Tank adapted for use in winemaking

Abstract

Tank (4) comprising: - a tank body (14) with a peripheral wall defining a longitudinal axis (20), closed at one end by a tank base (16) and at the other end by a tank top (18), - a support frame integral with the tank body (14) and / or the tank base (16) and / or the tank top (18) having the form of a structure defining a first support plane (28) and a second support plane, perpendicular to the first support plane and located on the side of the tank base (16). The tank has a high point equipped with a first chimney (22) when the first support plane of the support frame rests on a horizontal surface, and the tank top (18) has a second chimney (26), allowing air to escape from the tank when the second support plane of the support frame rests on a horizontal surface. Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Tank suitable for use in the production of wines

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a tank suitable for use in the production of wines, in particular the vinification, conservation and transport of wines. Technical field

[0002] The present disclosure relates to the field of handling large quantities of liquids (several tens or hundreds of hectoliters), in particular food liquids and more particularly in the wine-making field and more particularly still equipment used for the production of wines from grapes. Prior art

[0003] Between the harvest and the packaging (bottling or other), many containers are used to produce wine. Most often, the vinification is carried out in a winemaking tank, after fermentation the wine is put into a storage tank and is then transferred into a transport tank to take the wine to its packaging location.

[0004] Thus, several separate vats are used and part of the vat room of a winery is empty 50% of the time. This implies a significant investment for the purchase of the vats but also the immobilized location for the arrangement of these vats (larger buildings, maintenance, etc.). Summary

[0005] The present disclosure improves the situation. One aim of the present disclosure is to provide versatile means for producing wine in order to limit the investments of a winemaker but also with a view to limiting the environmental impact for obtaining wines. Said means may also be used for other liquids.

[0006] A tank is proposed suitable for producing wines having a tank body with an elongated peripheral wall defining a longitudinal axis, closed at a first end by a tank base and at a second end opposite the first end by a tank top.

[0007] According to the present disclosure, said tank further comprises a support frame secured to the tank body and / or the tank base and / or the tank top; said support frame is in the form of a structure defining a first support plane substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis and further defining a second support plane, substantially perpendicular to the first support plane and arranged on the side of the tank base, the tank is equipped with a first chimney, the shape of the tank allowing the evacuation of air (or gas) when the first support plane of the support frame rests on a horizontal ground through the first chimney, and the top of the tank has a second chimney, the shape of the top of the tank allowing the evacuation of air (or gas) from the tank through said second chimney when the second support plane of the support frame rests on a horizontal floor.

[0008] Such a tank is a mobile tank which, thanks to its support frame, can be easily handled and the shape of said support frame with the presence of two chimneys allows the tank to be used in a horizontal position and also in a vertical position. This tank can then, for example, be used both for the fermentation of red wines and also subsequently for the storage / aging of the wine and its transport.

[0009] The features set out in the following paragraphs may, optionally, be implemented, independently of one another or in combination with one another:

[0010] - the body of the tank has a generally truncated cone shape, the base of the trunk of cone located on the side of the base of the tank;

[0011] - the support frame forms a metal cradle in which the tank body rests; in this embodiment, according to a variant, the support frame comprises four longitudinal beams connected by connecting beams, two longitudinal beams define the first support plane of the tank, and the ends of the longitudinal beams located on the side of the tank base define the second support plane. The longitudinal beams of the support frame may be tubular beams, and each beam end on the side of the tank base may be provided with an adjustable foot partially housed in the corresponding tubular beam. It is also possible to provide, in an advantageous form, between the two longitudinal beams defining the first support plane, means intended to cooperate with a hook in order to manipulate the tank with said hook;

[0012] - the support frame comprises on the side of the top of the tank means intended to cooperate with a hook in order to allow the tank to be handled with said hook;

[0013] - the tank further comprises a ladder carried by the support frame, allowing a access to the second chimney when the tank rests on its second support plane;

[0014] - the support frame further comprises a crutch articulated on the top side of tank allowing the tank to be supported in an intermediate position between the position in which the first support plane rests on the ground and the position in which the second support plane rests on the ground;

[0015] - the support frame further has at least one grating arranged near at least at least one chimney. At least one folding guardrail is advantageously associated with each grating;

[0016] - the support frame carries a thermodynamic group allowing the production of cold and / or heat, preferably independently for each tank;

[0017] - the support frame of the tank carries eight fixing pieces each arranged at top of a parallelepiped whose dimensions correspond to a standardized container. Brief description of the drawings

[0018] Other characteristics, details and advantages will appear on reading the detailed description below, and on analyzing the attached drawings, in which: Fig.l

[0019] [Fig.l] shows a tank according to one embodiment in side view in a horizontal position on a truck. Fig. 2a

[0020] [Fig.2a] shows the tank of [Fig.l] from the same angle of view (but on a reduced scale) in an intermediate position.

[0021] [Fig.2b] shows the tank of the previous figures in front view in its intermediate position of [Fig.2a]. Fig. 3

[0022] [Fig.3] shows a first front view of the tank of [Fig.l] carried by candles. Fig. 4

[0023] [Fig.4] corresponds to [Fig.3] from an opposite viewing angle. Fig. 5

[0024] [Fig.5] shows on an enlarged scale a cross-sectional view of the tank on candles along the section line VV of [Fig.2a]. Fig. 6

[0025] [Fig.6] corresponds to a longitudinal section of the tank along the section line VI-VI of [Fig.5]. Fig. 7

[0026] [Fig.7] corresponds to a perspective view of a simplified tank variant in the so-called vertical position. Fig. 8

[0027] [Fig.8] corresponds to the view of [Fig.7] from another angle. Fig. 9

[0028] [Fig.9] shows the simplified tank of figures 7 and 8 in perspective in a position called horizontal position. Fig. 10

[0029] [Fig. 10] corresponds to the view of [Fig.9], the tank having feet in the retracted position. Description of the embodiments

[0030] Reference is now made to [Fig. 1]. In this figure, a truck 2 is recognized transporting a tank 4. The present disclosure corresponds to a tank which in its preferred embodiment illustrated here can cooperate with the truck illustrated.

[0031] The truck 2 is equipped here with a hydraulic lifting arm 6 provided at its free end with a hook 8 (see also [Fig.2a] where the same arm is in two distinct positions). There are several types of lifting arms 4 provided with a hook and the lifting arm 4 illustrated in the drawing is shown for illustrative purposes only and not as a limitation. In principle, the lifting arm 4 is an arm actuated by at least one hydraulic cylinder and also having at least one degree of freedom by pivoting and / or by sliding (telescopic mounting). The free end of the lifting arm 4 has a hydraulically controlled articulation as well and the distal part of the arm has at its free end the hook 8 which is intended to cooperate with complementary means (ring, drawbar, stirrup, etc.) mounted on a load, most often in the form of a bucket.The truck 2 further has parallel rails 10 intended to serve as support for the load (skip or other) during its transport. To facilitate loading and unloading, at least one roller 12 is provided at the end of each rail 10.

[0032] Such a truck 2 and such a system for loading / unloading a skip (or other load) are known. An advantage of the tank 4 of the preferred embodiment presented here is that it can cooperate with such a truck 2 and such a system. Thus, this tank 4 can be handled with means known from the prior art, but it would not be outside the scope of the present disclosure to provide a tank 4 intended to cooperate with suitable lifting (or loading / unloading) means.

[0033] The tank 4 comprises, on the one hand, an envelope intended to contain liquid (possibly loaded with solid elements) and, on the other hand, a support frame allowing said envelope to remain “upright” or “lying down” as explained below.

[0034] The casing of the tank comprises in particular a tank body 14, a tank base 16 and a tank top 18. These three elements are preferably made of stainless steel and are assembled together by welding.

[0035] The tank body 14 has a truncated cone shape. It thus has an axis of revolution 20, a base and a top. When the axis of revolution 20 is horizontal, the upper (or lower) edge of the body has, for example, a slope of between 1 and 2%. This slope remains slight but ensures good flow of a liquid towards the base of the tank body 14 when the axis of revolution 20 is horizontal. In the upper part, this conicity allows air to escape to the bottom. complete pleating of the tank (see chimney 22 described below). In this position, the tank 14 is considered to be lying down or placed horizontally.

[0036] The tank body 14 comprises, preferably in the immediate vicinity of its base, a first chimney 22. The tank body 14 has a radial opening from which said first chimney 22 extends. The latter is for example of circular cylindrical shape, with an axis perpendicular to the axis of revolution 20, and is connected by welding to the tank body 14 around its opening. A cover is provided to close the first chimney 22 in a sealed manner.

[0037] The tank base 16 closes the tank body 14 on the side of the base of the truncated cone shape of this tank body 14. This tank base 16 is for example constituted by a domed bottom provided with a drain hatch 24.

[0038] The tank top 18 closes the tank body 14 on the side of the frustoconical shape of this tank body 14. In the non-limiting embodiment illustrated in the drawing, the tank top 18 has a substantially flat face slightly inclined relative to a plane transverse to the axis of revolution 20. It is possible, for example, to provide that the top of the tank body 14 is not in a plane perpendicular to the axis of revolution 20 and that the tank top 18 is an elliptical (quasi-circular) plate closing the top of the tank body 14. It is also possible to provide a tank body top 14 located in a plane perpendicular to the axis of revolution 20 and a tank top 18 in the form of a plate at the periphery of which there is a rim fitting to the top of the tank body 14.

[0039] The top of the tank 18 also has, preferably in the immediate vicinity of its peripheral edge, an opening extended by a second chimney 26. This second chimney 26 is for example in the form of a circular cylinder with an axis parallel to the axis of revolution 20. The opening in the top of the tank 18 is made so as to be at the level of a high point of the tank when the tank 4 is in its “standing” or vertical position, that is to say when the axis of revolution 20 is vertical. The second chimney 26 is also provided with a cover allowing it to be hermetically closed.

[0040] The envelope described above is integrated into the support frame and is welded to it. This support frame is essentially formed by tubular beams, for example of square section.

[0041] The support frame has, in the embodiment illustrated in the drawing (and not limiting), two longitudinal base beams 28 and two upper longitudinal beams 30. These beams are called longitudinal because they extend substantially parallel to the axis of revolution 20 which defines a longitudinal axis for the tank and its casing (or vice versa).

[0042] The longitudinal base beams 28 are intended to be located under the tank body 14 when the tank 4 is horizontal (lying down). These longitudinal base beams 28 define a support plane intended to come into contact with a ground on which the tank 4 rests. In the preferred embodiment illustrated in the drawing, in which the tank 4 is intended to be transported by the truck 2, the longitudinal base beams 28 are arranged relative to each other with a spacing corresponding to the spacing of the rails 10 intended to receive a skip or the like on the truck 2. Note between the longitudinal base beams 28 the presence of a ring 29 (figures 2b and 7) and another ring 29 on the side of the tank top 18 (figures 1 to 3 and 7-8) both intended to cooperate with the hook 8 of the lifting arm.

[0043] The upper longitudinal beams 30 are placed at an intermediate height relative to the tank envelope. When the tank 4 is horizontal, the base longitudinal beams 28 are at a lower level, and the upper longitudinal beams 30 are located above the axis of revolution 20. Thus, in a side view (Figures 3 and 4) or in section ([Fig.5]), the longitudinal beams form the vertices of a trapezoid whose base is in the high position.

[0044] For example, it may be provided that the tank body 14 is connected directly to each of the upper longitudinal beams 30 by welding, possibly by means of wedges or shoes. As illustrated in the drawing, in a preferred embodiment, the tank body 14 is fixed by means of support beams 31 (see in particular [Fig. 5]) of profiles adapted to the base longitudinal beams 28 and the upper longitudinal beams 30. These support beams 31 are preferably made of stainless steel (i.e. the same material as for the tank 4) and they also carry hoops 32 on which the tank body 14 rests and is welded thereto.

[0045] The longitudinal beams are connected to each other by crosspieces and reinforcements stiffen the structure. The support frame is designed in the preferred non-limiting embodiment illustrated to have an overall parallelepiped shape whose dimensions correspond to standardized container dimensions, for example a 20-foot container. The dimensions of such a container are illustrated by dotted lines in the figures. The envelope of the tank is thus dimensioned to be inscribed, at least in its central part, within such a standardized volume. Also found on the support frame are fixing pieces 34 which are preferably in accordance with the ISO-1161 standard to allow several tanks to be connected to each other or to connect a tank to a container or other standardized load.

[0046] The dimensions of the tank are preferably (but not necessarily) adapted to the size of a standard container, preferably a so-called 10-foot container, or a 20-foot container or even a 40-foot container. In the illustrated embodiment, the tank 4, more particularly the tank support frame, is integrated into the less partially in a parallelepiped having dimensions corresponding to a 20-foot container, that is to say with the following external measurements: 6.058x2.438x2.591mm. In preferred variants, the tank 4 has an overall length however greater than 6.058mm (i.e. a little more than 20 feet, corresponding to the overall length of a 20-foot container) because as illustrated in the drawing, part of the tank may exceed the standardized framework for road transport. Other dimensions can be technically envisaged but it quickly becomes apparent to those skilled in the art that it is advantageous to choose standard dimensions, especially for objects which are intended to be transported by road and / or by rail and / or by boat.

[0047] [Fig. 3] is a front view of the tank of Figures 1 and 2a-b. This figure shows a face of the tank which corresponds to the upper face of the tank 4 when it is in a vertical position and to the face on the left in [Fig. 1] (lying down or horizontal position).

[0048] This figure (and [Fig.7]) shows the presence of lower crosspieces 36 connecting the base longitudinal beams 28. The support frame further comprises a first transverse structure 38 connecting the longitudinal beams on the side of the tank base 16 and a second transverse structure 40 connecting the longitudinal beams on the side of the tank top 18. A third transverse structure 41 is provided to carry four connecting pieces 34 in an intermediate transverse plane between the first and second transverse structures but closer to the first transverse structure 38, the second transverse structure 40 being shaped to receive the other connecting pieces 34.Each transverse structure, in the illustrated embodiment, has, on the one hand, two connecting bars 42 which each connect a base longitudinal beam 28 to a top longitudinal beam 30 and, on the other hand, reinforcing bars 43 arranged each time between the two connecting bars 42. For the first transverse structure 38 on the side of the tank base 16 (figures 4, 9 and 10 for example) a reinforcing bar 43 connects the two top longitudinal beams 30 and another is placed substantially halfway up between the base longitudinal beams 28 and the top longitudinal beams 30. For the second transverse structure 40 on the side of the tank top 18 (for example figures 3, 7 and 8) a reinforcing bar corresponds to a lower crosspiece 36 and another is placed substantially halfway up between the base longitudinal beams 28 and the top longitudinal beams 30.This last reinforcement bar 43 carries a ring 29 which is intended to cooperate, on the one hand, with the entire support frame (and all the rest of the tank) and, on the other hand, with a lifting arm comprising a hook 8 (or any other system such as a crane, an overhead crane, etc.) when the tank 4 is moved or to move from the standing position to the lying position (or vice versa). It is noted that additional reinforcements 44. are provided on this second transverse structure 40 to reinforce the area carrying the ring 29.

[0049] [Fig.4] shows a face of the tank 4 opposite the face of [Fig.3]. This face corresponds to the right end of the tank 4 in [Fig.l] and to the lower face of the tank 4 in the upright position.

[0050] On this face of the tank, we notice the presence of the first transverse structure 38 which helps to support the tank casing (and its contents if applicable) when the tank 4 is in the upright position.

[0051] It can be seen that said transverse structure (relative to the axis of revolution 20, or longitudinal axis), is at a distance from the end of the longitudinal beams. This makes it possible first of all to keep the tank casing at a distance from the ground when the tank is in a vertical position (figures 7 and 8). The work of the operators is then made easier because access to the tank is easier. In addition, it is easier to clean the ground around and under the tank. Then, the space between the tank casing, or the first transverse structure 38, and the end of the longitudinal beams can be used to house accessories, such as for example a thermodynamic group 50, preferably reversible, for the production of cold and / or heat. Preferably such a thermodynamic group 50 operates by direct expansion.A circuit (not shown) is also advantageously provided to promote thermal exchanges between fluid coming from the thermodynamic group 50 and the tank casing and its contents.

[0052] We also note in the illustrated embodiment the presence of two gratings on the tank 4. A first grating 52 is located near the first chimney 22 and a second grating 54 is located near the second chimney 26.

[0053] The first grating 52 is carried by the two upper longitudinal beams 30, more precisely by the end of these beams which projects beyond the first transverse structure 38. This projecting part can be called for example a leg since it carries the tank 4 when the latter is in a standing (vertical) position. The tank 4 thus comprises four legs which each correspond to an end of a longitudinal beam projecting beyond the first transverse structure 38. It is noted that each leg is associated with a foot 56 which is preferably an adjustable foot. The foot 56 is for example in the form of a plate with which a threaded rod is associated. The latter can then cooperate with a nut fixed inside a leg (the longitudinal beams are advantageously tubular beams).

[0054] In an alternative embodiment, it can be provided that the longitudinal beams are telescopic beams, the free end forming a leg which can slide relative to the rest of the beam, thus making it possible to adapt the size of the legs to constraints linked to the installation or depending on the equipment to be received (size of the thermodynamic group 50). A leg could for example be locked relative to the rest of the corresponding longitudinal beam for example using a pin passing through the beam.

[0055] The first grating 52 (figures 1 and 4) allows an operator to access the first chimney 22 when the tank 4 is in a horizontal position (lying down). It is thus located near the tank base 16. The second grating 54 is located near the tank top 18. On the side opposite the lower crosspiece 36 also forming a reinforcement bar 43, the second transverse structure 40 carries the second grating 54.

[0056] Each grating can have a function of stiffening the structure and another function to allow an operator to stand next to a chimney. Indeed, each grating is for example an openwork metal plate which can provide rigidity to the structure, especially since it is placed transversely between longitudinal beams.

[0057] The first grating 52 provides access to the first chimney 22 when the tank 4 is in a horizontal position ([Fig.l]). If then several tanks 4 are arranged side by side, the first gratings 52 of these tanks then form a walkway providing access to the first chimneys 22 of the aligned tanks.

[0058] Similarly, the second grating 54 provides access to the second chimney 26 when the tank 4 is in a vertical position. If several tanks 4 are then arranged side by side, the second gratings 54 of these tanks then form a walkway providing access to the second chimneys 26 of the aligned tanks.

[0059] For safety reasons, it is provided to associate with each grating at least one (and preferably two as illustrated) guardrails 58. For reasons of space, it is provided to have pivoting guardrails 58 (and lockable in the safety position), which can for example fold down onto the corresponding grating.

[0060] Figures 3 and 4 show the presence of candles 60, preferably four in number, to support the tank 4. These candles 60 can, for example, cooperate with the fixing parts 34 of the support frame to fix themselves to the tank 4. They make it possible to support the tank 4 when it is in a horizontal position at a distance from the ground. As explained above, this facilitates access to the tank 4 for operators and also makes it possible to have space below the tank to allow the passage of pipes, facilitate cleaning, etc.

[0061] A ladder (telescopic in two parts) is advantageously provided to facilitate access to the chimneys (or rather to the gratings). This ladder can for example be housed between the two longitudinal base beams 28.

[0062] [Fig.l] illustrates the tank 4 carried by the truck 2. The tank 4 is here in the ho position rizontal (substantially). The tank support serves as a cradle for the tank casing which rests on the longitudinal base beams 28. These longitudinal base beams 28 cooperate with the rails 10 of the truck in the same way that beams of a dump structure cooperate with these same rails 10 when the truck 2 transports a dump. The structure proposed here for the tank 4 is intended to be adapted to existing equipment and generally quite easily accessible in the agricultural / wine-growing world. The truck 2 is thus, for example, a truck of the type used to transport cereals, beets or other crops during harvests.

[0063] When the tank 4 is used for example to carry out fermentation, it will for example be arranged horizontally (figures 3 to 5, 9 and 10). The stands 60 can be fixed to the tank 4 when it is still on the truck 2. The truck can then move forward, unloading the tank 4 which is then placed on the stands 60. To facilitate the maneuver, rollers 62 can be provided (figures 3 and 5) at the level of the longitudinal base beams 28 to allow the structure to roll on the ground. In this horizontal position, the gases resulting from the fermentation can escape (or be collected) at the level of the first chimney 22 which is located at a high point, in particular due to the conicity of the tank body 14. The drain hatch 24 of the tank base 16 can serve here as low access to the interior of the tank.

[0064] Subsequently, during the aging of the wine, the tank 4 can be placed vertically (Figures 7 and 8), in particular to save space on the ground. This operation is illustrated in [Fig. 2a] by an intermediate position of the tank between a horizontal position and a vertical position. It can be carried out using the truck 2. Advantageously, the support frame of the tank 4 is provided with a pivoting stand 64. This stand 64 is articulated for example around an axis corresponding substantially to a line passing through the ends of the longitudinal base beams 28 on the side of the tank top 18. When it is not in use, the stand 64 can be stored against the second transverse structure 40. The double arrow 66 illustrates the movement of the stand 64 which, in its active position, keeps the tank top 18 at a distance from the ground. A rod 68 ([Fig.2a]) articulated around a transverse axis can hold the stand 64 in its active position, that is to say supporting the top of the tank 18 at a distance from the ground. This rod 68 is for example articulated on a longitudinal base beam 28. .

[0065] When the tank 4 is on the truck 2 and must be placed in a vertical position, it is proposed in a first movement to grasp the support frame with the ring 29 located between the longitudinal base beams 28 to rest the tank 4 on the stand 64 as illustrated in [Fig.2b]. In a second step, the lifting arm 6 can grasp the other ring 29 placed substantially close to the top of tank 18 to put the tank upright.

[0066] It is possible, in a horizontal position as well as in a vertical position, to align several tanks 4 side by side and to secure them by fixing them to each other using fixing systems (hooks or assembly claws) cooperating with the fixing parts 34.

[0067] In the vertical position, the second chimney 26 allows the gases to be evacuated from the tank 4 because it is positioned to be at the highest point of the tank casing when the tank 4 is vertical. The first chimney 22 can here serve as a low access door to the interior of the tank.

[0068] To better show the structure of a tank, Figures 7 to 10 show the tank 4 of the previous figures but without the “accessories” such as the thermodynamic group, the gratings and the guardrails. The second transverse structure 40 also has a different shape from that of the previous figures. The same references are used here to designate similar elements of Figures 1 to 6.

[0069] Figures 7 and 8 show the tank 4 in a vertical position with the feet 56 in a deployed position so that the tank body 14 is at a distance from the ground. Thus, the tank 4 is in a position facilitating the work of operators. In addition, it is easier to clean the ground on which the tank 4 is placed when the tank body 14 is at a distance from the ground. It can be seen here that the second chimney 26 is in a high position to allow the evacuation of air (and other gases) from the tank 4.

[0070] Figures 9 and 10 show this tank in a horizontal position, without the candles 60. This position can for example be used to carry out fermentation in the tank. The feet 56 can be in the deployed position ([Fig.9]) or in the retracted position ([Fig. 10]). Industrial application

[0071] A tank proposed here, due to its adaptability, can be used throughout the year in a winery. This tank can in fact be used for winemaking, storage, but also for transporting wine (or any other liquid) to its place of packaging or consumption. Using the same tank makes it possible to reduce the environmental impact during the production of a wine.

[0072] The adoption of such a tank makes it possible to limit user investments and avoid long-term indebtedness for these users in contexts of market volatility.

[0073] A tank as described here can be used (and / or stored) outside a building. This makes it possible to limit investments for the installation of a new winery. The size of the buildings can in fact be reduced, which is also favorable because the artificialization of the soil is then reduced.

[0074] The use of vats such as described above in a wine cellar makes it possible to eliminate restrictive phases during the construction of such a wine cellar.

[0075] The tank proposed here is a mobile tank which can be handled empty and full, and used in vertical and horizontal positions.

[0076] Depending on its equipment, the tank presented here can fulfill the functions of: - fermentation of red wines in solid phase with mechanized devatting or fermentation of musts in 100% liquid state; - storage / aging of fermented wines (or other, beer for example); - transport of wine (or other liquid, particularly food liquid) over long distances by truck, boat, barge or train.

[0077] Due to the conical shape of the body of the tank shell: - the tank in horizontal use allows a natural sloping flow of the liquid contained in the tank by providing a low point in a facade, or side face, and an evacuation of the air through a high point; - full unloading is made easier and the stability of the tank is increased when the base of the truncated cone is at the bottom. The "top" shape then makes the lower part of the tank heavier.

[0078] The casing with a conical body housed in a specific parallelepiped frame made with beams (tubular profiles or not) in stainless steel welded to the tank body (also called shell) ensures rigidity and prevents deformation of the tank casing.

[0079] By extending the aforementioned frame beyond the tank casing, legs, preferably with feet of adjustable size, are produced when the tank is in a vertical position. Longitudinal beams are also used to form a cradle base supporting the tank casing in a horizontal position. One face of the frame is further advantageously used to receive means (e.g., removable pin) intended to cooperate with a lifting arm equipped with a hook, for example, an arm of a polybenne system. Such a lifting arm can then ensure the handling of the tank to move in two stages from a horizontal position to a vertical position or vice versa.

[0080] Thanks to the provided fixing parts, the tank can also be handled by maritime container handling equipment and be fixed to another similar tank or to another standardized container type load.

[0081] The proposed tank is also ergonomic. It advantageously has a ladder, for example a folding ladder, which can be stored within the tank support frame, for example between two longitudinal beams. Said ladder can be used to access the upper part of the tank, in particular when it is in vertical position. The tank is furthermore (optionally) equipped in the preferred embodiment described with gratings, each preferably associated with at least one folding guardrail. The gratings of tanks arranged side by side can form a traffic walkway in the upper part of the tanks.

[0082] The proposed tank can also be equipped with its own equipment, such as for example a heat and cold production unit, advantageously a unit operating by direct expansion, and an exchange surface on the tank casing.

[0083] The present disclosure is not limited to the preferred embodiment described above, solely by way of example, and to the variants mentioned, but it encompasses all the variants that a person skilled in the art may envisage within the framework of the protection sought.

[0084] .

Claims

Claims

1. Tank (4) suitable for producing wines having a tank body (14) with an elongated peripheral wall defining a longitudinal axis (20), closed at a first end by a tank base (16) and at a second end opposite the first end by a tank top (18), characterized in that said tank further comprises a support frame secured to the tank body (14) and / or the tank base (16) and / or the tank top (18), in that said support frame is in the form of a structure defining a first support plane (28) substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis (20) and further defining a second support plane, substantially perpendicular to the first support plane and arranged on the side of the tank base (16), in that the tank is provided with a first chimney (22),the shape of the tank allowing the evacuation of air (or gas) and said first chimney (22) being at a high point when the first support plane of the support frame rests on a horizontal ground by the first chimney (22), and in that the top of the tank (18) has a second chimney (26), the shape of the top of the tank (18) allowing the evacuation of air (or gas) from the tank by said second chimney (26) which is in the extension of an opening made in a high point of the tank, when the second support plane of the support frame rests on a horizontal ground.,

2. Tank according to claim 1, characterized in that the body of the tank has a generally truncated cone shape, the base of the truncated cone being on the side of the tank base (16).

3. Tank according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the support frame forms a metal cradle integral with the tank body (14).

4. Tank according to claim 3, characterized in that the support frame comprises four longitudinal beams (28, 30) connected by transverse structures (38, 40), in that two longitudinal beams (28) define the first support plane of the tank, and in that the ends of the longitudinal beams located on the side of the tank base (16) define the second support plane.

5. Tank according to claim 4, characterized in that the longitudinal beams (28, 30) of the support frame are tubular beams, and in that each beam end on the side of the tank base is provided with an adjustable foot (56) partially housed in the corresponding tubular beam.

6. Tank according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the support frame comprises on the side of the tank top (18) means intended to cooperate with a hook (8) in order to allow the tank to be handled with said hook (8).

7. Tank according to claim 4, characterized in that the support frame comprises between the two longitudinal beams (28) defining the first support plane means intended to cooperate with a hook (8) in order to manipulate the tank with said hook (8).

8. Tank according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the support frame further comprises a stand articulated on the side of the tank top (18) making it possible to support the tank in an intermediate position between the position in which the first support plane rests on the ground and the position in which the second support plane rests on the ground.

9. Tank according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the support frame further has at least one grating (52, 54) arranged near at least one chimney (22, 26).

10. Tank according to claim 9, characterized in that at least one folding guardrail (58) is associated with each grating (52, 54).

11. Tank according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the support frame carries a thermodynamic group (50) making it possible to produce cold and / or heat.

12. Tank according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the support frame of the tank carries eight fixing pieces (34) each arranged at the top of a parallelepiped whose dimensions correspond to a standardized container.

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