Liquid extraction system with reduced exposure to air

A process for extracting a liquid from a container and storing said liquid, said process comprising the steps of:

• (a) inserting a liquid extraction member having a length (Le) of at least 2 inches into a container to a depth such that a liquid extraction inlet of said extraction member extends below the surface of said liquid received in said container;
• (b) creating a pressure differential between said extraction inlet and a storage inlet of a storage vessel to thereby cause at least a portion of said liquid to flow from said container, through said extraction member, and into said storage vessel, wherein the maximum internal diameter (Ds) of said storage vessel is greater than the maximum internal diameter (De) of said liquid extraction member;
• and
• (c) during at least a portion of step (b), shifting an air blocking member in said liquid extraction member from an initial blocking position to a final extraction position, wherein said air blocking member presents a lowermost surface that moves through a total distance (Xb) as said air blocking member is shifted from said initial blocking position to said final extraction position, wherein said lowermost surface is positioned less than 0.25Xb from said extraction inlet when said air blocking member is in said initial blocking position.

An apparatus for extracting a liquid from a container having an opening, said apparatus comprising:

• a liquid extraction member having a lower liquid extraction inlet and an upper liquid extraction outlet, wherein said extraction member is configured for insertion through said opening of said container and for positioning of said liquid inlet below the surface of said liquid;
• a storage vessel defining a liquid storage inlet coupled in fluid flow communication with said upper liquid extraction outlet, wherein the maximum internal diameter (Ds) of said storage vessel is greater than the maximum internal diameter (De) of said liquid extraction member;
• a first differential pressure generation device coupled in fluid flow communication with said liquid extraction member and configured to draw said liquid through said lower liquid extraction inlet, into said extraction member, and up to a level at or above said upper liquid extraction outlet;
• and
• a second differential pressure generation device coupled in fluid flow communication with said storage vessel and configured to draw said liquid through said liquid extraction outlet and into said storage vessel.

A process for extracting a liquid from a container and storing said liquid, said process comprising the steps of:

• (a) inserting a liquid extraction member into a container to a depth such that a liquid extraction inlet of said extraction member extends below the surface of said liquid in said container;
• (b) creating a pressure differential between said extraction inlet and an upper portion of said liquid extraction member to thereby cause at least a portion of said liquid to flow from said container up into said upper portion of said liquid extraction member, wherein the maximum internal diameter (Ds) of said storage vessel is greater than the maximum internal diameter (De) of said liquid extraction member;
• and
• (c) creating a pressure differential between an extraction outlet in said upper portion of said liquid extraction member and the interior of a storage vessel to thereby cause at least a portion of said liquid to flow from said extraction member, through said extraction outlet, and into said storage vessel, wherein separate devices are used to create said pressure differentials of step (b) and step (c).