Abstract: A system for the automated dilution and delivery of mixtures of diluent and liquid samples to a particle counter comprises a container positioning member for receiving and retaining congruent sample containers with a volume of liquid sample therein. An automated diluent pumping mechanism draws a respective volume of a diluent from a diluent source and introduces the diluent into the each sample container for mixing with the unknown volume of liquid sample within each sample container to together form a mixture that is substantially equal to a pre-determined threshold volume. A mixer agitates the mixture in the sample containers. An automated mixture pumping mechanism sequentially draws a respective volume of mixture from the sample containers and delivers the drawn volume of the mixture to the optical particle counter for testing.

Abstract: The apparatus includes a levelling mechanism having an upwardly directed reference surface adjustably mounted on a frame for supporting the base of liquid sample containers in substantially level orientation. The apparatus further includes a container positioning member having a horizontally extending main body formed with a plurality of substantially vertical container-receiving sockets. These sockets are each open at their bottom ends, so as to allow the bases of liquid sample containers to project therethrough while held within the sockets adjacent their top rims. In this manner, when the container positioning member is placed down upon the levelling mechanism, the bases of the sample containers come to rest in contact with the reference surface. Such action levels the containers to facilitate accurate automated volume measurements of liquid samples within the containers to be taken, which accuracy, in turn, increases the accuracy of automated particle counts subsequently made with the liquid samples.

Abstract: A system for the automated dilution and delivery of mixtures of diluent and liquid samples to a particle counter comprises a container positioning member for receiving and retaining congruent sample containers with a volume of liquid sample therein. An automated diluent pumping mechanism draws a respective volume of a diluent from a diluent source and introduces the diluent into the each sample container for mixing with the unknown volume of liquid sample within each sample container to together form a mixture that is substantially equal to a pre-determined threshold volume. A mixer agitates the mixture in the sample containers. An automated mixture pumping mechanism sequentially draws a respective volume of mixture from the sample containers and delivers the drawn volume of the mixture to the optical particle counter for testing.

Abstract: The apparatus includes a levelling mechanism having an upwardly directed reference surface adjustably mounted on a frame for supporting the base of liquid sample containers in substantially level orientation. The apparatus further includes a container positioning member having a horizontally extending main body formed with a plurality of substantially vertical container-receiving sockets. These sockets are each open at their bottom ends, so as to allow the bases of liquid sample containers to project therethrough while held within the sockets adjacent their top rims. In this manner, when the container positioning member is placed down upon the levelling mechanism, the bases of the sample containers come to rest in contact with the reference surface. Such action levels the containers to facilitate accurate automated volume measurements of liquid samples within the containers to be taken, which accuracy, in turn, increases the accuracy of automated particle counts subsequently made with the liquid samples.