Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
166 words
A process for sampling and measuring beer fermentation products stored within a fermentation tank comprising the steps of: providing a main sampling conduit having branch conduits each connected to the fermentation tank at different vertical locations for sampling therefrom beer fermentation products; initially charging said main sampling conduit with water; withdrawing a sample of beer fermentation products through one branch conduit at a time into the main sampling conduit while maintaining the other branch conduits isolated from the main sampling conduit; advancing the withdrawn sample of beer fermentation products through the main sampling conduit to a measurement station by pushing it with water to thereby minimize the amount of beer fermentation products withdrawn from the fermentation tank for sampling and measuring purposes; and measuring certain properties of the withdrawn sample at the measurement station and providing corresponding output signals each representative of a measured property of the beer fermentation products at the particular vertical location of the fermentation tank at which the measured sample was withdrawn.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
166 words
A process for sampling and measuring beer fermentation products stored within a fermentation tank comprising the steps of: providing a main sampling conduit having branch conduits each connected to the fermentation tank at different vertical locations for sampling therefrom beer fermentation products; initially charging said main sampling conduit with water; withdrawing a sample of beer fermentation products through one branch conduit at a time into the main sampling conduit while maintaining the other branch conduits isolated from the main sampling conduit; advancing the withdrawn sample of beer fermentation products through the main sampling conduit to a measurement station by pushing it with water to thereby minimize the amount of beer fermentation products withdrawn from the fermentation tank for sampling and measuring purposes; and measuring certain properties of the withdrawn sample at the measurement station and providing corresponding output signals each representative of a measured property of the beer fermentation products at the particular vertical location of the fermentation tank at which the measured sample was withdrawn.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A process according to claim 1; including rinsing the main sampling conduit with water between successive withdrawing steps.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A process according to claim 1; including automatically carrying out the withdrawing, advancing and measuring steps in a predetermined sequence according to a predetermined program.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
A process according to claim 1; including setting the temperature of the withdrawn sample between 0° and 5° C. before carrying out said measuring step so as to minimize the presence of foam in the withdrawn sample to thereby reduce errors in the measurements which would otherwise be introduced due to foam.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process according to claim 4; wherein the temperature of the withdrawn sample is set between 0° and 2° C.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
A process according to claim 1; wherein said measuring step comprises measuring at least one of the properties of temperature, dissolved oxygen, hydrogen potential and electrical conductivity of the withdrawn sample.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A process according to claim 1; wherein said measuring step comprises measuring the properties of temperature, dissolved oxygen, hydrogen potential and electrical conductivity of the withdrawn sample.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
A process according to claim 1; including agitating the withdrawn sample at the measurement station and withdrawing any foam which may be formed during agitation preparatory to carrying out said measuring step.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
A process according to claim 1; wherein said advancing step comprises controlling the flow of the withdrawn sample to the measurement station by progressively and gradually increasing the cross-section of the flow passage to reduce to a minimum the formation of foam.