Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
205 words
A sampling apparatus, comprising a housing having a bore extending therethrough, means for supporting said housing with one end of said bore communicating with the interior of a product containing vessel and with an opposite end of said bore being outside of the vessel; a plunger in the bore and reciprocable therein, said plunger having a recess therein intermediate its ends and of a length longitudinally of said plunger less than the length of said bore; means at said opposite end of said bore connected with said plunger for reciprocating said plunger in said bore to project said recess into said vessel to receive a sample of product therein and to then retract said recess from said vessel to a point in said bore outside of said vessel and intermediate the ends thereof; means at said point in said bore for receiving the sample of product in said recess; means for maintaining a liquid seal between said one end of said bore and said point therein; and seal means on said plunger toward said opposite end of said bore for maintaining a liquid seal between said point in said bore and said opposite end thereof, and therefore between said point and said means for reciprocating.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
205 words
A sampling apparatus, comprising a housing having a bore extending therethrough, means for supporting said housing with one end of said bore communicating with the interior of a product containing vessel and with an opposite end of said bore being outside of the vessel; a plunger in the bore and reciprocable therein, said plunger having a recess therein intermediate its ends and of a length longitudinally of said plunger less than the length of said bore; means at said opposite end of said bore connected with said plunger for reciprocating said plunger in said bore to project said recess into said vessel to receive a sample of product therein and to then retract said recess from said vessel to a point in said bore outside of said vessel and intermediate the ends thereof; means at said point in said bore for receiving the sample of product in said recess; means for maintaining a liquid seal between said one end of said bore and said point therein; and seal means on said plunger toward said opposite end of said bore for maintaining a liquid seal between said point in said bore and said opposite end thereof, and therefore between said point and said means for reciprocating.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
93 words
A sampling apparatus as set forth in claim 1, said means for maintaining a liquid seal between said one end of said bore and said point therein comprising first and second seal means on said plunger on opposite sides of said recess, said seal means on said plunger toward said opposite end of said bore comprising third seal means engaged with said bore and adapted to wipe said bore clean of product between said opposite end thereof and said point therein when said plunger is reciprocated to project said recess into the vessel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
A sampling apparatus as set forth in claim 2, said bore and said plunger being cylindrical, said recess being an annular recess, and said means at said point in said bore for receiving the sample of product being a passage in said housing communicating with said bore at said point therein.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
A sampling apparatus as set forth in claim 2, said bore and said plunger being cylindrical, and said first, second and third seal means being annular seals.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
A sampling apparatus as set forth in claim 4, said annular seals engaging the surface of said bore and maintaining said plunger axially aligned with said bore and out of contact with the surface thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
94 words
A sampling apparatus as set forth in claim 2, said first and second seal means being on opposite sides of said point in said bore when said recess is positioned at said point and said first seal means being toward said one end of said bore, said first seal means being projected into the vessel when said recess is projected therein, said second seal means moving past said point to a position toward said one end of said bore prior to said first seal means moving out of said bore and into the vessel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
70 words
A sampling apparatus as in claim 6, said third seal means being in said bore adjacent said opposite end thereof when said recess is at said point in said bore, said third seal means being moved toward and adjacent to said point when said recess is projected into the vessel, said third seal means wiping said bore clean of product each time that said recess is projected into the vessel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
A sampling apparatus as set forth in claim 7, said bore and said cylinder rod being cylindrical, said first, second and third seal means being annular seals, said means for receiving said sample being an outlet port formed through said housing in communication with said bore at said point therein.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
60 words
A sampling apparatus as set forth in claim 8, said housing having an inlet port formed therethrough in communication with said bore at said point therein generally opposite from said outlet port, said inlet port accommodating introduction of a flushing agent into said recess to remove the sample of product therefrom and to move the sample through said outlet port.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
A sampling apparatus as set forth in claim 9, said bore having an enlarged chamber therein intersecting said bore at said point, said inlet and outlet ports communication with opposite sides of said chamber.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
A sampling apparatus as set forth in claim 2, said means for reciprocating said plunger in said bore comprising a pneumatically actuated cylinder connected with said housing at said opposite end of said bore.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
49 words
A sampling apparatus as in claim 11, including quick release clamp means connecting said pneumatically actuated cylinder with said housing at said opposite end of said bore, said clamp means being releasable to enable said plunger to be withdrawn from said bore for inspection, cleaning and replacement of parts.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
53 words
A sampling apparatus as set forth in claim 11, said housing and said pneumatically actuated cylinder defining a space therebetween, said space being vented to atmosphere to prevent negative and positive pressures from being generated therein as said plunger is reciprocated to project and retract, respectively, said recess into and from the vessel.