GB2239233A

GB2239233A - Apparatus for the extraction of liquid samples, e.g. of milk

Info

Publication number: GB2239233A
Application number: GB9027327A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Manfred Kaune
Original assignee: Diessel GmbH and Co
Current assignee: Diessel GmbH and Co
Priority date: 1989-12-22
Filing date: 1990-12-18
Publication date: 1991-06-26
Anticipated expiration: 2010-12-18
Also published as: GB2239233B; GB9027327D0; DE3942606A1

Abstract

Apparatus for the extraction of liquid samples, in particular milk samples, from flow pipes, consisting of two samplers 1a, 1b arranged in separate, differing locations of the flow pipe 2, so that the two samples to be taken are closely similar relative to the composition and quantity of said samples. Two identical samplers, one 1a associated with the delivery tank, and the other 1b with the receiving tank, have volume-measuring means 3 operative to measure a flow-rate through the connecting pipe 2 between the two samplers with said measuring means connected to a control device 7, thereby controlling the two samplers, e.g. a time delay can be used to ensure that sampler 1b samples from the same batch as sampler 1a by calculating the correct delay from the flow rate. <IMAGE>

Description

Mel41290 APPARATUS FOR THE EXTRACTION OF LIQUID SAMPLES The invention

relates to apparatus for the extraction of liquid samples, in particular milk samples, from flow pipes, consisting of two separate samplers which are arranged in different locations of the flow pipe.

Known sampler arrangements which use two different samplers at separate sampling points have a disadvantage in that the composition of the two samples differs.

These samplers are used when, for example, milk is to be delivered from a tanker or other transportable means to a stationary tank of a recipient, samples being taken both from the delivery tank and the receiving tank. Usually, the recipient of such a milk delivery wishes to extract his own samples independently of the sampler situated in the transportable means.

This requirement is of particular significance to milk deliveries where milk prices are dependent on the composition of the sample and its fat content, etc.

Therefore, it is an object of the invention to arrange a sampler which ensures that the two samples taken are similar in composition and quantity.

According to the present invention, there is provided apparatus comprising two identical samplers, one of which is associated with the delivery tank, and the other with the receiving tank, said apparatus having volume-measuring means operative to measure a flow-rate when arranged in a connecting pipe between the two samplers wherein the volume- measuring means are JMel41290 connected to a controller which controls the two samplers.

An advantage of this apparatus is that both samplers are identical and are controlled via the volume-measuring means to provide closely similar samples in respect of composition and quantity. The sample, which may be taken by a receiving sampler of a recipient of, for example, a milk delivery is then virtually identical to the sample taken at the delivery sampler. This ensures that any discrepancy in, for example, the value of the respective milk samples, is minimised.

Advantageously the sample is taken by the recipient sampler only after a certain volume of milk has flowed through the connecting pipe so that the sample of the recipient sampler taken subsequently to that of the delivery sampler is of the same volume of milk from which the delivery sample was taken. Consequently, this subsequent sample is of a similar composition to that of the sample extracted at the delivery tank.

It is particularly advantageous if this delay in the extraction of a sample by the receiving sampler is effected by the controller which is dependent on the volume-measuring means.

If, for example, the sampler of the delivery tank is accommodated in a known manner on a delivery vehicle, then it is particularly useful if the controller is also associated with the delivery vehicle. This arrangement permits the sharing of the delivery sampler and controller amongst recipients who then only require a receiving sampler to connect to this mobile portion of the apparatus at the start of each delivery cycle. This 1 ^141290 resultsin considerable savings.

Preferably, the volume-measuring means and the pump are similarly accommodated.

Advantageously, the sample extraction pumps in the samplers are so-called peristaltic pumps which trap a certain volume within a compressible hose disposed between two pressure members and transport this volume to the outside of the pump.

By using the controller as provided by the invention, it is possible to extract samples at a given rate, which is equal in both samplers, relative to different flow rates. Where the respective number of samples, or sampling rate, which is set by the control device, is constant there will be a lower number of samples taken per unit volume during higher flow-rates, and vice versa.

By way of example, a specific embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 shows a schematic illustration of a form of embodiment of the apparatus; and Figure 2 shows the use of the sampler of Fig. 1 during a milk delivery from a transportable tank to a stationary tank.

Referring to Fig. 1, the apparatus comprises two identical samplers la and lb (which can be of a known type) which extract samples from a flow pipe 2, in which volume-measuring means 3 operative to measure the flowrate are located. The flow pipe 2 is fed by a pump 4, and the flow is in the direction of arrow 5. Each JMel41290 sample container is labelled 6.

A controller 7, which also gathers data as schematically indicated by arrows 8 and 9, controls the two samplers la and lb so that the respective quantities of the samples are equal. Identical extraction of the samples at both devices is guaranteed since the devices are identical.

Controller 7 is fed by volume-measuring means 3, thereby guaranteeing that the volume from which each sample is extracted by the samplers la and lb is the same in each device.

Furthermore, the preferable embodiment shown in Fig. 1 ensures that the extraction rate of each sample is proportional to the flow-rate, thereby ensuring that the volume is identical for both samplers. This is achieved by controller 7 which delays the extraction of each sample at the sampler on the righthand side as shown in Fig. 1 until the volume at position 10 from which a first sample is taken has reached position 11. The subsequent sample is thus extracted from the same volume as in the first device. Reference marks 10 and 11 mark the locations where samples are extracted from the flow-through pipe.

The apparatus shown in Fig. 1 can be arranged between two stationary tanks wherein the fluid e.g. milk, flows from a first stationary tank as shown in the direction of arrow 12 through the apparatus and is delivered as shown in the direction of arrow 13 to a second stationary tank. The two samplers la and lb are then controlled in the aforedescribed manner by the controller as indicated by arrow 14.

It can be particularly advantageous if part of 1 ^141290 - 5 - the apparatus, indicated in Fig. 1 by the dot-dash markings, which comprises the first sampler la, pump 4, volume-measuring means 3 and controller 7, are located onboard a tanker 15. The recipient will then not require further components with his stationary sampler so that the sampling thereat is comparatively costeffective. This arrangement is schematically illustrated in Fig. 2.

Referring to Fig. 2, the tanker 15 contains a connecting pipe 2 which is connected to a mobile tank on the vehicle and to a valve 18 which is connected to a pump 4, which is connected via the flow pipe to an initial sampler la, an air separator 16, volumemeasuring means 3, the controller 7 and a valve 17, the latter being connected via a flexible connecting pipe 2a to the stationary sampler lb. The connecting pipe 2 can then be connected via a valve 19 to the stationary tank. An electrical line can extend parallel to the connecting pipe 2a.

Me141290

Claims

CLAIMS - 6 1. Apparatus for an extraction of liquid samples, in particular

milk samples, from flow pipes, consisting of two identical samplers arranged in separate, different locations of the flow pipe, wherein one of the said samplers is associated with the delivery tank and the other said sampler with the receiving tank, said apparatus having volume-measuring means for measuring a flow rate in a connecting pipe between the two samplers, wherein the volume-measuring means is connected to a controller which controls the two samplers.
2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the extraction of a sample at the receiving tank occurs only after the milk to be delivered has flowed through the connecting pipes so that the extraction of this second sample at the receiving sampler is of a quantity of milk from which the first sample was extracted at the delivery sampler.
3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein a delay in the volume of the sample extraction is achieved by the controller which is loaded by the volume-measuring means.
4. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the sampler and the control device are associated with the delivery tank and are arranged on a delivery vehicle.
5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein both the volume-measuring means and a pump are arranged on the delivery vehicle.
Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, ^141290 wherein pumps within the samplers are peristaltic pumps.
7. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein an equal number of samples is taken by the samplers over various flow rates.

Published 1991 at The Patent Office, State House, 66171 High Holbom. London WC1 R 41P. Further copies rnay be obtained from Sales Branch. Unit 6, Nine Mile Poinf, Cwmfehnfach. Cross Keys, Newport, NPI 7HZ. Printed by Multiplex techniques lid. St Mary Cray. Kent.