Back to results
US 5,634,501 AGranted
Disinfection of containers
AssigneeA. G. (Patents) Limited
InventorJohn J. Walshe
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and related apparatus for monitoring steam conditions in a container, such as a beer keg, during disinfection, usually in a washer/racker. Temperature and pressure are taken repeatedly within the container during the disinfection process. Resulting temperature and pressure values are inputted to a data processor. The data processor establishes automatically whether the measured temperature and pressure values correspond to desired steam conditions within the container. These conditions are at, or within a predetermined tolerance from, a phase boundary between steam and water. An output is provided which includes a direct indication of whether the desired conditions are or have been met for measuring pairs of temperature and pressure values.
Claims29
A method of monitoring steam conditions in a container during disinfection comprising the steps of:
- a) repeatedly taking measurements of the temperature and pressure within the container during disinfection;
- b) inputting measured temperature and pressure values to data processing means;
- c) establishing automatically in said processing means whether measured temperature and pressure values correspond to desired steam conditions within the container, such conditions being at or within a predetermined tolerance from a phase boundary between steam and water, by taking, for each simultaneous temperature and pressure measurement, the value of one parameter as a reference value, and establishing a target value for the other parameter representative of phase boundary conditions within the container, comparing the measured value of the other parameter against the target value, and determining if said measured value is within a predetermined tolerance from said target value;
- and
- d) providing an output including a direct indication of whether the desired conditions are or have been met for measured pairs of temperature and pressure values if said measured value is within said predetermined tolerance from said target value.
2 more elements
A method of monitoring steam conditions in a container during disinfection comprising the steps of:
- a) repeatedly taking measurements of the temperature and pressure within the container during disinfection;
- b) inputting measured temperature and pressure values to data processing means;
- c) establishing automatically in said processing means whether measured temperature and pressure values correspond to desired steam conditions within the container, such conditions being at or within a predetermined tolerance from the phase boundary between steam and water;
- and
- d) providing an output including a direct indication of whether the desired conditions are or have been met for measured pairs of temperature and pressure values;
- wherein said container is a beer keg having means for measuring temperature and pressure within the keg and wherein the measured data is stored in memory means for storing data provided on the keg and the information downloaded to the data processing means at the end of the kegging procedure.
3 more elements
Apparatus for monitoring the steam conditions in a container during disinfection comprising:
- a) means for measuring the temperature and pressure within a container during disinfection;
- b) data processing means;
- c) means for inputting said temperature and pressure values into said data processing means, said processing means comprising means for establishing automatically whether the measured temperature and pressure values correspond to desired steam conditions within the container, such conditions being at or within a predetermined tolerance from a phase boundary between steam and water, comprising means for establishing a target value for one parameter representative of phase boundary conditions within the container from the measured other parameter, and comparing the measured one parameter against the target value, and determining if said measured value is within a predetermined tolerance from said target value;
- and
- d) output means for providing a direct indication of whether the desired conditions are or have been met for measured pairs of temperature and pressure values if said measured value is within said predetermined tolerance from said target value.
2 more elements
A method of monitoring steam conditions in a container during disinfection comprising the steps of:
- a) repeatedly taking measurements of the temperature and pressure within the container during disinfection;
- b) inputting measured temperature and pressure values to data processing means;
- c) establishing automatically in said processing means whether measured temperature and pressure values correspond to desired steam conditions within the container, such conditions being at or within a predetermined tolerance from a phase boundary between steam and water, by taking, for each simultaneous temperature and pressure measurement, the value of one parameter as a reference value, and establishing a target value for the other parameter representative of phase boundary conditions within the container, comparing the measured value of the other parameter against the target value, and determining if said measured value is within a predetermined tolerance from said target value;
- and
- d) if said measured value does not fall within said predetermined tolerance from said target value, providing an output for use in automatically correcting the disinfection process.
2 more elements
Apparatus for monitoring the steam conditions in a container during disinfection comprising:
- a) means for measuring the temperature and pressure within a container during disinfection;
- b) data processing means;
- c) means for inputting said temperature and pressure values into said data processing means, said processing means comprising means for establishing automatically whether the measured temperature and pressure values correspond to desired steam conditions within the container, such conditions being at or within a predetermined tolerance from a phase boundary between steam and water, comprising means for establishing a target value for one parameter representative of phase boundary conditions within the container from the measured other parameter, and comparing the measured one parameter against the target value, and determining if said measured value is within a predetermined tolerance from said target value;
- and means for providing an output for use in controlling the disinfection apparatus if said measured value does not fall within said predetermined tolerance from said target value.
1 more element
A method of monitoring steam conditions in a container during disinfection comprising the steps of:
- a) repeatedly taking measurements of the temperature and pressure within the container during disinfection;
- b) inputting measured temperature and pressure values to data processing means;
- c) establishing automatically in said processing means whether measured temperature and pressure values correspond to desired steam conditions within the container, such conditions being at or within a predetermined tolerance from a phase boundary between steam and water;
- and
- d) providing an output including a direct indication of whether the desired conditions are or have been met for measured pairs of temperature and pressure values;
- wherein:
- said container is a beer keg having means for measuring the temperature and pressure within the keg, the measured data is stored in memory means for storing data provided on the keg, and the information downloaded to the data processing means at the end of the kegging procedure.
4 more elements
A method of monitoring steam conditions in a container during disinfection comprising the steps of:
- a) repeatedly taking measurements of the temperature and pressure within the container during disinfection;
- b) inputting measured temperature and pressure values to data processing means;
- c) establishing automatically in said processing means whether measured temperature and pressure values correspond to desired steam conditions within the container, such conditions being at or within a predetermined tolerance from a phase boundary between steam and water;
- and
- d) providing an output including a direct indication of whether the desired conditions are or have been met for measured pairs of temperature and pressure values;
- wherein:
- said container has means for measuring the temperature and pressure within the container, the measured data is stored in memory means for storing data provided on the container, and the information downloaded to the data processing means during or at the end of the disinfection procedure.
4 more elements
Apparatus for monitoring the steam conditions in a container during disinfection comprising:
- a) means for measuring the temperature and pressure within a container during disinfection;
- b) data processing means;
- c) means for inputting said temperature and pressure values into said data processing means, said processing means establishing automatically whether the measured temperature and pressure values correspond to desired steam conditions within the container, such conditions being at or within a predetermined tolerance from a phase boundary between steam and water;
- and
- d) output means for providing a direct indication of whether the desired conditions are or have been met for measured pairs of temperature and pressure values;
- wherein;
- said means for measuring the temperature and pressure within the container are mounted on the container, said apparatus further comprising memory means for storing data mounted on the container for storing the measured data, and means for down loading the information to the data processing means during or at the end of the disinfection procedure.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.