Device for protecting a liquid from oxidation

Abstract

A device for protecting a liquid from oxidation inside a container includes a first element supplying the liquid inside the container, a second element supplying the liquid outside the container and a control unit. A pneumatic control system is configured to produce an overpressure inside the container and on the liquid when the liquid is supplied outside the container, such that, following a decrease in the volume of the liquid inside the container, the pneumatic control system increases its volume by an amount equal to the change in the volume of the liquid. The pneumatic control system includes a variable capacity tank and a pipe supplying and discharging a fluid for filling the tank. A system supplying and discharging the filling fluid is connected to the pipe and the supplying and discharging pipe communicates with the variable capacity tank through a connection placed inside the container at its lower end.

Claims

1. A device for protecting a liquid (10) from oxidation inside a container (1) having a first aperture (11) at an upper end, the container (1) further having a first element (5, 50) supplying said liquid (10) inside said container (1), a second element (6, 60) supplying said liquid (10) outside said container (1), and a control unit (7), the device comprising: a pneumatic control system at least partially housed into said container (1) and configured to produce an overpressure inside said container (1) and on said liquid (10) when the liquid (10) is supplied outside the container (1), such that following a decrease in volume of said liquid (10) inside said container (1), said pneumatic control system increases in volume by an amount equal to a change in the volume of said liquid (10), said pneumatic control system comprising a variable capacity tank (21) and a pipe (22) supplying and discharging a filling fluid for filling said variable capacity tank (21); a system (3) supplying and discharging the filling fluid that is connected to said pipe (22), wherein said supplying and discharging pipe (22) communicates with said variable capacity tank (21) through a connector placed inside the container (1) at a lower end of the container (1), and wherein said supplying and discharging pipe (22) is in communication with an inside of the container (1) through a lower aperture placed at a bottom of said container (1); and a fastening system placed at the bottom of said container (1) and configured to hold said connector to said variable capacity tank (21) in place, wherein said variable capacity tank (21) is an element composed of a flexible and stretchable material, and has a predetermined volume variable from a specific maximum value, lower than an inner volume of said container (1), and a specific minimum value, corresponding to a condition with no filling fluid or with a smallest amount of filling fluid inside said variable capacity tank (21), said variable capacity tank (21) having a mouth fastened by a peripheral edge thereof to said connector configured for entrance of said filling fluid, wherein said connector comprises two flanges configured to be coupled to each other, and wherein said peripheral edge of said mouth of said variable capacity tank (21) is interposed between the two flanges.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the variable capacity tank (21) is configured as a bag having said mouth placed at a bottom thereof, a perimetric shell, wall and a top wall.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the pipe (22) supplying the filling fluid and the discharging pipe are composed of a single pipe (22) sealingly connected to said variable capacity tank (21) and alternatively connectable by a three-way valve system to an outer environment and to a filling fluid supply source.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein said control unit (7) comprises a control member controlling one or both of pressure and the volume inside said container (1), and wherein the control member adjusts an amount of filling fluid to be supplied/discharged into said tank (21) by said supplying and discharging system.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein said control unit (7) comprises at least one electronic control unit connected to said supplying and discharging system (3) for the filling fluid, and wherein the electronic control unit is configured to generate control signals for adjusting an amount of filling fluid to be supplied/discharged inside said tank (21).

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein said control unit (7) comprises at least one sensor detecting the volume of the liquid inside said container (1), such that generation of said control signals by said electronic control unit occurs automatically based on a liquid level detected by at least one sensor.

7. A kit for making a device for protecting a liquid from oxidation on an already existing container (1) comprising: a pneumatic control system comprising a variable capacity tank (21) and a pipe (22) supplying and discharging a fluid filling said variable capacity tank (21); a control unit (7); a system supplying and discharging the filling fluid which is connected to said pipe (22) with a connector; and a fastening system placed at the bottom of said container (1) and configured to hold said connector to said variable capacity tank (21) in place, wherein said pneumatic control system is at least partially housed into said container (1) and configured to produce an overpressure inside said container (1) and on said liquid (10) when said liquid (10) is supplied outside the container (1), such that following a decrease in volume of said liquid (10) inside said container (1), said pneumatic control system increases in volume by an amount equal to a change in the volume of said liquid (10), said pneumatic control system comprising said variable capacity tank (21) and said pipe (22) supplying and discharging said filling fluid for filling said variable capacity tank (21), wherein said pipe (22) communicates with said variable capacity tank (21) through a connector placed inside the container (1) at a lower end of the container (1), wherein said supplying and discharging pipe (22) is in communication with an inside of the container (1) through a lower aperture placed at a bottom of said container (1), wherein said variable capacity tank (21) is an element composed of a flexible and stretchable material, and has a predetermined volume variable from a specific maximum value, lower than an inner volume of said container (1), and a specific minimum value, corresponding to a condition with no filling fluid or with a smallest amount of filling fluid inside said variable capacity tank (21), said variable capacity tank (21) having a mouth fastened by a peripheral edge thereof to said connector configured for entrance of said filling fluid, wherein said connector comprises two flanges configured to be coupled to each other, and wherein said peripheral edge of said mouth of said variable capacity tank (21) is interposed between the two flanges.

Description

(1) These and other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be more clear from the following description of some embodiments shown in the annexed drawings wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the device protecting a liquid from oxidation according to the present invention according to a first embodiment;

(3) FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the device protecting a liquid from oxidation according to the present invention according to a preferred embodiment.

(4) It is specified that the figures shown below are merely provided for illustrative purposes in order to better understand some characteristics of the device of the present invention and, consequently, they show some embodiments.

(5) However such embodiments have not to be intended as limitative of the inventive concept of the present invention.

(6) Particularly FIG. 1 shows the device for protecting a liquid 10 from oxidation inside a container 1 having a first aperture 11 at the upper end and that comprises first means 5, 50 for supplying the liquid 10 inside the container 1, second means 6, 60 for supplying the liquid 10 outside the container 1 and a control unit 7.

(7) It is specified that there is shown a first pipe 5 equipped with on-off valve 50 for introducing the liquid 10 into the container 1, a second pipe 6 equipped with an on-off valve 60, for supplying wine to the outside of the container 1.

(8) The pipes 5 and 6 are intended to enable the normal operating actions of the container 1 such as partial emptying, topping up etc., under safety conditions, and they incorporate additional parts such as relief valves, level gauges, pressure gauges, etc. all being components known in the prior art.

(9) There are further provided pneumatic control means at least partially housed into the container 1 and intended to produce an overpressure inside it and on the liquid 10 when the liquid 10 is supplied outside the container 1, such that following a decrease in the volume of the liquid 10 inside the container 1, the pneumatic control means increase their volume by an amount equal to the change in the volume of the liquid.

(10) This is possible since the pneumatic control means comprise a variable capacity tank 21 and a pipe 22 for supplying and discharging a fluid for filling the tank 21.

(11) The supplying and discharging pipe 22 communicates with the supplying and discharging means 3 for the filling fluid.

(12) Preferably according to variant embodiments shown in the figures, the operation of the supplying and discharging means 3 is regulated by a control unit 7, connected thereto and that will be described below.

(13) The means supplying and discharging the filling fluid for example can be composed of any means known in the prior art, such as pump or compressor or the like, able to pump inside the tank 21 a filling fluid that can be preferably composed of an inert gas not containing oxygen, preferably such as nitrogen or other liquid or gaseous fluids.

(14) With a particular reference to FIG. 1, the supplying and discharging pipe 22 communicates with the variable capacity tank 21 through a connection placed inside the container 1 at the lower end thereof, the supplying and discharging pipe 22 being in communication with the inside of the container 1 through a lower aperture placed at the bottom of said container 1.

(15) There are further provided fastening means 25 placed at the bottom of the container 1 intended to hold in place the variable capacity tank 21.

(16) FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show the supplying and discharging pipe 22 entering into the container 1 through an aperture obtained at the bottom wall of the container 1, allowing the pipe 22 to pass through in a sealing manner.

(17) Also the communication between the supplying pipe 22 and the variable capacity tank 21 obtained through the connection is a sealing communication.

(18) The fastening means 25 in FIG. 1 are composed of chain elements that lock the tank 21 in a given position with respect to the bottom of the container 1, but they can be composed of any means known in the prior art allowing the same function to be accomplished.

(19) The use of chain elements 25 gives to the whole system less stiffness, allowing the tank 21 to make very small fluctuations in order to best adapt itself to the liquid 10 inside the container 1.

(20) Preferably the variable capacity tank 21 is an element composed of flexible and stretchable material, having a predetermined volume variable from a specific maximum value, lower than the inner volume of the container 1, and a specific minimum value, corresponding to the condition with no filling fluid or with the smallest amount of filling fluid inside the tank 21.

(21) Moreover the variable capacity tank 21 has a mouth fastened by its peripheral edge to the connection intended for the entrance of the filling fluid.

(22) With a particular reference to figures, the tank 21 has the shape of a bag, with the mouth placed at the bottom, and it has a perimetral shell wall and a top wall.

(23) It is specified that the variable capacity tank 21 can be composed of a tank of any shape, but preferably it has a shape intended to operatively cooperate with the inner shape of the containers that are usually used in the technological field of interest, which can have for example a cylindrical shape, spherical shape, ellipsoidal shape, bellows-like shape, a parallelepiped shape and a cushion-like shape.

(24) Moreover advantageously the variable capacity tank 21 is composed of a plastic material. Particularly the material of the tank is characterized by liquid resistance, impermeability to the gas with which it is internally inflated, and no release of contaminants towards the liquid with which it is in contact.

(25) Generally as regards this last characteristic it is preferred for the material to be approved according to the current regulations as regards contact with foods, such as for example FDA (USA) or EFSA (Europe) or for example according to the Japanese law.

(26) Preferably polymer materials are used which are composed only of one layer in order to maximize the performances while reducing the permeability and guaranteeing the food-grade of the portion in contact with the liquid. Optionally, the insertion of a thin metal layer preferably by metallization, for example with aluminum, is a possible solution.

(27) According to the variant embodiments described in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 the connection is composed of two flanges 241 and 242 couplable to each other, the peripheral edge 211 of the mouth of the variable capacity tank is interposed between such flanges 241 and 242.

(28) According to such configuration the fastening means 25 are directly connected on the flange 241 such to enable a coupling that does not affect the tank 21 preventing it from being torn.

(29) The two flanges 241 and 242 can be connectable in any manner known in the prior art.

(30) Advantageously the pipe 22 supplying the filling fluid and the discharging or exhausting one are composed of a single pipe 22 sealingly connected to the variable capacity tank 21 and alternatively connectable by a three-way valve system to the outer environment and to the filling fluid supply source.

(31) According to a possible embodiment the control unit 7 provides a control member 71 for the pressure and/or the volume inside the container 1 which regulates the amount of filling fluid to be supplied/discharged inside the tank 21 by the supplying and discharging means 3.

(32) In the particular case of FIGS. 1 and 2 the control member 71 is composed of a cylinder element having at least a transparent part allowing the level of the liquid inside the container to be seen.

(33) The cylinder 71 is housed at least partially inside the container 1 in an air-tight manner through a mouth obtained in the aperture 11 of the container.

(34) Such solution meets the need of using the whole system in already existing containers, but the same function can be accomplished for example with a slot obtained in the external wall of the container 1.

(35) Regardless of the implementation, the control member 71 allows the supply of the filling fluid by the supplying and discharging means 3 to be regulated.

(36) The adjustment can be performed manually or automatically and such variants are shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 respectively.

(37) In FIG. 1 the control unit 7 is composed of an electronic control unit 7 connected to the supplying and discharging means 3 for the filling fluid.

(38) The electronic control unit 7 is intended to generate control signals for adjusting the amount of filling fluid to be supplied/discharged inside the tank 21.

(39) In the particular case shown in FIG. 1 the adjustment is performed manually: the user controls the level of the liquid inside the container through the control member 71, if the level is lower a predetermined value, the user operates the electronic control unit 7 such that it operates the supplying means 3.

(40) The filling fluid begins to enter into the tank 21, which is inflated, it increases its volume and it pushes the liquid till it reaches the desired level.

(41) Now the user stops the supplying means 3 by means of the electronic control unit 7.

(42) As an alternative or in combination it is possible to provide this adjustment to take place automatically, such as shown in FIG. 2.

(43) In this case the control unit comprises at least one sensor 72 detecting the volume of the liquid inside the container 1, of the level switch-type or the like, such that the generation of the control signals by the electronic control unit 7 occurs automatically on the basis of the liquid level detected by the level switch 72.