Patent GB-1441431-A (GB)
Title: Automatic analyzing apparatus
IPC: G01N35/00
Filed: 1973-08-14
Abstract: 1441431 Metering liquid; sampling NIHON DENSKI KK 14 Aug 1973 [15 Aug 1972 (4)] 39507/73 Heading B8N [Also in Division G1] A sample measuring valve (Fig. 3) for providing ten metered aliquots of a single sample comprises rotary members 281 held between fixed upper and lower members 282, 283, the rotary member 281 having ten sample measuring holes 26 to 35, upper fixed member having ten reagent inflow lines 36 to 45 and also on its inner face five grooves 311 to 315 each astride a reagent inflow line, and lower fixed member 283 having ten reagent outlet lines 46 to 55, one sample inlet flow line 316 and one sample suction flow line 317 and on its inner face four grooves 318 to 321 each astride a reagent outlet line. In the sample intake position of the valve (Fig. 4, not shown), there is a continuous passage for inflow of sample through line 316, 27, successively through the upper and lower sets of grooves via all the sample measuring holes 28 to 35 then out through sample measuring hole 26 and line 317. In the sample discharge position with rotary member 281 moved by 1/20 of a complete turn by means of a motor and gear system (Fig. 2, not shown) sample measuring holes 26 to 35 are aligned with respective reagent inlet flow 36 to 45 and sample and reagent flow out through reagent outlet holes 46 to 55. A selector valve (Fig. 6) for use in transmitting a succession of samples for analysis, the valve passages being washed after passage of each sample, comprises rotary member 371 held between fixed members 372, 373 as in Fig. 2 (not shown), rotary member 371 having oblique through-hole 202 and two grooves 252, 253 on its inner face, upper fixed member 372 having a flowline 374 and lower fixed member 373 having sample flow lines 181 to 190 and cleaning solution flow lines 191 to 200, all except lines 191 and 200 being connected together by a loop flow line 201. When sample flows through line 183 of lower fixed member 373, through hole 202 and line 374 for analysis, grooves 252, 253 coincide with flow lines 182, 192 and 191, 181 respectively, and cleaning solution which is continuously fed through pipe 375 to loop flow line 201 passes through lines 191, 192, 181, 182 to clean them. A valve for use in the cleaning of pressurized analysis apparatus connected to the valve comprises (Fig. 8) rotary member 411, upper fixed member 412 and lower fixed member 413, rotary member 411 having flow lines 414 to 423 and grooves 424 to 433 on its upper surface, one end of each groove communicating with one of the flow lines 414 to 423 and the other end of each groove extending half way towards the adjacent flow line, upper fixed member 412 having flow lines 434 to 443 connected to analytical devices and the lower fixed member 413 having a first group of flow lines 444 to 453 connected to a waste reservoir and a second group of flow lines 454 to 463 connected to a second waste valve (237 in Fig. 1, not shown). For analysis of samples, flow lines 434 to 443 are connected to the analytical devices and through flow lines 414 to 423 and 454 to 463 to the second waste valve. After analysis, the rotary members of the valve shown and of the second waste valve are each rotated by 1/20 of a turn, when the outlets of the second waste valve are opened to atmosphere and the sample flow path is cleaned by pressurized flow of cleaning fluid through lines 414 to 423, 444 to 423, 444 to 453 to the waste reservoir.