Sampling container and use thereof as well as a method for taking samples

• US 8,806,968 B2
• Filed: 11/28/2011
• Issued: 08/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Krones AG (Krones)
• Original Assignee: Krones AG (Krones)
• Inventors: Hartmann, Stephan, Doebler, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Raevis, Robert R
• Application Number:
  US13/305,455
• Publication Number:
  US 20120132014A1
• Time in Patent Office: 995 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 73/864.73
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0689 Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/508 rigid containers not provided for above
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/563 Joints or fittings in general F16L; Separable fluid transfer means to transfer fluids between at least two containers, e.g. connectors
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/565 Seals in general F16L

Abstract

A sampling container for receiving media from a container filling system includes a closed base region, a peripheral wall adjoining the base region and extending substantially orthogonal to the base region, and a filling region opposite the base region and adjoining the peripheral wall. The filling region has a container neck extending substantially orthogonal to the base region and includes a filling opening. An outer thread is arranged over an outer periphery of the container neck. The thread has an outer diameter between 44 and 46 mm and a core diameter between 41 and 43 mm, and rounded edges, at least over portions, with a radius between 0.95 and 1.05 mm. The container neck can be arranged in a receiver of a sampling head, during the sampling process so that the container is sealed in a media-tight manner in relation to an ambient environment.

Claims

1. A container for receiving media during a sampling of the media from a container filling system, the container being pressure and vacuum resistant, and comprising a closed base region, a peripheral wall adjoining the base region and extending substantially orthogonal to the base region, and a filling region opposite the base region and adjoining the peripheral wall, said filling region comprising a container neck extending substantially orthogonal to the base region and comprising a filling opening, and an outer thread being arranged over an outer periphery of the container neck, at least over portions, said thread having an outer diameter between 44 and 46 mm and a core diameter between 41 and 43 mm as well as rounded edges, at least over portions, with a radius between 0.95 and 1.05 mm, the container neck being able to be arranged in a receiver of a sampling head, at least over portions, during the sampling in such a way that the container is sealed in a media-tight manner in relation to an ambient environment (U), wherein the container is formed of a plastics material.

2. The container according to claim 1, wherein the container is formed of a plastics material selected from the group consisting of polylactide, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene and a combination thereof.

3. The container according to claim 1, wherein the container can be autoclaved.

4. The container according to claim 1, wherein a wall thickness of the base region of the container is thicker, at least over portions, than the wall thickness of the peripheral wall of the container.

5. The container according to claim 1, wherein the container neck comprises a wall which, in the region of the filling opening, has a terminal edge oriented substantially orthogonal to the wall so that a corresponding sealing element can be arranged to provide a media-tight seal.

6. An assembly for taking samples, comprising a container according to claim 1 and an adapter element, wherein the adapter element is substantially annular.

7. The assembly according to claim 6, wherein the adapter element is arranged above the container and is fixed in a media-tight manner on the container.

8. The assembly according to claim 7, wherein the adapter element is fixed in a media fight manner on the container by a receiver.

9. The assembly according to claim 6, wherein the adapter element is screwed into the sampling head.

10. The assembly according to claim 9, wherein the adapter element is screwed into the sampling head, which comprises an inner thread, by means of an outer thread.

11. The assembly according to claim 6, wherein the adapter element comprises an internal, substantially smooth inner wall and an outer wall on which an outer thread is moulded.

12. The assembly according to claim 6, wherein a sealing element can be arranged between the adapter element and the container.

13. The assembly according to claim 6, wherein the adapter element comprises a first, substantially flexible ring seal which is arranged removably in a seal seat.

14. The assembly according to claim 6, wherein the receiver comprises an inner thread which can be screwed onto the outer thread of the container.

15. The assembly according to claim 6, wherein the receiver is made from plastics material.

16. A method for sampling media from a container filling system using an assembly according to claim 6, wherein the assembly is sterilised and the container neck of the container is arranged in a receiver of a sampling head, at least over portions, during the sampling process in such a way that the container is sealed in a media-tight manner in relation to an ambient environment (U).

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the assembly is sterilized in an autoclave.

18. A method for sampling media from a container filling system using a container according to claim 1, wherein the container is connected to at least one adapter element to form an assembly which is sterilised and is only arranged on a sampling head after cooling, a sampling cock is then opened so that a defined sampling volume flows into the container and, once the sampling process is over, the sampling cock is closed again and the assembly is removed from the sampling head.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the assembly is sterilised in an autoclave.

20. The method according to claim 18, wherein the assembly is removed from the sampling cock before the container is disassembled from the assembly and is closed with a seal.