FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See section 10, rule 13)
"A CASING FOR A SAMPLING
DEVICE"
BHARAT PETROLEUM CORPORATION LIMITED, of BHARAT BHAVAN 1, 4 & 6 Currimbuoy Road, Ballard Estate, Mumbai - 400 001, India
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.

A CASING FOR A SAMPLING DEVICE
Field of invention:
The present invention relates to a casing for a sampling device, more particularly to a casing for sampling device for fast and accurate sampling of fluids.
Background of the invention:
In quality control sampling is a very important procedure. Chemical, petro-chemical, pharmaceuticals and oil refineries are some of the industries where the sampling plays a major role to judge the quality of the product. Sampling is usually done in order to determine the concentration and density of the liquids. In industries liquids are stored in the storage tanks. Properties e.g. concentration, density etc. of a stored liquid varies with depth of the liquid in the storage tank or reservoir. In order to determine quality of the stored product, it is necessary to draw proper samples from varying depths of a product.
An example of an industry where the sampling plays a major role is oil refineries or oil installations. In oil installations there are various types of samples namely Top, Middle and Bottom samples (TMB) or Upper, Middle and Lower (UML) are drawn before and after the product receipt in a tank. A sample represents the whole lot of the product in the storage tank and hence proper sampling is important.
The main parameter to determine the quality of the product is density at 15°C. Usually the products from different sources are received into the storage tank. This results in formation of layers of different density at different heights in the storage tank. To conduct a batch formation test, it is important to draw proper samples to make a composite sample.
After the batch formation test density observed at 15°C, it is recorded in the test report as the batch density. The recorded batch density is then compared with the densities during deliveries from the tank till such time the tank is empty or the tank receives the next parcel of sample. Thus, sampling is a very crucial step in quality control in oil
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installations. Any error in sampling would result in erroneous judgement as to quality of the oil product.
Samples are usually drawn from the storage tanks at desired heights with the help of a sampling device.
Currently used sampling device is a closed metal container with an aperture at its bottom. In storage condition, this aperture is in closed position and it opened by pulling a lever attached to it using a thin rope. A thick rope is attached to the container. The sampling device is lowered into the tank up to a desired height depending upon the product level with the help of a thick rope tied to the container. The thin rope is pulled while holding the thick rope firmly causing the aperture at the bottom of the container to open through which sample is sucked into the container. Release of the thin rope thereafter closes the aperture and the sampling device is withdrawn from the container. The sample picked up by the sample container is emptied and taken away for testing and analysis.
When the sampling device is lowered the sampling device rotates like a flywheel, causing twisting or entangling of both the ropes. Twisting or entangling of thick and thin ropes not only causes a difficulty in operating the lever but also makes sample withdrawal difficult, time consuming and erroneous because once the ropes get twisted the bottom aperture will not open or close properly and sample may not get drawn.
To overcome afore said problem, the Applicant has developed a novel method and a
casing to control the rotation of the device when in fluid environment.
Objects of the invention:
An object of the present invention is to provide a casing and sampling device for fast and
accurate sampling, without causing twisting or entangling of the ropes.
Summary of the invention:
The Present invention relates to an improved sampling device to facilitate the sampling process. A Sampling device is a device used to draw samples in chemical, petro-
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chemical, pharmaceutical industries. The problems of twisting or entangling of ropes due to the rotation of the sampling device have been over come by the device of the present invention.
Statement of the invention:
Accordingly, the present invention relates to a casing comprising:
a body provided with at least two wings; and
a fastener protruding from the body and adapted to hold an article
Brief description of figures:
Figure 1 illustrates a prior existing sampling device
Figure 2 illustrates a sampling device with two rectangular wings according to the present
invention
Figure 3 illustrates the sampling device with two rectangular wings and a clamp
Figure 4 illustrates the sampling device with circular shaped wings
Figure 5 illustrates the sampling device with corrugated wings
Detailed description of the invention:
Accordingly, in one aspect, the invention provides a casing comprising:
a body provided with at least two wings; and
a fastener protruding from the body and adapted to hold an article.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a sampling device, said device comprising a container having an aperture and a body with plurality of wings;
said body surrounding the container such that the rotation of the container is controlled when inserted into a fluid.
Thus the invention attempts to solve prior art problems by providing a casing which is so designed that it not only with stands and resists the hydrostatic forces and/or shear force of a liquid but also controls both clockwise and anti-clockwise rotation of the article/container held by it.
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The casing may be an integral part of the container or may be separately fitted to the container. The body as stated above may be a single piece/unit or assembled from different pieces. It may comprise one or more distinct pieces. These distinct pieces may be joined by an appropriate engaging means. For instance, if the body is a two piece structure, the two may be joined by a hinge. Protruding from the body are two wings placed/ located opposite to each other. The wings may be of any geometric shape, such as circular, rectangular oval, polygonal, corrugated and so on. However, the rectangular shape is preferred. The wings (both or one) may be convex or concave. Preferably, the wings may be slightly concave. The number of wings may exceed 2 on either side. Further protruding from the body is a fastener. The fastener may act as arms and hold the article or container. The fastener may be such as a belt-clip type structure, Velcro®, clamp magnetic lock, locking clip, magnetic hook or any means that is suited to tightly hold and article and retain the article in place. The fastener may be without limitation, one or more than one. In another aspect, the invention provides as sampling device surrounded by the casing described above, wherein when the device surrounded by the casing described above, wherein when the device is tightly held within the casing its rotation in a fluid or liquid environment is controlled.
In another aspect, the present invention casing with at least two slits for receiving the wings. Slit may be designed to receive wings of different geometrical shape e.g. rectangular, circular, polygonal, corrugated etc.
In the present invention the container is connected with a second rope. With the help of the second rope the container is lowered in the storage tank or reservoir up to the desired depth of fluid to be sampled. When the container reaches up to the desired depth the second rope is hold tightly and the flap is actuated with the help of the actuating mechanism to open said aperture from drawing samples.
In particular, when the device is held in a casing comprising two rectangular wings attached at 180° to each other, such an arrangement is found to effectively control the
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rotation of the container. In fact, with such an arrangement, the device may be properly lowered into a fluid environment and sample withdrawn.
The wings may be attached to the body by welding, gluing or riveting etc. The container, fastener and wings may be made of metal or a non metal depending upon the use of the sampling device.
The sampling device of the present invention may be used for sampling any fluids e.g. stored, chemical liquids, oils, plant extracts, and liquids for medicinal use. When the oil, plant extracts etc. are stored in the storage tank or reservoir the concentration and/or density of the stored liquid is different at different depths. The sampling device disclosed in the present invention is very useful in cases wherein the property of liquids such as concentration and density of the stored liquid varies with the depth of the container.
In yet another aspect, the invention provides a method for controlling rotation of a sampling device, comprising; a) providing a means to retain the container through a retaining means; b) providing barrier to withstand the hydrostatic and shear forces of a liquid.
The present invention is described with reference to the figures and specific embodiments; this description is not meant to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications of the disclosed invention, as well as alternate embodiments of the invention, will become apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to the description of the invention. It is therefore contemplated that such modifications that can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention are also deemed.
Figure 1 shows a prior art existing sampling device having a metal container. The metal container has an aperture at the bottom (not shown in the figure) which is closed by a flap which is actuated by a lever.
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Figure 2 illustrates a sampling device with an example casing prepared according to the present invention. As is evident from the figure 2 that the improved sampling device comprises a container (1) having an aperture having an aperture (not shown in the figure) at the bottom of the container. The aperture is closed by a flap (not shown) movably attached to the container. A lever (2) is attached to the flap for actuating and opening the flap and aperture. As shown in figure 2 the sampling device has two clamps (3, 4) adapted to be fitted to the container (1). The clamp (3, 4) has a hinge element (5) at center of the clamp (3, 4) and a locking clip (6) opposite to the hinge element (5) to facilitate easy attachment and detachment of the clamp (3, 4) to the container (1). Two rectangular wings (7, 8) having a curved surface area are attached to the clamps (3, 4) at 180° to each other. Clamps (3, 4) are attached to the container with help of the locking clip (6). A first rope (9) is tied to the lever (2) to actuate it. A second rope (10) is tied to the container (1). The sampling device is lowered with the help of the second rope (10) up to a desired depth of the fluid in a storage tank. While lowering the sampling device in the storage tank, the sampling device tends to rotate. The wings attached to the clamp generate a negative couple and control rotation of the sampling device. The curved surface area of the wings prevents rotation of the sampling device more effectively and avoids twisting or entangling of two ropes (9, 10). Once the sampling device is lowered up to a desired height, the second rope (10) is hold tightly and first rope (9) is pulled to actuate the lever (2). The actuation of lever (2) thereby actuates the flap to open the aperture and fluid is allowed to enter into the container (1).
Advantages of the invention:
1. Simplifies sampling process.
2. Reduction in time required to draw samples.
3. Ensures quality of the products to customers.
4. Accurate measurement of properties of the product.
5. Enhances the comfort level to the workmen drawing samples.
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We Claim:
1. A casing comprising:
a) a body provided with at least two wings; and
b) a fastener protruding from the body and adapted to hold an article.
2. The casing as claimed in claim 1, wherein each wing is a continuous single piece.
3. The casing as claimed in claim 1, wherein each wing is composed of one or more distinct pieces.
4. The casing as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body is composed of one or more units, all
of which are joined by an engaging means.
5. The casing as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body is a two piece structure, the pieces joined by a hinge.
6. The casing as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body is a hollow structure.
7. The casing as claimed in claim 1, wherein casing further comprising a body with at least
two slits for accommodating at least two wings.
8. The sampling device comprising:
a container provided a means for withdrawing a liquid, and a casing as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5 which when fitted into the container, controls its rotation in a liquid.
9. The device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the fastener is selected from a belt-clip type fastener, magnetic clip, clamps, magnetic hooks.
10. The device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the casing comprises two or more fasteners.
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11. A casing substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.


Dated this 1st day of September, 2006

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ABSTRACT
Present invention discloses casing for a sampling device, which facilitates the sampling process and make the sampling process accurate.
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