Mclane Research Laboratories, Inc.

Susumu Honjo

Kenneth W Doherty

Craig D Taylor

John D Billings

A filter assembly is provided for collecting samples in a fluid environment, the assembly utilizing a laminar convective flow to cause the flow of a preservative/fixative and a filtrate through a filter. A substantially concave dead space around the filter is flushed free of the preservative and the differential in density of the preservative and filtrate causes the more dense fluid to collect in the reservoir and preserve the collected specimen.

Fixation filter assembly

An automated water sampling system collects multiple samples of sample water at a remote site. A multiport valve provides a plurality of ports and respective port inlets. A sample water intake line is coupled to the respective port inlets. A plurality of sample receivers or sample containers are coupled to respective ports of the multiport valve. At least one container of cleaning liquid is also coupled to a port of the multiport valve. An output manifold provides a plurality of manifold outlets coupled to the respective sampler receivers and to at least one container of cleaning liquid. A pumping water output line is coupled to the plurality of manifold outlets. A reversible pump is coupled in the water output line for pumping and drawing sample water through the intake line into selected sample receivers and for pumping and pushing cleaning liquid from said at least one cleaning liquid container out the sample water intake line. The multiport valve opens and closes the ports one at a time. The water sample receivers are each constructed as an elongate container having a sample water opening at one end, a pumping water opening at the other end, and a slidable sealing piston container within and slidable between the ends of the elongate container in response to differential pressure across the piston. The cleaning liquid container is similarly constructed and a flushing liquid container may also be coupled to a port of the multiport valve for flushing away the cleaning liquid.

Automated water sample collecting system

A multiport valve for a water transfer system passes water, drawn by a pump, through a plurality of collectors. A programmable controller controls operation of the pump and a stepper motor which positions the multiport valve in a time series sequence according to user instructions. The multiport valve is formed with a first valve head having an intake port and multiple separate outlet ports. The respective outlet ports are connected to the respective collectors at respective collector inlets. A first rotor bears against the first valve head and forms a seal between the first rotor and first valve head. The first rotor is formed with a first coupling channel for coupling the intake port of the first valve head to different outlet ports according to the rotational position of the first rotor. The multiport valve incorporates a second valve head formed with an exhaust port and a plurality of separate inlet ports coupled to the respective plurality of collectors at respective collector outlets. A second rotor bears against the second valve head substantially forming a seal between the second rotor and second valve head. The second rotor is formed with a second coupling channel for coupling the exhaust port to different inlet ports according to the rotational position of the second rotor for exhausting water.

Growing community of inventors

Falmouth, MA, United States of America

Susumu Honjo