U.S. patent application number 10/702818 was filed with the patent office on 2004-05-06 for anaerobic fermentation method and apparatus.
Invention is credited to Kornacki, Daniel C., Pazik, Andre J..
Application Number | 20040086609 10/702818 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32176029 |
Filed Date | 2004-05-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040086609 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Pazik, Andre J. ; et
al. |
May 6, 2004 |
Anaerobic fermentation method and apparatus
Abstract
A method and apparatus for monitoring a liquid undergoing
anaerobic fermentation in a vessel is disclosed. The apparatus
comprises an airlock containing a fluid for sealing the vessel and
means to detect passage of bubbles through the airlock.
Inventors: |
Pazik, Andre J.; (North
Tonawanda, NY) ; Kornacki, Daniel C.; (North
Tonawanda, NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Edward Tracy, Jr., Esq.
Simpson & Simpson, PLLC
5555 Main Street
Williamsville
NY
14221-5406
US
|
Family ID: |
32176029 |
Appl. No.: |
10/702818 |
Filed: |
November 6, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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10702818 |
Nov 6, 2003 |
|
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|
10289033 |
Nov 6, 2002 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
426/231 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01N 33/146 20130101;
G01N 2033/4977 20130101; C12L 11/00 20130101; C12G 1/0206 20130101;
C12G 2200/31 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
426/231 |
International
Class: |
G01N 033/02 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method for determining an amount of alcohol produced during
anaerobic fermentation in a sealed anaerobic fermentation vessel
containing a liquid being fermented, said vessel sealed with an
airlock, the method comprising the steps of: counting bubbles which
pass through said airlock to determine a volume of gas produced,
said bubbles detected by an optical detector; and, determining said
amount of alcohol produced based on said volume of gas
produced.
2. The method recited in claim 1 further including the step of
determining the interval between bubbles so that the rate of
fermentation may be determined.
3. The method recited in claim 1 further including the step of
activating an alarm when a desired amount of alcohol is
produced.
4. The method recited in claim 1 wherein said airlock is an "S"
type airlock.
5. The method recited in claim 1 further including the step of
correcting said amount of alcohol produced based on an elevation of
said vessel.
6. A method for measuring gas produced during anaerobic
fermentation comprising the steps of: providing a vessel suitable
for anaerobic fermentation; placing liquid materials subject to
anaerobic fermentation within the vessel; sealing the vessel with
an "S" type airlock; and, counting the bubbles which pass through
the airlock to determine the volume of gas produced, said bubbles
detected by an optical detector.
7. The method recited in claim 6 further comprising the step of
determining the interval between bubbles so that the rate of
fermentation may be determined.
8. An apparatus for monitoring a liquid undergoing anaerobic
fermentation in a vessel, comprising: an airlock containing a fluid
for sealing the vessel; and, an optical detector operatively
arranged to detect passage of bubbles through said airlock.
9. The apparatus recited in claim 8 wherein said airlock is an "S"
type airlock.
10. The apparatus recited in claim 9 wherein said airlock comprises
a portion with two parallel sides.
11. The apparatus recited in claim 10 wherein said optical detector
engages said portion of said airlock having two parallel sides.
12. The apparatus recited in claim 8 further comprising means for
determining the volume of gas produced based on said detected
passage of bubbles.
13. The apparatus recited in claim 12 further comprising: means to
determine an amount of alcohol produced based on said amount of gas
produced, said amount corrected based on an altitude of said
apparatus; and, a display operatively arranged to display said
amount of alcohol produced.
14. The apparatus recited in claim 13 further comprising: an alarm
operatively arranged to warn a user when a preprogrammed amount of
alcohol has been produced.
15. The apparatus recited in claim 8 further comprising: means for
determining the time between bubble detections; and, means for
determining the rate of gas production based on said time between
bubble detections.
16. The apparatus recited in claim 15 further comprising: an alarm
operatively arranged to warn a user when no bubbles are detected
for a predetermined amount of time.
17. The apparatus recited in claim 16 wherein said predetermined
amount of time is 24 hours.
18. The apparatus recited in claim 8 further comprising: means for
determining the length of time a bubble is proximate said optical
detector; and, an alarm operatively arranged to warn a user when
the liquid in said airlock is low, based on said length of time
said bubble is proximate said optical detector.
19. The apparatus recited in claim 13 further comprising means for
computing a flow rate of alcohol produced, said flow rate corrected
based on an elevation of said apparatus.
20. The apparatus recited in claim 19 further comprising alarm
means for signaling when said computed flow rate exceeds a flow
rate threshold set by a user.
21. An airlock comprising: a portion having a cross section with
two parallel sides.
22. The airlock recited in claim 21 wherein said portion has a
polygonal cross section.
23. The airlock recited in claim 21 wherein said portion has a
rectangular cross section.
24. The airlock recited in claim 21 wherein said cross section of
said portion further comprises two opposing, arcuate sides.
25. An apparatus for monitoring anaerobic fermentation comprising:
an airlock; a bubble detector; processing means connected to said
detector, said processing means operatively arranged to count a
number of bubbles passing through said airlock; and, communication
means connected to said processing means, said communication means
operatively arranged to communicate data between said processing
means and an information system.
26. The apparatus recited in claim 25 wherein said airlock
comprises a portion having two parallel sides.
27. The apparatus recited in claim 25 wherein said processing means
comprises a general purpose microprocessor programmed to count said
number of bubbles passing through said airlock.
28. The apparatus recited in claim 25 wherein said processing means
is operatively arranged to determine a quantity of alcohol produced
by said anaerobic fermentation.
29. The apparatus recited in claim 25 wherein said processing means
is operatively arranged to measure a period of time between said
bubbles passing through said airlock.
30. The apparatus recited in claim 25 wherein said processing means
is operatively arranged to determine when said anaerobic
fermentation has ended.
31. The apparatus recited in claim 25 wherein said processing means
is operatively arranged to determine if said airlock contains an
inadequate amount of liquid.
32. The apparatus recited in claim 25 wherein said data is said
amount of alcohol produced.
33. The apparatus recited in claim 25 wherein said data is an alarm
status.
34. The apparatus recited in claim 25 wherein said data is a
warning that an inadequate amount of liquid is in said airlock.
35. The apparatus recited in claim 25 wherein said data is a
warning that said anaerobic fermentation has ended.
36. The apparatus recited in claim 25 wherein said communication
means is an RS-232 connection.
37. The apparatus recited in claim 25 wherein said communication
means is a TCP/IP connection.
38. The apparatus recited in claim 25 wherein said communication
means is a USB connection.
39. The apparatus recited in claim 25 wherein said information
system is the Internet.
40. The apparatus recited in claim 25 wherein said information
system is a personal computer.
41. The apparatus recited in claim 25 wherein said information
system is a wireless phone system.
42. The apparatus recited in claim 25 wherein said information
system is a pager system.
43. The apparatus recited in claim 25 wherein said information
system is a personal digital assistant system.
44. The apparatus recited in claim 25 wherein said information
system is a wireless local area network.
45. The apparatus recited in claim 25 further comprising database
means to store said data.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S.
application Ser. No. 10/289,033, filed Nov. 6, 2002, incorporated
by reference herein.
REFERENCE TO COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING APPENDIX
[0002] This patent includes a computer program listing appendix on
compact disc. Two duplicate compact discs are provided herewith.
Each compact disc contains a computer program listing as
follows:
[0003] Filename: Fermentometer_Interface3.vbp
[0004] Size: 2 kilobytes
[0005] Date Created: Aug. 20, 2003
[0006] Filename: Main2.frm
[0007] Size: 61 kilobytes
[0008] Date Created: Aug. 20, 2003
[0009] Filename: Module1.bas
[0010] Size: 1 kilobyte
[0011] Date Created: Aug. 20, 2003
[0012] Filename: patent01.c
[0013] Size: 20 kilobytes
[0014] Date Created: Aug. 20, 2003
[0015] Filename: hc11.h
[0016] Size: 4 kilobytes
[0017] Date Created: Aug. 20, 2003
[0018] Filename: _const.h
[0019] Size: 1 kilobyte
[0020] Date Created: Aug. 20, 2003
[0021] Filename: stdio.h
[0022] Size: 1 kilobyte
[0023] Date Created: Aug. 20, 2003
[0024] The computer program listing appendix is hereby expressly
incorporated by reference in the present application.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0025] The present invention relates generally to a method and
apparatus useful during anaerobic fermentation, and more
particularly to a method and apparatus for measuring the volume and
rate of gas produced during anaerobic fermentation, this invention
having particular utility during the making of alcoholic
beverages.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0026] It is common when making alcoholic beverages in the home to
place the liquid subject to fermentation into a vessel for
anaerobic fermentation, the vessel being closed by a fermentation
airlock. The purpose of the fermentation airlock is to prevent
undesirable dust and bacteria from contaminating the material being
fermented. Therefore it is common to utilize an airtrap, the gas
produced by fermentation bubbling though a liquid in the airtrap,
the liquid typically containing water and a sterilizing agent such
as sodium or potassium metabisulfite. Differing types of
fermentation locks are employed, various examples being shown in
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,517,884, 4,842,869, and 5,950,524. A favorite form
of airlock is the "S" type airlock, variations being shown in U.S.
Pat. Nos. 2,023,153 and 4,717,031, and German patents 412,918 and
957,563. Another prior art form of "S" type airlock is shown in
FIG. 1 of this application.
[0027] The airlock may be molded from a clear plastic, all airlocks
being quite uniform in size. It has been observed that when using
some airlocks that each bubble has substantially the same volume,
i.e., 1.7 ml. It is also known that during fermentation that equal
mole volumes of CO.sub.2 and alcohol are produced.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0028] The present invention broadly comprises a method and
apparatus for measuring gas produced during anaerobic fermentation.
The method comprises the steps of counting bubbles which pass
through said airlock to determine a volume of gas produced and
determining the amount of alcohol produced based on the volume of
gas produced.
[0029] The above objects, and other objects and advantages of this
invention will become more apparent to those skilled in the art
after a consideration of the following detailed description taken
in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which a preferred
form of this invention is illustrated.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0030] It should be appreciated that, in the detailed description
of the invention which follows, like reference numbers on different
drawing views are intended to identify identical structural
elements of the invention in the respective views.
[0031] FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art "S" type airlock;
[0032] FIG. 2 illustrates an airlock of a first embodiment of the
present invention, an airlock being provided with electrodes;
[0033] FIG. 3 shows a dust cap for the modified "S" type airlock,
which dust cap is provided with suitable contacts for contacting
the electrodes in the modified "S" type airlock;
[0034] FIG. 4 shows a first embodiment of the present invention
with the airlock being mounted on a vessel suitable for anaerobic
fermentation;
[0035] FIG. 5 shows a bubble interrupting the flow of current
through between the electrodes, signaling a bubble event;
[0036] FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of the electrical circuit of the
control means;
[0037] FIG. 7 shows an alternate embodiment of the electrical
circuit of the control means;
[0038] FIG. 8 illustrates a second embodiment of an airlock of the
present invention;
[0039] FIG. 9 illustrates a third embodiment of an airlock of the
present invention;
[0040] FIG. 10 illustrates a fourth embodiment of an airlock of the
present invention;
[0041] FIG. 11 illustrates a fifth embodiment of the present
invention, comprising an optical sensor and communication
means;
[0042] FIG. 12 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention
wherein multiple control means are connected to a single
communication control means;
[0043] FIG. 13 illustrates an alternate embodiment of the present
invention wherein multiple control means are connected to a single
communication control means;
[0044] FIG. 14 illustrates a schematic of the electrical circuit
for the fifth embodiment of the present invention, comprising an
optical sensor;
[0045] FIGS. 15 and 16 illustrate an embodiment of the present
invention wherein the optical detector is arranged to mate with a
portion of an airlock having two parallel sides and two arcuate
sides;
[0046] FIGS. 17 and 18 illustrate an embodiment of the present
invention wherein the optical detector is arranged to mate with a
portion of an airlock having a rectangular cross section; and,
[0047] FIGS. 19 and 120 illustrate an embodiment of the present
invention wherein the optical detector is arranged to mate with a
portion of an airlock having a hexagonal cross section.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0048] With reference initially to FIG. 1, an airlock is
illustrated, said airlock being indicated generally at 10. This
airlock consists of a molded clear plastic member indicated
generally at 12, the plastic member including an "S" shaped
passageway which will be described later. Extending downwardly from
the "S" shaped passageway is a mounting stem 14 which is inserted
into the rubber bung or cork 16 of a fermenting vessel 18 so as to
be an airtight fit. The airlock is provided with a dust cap 20 at
its upper end.
[0049] The "S" shaped passageway includes an upwardly extending
portion 22 which is in direct communication with the stem 14, the
portion 22 being essentially cylindrical in cross section. A "U"
shaped member 24 having a circular cross section connects the
portion 22 with a downwardly extending portion 26 having upper,
intermediate, and lower bulbs 26.1, 26.2, and 26.3, respectively. A
further "U" shaped member 28 having a circular cross section
connects the lower end of the downwardly extending portion 26 with
an upwardly extending portion 30 provided with upper, intermediate
and lower bulbs 30.1, 30.2, and 30.3, respectively. An upwardly
extending member 32 is provided with a bulb 34 at its top end,
which bulb receives the dust cap 20. A clear plastic web or
flashing 36 extends between the downwardly extending portion 26 and
the upwardly extending portion 30, and also between the downwardly
extending portion 26 and the upwardly extending portion 22 to keep
the various parts in fixed relationship to each other.
[0050] After the liquid to be fermented is placed in the vessel,
which liquid may be a wine must, the vessel is sealed with an
airlock at the commencement of anaerobic fermentation. To this end,
a sterilizing liquid is placed in the "S" shaped airlock, the
sterilizing liquid filling the "U" shaped member 28 and 1/2 of each
of the lower bulbs 26.3 and 30.3, the sterilizing liquid being
indicated generally at SL in FIG. 2. The sterilizing liquid
typically contains either sodium or potassium metabisulfite,
although other sterilizing agents may be used. During anaerobic
fermentation the yeast is less active than during the initial
aerobic fermentation, and the CO.sub.2 produced with escape through
the sterilizing liquid one bubble at a time.
[0051] With reference to FIG. 2, it can be seen that the "S" type
airlock of the present invention is provided with two electrodes
40, 42. Electrode 40 is embedded in the flashing 36 which extends
between the downwardly extending portion 26 and the upwardly
extending portion 30. Additional flashing 44 is provided to one
side of the upwardly extending portion 30 for the receipt of
electrode 42. As can be seen from FIG. 2, the electrodes have lower
terminal ends that extend into the passageway 28. Normally the ends
of the electrodes are covered with the sterilizing liquid, which
conducts electricity. Thus, when a voltage is applied between them,
current flows between the electrodes. However, when a bubble passes
through the tube 28, the current flow between the electrodes is
interrupted. Dust cap 20, shown in FIG. 3, prevents dust from
settling into the airlock when it is engaged with the top of
airlock 12. Conducting members 21 connect to electrodes 40 and
42.
[0052] As illustrated in FIG. 4, electrodes 40 and 42 are connected
to control means 60 through conducting members 21. Control means 60
comprises control buttons 65A, 65B, 65C, 65D, and 65E, and a
display 70. Bottle 18 contains wine must W. Control means 60 counts
the number of times the current between electrodes 40 and 42 is
interrupted. Control means 60 determines the status of the
fermenting liquid based on the history of bubbles detected. Control
means 60 displays the status of the fermenting liquid on display
70.
[0053] The interruption of the current between the electrodes is
illustrated in FIG. 5. Bubble 50, created by the production of
CO.sub.2 during fermentation, envelops the exposed conductive
material of both electrodes. Thus, with a low voltage drop across
the electrodes, the gas does not conduct electricity between the
electrodes. A preferred voltage drop across the electrodes is
approximately 5 V, although other voltage drops might be suitable.
The control means of the apparatus records each interruption in the
current as a bubble event.
[0054] FIG. 6 is a schematic of an embodiment of the electrical
circuit of the control means. The circuit shown comprises
electrodes 40 and 42, a 5 V source, resistor 85, operational
amplifier (op amp) 87, positive and negative power supplies V.sub.+
and V.sub.- to power the op amp, and processor 90. Processor 90 is
a conventional microprocessor, well known to those in the
electronics art. The 5 V source is connected across electrodes 40
and 42 through resistor 85. When current exists between the
electrodes, V.sub.in- is 0 V. (The 5 V source is shorted to
ground.) However, when a bubble interrupts the current through the
electrodes, V.sub.in- is no longer zero. (Ground is separated from
V.sub.in- by an open circuit.) V.sub.in+ is connected to ground.
Thus processor 90 can determine the presence of a bubble between
electrodes 40 and 42 from the output of operational amplifier
87.
[0055] FIG. 7 shows a second possible embodiment of control means
60. This embodiment comprises a plurality of control buttons 65A,
65B, 65C, 65D, 65E, and 65F, electrodes 40 and 42, a 5 V source,
resistor 89, pin 88 of processor 90, audio alarm 92, and visual
alarm 94. Pin 88 of processor 90 is connected to electrode 40 and
to a 5 V source through resistor 89. Electrode 42 is connected to
ground. When current exists between the electrodes, pin 88 is
shorted to ground. When the current is interrupted by a bubble, pin
88 will be lifted to a non-zero voltage. (The voltage level will
depend on the resistance value of resistor 89). In this manner,
processor 90 can determine the presence of bubbles between
electrodes 40 and 42.
[0056] To use the above-described device, a measure volume of a
liquid subject to fermentation, such as a wine-must, is placed in a
container. (This is typically done after a period of aerobic
fermentation and a hydrometer measurement to determine the
proportion of sugar remaining.) The airlock of the present
invention is inserted in the neck of the container. The user
programs the volume of liquid present in the container using the
control buttons.
[0057] In a preferred embodiment, control means 60 are configured
as follows. First, the batch size must be set. Button 65A increases
the batch size by 10 liters each time it is pushed. Button 65B
increases the batch size one liter each time it is pushed. Button
65C accepts the batch size when it is pushed, if the batch size is
non-zero. (Buttons 65D and 65E have no function in setup mode).
After the batch size is set, the user can enter a user specified
time alarm, to be activated when the enter amount of time passes
without a bubble being detected. Button 65A increases this alarm
time by one hour each time it is pushed. Button 65B increases this
alarm time by one minute each time it is pushed. Button 65C accepts
the current alarm time. (Zero may be entered if no user specified
time alarm is desired.) When the user specified alarm is set, the
user can then enter an alcohol alarm level. Button 65A increases
the alcohol level alarm by one percent each time it is pushed.
Button 65B increases the alcohol level alarm by one tenth of one
percent each time it is pushed. Button 65C accepts the current
alcohol level. After the alcohol level alarm is set, the user can
activate the 24 hour alarm. Button 65A enables the 24 hour alarm.
Button B disables the 24 hour alarm. Button 65C accepts the current
24 hour alarm status. The control means then detects the bubbles of
gas escaping from the airlock and displays the status of the liquid
on display 70.
[0058] The status is determined based on the history of bubbles
detected by control means 60. In one embodiment, airlock 12 is
configured such that the escaping bubbles have a volume at room
temperature and 1 atmosphere of pressure of 1.7 ml. (It is assumed
that the fermentation is done at a constant temperature, thus an
equal amount of gas is contained in each bubble). Thus, by counting
the number of bubbles, control means 60 can determine the amount of
gas to escape from the airlock. According to calculations known in
the art, the amount of alcohol generated during anaerobic
fermentation can be determined based on the volume of CO.sub.2
generated (assuming substantially all of the escaping gas is
CO.sub.2 generated by fermentation) and the amount of liquid
present in the container (input using the control buttons, as
discussed above). Accordingly, control means 60 can calculate the
volume of alcohol generated and display this amount on display
70.
[0059] In a preferred embodiment the buttons of the control means
function as follows. Button 65A scrolls the display of the bubble
events towards the most current event. Button 65B scrolls the
display of the bubble events towards the least recent event. Button
65C deletes the display of the displayed event if pressed alone.
Button 65D caused the control means to reenter setup mode. Button
65E silences current alarms and calls up a screen to review past
alarms. Display 70 is set to the most recent event when button 65E
is released. When buttons 65C and 65E are pressed simultaneously,
past alarms are cleared.
[0060] As discussed above, a user can preprogram a percentage of
alcohol desired with the control buttons. In this case, control
means 60 displays a countdown of the amount of alcohol still to be
generated. Control means 60 can include an audible alarm 94 and/or
visual alarm 96 to signal a user when the desired amount of alcohol
has been produced. This can be especially useful in making
beverages wherein some fermentation is desired after the liquid is
bottled. The alarm can be set to alert the user when a portion of
the desired alcohol has been produced. The user can then transfer
the beverage to individual bottles for the remaining fermentation.
This is also useful for the production of a sweet beverage. The
user can stop fermentation before all the sugar has been consumed
by the yeast. This alarm also allows a user to add further
ingredients at different stages of the fermentation, such as the
addition of malolactic cultures, nutrients, and other ingredients
known in the art. The present invention allows for greater quality
control in production by determining to a greater accuracy the
proper time to add additional ingredients.
[0061] Control means 60 also includes timing means to determine the
amount of time between each bubble. Counting means displays the
amount of time since the last bubble on display 70. Audible and/or
visible alarms can be activated to alert the user after a specified
time without a bubble has been reached. In one embodiment, this
time period is 24 hours. In another embodiment, this time period is
set by the user using the control buttons (the user specified alarm
discussed above).
[0062] A potential problem with fermentations that can take a long
period of time is the evaporation of the sterilizing liquid. If the
sterilizing liquid evaporated to the point wherein outside air may
pass into vessel 18, then the fermentation may be spoiled. The
present invention warns a user when the level of the sterilizing
liquid is low. Electrodes 40 and 42 are placed in member 28 such
that they are exposed to air before the liquid level drops to an
extent that air could reenter vessel 18, as shown in FIG. 2.
Control means 60 times the length of the bubbles. If the
sterilizing liquid has partially evaporated, then the electrodes
will be exposed to air continuously. Thus, when control means 60
detects an interruption of the current that lasts an extended
period of time (in one embodiment 1 hour), it displays a low liquid
level warning on display 60. Audible and/or visible alarms may also
be activated. In addition, bubble detection indicator 92 is lit
when a bubble is being detected (when current is not flowing
between electrodes 40 and 42.) This can also allow a user to
determine there is a problem if the bubble detection indicator
remains lit for an extended period of time. The low liquid level
warning and bubble detection indicator allow a user to replace the
lost sterilizing liquid before the fermenting liquid is
spoiled.
[0063] FIGS. 2, 4, and 5 show the present invention being practiced
with an "S" type airlock. However, it should be readily apparent to
one skilled in the art that other airlocks or valves may be
modified to practice the present invention. FIGS. 8-10 illustrate
several valves known in the art. FIG. 8 shows a flapper check valve
110. Electrodes 140 and 142 contact conducting strip 145 on flapper
115 when the valve is closed. Thus, when the valve is closed,
current flows from electrode 140 to electrode 142 through strip
145. When flapper 115 is forced open by gas pressure, the current
flowing between electrode 140 and electrode 142 is interrupted.
Thus, the number of times gas escapes from the valve can be
counted. The amount of gas that escapes each time is measured and
programmed into control means 60. In this manner, a fermentation
process can be monitored as described above. In a similar manner,
FIG. 9 shows a piston check valve 210 comprising electrodes 240 and
242, and valve member 215 having conducting strip 245 on a surface
thereon. When the valve is closed, current flows from electrode 240
to electrode 242 through strip 245. When member 215 is forced open
by gas pressure, the current flowing between electrode 240 and
electrode 242 is interrupted. FIG. 10 shows ball check valve 310
comprising electrodes 340 and 342 and conducting ball 345. When the
valve is closed, current flows from electrode 340 to electrode 342
through conducting ball 345. When ball 345 is forced up by gas
pressure, the current flowing between electrode 340 and electrode
342 is interrupted. The amount of gas released each time the valve
opens is used to determine how much gas is produced during
fermentation, in the manner described above. These modifications,
including the use of the practicing of the present invention with
other valves not shown, is intended to be within the spirit and
scope of the invention as claimed. In the present specification and
claims, the word "airlock" is intended to mean any airlock or valve
known in the art or hereafter developed that can be modified as
described herein to practice the present invention.
[0064] An embodiment of the present invention may be arranged to
have the elevation of the apparatus entered using the control
buttons or through the communication means described below. The
processing means adjusts the calculated alcohol percentage by
volume based on the altitude of the apparatus. This corrected
alcohol percentage by volume is used in computing the amount of
alcohol present in the solution being fermented. An embodiment of
the present invention can also include a flow rate alarm, where the
flow rate, for example computed in cubic centimeters of alcohol
produced per hour per liter of liquid, can be corrected based on
the elevation of the apparatus. When the flow rate of alcohol
exceeds a threshold in put by a user, the alarm is sounded. This
may be a visual or optical alarm, as discussed above. Software that
implements the above-described functions is included in the
appendix.
[0065] An embodiment of the present invention including
communication means 480 is shown in FIG. 11. Apparatus 410
comprises control means 460, display 470, and communication control
means 475. Control means 460 comprises control buttons 465A, 465B,
465C, 465D, and 465E. Apparatus 410 also includes optical sensor
450 arranged to mate with portion 428 of airlock 412. Wire 448
connects sensor 450 to control means 460. Airlock 412 contains
sterilizing liquid SL. The display and control buttons function as
described above for the first embodiment. Communication control
means 475 communicates with information system 490 with
communication means 480. Communication means 480 may comprise a
hard wire or a wireless connection, both of which are known in the
art. Information system 490 may comprise a single personal
computer, a local area network, a wide area network such as the
Internet, a wireless phone system, a pager system, a personal
digital assistant system, or any other information system known in
the art. Thus, apparatus 410 is arranged to transmit and receive
messages over communication means 480 to and from information
system 490. (For example, the appendix contains a software listing
that, when loaded on a general purpose microprocessor, transmits
messages to a digital cellular phone.)
[0066] The apparatus may receive parameters for programming the
apparatus from the information system. Thus, a local personal
computer, a computer connected to the Internet, a personal digital
assistant, or any of the other information system known in the art
may be used to program the present invention. The apparatus may
transmit the status of any of the above-described alarms to any of
the information systems known in the art. Thus, for example, a user
can be warned by cell phone, pager, or personal digital assistant
that the alcohol alarm is active. The status of the fermentation
may be emailed to a user, or it may be posted on a website. The
communication means can receive all of the parameters used to
program the control means, as discussed above, such as altitude,
batch size, user specified time alarm setting (alarm activated when
no bubbles are detected for specified time), alcohol level alarm
(alarm activated when alcohol level reaches specified level), and
enabling/disabling the 24 hour alarm. The data received by the
communication means can comprise commands to clear any specific
alarm, or all alarms. The data transmitted by the communication
means can comprise: alcohol level, alarm status, time since the
last bubble detection, bubble count, or any other parameter stored
in the control means. It should be readily apparent to one skilled
in the art that other parameters may be used by the control means,
and these parameters may be sent over the communication means.
These modifications are within the spirit and scope of the
invention as claimed. The communication means may transmit messages
using RS-232 protocol, Transfer Control Protocol/Internet Protocol
(TCP/IP), Universal Serial Bus (USB) protocol, or any other
protocol known in the art. (For example, the software listing in
the appendix, when loaded on a conventional general purpose
microprocessor, sends messages using the RS-232 protocol.) It
should be readily apparent to one skilled in the art that other
communication means and information systems are possible, and these
modifications are within the spirit and scope of the invention as
claimed.
[0067] An embodiment of the present invention may also be
configured to log the data sent to and received form the control
means. This allows a user to evaluate the batch either by
comparison to an ideal fermentation, or comparison to other
fermentation batches, for example graphically. It should be readily
apparent to one skilled in the art that data from the present
invention can be logged into a database program and displayed
graphically, with commercially available software packages, as
described above.
[0068] FIG. 12 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention
wherein communication control means 475 sends and receives data
from multiple control means 460A, 460B, and 460C. Communication
control means 475 communicates with information system 490 over
communication means 480. Communication control means 475 comprises
at least one port 477. As shown in FIG. 12, control means 460A,
460B, and 460C are each connected to communication control means
475. The connection is made by connecting wire 478 between port 477
of communication control means 475 and port 462 of control means
460A, 460B, and 460C, respectively. FIG. 13 shows another
embodiment of the present invention wherein control means 460A,
460B, and 460C are daisy chained together. Control means 460A is
connected to control means 460B with a wire 478 connected between
port 462 of control means 460A and port 462 of control means 460B.
Control means 460B is connected to control means 460C with a wire
478 connected between port 462 of control means 460B and port 462
of control means 460C. Control means 460C is connected to
communication control means 475 with a wire 478 connected between
port 462 of control means 460C and port 477 of communication
control means 475. As should be readily apparent to one skilled in
the art, any combination of direct connections to a communication
control means and daisy chaining multiple control means are
possible, and these modifications are within the spirit and scope
of the invention as claimed. The present invention may also be
practiced as shown in FIG. 11, wherein communication control means
475 is integral with control means 460. In this case, each control
means 460 communicates with the information system 490 through its
respective communication control means 475. It should be readily
apparent to one skilled in the art that the control means 460 shown
in FIGS. 12 and 13 may comprise optical sensors as shown in FIG.
11, or may comprise two electrodes, as shown in FIG. 4. Any bubble
counting apparatus comprising communication means for transmitting
and receiving data to and from an information system is within the
spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.
[0069] FIG. 14 is a schematic of an exemplary embodiment of an
electrical circuit for an embodiment of the present invention
comprising optical sensor 450. Sensor 450 comprises optical beam
emitter 452 and optical beam detector 454. In the embodiment shown,
emitter 452 is an LED and detector 454 is a phototransistor. Beam
emitter 452 emits a light beam towards detector 454. The beam
passes through the wall 428A of airlock portion 428. Wall 428A is
normal to the line connecting emitter 452 and detector 454. Thus,
the beam enters the interior of airlock portion 428 normal to the
surface of wall 428A. If no bubble is present in the sterilizing
liquid, the beam passes through the sterilizing liquid, through
wall 428B of the airlock portion 428, and is incident on detector
454. When light is incident on phototransistor 454, current may
flow through the phototransistor. This shorts connection 456 to
ground. When bubble 50 passes through airlock portion 428, the
edges 52 will refract the incident light that is propagating in a
direction normal to walls 428A and 428B in a direction that is not
normal to walls 428A and 428B. Thus, when bubble edge 52 is located
between emitter 452 and detector 454, light will not be incident on
detector 454. This disables current from flowing through
phototransistor 454, which isolates pin 456 from ground. The 5 V
source pulls pin 456 up to 5 V. When the bubble is between the
emitter and detector, the beam passes through the gas mixture to
the detector. This allows current to flow through the
phototransistor, pulling pin 456 down to 0 V. Thus, for each bubble
that passes through airlock portion 428, the light beam will be
interrupted briefly twice by each bubble edge 52, leading to two
voltage pulses of 5V, compared to the normal value of 0V. Pin 456
is connected to a general purpose microprocessor programmed to
monitor the voltage transitions at pin 456 between 0 V and 5 V.
Thus, the processor increments the bubble count by 1 for each pair
of interruptions of the light beam (each pair of 5 V pulses at pin
456). Optical sensor 450 may comprise a sensor such as the
Omron.RTM. EE-SX198, EE-SX199, EE-SX1018, EE-SX1025, EE-SX1041,
EE-SX1042, E-SX1070, or EE-SX1071, available from Omron
Corporation, Shiokoji Horikawa, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto, 600-8530 Japan.
The processor is programmed to use the bubble count as described
above for the first embodiment. The appendix contains a software
listing for a processor using the optical sensor of the present
embodiment.
[0070] It should be readily apparent to one skilled in the art that
any airlock may be used with the embodiment comprising an optical
sensor, providing it comprises a portion with two parallel sides.
For example, FIGS. 15 and 16 show optical sensor 450 arranged to
detect bubbles passing through airlock portion 428 having two
parallel sides 428A and 428B, and two arcuate sides 428C. FIGS. 17
and 18 show optical sensor 450 arranged to detect bubbles passing
through airlock portion 428 having a rectangular cross section,
with two parallel sides 428A and 428B and two parallel sides 428D
that are perpendicular to sides 428A and 428B. FIGS. 19 and 20 show
optical sensor 450 arranged to detect bubbles passing through
airlock portion 428 having two parallel sides 428A and 428B, and
sides 428E that form a hexagonal cross section. It should be
readily apparent to one skilled in the art that airlocks having
portions with cross sections of other shapes, with two parallel
sides are possible, and these modifications are within the spirit
and scope of the invention as claimed.
[0071] While a preferred form of this invention has been described
above and shown in the accompanying drawings, it should be
understood that applicant does not intend to be limited to the
particular details described above and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings, but intends to be limited only to the scope
of the invention as defined by the following claims. In this
regard, the term "means for" as used in the claims is intended to
include not only the designs illustrated in the drawings of this
application and the equivalent designs discussed in the text, but
it is also intended to cover other equivalents now known to those
skilled in the art, or those equivalents which may become known to
those skilled in the art in the future.
* * * * *