Abstract: To sample hot liquids containing volatile materials, the liquid is cooled in a refrigerator and pumped through a syringe needle into a container until the container overflows. The needle is removed slowly and the container is automatically closed as the needle is withdrawn, wherein liquid flows upwardly continuously as the needle is withdrawn through an opening. The cap for the container includes a closure having a valve opening extending upwardly and sized to narrowly receive the syringe needle in a perpendicular valve member opening. The valve member includes a flat member on one end adapted to be gripped by a cam follower for opening and closing of the valve opening in coordination with the movement of the syringe needle.

Abstract: To sample liquids containing volatile materials, the liquid is pumped through a syringe needle into a container until the container overflows. The needle is removed slowly and the container is automatically closed as the needle is withdrawn, wherein liquid flows upwardly continuously as the needle is withdrawn through an opening. The cap for the container includes a closure having a valve opening extending upwardly and sized to narrowly receive a syringe in a perpendicular valve member opening. The valve member includes a flat member on one end adapted to be gripped by a cam follower for opening and closing of the valve opening in coordination with the movement of the syringe.

Abstract: To pump fluid into sample containers, a distributor arm of a sample collector is calibrated as to position in a computer memory and is moved from position to position over different containers while a counter in computer memory keeps track of its position. When the distributor arm is over the designated container, samples are pumped into the container. To pump the fluid into the container, the rollers of a peristaltic pump are supported to prevent the rollers from compressing the tube more than the thickness of the walls of the tube. A tube holder rotates along with the roller assembly of the peristaltic pump and keeps the tube in line with the rollers.

Abstract: To sample hot liquids containing volatile materials, the liquid is cooled in a refrigerator and pumped through a syringe needle into a container until the container overflows. The needle is removed slowly and the container is automatically closed as the needle is withdrawn, wherein liquid flows upwardly continuously as the needle is withdrawn through an opening. The cap for the container includes a closure having a valve opening extending upwardly and sized to narrowly receive the syringe needle in a perpendicular valve member opening. The valve member includes a flat member on one end adapted to be gripped by a cam follower for opening and closing of the valve opening in coordination with the movement of the syringe needle.

Abstract: To sample liquids containing volatile materials, the liquid is pumped through a syringe needle into a container until the container overflows. The needle is removed slowly and the container is automatically closed as the needle is withdrawn, wherein liquid flows upwardly continuously as the needle is withdrawn through an opening. The cap for the container includes a closure having a valve opening extending upwardly and sized to narrowly receive a syringe in a perpendicular valve member opening. The valve member includes a flat member on one end adapted to be gripped by a cam follower for opening and closing of the valve opening in coordination with the movement of the syringe.

Abstract: The rollers of a peristaltic pump are supported to prevent said rollers from compressing said tube more than the thickness of the walls of the tube. A tube holder rotates along with the roller assembly of the peristaltic pump and keeps the tube in line with the rollers.

Abstract: To select a designated bottle in a sampler, the distributor is calibrated as to position and the outlet of the distributor arm is moved over the desired bottle by counting changes in incremental angular movement of the distributor arm until it is over the bottle. The position of the distributor arm is recorded in memory. To calibrate the distributor, the arm is rotated against a stop member in a first direction, then in a second direction and the overrun of in excess of 360 degrees of the motion of the distributor arm is determined and corrected. A series of random numbers is generated for depositing of samples, the distributor is moved at designated times over the bottles in a random order to deposit a sample and the ordering of bottles is recorded. The rollers of a peristaltic pump are supported to prevent said rollers from compressing said tube more than the thickness of the walls of the tube. A functional module for a bubbler or pH probe or ultrasonic level detector may be connected to the housing.