초록 ▼

A process, apparatus, and system are provided for preserving and dispensing wine from a bottle or other container. The process involves directing a chemically inert gas under pressure from a reservoir to a bottle containing a wine. The pressure of the gas is reduced prior to its introduction into th

A process, apparatus, and system are provided for preserving and dispensing wine from a bottle or other container. The process involves directing a chemically inert gas under pressure from a reservoir to a bottle containing a wine. The pressure of the gas is reduced prior to its introduction into the bottle. The bottle is positioned generally vertically within a hermetically and thermally sealed enclosure. A gas flow line enters the bottle and has a first end connected to a gas source and a second end which terminates within the bottle between a bottle plug and the contained liquid. By passing the gas into the bottle, liquid within the bottle is forced through an end of a second line which is positioned in the wine to a second end of the line positioned on the exterior of the bottle. The flow of wine is caused by the introduction of gas under pressure into the interior of the bottle between the bottle plug and the wine. The apparatus for performing the process includes first and second flow lines, a gas reservoir, a gas valve and spigot and a wine spigot. The system includes the same elements and further includes a vertically upstanding bottle, a bottle closure and a hermetically and thermally sealed enclosure in which the bottle is positioned.

대표청구항 ▼

A method for preserving and dispensing wine from a bottle partially filled with said wine, said method comprising: (a) providing an apparatus for preserving and dispensing wine including: (i) a hermetically and thermally sealed enclosure for said wine bottle; (ii) at least one reservoir adapted to c

A method for preserving and dispensing wine from a bottle partially filled with said wine, said method comprising: (a) providing an apparatus for preserving and dispensing wine including: (i) a hermetically and thermally sealed enclosure for said wine bottle; (ii) at least one reservoir adapted to contain said inert gas; (iii) a first line for gas flow having one end connected to said reservoir and a second end terminating within said wine bottle adjacent to said plug, said second end being located between said plug and said wine; (iv) at least one pressure reducing valve positioned along said first line adjacent said reservoir; (v) at least one valve located in said first line downstream of said pressure reducing valve for preventing surges or blasts of pressure within said first line; (vi) a second line for liquid flow having one end positioned within said wine bottle adjacent the bottom of said wine bottle and within said wine and a second end located outside said wine bottle and enclosure; (vii) a spigot for controlling the flow of wine through said second line wherein said gas under pressure is compressed gas and wherein the low pressure gas introduced into said void space is sufficient to force said wine into said second line; and (viii) means including a manually variable adjustment valve in communication with said wine bottle for venting said gas from said bottle so as to minimize the exposure of said wine to said gas, and for controlling the pressure in the void space within the bottle, so as to control the flow or non-flow and diminish the flow of wine; (b) directing a compressed inert gas via said first line from said reservoir into said wine bottle; (c) conducting said wine from said one end of said second line through said second line and outwardly from said wine bottle towards said second end of said second line so as to dispense wine from said wine bottle; and (d) operating said manually variable adjustment valve to vent said gas from said wine bottle during periods of storage of said wine bottle in said enclosure between periods of dispensing so as to minimize exposure of wine to said gas.