FR2839554A1 - Immersion sampler for water or other liquid has sample collection container with siphon on inlet side and washing flask on outlet side - Google Patents

Abstract

Liquid sampler consists of sample collection container (1) with siphon (2) on its inlet side that controls the intake of liquid by high point (5) on its inlet (4) while retaining trap and flask (3) on its outlet side for when liquid level reaches the bottom of its air outlet tube (9). The sample container can be separated from the siphon and the washing flask, and the base (10) is detachable to air to be removed before recovering the sample. Liquid sampler consists of sample collection container (1) with a swan-neck siphon (2) on its inlet side that controls the intake of liquid by a high point (5) on its inlet (4) while retaining a trap, and a washing flask (3) on its outlet side that stops the siphoning when the liquid level reaches the bottom of its air outlet tube (9). The sample container can be separated from the siphon and the washing flask for removal and transport of the sample, and the base (10) of the siphon is detachable to air to be removed before recovering the sample and for easier cleaning. The inlet of the siphon can also have a float-controlled shutter, and plugs can be used to seal the inlet and outlet tubes before the required depth is reached for sampling.

Description

of the motor vehicle.

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DESCRIPTION

  The invention relates to an autonomous device for a single sampling of water (or any similar liquid) when it is immersed in the liquid element. The device is particularly intended for monitoring the water quality of rivers during flood periods. Worn at the end of a pole, for example, and adjusted to a predetermined level, the device will automatically carry out and in compliance with the standards in force a sampling when the rise in water will bring the

  liquid up to the level of the inlet siphon.

  In this case, most of the floods are monitored by technicians carrying out punctual and manual samples on a case-by-case basis. Quickly, they were overwhelmed by the overload of work: the floods appeared suddenly and spread over a fairly short period of time. In addition, taking a sample from a watercourse can then present risks (current

powerful, unstable banks).

  In fact, there are automatic samplers on the market capable of withdrawing surface water when the floods rise, via a pump and a water level detector. If their reliability is proven, technical pitfalls (manipulation by insiders, civil engineering,

  of electrical energy) and especially financial reserve their employment for some particular studies.

  However, the large-scale and complete study of floods following very important wind rain events: the most important fluxes of nitrates, phosphorus and

  wind pesticides observed during these hydrological episodes.

  The device according to the invention is the missing link between the manual sampling and the

automated collection.

  The device is characterized by these elements: first of all, a container which will collect the sample n. Upstream of this co ntentant is a swan neck siphon which controls by its high point [lteau entry and retains a water cap during the ascent of the device and downstream the container ends by a washing bottle responsible for stopping the siphoning

  when the water level reaches the base of the tube which allows air to escape.

  The accompanying drawing illustrates the invention: the figure shows in section the device of the invention.

  With reference to this drawing, we can therefore imagine that the device is fixed overhanging and horizontal to the surface of the water in the case of flood monitoring. When the water rise is effective, the water will penetrate by the orifice of the siphon (4) then, as the device drips, will reach the high point of the siphon (5). It is only from this threshold that the sample will be taken (on the condition that this point 5 is higher than point 6 otherwise it is the last point 6 which controls the sampling). Water quickly

  stewards in the siphon, fills the conduit (6) then empties into the sampler bottle (1).

  When the filling is effective, the water will then reach by overflow (8) the washing bottle (3) or a glass rod whose [orifice above the upper level of the siphon allows atmospheric air to escape and therefore to be replaced by an equivalent volume of water. Little by little, water occupies the bottom of the bottle and reaches the lower base of this glass tube (9). The air does

  can no longer be evacuated to the outside. Also, water can no longer enter the sampler.

  If the water continues to rise and exceeds the level of the downstream orifice of the washing bottle, it cannot nevertheless enter the sampler, the water pressure being greater than the upstream orifice

siphon.

  Sampling is therefore unique and is carried out in one direction.

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  When the sampler is removed from the water or if the water level drops below the siphon inlet (4), the excess water is discharged by siphoning. An elbow tube whose orifice is below the level of the upper edge of the container discharges part of the water which would have prevented the fitting of a stopper on this bottle during subsequent transport. The upstream opening of the siphon should be slightly lower than the teas level of this elbow tube. Otherwise (level 4 = level 7), a phenomenon of capillarity can prevent good drainage

siphon.

  In this optimal configuration, a sufficient volume for subsequent analyzes is kept in the main container (1). Two water plugs (traps respectively in the swan neck and at the bottom of the washing bottle) separated from the sample by a volume of air

  protect from any subsequent pollution (by outside air or during upwelling).

  To recover the sample, it is necessary to retract the water plugs from the siphon (10) and the washing bottle (11) by unscrewing their removable bases in order to avoid entrainment of these contaminated water towards the sample intended for analysis (raising the container (12) without this precaution can bring part of the water from the siphon to the container because this volume of water

  tense to replace the volume occupied by the wall of the container).

  In a variant not illustrated, an arm connected to floats can rest hermetically on the inlet of the siphon (4). This seal is broken when the rise in water lifts the

  floats (optimized protection of the sample supply pipe).

  The sampler (bottles 1, 2, 3 vices) can take a new flood (with the possibility

  from another sampling height by a vertical displacement of the whole device.

  As an indication, this device is made in compliance with the standards in force exclusively of inert materials (glass, stainless steel, Teflon, ...) suitable for the analysis of diverging compounds in

water or any other liquid.

  The use of glass can make it fragile. Also, this device can be protected by a shell. This device can keep by way of example a liter of sample (the volume of the container does not have any influence on the good functioning of the device), weigh two to three pounds and is characterized by a width of fifteen about centimeters for a height and length of

thirty centimeters.

  It is conceivable to use a siphon which can be modified in its curvature and its diameter in order to

  to adapt the device to the viscosity of the withdrawn liquid.

  In a variant not illustrated and for a deep sampling a retractable plug

  can prohibit the filling of the device before this device reaches the desired depth.

  This plug can be placed at the upstream (4) or downstream (12) orifice of the device.

  Likewise, this device, whether or not coupled to a speed regulator, can be carried out during its

  immersed in the liquid element a sample over the entire height traveled.

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Claims (1)

  l) Autonomous device for a single sampling of water (or any similar liquid) when it is immersed in the liquid element, characterized in that it consists of a container (1) which will collect the sample, a 'upstream of this container is a swan neck siphon (2) which commands by its high point [' water inlet (5) and retains a water cap when raising the device and downstream the container ends with a washing bottle (3) responsible for stopping the siphoning when the water level reaches the base   of the tube (9) which allows the air to escape.   2) Device according to claim l carcaterise in that the container (1) is detached from the swan neck siphon (2) and the lavour bottle (3) in order to allow recovery and transport of the sample.   3) Device according to either of the claims characterized in that the base of the   siphon (10) is retractable in order to allow the air to be expelled before the sample is collected and optimal cleaning. It is the same for the base of the washing bottle   (11) to facilitate cleaning and re-priming of the device.   4) Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that   a bent rod immersed (7) in the container and connected to the siphon discharges the excess   of water when raising the device.   5) Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that   arm connected to floats can rest hermetically on the inlet of the siphon (4). This   sealing is broken when the rise in water lifts the floats.   6) Device according to the preceding claims 1, 2, 3 and 4 characterized in that a   retractable plug can seal the upstream (4) or downstream (9) end for