# US 8,739,608 B2 · Instrument for use with fluid

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- Number: US 8,739,608 B2
- Document ID: US8739608B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/743,058
- Filed: 2008-11-14
- Published: 2010-09-30
- Granted: 2014-06-03
- Earliest claimed: 2007-11-14
- Assignees: DEC International NZ Limited
- Applicants: Allan Walter Wilson
- Inventors: Allan Walter Wilson
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8739608B2

## CPC

- B01F 31/42: with pendulum stirrers, i.e. with stirrers suspended so as to oscillate about fixed points or axes
- A01J 5/0132: {using a cell counter}
- B01F 31/441: performing a rectilinear reciprocating movement
- B01F 35/212: of the driving system data, e.g. torque, speed or power data
- B01F 35/213: of the properties of the mixtures, e.g. temperature, density or colour
- B01F 35/2136: {Viscosity}
- G01N 1/38: Diluting, dispersing or mixing samples
- G01N 11/16: by measuring damping effect upon oscillatory body
- B01F: MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING (mixing paints B44D3/06)
- A01J: MANUFACTURE OF DAIRY PRODUCTS
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)

## Abstract

An instrument for use with fluid which includes a mixing element, and a container to hold the fluid to be mixed, characterised in that the mixing element includes a sensor that assists to measure a parameter of fluid.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An instrument in a milking machine for measuring viscosity of gels formed from mixing milk with a reagent in order to determine a somatic cell count for a particular milk sample, comprising:
a mixing element, wherein the mixing element is a shuttle and contains a magnet or ferromagnetic material which assists in measuring a viscosity by a fall time of the mixing element in the milk and reagent to be mixed;
a container to hold the milk to be mixed, the container including a chamber for the mixing element;
a driving means for the mixing element positioned exterior to an inner surface of the container and the mixing element and the milk with the reagent to be mixed;
wherein the driving means is not physically connected to the mixing element, and the mixing element is not attached to the container;
wherein the driving means is an electromagnetic coil which drags the shuttle up through the milk and can be turned off to enable the shuttle to drop down, or which is provided near the base of the container and repels the shuttle upwards, and which is configured to sense changes in the magnetic field;
wherein the shuttle includes guides in the form of fins that are substantially straight and aligned with the sides of the container into which the shuttle is to be placed,
and wherein the chamber includes an inlet for the milk and an inlet for the reagent, and wherein at least one inlet opens into the chamber from the upper side of the instrument.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The instrument as claimed in claim 1 wherein the driving means is positioned on an exterior surface of the container.