Abstract: A heated instrument regulator tip is shown for use in retrieving samples from the interior of a natural gas or similar pipeline. A well is disposed within the tip and adapted to receive an electrical heater. The heater supplements thermal fins on the tip to transfer thermal energy to the gas sample inside the tip. The thermal energy counteracts the Joule-Thompson cooling of the gas due to the rapid pressure drop, thus preventing freeze up or condensation within the regulator tip.

Abstract: A device for retaining a sample cylinder is adjustable such that the sample cylinder may be positioned in various angular orientations relative to a support structure. The cylinder holder device includes a mounting bracket adapted to be fixed to the support structure. A cylinder tray is rotatably mounted to the support bracket, with the tray adapted to retain the sample cylinder. A retractable engaging device is fixed to the mounting bracket and selectively engages various apertures in the cylinder tray to change the angular orientation of the cylinder tray and thus the sample cylinder relative to the mounting bracket and the support structure. The apertures are spaced to provide predetermined angular orientations.

Abstract: A stabilized insertion device to prevent harmonic vibration or "wiggle" when inserting a probe or sensor into a gas pipeline. A shaft guide is placed around the shaft inside the housing of the insertion device. The shaft guide is composed of two sections. The first section is wider than the second. The second section is received by a spool bushing located inside the housing proximate to the pipeline. When the shaft is fully extended the spool bushing holds the shaft guide steady which in turn holds the shaft steady. An annular bevel and taper may be added to the spool bushing and shaft guide, respectively, to aid in the coupling thereof. Optionally, the shaft guide may be bisected to make it movable to different positions on the shaft, thereby allowing for probe insertion at a variety of depths.

Abstract: An apparatus for displaying products at retail on a pegboard having spaced holes includes at least two pegboard connection elements each including a wedge-shaped back plate, upper and lower inward-facing grooves spaced apart a first distance and prongs spaced apart by a distance equal to spacing between holes in the pegboard. Knife brackets have upper and lower outwardly-facing flanges engageable with a corresponding pegboard connection by lateral insertion of the flanges in the grooves to engage the knife brackets with the pegboard connection elements and a plurality of indentations along a direction extending from the pegboard. A tray supported on the knife brackets has a catch shaped to be received in one of the indentations to permit the spacing of the tray from the pegboard to be adjusted to a desired distance. The tray includes front and rear walls having downward-facing ledge elements with one of the ledge elements being resiliently mounted to its respective wall.

Abstract: A beverage container adapted to hold ice and beverages separate from water formed from melted ice includes a receptacle having an interior cavity for holding ice and beverages; a float having a density less than water adapted to support the ice and beverages and move upwardly within the cavity as the ice melts; a cover mounted on the receptacle by a hinge having three slots including a recess and an opening at a depth in the recess, and a tubesign base having three tabs having distal ends, lobes on the distal ends and lengths from bases of the tabs to their lobes corresponding to the depth, so as to enable removable attachment of the tubesign base to the hinge by insertion of the tabs in the slots, with the lobes locking the tabs into the slots when inserted therein.

Abstract: An apparatus is shown which prevents the intrusion of liquids into a gas chromatograph wherein a ball-check valve comprised of a flotation chamber and a spherical floatable valve element is positioned between and in fluid communication with an inlet and outlet port. While gasses are permitted to flow past the valve and into the gas chromatograph, liquids are retained within the flotation chamber by the floatable valve element. When the liquid level rises to a certain level within the chamber, the valve is closed by the pressure of the liquid forcing the floatable valve element into a closed and sealed position. The ball-check valve is also surrounded by a transparent member which allows the user to view the liquid level within the valve at all times.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for use in conjunction with a Drager tube for the simultaneous testing and storage of a particular gas from a source and the subsequent flaring of the gas after testing is set forth herein. The apparatus generally includes a sample cylinder having two heads closing a chamber with an internal piston delineating two variable volume spaces therein. The front head is threaded to and in selective communication with, by means of valves disposed within channels, a supply line connected to a gas source, a test line with the Drager tube, and an exhaust line coupled to a flare line. The rear head is threaded to and in selective communication with, by valves disposed within channels, the test shaft and the exhaust line. The gas enters into the first variable volume space when the valve on the supply line is opened.

Abstract: A housing for a pipeline sampling apparatus is mounted upon the pipeline wherein a sample is to be taken. The housing encloses the sampling pump and probe, and the sample cylinder, while allowing easy access to the interior in order to exchange the sample cylinder. Preferably, the housing surrounds at least 40% of the pipe section where the housing is installed. By mounting the sample cylinder within the housing next to the pipeline, the sample cylinder is kept at nearly the same temperature as the fluid flow within the pipeline. Also, all of the sampling components are protected from the elements. Additionally, the sample cylinder may be supported by the housing.

Abstract: A fluid pipeline sampler adapted for in-line or by-pass type sampling includes a body having a passage therethrough and a fluid outlet. The sampler is actuated by a pulling-type solenoid in response to an actuating signal. The solenoid shaft is coupled to a yoke that includes a piston mounted on the end opposite the solenoid shaft. The yoke surrounds a valved body extension, and along with the piston and body extension define a sample cylinder. The body extension has a bore that is in fluid communication with the fluid outlet of the main body and the sample cylinder. Initial displacement of the yoke positively causes the piston to trap a sample of known volume within the cylinder. Further displacement injects the trapped sample into the body extension bore that then travels into a sample collector.

Abstract: An apparatus for displaying packages in a retail environment includes a rack having vertical sidewalls and a bar interconnecting the sidewalls. A tray has protrusions from an underside thereof adapted to engage the bars to support the tray in a first, retracted package displaying position and a second, extended package loading position. A divider insert includes a plurality of parallel upright divider walls and is sized to releasably fit within the tray, thereby forming channels atop the tray. A plurality of product pushers are releasably connected to the tray in the channels. Packages to be displayed may be positioned in the channels for the product pusher to urge them to one end of the tray for retail purchase and the apparatus may be disassembled to arrange a different divider insert and a plurality of pushers differently in the tray.

Abstract: An apparatus for displaying goods in a retail environment includes a frame having sideboards, a rear board and a plurality of upright standards, each standard having a plurality of apertures spaced therealong, and a plurality of supports having knife brackets and crosswise-extending bars. Each support is affixed to two of the standards by insertion of its knife brackets into apertures of the standards and each includes forwardly-extending rails. A plurality of trays each include a plurality of location means across a width of the tray and is supported on the rails of one of the supports. The trays have first and second protrusions from their undersides, the first protrusion adapted to engage the crosswise-extending bar to support the tray in a first, retracted package-displaying position, and the second protrusion adapted to engage the bar to support the tray in a second, extended, package-loading position.

Abstract: The miniaturized sampler is activated by a diaphragm motor that can be screwed together by hand. The sampler uses an elastomeric collection head and typically takes a small sample each time the diaphragm motor is activated. The collection head is connected to a piston by a pin and ring arrangement that can be economically manufactured and easily serviced. Because the collection head is smaller than prior art designs, it takes less force to activate. A smaller collection head can be driven by a smaller diaphragm motor which allows overall sampler size and weight to be reduced when compared with prior art designs.

Abstract: An elongate mercaptan injection apparatus is disclosed. From the remote end, there is an external fitting for connection with a supply line of liquid mercaptan. It communicates serially with an internal check valve captured in a chamber. The check valve includes a spring and ball cooperative with a valve seat. Through the check valve, the liquid mercaptan flows into an elongate hollow tubular member which is sealed externally with a number of fittings to prevent leakage. It extends to the interior of the pipeline through a fitting which seals to the wall of the pipeline. On the interior, it connects with an elongate hollow member packed with particulate material. A number of transverse openings provide cross ventilation so that flowing natural gas is able to pass through the particulate material.

Abstract: A vent check valve for use with a fluid pump such as a chemical pump wherein the vent check valve includes a floatation chamber and floatation member therein such that air is allowed to flow therethrough during normal operation of the pump while the liquid is prevented from flowing therethrough in the event of a malfunction of the pump. The vent check valve also includes a porous member thereon which allows air to flow therethrough while preventing direct access into and contamination of the vent check valve.

Abstract: A portable test apparatus is set forth herein. It incorporates a twenty-two inch structure terminating in a protective cover with a loop for tool belt engagement by personnel climbing on chemical product processing equipment. The protective cover is removed by a quarter turn twist-lock mechanism. The test equipment includes a cylinder, a piston therein, heads at the opposite ends of the cylinder and valves to admit a sample measured thereto and further admitting product into the chamber and then from the chamber to test equipment through suitable control valve mechanisms.

Abstract: A fluid motor integrally constructed on an elongate body enables periodic fluid sampling. This device affixes to a pipeline by a threaded connection which positions an inlet in the pipeline for sample removal; the sample flows to a sample bite removal valve which is motor operated to obtain periodic sample bits. Pressure step up or down is achieved in a sample pressue isolation system having a check valve function. This enables storage at any pressure.

Abstract: A constant pressure cylinder with a spheroid or ellipsoid mixer is disclosed herein. Improvements include a spheroid or ellipsoid mixing element for mixing the accumulated sample. The mixing element is free to move about the sample chamber but is consturcted in such a way to avoid damage to the interior cylinder walll. Other generally ellipsoid shaped mixing elements are also disclosed. The invention additionally incorporates an improved piston for use in the cylinder. The piston contains a magnet assembly which may be used in conjunction with an invention by a third party to visually display the location of the piston in the cylinder.

Abstract: The purge valve assembly is designed for use with a constant pressure sample cylinder for purging of the cylinder prior to installation in the field for collection of spot and composite samples. The purge valve assembly can be installed in newly manufactured constant pressure sample cylinders or can be added as an after market item. The purge valve assembly consists of a retainer which compresses a sealing element into engagement with an end cap to prevent fluid from bypassing the retainer. A valve element is urged into engagement with the sealing element by a spring thus closing the valve and preventing the escape of any fluid from the sample cylinder. To open the valve a valve actuator is manually depressed thus dislodging the valve element from sealing engagement with the sealing member thus allowing fluid to be vented to atmosphere or purged. An alternative embodiment combines the valve element and valve activator into an integral element.

Abstract: For use in an oil sampler having a vanishing chamber, the vanishing chamber relatively opposite a reciprocating anvil, and wherein sampled oil is subject to including abrasive particles such as sand therein, a relief valve which comprises an in-line check valve connected serially downstream from the vanishing chamber, the relief valve including an axial flow passage terminating at a valve seat, and a movable valve element having a resilient plug insert which is larger in diameter than the valve seat which closes against the valve seat. The resilient plug is held in a surrounding metal skirt. A stem and coil spring guide the resilient plug to a closed position. When abrasive particles are delivered through the oil flow, they impinge against the resilient plug and avoid abrasion of the metal components around the valve seat. This then deflects the flow at reduced velocity into a larger surrounding chamber and thereby reduces downstream damage.

Abstract: A fluid motor integrally constructed on an elongate body enables periodic fluid sampling. This device affixes to a pipeline by a threaded connection which positions an inlet in the pipeline for sample removal; the sample flows to a sample bite removal valve which is motor operated to obtain periodic simple bits. Pressure step up or down is achieved in a sample pressure isolation system having a check valve function. This enables storage at any pressure.