Aquatic Sampling Device With Buoyant Vertical Orientation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional biological and chemical sampling devices in flowing aqueous media are ineffective in detecting materials present in low concentrations and fail to identify brief or localized changes in the composition of the aqueous medium between successive samples.

Innovation Solution

A sampling device with a rectilinear support structure, an accumulation interface, and a flotation means that allows the device to be positioned across the flow with a vertical orientation, incorporating a spongy accumulation interface for retention and a pinching mechanism for efficient sampling and wringing of materials, ensuring representative sampling of materials in suspension.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If spot sampling is used in flowing water, then the sampling operation is simple, but the detection of materials at low concentrations is ineffective

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesimplicity of sampling operationVSAvoiddetection capability of low concentration materials
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The accumulation interface accumulates materials from the aqueous medium over time before sampling, performing the accumulation action in advance. This allows materials present in very small quantities to be concentrated on the interface, enabling their subsequent detection while maintaining operational simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The accumulation interface provides a localized region with special properties (spongy structure) that selectively retains materials from the flowing water. This local accumulation zone concentrates materials at low concentrations without requiring complex system-wide modifications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of operation

If spot sampling at regular intervals is used, then the sampling process is straightforward, but brief or localized changes in composition are missed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestraightforward sampling processVSAvoiddetection of brief localized changes
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The accumulation interface continuously accumulates materials from the flowing water as it passes through, rather than taking discrete snapshots. This continuous accumulation process ensures that brief or localized changes in composition are captured and retained on the interface, preventing information loss while maintaining operational simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Device complexity

If the device is positioned horizontally with flow, then the structure is simple, but the accumulation interface does not effectively retain materials

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoidmaterial retention effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The flotation means provides an upward buoyant force that counteracts the downward force of gravity on the accumulation interface. This positioning keeps the accumulation interface at the water surface or in the upper portion of the flow, where it can effectively retain materials through the combined effects of buoyancy and the spongy structure's capillary action.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables the detection of materials at low concentrations and identifies changes in the aqueous medium composition effectively, maintaining sample quality and adaptability to varying flow conditions.

Implementation Method 1

a flotation means 4 mounted at one end of the straight support structure 2... ensures the positioning of the device 1 in the aqueous medium to be sampled such that, on the one hand, one end of the device 1 is maintained near or at the level of the aqueous surface

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBuoyancy: Archimedes' Principle (Buoyancy)

Implementation Method 2

the integration of an accumulation interface 3 into the sampling device 1 of the invention enables the retention and preservation of materials that may be present only in small quantities in the aqueous medium

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP3926323A1Device for sampling in an aqueous medium
Publication Date: 2021.12.22 AD SCIENTIFIQUE
  • EP3926323A1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3926323A1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP3926323A1 patent drawingFigure 6~8

AI summary

The invention relates to a sampling device (1) in aqueous media, characterized in that the device (1) comprises: - a straight support structure (2), - an accumulation interface mounted on at least a part of the support structure (2), - a flotation means (4) mounted at one end of the straight support structure (2).