FR2712300A1 - Pumping wine or brandy through wooden barrel from vessel - Google Patents

Abstract

Wine or brandy contained in a vessel (8) is circulated and allowed to rest in a wooden barrel (3). Wine is pumped slowly (2) from the vessel (4) to the barrel (5), then back to the vessel (6) under control of an automatic programmable controller (1). The entire device is separate from the wine storage vessel. A single pump may be used to feed one or more barrels in series. The integral controller regulates the wine's residence time in the barrels before return to the vessel. Other machines may be linked to the device.

Description

Machine for barrel evolution of a wine stored in tanks.

 The present invention relates to a device for passing and staying wine, in barrel or in barrel, while keeping it normally stored in a tank.

 The passage and the stay of the wine in the wood which will be chosen for its qualities (new chue, for example) is programmed in advance, so that the wine from the barrel is periodically renewed and is replaced by the wine from the tank.

 After a few weeks of this tank / wood exchange, we notice a favorable evolution of the wine at tasting. The wines are less closed, benefit from a discreet woodiness, tannins from the wood and contact of the wood with the ambient air, justifying the interest of this system. It also allows less frequent withdrawals.

 Usually housed in tanks, the wines evolve slowly but give relatively little work.

 As for barrel aging, it provides an expensive solution in investment tools and labor.

The device according to the invention makes it possible to combine the advantages of the above containers:
It includes a pump on a chassis, the suction of which is connected to the tank to be treated and the delivery to a barrel full of wine, and the outlet of the barrel is connected to the tank. The system is therefore located outside the tank which does not require any particular modifications, if the fittings are suitable.

The motor actuating the pump is controlled by a programmable automatism (pendulum for the simplest).

 It allows to measure the passage time and to control the duration of the stay of the wine in the barrel. A new barrel of china, preferably, is sufficient for current capacity tanks, but this is at the discretion of the user who can connect several drums to the same tank and feed them with the same pump. The device can remain in service for several months on the same tank because, constantly topped up by the wine being loaded, the barrel only causes completely negligible losses of wine or so2. The engine must run slowly and the pump must have a low flow rate so as not to tire the wine. We are content, in general, to pump a barrel in ten minutes then let the wine stay in the wood for a few hours. Then the cycle will resume according to a program determined in advance.

The pump control unit includes a manual control for washing and forced operation as well as the programmable automatic function managing the start and stop of the pump. In a large installation, there is internship to operate several systems with a single control unit which distributes the start-ups during the day.

The barrel placed on its support is equipped with a plunger or any other suitable connection by od the wine arrives and an outlet for the return of the wine from the barrel into the tank. The connections are watertight and fitted with safety devices to prevent tearing. If you want to use several drums, you plug them into each other, the latter being connected back to the tank.

As a variant, the pump can be turned in the opposite direction to this general description. On the other hand, the system can find applications on products other than wine. It can treat brandies, aperitifs, etc. in the same way. On the other hand, on the return piping to the tank, you can connect accessory tools such as heater, filter, etc.

 The accompanying drawing illustrates the invention. It includes: - In 1 the control boot starting and stopping the pump according to programming.

- In 2 the motor-pump assembly responsible for circulating the wine according to the program.

- In 3 the barrel positioned on its support.

- In 4 suction pipes for the wine from the tank by the pump.

- In 5 pump discharge pipes in the barrel.

- In 6 return pipes from the barrel to the tank.

~ In 7 the drain and its safety.

- In 8 the tank to be treated.

 Not illustrated: you can connect several barrels in series before returning to the tank 8.0n can choose to circulate the wine in other directions than that shown on the drawing.

 This invention allows a better evolution of the wine compared to the usual storage in tank alone. The tanks and drums used do not have to undergo any noticeable transformations. With this system, the wine does not require more special attention or care than those which are usually lavished on it.

Claims (7)

CLAIMS.  1) Device for passing and staying in barrels wines or brandies contained in a tank. It consists of a support for one or more drums (3), equipped with a slow rotation pump (2) and an automatic and programmable control box (1) and pipes (4,5,6) allowing the round trip of the wine from the tank (8) after its stay in the wood (3).  2) Device according to claim i characterized in that the system is external to the tank to which it is connected.  3) Device according to claim 2 characterized in that it comprises an integral and programmable automation boot (1).  4) Device according to claim 3 characterized in that a pump (2) withdraws at low flow rate, wine or brandy in a tank (8) to introduce it into one or more barrels (3).  5) Device according to claim 4 characterized in that after a programmed stay in the wood wine and returned to its tank.  6) Device according to claim 5 characterized in that one can use several fQts in series for a single pump.  7) Device according to claim 6 characterized in that one can connect the system to accessory machines.