Container with flexible walls
A container ( 2 ) has flexible walls surrounding a container interior ( 6 ). At least one electrical sensor ( 3, 3′, 3″, 3′″, 3 ″″) projects into the container interior ( 6 ) and has at least first and second electrically conductive plates ( 8, 8′, 9, 9′, 9 ′″) for determining the conductivity or impedance of a medium that surrounds the plates ( 8, 8′, 9, 9′, 9 ′″). The plates ( 8, 8′, 9, 9′, 9 ′″) are connected via connecting lines ( 10, 11 ) to a control and regulating unit ( 4 ) outside the container interior ( 6 ). At least the first plate ( 8, 8 ′) is on a closed free end of a sheathing ( 5, 5′, 5 ″″) and has a contact area exposed to the surrounding medium. The sheathing ( 5, 5′, 5″″, 17, 17 ″″) is a flexible hose ( 7 ) or bellows ( 19, 19 ″″) through which the electrical connecting line ( 10, 11 ) of the plate ( 8, 8′, 9, 9′, 9 ′″) is routed.
1. A container ( 2 ) with flexible walls defining a container interior ( 6 ) and at least one wall aperture ( 20 ) formed in at least a first of the flexible walls, a first sheathing ( 5 , 5 ′, 5 ″) having a first end connected to the first flexible wall so that an interior of the first sheathing ( 5 , 5 ′, 5 ″″) communicates with the at least one wall aperture ( 20 ), the first sheathing ( 5 , 5 ′, 5 ″″) having a closed free second end in the container interior ( 6 ), at least one electrical sensor ( 3 , 3 ′, 3 ″, 3 ′″, 3 ″″) having at least first and second electrically conductive plates ( 8 , 8 ′, 9 , 9 ′, 9 ′″), each of which has a contact surface disposed to be exposed to a medium in the container ( 2 ), the electrically conductive plates ( 8 , 8 ′, 9 , 9 ′, 9 ′″) being connected via connecting lines ( 10 , 11 ) to an external area that is arranged outside the container interior ( 6 ), at least the first plate ( 8 , 8 ′) being arranged on the closed, free second end of a first sheathing ( 5 , 5 ′, 5 ″″), and the electrical connecting line ( 10 , 11 ) of at least the first plate ( 8 , 8 ′) being routed through the first sheathing ( 5 , 5 ′, 5 ″) to the external area, wherein
the first sheathing ( 5 , 5 ′, 5 ″″, 17 , 17 ′″) is a flexible hose ( 7 ) or folding bellows ( 19 , 19 ″″) that is adjustable in length in the container interior ( 6 ), so that at least the first plate ( 8 , 8 ′) is moveable with the closed, free second end of the first sheathing ( 5 , 5 ′, 5 ″″) to plural positions relative to the medium in the container ( 2 ).
2. The container of claim 1 , further comprising a tube ( 21 ) or a positioning rod ( 24 ) that is longitudinally displaceable with respect to the wall aperture ( 20 ), the tube ( 21 ) or the positioning rod ( 24 ) being arranged within the first sheathing ( 5 ″″, 17 ′″), which is designed as the bellows ( 19 , 19 ″″), an end of the tube or the rod facing toward the plate ( 8 ′, 9 ′″) being connected to the free second end of the bellows ( 19 , 19 ″″).
3. The container of claim 2 , wherein the end of the longitudinally displaceable tube ( 21 ) that faces away from the plate ( 9 ′″) projects outside of the container interior ( 6 ).
4. The container of claim 2 , wherein the wall aperture ( 20 ) has an adapter piece ( 22 ) in which the longitudinally displaceable tube ( 21 ) is arranged, the end of the tube facing the container interior ( 6 ) being connected to the bellows ( 19 ).
5. The container of claim 1 , wherein the free second end of the first sheathing ( 5 ) has a second plate ( 9 ) arranged at a distance from the first plate ( 8 ).
6. The container of claim 1 , further comprising a second sheathing ( 17 , 17 ′″) with a closed free end, the second plate ( 9 ′, 9 ′″) being arranged on the closed, free end of the second sheathing ( 17 , 17 ′″).
7. The container of claim 1 , wherein the second plate ( 9 ′) is arranged directly on an inner side of the flexible wall ( 18 ) facing the container interior ( 6 ) and the exposed contact surface of the second plate ( 9 ′) facing away from the wall ( 18 ).
8. The container of claim 1 , wherein the contact surfaces of the plates ( 8 , 8 ′, 9 , 9 ′, 9 ′″) are arranged above an intended fluid level.
9. The container of claim 1 , wherein the sensor ( 3 , 3 ′, 3 ″, 3 ′″, 3 ″″) formed by the at least first and second plates ( 8 , 8 ′, 9 , 9 ′, 9 ′″) is designed for detection of fluid ( 13 ) and/or foam ( 12 ).
10. The container of claim 9 , further comprising a pump or a valve ( 14 ) arranged in an inlet line ( 15 ) running between the flexible container ( 2 ) and a reservoir ( 16 ) containing an antifoam agent.
11. The container of claim 1 , wherein the container ( 2 ) with the sensor ( 3 , 3 ′, 3 ″, 3 ′″, 3 ″″) is a single-use container.
12. The container of claim 1 , wherein the container ( 2 ) with the sensor ( 3 , 3 ′, 3 ″, 3 ′″, 3 ″″) is designed so as to be capable of being folded up.
13. The container of claim 1 , wherein the container ( 2 ) is a bioreactor ( 1 ).