Abstract:
A method and apparatus for capturing a sample of flowable material from a closed system inside a receptacle without exposing the sample to the ambient environment. The apparatus includes a housing having an opening at one end for receiving a receptacle and stopper. An end cap is removably mounted to the housing for opening and closing the opening. An inlet is provided in the housing for feeding a cleaning or sterilizing agent or the flowable material to be sampled into an interior of the housing. A clasp is provided to manipulate the receptacle to separate the receptacle and the stopper while the stopper and receptacle are inside of the housing. Once the receptacle and the stopper are separated, the flowable material is fed into the receptacle through the inlet. The clasp is then manipulated to reattach the receptacle and the stopper in order to capture the flowable material. The apparatus is particularly useful in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries as well as the fine chemical, food and beverage industries where accurate, uncontaminated samples of materials from a closed system are desired without contaminating the sample of material or the closed system.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to a device for capturing a sample of flowable material from a closed system inside a receptacle without exposing the sample to the ambient environment. The present invention would find broad application in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries as well as the fine chemical, food and beverage industries where obtaining accurate, uncontaminated samples of process flows from closed systems while maintaining the integrity of those systems and/or the sample is important  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Background Art  
           [0004]    Development of new or more efficient commercialization of existent products requires faster and more effective methods to measure process variables. This is particularly true in processes which require cell culture and fermentation processes conducted in bio-reactors where the accuracy of measurements and research and development are critical for achieving economic production of high purity and highly refined end products.  
           [0005]    Some factors which must be controlled include temperature and pressure. These factors are easily measured by utilization standard sensors. However, many other factors can be measured only by removing samples for external laboratory analysis. The frequency of sample extraction for testing and measurement, the number of tests on each sample, and the time constraints on the process vary widely as do the methods and equipment used to obtain the samples.  
           [0006]    In most cases, measurement processes for variables do not lend themselves to in-situ measurement by remote sensors directly in the process. Instead, samples must be physically extracted from the processes and examined and manipulated outside the vessel or conduit. Before this examination and manipulation process can be effectively carried out either in a manual or an automated fashion, a safe, effective means of sample extraction must be made available. This sampling process must provide a product that is an accurate sub-sample of the process composition.  
           [0007]    Furthermore, since prior art designs do not lend themselves to use in existing systems, substantial modification to the system is required. The apparatus needs to minimize or eliminate the dangers associated with the sampling process in an efficient and cost effective manner, while providing quality, reproducible results in order to be of value for commercial application.  
           [0008]    One danger which must be avoided is danger to the operator or environment. When working with samples and especially hazardous samples, it is necessary to remove or feed/inoculate a sample without endangering the integrity of the process, subsequent samples, the operator, or the outside environment. Many prior art devices are unsatisfactory in this area.  
           [0009]    Some prior art systems are not automated. Therefore, there is potential danger posed by human procedural errors and operator and environmental exposure. Accordingly, a need exists for an automatable apparatus with a capacity for independent verification of equipment operation built in.  
           [0010]    In some cases, the materials being sampled are often expensive. Therefore, excessive removal of a sample should be avoided.  
           [0011]    When taking samples, it is often important to maintain an aseptic environment. It is important that contamination from previous sampling or from the environment not contaminate the current sample or the process being sampled. Loss of a sample run or contamination of the process can have extremely expensive ramifications. Therefore, it is important to obtain a sample without the sampling procedure causing contamination.  
           [0012]    Many prior art devices permit accumulation or pooling of samples or cleansing medium. When the device is first used it may not create a problem; however, upon subsequent runs, the samples will be contaminated or at least diluted.  
           [0013]    The Disclosures of U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,296,197, 5,525,301, and 5,786,209 relate to automated sample extractors or feeder/inoculates for bio-reactors and similar equipment. The Disclosures of these patents are hereby incorporated by reference.  
           [0014]    The above-mentioned patents relate to removing a sample from a vessel or conduit without contamination of the sample, process, or surrounding environment. The present invention is usable with devices of this type or with similar devices. Namely, once the sample is removed from the vessel or conduit, it becomes necessary to feed the sample into a receptacle for later processes or testing.  
           [0015]    In the past, sampling from a vessel or conduit was performed by hand by an operator. This manual sampling ran the risk of exposure to dangerous substances by the operator as well as contaminating the sample.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0016]    Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a simple, reliable, safe, and cost effective means for capturing a sample of flowable material from a closed system inside a receptacle and stoppering the receptacle without exposing the sample or the material to the surrounding outside environment.  
           [0017]    It is another object of the present invention to capture a sample of flowable material from a closed system inside a receptacle without subjecting an operator to dangerous substances.  
           [0018]    It is a further object of the present invention to capture a sample of flowable material from a closed system in order to obtain sterile samples which can be kept pure for a longer period of time.  
           [0019]    It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus which can be retrofitted to existing standard equipment without substantial modification.  
           [0020]    It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus which will conduct sampling and maintain the sample in a sealed arrangement such that there is no danger to the sample itself to the operator, to the process, or to the surrounding environment.  
           [0021]    It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a device which can protect an operator from the sampled material by isolating it in a container, whether or not maintaining the integrity of the process or sample itself is important.  
           [0022]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide an automatable system in order to eliminate possible operator error.  
           [0023]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a receptacle for collecting a sample within a sealed environment so that the area approximate the receptacle can be cleansed or sterilized and therefore be kept free from contaminates. The receptacle can be a receptacle and stopper combination, and the stopper can be removed within the cleansed or sterilized environment, the receptacle can be filled with the sample, and the stopper can be reattached to the receptacle all within the cleansed or sterilized environment.  
           [0024]    It is a further object of the present invention to allow the receptacle and/or stopper to be washed, rinsed, disinfected, and/or sterilized in place using any of a variety of flowable materials at ambient, reduced, or elevated temperatures.  
           [0025]    Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus which can be repeatedly cleaned and/or sterilized in place.  
           [0026]    Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus which can be easily removed and quickly disassembled for maintenance, including replacement of worn parts.  
           [0027]    A further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus made of materials which are compatible with the sample materials and the process.  
           [0028]    Still another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus which will be reliable, easy to maintain, and low in cost.  
           [0029]    These and other objects of the present invention are fulfilled by providing an apparatus for capturing a sample of flowable material from a closed system inside a receptacle and stopping the receptacle without exposing the sampled material to the surrounding outside environment.  
           [0030]    The device for sampling flowable material includes a housing for receiving a receptacle therein. This housing includes an end-cap removably mounted to the housing for allowing a receptacle to be inserted into the housing and removed therefrom. The housing also includes an inlet formed therein for receiving flowable materials therethrough. The inlet includes means for cleaning at least a portion of the housing proximate to the receptacle attached thereto. The means for cleaning is operable when the end-cap is mounted on the housing. Finally, a clasp is mounted within the housing for engaging the receptacle.  
           [0031]    The present invention also includes a method of sampling flowable material. This method includes inserting a receptacle into a housing, closing the housing to seal the receptacle from the ambient environment, sterilizing the inside of the housing, filling the receptacle with flowable material, opening the housing, and removing the receptacle.  
           [0032]    The inserting of the receptacle into the housing can include inserting a receptacle with or without a stopper connected thereto. If the receptacle is inserted with a stopper connected thereto, an additional step of removing the stopper while the receptacle and stopper are within the housing would be necessary. If a receptacle is inserted with the stopper detached, it is unnecessary to include the step of removing the stopper. If the method of the present invention includes a stopper connected to the receptacle stopper, the removing of the stopper while inside the housing can include the steps of gripping the receptacle, rotating the receptacle to remove the stopper from the receptacle, and longitudinally moving the receptacle with respect to the stopper in order to space the receptacle from the stopper.  
           [0033]    In either of the above two embodiments, the method of the present invention can also include the step of reattaching the stopper after filling of the receptacle with the flowable material.  
           [0034]    Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0035]    The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus of the present invention according to a first embodiment;  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the apparatus of the present invention in partially exploded form including a receptacle, a stopper, and an end cap detached from the housing according to a second embodiment;  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an alternative sealing arrangement of the present invention; and  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an insert of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0041]    Referring in detail to the drawings and with particular reference to FIG. 14, a housing  1  according to the present invention is designed to accept a stoppable receptacle or sample tube  3 , and a stopper or sample tube cap  5 . It is noted that the same reference numerals are used throughout the several views to identify the same elements.  
         [0042]    A first embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIG. 1. The housing  1  of the present invention includes a head plate  7  and a drain plate  9 . A sight tube  11  is secured between the head plate  7  and the drain plate  9  by a plurality of longitudinally extending bolts  13 . The sight tube  11  is made of glass or clear plastic to enable viewing of the receptacle from an outside of the housing  1 . A head gasket  8  is inserted between the sight tube  11  and the head plate  7  and a base gasket  10  is inserted between the sight tube  11  and the drain plate  9 . The bolts  13  are secured to the head plate  7  by welding or by threading the bolt into the head plate  7 . The bolts  13  extend from the head plate  7  through apertures  15  formed in the drain plate  9 . Free ends  17  of the bolts  13  extend from a lower surface  19  of the drain plate  9 . Nuts  21  are attached to the free ends  17  of the bolts  13  in order to secure the drain plate  9  to the head plate  7 , and the sight tube  11  between the head plate  7  and the drain plate  9 . It is noted that the above-described arrangement for connecting the head plate and base plate with the sight tube is not the only arrangement that can be used. It is only necessary that the arrangement securely connect the head plate and the base plate with the sight tube to provide a sealed environment inside.  
         [0043]    The head plate  7  includes an inlet  23  for receiving the flowable material. The inlet receives a threaded o-ring connector  24  including a connecting portion  25  and an o-ring  26 . This threaded o-ring connector  24  is connectable to a sample valve (not shown) which in turn would be connected to a vessel or conduit from which a sample is to be obtained. The flowable material to be sampled can be fed from the sample valve to the inlet  23  in order to fill the receptacle with the flowable material. Furthermore, a cleaning or sterilizing agent can also be fed from the sample valve in order to wash, rinse, disinfect, and/or sterilize an interior of the housing  1  and its contents.  
         [0044]    The head plate  7  also includes a through-hole  27   a  formed therethrough. An opening  27  of the through-hole  27   a  is formed at an upper part thereof for providing access to an interior of the housing  1 . A shoulder  29  is formed at the opening  27  in order to receive the stopper  5  of the receptacle  3 . An aperture or hole  31  is formed at a lower portion of the through-hole and extends from the shoulder  29  through the head plate  7 . This aperture or hole  31  is preferably sized having an inside diameter larger than the diameter of the receptacle  3 , but smaller than the diameter of the stopper  5 .  
         [0045]    It is noted that capturing stopper  5  between shoulder  29  and end cap  33  is one way of immobilizing stopper  5  so that, when the receptacle is rotated, the two can be disengaged from and re-engaged to each other. Alternative embodiments to immobilize stopper  5  relative to receptacle  3 , including pins extending part way into through-hole  27   a , a tight fit between the outside diameter (OD) of stopper  5  and the inside diameter (ID) of the through-hole  27   a  in head plate  7 , or a tight fit of the OD of the stopper  5  with the ID of a recess with the end cap  33  would serve equally as well. It is only important that the stopper  5  be immobilized relative to the receptacle  3 . This will be further described below.  
         [0046]    The head plate  7  also includes a passageway  30  formed therethrough. The passageway  30  longitudinally extends from the shoulder  29  through the head plate  7  to a lower surface  28  of the head plate  7 . A portion of the passageway  30  adjacent the shoulder  29  includes a recessed portion  32  which enables communication between a top of the stopper  5  and a bottom of the stopper  5 . The passageway  30  allows communication from the shoulder  29  to the lower surface  28  of the head plate  7 , the lower portions of housing  1  and outlet  35 . The combination of the recessed portion  32  and passageway  30  allows the flow of air, cleaning and sterilizing agents all around stopper  5  as well as between inlet  23  and all spaces within the housing  1  below the lower surface  28  to outlet  35 . This is important particularly in cases where the OD of the receptacle  3  is substantially the same as the ID of the aperture  31 , creating an unpasssable seal which, without recessed portion  32  and passageway  30 , would result in a vapor lock and inhibit drainage into and out of housing  1  and material flowing into the receptacle  3 .  
         [0047]    An end cap or house cap  33  is removably mounted to the head plate  7  adjacent to the opening  27 . An o-ring  34  is inserted between the end cap  33  and the housing  1  in order to provide a sealed connection. FIG. 1 illustrates a threaded connector  36  on the end cap  33  and a cooperating threaded portion  38  on the inside of the opening  27  of the head plate  7 ; however, any fastener which allows easy attachment and detachment of the end cap from the housing and which allows the housing to be sealed from the ambient environment will suffice. Alternative end cap constructions will be described below.  
         [0048]    The above-described arrangement provides a sealed environment within the housing  1  which is protected from the ambient environment when the end cap  33  is properly secured and the inlet  23  and outlet  35  are connected to a process by some means.  
         [0049]    With regard to the drain plate  9 , an outlet  35  is provided for receiving a drain connector  37 . The outlet  35  allows a cleaning agent or sterilizing agent or excess flowable material to be removed from the interior of the housing. A threaded o-ring connector  40  including an o-ring  42  and a drain connecting portion  44  is connected to the outlet  35 . The drain connecting portion  44  is connectable to a drain assembly  46  such as the threaded drain block  48  and the threaded o-ring connector  50  in FIG. 1 in order to connect the outlet  35  to a drain (not shown). The drain plate  9  also includes an aperture  39  formed therethrough for receiving a rod  41 . A plurality of o-rings  45  are inserted within the aperture  39  between the aperture  39  and the rod  41  in order to seal an interior of the housing from the ambient environment. The rod  41  includes a knob  43  for manipulating the rod  41 . The rod  41  is mounted in the drain plate for longitudinal and rotary motion.  
         [0050]    The knob  43  is connected to a first end of the rod  41  outside of the housing  1 . A pedestal  47  is attached to a second end of the rod  41  within the interior of the housing  1 . The pedestal  47  includes a first open end  51  remote from the rod  41  and a second closed end  52  proximate the rod  41 . The pedestal  47  is a generally cylindrical member which has a tapered portion  53  adjacent to the rod  41 . The tapered portion  53  is only needed if the upper face of the drain plate is tapered, allowing the two to be mated together, maximizing the longitudinal range of motion of the rod-pedestal combination within the housing  1 .  
         [0051]    A plurality of longitudinal openings  55  are provided for allowing viewing access of the stopper or receptacle  3  from the outside of the housing. The open end  51  of the pedestal  47  includes an o-ring  49  for gripping a body of the receptacle when the pedestal is moved into contact with the receptacle  3 .  
         [0052]    Referring to FIG. 5, in order to accommodate receptacles of various sizes, it is possible to provide an insert  6  within the opening  27  and the through-hole  27   a  in order to vary the diameter of the aperture  31 . Varying the diameter of the aperture  31  allows receptacles of different diameters or capacities to be used in the same housing. Referring to FIG. 5, insert  6  has an outside profile that mates with the ID profile of the opening  27  and the through-hole  27   a  This insert  6  includes an inlet  23   a  that aligns with the inlet  23  and allows flowable materials coming in through inlet  23  to be fed into the through-hole  27   b  of the insert  6 . As with head plate  7 , insert  6  is sized with a diameter larger than the OD of a smaller receptacle  3 , but insert  6  need does not have a shoulder. The stopper  5  is merely tightly fit in the through-hole  27   b . A shoulder is not necessary as long as the insert  6  is capable of holding the stopper  5  immobile relative to the receptacle  3 . However, the insert  6  may have shoulder if desired. Insert  6  also has an o-ring  150  fitted with an o-ring groove  151  in its OD wall about the inlet  23   a  where it mates with inlet  23 , forming a seal around the junction between the two. Insert  6  has a further o-ring groove/o-ring combination or gasket  152  at its lower OD margin that seals the crevice between insert  6  and the aperture  31  from the inside of the housing  1 . Insert  6  has a radial groove/hole combination  32   a  that aligns with recess portion  32  described below for venting. The top surface  153  of the insert  6  seals with an end cap  33  in the same manner as the head plate  7 . Furthermore, if the head plate  7  does not have a shoulder  29  to keep insert  6  from slipping through the through-hole  27 , insert  6  may be modified to include an annular lip, for example, in order to prevent it from slipping through.  
         [0053]    An operation of the first embodiment of the present invention will now be described. The threaded o-ring connector  24  which is attached to the inlet  23  can be attached to the sample valve either before or after the receptacle is inserted in to the housing  1 . The end cap  33  is first removed from the housing  1  to gain access to the interior of the housing  1 . The receptacle  3  is inserted into the interior of the housing with the stopper attached thereto or with the stopper separate therefrom. The stopper  5  is positioned to rest on the shoulder  29  of the head plate  7 , while the receptacle  3  extends through the aperture  31  formed in the head plate  7 . Once the receptacle  3  and the stopper  5  are properly located, the end cap  33  is secured to the housing  1  in order to seal the receptacle and stopper within the housing  1  and from the ambient environment. With the securing of end cap  33 , stopper  5  becomes immobilized between the shoulder  29  and the end cap  33 .  
         [0054]    At this point, a cleaning or sterilizing agent is fed through the inlet  23  of the head plate  7  from the sample valve. The cleaning or sterilizing agent flows into the interior of the housing and out the outlet  35  formed in the drain plate  9 . This cleaning or sterilizing agent cleans or sterilizes an interior of the housing  1  and an exterior of the receptacle  3  and stopper  5  if the stopper is secured in place on the receptacle. Otherwise, the agent cleans both the inside and the outside of the stopper  5  and the receptacle as well as all of the remaining portions of the inside of the housing  1  and flow lines leading to and from the housing. This provides a clean environment for ensuring that the flowable sample is not contaminated during filling of the receptacle. Once the cleaning and sterilizing operation is performed, the knob  43  is manipulated to move the rod  41  and the pedestal  47  longitudinally upward into engagement with the receptacle  3 . Once the o-ring  49  is in proper engagement with the receptacle  3 , the knob  43  is rotated to rotate the rod  41  and pedestal  47  in order to remove the receptacle  3  from the stopper  5 . It is necessary to rotate the receptacle  3  one to one-and-one-half turns in order to remove the receptacle from the stopper  5  if a typical screw-type receptacle-stopper combination is used. It should be noted that, with an o-ring  45 , pedestal  47  may be continuously rotated as many times as necessary to unscrew the stopper  5  from the receptacle  3 . However, if the seal between the drain plate  9  and the pedestal-rod combination is made using a diaphragm, as will be described in a later embodiment, the range of rotation of the pedestal-rod combination will be limited. The stopper and the receptacle may still be unscrewed from each other; however, simply by first rotating the pedestal-rod combination as far as possible in the thread-tightening direction, engaging the receptacle, and rotating the pedestal-rod-receptacle combination as far as possible in the opposite thread-loosening direction before disengaging the receptacle. If the stopper is not unsrewed from the receptacle at this time, the pedestal-rod combination can be rotated as far as possible in the thread-tightening direction, and the receptacle can be engaged again and rotated further in the thread-loosening direction. This can be repeated until the stopper  5  can be separated from the receptacle. To seal the receptacle after the sample is collected, the above procedure can be reversed. It is also possible to use a plunger-type receptacle-stopper combination. In this case, it is only necessary to use longitudinal motion of the pedestal to remove the stopper from the receptacle, since the stopper and receptacle are unthreaded; however, rotation of the pedestal can help to remove the stopper from the receptacle.  
         [0055]    Once the receptacle  3  has been removed from the stopper  5 , the knob  43  is manipulated to longitudinally move the rod  41  and pedestal  47  downward in order to space the receptacle  3  from the stopper  5 . The receptacle  3  is moved downward to a location where an open portion of the receptacle is at or below a lower surface of the inlet  23 . The flowable material is then fed from the sample valve into the inlet  23  and into the receptacle  3  to fill the receptacle  3  with a predetermined quantity of flowable material. When the flowable material is filled in the receptacle  3 , the feed of flowable material is stopped and the knob  43  is manipulated to attach the receptacle to the stopper  5  in a reverse manner from removing the receptacle.  
         [0056]    At this point, the cleaning or sterilizing agent can be re-fed through the housing  1  in order to clean the outside of the receptacle  3  or the end cap  33  can simply be removed without further cleaning or sterilizing in order to remove the stoppered receptacle from the interior of the housing. In situations where the flowable material to be sampled is dangerous to the operator, cleaning or sterilizing after filling would be advantageous to protect the operator.  
         [0057]    During the above-mentioned operation of the first embodiment of the present invention, the receptacle and stopper are preferably inserted into the housing  1  in a connected condition. In this way, a pre-sterilized stopper and receptacle combination can be utilized. It is only necessary to clean or sterilize the outside surface of the receptacle and stopper, since the inside is already sterilized. Alternatively, a receptacle having a stopper detached therefrom can be inserted into the housing. In this situation, the knob  43  merely needs to be manipulated in order to grip the receptacle and longitudinally move the receptacle away from the stopper. This procedure is useful for stopper and receptacle combinations which are not sterilized previous to entering the housing  1 . A gaseous sterilizing agent is especially useful for this purpose; however, if a liquid sterilizing agent is used, the housing merely needs to be turned upside down in order to remove the cleaning or sterilizing agent from the receptacle before filling.  
         [0058]    A first embodiment of the present invention has been described with reference to FIG. 1. A second embodiment will now be described with reference to FIG. 2. FIG. 1 illustrates a pedestal  47  and O-ring  49  for gripping and manipulating the receptacle  3 . Referring to FIG. 1, an alternative arrangement for manipulating the receptacle  3  is illustrated A knob  43  is attached to a rod  41  in the same manner as that illustrated in FIG. 1. However, at a second end of the rod, a base  57  is attached instead of the pedestal  47 . The base  57  includes a plurality of longitudinally extending, vertical support rods  59  attached thereto and extending upwardly toward the receptacle  3 . The support rods  59  can be attached in any manner including welding and a removable fastener. FIG. 2 illustrates the support rods  59  attached with a pin  60  driven through the base  57  and an end of the support rods  59 . There are preferably three support rods; however, the number of support rods is not important as long as there is a sufficient number to grip the receptacle  3 . The support rods  59  may have a modified surface, coating or cover that grips the receptacle, the contact area between these rods and the receptacle being at least significantly longitudinal in nature. This longitudinal contact area will assure that the pedestal-rod combination will grip and rotate the receptacle relative to the stopper with a minimal amount of slippage. The effect of increasing the longitudinal contact area relative to the circumferential contact area will have the effect of making it easier to slip the pedestal-rod combination onto and off of the receptacle while reducing the slipping that occurs when rotating to thread the receptacle off and on the stopper threads, permitting tighter seals to be made. In this figure, each of the support rods  59  includes plastic tubes  61  secured thereon. Furthermore, an o-ring  63  is secured around the free ends  65  of the support rods  59 . The o-ring  63  is secured within a groove  67  adjacent the free ends  65  of the support rods  59 . The O-ring  63  and plastic tube  61 , provide gripping means for gripping the outside surface of the receptacle  3 . The o-ring further provides added tension at the free ends  65  of the rods, reducing the deflection over time by providing a degree of positional memory to the free ends  65 , a result of elastic “memory” of the o-ring.  
         [0059]    This arrangement is operated in the same manner as the pedestal arrangement above. The knob  43  is manipulated to move the rod  41  and base  57  along with the support rods, plastic tubes, and O-ring to engage the outer surface of the receptacle  3 . The knob  43  is then rotated in order to remove the receptacle  3  from the stopper  5  and longitudinally moved downward to separate the receptacle  3  from the stopper  5 .  
         [0060]    The end cap  33  illustrated in FIG. 1 includes a threaded connector  36  for engaging with the threaded portion  38  formed in the head plate  7 . However, referring to FIG. 2, the head plate  7  according to the second embodiment of the present invention may, in addition to the threaded portion  38 , include a flange portion  69  at a top surface thereof. The head plates  7  in the first and second embodiments are substantially the same except for the addition of the flange portion  69  in the second embodiment. This flange portion  69  enables the alternative use of an end cap  71 . The end cap  71  is engageable with the flange portion of the head plate  7  with a gasket  73  inserted therebetween. The end cap  71  can be attached to the flange portion  69  with a conventional clamping arrangement (not shown). A clamping arrangement of this type is well known and will not be further described here. The gasket  73  ensures that the end cap  71  seals the receptacle  3  within the inside of the housing  1  and from the ambient environment.  
         [0061]    It is reiterated that the head plate  7  according to the second embodiment can include both the threaded portion  38  and the flange portion  69  in order to allow either a flange-type end cap  71  or a threaded-type end cap  33  to be used with the head plate  7 . However, the threaded portion  38  is not required in the second embodiment.  
         [0062]    A third embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 illustrates an alternative housing  1  according to the present invention. A head plate  75  includes a flange portion  77  formed on a first end thereof and a threaded portion  81  formed within an open end  82  of the head plate  75 . A shoulder  83 , passageway  84 , recessed portion  86 , and aperture  85  are substantially the same as those in the first embodiment. An inlet  79  includes an elbow  87  preferably welded thereto instead of the threaded oaring connector  24  in the first and second embodiments. This elbow  87  is connectable to a sample valve as in the first and second embodiments and operates in substantially the same manner.  
         [0063]    The head plate  75  also includes a generally cylindrical tube  89  formed on a second end thereof. The generally cylindrical tube  89  extends away from the head plate  75  and attaches to a base plate  93 . A sight tube  91  is secured within the generally cylindrical tube  89  between the head plate  75  and the base plate  93 . A head gasket  92  and a base gasket  94  are inserted at the ends of the sight tube  91  adjacent the head plate  75  and the base plate  93 , respectively. The generally cylindrical tube  89  includes a plurality of longitudinal openings  95  for allowing the interior sight tube  91  and receptacle  3  to be viewed therethrough. New techniques now permit glass sight tubes to be welded directly to other materials, including stainless steel. Consequently, the bolts, clamps and gaskets used to connect the head plate, drain plate and sight tube together and the gaskets used to form seals to seal the system from the surrounding environment may be eliminated as is illustrated in FIG. 5. Slipping a mesh screen over the housing  1 , particularly the glass portion, may still be desirable. This will provide the housing with a degree of protection from outside impacts and will provide protection to operators in the area should the sight tube fail.  
         [0064]    In some cases it may be advantageous to automate the system. Automation would include a device to automatically control sample volume fed to the housing  1 . Automated measurement would eliminate the need for operators to visually monitor the instantaneous volume of a sample in the receptacle. Consequently, the sight tube may be eliminated and the housing may be made without apertures in the housing walls. In fact, the head plate, drain plate and tube connecting the two could be fabricated from a single piece of material.  
         [0065]    A mesh screen  97  (illustrated partially broken away) is secured over the longitudinal openings  95  in order to protect the sight tube  91  from external impact. The mesh screen  97  can be attached to the edges of the longitudinal openings in the generally cylindrical tube  89  or can be secured between the generally cylindrical tube  89  and the sight tube  91 . The mesh screen  97  can be extended around a portion of the circumference of the generally cylindrical tube  89  or can extend completely around the circumference of the generally cylindrical tube  89 .  
         [0066]    The base plate  93  is in the form of a flange which is engageable with a drain member  99  having a flange  101  formed on an upper portion thereof. The flange  101  of the drain member  99  and the base plate  93  are connectable together by a clamp (not shown). The drain member  99  includes an outlet  103  having an elbow  105  welded thereto. The drain member  99  also includes an aperture  107  extending therethrough. The aperture  107  is connected to the outlet  103  and also extends to a lower surface  106  of the drain member  99 . The lower end  108  of the aperture  107  also includes the typical o-rings  45  secured therein and a rod  41  supported thereby as in the previous embodiments.  
         [0067]    The third embodiment of the present invention is usable with the pedestal  47  of the first embodiment or the base  57  and the vertical support rods  59  of the second embodiment. The head plate  75  of the third embodiment is usable with either of the end caps  33  or  71  of the first and second embodiments.  
         [0068]    The third embodiment is advantageous since the assembly and disassembly of the housing is improved. It is only necessary to remove a single clamp which secures the flange  101  to the base plate  93  rather than removing several of the bolts  13  as in the first embodiment.  
         [0069]    An alternative arrangement to seal between the rod  41  and the drain member  99  of the third embodiment will now be described with reference to FIG. 4. Instead of the o-rings  45  secured within the drain member  99 , a diaphragm  109  can be included in its place. The diaphragm  109  includes a base  155  with a sealing face  161  and an annular lip  162 , a conical section  154 , a narrow elongated tubular section  157 , a blunt tip  158  with a through-bore  159  and an upper sealing face  160 . Diaphragm base  155  can be fitted into a flanged base plate  93   a  having an opposing mating contour as shown in FIG. 4. Flanged base plate  93   a  has an outlet  103   a  having an elbow  105   a  welded thereto for drainage of the housing  1 . An opposing flanged base plate  163  mates with flanged base plate  93   a , capturing the annular-cylindrical section of the diaphragm base as shown in FIG. 4. Flanged base plate  163  has a conical counter bore  164  and a central longitudinal through-bore  107   a  to receive the flexing cone portion  154  and the rod  41   a  and rod sleeve  41   b . Rod  41   a  is inserted through the through bore  159  in the blunt tip  158  of diaphragm  109  until it extends out the conical section  154  and out through flanged base plate  163 . Sleeve  41   b  is slipped over the threaded tip  166  of rod  41   a  and pushed all the way up until its upper face engages the back wall to upper sealing face  160 . Threaded tip  166  and sleeve  41   b  are slipped into the central through-bore  167  of knob  43   a . Sleeve  41   b  will engage a shoulder  168  while threaded tip  166  will continue all the way through and protrude to the bottom of knob  43   a  where a nut  169  will be threaded on to it. As nut  169  is tightened, it will cause blunt tip  158  to be compressed by the upper end of sleeve  41   b  and cause a seal to be made between the bottom of the pedestal and upper sealing face  160 . Thus static seals are created at ends of the diaphragm  109 , isolating the inside of housing  1  from the surrounding environment even when the pedestal is moved up and down to engage and disengage receptacle  3  and when the pedestal is rotated to unthread and rethread stopper  3  with receptacle  3 .  
         [0070]    [0070]FIG. 4 illustrates an upper conical section  170  with an attached cylindrical section  171  that may be incorporated as part of flanged base plate  93   a , surrounding the conical portion  154  and the lower section of tubular portion  157  of diaphragm  109 . An opposing cylindrical section  172  would extend down from the base of pedestal  47 , enclosing the upper portion of tubular portion  157 . These two cylindrical sections, while being of greater diameter than tubular portion  157 , are of unequal diameters, allowing the overlapping portion of one to nest within the other. Parts  170 ,  171  and  172  in concert with conical counter bore  164 , form a protective shroud around diaphragm  109 . While this shroud may not be necessary if housing  1  is always properly vented so that it never becomes negative relative to the surrounding atmosphere or if the diaphragm is constructed of material strong enough to withstand the pressure differentials, in cases where it is not vented or the material is week, the shroud will prevent the diaphragm from ballooning, supporting it and keeping it from busting. In order to better circulate cleansing and sterilizing materials and to promote drainage, parts  170 ,  171 , and  172  may be perforated as, for example, is illustrated in FIG. 4.  
         [0071]    The diaphragm  109  can also be used with the drain plate  9  of the first and second embodiments as well. The diaphragm  109  merely secures within the aperture  39  in the drain plate  9  and extends along the rod  41  to be secured at the junction between the rod  41  and the pedestal  47  or the junction between the rod  41  and the base  57 .  
         [0072]    Referring again to FIG. 1, it is also possible to provide o-rings  110  within the aperture  31  and a drain opening  111  in the head plate  7 . This will allow the cleaning or sterilizing agent to flow only in the top portion of the housing  1 . The cleaning or sterilizing agent can flow through the inlet  23  and into the top portion of the interior of the housing  1  and exit through the drain  111 . The o-rings prevent the cleaning or sterilizing agent from entering the bottom portion of the interior of the housing  1 . Therefore, the outlet  103  is unnecessary, but may still be provided in case any excess material flows past the o-rings  110 . It is noted that this arrangement is also usable with the second and third embodiments as well.  
         [0073]    In any of the above-described embodiments, the housing is preferably constructed of stainless steel; however, it may also be constructed of other materials including polymers depending upon the application.  
         [0074]    While the present invention has been described as being manually operated, automation may be achieved to a greater or lesser extent by modifying the system to include automated operators.  
         [0075]    The present invention may also be modified to include a mechanism for longitudinally moving and axially rotating the stopper rather than the receptacle. Alternatively, the motions may be split so that both the stopper and the receptacle move. The way in which the receptacle is moved with respect to the stopper is not important as long as the receptacle and stopper (unless a receptacle without a stopper is desired in the end) are separated from each other, the flowable material is introduced between the stopper and the receptacle, and the stopper is placed back on the receptacle for capturing the flowable material sample.  
         [0076]    The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.