초록 ▼

The invention provides a liquid storage installation which includes a tank (70) containing a liquid and a device (10) for measuring and sampling the liquid. The device (10) includes an elongate hollow body (12) having a closed bottom and a plurality of spaced apart sampling ports (20, 22, 24) at spa

The invention provides a liquid storage installation which includes a tank (70) containing a liquid and a device (10) for measuring and sampling the liquid. The device (10) includes an elongate hollow body (12) having a closed bottom and a plurality of spaced apart sampling ports (20, 22, 24) at spaced apart positions. The device (10) further includes a sleeve (14) which extends around the sampling port and in which corresponding sampling ports (26, 28, 30) are provided at spaced apart positions. The body (12) and sleeve (14) are displaceable relative to one another between an open position in which the sampling ports are in register permitting liquid flow between the tank and the interior of the body and a closed position in which the ports are out of register and flow between the tank and the interior of the body (12) is prohibited.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A device for measuring and sampling liquid in a closed container, the device including: an elongate hollow body, an operatively lower end of which is closed; at least two sampling ports provided in the body at spaced apart positions;a closure arrangement configured simultaneously to open the port

1. A device for measuring and sampling liquid in a closed container, the device including: an elongate hollow body, an operatively lower end of which is closed; at least two sampling ports provided in the body at spaced apart positions;a closure arrangement configured simultaneously to open the ports to connect the interior of the body in flow communication with liquid contained in a said container and permit the liquid to enter the body and to close the ports to prevent the flow of liquid between the interior of the body and the container, wherein the closure arrangement includes: a sleeve surrounding the body for at least part of its length and being displaceable relative to the body between an open position and a closed position;associated with each sampling port, a pair of longitudinally spaced seals defining an annular chamber between a radially outer surface of the body and a radially inner surface of the sleeve into which chamber the associated sampling port opens;an outer sampling port which extends through the sleeve; anda port seal which is configured such that when the body and sleeve are in their open position, the associated sampling ports are in flow communication to permit fluid flow therebetween thereby connecting the interior of the body in flow communication with a body of liquid in a said closed container to permit liquid to enter the body and when the body and sleeve are in their closed position, flow communication between the sampling ports and hence between the interior of the body and the body of liquid is inhibited thereby retaining the liquid within the body; anda partition arrangement provided in the body and dividing the body into a plurality of different sections, at least one sampling port opening into each section, wherein the partition arrangement includes a longitudinally extending partition which divides a cavity defined within the body into two longitudinal sections into each of which at least one sampling port extends. 2. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which the partition arrangement includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced transverse partitions which divide one longitudinal section of the cavity into longitudinally spaced sections into each of which at least one sampling port extends. 3. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which the cavity defined within the body is a circular cylindrical chamber, the partition arrangement including at least two longitudinally spaced apart partitions which protrude from one side of the longitudinally extending partition such that on one side of the longitudinally extending partition the cavity is divided into longitudinally spaced apart sections into each of which a sampling port extends and on the other side of the longitudinally extending partition the cavity is divided into a longitudinal section which extends for the length of the partition and into which a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart sampling ports extend. 4. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which the or each port seal includes a seal element surrounding one of the ports in the body and the sleeve and sealingly abutting against an opposed surface of the other of the body and the sleeve. 5. A device as claimed in claim 4, in which when the body and sleeve are in their open position the sampling ports are in register and connected in flow communication through the port seal. 6. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which the sleeve has a slot provided therein, a lug attached to the body protrudes through the slot, the open and closed positions of the body and sleeve corresponding to the lug being positioned at opposite ends of the slot. 7. A device as claimed in claim 6, in which the slot extends circumferentially, relative displacement of body and sleeve between their open and closed positions being effected by displacing them angularly relative to one another. 8. A device as claimed in claim 6, in which the slot extends longitudinally, relative displacement of the body and sleeve between their open and closed positions being achieved by relative axial displacement therebetween. 9. A device as claimed in claim 6, in which the slot extends obliquely, relative displacement of the body and the sleeve between their open and closed positions being achieved by relative displacement both angularly and axially. 10. A device as claimed in claim 1, which includes a status display configured to provide a visual indication as to whether the body and sleeve are in their open position or their closed position. 11. A device as claimed in claim 1, which includes an indicator means provided in the body and configured to provide an indication of the presence and nature of contamination in the liquid. 12. A device as claimed in claim 11, in which when the liquid contained in the container is a liquid fuel, the indicator means includes a water indicator element which has a density which is greater than the density of the fuel and less than the density of water. 13. A device as claimed in claim 11, in which the indicator means includes a metal particle indicator comprising a buoyant member, at least part of which is magnetic to attract metal particles contaminating the liquid. 14. A device as claimed in claim 11, in which the indicator means includes a viscosity indicator element. 15. A liquid storage installation which includes at least one tank in which liquid is receivable; andat least one device as claimed in claim 1 mounted on the tank to measure and sample liquid contained in the tank. 16. A liquid storage installation as claimed in claim 15, in which the tank is a subterranean tank and the liquid is a liquid fuel. 17. A liquid storage installation as claimed in claim 15, in which the body of the device is provided with markings which when read in conjunction with the level of the liquid in the body provide an indication of the volume of liquid in the tank.