Sampling Pod System for Hazardous Material Integrity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sampling tools, such as 'sampling thieves,' face challenges in safely and efficiently transferring hazardous materials, often leading to contamination and sample composition changes during transfer, especially when dealing with granular or viscous substances.
Innovation Solution
A sampling tool with a sampling rod and a sampling pod featuring a removable lid that snap-fits or slide-fits onto the main body, allowing for rapid sealing and reduced contamination risks, along with a method that involves inserting the pod into the rod, collecting the sample, sealing it before removal, and transporting it for analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual transfer of sample from sampling thief to sample container is performed, then sample can be transported to analysis location, but transfer time increases and contamination risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sampling device is divided into a sampling rod and detachable sampling pods. Each pod is a separate, self-contained unit that can be individually removed from the rod after sampling, eliminating the need to transfer the entire sampling assembly and reducing transfer time while maintaining sample integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The sampling pod is extracted as a separate removable component from the sampling rod. This allows the pod containing the sample to be directly removed and transported to the analysis location without requiring transfer to an intermediate container, thus reducing both transfer time and contamination risk.
2Reliability
If manual transfer of sample is performed, then sample can be transported, but risk of environmental contamination increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sampling pod is extracted as a sealed, self-contained unit that can be directly removed from the sampling rod and transported to the analysis location. This eliminates the need to open or transfer the sample to intermediate containers, maintaining containment and preventing environmental contamination throughout the transport process.
3Reliability
If sample is transferred between vessels, then sample can be transported for analysis, but sample composition changes due to particle retention
Solution Approach 1:
The sampling pod is extracted as a complete, self-contained unit that holds the entire sample. By removing the pod directly from the sampling rod and transporting it sealed to the analysis location, the sample undergoes no intermediate transfers. This eliminates particle retention on transfer surfaces and preserves the original sample composition accuracy.
4Productivity
If sampling pod with removable lid is used, then rapid sealing is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sampling pod is segmented into a main body and a separate removable lid. This segmentation allows the lid to be quickly attached or detached from the pod body using simple engagement features, enabling rapid sealing of the sample without requiring complex mechanisms. The segmented design achieves fast sealing while keeping the overall structure relatively simple.
Data Source
Figure 1(a)~1(c)
Figure 1(d)~1(e)
Figure 1(f)~1(i)
AI summary
A method of, and apparatus for sampling a solid or liquid sample using a sampling tool which has a sampling rod/tube that is configured to house a sampling pod (10), the apparatus comprising: a main body portion (12) with at least one sample collecting cavity (14); and a removable/opening lid portion (16) that in use fits/closes over at least part of said main body portion and thereby covers and the cavity; the method further comprising the following steps: (a) Inserting said sampling pod main body portion within said sampling rod/tube and taking a solid or liquid sample from a vessel/container; (b) removing sampling rod/tube from said vessel or container and covering said collecting cavity to seal said cavity; (c) transporting said sample within said sampling pod to place of a analysis; and (d) at place of analysis removing at least part of said covering from main body portion to expose sample for analysis.