Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01F—MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME
  • G01F13/00—Apparatus for measuring by volume and delivering fluids or fluent solid materials, not provided for in the preceding groups
  • G01F13/008—Apparatus for measuring by volume and delivering fluids or fluent solid materials, not provided for in the preceding groups taps comprising counting- and recording means
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
  • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B67D3/00—Apparatus or devices for controlling flow of liquids under gravity from storage containers for dispensing purposes
  • B67D3/0041—Apparatus or devices for controlling flow of liquids under gravity from storage containers for dispensing purposes with provisions for metering the liquid to be dispensed
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01F—MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME
  • G01F13/00—Apparatus for measuring by volume and delivering fluids or fluent solid materials, not provided for in the preceding groups
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01F—MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME
  • G01F22/00—Methods or apparatus for measuring volume of fluids or fluent solid material, not otherwise provided for
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01F—MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME
  • G01F1/00—Measuring the volume flow or mass flow of fluid or fluent solid material wherein the fluid passes through a meter in a continuous flow
  • G01F1/05—Measuring the volume flow or mass flow of fluid or fluent solid material wherein the fluid passes through a meter in a continuous flow by using mechanical effects
  • G01F1/06—Measuring the volume flow or mass flow of fluid or fluent solid material wherein the fluid passes through a meter in a continuous flow by using mechanical effects using rotating vanes with tangential admission
  • G01F1/075—Measuring the volume flow or mass flow of fluid or fluent solid material wherein the fluid passes through a meter in a continuous flow by using mechanical effects using rotating vanes with tangential admission with magnetic or electromagnetic coupling to the indicating device

Definitions

• the present invention relates to the field of measuring instruments and more specifically that of measuring volumes of liquid products.
• the invention relates to a device for measuring a variation in volume of liquid product in a container, this measuring device comprising at least one conduit arranged to allow the liquid product to flow out of the container, and a separate vent from said duct and arranged to allow air to enter said container to replace the liquid product leaving this container, the air passing exclusively through said vent and the liquid product passing exclusively through said at least one duct, the device measurement device further comprising a measurement assembly arranged to measure a value of a characteristic representative of the volume of air passing through said vent.
• the present invention also relates to a method for measuring a variation in volume of liquid product contained in a container.
• US patent US 7,900,799 describes a system for measuring the amount of liquid poured from a bottle of alcohol.
• This patent describes a dosing cap comprising a channel in which there is a propeller rotated by the passage of the liquid. The rotation of the propeller is measured and converted into a volume of liquid passing through the channel.
• the product to be transferred is in contact with the measuring set and more specifically with the propeller of this measuring set. This implies that this propeller can block or be slowed down, for example if sugar alcohol dries on the axis and prevents it from turning or slows it down in a non-reproducible way. This would result in inaccurate measurements, or even the impossibility of using the measuring device.
• the assembly may be difficult to clean if the propeller has to be placed on another container.
• the propeller may require the use of lubricant for its proper functioning.
• the product to be poured is in contact with the lubricant, which is not acceptable in practice, in particular for food products.
• a propeller can only be used with a relatively fluid liquid. Indeed, a viscous liquid could block the propeller and prevent it from turning. Such a propeller could also not be used with a corrosive fluid for example or with a liquid which must remain sterile.
• French patent FR2428827 describes a device for metering liquid, more specifically water, into a coffee dispenser.
• This device also comprises a propeller which is rotated by the passage of water.
• the propeller has two magnets whose movement is detected. The rotation of the propeller corresponds to the amount of water flowing next to the propeller.
• a pump for circulating the water is stopped, so as to stop the circulation of the water. water in the circuit.
• the propeller is in contact with the liquid of which it must measure the flowing quantity.
• this can pose problems of hygiene, cleaning, corrosion or blocking of the propeller, in particular. has been reached can only be achieved by circulating the liquid by means of a pump.
• This system is therefore not compatible with a bottle from which liquid such as alcohol is poured without a pump, by means of gravity alone.
• the air flow measurement device comprises two temperature probes arranged along the air passage, the temperature difference between the two probes being used to deduce the quantity of air having passed through this passage.
• the measurement of the quantity of air depends on parameters such as the external temperature in particular and is therefore not reliable and precise.
• the device should easily be able to be moved from one container to another, without having to undergo complex and costly cleaning or sterilization steps.
• the device should be able to be used with various products such as liquids having a wide viscosity range or corrosive liquids in particular.
• the transferred product should not be altered by the passage through the measuring device and the measuring device should not be altered by the passage of the product.
• the flow of liquid must be able to be stopped automatically when a predefined quantity of liquid was served. Handling with a measuring cap must be identical to handling a bottle without a measuring cap.
• the aim of the invention is to solve the aforementioned problems of the measuring devices of the prior art and to propose a device having the characteristics mentioned above.
• the variation in volume of the liquid leaving the bottle is not measured directly, but indirectly, by measuring the volume of air entering the container.
• This variation in the volume of air is measured by forcing this air to pass through a vent comprising an assembly for measuring the volume of air passing through this vent and by measuring the quantity of air passing through this vent during a certain time interval.
• this liquid reaches the inlet of the conduit before reaching the inlet of the vent.
• This can be achieved by placing the end of the vent disposed in the container recessed relative to the end of the conduit disposed in the container.
• Other embodiments are also possible, such as an angled vent, a siphon-shaped vent, etc.
• the vent has a cross-section whose area is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the duct.
• the indirect measurement of the variation in volume of liquid has many advantages compared to a direct measurement.
• the device of the invention thus makes it possible to measure volumes of a wide range of different products such as liquids having a wide range of viscosity.
• the measuring device for alcohol, oils, solvents, paints or mixtures of these products. It is possible to carry out measurements with corrosive liquids or liquids which must remain sterile during their transfer.
• the measuring device comprises a mechanism for automatically stopping the transfer of the product, for example when a certain predefined volume is reached.
• This stop mechanism comprises a device making it possible to authorize or prevent air from entering the container.
• this closing mechanism acts only on the vent by closing or opening the air passage, this closing or this opening has the effect of authorizing or preventing the flow of the liquid.
• the device of the invention may also include a module for converting the volume into another unit, for example a monetary unit, a unit of mass, or other.
• a module for converting the volume into another unit for example a monetary unit, a unit of mass, or other.
• the measured and/or converted values can be displayed on a display screen placed on the measuring device, on a multifunction device such as a mobile phone having a dedicated application or on a specific display screen in particular.
• the preset value can be measured or set in volume units or any other desired volume-related units. Thus, it is possible to define a certain amount and stop pouring a liquid when the predefined amount is reached.
• FIG. 1 is a sectional view of the device of the invention according to a first embodiment of the invention
• Figure 2 is a sectional view along another sectional plane of the device of Figure 1;
• Figure 3 is a perspective view of the device of Figures 1 and 2.
• Figure 4 is a top view of the device of Figures 1 to 3;
• the volume measuring device 10 relates to a metering device for a liquid product poured from a container.
• This measuring device can in particular be used as a measuring cap 11 on a bottle of alcohol.
• This measuring device comprises a body 12 secured to a sleeve 13.
• This sleeve can be placed on a container 14 and in particular in a neck 15 of a bottle 16.
• the sleeve 13 can typically have a certain elasticity or elastic fins for example, so that the same sleeve can be used on bottles having necks whose diameter varies slightly from one bottle to another, while being held in the neck.
• the elasticity of the sleeve or the fins also has the function of ensuring a seal between the container and the measuring device so that neither air nor liquid passes between the sleeve and the neck of the bottle.
• the sleeve 13 is arranged so that the air only passes through the measuring device 10 during the extraction of the product from the container. In other words, the air must not be able to flow between the neck 15 and the sleeve 13, but it must pass through the measuring device.
• the product can pass either through the measuring device, or through one or more conduits independent of the measuring device and provided for this purpose.
• the body 12 is arranged outside the container 14 and has two passages.
• One of the passages is provided to receive a pipe 17 allowing the liquid contained in the bottle 16 to be poured out.
• the other passage is provided to receive a vent 18.
• the conduit 17 passes through the sleeve 13 and the body 12 and connects the inside of the container 14 to the outside.
• This duct 17 is made of a material compatible with the product which has to pass through it. It may in particular be made of stainless steel, polymer, galvanized metal or other.
• This conduit 17 has a diameter allowing the liquid to be poured out relatively easily. For a bottle neck of the order of 20 mm in diameter, the diameter of the duct 17 may be of the order of 6 mm for example.
• the vent 18 is provided to allow the passage of air replacing the liquid which is extracted from the bottle. It comprises an opening arranged in the container and an opening arranged outside the container. This vent 18 can be separated into an upstream channel 18a and a downstream channel 18b.
• the upstream channel 18a is the one that receives the air first.
• the upstream channel 18a is the one whose opening is located outside the container.
• the downstream channel and the upstream channel of the container are linked in such a way as to allow the passage of air from one to the other.
• the vent comprises a measuring assembly 19 arranged to determine the volume of air having passed through the vent during a certain time interval, corresponding in principle to the duration of the measurement.
• This measurement assembly 19 can take several forms. It can in particular use pressure or temperature sensors, possibly in connection with a particular shape or structure of the vent, so as to generate a Venturi effect. It can take the form of a flow sensor whose measurements are integrated as a function of time, so as to calculate a volume. In practice, any assembly making it possible to measure the volume of air passing through the vent during the duration of the measurement can be considered.
• the measurement assembly does not directly measure a volume of air, but rather measures a value of a characteristic representative of the volume of air passing through the vent.
• This characteristic depends on the type of measuring system used and may in particular be a temperature difference, a pressure difference, a speed, a distance, a number of revolutions, etc.
• the measuring assembly 19 comprises a turbine 20 formed of a propeller 21 pivoting on an axis of rotation 22 and of a magnet (not shown).
• This magnet is integral with the propeller or the axis of rotation in such a way that the rotation of the propeller 21 causes the rotation of the magnet.
• This magnet may be an annular magnet arranged around the axis of rotation 22 of the turbine. The magnet can itself constitute the axis of rotation of the turbine.
• the vent 18 comprises a housing 23 arranged between the upstream channel 18a and the downstream channel 18b.
• the axis of rotation 22 is arranged in a plane substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the vent 18 so that the displacement of air in the vent causes the rotation of the propeller 21 around its axis of rotation.
• Propeller 21 is at least partially placed in housing 23.
• the rotation of the magnet causes a variation in the magnetic field which is detected by an induction coil (not shown).
• This variation of the magnetic field is used by a counting unit (not shown) to deduce the number of turns made by the propeller 21 during a certain time interval.
• a pole For the rotation of the magnet to create a variation in the magnetic field detectable by the induction coil, a pole must not be arranged symmetrically with respect to the axis of rotation of the helix.
• the magnet is a ring magnet placed around the axis of the helix, this magnet must have a diametral magnetization.
• the magnet constitutes the axis of rotation of the turbine or if the magnet is a ball.
• the axis of rotation 22 of the helix is contained in a plane separating the north and south poles of the magnet.
• the use of a magnet and the detection of the variation of the magnetic field generated by the rotation of this magnet is one of the ways of counting the number of revolutions of a propeller.
• one of the blades of the propeller 21 could have a different characteristic from the other blades.
• the number of revolutions is counted by the counter member by detecting the number of times the different blade passes in front of a sensor.
• the characteristics used to distinguish a blade could in particular be a different material, the detection taking place by the use of a physical characteristic of this material.
• the differentiating characteristic could be a different shape such as a notch or the absence of a notch, the detection taking place for example by optical means. Other detectable features could of course be used.
• the rotation of the turbine is produced by the displacement of air in the vent 18, from the upstream channel 18a to the downstream channel 18b, passing close to the turbine 20.
• Optimal rotation of this turbine occurs when the section of the downstream channel 18b is larger than the section of the upstream channel 18a of the vent.
• the air flow is reversed with respect to the liquid flow in conduit 17 since air is introduced into container 14 as liquid exits.
• the downstream of the vent 18 is close to the upstream of the conduit 17 and vice versa.
• the body 12 of the dosing cap 11 comprises an electrical power supply (not shown) which can in particular be made in the form of a battery.
• This body 12 also contains a closure device 24 arranged to close or open the vent 18.
• the closure device 24 comprises a solenoid valve 25.
• the solenoid valve 25 maintains the vent 18 farm.
• vent 18 is open.
• the dosing cap 11 comprises a control module 26 arranged in particular to control the closure device 24.
• the control module 26 can also include an adjustment element (not shown) making it possible to choose the quantity of liquid which must be able to be extracted from the bottle.
• This adjustment element can make it possible to select a value from among a certain number of predefined values, for example 5 cl, 1 dl or 2 dl. It can also be used to adjust the quantity according to predefined steps, such as 1 cl steps, for example. It can also make it possible to select a value from among predefined values, then to correct these values.
• the adjustment element is associated with a display 27 making it possible to make visible a selected or programmed quantity.
• This quantity can for example be a selected volume. It is possible to display other information such as for example an amount corresponding to the volume, a number of revolutions of the propeller or other information which has nothing to do with the measured volume. Such information can for example be a customer number, a name of the paid product, an identifier of the person using the device or any other information that can be useful depending on the context in which the device of the invention is used.
• the control module 26 further comprises a switch 28 making it possible in particular to control the closing device 24. This switch 28 can be controlled manually by the user, so as to act on the electrical supply of the closing device. It can also be controlled automatically by the position of the bottle.
• the switch 28 can trigger the electrical supply of the solenoid valve when the bottle is slightly tilted.
• the power can be cut off when the bottle is placed vertically. It is also possible to provide a manual switch to manage the power supply to the control module 26 and an automatic switch to manage the power supply to the closing device 24.
• the measuring device 10 of the invention further comprises a processing module 29 whose function is in particular to receive information from the counting device and to convert this information into a value representative of the volume of product transferred.
• a conversion module may also be provided to convert, for example, a measurement of the volume of the product into an amount or into other units.
• the processing module and the conversion module can be made as a single electronic module.
• the control module 26 is energized, then the quantity of liquid to be poured is selected on the element of setting. This quantity can be read on the display 27 for verification.
• the bottle is handled in a conventional way, to pour the liquid into a container.
• solenoid valve 25 closes vent 18 and air cannot exit or enter through this vent.
• the solenoid valve 25 is energized and the vent 18 is open. The bottle is tilted until liquid can exit the bottle through conduit 17. The volume of liquid exiting the bottle is replaced by air entering through vent 18.
• the control module 26 actuates the solenoid valve 25. This has the effect of closing the vent 18 and preventing air from entering the bottle. Surprisingly, this also has the effect of preventing the liquid from coming out of the bottle, although the duct 17 allowing the liquid to come out remains open. In this way, it is possible to pour a precise amount of liquid. It is also possible to stop the flow of the liquid without any action on the pipe 17 for the liquid outlet.
• the duct 17 is entirely hollow and does not contain any element which could alter the product or which could be altered by this product. This allows easy cleaning of the duct.
• the duct 17 can be made of any material suitable for the product and does not need to be fitted with a closing mechanism.
• the duct can be made of a material compatible with use in the food industry, such as stainless steel.
• the conduit 17 for the passage of the liquid can be made of stainless steel and have a diameter of 4 to 6 mm.
• the vent 18 can have a diameter of 1.5 mm in its upstream channel.
• the turbine 20 can have a diameter of 6 to 8 mm according to a concrete embodiment.
• the passage of 1 dl of liquid corresponds to approximately 500 revolutions of the turbine. As the counting of the number of revolutions of the turbine can be precise, the control of the quantity of liquid can also be precise.
• the adjustment of the quantity of liquid can be carried out by means of an adjustment element integral with the measuring device or remotely, for example by means of a dedicated application that transmits the required information to the device. It is also possible to associate the quantity of liquid with an amount, knowing the unit cost of the drink or liquid.
• the measuring device of the invention has been described above in the form of a measuring cap for a bottle of alcohol. This use is particularly interesting in the case of a bar or a restaurant. Indeed, the measuring device makes it possible to serve precise quantities of beverages and to control these quantities. It can also easily be moved from one bottle to another. The handling of the bottle by the person in charge of pouring the alcohol is not at all modified by the use of the invention. In particular, it is not necessary to add a gas cylinder or to pierce the plugs with a needle, as in some of the devices of the prior art.
• the duct is not necessarily linked to the body of the measuring device. It can indeed be completely separated from it. It is for example conceivable to make the body of the measuring device in two parts. One of the parts contains the conduit for the passage of liquid, this part can be linked to a bottle until the latter is empty. The other part of the body can be placed on the first part of the body and be interchangeable and easily moved from one bottle to another. Thus, a part of the measuring device, in contact with the product, contains no moving element or any electronic component and remains on the bottle. Another part of the measuring device, containing moving parts and electronic components, is not in contact with the product and can easily be moved from one bottle to another, without having to be cleaned.
• the device can also be used for other liquids than alcohol, in particular viscous liquids such as oils for example.
• viscous liquids such as oils for example.
• the conduit for the passage of product is linked to the measuring device.
• the conduit passes through the body of the device in the illustrated embodiment.
• this is not essential.
• This container may include a passage for the installation of the measuring device as described previously.
• a single measuring device can be used for example for several different paints from different containers. Even in this case, there is no risk that the paint of one of the containers will be soiled by the paint of another container, when the measuring device is moved from one of the containers to the other. . This makes it possible to produce mixtures of paint and/or solvents, for example in the context of a mixture of paints or other products.
• the measuring device of the invention Before using the measuring device of the invention for the first time, it may be useful to calibrate it to match a value measured by the air volume measuring assembly to a volume of product.
• the calibration consists in particular in matching a number of revolutions of the propeller to a volume of product. This can be done by calculation, by determining the volume of air moved through the vent. This can also be done experimentally by transferring a known quantity of product and counting the number of turbine revolutions.
• the conduit 17 for the transfer of product is an integral part of the measuring device 10.
• the container may have one or more conduits for the transfer of products which are independent of the measuring device 10. In all cases, the air which replaces the decanted product passes through the measuring device and more precisely through the vent 18.
• the device of the invention has been described according to different embodiments making it possible to measure a variation in volume of product in a container. Different features have been described in different embodiments. The characteristics of a specific embodiment could however be used in the other embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention.
• the container is surrounded by air. It is also possible to use the device of the invention in a different atmosphere, for example composed of an inert gas or a mixture of gases different from those forming air. The principle of operation of the invention is however not modified with respect to its operation in the air.

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• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Filling Of Jars Or Cans And Processes For Cleaning And Sealing Jars (AREA)

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• 2023
  • 2023-02-10 EP EP23704915.0A patent/EP4476509A1/de active Pending
  • 2023-02-10 WO PCT/EP2023/053278 patent/WO2023152275A1/fr not_active Ceased

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