Patent ID: 9389151
Filing Date: 2016-07-12
CPC Classification: C12M,G01N

Claim Text:
1. A sampling system for collecting a fluid sample from an enclosed container, the system comprising: (a) a sanitizing fluid inlet valve; (b) a gas inlet valve; (c) a sample collection valve having a valve stem, the sample collection valve being operable between an open position and a closed position; (d) a first outlet valve operable between an open position and a closed position; (e) a fixed volume reservoir; and (f) a second outlet valve operable between an open position and a closed position; (g) a fluid flow path interconnecting (a)-(f), wherein when (a) and (b) are oriented to restrict flow of the sanitizing fluid and gas through the respective valves, (f) is in the closed position, and (d) is in the open position, (c) can be in the open position to withdraw a sample from the enclosed container into the reservoir along a first portion of the fluid flow path, wherein when (a) and (c) are oriented to restrict flow of the sanitizing fluid and sample through the respective valves, (f) is in the closed position, and (b) is in the open position, the sample can be discharged from the reservoir along a second portion of the fluid flow path through (d), and wherein when (a) is oriented to permit flow of the sanitizing fluid through the sanitizing fluid inlet valve, (b) is oriented to restrict flow of the gas through the gas inlet valve, and (c) is in the closed position, a sanitizing fluid can be introduced into the fluid flow path through (a) to sanitize at least the first portion of the fluid flow path and a portion of the valve stem that extends into a fluid flow path when (c) is in the closed position, wherein (b) is at an upstream portion of the fluid flow path relative to (c), and when (b) is in an open position and (c) is in a closed position, a gas can flow through (b) into the first portion of the fluid flow path and past the valve stem.