초록 ▼

A bladder system and apparatus for use with a beverage barrel or container, to reduce undesirable head-space in a wooden container of a beverage, especially a fermented beverage, such as wine. The system continuously protects the beverage contained in a wooden barrel from the harmful effects of oxid

A bladder system and apparatus for use with a beverage barrel or container, to reduce undesirable head-space in a wooden container of a beverage, especially a fermented beverage, such as wine. The system continuously protects the beverage contained in a wooden barrel from the harmful effects of oxidation at the air-to-fluid interface in the head-space and compensates for ullage, attributable to evaporation, leakage or sampling losses. The system includes an inflation stem connected to a barrel bladder inflatable by filling with an inflation gas. The inflation stem includes a liquid level sensor and inserts into a bung opening. The fluid level is sensed and a gas valve opens to fill the bladder, reducing head-space within the barrel. The system can combine the control of several barrels and optionally with other sensors, to create a barrel monitoring and control network.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A bladder system for reducing a head space in a container of a beverage, the bladder system comprising: an inflation stem connected to a barrel bladder, the barrel bladder inflatable by filling with an inflation gas;the inflation stem inserted into a bung opening of a wooden container, the wooden

1. A bladder system for reducing a head space in a container of a beverage, the bladder system comprising: an inflation stem connected to a barrel bladder, the barrel bladder inflatable by filling with an inflation gas;the inflation stem inserted into a bung opening of a wooden container, the wooden container having an upper container surface, and the bung opening located on the upper container surface of the wooden container;an inflation stem housing;the inflation stem received into the inflation stem housing,the inflation stem housing including a bung anchor, the bung anchor inserted into the bung opening of the wooden container, to seal the bung opening;the inflation stem including an upper stem end and a lower stem end;an inflation port proximate to the upper stem end;a bladder port proximate to the lower stem end;a liquid level sensor mounted within the inflation stem housing, the liquid level sensor for sensing a head height within the container, the head height defined as a vertical distance between the upper container surface proximate to the bung opening, and the liquid level beneath the bung opening, the liquid level sensor sends a fill signal to a gas valve, when the head height is greater than a predetermined fill value;the gas valve opened when the fill signal is received from the liquid level sensor; andthe barrel bladder inflated by a pressurized feed of the inflation gas routed through the gas valve, to reduce the head height within the wooden container. 2. The bladder system according to claim 1, further comprising additional sensors associated with the bladder system, the additional sensors inserted into the bung opening of the wooden container. 3. The bladder system according to claim 1, further comprising additional sensors associated with the bladder system, the additional sensors inserted into the wooden container. 4. A bladder system for reducing a head space in a container of a beverage, the bladder system comprising: an inflation stem connected to a barrel bladder, the barrel bladder inflatable by filling with an inflation gas;the inflation stem anchored within a bung opening of a wooden container, the bung opening located proximate to an upper container surface of the wooden container;the inflation stem including an upper stem end and a lower stem end;an inflation port proximate to the upper stem end;a bladder port proximate to the lower stem end;a liquid level sensor for sensing a head height, the head height defined as a vertical distance between the upper container surface and the liquid level beneath the upper container surface, and the liquid level sensor sends a fill signal to a as valve, when the head height is greater than a predetermined fill value;the as valve opened when the fill signal is received from the liquid level sensor;the barrel bladder inflated by a pressurized feed of the inflation as routed through the as valve, to reduce the head height within the wooden container; andthe liquid level sensor sends a high alarm signal to a gas valve control to close the gas valve, and the liquid level sensor sends the high alarm signal to a relief port to open the relief port, when the head height is greater than a predetermined low alarm level. 5. The bladder system according to claim 1, wherein: the liquid level sensor sends a low alarm signal to a gas valve control to close the gas valve, when the head height is greater than a predetermined low alarm level. 6. The bladder system according to claim 1, wherein: the liquid level sensor sends a high alarm signal to a gas valve control to close the gas valve, and the liquid level sensor sends the high alarm signal to a relief port to open the relief port, when the head height is greater than a predetermined low alarm level. 7. The bladder system according to claim 1, wherein: the liquid level sensor sends a signal to a gas valve control;the inflation stem, and the barrel bladder, the liquid level sensor, the gas valve, and the gas valve control are included in a barrel service mechanism; anda control module is connected to and in communication with the barrel service mechanism, and a multiple of a multiple of the control modules, each of the multiple of the control modules are connected to a computer controlled network, with each of the multiple of the control modules connected to an additional barrel service mechanism. 8. The bladder system according to claim 4, wherein: the liquid level sensor sends a low alarm signal to a gas valve control to close the gas valve, when the head height is greater than a predetermined low alarm level. 9. The bladder system according to claim 4, wherein: the liquid level sensor sends a high alarm signal to a gas valve control to close the gas valve, and the liquid level sensor sends the high alarm signal to a relief port to open the relief port, when the head height is greater than a predetermined low alarm level. 10. The bladder system according to claim 4, wherein: the liquid level sensor sends a signal to a gas valve control;the inflation stem, and the barrel bladder, the liquid level sensor, the gas valve, and the gas valve control are included in a barrel service mechanism; anda control module is connected to and in communication with the barrel service mechanism, and a multiple of a multiple of the control modules, each of the multiple of the control modules are connected to a computer controlled network, with each of the multiple of the control modules connected to an additional barrel service mechanism. 11. The bladder system according to claim 4, further comprising additional sensors associated with the bladder system, the additional sensors inserted into the bung opening of the wooden container.