WO2024208396A1 - Sample collection - Google Patents

Abstract

A device (1) according to the invention for sample collection from a gaseous/fluid medium flow is provided with a housing (2), with a medium feed (3), with a medium outlet line (4), and with a medium line (5) which allows a flow of medium from the medium supply (3) to the medium outlet line (4) through the housing (2). In the housing (2), a plurality of controllable valves (10) are arranged in the medium line (5). Furthermore, a plurality of receptacles (6a, 6b, 6c) are provided for the gas-tight/fluid-tight reception of removable sample tubes (7a, 7b, 7c). Each of the receptacles (6a, 6b, 6c) is connected to a single valve (10) by means of a line (9a, 9b, 9c). A plurality of removable sample tubes (7a, 7b, 7c) for storing samples of the gaseous/fluid medium flow are provided as part of the device (1) and are designed to be received in a gas-tight/fluid-tight manner in the receptacles (6a, 6b, 6c). In the housing (2), a control unit (8) is also provided which is designed to control controllable valves (10) for selectively conducting the medium flow in the direction of the allocated receptacles (6a, 6b, 6c) with the removable sample tubes (7a, 7b, 7c) arranged therein. With this device (1) for sample collection from a medium flow, it is possible at the current point in time to examine the medium with the aid of the allocated gas sensor (13) by removing a sample volume from the medium flow and examining same, and additionally removing the removed sample volume, which is located in a removable sample tube (7a, 7b, 7c), from the rest of the device for sample collection and thus from the receptacle and providing it for a further, in particular in-depth analysis.

Description

sampling

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a device for taking samples from a fluid, in particular gaseous, media stream. Such devices for taking samples are known, for example, from exhaust gas treatment in internal combustion engines. Such devices for taking samples are also suitable for clean gas monitoring.

STATE OF THE ART

Such devices for taking samples in a fluid, particularly gaseous, media stream are frequently used to examine the composition of gases and to indicate disturbing concentrations of dangerous or undesirable gases in the medium to be examined or, depending on this, to initiate certain measures to eliminate or mitigate the negative effects of a dangerous or undesirable gas. Such devices for taking samples in a fluid, particularly gaseous media stream are used in particular in exhaust gas purification or in clean gas monitoring.

A method for cleaning gas sensors in an exhaust system is known from the German patent application DE 10 2017 122 150 Al. In this method, a gas sensor is located within the The exhaust gas sample is arranged in the exhaust pipe and takes a gas sample from its sampling end, which is then analyzed by the gas sensor. The analysis result is transmitted via an electrical line to the electronic engine control unit (ECM), which carries out the exhaust gas check in accordance with standard procedures and strategies. The exhaust gas sample taken cannot be sent back for subsequent analysis, particularly using a different gas sensor, which limits the quality of the exhaust gas analysis.

An analysis device and an analysis system for analyzing a measurement target gas contained in a sample gas are known from the German utility model DE 20 2020 005 856 Ul. The analysis device shows a filling unit that is set up to be filled with a sample gas that contains the measurement target gas. Measuring light is introduced into the filter unit via a radiation unit and the concentration of the measurement target gas in one filling unit is determined based on the effect of the optical properties of the sample gas or the measurement target gas. If necessary, the filling unit is cleaned with a purge gas or calibrated using a reference gas. This analysis also does not make it possible for the analyzed sample gas to be subsequently fed back into further investigation.

Another sampling device for taking samples from a media stream as part of an exhaust gas aftertreatment device of a motor vehicle is known from the German patent DE 10 2015 217 178 B3. In this device, samples are taken from the exhaust gas stream at various points in the exhaust gas stream using a plurality of sampling elements in the exhaust pipe, thus enabling analysis. This analysis enables spatially differentiated information on the Measured values. The vehicle's electronic engine control unit (ECM) will use these to check the exhaust gas flow in accordance with common procedures and strategies. This analysis also does not allow the analyzed sample gas to be subsequently subjected to further investigation.

The German utility model DE 20 2021 104 545 Ul discloses a test kit for the detection of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. This test kit shows a sampling device in the form of a cotton swab that is inserted into various sample tubes with different reagents that react with the sample taken. These various sample tubes are tightly sealed with appropriate lids and enable a statement to be made about the presence of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors in the sample. This test kit is only suitable for the detection of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and is not suitable for automatically and reliably taking samples from a media stream.

These sampling devices have proven to be unsuitable for taking samples from a gaseous or fluid media stream and for subjecting them to later, particularly more detailed, examination or analysis.

A water sampling system for contamination-free water samples is known from US2013145867A1. The water samples are taken depending on the depth and are introduced into tubes with the help of a pump and stored there. A squeeze mechanism for the tubes enables the tubes to be filled and closed with the introduced sample. The flexible tubes can then be removed. The tubes prove to be suitable for storage and subsequent handling, including analysis, is not very suitable.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention is based on the object of specifying a device for taking samples from a gaseous or fluid media stream which is improved compared to the prior art.

The object is achieved according to the invention with a device for taking samples from a media stream, which has the features specified in claim 1.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

The device according to the invention for taking samples from a gaseous or fluid media stream is provided with a housing, with a media feed for feeding the medium to be examined, continuously or discontinuously fed in the form of a media stream, with a media outlet for discharging the fed medium from the housing, with a media line that enables a media flow from the media feed to the media outlet of the device. Furthermore, several controllable valves are arranged in the media line in the housing of the device for taking samples. Also, several receptacles are provided for a gas-tight receptacle of removable sample sleeves, wherein the receptacles are connected to individual valves via a respective line. The several removable sample sleeves are provided for storing samples of the media stream. A control unit is provided in the housing of the device for taking samples, which is designed to control controllable valves and thereby enabling a selective supply of the media stream to individual receptacles or individual sample sleeves in the corresponding receptacle. The device for taking samples from a media stream has at least one gas sensor which is assigned to the device for taking samples. The gas sensor is connected to the control unit in such a way that it transmits an alarm signal to the control unit depending on whether a threshold value for the measured value of the gas sensor is exceeded or not reached. The control unit then controls at least one controllable valve depending on this alarm signal so that the sample sleeve assigned to this valve is supplied with a sample volume from the media stream, whereby this takes place depending on the alarm signal. This makes it possible, for example, if the gas sensor detects that a medium being fed is too heavily contaminated with a disruptive or harmful component and the concentration of this component has therefore exceeded a predetermined threshold value, an alarm signal is generated in the gas sensor and fed to the control unit in the sampling device and, accordingly, a sample is taken from the medium flow in a situation-specific manner when the alarm condition is present and the concentration of the disruptive component is too high. The duration of the sampling and thus the control of the controllable valve can be selected according to a number of different alternative options. For example, after a predetermined period of time, the controllable valve can be closed and the sampling can thus be terminated, which is a very simple control. Alternatively, the control of the controllable valve can also be terminated as soon as the alarm signal is canceled again due to the threshold value being undershot, which is a very specific and meaningful sampling with regard to the disturbing component is possible. Furthermore, it is also possible to select the control of the valve in such a way that a defined volume is taken as a sample from the sample stream and fed into the assigned sample sleeve via the controlled valve, which is particularly reliable when a volume sensor is present in the device.

With this device according to the invention for taking samples from a media stream, it is possible to examine the medium at the current time by taking a sample volume from the media stream and examining this, and also to remove the sample volume taken, which is located in a removable sample sleeve, from the rest of the device for taking samples and thus from the receptacle and to subject it to further, in particular more in-depth analysis. This now makes it possible to carry out this further, in particular more in-depth analysis at a later time, for example with an additional gas sensor or according to a specific, different method for analyzing the medium, to obtain additional, in particular better information on the properties of the medium to be examined. Thus, with the help of the device for taking samples according to the invention, it is possible to obtain more in-depth and improved information on the medium to be examined. The sampling and the associated possibility of later, in particular more differentiated examination or analysis plays a special role here.

In addition, it has also proven to be very advantageous that not only one sample sleeve is provided, which can be selectively controlled via the controllable valves and thus selectively supplied with the medium from the media flow can be. Rather, several sample sleeves or receptacles are provided for this purpose, each of which is assigned to a controllable valve. This makes it possible for several different sample volumes to be available for later and in particular differentiated analysis, with these different sample volumes being taken from the media flow at different times, thus making it possible to carry out a differentiated observation of the media flow, in particular of the change in the media flow. Such an analysis can be carried out, for example, using PID, mass spectroscopy or similar methods. This makes such devices particularly suitable for taking samples in a fluid, in particular gaseous, media flow, in particular in exhaust gas purification or in clean gas monitoring.

It has proven particularly useful to develop the device according to the invention in such a way that a volume sensor is arranged in the media flow between the media feed and the first controllable valve in the direction of the media flow - i.e. downstream. This makes it possible to obtain a reliable statement about the media flow with regard to the volume of the flowing medium or with regard to the size of the volume flow and thus the throughput of the medium as a whole, because the entire media flow supplied via the media feed is fed to this first, downstream, controllable valve. This information about the volume or the volume flow of the medium by the volume sensor proves to be very valuable, since different sizes of the media flows lead to very different properties, in particular compositions of the media, in particular with regard to impurities that influence on the quality of the medium. It is precisely such changes in the properties of the medium that can be very significant and make subsequent, particularly in-depth, examination or analysis of the samples taken, which are stored in removable sample tubes, possible and, if necessary.

In a corresponding manner, it has proven useful for the device for taking samples to be further developed in such a way that it has a time recording unit which is connected to the control unit. With the help of the time recording unit, it is possible to control the controllable valves using the time information from the time recording unit. The time control can be directed on the one hand to the period of time in which a valve enables the associated sample sleeve to be filled, or alternatively or additionally to a defined point in time at which a specific valve or several valves enable the associated sample sleeves to be filled. This leads to a very flexible and meaningful option of taking samples from the media flow with the help of the device for taking samples and subjecting them to a differentiated, particularly in-depth, subsequent examination or analysis. This is all the more true since the knowledge about the period of filling the sample volume or the time of filling is known via the control unit with associated time recording unit and can be read out if required.

In addition to the possibility of arranging a gas sensor outside the housing of the sampling device with a signal connection to the control unit, A particularly preferred development of the invention has proven to be particularly advantageous, which shows an arrangement of a gas sensor in the housing between the media supply and the first controllable valve in the direction of the media flow. This development creates a very compact and self-sufficient device for taking samples, which is fully functional and which creates the possibility of a later, in particular in-depth examination or analysis of the sample volumes taken in the removable sample sleeves and thus enables better significance and information about the medium being examined.

A particularly preferred development of the invention shows a control unit which is designed in such a way that only a single controllable valve releases the flow of the media stream to a receptacle and thus to the receptacle assigned to the valve in question or to a sample sleeve in this receptacle. This development of the device for taking samples makes it possible to guide the sample taken from the media stream and thus the sample volume into a single sample sleeve and to store it therein. Since this sample sleeve can be removed and shields the sample volume from the surroundings of the sample sleeve in a gas- or fluid-tight manner, it is possible to subject this sample volume taken to further, in particular later, examination or analysis in a very simple manner, which leads to a very meaningful result, since the assignment of the sample volume taken to a single extraction process from the media stream is reliably given.

A particularly preferred development of the invention shows one or several or all removable sample sleeves which are provided with a data storage device. The data storage device is connected to the control unit in such a way that data about the control unit is applied to the data storage of the sample sleeve and can be stored therein and thus made available for later readability, especially when the sample sleeve has been removed. This makes it possible to further improve the handling of the device for taking samples and to make the quality of the information that is or can be relevant for a later, in particular in-depth examination or analysis of the sample taken in the sample sleeve with the data storage available for the later, in particular in-depth analysis.

The data preferably contain information such as the date of sampling, the time of sampling, the duration of sampling, the media volume during or when sampling, the media volume flow and thus the throughput of the medium during or when sampling, the type of gas or fluid when sampling, in particular from an associated gas sensor, the type of possible alarm information, in particular from the associated gas sensor and/or information for identifying the device for sampling or the sample sleeve in which the sample taken is stored for removal from the device. It has also proven useful to record the temperature and/or pressure of the medium in the media flow during sampling and to record it in addition to or alternatively with the other information in the data storage of the sample sleeve. This information can be of essential importance for further examination or analysis and classification of the findings later obtained from the sample with the help of further examination or analysis and can be decisive for the evaluation. This makes it possible for the sampling device to be enables significantly improved information or insights into the sample taken.

It has proven particularly useful to design the data storage device to be electronic, in particular contactless, electronically readable, which provides a simple and secure option for reading, in particular for automatically reading the contents of the data storage device with the aforementioned data. In addition or as an alternative, it has also proven useful to provide the sample sleeve with a display that shows individual pieces of information in a directly readable manner, which makes handling noticeably easier.

A further, particularly preferred development of the invention shows a data storage device which is designed as a permanent data storage device and/or as a changeable data storage device. Information for identifying the sample sleeve or the device for taking samples from a media stream is preferably written into a permanent data storage device, whereby this information is immutably and permanently engraved and is therefore permanently available for later use and thus for later reading. In contrast, highly variable data is preferably stored in a changeable data storage device, which is particularly the case for information on the time or period of sampling or on the volume flow. The design of the data storage device from a part with permanent data storage and another part with changeable data storage has proven particularly useful. This means that the relevant information can be stored very securely and up to date and made available for later evaluation, which can lead to meaningful information on the medium being examined. A particularly preferred development of the invention shows removable sample sleeves, each of which can be positively connected to a holder for sample sleeves and secured in this position. This design of the connection between a sample sleeve and the holder assigned to it is ensured in a simple and secure manner, so that a gas- or fluid-tight connection is achieved through the positive fit. By securing this position of the tight, positive connection, it is also possible to guarantee this tightness even under difficult external conditions, for example due to vibrations or difficult, aggressive environments, which makes the removal of a sample from the media flow and the transfer to the sample sleeve particularly reliable and therefore makes the quality of an analysis of the sample in the removed sample sleeve at a later time particularly meaningful and reliable.

It has proven particularly useful to further develop the device according to the invention for taking samples from a media stream in such a way that at least one removable sample sleeve has a closure mechanism which automatically closes a sample volume in the sample sleeve when it is removed from the holder and seals off the sample volume of the medium held tightly from the environment. By providing the closure mechanism in the removable sample sleeve, it is possible to seal off the interior of the sample sleeve, which is intended to hold the sample volume taken from the media stream, tightly, in particular gas-tight, from the environment, so that contamination of the sample taken can be largely excluded. By providing automatic closure by means of the closure mechanism when the sample is removed, protection against contamination is increased. tion to a particularly high degree, which has a positive effect on the

significance of a subsequent, particularly in-depth analysis of the sample taken from the media stream.

Furthermore, it has proven particularly useful to further develop the device according to the invention for taking samples from a media stream in such a way that at least one removable sample sleeve with a closure mechanism is designed in two parts, with one part having the closure mechanism and the other part being designed to hold the sample volume. This makes it possible to improve the handling and production and thus also the operational reliability of the two-part sample sleeve. This is all the more true since the tightness of the sample sleeve and thus the protection of the introduced sample volume from the environment is particularly guaranteed with simple production and handling even in the event of maintenance, which has a positive effect on the informative value of later, particularly in-depth, analyses of the sample.

In order to make the application area of the device for taking samples from a media stream diverse, it has proven particularly useful to further develop the device according to the invention for taking samples from a media stream in such a way that at least one removable sample sleeve has one or more accumulators, which may be separate from one another, which are arranged in the sample sleeve and are suitable for storing or absorbing the sample of the medium taken up or parts thereof. By providing one or more accumulators, which may contain, for example, a zeolite, activated carbon and/or Anasorb, it is possible to accumulate or collect small components of the supplied sample volume over the time of the sample being taken and thus enable a more meaningful result in the later, in particular more detailed analysis. The accumulator is selected so that it is adapted to the expected interference or impurities and can accumulate them efficiently. By providing different accumulators or accumulators of different sizes, even more differentiated information about the interference can be obtained. In particular, this makes it possible to limit the influence of noise by means of an improved useful signal based on the accumulated component to be sensed, thereby improving the quality of the evaluation.

It has proven particularly useful to further develop the device according to the invention for taking samples from a media stream in such a way that at least one removable sample sleeve has a glass tube that defines a receiving volume for a sample of the medium. The provision of such a glass tube has proven particularly useful because such glass tubes are particularly tight and robust and thus permanently and reliably prevent damage or contamination of the sample or at least reduce the risk of such.

It has proven particularly useful to further develop the device according to the invention for taking samples from a media stream in such a way that a bypass line is provided which, by means of a valve which can be controlled by the control unit, leads the media stream directly to the media outlet without being led through further valves. This further development with a bypass line makes it possible to design the device with very little maintenance, because the media stream is fed directly to the media outlet without the interposition of the switchable valves connected to the sample sleeve holders for the time in which no sample volume is to be taken from the media stream for collection in a removable sample sleeve. Media discharge. This makes it possible to reduce the flow resistance and to reduce the risk that the switchable valves connected to the sample sleeve holders will become dirty or damaged by the media flow. This also makes it possible to ensure the functionality of the device for taking samples from a media flow to a particular degree and thus to increase the quality of a possible later or more in-depth analysis of the sample taken in a removable sample sleeve.

It has proven particularly useful to further develop the device according to the invention for taking samples from a media stream with the control unit in such a way that a controllable valve enables or blocks the flow of the media stream to the associated receptacle or to the associated sample sleeve within the framework of predetermined specific situations. Such a situation occurs, for example, when an alarm signal is active.

Another such situation occurs, for example, when another controllable valve releases the flow of the media stream to the associated receptacle or to the associated sample sleeve for a sampling time which is selected to be equal to the sampling time with an active alarm, when the alarm signal is no longer active after the active alarm signal.

Another such situation occurs, for example, when another controllable valve releases the flow of the media stream to the associated receptacle or to the associated sample sleeve for a predetermined sampling period independently of an alarm signal. Such a situation can also arise, for example, if another controllable valve releases the flow of the media stream to the media outlet when no alarm signal is active and/or no other controllable valve has released the flow of the media stream to the assigned receptacle or to the assigned sample sleeve. These various example situations can be implemented individually or in combination or as an alternative to one another, with these situations usually being provided alongside one another for controlling controllable valves with assigned receptacles and assigned sample sleeves that are implemented alongside one another. This means that these four example situations can be controlled side by side by side, depending on the situation and thus differentiated, by four example arrangements consisting of a combination of controllable valve, receptacle assigned to the valve and sample sleeve assigned to the valve, and thus different sample sleeves are provided with samples from the media stream depending on the situation. This situation-dependent control of the controllable valves by the control unit, depending on the respective situation, enables a differentiated analysis of the various samples in the various sample sleeves, whereby very meaningful information can be obtained about the samples and the gas or fluid to be examined.

It has proven particularly useful to further develop the device according to the invention for taking samples from a media flow in such a way that a pre-filter, in particular a pre-filter designed as a particle filter, is arranged in the area of the media supply. This pre-filter ensures that substances which the device for taking samples, in particular the switchable valves, the volume sensor or can also damage the lines for the media flow. For example, in the case of a device for taking samples from gaseous media, which can be damaged by solids or liquids, it has proven to be a good idea to design it as a pre-filter by providing a particle filter that filters out solids (e.g. dust) or liquids (e.g. oil droplets). This makes it possible to ensure the functionality of the device for taking samples from a media flow to a particularly high degree and thereby increase the quality of a possible later or more in-depth analysis of the sample taken in a removable sample sleeve.

It has proven particularly useful to develop the device according to the invention for taking samples from a media stream in such a way that no media pump is provided in the media line to convey the media stream, so that the media stream is conveyed passively. This is preferably achieved by selecting a higher pressure of the medium in the area of the media supply than the pressure of the medium in the area of the media outlet, thereby creating a pressure gradient in the media line in the housing of the device, which ensures that the medium is guided passively, i.e. solely by the pressure gradient, in the direction of the media outlet. If individual controllable valves in the media line between the media supply and media outlet are closed, the pressure of the medium in the supply is also available at the first closed controllable valve. If this is opened so that the associated sample sleeve can be filled, the medium flows into the sample sleeve. This can be done until the media pressure in the sample sleeve is in equilibrium with the media in the media flow in the area of the controllable valve, or it can be time-controlled or volume-controlled, which leads to defined, in particular predetermined, media quantities in the associated sample sleeve. This design of the sampling device makes it possible to create a simple and robust device that also makes it possible to store very specific sample volumes or sample quantities in a sample sleeve and to be able to submit them for later analysis.

The invention is explained below using preferred embodiments with reference to the figures. The invention is not limited to these preferred embodiments.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of an exemplary device according to the invention for taking samples from a media stream and

Fig. 2 shows a schematic view of an exemplary removable sample sleeve according to the invention from Fig. 1.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of a device for taking samples 1 from a gaseous/fluid media stream. The device 1 is provided with a housing 2, with two media inlets 3, with a media outlet 4, with a media line 5 which enables a media flow from the media inlet 3 to the media outlet 4 through the housing 2.

In the housing 2, several controllable valves 10 are arranged in the media line 5. Also, several receptacles 6a, 6b, 6c are provided for the gas-tight/fluid-tight reception of removable sample sleeves 7a, 7b, 7c. The receptacles 6a, 6b, 6c are each connected to a single valve 10 by means of a ner line 9a, 9b, 9c. Several removable sample sleeves 7a, 7b, 7c for storing samples of the gaseous/fluid media flow are provided as part of the device 1 and are designed for gas-tight/fluid-tight reception in the receptacles 6a, 6b, 6c. A control unit 8 is also provided in the housing 2, which is designed to control controllable valves 10 for selectively directing the media flow in the direction of the associated receptacles 6a, 6b, 6c with the removable sample sleeves 7a, 7b, 7c arranged therein.

With this device for taking samples 1 from a media stream, it is possible to examine the medium at the current time using the associated gas sensor by taking a sample volume from the media stream and examining this, and additionally to remove the sample volume taken, which is located in a removable sample sleeve 7a, 7b, 7c, from the rest of the device for taking samples and thus from the receptacle and to subject it to a further, in particular a more in-depth analysis. This now makes it possible to carry out this further, in particular more in-depth analysis at a later time, for example with an additional gas sensor or according to a specific, different method for analyzing the medium, in order to obtain additional, in particular better information on the properties of the medium to be examined. Such an analysis can also be carried out, for example, by means of gas-liquid chromatography, gas chromatography (in particular by means of photoionization detection PID, flame ionization detection EID or thermal conductivity detection TCD), mass spectroscopy or similar methods.

In addition, it has also proven to be very advantageous that not only one sample sleeve 7a, 7b, 7c is provided, the can be selectively controlled via the controllable valves 10 and can thus be selectively supplied with the medium from the media flow. Rather, several sample sleeves 7a, 7b, 7c or receptacles 6a, 6b, 6c are provided for this purpose, each of which is assigned to a controllable valve 10. This makes it possible for several different sample volumes to be available for later and in particular differentiated analysis, whereby these different sample volumes can be taken from the media flow in particular at different times and this provides the possibility of a differentiated observation of the media flow in particular of the change in the media flow. Such devices for taking samples 1 in a fluid, in particular gaseous, media flow in particular in exhaust gas purification or in clean gas monitoring are therefore particularly suitable. For example, the purity of gases such as compressed air can be monitored with regard to interfering substances such as oil droplets or oil vapors, and these sampling devices 1 make it possible to subject the medium to a further, in particular more in-depth analysis at a later point in time, for example using an additional gas sensor or using a specific, different method for analyzing the medium, and thereby to obtain additional, in particular better information on the properties of the medium to be examined.

The control unit 8 is designed such that only a single controllable valve 10 releases the flow of the media stream to a receptacle 6a, 6b, 6c or to a sample sleeve 7a, 7b, 7c.

This design of the sampling device 1 makes it possible to collect the sample taken from the media flow and thus the sample volume into a single sample sleeve 7a, 7b, 7c. and store it therein. Since this sample sleeve 7a, 7b, 7c is removable and the sample volume is shielded in a gas-tight or fluid-tight manner from the surroundings of the sample sleeve 7a, 7b, 7c, it is possible to very easily subject this sample volume to further, particularly later, examination or analysis, which leads to a very meaningful result, since the assignment of the sample volume taken to a single extraction process from the media flow is reliably given.

The sampling device 1 shows a volume sensor 13, which is arranged in the media flow between the media feeds 3 and the first controllable valve 10 in the direction of the media flow. The sampling device 1 also shows a time recording unit 14, which is integrated into the control unit 8 and is thus connected to it in terms of signaling.

The control unit 8 of the device for sampling 1 is connected in terms of signal technology to at least one gas sensor that is separate and detached from the device 1 in such a way that the gas sensor can transmit an alarm signal to the control unit 8 depending on whether a threshold value for the measured value of the gas sensor is exceeded or not reached, and the control unit 8 of the device 1 can open or close at least one controllable valve 10 in a targeted manner depending on this alarm signal in such a way that the removable sample sleeve 7a, 7b, 7c assigned to it can receive a sample taken from the media flow, store it and supply it for later, in particular more detailed, analysis.

The sampling device 1 has several removable sample sleeves 7a, 7b, 7c, which are provided with a data storage device. The data storage device is connected to the control unit 8 connected in such a way that data can be loaded onto the data storage device of the sample sleeve 7a, 7b, 7c via the control unit 8 and stored therein and thus made available for later readability, in particular when the sample sleeve 7a, 7b, 7c has been removed. This makes it possible to further improve the handling of the device for sampling 1 and to make the quality of the information that is or can be relevant for a later, in particular in-depth examination or analysis of the sample taken in the sample sleeve 7a, 7b, 7c with the data storage device available for the later, in particular in-depth analysis.

The stored data preferably contain information such as the date of the sample being taken, the time of the sample being taken, the duration of the sample being taken, the media volume during or when the sample is being taken, the media volume flow and thus the throughput of the medium during or when the sample is being taken, the type of gas or fluid when the sample is being taken, in particular from an associated gas sensor, the type of possible alarm information, in particular from the associated gas sensor, and/or information for identifying the device for taking the sample or the sample sleeve 7a, 7b, 7c in which the sample taken is stored for removal from the device 1. The date of the sample being taken, the time of the sample being taken and/or the duration of the sample being taken are obtained with the aid of the time recording unit 14.

The volume of the medium during or during sampling, the volume flow of the medium and thus the throughput of the medium during or during sampling are obtained using the volume sensor 13. In addition, a gas sensor is integrated in the volume sensor 13. The gas sensor 13 is connected to the control unit 8 in such a way that it is dependent on the signal. gig of exceeding or falling below a threshold value for the

Measured value of the gas sensor 13 transmits an alarm signal to the control unit 8. The control unit 8 then controls at least one controllable valve 10 depending on this alarm signal so that the sample sleeve 7a, 7b, 7c assigned to this valve 10 is supplied with a sample volume from the media flow, this taking place depending on the alarm signal. This makes it possible, for example, if the gas sensor 13 detects that a supplied medium is too heavily loaded with a disruptive or harmful component and thus a predetermined threshold value for the concentration of this component is exceeded, an alarm signal is generated in the gas sensor 13 and fed to the control unit 8 in the sampling device 1 and accordingly, depending on the situation, a sample is taken from the media flow when the alarm state exists and thus the concentration of the disruptive component is too high. The duration of the sampling and thus the control of the controllable valve 10 can be selected according to a number of different alternative possibilities. For example, after a predetermined period of time, the controllable valve 10 can be closed and the sampling thus terminated, which represents a very simple control, alternatively the control of the controllable valve 10 can be terminated as soon as the alarm signal is canceled again due to the threshold value being undershot, which enables very specific and meaningful sampling with regard to the disturbing component. Furthermore, it is also possible to select the control of the valve 10 in such a way that a defined volume is taken as a sample from the sample stream and fed via the controlled valve 10 into the associated sample sleeve 7a, 7b, 7c, which is particularly This is particularly reliable when a volume sensor 13 is present in the device 1.

It has also proven useful to record the temperature and pressure of the medium in the media flow during sampling using a temperature sensor 15 or a pressure sensor 15 and to record this additionally or alternatively with the other information in the data storage of the sample sleeve 7a, 7b, 7c. This information can be of essential importance for the further investigation or analysis and classification of the findings obtained from the sample later with the help of the further investigation or analysis and can be decisive for the evaluation.

It has proven particularly useful to design the data storage device so that it can be read electronically without contact, which provides a simple and secure way of reading it, in particular for automatically reading the contents of the data storage device with the aforementioned data.

The data storage is designed as a combination of permanent data storage and changeable data storage. Information for identifying the sample sleeve or the device for taking samples 1 from a media stream is preferably written into the permanent data storage part, whereby this information is immutably and permanently engraved and is therefore permanently available for later use and thus for later reading. In contrast, highly variable data is preferably stored in a changeable data storage part, which is particularly the case for information on the time or period of sampling or on the volume flow.

The device for taking samples 1 from a media stream with the control unit 8 is designed in such a way that a controllable valve 10 enables or blocks the flow of the media stream to the associated receptacle 6a, 6b, 6c or to the associated sample sleeve 7a, 7b, 7c within the framework of predetermined specific situations. Such a situation occurs, for example, when an alarm signal from the remote gas sensor is active.

Another such situation occurs, for example, when another controllable valve 10 releases the flow of the media stream to the associated receptacle 6a, 6b, 6c or to the associated sample sleeve 7a, 7b, 7c for a sampling time that is selected to be equal to the sampling time with an active alarm, when the alarm signal is no longer active after the active alarm signal. The alarm signal is obtained from the remote gas sensor and the time information from the time recording unit 14.

Another such situation occurs, for example, when another controllable valve 10 releases the flow of the media stream to the associated receptacle 6a, 6b, 6c or to the associated sample sleeve 7a, 7b, 7c for a predetermined sampling period independently of an alarm signal. The time information is obtained from the time recording unit 14.

Such a situation can also arise if another controllable valve 11 releases the flow of the media stream to the media outlet 4 via the line 12, as soon as, for example, no alarm signal is active and/or no other controllable valve has released the flow of the media stream to the associated receptacle 6a, 6b, 6c or to the associated sample sleeve 7a, 7b, 7c.

These different situations are realized together.

This means that these four exemplary situations by means of four exemplary arrangements consisting of a combination of controllable valve 10, receptacle 6a, 6b, 6c assigned to valve 10 and sample sleeve 7a, 7b, 7c assigned to valve 10, which are implemented side by side, can be controlled side by side depending on the situation and thus in a differentiated manner, and thus, depending on the situation, different sample sleeves 7a, 7b, 7c can be provided with samples from the media flow. This situation-dependent control of the controllable valves 10 by the control unit 8, depending on the respective situation, enables a differentiated analysis of the various samples in the various sample sleeves 7a, 7b, 7c, whereby very meaningful information about the samples and the gas or fluid to be examined can be obtained.

The device for taking samples has removable sample sleeves 7a, 7b, 7c, which can each be connected in a form-fitting manner to a receptacle 6a, 6b, 6c for sample sleeves 7a, 7b, 7c and can be secured in this position. This design of the connection between a sample sleeve 7a, 7b, 7c and the receptacle 6a, 6b, 6c assigned to it is ensured in a simple and safe manner, so that a gas- or fluid-tight connection is achieved through the form-fitting connection. This form-fitting connection is achieved by appropriate shaping and dimensioning of the abutting parts of the removable sample sleeves 7a, 7b, 7c and the receptacles 6a, 6b, 6c. This can be improved by providing additional seals, in particular rubber-elastic seals. By securing this position of the tight, positive connection, it is also possible to ensure this tightness even under difficult external circumstances, for example due to vibrations or difficult, aggressive environments, which makes the removal of a sample from the media flow and the transfer into the sample sleeve 7a, 7b, 7c particularly reliable and thus makes the quality particularly meaningful and reliable when analyzing the sample in the removed sample sleeve 7a, 7b, 7c at a later time.

By providing the closure mechanism in the removable sample sleeve 7a, 7b, 7c, it is possible to seal off the interior of the sample sleeve 7a, 7b, 7c, which is intended to accommodate the sample volume taken from the media flow, from the environment in a tight, in particular gas-tight manner, so that contamination of the sample taken can be largely excluded. By providing automatic closure by means of the closure mechanism, for example by means of non-return elements or spring-reinforced elements for gas- and/or fluid-tight closure, protection against contamination when removing the sample sleeve 7a, 7b, 7c is achieved to a particularly high degree, which has a positive effect on the informative value of a later, in particular in-depth analysis of the sample taken from the media flow.

Fig. 2 schematically shows a removable sample sleeve 7a, 7b, 7c of the device for taking samples 1 from a gaseous/fluid media stream from Fig. 1.

The at least one removable sample sleeve 7a, 7b, 7c of the sampling device 1 is provided with a closure mechanism and is designed in two parts.

One part 20 has the locking mechanism and the other part 21 is designed to accommodate the sample volume and also as a sealing counterpart for the receptacle 6a, 6b, 6c. This makes it possible to improve the handling and production and thus also the operational reliability of the two-part sample sleeve 7a, 7b, 7c. This is all the more true since the tightness of the sample sleeve 7a, 7b, 7c and This ensures that the sample volume is particularly well protected from the environment while being easy to manufacture and handle, even in the event of maintenance, which has a positive effect on the reliability of subsequent, particularly in-depth, analyses of the sample.

In the second part 21 of the removable sample sleeve 7a, 7b, 7c, a glass tube 22 for receiving and storing the sample is arranged. The glass tube 22 has tapers in its end regions 23 which have a nozzle-like shape and thus enable the defined inflow from the line 9a, 9b, 9c from the valve 10 into the receiving volume of the glass tube 22 or the defined outflow after the sample sleeve 7a, 7b, 7c has been removed for later, in particular more detailed, analysis of the gas stored in the sample sleeve 7a, 7b, 7c. Sealing is also possible in a particularly effective manner thanks to this tapered shape. The glass tube 22 is arranged in a tubular recess in the second part 21, the shape and size of the tubular recess corresponding to the external shape of the glass tube 22. The glass tube is sealed against the tubular housing of the second part 21 of the removable sample sleeve 7a, 7b, 7c by means of an annular seal 25. The provision of such a glass tube 22 has proven particularly useful, since such glass tubes 22 are particularly tight and robust and thus permanently and reliably prevent damage or contamination of the sample or at least reduce the risk of such.

Furthermore, 2 ring-shaped seals 26 are provided on the outside of the second part 21 of the sample sleeve 7a, 7b, 7c, which are suitable for sealing against the housing 2 of the sample extraction 1, whereby this takes place in the area of the receptacle 6a, 6b, 6c for the respective sample sleeve 7a, 7b, 7c. ring-shaped seals 26 are arranged at different positions and with different orientations on the outside of the second part 21 and thus seal in different ways with respect to the housing 2. These seals 26 achieve a very effective sealing effect of the second part 21 of the sample sleeve 7a, 7b, 7c in the receptacle 6a, 6b, 6c for the relevant sample sleeve 7a, 7b, 7c.

The glass tube 22 of the second part 21 of the removable sample sleeve 7a, 7b, 7c is provided with an accumulator 24 in its receiving volume for a received sample of the medium, which is suitable for storing or absorbing the received sample of the medium or parts thereof. By providing an accumulator 24, which can contain, for example, a zeolite, activated carbon and/or Anasorb, it is possible to accumulate or collect small components of the supplied sample volume over the time of sampling and thus enable a more meaningful result in the later, in particular more detailed analysis. The accumulator 24 is selected so that it is adapted to the expected contaminants or impurities to be examined and can accumulate these efficiently. This makes it possible to limit the influence of noise by improving the useful signal due to the accumulated component to be sensed and thus improve the quality of the evaluation. List of reference symbols Device for sampling Housing Media supply Media outlet Media line a Holder for the gas-tight/fluid-tight holder for removable sample sleeves b Holder for the gas-tight/fluid-tight holder for removable sample sleeves c Holder for the gas-tight/fluid-tight holder for removable sample sleeves a Removable sample sleeve b Removable sample sleeve c Removable sample sleeve Control unit a Line between controllable valve ( 10 ) and the holder for removable sample sleeves b Line between controllable valve ( 10 ) and the holder for removable sample sleeves c Line between controllable valve ( 10 ) and the holder for removable sample sleeves 0 Controllable valve 1 Controllable valve

1 . 12Line between controllable valve ( 10 ) and media outlet3 Volume sensor or gas sensor Time recording unit Temperature and pressure sensor First part of the sample sleeve with locking mechanism Second part of the sample sleeve for the sample volume Glass tube End area of the glass tube Accumulator Seal glass tube 22 against housing of the second part 21 Seal second part against housing 2 in holder

6a, 6b, 6c

Claims

claims 1. Device for taking samples (1) from a gaseous/fluid media flow, with a housing (2), with a media feed (3), with a media outlet (4), with a media line (5) which enables a media flow from the media feed (3) to the media outlet (4), wherein in the housing (2) several controllable valves (10) are arranged in the media line (5), wherein several receptacles (6a, 6b, 6c) are provided for the gas-tight/fluid-tight reception of removable sample sleeves (7a, 7b, 7c) and the receptacles (6a, 6b, 6c) are connected to a line (9a, 9b, 9c) with individual valves (10), wherein several removable sample sleeves (7a, 7b, 7c) are provided for storing samples of the gaseous/fluid media flow, wherein a control unit is connected to the housing (2) (8) is provided which is designed to control controllable valves (10) for selectively directing the media flow, and wherein at least one gas sensor is assigned to the sampling device (1), wherein the gas sensor (13) is connected to the control unit (8) in terms of signal technology and, depending on whether a threshold value for the measured value of the gas sensor is exceeded or not reached, transmits an alarm signal to the control unit (8), which controls at least one controllable valve (10) depending on this alarm signal. 2. Device for sampling (1) according to claim 1, wherein a volume sensor (13) is arranged in the media flow between the media supply (3) and the first controllable valve (10) in the direction of the media flow. 3. Device for sampling (1) according to claim 1, wherein the gas sensor is arranged in the housing (3) between the media supply (3) and the first controllable valve (10) in the direction of the media flow. 4. Device for sampling (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the control unit (8) is designed such that only a single controllable valve (10) releases the flow of the media stream to a receptacle (6a, 6b, 6c) or to a sample sleeve (7a, 7b, 7c). 5. Device for sampling (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein one or more or all removable sample sleeves (7a, 7b, 7c) are provided with a data memory which is connected to the control unit (8) and which can be supplied with data, such as in particular date, time, duration of sampling, media pressure, media temperature, media volume, media volume flow, type of gas, type of alarm information and/or identification of the device for sampling (1) or the sample sleeve (7a, 7b, 7c) via this control unit (8). 6. Device for sampling (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the removable sample sleeves can be positively connected to a respective receptacle (6a, 6b, 6c) for sample sleeves (7a, 7b, 7c) and can be secured in this position. 7. Device for sampling (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein at least one removable sample sleeve (7a, 7b, 7c) has a closure mechanism which automatically closes a sample volume in the sample sleeve when it is removed from the receptacle (6a, 6b, 6c) and tightly seals the received sample of the medium from the environment. 8. Device for sampling (1) according to claim 7, wherein at least one removable sample sleeve (7a, 7b, 7c) with closure mechanism is designed in two parts and one part (20) has the closure mechanism and the other part (21) is designed to receive the sample volume. 9. Device for sampling (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein at least one removable sample sleeve (7a, 7b, 7c) has one or more optionally separate accumulators (24), wherein the accumulator or accumulators (24) are arranged in a sample volume in the sample sleeve and store the received sample of the medium or parts thereof. 10. A sampling device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein at least one removable sample sleeve (7a, 7b, 7c) comprises a glass tube (22) which defines a receiving volume for a received sample of the medium. 11. Device for sampling (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein a bypass line is provided which, by means of a valve controllable by the control unit (8), directs the media flow directly to the media outlet without being guided via further valves (10). (4) leads. 12. Device for sampling (1) according to one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the control unit (8) is designed such that a controllable valve (10) releases the flow of the media stream to the associated receptacle (6a, 6b, 6c) or to the associated sample sleeve (7a, 7b, 7c) when an alarm signal is active, that another controllable valve (10) releases the flow of the media stream to the associated receptacle (6a, 6b, 6c) or to the associated sample sleeve (7a, 7b, 7c) for a sampling time, which is selected in particular to be equal to the sampling time with an active alarm, if the alarm signal is no longer active after the active alarm signal, in particular that another controllable valve (10) releases the flow of the media stream to the associated receptacle (6a, 6b, 6c) or to the associated sample sleeve (7a, 7b, 7c) for a predetermined sampling period independently of an alarm signal, and in particular that another controllable valve (11) releases the flow of the media stream to the media outlet (4) when no alarm signal is active and/or no other controllable valve (10) has released the flow of the media stream to the associated receptacle (6a, 6b, 6c) or to the associated sample sleeve (7a, 7b, 7c). 13. Device for sampling (1) according to one of claims 1 to 12, wherein a pre-filter, in particular a pre-filter designed as a particle filter, is arranged in the region of the media supply (3). 14. Device for sampling (1) according to one of claims 1 to 13, wherein no media pump is provided in the media line for conveying the media flow, so that the media flow is conveyed passively.