FR2599345A1 - Vat, in particular for receiving a grape harvest, for protecting the latter by an inert gas environment - Google Patents

Abstract

The transport tub comprising a container with its unloading spout is characterised in that it comprises a lid fitted with a seal allowing the harvest to be shielded from the atmosphere and from the germs that it contains during transport after the injection of nitrogen. It also comprises a grid allowing liquid to be separated from the rest of the load during transport, and a pipe for directly discharging the liquid in the wine store during the unloading of the grapes.

Description

 The invention relates to a grape transport bucket, between the harvesting machine and the grapevine, comprising a container with its discharge oec germen mounted on a frame and tiltable with the aid of cylinders relative to -elu- ci for unloading.

 Transport skips as described above have been known for a long time. They can be mounted on a towed platform or can be provided with an axle allowing the transport of the skip hooked to a tractor.

 The widespread use of grape harvesting machines has changed the nature of the load transported, previously made up of complete bunches, which is now in the form of grapes torn from the bunch.

 These are frequently exploded, and the load poured from the bucket of the harvesting machine into the transport bucket contains a significant proportion of liquid. This may deteriorate or begin fermentation in the transport container, especially on hot days, and this is contrary to proper control of the winemaking.

 The object of the invention is to remedy the drawback mentioned above, and to allow the transport of the harvest under optimal conditions.

To this end, according to the invention, the grape transport bucket, between the grape harvesting machine and the cellar, comprising a container with its unloading spout mounted on a casing and tiltable by means of jacks relative to that -ct for unloading, is characterized in that it comprises a cover and a tight seal between the latter and the upper part of the bucket, so as to allow the placing under inert gas of the harvest during its transport to the winery .To facilitate the operation of the lid, a hydraulic hy cylinder placed between the container and the lid will allow the latter to pivot around a hinge placed parallel to the orand axis of the bucket, so that during the loading of the latter. ci by the bucket of the harvesting machine, placed on the opposite side with respect to the hinge, the cover serves as a deflector and prevents the harvest from falling next to the transport bucket
To allow rapid separation, during loading and transport, of the liquid from the exploded grains and the solid charge, it is provided, according to the invention, to have a certain distance from the bottom of the bucket, and in a substantially horizontal plane, a grid separating the container and the discharge spout into two zones, one containing the liquid, and the other located above, the solid charge.

Two pipes are provided to allow proper use of the bucket: one of large section, and provided with a valve, placed at the point which will be ie lower during unloading, ie in the vicinity of the container connection and discharge spout, will allow evacuation. directly the green liqui oa chai while the solid charge will be cvrso oans the conet of recetfflon. The other tubing, placed in the vicinity of the cover joint at the top of the bucket will be of small section: and will be fitted with a valve.
Allowing connection to a cylinder of pressurized, inert gas, such as nitrogen, provided with its holder.

 To facilitate unloading, the container will be executed in the form of a semi-cylinder with a horizontal axis, the base of which will be a semi-circle or a multiple-sided half-polygon so that the formed dihedrons are unable to retain the load. and that cleaning be made easier. The discharge spout will in one case be a truncated cone or a pyramid trunk cut by the horizontal plane of the cover. For the same cleaning reasons, the separation grid will consist of a sheet perforated with multiple holes of suitably chosen diameter.

 The invention will be better understood using the attached drawing which is a perspective view of a grape transport bucket according to the invention according to a possible variant of execution, given by way of nonlimiting example.

 The bucket 1, mounted on its chassis 2, consists of a semi-cylindrical container 13 and a frustoconical unloading spout 12. A cover 3 provided with a seal 7 makes it possible to close the bucket tightly during the transport. The operation of the cover is facilitated by a hydraulic cylinder 6 supplied preferably by the hydraulic unit of the tractor which already supplies the cylinders 5 for lifting the bucket for its decharoemr-. A tube 11 provided with a valve 10 allows connection to a nitrogen bottle provided with its regulator. To allow the separation of the grain and the liquid, a perforated sheet 4 separates the container and its discharge spout into two distinct zones, the lower zone allowing the liquid to collect and the upper zone corresponding to the solid charge. During unloading, a tube 8 provided with a valve 9 makes it possible to directly discharge the liquid towards the cellar, while the solid charge is poured by the spout into the receiving conquet.

 It is easy to see that such a specialized transport skip makes it possible to place the grapes and the liquid which has come out prematurely from the grains during their uprooting away from any undesirable germ during transport and that it results from the invention an appreciable progress for the quality of the wine.

Claims (7)

 RESALE.CATIONS  under inert gas from the harvest during transport to the winery.  this and the upper part of the bucket, so as to allow the setting  characterized in that it has a cover and a seal between  and tiltable by means of jacks relative to the latter for unloading  comprising a container with its discharge spout mounted on a chassis  . Transport bucket for the harvest, between the harvesting machine and the cellar, 2. Transport skip according to Claim 1, characterized in that a  hydraulic cylinder ensures the operation of said cover. 3. Transport skip according to any one of Claims 1 or 2, charac  terized in that the cross section of the grab by a vertical plane is a  semicircle and in that the discharge spout is a half truncated cone  connecting to this.  polygon.  the discharge spout is a half trunk of pyramid connecting to this  terized in that the cross section of the bucket is polygonal and in that  4. Transport skip according to any one of Claims 1 or 2, charac  to drain into the bottom of the container.  to allow the liquid coming from the exploded grains during their uprooting  consisting of the container and the discharge spout in two areas so  terized in that an approximately horizontal grid separates the volume  5. Transport skip according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, charac  6. Transport skip according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, charac  that a tube fitted with a valve is placed at the most  bottom of the connection of the container and the discharge spout, so that  put to drain directly the liquid contained in the lower zone of  the skip to the winery. 7. Transport skip according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, charac  terrified in that a tube is provided at the top of the half-mast, the  said tube comprising a valve for connection to a gas cylinder  inert equipped with a regulator placed on the chassis, so as to put the  harvest sheltered from air during transport.