FR2737570A1 - Sampling of wine musts and fruit juices - where the sample is crushed and forced through a grill to release the juice contained within the fruit. - Google Patents

Abstract

Fruit juice, in particular wine musts, need to be sampled in order to determine their sugar content, and hence alcohol content, and other biological characteristics. Once taken, samples should be transferred as quickly as possible to a measuring instrument, such as a refractometer. The sampling device consists of a small reservoir (1) with inclined base (2) and one wall with fine perforations (3). Samples are sucked up by a tube (5) which passes through an opening in the top of the reservoir and reaches nearly to its base (6). An air supply tube (8) also passes through the wall of the reservoir (7) into its base (9).

Description

DEVICE FOR TAKING JUICE SAMPLES
The invention relates to a device for taking samples of fruit juice, more particularly grape must, in order to determine its biological characteristics, more particularly its sugar, therefore alcohol content, by its transfer. immediately at a measuring station, for example of the refractometer type; of the kind essentially comprising a perforated end which enters the harvest to take a sample of must and a suction tube capable of transferring said sample to said measuring station.

 Known devices of the kind in question, whether they are one or more sampling heads, generally have the following main drawbacks - the suction is not done under good conditions because we are in the presence of viscous mixtures where the lack of air limits the suction height; - the juice is not taken under good conditions because it is largely in the fruit.

 The invention therefore aims to provide a device which eliminates the above-mentioned drawbacks by - bringing (atmospheric) air into the suction zone to increase its performance; - crushing the fruit in the sampling area for better analysis of the samples.

To this end, it relates to a device - where the end, capable of taking the must sample, is in the form of a small tank, with an inclined bottom, which spreads, on its lateral face, a grid ; on its upper face, an orifice for the passage of the suction tube; on another side face, in its lower part, an orifice for the passage of an air intake tube; - Which has a movable wall, associated with a control means, capable of crushing the harvest sample to be taken against the tank grid.

 The characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof given by way of non-limiting example and shown in the accompanying drawings.

In these drawings - Figure 1 is an elevational view of the entire device; - Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the end of said device; - Figure 3 is an enlarged view of the reservoir and the suction and air intake tubes, 900 of the previous one.

 The device shown in the figures comprises - a small tank (1), with an inclined bottom (2), which comprises, on a lateral face, a very fine grid (3); on its upper face, an orifice (4) for the passage of the suction tube (5) whose lower end (6) is located in the lower part of the tank; on another side face, in its lower part, an orifice (7) for the passage of an air intake tube (8) whose lower end (9) is located in the bottom of said tank; - A movable wall (10), associated with a control means (11), capable of crushing the harvest sample to be taken against the grid (3) of the tank (1).

Said movable wall (10) comprises a base (12) connected, by two articulated connections (13) and (14), respectively to the suction tube (5) and to the control means (11), of the pneumatic cylinder type, which is itself connected, by an articulated connection (15), distinct from the connection (13), to said suction tube. Said wall may be of sheet metal folded in the shape of a "U".

The end (16) of the suction tube is connected alternately, during removal, to a suction means and, when unclogging the grid, to a means capable of triggering an air jet.

Figures 1 and 2 show the wall (10) in the open position (A) and in the clamped position (B) against the grid (3) of the tank (1).

The suction tube (5) is carried by an arm (17) which is made integral with the end of a bracket (18), orientable or tiltable, thanks to a control means (19), for example of the jack type. pneumatic.

When the trailers pass, the device is maneuvered so as to immerse said tank in the harvest at the chosen location.

 It enters it in the open position (suction in operation) then closes automatically by crushing the harvest sample. The collected juice is immediately transferred to the measuring station. The return to the high position of the wort outlet releases what remains of the crushed harvest sample and triggers an air jet which unclogs the grid.

The operation can be repeated in several places, but a single take is sufficient to carry out the refractometer measurement cycle.

This device makes it possible to carry out a filtered sample taking after pressing, greatly facilitating the operation of the refractometers, in particular for difficult harvests (dry or with hard grape varieties). For juicy harvests, a device, without its movable wall, can be envisaged.

 Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described and shown for which other variants can be provided essentially in the shapes of the reservoir and of the movable wall, in the positioning of the suction and intake tubes. air, without thereby departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (4)

 1- Device for taking samples of fruit juice, more particularly grape must, in order to determine its biological characteristics, more particularly its sugar, therefore alcohol content, by its immediate transfer to a measurement, for example of the refractometer type; of the kind essentially comprising a perforated end which penetrates into the harvest to take a must sample and a suction tube capable of transferring said sample to said measuring station; characterized in that the end, suitable for taking the must sample, is in the form of a small tank (1), with an inclined bottom (2), which comprises, on a lateral face, a very fine grid (3); on its upper face, an orifice (4) for the passage of the suction tube (5) whose lower end (6) is located in the lower part of the tank; on another side face, in its lower part, an orifice (7) for the passage of an air intake tube (8) whose lower end (9) is located in the bottom of said tank.  2- Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a movable wall (10), associated with a control means (11), capable of coming to crush the harvest sample to be taken against the grid (3) of the tank (1).  3- Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the movable wall (10) comprises a base (12) connected, by two articulated connections (13) and (14), respectively to the suction tube (5) and to the control means (11), of the pneumatic cylinder type, which is itself connected, by an articulated connection (15), distinct from the connection (13), to said suction tube (5).  4- Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the suction tube (5) is connected alternately, during removal, to a suction means and, when unclogging the grid, to a means capable of triggering an air jet.