Patent ID: 8800394

Claim:
A sample apparatus for capture of a liquid phase sample of liquefied natural gas (LNG) comprising: a LNG sample container having; a hollow cylinder captured between and sealed against a sample end cap and a pre-charge end cap; a piston positioned in and sealed against the hollow cylinder, the piston selectively movable toward and away from the sample end cap and pre-charge end cap; the sample end cap defining a sample inlet port, portions of a sample collection chamber and a sample outlet port, the sample inlet port, the sample collection chamber and the sample outlet port all being in fluid communication with one another; a vacuum flask having; an outer shell, connected to the sample end cap; an inner cryogenic vessel having a base; a vacuum chamber formed between the outer shell and the inner cryogenic vessel to insulate the inner cryogenic vessel; a fill port passing through the outer shell and in fluid communication with the inner cryogenic vessel, a vent port from the inner cryogenic vessel passing through the outer shell and a vacuum port in the outer shell in fluid communication with the vacuum chamber; and means for transferring heat from the sample end cap to the inner cryogenic vessel.