Method and equipment for pressurized injection of air or other gases in a controlled manner into wine making tanks

Abstract

A method and equipment for the pressurized injection of air or other gases in a controlled manner into wine making tanks or similar for the purpose of efficiently breaking up the cap and extracting polyphenolic and aromatic compounds from the skins to the liquid portion (must) after the crushing of the grapes using the method for pumping over the grape harvest during the maceration thereof.

Claims

1. A method for pumping over a grape harvest during maceration comprising: injecting pressurized air or other gasses in a controlled manner into a tank simultaneously striking at least two regions of a cap formed on a top portion of the tank by means for a pressurized injection of air or other gases by means of a compressed air distribution circuit located outside a tank wherein the means for a pressurized injection of air or other gases comprises at least two diffusers having gas outlets located at different heights or levels on a lower portion of the tank, wherein each of the at least two diffusers comprises an on-off valve connected to a compressed air distribution circuit, wherein an injection time during which each of the at least two diffusers introduces air or other gasses into the tank continuously comprises between 1 and 10 seconds, wherein a switching time elapsing between injection by each of the at least two diffusers comprises between 0.5 and 10 minutes, wherein a cycle rest time elapsing between an end of a pumping over cycle of each of the at least two diffusers and a start of the following pumping over cycle comprises between 90 and 720 minutes, wherein a cycle consists of actuation of each of the at least two diffusers sequentially, and wherein the injection time, the switching time and the cycle rest time are controlled through a microprocessor located outside of the tank, wherein the microprocessor controls the on-off valves of the compressed air distribution circuit through corresponding control circuits from solenoid valves or control valves installed in a junction box or control valve center.

2. The method for pumping over the grape harvest during maceration according to claim 1, wherein the means for pressurized injection of air or other gases have different degrees of penetration into the tank.

3. The method for pumping over the grape harvest during maceration according to claim 1, wherein the gas outlets of the diffusers for the pressurized injection of air or other gases are provided in an asymmetrical manner in relation to axes X and Y of an horizontal section of the tank.

4. The method for pumping over the grape harvest during maceration according to claim 1, further comprising a step of injecting water into the tank by means of the at least two diffusers, wherein the water entrains waste products of wine making from an inside of the at least two diffusers, cleaning said inside, followed by a step of drying the at least two diffusers using compressed air.

5. The method for pumping over the grape harvest during maceration according to claim 1, wherein in the step of injecting pressurized air or other gasses purified air is used or a step of purifying compressed air is performed before the_step of injecting pressurized air or other gasses into the tank.

6. The method for pumping over a grape harvest during maceration according to claim 1, wherein the means for a pressurized injection of air or other gases comprises three or more diffusers.

7. A means for pumping over the grape harvest, comprising: a pressurized injection of air or other gases comprising at least two diffusers for the pressurized injection of air or other gases in a controlled manner into wine making tanks with gas outlets of the at least two diffusers located at different heights or levels on a lower portion of the tanks, wherein each of the at least two diffusers comprises an on-off valve connected to a compressed air distribution circuit, a microprocessor located outside of the tanks configured to control an injection time, a switching time and a cycle rest time by controlling the on-off valves of the compressed air distribution circuit through corresponding control circuits from solenoid valves or control valves installed in a junction box or control valve center, wherein the at least two diffusers are configured to inject air into the tanks, simultaneously striking at least two regions of a cap formed on a top portion of the tanks, wherein the injection time during which each pair of diffusers introduces gas into the tanks continuously comprises between 1 and 10 seconds, the switching time elapsing between injection by each of the at least two diffusers comprises between 0.5 and 10 minutes, and the cycle rest time which elapses between an end of a pumping over cycle of diffusers and a start of the following pumping over cycle comprises between 90 and 720 minutes under control of the microprocessor, wherein a cycle consists of an actuation of all the pairs of diffusers sequentially.

8. The means for pumping over the grape harvest according to claim 7, wherein the diffusers have different degrees of penetration into the tanks.

9. The means for pumping over the grape harvest according to claim 7, wherein the compressed air distribution circuit comprises a water intake configured to clean the diffusers once the pumping over of the grape harvest processed in the wine making tanks has been completed.

10. The means for pumping over the grape harvest according to claim 7, wherein the gas outlets of the diffusers are provided in an asymmetrical manner in relation to the axes X and Y of an horizontal section of the tanks.

11. The means for pumping over the grape harvest according to claim 6, wherein the means for a pressurized injection of air or other gases comprises three or more diffusers.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) To complete the description that is being made and to help make the invention fully understandable, said description is accompanied by a set of figures wherein the following is depicted with an illustrative and non-limiting character:

(2) FIGS. 1 and 2 show an elevational view and a plan view, respectively, of a general diagram of equipment for the pressurised injection of air or other gases in a controlled manner into wine making tanks for performing pumping-over operations according to the invention.

(3) FIG. 2B shows another embodiment of the invention, varying the tapping mode in the compressed air distribution circuit.

(4) FIG. 3 shows equipment for the pressurised injection of air according to the invention installed in a self-emptying tank.

(5) FIGS. 4 and 5 show equipment for the pressurised injection of air according to the invention installed in a tank having a flat bottom arranged on legs.

(6) FIGS. 6, 7, and 8 show equipment for the pressurised injection of air according to the invention installed in a tank having a flat horizontal bottom arranged on a mount.

(7) FIG. 8B shows another embodiment of the invention, varying the tapping mode in the compressed air distribution circuit.

(8) FIGS. 9, 10, and 11 show equipment for the pressurised injection of air according to the invention installed in a tank having a flat inclined bottom arranged on a mount.

(9) FIG. 11B shows another embodiment of the invention, varying the tapping mode in the compressed air distribution circuit.

(10) FIG. 12 shows an exploded view of the assembly of the on-off valves (7) of the compressed air distribution circuit for the equipment for the pressurised injection of air according to the invention.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(11) To complete the description that is being made and for the purpose of helping to better understand its features, several specific exemplary embodiments of systems for the pressurised injection of air or other gases in a controlled manner into wine making tanks according to the invention are provided in the present specification. These examples are provided for illustration purposes and do not seek to limit the present invention. Furthermore, the present invention covers all the possible combinations of particular and preferred embodiments herein indicated.

(12) FIGS. 1 and 2 show an elevational view and a plan view, respectively, of a general diagram of equipment for the pressurised injection of air or other gases in a controlled manner into wine making tanks for performing pumping-over operations according to the invention. The cap (2) is formed in the wine making tank (1) during the wine making process. To break up the cap, the means for the pressurised injection of air, i.e., diffusers (4a, 4b), inject air (3) into the tank, simultaneously striking at least two regions of the cap during the actuation of the system. The diffusers (4a, 4b, 5a, 5b) are located at the bottom of the tank at a different height or level (h.sub.1, h.sub.2, h.sub.3, h.sub.4), so the pressure and beam aperture conditions in each injection are different. The cap (2) is therefore subjected to plastic deformation which breaks up said cap efficiently and maximises the extraction of the polyphenolic and aromatic compounds.

(13) The diffusers (4a, 4b, 5a, 5b) are located between the compressed air distribution circuit (8) and the inside of the tank (1).

(14) The actuation times of the diffusers (4a, 4b, 5a, 5b) are controlled by means of a microprocessor (30), in which the time values are varied by the user of the pumping-over system.

(15) As seen in FIG. 2, the on-off valves (7) of the compressed air distribution circuit (8) act simultaneously on a pair of diffusers (4a, 4b, 5a, 5b) and are operated, through the corresponding control circuits (9), from the solenoid valves or control valves (10) installed in the junction box or control valve centre (11).

(16) FIG. 2B depicts another embodiment of the invention in which a single tapping is performed in the compressed air distribution circuit (8). Similarly, the on-off valves (7) of the compressed air distribution circuit (8) act simultaneously on a pair of diffusers (4a, 4b, 5a, 5b) and are operated, through the corresponding control circuits (9), from the solenoid valves or control valves (10) installed in the junction box or control valve centre (11).

(17) Continuing with the description of FIG. 1, the air is supplied by the compressor (12) incorporating filters (13) in the outlet of said compressor and the compressed air distribution circuit (8) includes a water intake (14) for cleaning the diffusers (4a, 4b, 5a, 5b) once the pumping over of the grape harvest processed in the tank (1) has been completed.

(18) Preferably, the main network of the compressed air distribution circuit (8) is DN50 (2″) and the branches to the on-off valves (7) are DN25 (1″).

Example 1: Self-Emptying Tank

(19) FIG. 3 shows equipment for the pressurised injection of air according to the invention installed in a self-emptying tank (1).

(20) The means for the pressurised injection of air, i.e., diffusers (4a, 4b, 5a, 5b), inject air (3) into the tank, simultaneously striking at least two regions of the cap during the actuation of the system, and are located at the conical-shaped bottom of the tank (1) at a different height or level, so the pressure and beam aperture conditions in each injection are different.

Example 2: Tank Having a Flat Bottom Arranged on Legs

(21) FIGS. 4 and 5 show equipment for the pressurised injection of air according to the invention installed in a tank (15) having a flat bottom with legs.

(22) The means for the pressurised injection of air, i.e., diffusers (4a, 4b, 4c), depicted in FIG. 4, inject air into the tank, simultaneously striking at least two regions of the cap during the actuation of the system, and are located at the flat bottom of the tank (15) at a different height or level, so the pressure and beam aperture conditions in each injection are different.

(23) As seen in FIG. 5, the means for the pressurised injection of air, i.e., diffusers (4a, 4b, 4c), are located between the compressed air distribution circuit (8) and the wall (16) of the tank.

Example 3: Tank Having a Flat Horizontal Bottom Arranged on a Mount

(24) FIGS. 6, 7, and 8 show equipment for the pressurised injection of air according to the invention installed in a tank (17) having a flat horizontal bottom arranged on a mount (18).

(25) The means for the pressurised injection of air, i.e., diffusers (4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 5c), inject air (3) into the tank, simultaneously striking at least two regions of the cap during the actuation of the system, and are located in the wall of the tank (17) at a different height or level as seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, so the pressure and beam aperture conditions in each injection are different.

(26) As seen in FIG. 8, the means for the pressurised injection of air, i.e., diffusers (4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 5c), are located between the compressed air distribution circuit (8) and the inside of the tank (17). Said diffusers are located at a different distance between the inner portion or end of the diffusers (4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 5c) and the vertical axis of the tank (17), and likewise, the diffusers (4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 5c) have an asymmetrical shape in relation to the axes of the section of the tank (17).

(27) FIG. 8B depicts another embodiment of the invention in which a single tapping is performed in the compressed air distribution circuit (8), maintaining the same operating principle.

Example 4: Tank Having a Flat Inclined Bottom Arranged on a Mount

(28) FIGS. 9, 10, and 11 show equipment for the pressurised injection of air according to the invention installed in a tank (19) having a flat inclined bottom arranged on a mount (20).

(29) The diffusers (4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b) inject air (3) into the tank, simultaneously striking at least two regions of the cap during the actuation of the system, and are located in the wall of the tank (19) at a different height or level as seen in FIGS. 9 and 10, so the pressure and beam aperture conditions in each injection are different.

(30) As seen in FIG. 11, the means for the pressurised injection of air, i.e., diffusers (4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b), are located between the compressed air distribution circuit (8) and the inside of the tank (19). Said diffusers are located at a different distance between the inner portion or end of the diffusers (4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b) and the vertical axis of the tank (19), and likewise, the diffusers (4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b) have an asymmetrical shape in relation to the axes of the section of the tank (19).

(31) Again, FIG. 11B depicts another embodiment of the invention in which a single tapping is performed in the compressed air distribution circuit (8), likewise maintaining the same operating principle.

(32) To complete the description that is being made, in addition to the exemplary embodiments described above, embodiments having common characteristics are described in detail below.

(33) To enable putting the on-off valves (7) of the compressed air distribution circuit out of operation in an independent manner, as depicted in FIG. 12, said valves (7) are located between clamp connections formed by connection bushings (21), a gasket (22), and a clamp (23), installed between ball valves (24). Additionally, the compressed air distribution circuit includes upstream of the on-off valves (7) check valves (25) mounted between threaded/gas junctions (26) and incorporating a threaded/gas head (27).

(34) Logically, the present invention is in no way limited to the described and depicted embodiments, but any variant or modification within the limit of the attached claims will be readily apparent to the skilled person. Particularly, the pumping-over system according to the invention can be installed in polygonal tanks having any number of sides.