GB2237844A

GB2237844A - Drawing off liquids from containers

Info

Publication number: GB2237844A
Application number: GB8925324A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Enzo Casale
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-11-09
Filing date: 1989-11-09
Publication date: 1991-05-15
Also published as: GB8925324D0

Abstract

A method of preventing exposure to air or other gas of a liquid 56 such as wine or beer in a container, in which a latex or other membrane 48 forms an envelope sealed to a gas entry aperture 50 in the container so that gas enters the envelope to expand said envelope to fill the space created in the container as liquid is withdrawn. <IMAGE>

Description

Drawing off Liquids from Containers This invention relates generally to the subject of drawing off liquids from containers and in particular to a method of preventing exposure to gas of a liquid in a container as the liquid is progressively draw off to be replaced by gas.

Ordinarily, when a liquid is drawn off from a container, as by a siphon or by suction, the vacated space in the container is filled by air allowed to enter the container fro outside. There are instances, however, for example wine in 2 wine cack, where the contact between the air and the remaining liquid in the container can cause deterioration of said liquid. This can also be the case where liquid is draw off by presFurisinc the container, and selection of the pressurising gas may be restricted as a result.

According to the invention, there is provided a method of preventing exposure to gas of e livid in a container as said liquid is progressively drawn off from the container ad is replaced by the gas, wherein a membrane of non-porous, flexible and expansible material is inserted into the container and is sealed to te gas entry aperture in te container, and in use gas enters the envelope at said aperture to expand the envelope so that it fills the space created by liquid which is drawn off.

The invention may be applied to wine in a wine cask, for example, where commonly the wine is drawn off either by siphoning or a tap close to but above the bottom of the cask.

In the case of siphoning, the membrane of latex or like material is employed to form an envelope sealed between the outside of the siphon tube and the mouth of the container.

Again, the invention may be employed in a pressurised beer barrel, in which case the membrane is sealed between the container inlet aperture and the inlet pipe for the pressurising gas, the latter entering the envelope thereby formed positively to expand said envelope and expel liquid from the container through a separate liquid outlet.

The invention also extends to a membrane for use in the aforesaid method.

The method in accordance with the invention is exemplified with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a conventional method of siphoning a.liquid such as wine; Figure 2A shows a latex or like membrane and Figure 2E shows the step of inserting a siphon tube through an aperture in the membrane; Figure 3 shows the step of assembling the liquid container, membrane and siphon tube; Figure 4 shows a full container assembled with the membrane and siphon tube; Figure 5 shows the container when part of the contents has been drawn off; Figure 6 shows a method of pressurising the container to commence siphoning; and Figures 7A and 7B show a method cf applying the invention to a pressurised beer barrel.

Referring first to Figures 1 to 6, Figure 1 shows a conventional method of siphoning wine from a large jar 10, in which for example the final stages of production have been carried out, into a bottle 12. A siphon tube 14 is employed, incorporating a tap 16. The siphon is con ventionallf started manually.

Normally, when one bottle of wine has been drawn off, the vacant space created within the jar 10 is filled by outside air entering through the mouth 18 of the jar, e.g. air filling the space 20 when the wine in the jar has dropped to the level 22. however, it may not be desired to draw off any more wine from the jar for the time being, which creates the problem that the contact between the wine 24 left in the container and the air in the space 20 car ause the wine to deteriorate. The present inventon is able to provide a solution to this problem.

Thus, Figures 2 to 4 show a generally circularly shaped membrane 26 of latex or equivalent non-porous, flexible and expansible material, having a central aperture 28, which is inserted into the jar 10, its periphery sealed to the mouth of the jar by a push-fit cap 30, and the siphon tube 14 passin@ through and being sealed in the central aperture 28. The push-fit cap 30 is provided with vent holes 32 which, as will be clear from Figure 4, will allow outside air to enter the Interior of the envelope 34 which is thus formed by the membrane 26 around the siphon tube 14.

In use, when a quantity cf wine Is siphoned cff, the air entering the envelope 34 causes it to expand and fill the space 2C above the remaining wine 24, but contact between the air an the remaining wine is prevented.

Figure 6 shows a method by which a vent hole in the pushfit cap 30 can be used to start the siphon b an inflatable bulb or other pressurising means 36.

Figure 7 shows application of the method of the invention to a beer barrel 40 which is pressurised by a source 42 of pressurised gas to enable beer to be drawn off through an outlet 44 by operation of an outlet tap 46.

The membrane 48, again of latex rubber cr equivalent material, is sealed between the wall cf the barrel inlet aperture and the inlet pipe for pressurised gas which enters through said aperture, as indicated b reference 50. A tap incorporating one-way or non-returr. valve 52 is provided between the source 42 and the barrel inlet 50.

In use, as shown in Figure 7, the barrel is pressurised the inside of the envelope 4 formed by the membrane. The envelope is forcibly expanded to expe veer fror the barrel when the outlet tap 44 is opened, ano contact between the pressuring gas an the beer 56 is prevented.

Conventionally , carbon dioxide gas is often used for pressurising beer barrels, and tr-ts is relatively harmless with respect to beer remaining in the barrel. However, the present invention will enable other gases such as air to be used for pressurising purposes, without consideration of any effect the gas ray have on the beer.

Clearly, the invention can also be applied to a beer barrel from which liquid is dravm. by a suction pump, the membrane then being employed generally in analogous manner to that illustrated by Figures 2 to 5.

Moreover, the invention is also applicable in fields other than that of alcoholic and analogous drinks, and may find use in any industrial process where a liquid to be protected against deterioration caused by contact with air ie to be drawn off from a container.

Claims

1. A method of preventing exposure to gas of a liquid in a container as said liquid is progressively drawn off from the container and is replaced by the gas, wherein a membrane of non-porous, flexible and expansible material is inserted into the container and is sealed to a gas entry aperture in the container, and in use gas enters the envelope at said aperture to expand the envelope so that it fills the space created by liquid which is drawn off.

2. A method according to claim 1, in which the liquid is drawn off by a siphon tube, and the membrane forms an envelope sealed between the outside of the siphon tube and the mouth cf the container constituting the gas inlet aperture.

3. A method according to claim 1, applied to a container containing liquid under pressure, wherein the membrane is sealed between the container inlet aperture and the inlet pipe for the pressurizing gas, the latter entering the envelope thereby formed positively to expand said envelope and ex - .- fror the container through a separate licit outlet

4. A method according to claim 2, in which the membrane is ce-ere circular with a central aperture, the periphery of the membrane being sealed to the container mouth and the central aperture being sealed to the siphon tube.

5. A method according to claim 4, in which the membrane is sealed to the container mouth by a container cap provided with vent holes constituting the gas inlet aperture.

6. A method according to claim 5, in which a pressurising means acting through a vent hole is used to start the siphon.

7. A method according to claim 3, in which the pressurising gas is air.

8. A method of preventing exposure to gas of a liquid in a container substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 2 to 6 or to Figure 7 of the accompanying drawings.