Drainable ferrule valve design

Abstract

An apparatus for inoculating a sample to or withdrawing a sample from a vessel or conduit includes a body with an internal sample cavity, a valve operating rod movable to open and close an orifice to the sample cavity and a coupler to attach the body to a port of the vessel or conduit. A portion of the sample cavity is formed by an endcap which includes the orifice. The sample cavity is thermally and/or electrically insulated from the vessel or conduit. This insulation can arise from an empty or filled space between an inner wall and outer wall of the valve. Otherwise, insulating material can be used in forming the valve. The valve can be mountable on the vessel or conduit such that a positive drain angle is maintained regardless of whether the ferrule to the vessel or conduit is inclined upwardly, downwardly or is horizontal.

1 . A valve installed in an inclined ferrule in a wall of a vessel or conduit, an axis of an internal bore of said ferrule having an angle of inclination in a direction away from the vessel or conduit, comprising: 
 a valve body, said valve body having an internal drainage path with an angle of declination in a direction away from the vessel or conduit greater than or equal to said angle of inclination of said axis of said internal bore of the ferrule, a forward end of said internal drainage path having an orifice; and    a valve operating rod having a sealing tip engageable with said orifice for opening and closing said orifice, said valve operating rod having an axis at an angle to an axis of said internal drainage path.