Philadelphia Suburban Water Company

Rodney M Donlan

Karl M Kyriss

Thomas L Yohe

A probe rod is inserted into a water main through a corporation cock. The rod has a plurality of transverse passages parallel to one another and aligned in the direction of flow. Within these transverse passages, in flush relationship to the passage walls, are inserted removable sampling rings. All but one of the rings are of the same material as the inner wall of the main. The remaining ring, used as a control, is a synthetic resin ring. The flush relationship prevents the formation of turbulent eddies at the ends of the rings. Consequently, microbial growth conditions on the rings themselves reliably simulate conditions on the interior wall of the main. Within a tubular extension on the exterior of the corporation cock an O-ring seal is provided. The length of the extension, and the position of the seal, are such that the probe rod can be partially withdrawn beyond the corporation valve without causing any of the transverse passages to pass through the O-ring. Thus, the rod can be partially withdrawn, and the corporation valve closed before the rod is fully withdrawn. Because of the length of the extension and the position of the O-ring, partial withdrawal of the probe rod can be accomplished without scouring of the sampling rings due to high velocity flow of water through the transverse passages as they move through the O-ring.

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Ardmore, PA, United States of America

Rodney M Donlan