Design and development of fluid sample collecto

Cohen, D.

Stone, S. E.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

TO$ USX/Scientif ic  fic Technical InEomation Divfsion 
Attention: M i s s  Winnie M. Morgan 
FROM$ G P / O f f i c e  of Assistant General Counsel for 
Patent Matters 
SUBJECT: Announcement of NASA-Owned U 4  5 .  Patents i n  STAR 
In  accordance w i t h  the procedures agreed upon by C o d e  GP 
and C o d e  U S I ,  the attached NASA-owned U, S. Patent is being 
forwarded fo r  abstracting and announcement i n  NASA STAR. 
- The following information is provided: 
k 
U. S. Pa ten t  No. t 
Government o r  
Corporate Employee t m C P r _ p o r a t i o n  
Benton Harbor, Michigan 49023 
Supplementary Corporate 
Source (if applicable) : M. A.. 
NASA Patent Case No, : XMS-06767-1 
NOTE - If t h i s  patent covers an invention made by a corporate 
employee of a NASA Contractor, the following is applicable: 
Pursuant t o  Section 305(a) of the National Aeronautics and 
Space Act, the name of the Administrator of NASA appears on 
the first page of the patent; however, the name of the actual  
inventor (author) appears a t  the heading of Column No4 1 of 
- the Specification, following the respect to 
Yes [iaE NO 0 
Enclosure 
Copy of Patent cited above. 
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19710010960 2020-03-17T02:54:39+00:00Z
I 
I 
FLUID SAMPLE COLLECTOR 
Filed March 28, 1968 Sheet f o f  2 
22 
3 4  
28 
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3,438,263 United States Patent Ofice Patented Apr. 15, 1969 
1 2 
plate is secured to the collar and upon rotation of a sleeve, 
a hollow pipe within the stem line is inserted through the 
rubber plug into the plastic sac. Then liquid from the 
feed line is transferred to the stem line and through the 
hollow Pipe into the plastic sac. When the amount of 
liquid desired is transferred to the sac, the hollow pipe 
is removed from the rubber plug and the flange discon- 
nects from the collar. The invention allows the connec- 
tion between the sampling section and connection section 
to be made rapidly, and the collection section provides a 
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The advantages of this invention, both as to its con- 
A fluid sample collector has a sampling section and a struction and mode of operation, will be readily appre- 
collection section. The collection section comprises a plas- ciated as the Same become better understood by refer- 
tic sac having a collar with a rubber plug thereon for in- 15 ence to the following detailed description when consid- 
tercomection with the sampling section. The sampling set- ered in connection with the accompanying drawings in 
tion contains a flange plate which may be rapidly con- which like reference numerals designate like parts 
nected and disconnected from the collection section. Fluid throughout the figures and wherein: 
from a feed line is coupled into a hollow member within FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of the sampling sec- 
the sampling section. The holiow member may be inserted 20 tion and COileCtiOn Section Of the fluid Sampling and Cob 
though the rubber plug into the sac of the collection 
section. When the fluid sample has been taken, the hol- FIG. 2 depicts a top view, partly in section, of the 
low member of the sampling section is removed from the 
rubber plug of the collection section and the sampling FIG. 3 depicts a side view in section of the collection 
section and collection section are then disconnected. 
FIG. 4 depicts in section the sampling section of FIG. 1; 
FIG. 5 depicts in section the sampling section of FIG. 1 
The invention described herein was made in the per- 
formance of $work under a NASA contract and is subject Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a pre- 
nautics and Space Act of 1958, Public Law 85-568 (72 system in accordance with the invention comprising a 
Stat. 435; 42 U.S.C. 2457). sampling section 12 and a collection section 14. The 
The invention relates in general to fluid handling, and sampling section 12 comprises a feed line 16 though 
more ParticulalY to a system for sampling and storing 36 which fluid passes which is coupled to a stem line 18 
liquid which is passing through a feed line. through an orifice (not shown in FIG. 1) upon rotation 
In manned spaceflight it is necessary to test certain of a sleeve 20. Further, a somewhat triangular shaped 
samples of the astronauts' waste products to determine flange plate 22 is secured to the end of the stem line 18 
the effect of weightlessness on man. One Of the Waste for connection with the collection section 14. 
Products which must be sampled and tested at the end 40 The collection section 14 comprises a sac 24 which is 
of the flight is urine. made of a plastic material capable of storing liquid wastes 
As is we11 known, due to the lack of gravity in inanned such as urine. A flange 26 is secured to one side of the 
spaceflight, stored liquid behaves in a minner not nor- sac 24. A collar 28 is connected to the flange 26 through 
malh attributed to it where normal gravity is Present. a reduced diameter connecting section 32. Normally the 
Thus, it becomes necessary when storing liquid to pro- 45 flange 26, collar 28, and connecting section 32 may be 
vide means for disconnecting the sample holding device made of an integral plastic section. Further, a rubber 
from the main body of fluid to be sampled in a manner plug 34 having a slit 36 therein is secured within the col- 
such that leakage from both main body and sample lar and connection section. A somewhat triangular shaped 
holder will not occur. Further, such a system must be opening 42 in collar 28 allows interconnection of the 
simple to use SO that the astronaut can perform these 60 collection section 14 and sampling section 12. 
tasks in a spacecraft in a simple and speedy manner SO Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the collection section as not to be time consuming. Conventional fluid sample 14 is shown in greater detail. The sac 24 comprises an cont~iners such as specimen Or test tubes cannot upper plastic sheet 52 and a lower plastic sheet 54 which 
readily be utilized in such applications due to the Prob- sealed together along the periphery 56 by conven- 
lemS Of leakage and speed' In addition to leakage prob- 55 tional techniqdes such as by means of a heat seal. Further, 
must be overcome. plastic sheet 52, also by means of a heat seal. A pin 58 is 
tional fluid sampling devices, the present invention pro- flange plate 22, as will be explained hereinafter. 
vides a non-breakable fluid storage container having and 5, there is depicted the means for rapidly connecting a Source of fluid into a sampling section in greater detail. The stem line 18 has storage container, filling the storage container with fluid, 
and then rapidly disconnecting the source from the con- secured thereto the feed line 16 having a circular passage- 
tainer. way 64. A hollow pipe 66 is mounted concentrically with- 
More particularly, the invention comprises a sampling in the Stem line 18 and is movable axially thereto. O-ring 
section and a collection section. The sampling section is 65 seals 68 mounted on the outer circumference of Pipe 66 
coupled to a feed line through which fluid passes. The contact the inner surface Of the stem line 18. A weep hole 
feed line is coupled to a stem line through an orifice. The 70 i s  provided in the stem line 18. 
stem line is connected to the collection section by means The sleeve 20 is rotatable and movable along the axis 
of a flange plate. The collection section comprises a plas- 7o of the stem line 18 and secured to a minimum and maxi- 
tic sac which is capable of storing liquid. The sac is con- mum moving position by means of a pin 72 secured to 
nected to a collar having a rubber plug therein. The flange the stem Iine 18. Further, the inner surface of the sleeve 
3,438,263 
FLUID SAMPLE COLLECTOR 
James E. Webb, Admsis&ator of the National Aero- 
nautics and space Admin&&ation with respect to an 
invention of David &hen, st. Joseph, and Samuel E. 
Stone, Berrien Springs, Mich. 
Filed Mar. 28, 1968, Ser. No. 716,795 
Int. C1. GOln 1/10 
U.S. CI. 73-422 4 CMms 
lo secure leak-proof body. 
kction System in accordance with this invention; 
section of FIG. 
25 section as depicted in FIG. 2; 
and 
interconnected to a portion of the collection section. 
to the provision Of Section 305 Of the National Aero- 30 ferred embodiment of the fluid ampling and collection 
lems, Problems relating to the storage of the the flange 26 is secured to the inner side of the Upper 
placed through the collar 28 to limit the rotation of the In order to CnmcOme the problems to conven- 
Referring now to FIGS. 
3,438,263 
4 
1. A fluid handling system comprising: fr!ctbhally exlgages t h ~  end of the stem line 18 by 
means of a ball 74 and spring 76. (A) A collection section comprising: 
The hollow pipe 66 is closed at one end by means of (1) a sac for storing liquid; 
a plug 78 and is rigidly attached to the sleeve 20 by (2) a collar coupled to  said sac and having an 
m m s  of a pin 82 so that axial movement of the sleeve opening therein leading into said sac; and 
28 will cause the hollow pipe 66 to move axially $with re- ( 3  ) self-sealing means in said opening for normal- 
spect to the stem line 18. The pipe 66 fwther contains ly closing said opening yet allowing liquid to be 
orifices 84 so that when the sleeve 20 is rotated into the inserted in said sac throagh said upeniag; and 
position shown in PIG. 5, an orifice 86 which is con- (B)  A sampling section comprising: 
amted to the feed line 16 abuts the orifices 84 and allows 10 (1) a feed line containing liquid CO be stored in 
fl& to pass from the passageway 64 to the inner portion said Gollection section; 
of hoUow pipe 66. The pipe 66 further contains orifices (2) a stem line coupled to. said feed line; 
88 at its end adiacent the flange plate 22'so as to allow (3) means for detachably connecting said sam- 
fluid entering the orifices 84 to exit the pipe 66. pling section to said collection section; 
(4) a hollow tubular member within said stem 
placed in the o p i n g  42 af collar 28 and abutting the line and movable relcttive to a i d  stem line for 
rubber plug 34 with the hollow pipe 66 in the position insertion into said sac through the opening in 
shown in FIG. 4. Then the collection section €4 is rotated said sealing means, there being a passageway 
until the plate 22 abuts the pin 58. The sleeve 22 is ro- from said feed line into the interior of said 
tated clockwise and pushed downward until a portion'of 20 tubular member for allowing liquid from said 
the pipe 66 protrudes through the slit 36 in the plug 34 feed line to flow into said sac when the tubular 
as shown in FIG. 5. Back pressure is then applied by member is inserted into said sac. 
eonventimal meam to the feed line 16 so that flwid will 2. A fluid handling system in accordance with claim 
flow into the feed line 16 tci the orifice 86, the orifice 84, 1 and further comprising a rotatable member mounted 
the hollow pipe 66, the orifice 88, and into the sac 24. 25 onto said stem line and connected to said hollow mem- 
ABer the sample has been taken, the sleeve 20 is rotated ber for inserting said hollow member infa said sac upon 
counterclockwise and pulled npward until the pipe 66 is rotation. 
withdrawn tmm the rubber plug 34. Then the cotkction 3. A fluid handling system in accordance whh claim 1 
section is rotated so that it is separated from the flange wherein said self-sealing means comprises a rubber plug 
22, M szlould be understood, of course, that the sampling 39 having a slit therein for allowing said hollow member to 
section could be rotated relative to the collection section enter said sac, 
tu &tain substantially the same result. 4. A fluid handling system in accordance with claim 
Because of the tightness of fit of the rubber plug 34 wherein said means for connect& said samplkg section 
in the cdkr 28, mfficient pressure is placed on the rubber plate secured 
s t o w  tu reclose and seal the slit 36 when the pipe 66 is 35 to said stem line. 
withdrawn. Thus, the sample bag is reclosed and will 
$%isfactorily retain the sample therein. 
It shotxid be understood that the foregoing disclosure 
&d a t  k is Mended to cover all changa and modifica- 40 
tions of the &amples in the .invention herein chosen for 
the @ r p m s  of t.he discfoswre which do not constitute 
departures &om the spirit and scope o f  the invention. 
What Es &timed and desired to  be secwred by Letters 
3 
In the operation of the system, the flange plate 22 is 15 
to said collection section comprises a 
References Cited 
UNITED STATES PATENTS 
rp,latd m.ly t .  preferred embo&ments of the inn\Pention 3,321,976 511967 Jones ------------- 7 3 4 2 1 . 5  
33'4,678 311968 MCGuckin _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _  7 3 4 2 1 . 5  
LOUIS R. PRINCE, Primary Examiner. 
W R Y  C. POST 111, Assistant Examker, 
Patent is: 45 


Fluid sample collector Patent

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