the sample probe, sampling valve and sample line, whereby fresh sample can be drawn from the process stream and past the sampling valve by moving the piston to increase the variable volume chamber, so that fresh sample within the sampling valve can be injected into a sample analyzer; a filter assembly interposed between the sample probe and sampling valve for filtering undesired substances from the fresh sample prior to the fresh sample reaching the sampling valve; and a controller for controlling the actuator and the sampling valve, first to move the piston at a first rate to increase the variable volume chamber sufficiently to draw fresh sample from the process stream and past the sampling valve, then to operate the sampling valve for injecting fresh sample into the sample analyzer, and thereafter to move the piston at a second rate greater than the first rate to decrease the variable volume chamber to flush excess sample back into the process stream and clean the filter of undesired substances filtered from the fresh sample.