LIQUID SAMPLING DEVICES AND METHOD

DISPOSITIF ET METHODE D'ECHANTILLONNAGE DE LIQUIDES

English Abstract

Liquid sampling devices and methods for sampling
flowing or other liquid to determine its composition. The
preferred sampling device has an upper liquid catch basin for
receiving a liquid to be sampled, a lower sample collection
chamber, a liquid inlet communicating the basin and
collection chamber, and inlet valve means for closing the
inlet against entry of liquid and foreign matter into the
chamber and escape of liquid and vapor from the chamber
except when the inlet is submerged in liquid to be sampled
and the collection chamber contains less than a predetermined
volume of the liquid. The sampling device is placed in
sampling position such that the inlet valve means remains
closed until liquid covers the inlet, whereupon the inlet
valve means open to permit liquid flow into the collection
chamber and later reclose in response to filling of the
chamber with a predetermined sample volume. Exemplary uses of
the sampling device are sampling storm water runoff from
industrial property to determine the contaminants, if any,
absorbed by the storm water as it flows across the property,
and. sampling liquid leakage.in a brewery or other liquid
processing facility to aid in locating the leak(s).

Claims

I Claim:

1. A liquid sampling device comprising:
a receptacle including a sample collection chamber
having normally upper and lower ends, liquid inlet means at
the upper end of said chamber including an inlet passage to
said collection chamber having a normally upper inlet
through which liquid to be sampled may enter said chamber
when liquid covers said passage inlet, and means whereby a
collected sample may be removed from said chamber, and
wherein said sampling device is adapted to be placed in a
sampling position wherein said inlet is disposed to receive
liquid to be sampled, and
said inlet means includes float valve means responsive
to submergence of said inlet in liquid for closing said
passage except when said inlet is submerged in liquid,
thereby to block entry of foreign matter into said
collection chamber when said inlet is not submerged in
liquid.
2. A liquid sampling device according to claim 1
including:
a normally upwardly opening basin at the upper end of
said receptacle for receiving the liquid to be sampled and
having a lower floor and an upper rim above said floor, and
wherein
said inlet is located at an inlet level between said
basin floor and rim, whereby liquid filling said basin at

-32-



least to said inlet level can flow from said basin through
said inlet and passage into said collection chamber, and
said valve means is responsive to the liquid level in
said basin and opens when liquid fills said basin at least
to said inlet level and closes when the level of liquid, if
any, in the basin is below said inlet level.
3. A liquid sampling device comprising:
a receptacle including a sample collection chamber
having normally upper and lower ends, liquid inlet means at
the upper end of said chamber including an inlet passage to
said collection chamber having a normally upper inlet
through which liquid to be sampled may enter said chamber
when the liquid covers said passage inlet, and means
whereby a collected sample may be removed from said
chamber, and wherein
said sampling device is adapted to be placed in a
sampling position wherein said inlet of said inlet passage
is disposed to receive liquid to be sampled to provide a
liquid sample in said chamber,
said sample collection chamber is adapted to contain
a liquid sample of predetermined volume,
said inlet means includes inlet float valve means
which close said inlet passage except when both of the
following conditions exist: (a) said inlet of said inlet
passage is submerged in liquid, and (b) said collection
chamber contains less than said predetermined volume of
liquid, and
-33-



said inlet float valve means has an open mode in which
said float valve means opens the inlet passage to permit
liquid flow into the collection chamber and a closed mode
in which said float valve means closes the inlet passage to
seal the chamber, and said float valve means is operable to
each of said modes by forces including a buoyant force
produced by the liquid being sampled.
4. A liquid sampling device comprising:
a receptacle including a sample collection chamber
having normally upper and lower ends, liquid inlet means at
the upper end of said chamber including an inlet passage to
said collection chamber having a normally upper inlet
through which liquid to be sampled may enter said chamber
when the liquid covers said passage inlet, and wherein
said sampling device is adapted to be placed in a
sampling position wherein said inlet of said inlet passage
is disposed to receive liquid to be sampled to provide a
liquid sample in said chamber,
said sample collection chamber is adapted to contain
a predetermined volume of liquid,
said inlet means includes inlet float valve means
having a standby mode in which said float valve means close
said inlet passage against entry of foreign matter into
said collection chamber, a sampling mode in which said
float valve means open said inlet passage for entry of
liquid being sampled into said collection chamber, and a
sample containment mode in which said float valve means

-34-



close said inlet passage against entry of material into and
loss of material from said collection chamber,
said inlet valve means assume said standby mode in the
absence of liquid covering said inlet end of said inlet
passage, said sampling mode when said inlet end of said
inlet passage is covered with liquid and said collection
chamber contains less than said predetermined volume of
liquid, and said sample containment mode when said
collection chamber contains aid predetermined volume of
liquid, and
said float valve means is operable to each of said
modes by forces including a buoyant force produced by the
liquid being sampled.
5. A liquid sampling device comprising:
a receptacle including a sample collection chamber
having normally upper and lower ends, liquid inlet mean at
the upper end of said chamber including an inlet passage to
said collection chamber having a normally upper inlet
through which liquid to be sampled may enter said chamber
when the liquid covers said passage inlet, and mean whereby
a collected sample may be removed from said chamber, and
wherein
said sampling device is adapted to be placed in a
sampling position wherein said inlet of said inlet passage
is disposed to receive liquid to be sampled to provide a
liquid sample in said chamber,
said inlet means includes at least the first valve

-35-



means of the following first and second valve means: first
valve means for closing said inlet passage except when said
inlet of said inlet passage is covered with liquid, and
second valve mean for closing said inlet passage when said
collection chamber contains a predetermined volume of
liquid,
said first valve means comprises an upper normally
upwardly facing valve seat about said inlet of said inlet
passage, and an upper float valve movable downwardly into
contact with said seat to close said inlet of said inlet
passage in the absence of liquid covering said inlet of
said inlet passage and movable upwardly away from said
valve seat by liquid covering said inlet of said inlet
passage to open said inlet, and
said second valve means comprises a lower normally
downwardly facing valve seat about the lower end of said
inlet passage, and a lower float valve movable upwardly
into contact with said lower valve seat by liquid filling
said collection chamber to a predetermined level to close
the lower end of said inlet passage and movable downwardly
away from said lower valve seat to open the lower end of
said inlet passage when the liquid level in said collection
chamber is below said predetermined level.
6. A liquid sampling device according to claim 5 in
combination with means for conducting liquid to be sampled
to said sampling device, and wherein
said inlet means is disposed to receive liquid from

-36-



said liquid conducting means.
7. A liquid sampling device according to claim 5 in
combination with a surface for conducting liquid to be
sampled to said sampling device, and wherein
said device is disposed in a sump opening upwardly
through said surface with said inlet means located to
receive liquid entering the sump.
8. A liquid sampling device comprising:
a receptacle including a sample collection chamber
having normally upper and lower ends, liquid inlet means at
the upper end of said chamber including an inlet passage to
said collection chamber having a normally upper inlet
through which liquid to be sampled may enter said chamber
when the liquid covers said passage inlet, and means
whereby a collected sample may be removed from said
chamber, and wherein
said sampling device is adapted to be placed in a
sampling position wherein said inlet of said inlet passage
is disposed to receive liquid to be sampled to provide a
liquid sample in said chamber,
said inlet means includes float valve means comprising
a valve seat about said inlet passage, a float valve member
movable into and from contact with said valve seat to
control flow through said passage, and manually adjustable
means for adjusting the maximum separation of said valve
member from said valve seat to adjust the maximum liquid

-37-



inflow rate into said collection chamber.
9. A liquid sampling device comprising:
a receptacle including a sample collection chamber
having normally upper and lower ends, liquid inlet means at
the upper end of said chamber including an inlet passage to
said collection chamber having a normally upper inlet
through which liquid to be sampled may enter said chamber
when the liquid covers said passage inlet, and wherein
said sampling device is adapted to be placed in a
sampling position wherein said inlet of said inlet passage
is disposed to receive liquid to be sampled to provide a
liquid sample in said chamber,
said sample collection chamber is adapted to contain
a predetermined volume of liquid,
said inlet means includes inlet valve means having a
standby mode in which said inlet valve mean close said
inlet passage against entry of foreign matter into said
collection chamber, a sampling mode in which said inlet
valve means open said inlet passage for entry of liquid
being sampled into said collection chamber, and a sample
containment mode in which said inlet valve mean close said
inlet passage against entry of material into and loss of
material from said collection chamber,
said inlet valve means assume said standby mode in the
absence of liquid covering said inlet end of said inlet
passage, said sampling mode when said inlet end of said
inlet passage is covered with liquid and said collection

-38-



chamber contains less than said predetermined volume of
liquid, and said sample containment mode when said
collection chamber contains said predetermined volume of
liquid, and
said inlet valve means includes adjustable means for
adjusting the maximum liquid inflow rate into said
collection chamber in said sampling mode.
10. A liquid sampling device comprising:
a receptacle including a sample collection chamber
having normally upper and lower ends, liquid inlet means at
the upper end of said chamber including an inlet passage to
said collection chamber having a normally upper inlet
through which liquid to be sampled may enter said chamber
when the liquid covers said passage inlet, and means
whereby a collection sample may be removed from said
chamber, and wherein
said sampling device is adapted to be placed in a
sampling position wherein said inlet of said inlet passage
is disposed to receive liquid to be sampled to provide a
liquid sample in said chamber,
said inlet means includes at least one of the
following first and second valve mean: first valve mean for
closing said inlet passage except when said inlet of said
inlet passage is covered with liquid, and second valve mean
for closing said inlet passage when said collection chamber
contains a predetermined volume of liquid,
said first valve means comprises an upper normally

-39-




upwardly facing valve seat about said inlet of said inlet
passage, and an upper float valve movable downwardly into
contact with said seat to close said inlet of said inlet
passage in the absence of liquid covering said inlet of
said inlet passage and movable upwardly away from said
valve seat by liquid covering said inlet of said inlet
passage to open said inlet,
said second valve means comprises a lower normally
downwardly facing valve seat about the lower end of said
inlet passage, and a lower float valve movable upwardly
into contact with said lower valve seat by liquid filling
said collection chamber to a predetermined level to close
the lower end of said inlet passage and movable downwardly
away from said lower valve seat to open the lower end of
said inlet passage when the liquid level in said collection
chamber is below said predetermined level, and
said first valve means includes adjustable limit stop
means for adjusting the maximum separation of said upper
float valve from said upper valve seat.
11. A liquid sampling device comprising:
a receptacle including a sample collection chamber
having normally upper and lower ends, liquid inlet means at
the upper end of said chamber including an inlet passage to
said collection chamber having a normally upper inlet
through which liquid to be sampled may enter said chamber
when the liquid covers said passage inlet, and means
whereby a collected sample may be removed from said

-40-


chamber, and wherein
said sampling device is adapted to be placed in a
sampling position wherein said inlet of said inlet passage
is disposed to receive liquid to be sampled to provide a
liquid sample in said chamber,
said receptacle includes a lower body having a lower
end wall, and an upper end wall closing an upper end of
said body, said body and said upper end wall form said
collection chamber, and said upper end wall contains an
opening to said collection chamber,
said inlet means comprises an inlet fitting including
float valve means for controlling flow through said inlet
passage,
at least one of said upper end wall and inlet fitting
is separable from said receptacle body to permit cleaning
of said collection chamber, and
said sampling device includes connecting means
releasably securing said fitting, upper end wall, and
receptacle body in assembled relation.
12. A liquid sampling device according to claim 11
wherein:
said connecting means comprises a connecting rod
secured to said inlet fitting and extending downwardly from
said fitting through said collection chamber to said lower
end wall, and means secured to a lower end of said rod and
accessible at an under side of said lower end wall for
securing and releasing said connecting means.

-41-


13. A liquid sampling device according to claim 12
wherein:
said means secured to said lower end of said
connecting rod comprises a grip, and
said rod is threaded in one of said fitting and grip,
and said grip is rotatable to release and secure said
connecting means.
14. A liquid sampling device according to claim 12
wherein:
said means whereby a collected sample may be removed
from said collection chamber comprises a drain valve,
said drain valve comprises said means secured to said
lower end of said connecting rod,
said rod is threadedly joined to one of said inlet
fitting and drain valve, and said drain valve is rotatable
to release and secure said connecting means, and
said drain valve has a drain passage opening to the
bottom of said collection chamber and includes valve means
for opening and closing said drain passage.
15. A liquid sampling device according to claim 11
wherein:
said upper end wall is permanently joined to said
receptacle body, and
said inlet fitting is removable from said upper end
wall by release of said connecting means to permit cleaning
of said collection chamber through the opening in said

-42-


upper end wall.
16. A liquid sampling device according to claim 11
wherein:
said receptacle body has an open upper end,
said upper end wall comprises a removable cover
closing said open end of said body, and
said cover is removable from said body by release of
said connecting means to permit cleaning of said collection
chamber through the open upper end of said body.
17. A liquid sampling device comprising:
a receptacle having normally upper and lower ends and
a sample collection chamber between said ends,
an upwardly opening basin at the upper end of said
receptacle for receiving a liquid to be sampled and having
an upper rim and a floor,
inlet means at the upper end of said receptacle
including an inlet passage extending through said basin
floor to said collection chamber and having a normally
upper inlet opening to said basin below said basin, rim,
whereby liquid to be sampled may flow from said basin,
through said inlet passage, into said collection chamber
when the liquid in said basin covers said passage inlet,
means whereby liquid may be removed from said chamber,
and wherein
said sampling device is adapted to be placed in a
sampling position wherein said basin is disposed to receive

-43-


liquid to be sampled, and
said inlet means includes float valve means responsive
to the liquid level in said basin for closing said passage
inlet end except when said basin contains sufficient liquid
to cover said inlet end.
18. A liquid sampling device according to claim 17,
wherein:
said inlet end of said inlet passage is located a
distance above said basin floor.
19. A liquid sampling device comprising:
a receptacle having normally upper and lower ends and
a sample collection chamber between said ends,
an upwardly opening basin at the upper end of said
receptacle for receiving a liquid to be sampled and having
an upper rim and a floor,
inlet means at the upper end of said receptacle
including an inlet passage extending through said basin
floor to said collection chamber and having a normally
upper inlet opening to said basin below said basin rim,
whereby liquid to be sampled may flow from said basin,
through said inlet passage, into said collection chamber
when the liquid in said basin covers said passage inlet,
means whereby liquid may be removed from said chamber,
and wherein
said sampling device is adapted to be placed in a
sampling position wherein said basin is disposed to receive
-44-


liquid to be sampled,
said sample collection chamber is adapted to contain
a liquid sample of predetermined volume, and
said inlet means includes inlet float valve means
which close said inlet passage except when both of the
following conditions exist: (a) liquid covers said inlet,
and (b) said collection chamber contains less than said
predetermined volume of liquid.
20. A liquid sampling device comprising:
a receptacle having normally upper and lower ends and
a sample collection chamber between said ends,
an upwardly opening basin at the upper end of said
receptacle for receiving a liquid to be sampled and having
an upper rim and a floor,
inlet means at the upper end of said receptacle
including an inlet passage extending through said basin
floor to said collection chamber and having a normally
upper inlet opening to said basin below said basin rim,
whereby liquid to be sampled may flow from said basin,
through said inlet passage, into said collection chamber
when the liquid in said basin covers said passage inlet,
means whereby liquid may be removed from said chamber,
and wherein
said sampling device is adapted to be placed in a
sampling position wherein said basin is disposed to receive
liquid to be sampled,
said sample collection chamber is adapted to contain
-45-


a liquid sample of predetermined volume,
said inlet means includes inlet float valve means
having a standby mode in which the inlet valve means close
said inlet passage against entry of foreign matter into
said collection chamber, a sampling mode in which the inlet
valve means open said inlet passage for entry of liquid
being sampled into said collection chamber, and a sample
containment mode in which the inlet valve means close said
inlet passage against entry of material into and escape of
material from said collection chamber, and
the inlet valve means assumes said standby mode in the
absence of liquid covering said inlet end of said inlet
passage, said sampling mode when said inlet end of said
inlet passage is covered with liquid and said collection
chamber contains less than said predetermined volume of
liquid, and said sample containment mode when said
collection chamber contains at least said predetermined
volume of liquid.
21. A liquid sampling device comprising:
a receptacle having normally upper and lower ends and
a sample collection chamber between said ends,
an upwardly opening basin at the upper end of said
receptacle for receiving a liquid to be sampled and having
an upper rim and a floor,
inlet means at the upper end of said receptacle
including an inlet passage extending through said basin
floor to said collection chamber and having a normally
-46-




upper inlet opening to said basin below said basin rim,
whereby liquid to be sampled may flow from said basin,
through said inlet passage, into said collection chamber
when the liquid in said basin covers said passage inlet,
means whereby liquid may be removed from said chamber,
and wherein
said sampling device is adapted to be placed in a
sampling position wherein said basin is disposed to receive
liquid to be sampled, and
said inlet means includes at least one of the
following first and second float valve means: first valve
means for closing said inlet passage except when liquid in
said basin covers said inlet of said inlet passage, and
second valve means for closing said inlet passage when said
collection chamber contains at least a predetermined volume
of liquid.
22. A liquid sampling device according to claim 21,
wherein:
said first valve means comprises an upper normally
upwardly facing valve seat about said inlet end of said
inlet passage, an upper float valve movable downwardly into
contact with said seat to close the upper end of said inlet
passage when the liquid level in said basin is below the
inlet end of said inlet passage and movable upwardly away
from said valve seat to open the upper end of said inlet
passage by liquid filling said basin to a level above the
inlet end of said inlet passage, and a cage containing said



-47-




float valve, and
said second valve means comprises a lower normally
downwardly facing valve seat about the lower end of said
inlet passage, a lower float valve movable upwardly into
contact with said lower valve seat by liquid filling said
collection chamber at least to a predetermined level to
close the lower end of said inlet passage and movable
downwardly away from said lower valve seat to open the
lower end of said inlet passage when the liquid level in
said collection chamber is below said predetermined level,
and a cage containing said lower float valve.
23. A liquid sampling device according to claim 22
wherein:
said first valve means includes adjustable limit stop
means for adjusting the maximum separation of said upper
float valve from said upper valve seat.
24. A liquid sampling device according to claim 21 in
combination with means for conducting liquid to be sampled
to said sampling device, and wherein
said basin is disposed to receive liquid from said
liquid conducting means.
25. A liquid sampling device according to claim 21 in
combination with a surface for conducting liquid to be
sampled to said sampling device, and wherein
said device is disposed in a sump opening upwardly



-48-




through said surface with said basin located to receive
liquid entering the sump.
26. A liquid sampling device according to claim 25,
wherein:
said device is a storm water sampler, and
said surface is a ground surface of an industrial
property.
27. The subject matter of claim 25 including:
a casing embedded in the bottom of said sump having an
open upper end opening to said sump and removably receiving
said receptacle with said basin and inlet means located at
said casing upper end.
28. The subject matter of claim 21 wherein said sampling
device includes:
a portable relatively thin-walled casing having an
open upper end removably receiving said receptacle, and
means vertically supporting said receptacle in said
casing with said inlet means at the upper end of said
casing.
29. The subject matter of claim 28, wherein:
said means vertically supporting said receptacle in
said casing comprises an upwardly facing circumferential
shoulder within said casing, and a circumferential flange
about the upper end of said receptical resting on said



-49-




shoulder, and said casing has a side wall portion extending
above shoulder and forming said basin with said basin
floor.
30. A liquid sampling device comprising:
a receptacle having normally upper and lower ends and
a sample collection chamber between said ends,
an upwardly opening basin at the upper end of said
receptacle for receiving a liquid to be sampled and having
an upper rim and a floor,
inlet means at the upper end of said receptacle
including an inlet passage extending through said basin
floor to said collection chamber and having a normally
upper inlet opening to said basin below said basin rim,
whereby liquid to be sampled may flow from said basin,
through said inlet passage, into said collection chamber
when the liquid in said basin covers said passage inlet,
means whereby liquid may be removed from said chamber,
and wherein
said sampling device is adapted to be placed in a
sampling position wherein said basin is disposed to receive
liquid to be sampled,
said receptacle includes a lower body having a lower
end wall, and an upper end closed by said basin floor,
said inlet means comprises an inlet flitting on said
basin floor, said inlet fitting including float means for
controlling flow through said passage,
at least one of said basin floor and inlet fitting is



-50-



separable from said receptacle body to permit cleaning of
said collection chamber, and
said sampling device includes connecting means
releasably securing said fitting, basin floor, and
receptacle body in assembled relation.
31. A liquid sampling device according to claim 30,
wherein:
said connecting means joins said inlet fitting and
said lower end wall and comprises a connecting rod secured
to said inlet fitting and extending downwardly from said
fitting through said collection chamber to said lower end
wall, and means secured to a lower end of said rod and
accessible at an under side of said lower end wall for
securing and releasing said connecting means.
32. A liquid sampling device according to claim 31
wherein:
said means secured to said lower end of said
connecting rod comprises a grip, and
said rod is threaded in one of said fitting and grip,
and said grip is rotatable to release and secure said
connecting means.
33. A liquid sampling device according to claim 31,
wherein:
said drain valve comprises said means secured to said
lower end of said connecting rod, said rod is threadedly



-51-



joined to one of said fitting and drain, and said drain
valve is rotatable to release and secure said connecting
means, and
said drain valve has a drain passage opening to the
bottom of said collection chamber and includes valve means
for opening and closing said drain passage.
34. A liquid sampling device according to claim 30,
wherein:
said basin floor is permanently joined to said
receptacle body, and said body has a side wall portion
which projects above said floor,
said basin floor and said side wall portion from said
basin, and
said inlet fitting is removable from said basin floor
by release of said connecting means to permit cleaning of
said collection chamber through the opening in said floor.
35. A liquid sampling device according to claim 30,
wherein:
said receptacle body has an open upper end, an inner
upwardly facing annular shoulder within said body, and a
side wall portion projecting above said shoulder,
said basin floor comprises a removable cover seating
on said shoulder and closing said open end of said body,
said cover and said side wall portion form said basin,
and
said cover is removable from said body by release of



-52-




said connecting means to permit cleaning of said collection
chamber through the open upper end of said body.
36. In combination:
a liquid sampling device comparing a receptacle
including a sample collection chamber having normally upper
and lower ends, liquid inlet means at the upper end of said
chamber including an inlet passage to said collection
chamber having a normally upper inlet through which liquid
to be sampled may enter said chamber when the liquid covers
said passage inlet, and means, for draining a collected
sample from said chamber,
a casing removably receiving said receptacle with said
inlet means located at said casing upper end,
a surface for conducting liquid to be sampled to said
sampling device,
a sump opening upwardly through said surface, and
wherein
said inlet means includes at least one of the
following first and second valve means; first valve means
for closing said inlet passage except when said inlet of
said inlet passage is covered with liquid, and second valve
means for closing said inlet passage when said collection
chamber contains a predetermined volume of liquid, and
said casing is embedded in the bottom of said sump and
removably contains said receptacle with said inlet means
located to receive liquid entering the sump.



-53-




37. A liquid sampling device comprising:
a receptacle having normally upper and lower ends and
a sample collection chamber between said ends,
an upwardly opening basin at the upper end of said
receptacle for receiving a liquid to be sampled and having
an upper rim and a floor,
inlet means at the upper end of said receptacle
including an inlet passage extending through said basin
floor to said collection chamber and having a normally
upper inlet opening to said basin between said basin floor
and said basin rim, whereby liquid to be sampled may flow
from said basin, through said inlet passage, into said
collection chamber when the liquid in said basin covers
said passage inlet,
means whereby liquid may be removed from said chamber,
and wherein
said sampling device is adapted to be placed in a
normal sampling position wherein said basin is disposed to
receive liquid to be sampled, and
said chamber is sealed against leakage of liquid from
the chamber when said sampling device occupies said normal
sampling position.
38. A liquid sampling device comprising:
an outer casing having a normally lower closed end and
a normally upper open end, an outwardly directed annular
flange about said open end, and an upstanding annular wall
about the outer perimeter of said flange,



-54-



a liquid sampler including a lower receptacle having
a normally lower closed end and a normally upper open end,
a cover extending across and beyond the open end of said
receptacle to form an outwardly directed annular flange
about the open end of the receptacle, and means joining
said receptacle and cover, and wherein
said liquid sampler is removably positioned within
said casing with said sampler flange seating on said casing
flange, and
said sampling device includes an upwardly open basin
above said liquid sampler, and a passage having an upper
inlet opening to said basin and a lower end opening to the
interior of said receptacle.
39. A liquid sampling device according to claim 38
including at least one of the following first and second
valve means:
(a) first valve means for closing said passage except
when said inlet passage inlet is covered with liquid, (b)
second valve means for closing said passage when said
collection chamber contains a predetermined volume of
liquid.
40. A liquid sampling device comprising:
a receptacle having normally upper and lower ends and
a sample collection chamber between said ends,
a normally upwardly opening basin above said chamber
having a normally lower floor and a normally upper rim and



-55-




communicating with said collection chamber through a
passage having a normally upper inlet opening to said basin
below said basin rim and a normally lower end opening to
said chamber, and
at least the first valve means of the following first
and second valve means for controlling flow through said
passage; (a) first valve means including a first perforate
cage within said basin, a first float valve member within
said cage, and a first valve seat about said inlet
engageably by said float valve member for closing said
passage except when said inlet is covered with liquid, (b)
second valve means including a second perforate cage within
said chamber, a second float valve member within said
second cage, and a second valve seat about said lower
passage end engagable by said second float valve member for
closing said passage when said collection chamber contains
a predetermined volume of liquid.
41. A storm water sampler comprising:
a receptacle including a normally lower storm water
sample collection chamber, means for removing a collected
storm water sample from said chamber, a normally upper and
upwardly opening storm water receiving basin including a
floor and a side wall rising above said floor having an
upper rim, and a riser extending upwardly from said floor
and containing a passage having a lower end opening to said
sample collection chamber and an upper end opening to said
basin at a level between said basin floor and said basin



-56-




rim, and wherein
said sampler is adapted to be placed in an anticipated
flow path of storm water discharge from a property in such
a way that storm water flows into and overflows said basin
and enters said sample collection chamber through said
passage to provide a storm water sample in said chamber,
whereby a storm water sample from the first storm event of
a storm season may be collected by placing the sampler in
position prior to the first storm event.
42. A storm water sampler according to claim 41,
including:
valve means in said passage for permitting storm water
inflow through said passage into said chamber and blocking
water outflow through said passage from said chamber.
43. A storm water sampler according to claim 41,
including:
valve means in said passage for permitting storm water
inflow through said passage into said chamber and blocking
outflow of volatiles from said chamber through said
passage.
44. A storm water sampler according to claim 41,
including:
valve means in said passage for permitting storm water
inflow through said passage into said chamber and blocking
water outflow through said passage from said chamber, and



-57-




valve means in said passage for permitting storm water
inflow through said passage into said chamber and blocking
outflow of volatiles from said chamber through said
passage.
45. A storm water sampler according to claim 41,
including:
valve means including a float ball in said passage for
permitting storm water inflow through said passage into
said chamber and blocking water outflow through said
passage from said chamber, and
valve means including a float ball in said passage for
permitting storm water inflow through said passage into
said chamber and blocking outflow of volatiles from said
chamber through said passage.
46. A storm water sampler comprising:
a receptacle including (a) a generally cup-shaped body
having a normally lower end closed by a lower end wall, an
opposite normally upper open end, and a rim
circumferentially surrounding said open end, (b) a
partition wall having a central opening and extending
across the interior of said body between its ends and
forming with said body a normally lower storm water sample
collection chamber between said partition wall and said
lower end wall and a normally upper storm water receiving
basin having an open upper end circumferentially surrounded
by said rim and a floor formed by said partition wall, (c)



-58-




means for draining a collected storm water sample from said
collection chamber, (d) a stormwater inlet fitting
removably positioned within said partition wall opening and
sealed to said partition wall about said partition wall
opening and including an upstanding riser containing a
passage having an upper end opening to said basin between
said partition wall and said body rim and a lower end
opening to said sample collection chamber, and (e) means
releasably securing said fitting to said partition wall in
fluid sealing relation to said partition wall about said
partition wall opening, and wherein
said sampler is adapted to be placed in an anticipated
flow path of storm water discharge from a property in such
a way that storm water flows into and overflows said basin
and enters said sample collection chamber through said
passage to provide a storm water sample in said chamber,
whereby a storm water sample from the first storm event of
a storm season may be collected by placing the sampler in
position prior to the first storm event.
47. A storm water sampler according to claim 46, wherein:
said fitting comprises valve means including a ball
valve cage at the lower end of said riser into which the
lower end of said passage opens and through which storm
water flows from said passage into said collection chamber,
a valve seat about said passage, and a buoyant valve ball
within said cage which is separable from said valve seat to
permit storm water inflow through said passage into said



-59-




chamber and engageable with said valve seat to block water
outflow through said passage from said chamber.
48. A storm water sampler according to claim 46, wherein:
said fitting includes valve means including a ball
valve cage at the upper end of said riser, a valve seat
about the upper end of said passage, and a valve ball
within said cage which is separable from said valve seat to
permit storm water inflow through said passage into said
chamber and engageable with said valve seat to block
outflow of volatiles from said chamber through said
passage.
49. A storm water sampler according to claim 46, wherein:
said fitting includes (a) first valve means including
a ball valve cage at the lower end of said riser into which
the lower end of said passage opens and through which storm
water flows from said passage into said collection chamber,
a valve seat about said passage, and a buoyant valve ball
within said cage which is separable from said valve seat to
permit storm water inflow through said passage into said
chamber and engageable with said valve seat to block water
outflow through said passage from said chamber, and (b)
second valve means including a second ball valve cage at
the upper end of said riser, a second valve seat about the
upper end of said passage, and a valve ball within said
second cage which is separable from said second valve seat
to permit storm water inflow through said passage into said



-60-




chamber and engageable with said second valve seat to block
outflow of volatiles from said chamber through said
passage.
50. A storm water sampler according to claim 46, wherein:
said means securing said fitting to said partition
wall comprises a shaft extending downwardly from said
fitting through said bottom wall, and a nut threaded on
said shaft.
51. A storm water sampler according to claim 49, wherein:
said means securing said fitting to said partition
wall comprises a shaft extending downwardly from said
fitting through said bottom wall, and a nut threaded on
said shaft.



-61-

Description

CA 02125262 2000-09-19
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to the art of
S sampling a liquid for the purpose of analyzing the liquid
to determine its composition. The invention relates more
particularly to novel liquid sampling methods and devices
for this purpose.
PRIOR ART
It will become readily evident as the description
proceeds that the liquid sampling methods and devices of
this invention may be utilized for a variety of liquid
sampling purposes and to sample a variety of liquids in a
variety of sampling environments. One sampling
application of the invention which is of particular
importance at the present time involves sampling storm
water runoff from industrial property to determine the
presence of toxics and other contaminants, if any, in the
runoff. Another useful application involves sampling
liquid leakage from industrial liquid processing equipment
to aid in locating the leak(s). The invention will be
described in the context of these particular applications.
Other possible uses of the invention
-1-



212262
will be ment~aned and ~.nvc~lve $amPling liguiQ ~n ~ stoxm
drain system or other liquid conductor, sampling liquid
dic:harge from a sewage treatment plant or an industria l
process or the like, and sampling liquid in a body of liquid.
~l~t~e invention may be utilized to sample liquids from any type
~t fluid conductor including surfaces, open channels, or
closed pipes or ducts, and liquids which are either
homogenous liquids, mixtures of miscible liquid components,
or mixtures of immiscible liquid components.
The water flowing through public storm drain systems
often containstoxic and other contaminants which end up
polluting large public water bodies, such as the San Diego,
Santa Monica, and San Franscisco Bays in California. Much of
i
this contamination is due to deliberate and illegal dumping
of industrial waste products into the storm drain systems in
r.
order to avoid the problems and cost associated with legal
disposition of such waste procucts. The liquid sampling
methods and devices of this invention may be utilized to
i
i, sample the water flowing through these storm drain systems
for the purpose of determining the presence and source of
such contaminants.
Another extensive source of contamination of the water
in storm drain systems is storm water runoff from industrial
property and the like. Thus, the ground and other exterior
surfaces of such property are often covered by or contain a
relatively high concentration of various industrial
substances due to spillage of the substances onto the
surfaces and the ground, leakage of the substances into the
_2_




2125262
soil from pipes or storage containers, and hosing of the
substances from interior floor areas onto exterior surface
areas and the ground. During a rainstorm, these substances
are entrained in the storm water runoff from the property and
are carried with the storm water runoff into the public storm
drain system.
In an effort to reduce such storm water runoff
pollution, the state of California recently passed
legislation establishing a program entitled the Industrial
Storm Water Permitting Program. This program requires
industrial property owners to obtain a permit, referred to as
a General Industrial Storm Water Permit, for storm water
runoff or discharge from their properties into the public
storm drain system. The permits are issued through the State
Water Resources Control Board.
Obtaining such a permit involves the payment of an
annual fee and the performance by each applicant, referred to
as a discharger, of certain obligations.- These obligations
include the following: (a) preparation of a site map of the
property in question, starting with the roof each building on
the property, showing the flow path of storm water runoff
from the roof to the ground, then across the ground into the
drain system on the property, and then from the property
drain system into the public storm drain system; (b) visual
observation of storm water discharge from the propery during
both the wet season (Octaber through April) and the dry
season (May through September); (c) submission of an estimate
or calculation of the storm water discharge volume during two
-3-




212262
si.~n~giean~ s~~~~ svun~s ~n ~hu wu~ suss~n~ (d1 submissien;
m~, approval, of a proposed storm water sampling program; (e)
execution of the approved storm water sampling program in
compliance with the state regulations to obtain certain storm
water samples; and (f) submission of the storm water samples
for analysis.
Requirement (e) above of the Industrial Storm Water
Permitting Program dictates that storm water samples be
obtained during two separate storm events of the wet season
and that one of these events be the first storm event of the
wet season which produces significant storm water runoff
preceded by at least 72 hours of dry weather. The storm water
samples collected during each storm event must include a
"grab sample" and a "composite". A grab sample is a storm
water sample taken during the first thirty minutes of the
discharge (or within the first hour of the discharge with
explanation). A composite sample may be a sample taken with a
continuous sampler or the combination of at least three grab
samples taken during each hour of discharge with the
successive, grab samples being separated by a minimum period
of at least 15 minutes. A composite sample shall be either
flow-weighted (i.e. consist of a mixture of aliquots
collected at constant time intervals, where the volume of
each aliguot is proportional to the flow rate of the
discharge) or time-weighted (i.e. consist of a mixture of
egual volume aliquots collected at constant time intervals).
Grab samples are used for determining certain specific
contamination levels. Composite samples are used to obtain an
estimate of average runoff water guality.
-4-




2125262
From the above discussion, it is evident that storm
water sampling in compliance with the above-stated
requirements of the Industrial Storm Water Permitting Program
presents two basic problems. These problems are (a) having a
storm water sampler in proper sampling readiness and position
at the start of the first significant storm event of a wet
season to collect a sample of the storm water runoff during
the first 30 minutes of the discharge which will qualify as a
valid "grab sample", and (b) having a storm water sampler in
Proper sampling readiness and position at the start of the
first storm event of a wet season to collect a sample or
samples of the storm water discharge during the first 3 hours
of the discharge which will qualify as a valid "composite
sample".
One way in which such valid grab and composite samples
may be assured, of course, is to have persons standing by 24
hours a day during each and every day preceding the wet
season in constant readiness to place storm water samplers in
proper sampling positions immediately upon the start of each
storm event to be monitored.
Obviously, this is an impractical solution to the storm
water sampling problem. Moreover, there are numerous other
situations in which liquid sampling is desirable or
essential and which involve essentially the same or other
similar sampling problems and requirements as storm water
runoff sampling. Accordingly, there is a definite need for
liquid sampling methods and devices for these and other
_5_




2125262
l~~u~d sam~li~~ ~ur~~s~s.
SUMHARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention provides novel liquid sampling methods
aa~d devices which satisfy the requirements of the Industrial
Storm Water Permitting Program and yield storm water grab
samples and time composite samples that comply with such
requirements. Accordingly, the sampling methods arid devices
are ideally adapted for storm water sampling. In this regard,
for example, the sampling devices may be placed in sampling
Position well before the onset of the wet season where they
remain in total readiness, without human attention, to
collect a storm water grab sample and/or a storm water time
composite sample within the prescribed times during the first
storm event of the wet season or during a later storm event
to be monitored.
While ideally adapted for storm water sampling, the
liquid sampling methods and devices of the invention are
uniquely capable of many other diverse liquid sampling uses,
some of which will be discussed or mentioned later. According
to its broader aspects, therefore, the invention provides
liquid sampling methods and devices for collecting samples of
any liquid for any purpose. The liquid sampled may be a
homogeneous liquid, a mixture of immiscible liquid, or a
mixture of miscible liquids.
?5 Simply stated, a liquid sampling device according to
-6-




2125262
the invention, referred to in places simply ae a liquid
sampler, comprises a receptacle having a normally lower
sample collection chamber, normally upper inlet means having
an inlet passage through which liquid to be sampled can enter
the chamber, and a drain valve through which a collected
sample can be drained from the chamber. In use, the sampler
is placed in a sampling position wherein the inlet passage is
disposed to receive the liquid to be sampled.
The described sampling.devices of the invention are
intended for storm water sampling, leak sampling, and other
similar sampling.uses and have an upper catch basin into
which the inlet passage opens. For storm water sampling, the
sampler is placed in sampling position within a sump or the
like located in the anticipated flow path of storm water
runoff from the property to be monitored. At least some of
the storm water flowing into the sump enters the sampler
basin and then flows from the basin through the sampler inlet
passage into the sampler collection chamber. For leakage
sampling, the sampler is similarly placed in sampling
Position in a sump in the floor along which the leakage
liquid flows. In other liquid sampling applications, a
sampling device, according to the invention may be positioned
to sample liquid effluent from or flow through a pipe,
channel., or other fluid conductor or immersed in a body of
the liquid to be sampled. After the desired sample has been
collected, the sampler~is removed to a laboratory where the
collected sample is drained from the sampler and analyzed.
According to one important feature of the invention,



2~~~262
~h~ lnl~t maans ~~ ~ha aampllng dev~~~ ~nclud~~ inl8t valve
means for opening and closing the inlet passage to the
collection chamber. This inlet valve means has a standby mode
in which the valve means close the inlet passage against
entry of foreign matter into the collection chamber, a
sampling mode in which the inlet valve means open the inlet
passage for entry of the liquid being sampled into the
collection chamber, and a sample containment mode in which
the inlet valve means close the inlet passage against liquid
entry into and escape of liquid and vapor from the collection
chamber. The inlet valve means assumes its standby mode in
the absence of liquid covering the upper inlet end of the
inlet passage. The inlet valve means assumes its sampling
mode when the inlet end of the inlet passage is covered with
liquid and the collection chamber contains less than a
predetermined volume of liquid, that is when the liquid level
in the collection chamber is below a predetermined level. The
inlet valve means assumes its sample containment mode when
the collection chamber contains at least the predetermined
volume of .liquid, that is when the liquid level in the
collection chamber at least equals the predetermined level.
In the described embodiments of the invention, the
inlet valve means comprise an upper float valve engagable
with an upper valve seat about the upper end of the inlet
passage and a lower float valve engagable with a valve seat
about the lower end of the inlet passage. The upper float
valve is movable between a lower closed position wherein the
upper valve engages the upper valve seat to close the upper
end of the inlet passage and an upper open position wherein
the upper float valve is spaced upwardly from the upper valve
_g_




212~2~2
seal ~o open the upper: end o~ the i~le~ pa~~age. The rawer
ftuat valve is movable between an upper closed position
wherein the lower valve engages the lower valve seat to close
the lower end of the inlet passage, and a lower open position
wherein the lower float valve is spaced downwardly from the
lower valve seat to close the lower end of the inlet passage.
When the sampling device occupies its normal upright
position with the upper catch basin and lower collection
chamber empty, the lower float valve remains in its lower
open position and thereby opens the lower end of the inlet
passage. The upper float valve, on the other hand, remains in
its lower closed position and seals the upper end of the
inlet passage against entrance of foreign matter into the
collection chamber during storage and handling of the device
and prior to the basin receiving liquid to be sampled after
placement of the device in sampling position.
When the liquid level in the basin rises to the height
of the upper end of the inlet passage, the liquid lifts the
upper float valve off its valve seat and enters the
collection chamber through the inlet passage. If liquid
inflow into the basin continues, the collection chamber will
eventually fill with the liquid to a level sufficient to
elevate the lower float valve to its closed position and
thereby seal the lower end of the inlet passage even though
the upper float valve remains open. This closure of the lower
float valve occurs in response to accumulation of a liquid
sample of predetermined volume in the collection chamber, and
prevents subsequent dilution of the collected sample by
-9_




~~2~~~2
~~ntinue~ liquid flow into ~h~ eampl~r basin or by d~lihara~~
action of a person seeking to falsify the sample. Closure of
the lower valve also prevents escape of liquid vapor from the
collection chamber.
The disclosed liquid sampling devices of the invention
have provision for flushing and cleaning the collection
chamber after each use to avoid contamination of later
collected liquid samples by residue from earlier collected
samples. In one disclosed embodiment, the inlet means is
positioned within an opening in an upper end wall of the
collection chamber aid is removable to provide cleaning
access to the chamber through this opening. In another
disclosed embodiment, the upper end wall of the collection
chamber is a cover which mounts the inlet means and is
removable to provide a large opening through which the
chamber may be flushed and cleaned with ease.
according to a preferred feature of the invention,
pertain disclosed embodiments of the invention are provided
with means far adjusting the maximum inflow rate of the
liquid being sampled into the collection chamber and thereby
adjust the maximum sampling duration of the of the sampling
device. In these embodiments, the adjustment means is a limit
stop for the upper float valve which is adjustable to vary
the maximum opening separation of the upper valve from its
valve seat.
One disclosed embodiment of the invention has an inlet
~10_




2125262
riser through which liquid enters the collection chamber. and
which rises above the floor of the sampler basin. This riser
delays entry of liquid into the collection chamber until the
liquid level in the basin rises to the level of the upper end
S of the riser and is useful for storm water sampling
applications. Another disclosed embodiment is time composite
sampling device, that is a sampling device for collecting
separate consecutive samples of a liquid over a period of
time. This sampling device comprises a plurality of separate
sample collection chambers and an inlet means for each
chamber. These separate inlet means are arranged so that the
liquid being sampled fills one collection chamber first, then
the next collection chamber, and so on in such a way that the
chambers are filled successively at spaced intervals. The
1S preferred composite sampling device of the invention
comprises at least two separate collection chambers having
inlet risers of different height above the floors of their
catch basin(s).
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a liquid sampling
device according to this invention located in sampling
position;
Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view, partly in
section, of the sampling device in figure 1;
2S Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical partial sectional view
of the storm water sampler of figure 2, illustrating ball valves
for sealing the sampler collection chamber against dilution of
the collected storm water sample, against entry of foreign
objects during periods of non-use and against escape of volatile
;,0 elements in the sample; and
-11-

CA 02125262 2000-03-29
Figure 4 is a cross-section through a modified liquid
sampling device according to the invention for collecting a
time composite liquid samples;
Figure 5 is a longitudinal section through a further
modified liquid sampling device according to the invention;
Figure 6 is an enlargement of the area encircled by the
arrow 6-6 in figure 5;
Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view of the
sampling device in figure 5;
Figure 8 is a view looking in the direction of the
arrows on the line 8-8 in figure 5;
Figures 9 and 10 illustrate two alternative sump
arrangements for locating the sampling device of figures 5-8
in sampling position;
Figure 11 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the liquid
sampling device of figure 5;
Figure 12 is a further enlarged axial section through a
collection chamber drain valve shown in figure 11;
Figure 13 is a longitudinal section through a modified
drain valve; and
Figure 14 is a section taken on line 14-14 in figure
13.
-12-



~1252fi~
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERREp EMBODIMENTS
Turning now to these drawings and first to figures 1-3,
there is illustrated a liquid sampling device 10 located in
sampling position in the path of a moving liquid S. As
mentioned earlier and will be explained in more detail later,
a sampling device according to the invention may be utilized
to sample a great variety of liquids, including homogeneous
liquids and liquid mixtures composed of either miscible or
immiscible liquid components, in a variety of sampling .
environments and for a variety of purposes. Also, the
sampling device may be disposed in sampling relation to the
sampled liquid in various ways including placement of the
device in the path of a moving liquid, as in figures 1-3, and
submersion of the device in a body of liquid.
, A particularly useful and important application of the
sampling device involves sampling storm water runoff from an
industrial property in accordance with the Storm Water
Permitting Program referred to earlier. For convenience, the
illustrated sampling device 10 is described primarily in the
context of this particular use in which the sampled liquid is
the storm water runoff.
-13-



2~~~262
The illustrated storm water sampler 10 is placed in
sampling position within a concrete sump 12 located in the
path P of the storm water runoff from the industrial property
to be monitored. The sump has an open top covered by a
removable grate 14. The sump is located in the storm water
flow path P with the grate 14 substantially flush with the
surrounding surface along which the storm water flow occ-urs.
A subterranean drain line 16 leads from the bottom of the
sump.
The storm water sampler 10 comprises a receptacle 18
_:-
r' having a normally lower sample collection chamber 20 and
normally upper inlet means 22. This inlet means includes an
inlet passage 24 through which storm water can enter the
collection chamber. The sampler is positioned in the sump 12
in such a way that sampler inlet means 22 receives storm
'?.
water entbring the sump through the grate 14. At least some
of the storm water flows through the inlet passage 24 into
the collection chamber 20 until the chamber is filled to a
predetermined level, which is the level of figure 3. The
F' 20 contents of the chamber then constitutes a storm water sample
which can be drained from the chamber through a drain valve
26 at the bottom of the collection chamber and analyzed to
determine the presence of contaminants, if any, in the sample
picked up by the storm water as it flowed across the
industrial property in question.
In order to assure an accurate storm water sample which
complies fully with the Storm Water. Permitting Program, it is
neccessary to prevent dilution and contamination of a
-14-


.. CA 02125262 2000-03-29
collected storm water sample by entry of foreign matter
into the collection chamber prior to actual storm water
sampling during a storm event, by continued storm water
flow over the sampling device following collection of a
complete storm water sample, and by deliberate action of a
person seeking to alter the collected sample. To prevent
such dilution and contamination, the sampler inlet means 22
includes inlet valve means 26, 28 which close the inlet
passage 24 except when both of the following conditions
exist: (a) the upper inlet end of the inlet passage is
covered by the liquid to be sampled, and (b) the collection
chamber 20 contains less than a predetermined volume of the
liquid. This predetermined volume of liquid constitutes a
complete storm water sample and occurs when the collection
chamber contains storm water to a predetermined level (the
level of figure 3). The valve means 26, 28 also block
escape from the collection chamber of the collected sample
liquid and volatile elements present in, that is vapor
from, the collected sample. The terms "upper end" and
"lower end" as applied herein to the collection chamber are
used in a broad sense to mean the top and bottom of the
chamber in its normal sampling position regardless of the
physical shape of the chamber.
Referring now in more detail to figures 1-3, the
sampler receptacle 18 comprises a generally cup-shaped body
having a cylindrical side wall 32, a bottom wall 34, and
an outwardly directed flange or rim 36 about the open,
-1 S-


CA 02125262 2000-03-29
normally upper end of the body. Extending across the
interior of the body 30 between its bottom wall 34 and rim
36 is an annular partition wall 38 which is welded or
otherwise permanently secured and sealed to the side wall
S 32. The space between this partition wall and the bottom
wall 34 forms the storm water sample collection chamber 20.
15
25
-15a-



2~252s~
The partition wall 38 and the upper end portion of the
side wall 32 which extends above the partition wall form a
normally upper and upwardly opening storm water catch basin
40 at the upper end of the receptacle 18. The partition wall
forms the floor of this basin. The portion of the side wall
32 above this floor forms the side wall of the basin which
terminates at its upper end in the rim 36. At the center of
the partition wall or basin floor 38 is a circular opening 42
circumferentially surrounded by an upstanding flange 44.
Positioned over the upper edge of this flange 44 is resilient
seal ring 45 having a coaxial circular slot in its lower edge
receiving the flange.
Inlet means 22 comprises an inlet fitting 46 removably
and coaxially positioned within the basin floor opening 42.
This inlet fitting includes, between its ends, an annular
plate 48 whose outer edge portion is turned downwardly to
' form a depending cylindrical flange 50 about the plate. The
inner diameter of this flange is sized to fit closely but
removably over the seal ring 45. The inner edge portion of
i
the plate 48 is turned upwardly to form an upstanding
cylindrical flange 51 about the central opening in the plate.
Rigidly joined to and extending coaxially upwardly from the
flange 51 is a tubular inlet riser 52 which projects a
distance upwardly above the basin floor 38.
A strainer 53 of inverted r_up shape is positioned over
the riser 52. The open bottom of this strainer fits over and
is secured to the depending flange 50 on the fitting plate
48. Rigidly joined to and coaxially depending from the
_.ir_




~1252~2
underside of the plate is a lower cup-shaped valve cage 54
having ports 56 in its side wall. Fixed to the inside of the
strainer 53 over and coaxial with the inlet riser 52 is an
upper valve cage 57 of inverted cup shape.
135 The inlet fitting 46 is removably positioned on the
I
partition wall or basin floor 38 with the fitting plate 48
above and seating downwardly against the seal ring 45 and
,,,r
with the plate flange 50 circumferentially surrounding the
,,H
seal ring. The lower fitting valve cage 54 depends coaxially
through the basin floor opening 42 into the collection
chamber 20. The inlet fitting is releasably secured in
position by connecting means 61 including a shaft 62. Shaft
r;
62 extends upwardly and coaxially through the bottom wall 34
of the collection chamber 20 and is threaded at its upper end
a
in a nut 64 rigidly joined to the bottom wall of the lower
valve cage 54. Threaded on the lower end of the shaft. below
the bottom wall 34 of the collection chamber 20, are a seal
ring 66 and a wing-nut-like grip 68. The shaft is fixed
against rotation relative to either the nut 64 or the grip
68. whereby the grip is rotatable to firmly clamp the inlet
fitting plate 38 against the seal ring 45 and thereby secure
and seal the fitting to the catch basin floor 38 about the
floor opening 42.
The inlet passage 24 extends longitudinally through and
opens through the upper end of the inlet riser 52. The upper
end of the riser is located at a level between the upper rim
36 and floor 38 of the basin 40. The lower end of the inlet
passage 24 opens to the collection chamber 20 through the
-17-




X125262
valve lower cage 54 and its side wall ports 56.
The lower inlet valve means 26 of the storm water
sampler comprise a buoyant ball forming a float valve 70
within the lower valve cage 54. This float valve is engagable
with a downwardly facing annular valve seat 72 about the
lower end of the inlet passage 24. The upper inlet valve
means 28 comprises a buoyant valve ball forming a float valve
within the upper valve cage 57. This upper float valve is
engagable with an upwardly facing annular valve seat 78 about
the upper end of the inlet riser 52.
I The storm water sampling device 10 is used in this
i
fashion. Prior to the first storm event of the wet season,
the sampler is hung in storm water sampling position within
the sump 12 located in an anticipated storm water runoff flow
path from the industrial property to be monitored, as shown
in figure 1. Prior to the first storm event, the upper float
valve 74 will engage its seat 78 to close the inlet passage
24 against entry of dirt, rocks and other foreign matter into
the collection chamber 20.
During the first storm event, storm water runoff from
the property flows into the sump Z2 and enters sampler catch
basin 40. When the water level in the basin reaches the upper
end of the inlet riser 52, the water raises the upper float
valve 74 from its valve seat 78 to an open position within
the upper valve cage 76. Storm water then flows from the
basin, through the inlet passage 24 into the sampler
-18-




~~.2~2s2
collection chamber 20. This chamber may have a vplume on the
order of one gallon. Assuming sufficient rainfall, the
collection chamber will eventually fill sufficiently to
provide a "grab sample" of the first storm water runoff from
the property. As the chamber fills, the lower float valve 70
is raised from its solid line open position of figure 3 to
its broken line closed position of engagement with its valve
seat 72 to close the inlet passage 24. This closure of the
lower float valve occurs when the water in the collection
chamber 20 reaches a predetermined level (the level shown in
figure 3) at which the chamber contains a storm water sample
of predetermined volume. Closure of the lower float valve
prevents dilution and contamination of the collected sample
by continuing storm water flow over the sampler or by
deliberate action of a person seeking to alter the sample.
Closure of the lower float valve also prevents escape of
storm water and vapor from the collection chamber. The inlet
riser 52 delays flow of storm water from the basin into the
collection chamber and acts as a dam which prevents passage
of sand, dirt, silt or the like into the collection chamber.
When the storm ends or the sampling device is removed
from the sump 12, the upper valve ball 74 will reengage its
valve seat 78 to seal the upper end of the inlet passage 24
against entry of foreign matter. The sampling device is
carried to a laboratory by its illustrated handle, where the
collected sample is drained from the collection chamber 20
through the lower drain valve 26 for analysis. The inlet
fitting 46 is then removed from the receptacle 18 to permit
thorough flushing and cleaning of the fitting and the
collection chamber through the basin floor opening 42 to
_19_




212262
avoid contamination of later collected samples.
From the above description, it is evident that the
inlet valve means 26, 28 have, in effect, a standby mode in
which the upper float valve 74 is closed and the lower float
valve 70 is open, a sampling mode in which bath float valves
are open, and a sample containment mode in which the lower
float valve or both float valves is/are closed. The valve
means assume the standby mode during storage of the sampling
device and when the sampling device is in sampling position
awaiting the liquid to be sampled. The valve means assume the
sampling mode when the upper inlet end of inlet passage is
covered with liquid and the collection chamber contains less
than the predetermined volume of liquid neccessary to
constitute a complete liquid sample. The valve means assume
the sample containment mode when the collection chamber
contains a complete liquid sample and the upper float valve
is either open or closed.
Figure 4 illustrates a modified storm water sampling
device 100 according to the invention for collecting, at
spaced intervals, three separate storm water samples which,
together, constitue a time composite storm water sample. This
composite sampling device comprises, in effect, three
separate storm water sampler s 102a, 102b, 102c, each
essentially identical, except for dimensions, to the storm
water sampler of figures 1-3. Accordingly, it is unnc~:c«ssa~y
to describe each individual composite sampler in elaborate
detail. Suffice it to say that the three samplers 102a, 102b,
102c differ from one another and from the sampler in figures
-20-



2~2~262
1-3 only in the depth of their upper storm water receiving
basins 104 and the height of their inlet risers 106. Thus,
the basin depths and riser heights of the three samplers
increase progressively. The dimensions and volumes of the
sampler collection chambers 108 are equal to one another and
to that of figures 1-3. The individual composite samplers are
otherwise identical to that of figures 1-3.
In use, the storm water time composite sampling device
of figure 4, is placed in sampling position within an
anticipated storm water runoff flow path from an industrial
property to be monitored in the same way as described in
connection with figures 1-3 so that the storm water enters
the upper storm water catch basins 104 of the device. Because
of the different basin depths and riser heights of the
sampling device, a first storm water sample will be collected
in the collection chamber 108 of the sampler 102a with the
shallowest basis and lowest riser height. After a period of
time determined by the differing basin depths and riser
heights, a second storm water sample will be collected in the
collection chamber 108 of sampler 102b. After another period
of time, a third storm water sample will be collected in the
collection chamber of sampler 102c. By properly sizing the
individual samplers 102a, 102b, 102c, the time composite
sampling device of figure 4 may be designed to collect three
equal storm water samples at three spared intervals during a
storm event.
A$ mentioned earlier, storm water sampling is but one
of the many possible uses to the liquid sampling device of
~21-


21~~26~
the invention. Another possible use involves sampling of
liquid leaking from industrial equipment to aid in locating
the source of the leak(s). In this regard, assume that figure
1 illustrates the floor of a large industrial facility, such
as a brewery, having liquid handling equipment at many
locations about the facility and that the liquid S on the
floor is from a leak or leaks in this equipment which cannot
be located by direct inspection. Assume further that the
processes performed in the equipment are such that the
composition of the leakage liquid will be determined, at
least to some extent, by the location of the leaks) in the
equipment. Accordingly, analysis of the leakage liquid will
aid in locating the source of the leak(s).
The liquid sampling device of this invention may be
used to collect samples of the leakage liquid for analysis
and thereby aid in locating the leaks. In figure 1, for
example, the liquid sampling device 10 of the invention may
be placed in sampling position within a sump 12 in the floor
of the facility to sample leakage liquid S flowing along the
floor. Sampling operation of sampling device in this
application, of course, is exactly the same as described
earlier in connection with storm water sampling. Other uses
of the sampling device are also possible. In some cases, a
liquid sample might be collected by submerging the sampling
device in a body of the liquid. In other cases, the sampling
device might be located to sample liquid flowing through a
pipe or other fluid conductor or to sample liquid effluent
from such a liquid conductor.
-22-



212262
Referring now to figures 5-7, the illustrated liquid
sampling device 200 comprises an outer casing 202 having an
open upper end, and a liquid sampler 204 proper positioned in
casing 202 and reirovable from the casing through its upper end. The
casing 202 has a cylindrical side wall 206, a bottom wall
208, and an annular shoulder 210 extending circumferentially
about the upper end of the side wall and terminating along
its radially outer edge in an upstanding cylindrical wall
portion 212. The upper edge of this wall portion turns
outwardly to form a lip or rim 214.
The liquid sampler 204 is very similar in construction
and operation to the sampler of figures 1-3. The sampler 204
includes a generally cup-shaped cylindrical receptacle 216
having an open upper end, a cylindrical side wall 218, and a
bottom wall 220. The upper end portion of the side wall 218
turns outwardly to form an annular flange 222 and an upwardly
opening annular seat for an O-ring seal 224 circumferentially
surrounding the open upper end of the receptacle. Coaxially
disposed below the bottom wall 220 of the receptacle 216 is a
base 226 of inverted cup-shape for supporting the sampler 204
when it is removed from the casing 202. The base has a top
wall 227 seating against and rigidly joined to the bottom
wall 220 of the sampler receptacle 216, a sidewall opening
228 whose purpose will be explained presently, and a lower
flange 230.
The sampler 204 is sited in diameter and length to fit
closely but removably within the casing 202 with the sampler
~ flange 222 seating on the casing shoulder 210 to vertically
-23-




2~2~262
support the sampler in t:h~ casing. Tn this supported poetion,
the bottom flange 228 of the sampler base 226 is spaced from
the bottom wall 208 of the casing, as shown in figure 5. When
the sampler is removed from the casing, the base is used to
support the sampler in an upright position on a supporting
surface.
The open upper end of the sampler receptacle 216 is
closed by a removable partition wall or cover 232 having a
shallow cup-shaped body 233. The cover has an annular bottom
wall 234 and a cylindrical side wall 236 projecting upwardly
from the edge of the bottom wall. About the upper end of the
cover side wall 236 is an outwardly directed annular flange
238. The cover 232 is removably positioned in the upper end
of the receptacle 216 with the cover body 233 fitting closely
but removably within the upper end of the receptacle and with
the cover flange 238 resting on the upper receptacle flange
222 to vertically support the cover in the receptacle. The
O-ring 224 provides a liquid seal between the cover and the
upper end of the receptacle.
The interior space of the receptacle 216 between the
cover 232 and the bottom wall 220 of the receptacle forms a
liquid collection chamber 240. The cover and the upper side
wall portion 212 of the receptacle form an upwardly opening
liquid catch basin 242 above the collection chamber. The
cover forms the floor of this basin. The upper receptacle
side wall portion 212 forms the side wall of the basin which
terminates at Sts upper end in the rim 214. The center of the
cover wall 234 has a shallow coaxial circular recess 243
-24-



~1~5262
containing a relatively large coaxial circular opening 244
circumferentially surrounded by a depending flange 246.
Positioned on the rover 232 within the cover recess 243
and opening 244 are liquid inlet means 248 similar to the
inlet means of the liquid sampling device in figures 1-3. As
shown best in figure 6, the inlet means 248 comprises an
inlet fitting 250 including an upper float valve cage 252, a
lower float valve cage 254, and a strainer 256 about the
upper valve cage. The upper valve cage 252 includes a tube
258 having a multiplicity of flow openings in its wall and
closed at its lower end by an integral coaxial circular wall
or plate 260. fihis plate projects radially beyond the tube to
form a coaxial circular flange about the lower end of the
tube. Extending through the plate 260 coaxial with the tube
258 is an inlet passage 262 surrounded by a depending short
cylindrical sleeve 264 depending from the plate. The lower
end of this sleeve flares outwardly to form a downwardly
facing lower valve seat 266 about the lower end of the
passage 262. About the upper end of the passage 262 is an
upwardly facing upper valve seat 268.
The lower valve cage 254 camprises a sleeve 270 having
a multiplicity of flow openings in its wall and an annular.
flange 272 about its upper open end. Fixed within the lower
end of the sleeve 270 is an internally threaded nut 274. The
upper flange 272 of the lower cage 254 seats against and is
rigidly joined to the underside of the upper cage plate 260
with the two cage sleeves 258, 270 coaxially aligned.
-25-




?~.~~2s2
The strainer 256 of the inlet fitting 250 has an
inverted cup shape. The lower edge of the strainer is rigidly
joined to the outer edge of the upper valve cage plate 260,
as by crimping the strainer edge over the plate edge, as
shown. Fixed in the upper end of the strainer is a disc 276
which fits within the upper end of the upper cage sleeve 258.
Freely movable within the upper and lower valve cages
252, 254 are ball float valves 278, 280, respectively, which
form, with the upper and lower valve seats 268, 266, upper
and lower inlet valve means 282, 284. The upper float valve
2?8 is movable downwardly to its closed position of figures 5
and 6 against the upper valve seat 268 to close the inlet
passage 262. The upper float valve is movable upwardly away
from the upper valve seat to an open position against an
adjustable limit stop 286 to open the inlet passage. The
limit stop 286 is threaded in the strainer disc 276 for
adjustment toward and away from the upper valve seat 268 to
adjust the maximum open flow area of the upper valve means
282. The lower float valve 280 is movable downwardly to its
open position of figures 5 and 6 away from the lower valve
seat 266 to open the inlet passage 262,and upwardly to its
closed position against the lower valve seat to close the
inlet passage.
The sampler receptacle 216, cover 232, and inlet means
248 are releasably joined in assembled relation by connecting
means 288. As best shown in figure 11, this connecting means
comprises a rod 290 threaded at its upper end in the nut 274
-26-



212262
of the lower valve cage 254. The lower end of the rod 290 is
enlarged and defines a threaded axial socket for
connection to a drain valve 292 located within the sampler
base 226. Drain valve 292 has an L-shaped body 294, one arm
of which (the vertical arm in figure 12) is threadedly joined
to a threaded stem 296. This stem extends axially upward
through the bottom wall 220 of the receptacle 216 and the top
wall 227 of the base 226 and is threaded in the lower end of
the connecting rod 290. About the base of the stem 296 is a
, shoulder supporting a seal ring 298 engaging the upper base
wall 227.
The drain valve 292 is rotatable in one direction about
the axis of the connecting rod 290 to tighten the connecting
means 288 for firmly securing the sampler receptacle, cover,
and inlet means in assembled, mutually sealed relation. The
drain valve is rotatable in the opposite direction to release
the connecting means 288 for disassembly of the sampler for
cleaning, as illustrated in figure 7. Fixed to the cover 232
are handles 299 for holding the sampler and placing the
sampler in and removing it from the casing 206.
Threaded in the remaining horizontal arm of the drain
valve body 294 is a drain tube 300 having an external knurled
portion 302 by which the tube may be rotated. On the outer
end of the drain tube is a hose nipple 304 for connection to
a drain hose 306 extending through the base sidewall opening
228. The drain valve contains a passage 308 which extends at
one end through the vertical arm of the valve body 294 and
the threaded stem 296, and opens into the sampler collection
-27-



chamber 240 through ports 310 in the stem. The other end of
the valve passage 308 extends axially through the horizontal
arm of the valve body 294. the drain tube 300 and the hose
nipple 304. On the inner end of the drain tube 300 is a valve
head 312, This valve head is movable axially into and from
engagement with a valve seat 314 about the valve passage 308
by rotation of the drain tube to open and close the passage.
Figures 9 and 10 illustrate two different ways of
locating the sampling device 200 in sampling position for the
storm water sampling or leak sampling applications mentioned
earlier. In figure 9. the sampler casing 202 of the sampling
device is embedded in concrete at the bottom of a relatively
deep sump 316 with the lip 214 of the casing flush with the
bottom of the sump. The sump is covered by a grate 318 flush
with ground level and has a drain line 320 leading from the
bottom of the sump. In figure 10. the casing 202 is embedded
in concrete with the upper casing lip 214 flush with the
bottom of a shallow cavity 322 covered by a grate 324 flush
with ground level.
The sampling device 200 is used in essentially the same
way as the sampling device 10 of figures 1-3 except for the
following differences. In figures 1-3, the upper float valve
seat 78 is located at upper end of the inlet riser 52. When
the liquid level in the basin 90 rises above the level of the
upper valve seat, the upper float valve is raised from the
seat to permit liquid flow into the inlet riser and then
through the riser into the collection chamber 20. In the
sampling device 200, the lowest flow openings in the side


2125262
wall of the upper valve cage 258 axe located a distance above
the floor 234 of the basin 242, and the solid lower portion
a~ the cage below these lowest openings forms an inlet riser
325. The upper valve seat 268 is located at the bottom of
this inlet riser. Accordingly, when the liquid level in the
basin 242 reaches the upper end of the inlet riser 325, the
liquid flows over and to the bottom of the riser and then
raises the upper float valve 278 from the upper valve seat
268 to permit flow into the collection chamber. The inlet
riser serves the same purposes as the inlet riser in the
sampling device 10.
The maximum flow opening of the upper float valve means
282 is adjustable by adjustment of the limit stop 286. This
upper valve adjustment adjusts the maximum liquid flow rate
from the basin 242 into the collection chamber 240 and
thereby the overall sampling duration of the sampling device.
As a consequence, the limit stop adjustment permits use of
the sampling device 200 for time composite storm water
sampling. The inlet means 248 of the sampling device 200 also
has a vent tube 326 which extends upwardly from the cover
wall 234, laterally into the upper valve cage 258, and then
downwardly toward the cover wall and contains a vent passage
for venting air from the top of the collection chamber 240 to
atmosphere during filling of the chamber with liquid.
After~the desired liquid sample has been collected, the
sampler 204 is removed from the casing 202 by its handles 239
and carried to a laboratory where the sample is drained from
the sampler through the drain valve 292 for analysis. Af.i-.er
_29_



?12262
each use, the sampler is disassembled and thoroughly cleaned.
In this regard, it will be seen that removal of the cover 232
from the sampler receptacle 202 provides a large opening in
the upper end of the receptacle through which the interior of
the collection chamber 240 may be easily cleaned.
Figures 13 and 14 illustrate an in-line drain valve 400
for use on the liquid sampling device 200 in place of the
right angle drain valve 292. The in-line valve includes an
elongate drain bolt 402 having an upper threaded end for
threaded connection with the lower end of the connecting rod
290 of the sampling device 200. The lower end of the drain
bolt 402 is radially enlarged to form a coaxial shoulder
portion 404. Axially entering the lower end of this shoulder
portion is an internally threaded socket 406 which continues
in a smaller diameter bore 408 extending axially upward
i
through a lower end portion of the drain bolt. Threaded in the
socket 406 is an internally threaded bushing 410 which forms
a valve seat 411 about the lower end of the bore 408. The
drain bolt 402 contains two axially spaced pairs of ports 412
opening to the bore along mutually perpendicular axes.
Threaded in the bushing 412 is a drain tube 414. This
drain tube has a lower threaded portion, an upper valve head
418, and an intervening circumferential recess 420. The valve
head 418 is slightly larger in diameter than
the threaded bore in the bushing 412. Threaded
on and rigidly fixed to the lower end of the drain tube is a
knurled grip 422 from which a hose nipple 424 extends axially
-30-


CA 02125262 2000-03-29
of the tube. Extending axially through the drain tube 414,
the grip 422, and the nipple 424 is a passage 426 which
opens radially into the upper drain tube recess 420 through
ports 428 in the bottom of the recess.
The drain valve 400 is installed on the liquid
sampling device 200, in place of the right angle drain
valve 292, by inserting the drain bolt 402 through the
bottom wall 220 of the device and threading the upper end
of the bolt into the lower end of the connecting rod 290 to
firmly join the sampler receptacle 216, cover 232, and
inlet means 248 in the same manner as described earlier in
connection with the sampling device 200.
The drain valve 400 is closed by rotating the grip 422
in a direction to move the tube downwardly until its valve
head 418 engages the bushing valve seat 411. In this
closed position, the drain tube ports 428 are situated
below the valve seat 411 so that liquid cannot enter the
drain valve passage 426 from the collection chamber 240.
The drain valve is opened by rotating the drain tube in the
opposite direction to move its valve head 418 upwardly from
the valve seat 411 to a position in which the drain tube
recess 420 opens radially outward to either the lower pair
of drain bolt ports 412 only or to both pairs of these
ports. Liquid flow can then occur from the sampler
collection chamber 240 through the lower drain bolt ports
412 and the drain tube ports 428 into the drain valve
-31-


CA 02125262 2000-03-29
passage 426. Operation of the liquid sampling device 200
with the drain valve 400 is the same as with drain valve
292.
It is evident at this point that the inlet valve
means, i.e. the two valve balls together with their valve
seats and cages, embodied in each described embodiment of
the invention constitutes an inlet float valve means which
closes the liquid inlet passage to the sample collection
chamber except when both of the following conditions exist
(a) the inlet of the inlet passage is submerged in the
liquid being sampled, and (b) the sample collection chamber
contains less than a predetermined liquid volume. This
inlet float valve means has an open mode in which the inlet
valve opens the inlet passage to permit liquid flow into
the collection chamber and a closed mode in which the inlet
valve closes the inlet passage to seal the chamber and is
operable to each of these modes by forces including a
buoyant force produced by the liquid being sampled, i.e. by
gravitational and buoyant forces.
-31a-

Representative Drawing