Boiling method, and device for its implementation

Abstract

The invention relates to the use of a heating material for charring wooden barrels intended for containing beverages, said heating material comprising at least 93% carbon by mass. Figure 6 (for the abstract)

Description

Title of the invention: Boiling method, and device for its implementation

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of preparing wooden barrels, particularly those intended for winemaking. In this context, the present invention proposes a device that allows for improved toasting of barrels and prevents the wood from being impregnated with toxic substances.

[0002] The aging of wines, sparkling or still, generally takes place in oak barrels. Oak trees are used for the staves intended for making the barrel staves. These staves are air-dried; during this process, under the influence of atmospheric conditions (rain, sun), changes occur in the physical (density, shrinkage) and mechanical (compression, bending) properties, as well as biochemical changes in the constituents of the wood. These staves are then shaped to produce the barrel staves used in the construction of the barrel.

[0003] Although other techniques exist, particularly in the United States, in Europe, stave bending is carried out using wood fires. After the bending phase, which allows the staves to take the shape of the future barrel or cask, coopers proceed with the toasting or charring process. Three different toasting levels can be applied to the casks: light, medium, and heavy. The heavy toasting is stopped as soon as the exothermic reactions begin, that is, around 270°-280°C, because beyond this temperature, the casks ignite.

[0004] During heat treatments, hydrothermolysis and pyrolysis reactions lead to a degradation of polysaccharide (cellulose, hemicelluloses) and polyphenolic (lignin, hydrolyzable tannins) constituents which may lead to the appearance of new classes of volatile odoriferous substances absent in unburned wood (furans, pyrazines, phenols,) or an additional supply of pre-existing substances.

[0005] It is the combination formed by the size of the fire, the height and intensity of the flame, the duration of heating time and the amount of water vaporized on the outside of the barrel that will determine the aromatic and structural profile of the toasting.

[0006] An inherent difficulty in treating wood with heat is that the effect of the heat is very difficult to control if one wishes not to give the wine an artificial color and aroma but, on the contrary, to give it organoleptic qualities identical in every respect to those obtained when storing it in classic type barrels, especially oak barrels.

[0007] It is particularly damaging, during the toasting of barrels, that the fumes produced by the combustion are present, and generate soot which may affect the taste of the wine.

[0008] The technique is already known in the state of the art, notably according to document FR3087696, of alternatives to barrel toasting based on hydraulic heating systems. However, such devices, even if they do not produce fumes, do not allow for toasting as efficiently as with a brazier.

[0009] The invention is intended in particular to overcome these drawbacks described in the prior art.

[0010] One of the aims of the invention is to provide a means of charring a wooden barrel without having the disadvantages of unwanted fumes.

[0011] Another object of the invention is to provide a method of charring that is as effective as conventional charring with a wood fire.

[0012] Yet another object of the invention is to provide a device for carrying out the aforementioned smelting.

[0013] The invention also relates to the use of a heating material for the charring of wooden barrels intended to contain beverages, said heating material comprising at least 93% by mass of carbon.

[0014] The invention is based on the surprising observation made by the inventor that the use of a material, in particular a solid one, makes it possible to achieve heating similar to fire in the context of the toasting of wooden barrels, and this without producing smoke.

[0015] There will therefore be carbonization of the wood inside the barrel without the wood being impregnated by the compounds contained in the combustion fumes, which would undesirably alter the organoleptic qualities of the beverage that will be placed in the barrel.

[0016] The heating material is obtained from a carbon-based material. The heating material used comprises 93% to 100% carbon by mass relative to the mass of said material. This means that the heating material comprises 93%, 93.1%, 93.2%, 93.3%, 93.4%, 93.5%, 93.6%, 93.7%, 93.8%, 93.9%, 94%, 94.1%, 94.2%, 94.3%, 94.4%, 94.5%, 94.6%, 94.7%, 94.8%, 94.9%, 95%, 95.1%, 95.2%, 95.3%, 95.4%, 95.5%, 95.6%, 95.7%, 95.8%, 95.9%, 96%, 96.1%, 96.2%, 96.3%, 96.4%, 96.5%, 96.6%, 96.7%, 96.8%, 96.9%, 97%, 97.1%, 97.2%, 97.3%, 97.4%, 97.5%, 97.6%, 97.7%, 97.8%, 97.9%, 98%, 98.1%, 98.2%, 98.3%, 98.4%, 98.5%, 98.6%, 98.7%, 98.8%, 98.9%, 99%, 99.1%, 99.2%, 99.3%, 99.4%, 99.5%, 99.6%, 99.7%, 99.8%, 99.9% or 100% by mass of carbon relative to the total mass of the composition. This is mainly due to the dehydrogenation or deoxygenation of the starting carbonaceous material, which after treatment comprises mostly carbon atoms so as to represent the aforementioned proportion.

[0017] The heating material is advantageously in solid form, so petroleum derivatives, which are essentially liquids, are not considered. It is preferable to use derivatives of organic matter that are processed to meet the aforementioned carbon content requirements.

[0018] Advantageously, the invention relates to the aforementioned use, where said heating material has a partially crystalline, or semi-crystalline, structure.

[0019] Unlike highly organized, carbon-rich structures such as graphite, graphene, or diamond, the heating material according to the invention has a structure that is not completely crystalline. On the contrary, even though some parts of the material are crystalline, no long-term ordered structure such as an onion-like graphitic structure or any ordered graphite plane is observed in the heating material. However, the molecular structure of the heating material is not completely disorganized, so the heating material cannot be considered amorphous.

[0020] Even more advantageously, the invention relates to the aforementioned use, where said heating material is charcoal.

[0021] Charcoal is a fuel obtained by carbonizing wood in a controlled atmosphere by pyrolysis, that is, in the absence of oxygen. This pyrolysis results in an increase in the overall proportion of carbon relative to the other atoms constituting the wood (particularly hydrogen and oxygen), so that the mass proportion of carbon complies with the aforementioned values.

[0022] Even more advantageously, the invention relates to the aforementioned use, where said heating material is a charcoal called binchotan charcoal, or white charcoal.

[0023] Advantageously, binchotan is a particularly interesting heating material for charcoal making.

[0024] Binchotan charcoal or white charcoal is a specific type of charcoal mainly manufactured in Japan, particularly remarkable for its efficiency and the heat it produces, and in particular can burn for about 4 to 6 hours, and once extinguished, is reusable for 3 hours.

[0025] Binchotan is a type of charcoal with an extremely high carbon content, making it an almost pure composition. It is produced traditionally in stone and clay kilns. First, the collected wood is carefully placed in the kiln and heated to approximately 200 °C for about ten days with minimal oxygen. This minimal oxygen supply causes the wood to decompose rather than burn. Because the oxygen supply is so low, An almost entirely pure carbon composition is formed. When the smoke rising from the kiln is the right color, the wood has decomposed and the oxygen supply has increased. The kiln reaches a temperature of at least 1000°C. This process stops when the charcoal turns red. The final step involves rolling the charcoal in ash and sand, which gives it its characteristic gray sheen.

[0026] The percentage of carbon in binchotan is at least 95.9% by mass, depending on the type of wood used.

[0027] As desired, the binchotan does not produce smoke, heats at a constant temperature and does not splash when heating.

[0028] There are several types of Binchotan charcoal:

[0029] - Eucalyptus binchotan characterized by a carbon content of 95.9%. The bed Charcoal can reach a temperature of 870 to 1000 °C. The total burning time is 4 hours on average. No chemicals are added during the traditional production process. Therefore, there will be no smoke or flavor. The ash content is approximately 1.8%.

[0030] - Maitew binchotan has a carbon percentage of 96 to 98%. The bed of Charcoal can reach a temperature of 1000 to 1200°C. The total burning time is on average 6 hours. No chemicals are added during the traditional production process. As a result, it produces neither smoke nor an odor. The ash content is approximately 1.5%.

[0031] - Konia binchotan has a carbon percentage of 96 to 98%. The charcoal bed of The wood can reach a temperature of 1000 to 1100°C. The total burning time is on average 5 hours. No chemicals are added during the traditional production process. Consequently, there is no smoke or taste. The ash content is approximately 1.5%.

[0032] - The Binchotan lychee has a carbon content of 95.9%. The bed of charcoal It can reach a temperature of 870 to 1000°C. The total burning time is 4.5 hours on average. During the traditional production process, no chemicals are added. Consequently, it produces neither smoke nor an off-flavor. The ash content is approximately 1.8%.

[0033] Within the framework of the invention, any one of the aforementioned binchotans can be used within the framework of the bousinage.

[0034] The invention also relates to a method of toasting a wooden barrel intended to contain beverages, said method comprising:

[0035] - the preparation in a heating body of a brazier or brazier comprising a heating material, said heating material comprising at least 93% by mass of carbon, and

[0036] - the positioning around said brazier of a wooden barrel intended to contain drinks, in order to heat the inside of said barrel, to ruin it.

[0037] In order to treat a wooden barrel, within the framework of the invention, the following method can be implemented:

[0038] - a fire is prepared in a heating body, comprising a material of heating as defined above, and

[0039] - the barrel to be busted is positioned around the wooden barrel to be busted.

[0040] The aforementioned heating element can take several forms: it can be a simple flat support on which the heating material is placed; this allows for multidirectional heat radiation. The heating element can also be a container consisting of a side wall, particularly circular, and possibly a base, in which the heating material is placed. In this embodiment, it is preferable to fill the heating element to the entire height of the side wall with the heating material as defined above.

[0041] In the aforementioned method, the step of positioning the drum around the firebox can be carried out either by placing the heating element on the ground or on a support and then positioning the drum, with one end open, on top of the heating element, so that the heating element is inside the drum to be charred. Another method consists of placing the drum to be charred on the ground or on a support and then placing the heating element inside to obtain the same effect: charring the inside of the drum.

[0042] Advantageously, the invention relates to the aforementioned method, or the said heating material has a partially crystalline, or semi-crystalline, structure.

[0043] Advantageously the heating material is a charcoal possessing the aforementioned properties, namely a high carbon content and a semi-crystalline structure.

[0044] Even more advantageously, in the context of the method according to the invention, said heating material is a charcoal called binchotan charcoal, or white charcoal.

[0045] The advantage of using binchotan will be its homogeneous heating at high temperature and the absence of smoke or odor release, which could contaminate the internal part of the barrel which is being roasted.

[0046] Even more advantageously, and in particular when the heating element is in the form of a container as described above, the aforementioned invention relates to, where said heating element has in the vicinity of its base an orifice equipped with a shutter that can take several shuttering positions.

[0047] Even more advantageously, the invention relates to the aforementioned method, where a chimney is mounted axially on the heating body.

[0048] The advantage of using a chimney mounted axially on the heating body is that it channels the heat produced by the fire in a single axial direction. Thus, the heat produced from the heating body by the fuel will be diffused uniformly inside the drum to be boiled.

[0049] Depending on the material used by the chimney, if it is particularly emissive, it will be able to diffuse the heat inside the drum.

[0050] In another aspect, the invention relates to a device for toasting a wooden barrel comprising a longitudinal wall ending in two opposing circular edges defining a lower opening and an upper opening, said device comprising:

[0051] - a heating element comprising a base allowing the heating element to rest on the bottom of the barrel at the level of the lower opening,

[0052] the heating element having, near its base, an orifice equipped with a shutter that can assume several closing positions,

[0053] - a chimney extending axially from the heating body, the chimney extending inside the wooden barrel, and

[0054] - a cover attached to the chimney, sized and positioned on said chimney so as to at least partially block the upper opening when the base rests on the bottom of the barrel at the level of the lower opening,

[0055] said device being characterized in that the heating element contains a heating material comprising at least 93% by mass of carbon.

[0056] The aforementioned device solves the problem of smoke emitted during the charcoal-making process. But beyond eliminating the smoke, the chimney shown on the brazier will heat up and can thus indirectly, through radiation, heat the staves. The charcoal-making process can then take place without contaminating the wood.

[0057] The orifice provided in the heating body, with its means of closure, makes it possible to improve the chimney draft and thus to produce controllable heating, therefore controlled heat, and consequently controlled heating for boiling.

[0058] Advantageously, the chimney is sized so that, when mounted on the heating unit, it conducts heat along the entire height of the barrel. This allows heat to be diffused along the entire length of the staves forming the barrel, from the bottom opening to the top opening. This results in even toasting, from the bottom to the top of the staves, unlike toasting using a brazier, which heats the bottom of the staves more intensely than the top.

[0059] Advantageously, the aforementioned device is such that the heating element and the chimney are mounted axially.

[0060] In order to propagate heat within the drum being toasted, the chimney and the heating element containing the combustion chamber where the heating material is heated are mounted axially, specifically substantially vertically. It is preferable for the device to be centered inside the drum and as vertical as possible, in order to distribute the heat evenly and heat the inside of the drum uniformly.

[0061] The aforementioned device is such that the heating body and the chimney are assembled in one piece.

[0062] In this embodiment, the device is in one piece, that is to say that the heating body and the chimney are two separate parts of the same device in one piece.

[0063] Alternatively, the aforementioned device is such that the heating body and the chimney are two separate parts, the chimney being able to be connected to the heating body to extend it longitudinally.

[0064] In another embodiment, the device according to the invention consists of two separate parts: the heating element and the chimney. The base of the chimney is advantageously designed so as to be able to be fitted onto the top of the heating element, to reconstitute a single unit using the two separate parts.

[0065] Advantageously, the aforementioned device is such that the chimney is made of a material allowing heat radiation, in particular stainless steel or ceramic.

[0066] In the invention, we will uniformly refer to it as "heat radiation" or "thermal radiation".

[0067] It is particularly advantageous in the invention that the material in which the device according to the invention is made, and in particular the heating element of the chimney, is a material allowing good thermal radiation, that is to say having a high emissivity.

[0068] The emissivity of a material corresponds to its ability to absorb and then re-emit energy, particularly heat energy, by radiation. Emissivity is a dimensionless value.

[0069] between 0 and 1. The more a material is capable of producing radiation, the closer its emissivity is to the value of 1.

[0070] Within the framework of the device according to the invention, materials having an emissivity of at least 0.3, preferably at least 0.5, even more preferably at least 0.8, will be preferred.

[0071] For example, but without being limiting, stainless steel, of the oxidized type at 800°C (emissivity = 0.85), of the sandblasted type (emissivity from 0.38 to 0.44) or of the type 301 (nominal composition of 17% chromium and 7% nickel - emissivity of 0.54 to 0.63) is particularly suitable for the purpose sought by the invention.

[0072] Similarly, ceramic (emissivity of 0.95) is particularly advantageous.

[0073] Advantageously, the aforementioned device is such that the shutter includes a means for actuating said shutter.

[0074] The aforementioned means, or shuttering means, may in particular be an arm rotatably fixed around the vertical axis of the heating body, in which one end of the arm cooperates with the shutter, the other end of the arm being free for manipulation.

[0075] Advantageously, the aforementioned device is such that the heating element has at least two orifices in the vicinity of its base.

[0076] The orifices present in the heating body serve to increase the draft and increase the supply of oxidant to the fuel, that is to say to draw in oxygen.

[0077] The more orifices there are, the more it will be possible to finely regulate the oxidant supply.

[0078] In another aspect, the invention relates to the use of a device according to the above definition, for the charring of a wooden barrel.

[0079] According to the invention, the device as described above is suitable and intended to carry out the charring of a wooden barrel.

[0080] In yet another aspect, the invention relates to a method for charring a wooden barrel, comprising:

[0081] - the preparation of a brazier,

[0082] - the positioning of the barrel around the brazier,

[0083] - the positioning of the device as defined above, so that the brazier be fully included in the base of said device.

[0084] Generally, during the heating process, a fire is first prepared directly on the ground or on a suitable support. This fire allows the creation of incandescence using the heating material.

[0085] Once the fire is prepared, the barrel is positioned around the fire so that the fire is preferably positioned in the center of the barrel at its lower opening. To carry out the charring according to the invention, the fire is then covered with the device according to the invention by positioning the heating element described above around the fire.

[0086] In one embodiment, where the heating body is a separate element from the chimney, it is possible to position the heating body around the brazier before positioning the barrel around the brazier / heating body assembly.

[0087] The chimney is then mounted axially and extends from the heating body through the barrel, and can in particular extend through the upper opening of the barrel.

[0088] The heat produced by the fire will thus be absorbed by the material constituting the heating body and the chimney, and re-emitted into the barrel, notably by radiation. The toasting process will therefore take place. Any fumes generated by the fire will be eliminated through the chimney and expelled outside the barrel, thus preventing contamination of the barrel's interior.

[0089] It is obviously conceivable to position the heating element on the bottom of the barrel and to create a fire directly inside it, within the framework of an embodiment of the invention where the heating element and the chimney are separate.

[0090] Advantageously, the invention relates to the aforementioned device where said heating material is a charcoal called binchotan charcoal, or white charcoal.

[0091] The invention also relates to a wooden barrel comprising:

[0092] - a substantially cylindrical open rigid frame made up of a plurality of wooden staves joined end-to-end by means of at least one hoop which serves as a frame between the staves; said frame defining a top opening and a bottom opening, and

[0093] - a closing piece for the upper end, and a closing piece for the lower end, positioned respectively at the level of the upper opening and the lower opening

[0094] the upper end closure piece and the lower end closure piece, having an internal surface exposed towards the inside of said container

[0095] The internal volume of the container is formed by the internal part of the plurality of staves and the closure pieces at the upper and lower ends,

[0096] characterized in that the internal surface of the plurality of staves is burnished, the burnishing being able to be obtained according to the process described above, that is to say with the aid of a heating material comprising at least 93% carbon, and in particular with the aid of binchotan. Brief description of the figures

[0097] The invention will be better understood upon reading the description given solely by way of example and made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0098] [Fig-1] is a schematic representation of one embodiment of a device of according to the invention, where is also represented the barrel in which said device is inserted (represented in dotted line).

[0099] [Fig.2] is a schematic representation of another embodiment of a device according to the invention, where also shown is the barrel in which said device is inserted (shown in dotted line).

[0100] [Fig.3] is a schematic representation of an embodiment of a body of heating according to the invention.

[0101] [Fig.4] is a schematic representation of another embodiment of a body heating according to the invention.

[0102] [Fig.5] is a top view of a barrel according to the invention without its element of top closure.

[0103] [Fig.6] is a photograph of binchotan logs. Detailed description

[0104] Reference is now made to the figures whose legend has been detailed above.

[0105] With reference to [Fig. 1], a device 1 for heating a wooden barrel 6 is described. The wooden barrel 6 comprises a rigid open substantially cylindrical frame made up of a plurality of wooden staves joined end-to-end by means of at least one circle which serves edge to edge the staves; said frame defining a top opening 62 and a bottom opening 61, and the internal volume of the container is formed by the internal part of the plurality of staves and the closing pieces of the top end and of the bottom end, the internal surface of the plurality of staves being intended to be treated by a heat source, i.e. to be heated.

[0106] In the context of [Fig.1], the barrel 6, also called cask 6, does not include the closure pieces at the top end and the bottom end, which will be positioned respectively at the level of the top opening 62 and the bottom opening.

[0107] Device 1 is inserted within the barrel. On the bottom of the barrel 6, at the lower opening 61, the heating element 2 is positioned so as to cover a support containing the heating material to produce heat. This could be, for example, a brazier, or any support capable of receiving a heating material having at least 93% carbon, and in particular binchotan. The support containing the heating material is completely covered by the heating element 2. In order to prevent smothering the combustion, the heating element 2 has an orifice 21 at its base which allows air to pass through to supply combustion to the incandescent heating material within the support. To control the combustion, a means 22 for closing the orifice 21 is provided in the heating element.Depending on whether the orifice 22 is open or closed with the sealing means 22, it is then possible to regulate the air intake inside the heating element 2 and thus control the strength of the combustion.

[0108] The heating element 2 is open at least at its upper end, the lower end being able to be uniformly open or obstructed by an obstruction means. The heating element 2 is advantageously cylindrical in shape.

[0109] The device 1 further includes a chimney 3 which extends axially from the heating body 2 and extends inside the barrel 6. According to [Fig.1], which is a particular embodiment, the chimney 3 extends through the barrel beyond the upper opening 62, so that the upper end of the chimney 3 is found outside the barrel 6.

[0110] On chimney 3, cover 4 is positioned securely.

[0111] When the device 1 is actuation, in the embodiment according to [Fig.1], the chimney 3 and the heating body 2 cooperate axially so that the lower part of the chimney 3 and the upper part of the heating body 2 cooperate to form a single channel through which the heat produced by the heating material at the level of the heating body 2 will be conveyed through the chimney and outside the barrel 6, through the upper end of the chimney 3.

[0112] The cover 4 is positioned so that it covers at least part of the opening 62 when the chimney 3 comes into contact with the heating body 2.

[0113] If the lid 4 is intended to completely close the barrel 6, the diameter of the lid will be greater than that of the barrel 6, and in particular of its upper opening 62. The lid then comes to rest on the edge of the upper end 62.

[0114] Advantageously, the cover 4 is made of a material whose emissivity is close to 0, so that the device 1 can be handled without getting burned.

[0115] For example, for a 300L drum with the following dimensions: height approximately 100 cm, head diameter (diameter of the top and bottom openings) approximately 64 cm, and muzzle diameter approximately 77 cm, it is appropriate to use a device 1, or the lid 4 will have a diameter of at least approximately 64 cm if it is desired to completely cover the upper opening 62. A person skilled in the art, depending on the drum in question, will be able to determine the appropriate dimensions of the lid 4. Still for the same example of a 300L drum, the length of the entire device 1, i.e. the assembly of the heating body 2 and the chimney 3, will advantageously be greater than 100 cm, the lid 4 being positioned on the chimney 4 so that it is turned over at a distance of approximately 100 cm from the bottom of the drum.

[0116] It is also possible to plug the chimney orifice 3 with an additional plugging means in order to keep the heat produced by the heating material in the chimney.

[0117] Referring now to [Fig.2], a device 1 is described consisting of a heating body 2 and a chimney 3, on which the cover 4 is positioned, but made in one piece.

[0118] In this embodiment, the heating material is positioned inside the barrel to be boiled, the latter (the heating material) being covered by the device 1, by means of the heating body 2. The description of the embodiment presented in [Fig.1] applies mutatis mutandis to the embodiment of [Fig.2].

[0119] With reference to [Fig. 3], the heating element 2 is now shown, in which the orifice 21 and the means 22 for closing said orifice are distinguished. In this embodiment, the closing means is controlled by a means 221 which controls the closing means 22. In [Fig. 3], the means 221 is a rod mounted for rotation by means of a movable circle positioned on the heating element 2, at the base of said heating element 2. The closing means 22 is connected from inside the heating element 2 to the movable circle such that when the rod 221 is rotated to rotate the circle, the closing means 22 is driven to rotate in the same direction as the rod. Depending on the direction of rotation imposed on the rod 221, the closing means 22 will either close or open the orifice 21.

[0120] Advantageously, in the embodiment shown in [Fig. 1], the rod 221 has a length greater than the radius of the barrel 6. The rod will therefore protrude from the barrel 6 when the latter is positioned around the device 1. The manipulator can thus, at will, without removing the device from the barrel 6, open or close the orifice 21 of the heating body 2, and thus control the draft and the quantity of heat produced for the heating.

[0121] In the above-described configuration, it is preferable to first position the heating body 2 on the brazier, then place the barrel 6, before adding the chimney 3.

[0122] With reference to [Fig. 4], another embodiment of the heating element 2 is shown, in which a first and a second orifice 21 and 21' are present, the closure of which is controlled respectively by a first and a second closing means 22 and 22'. The closing means 22 and 22' can both be connected, from the inside of the heating element 2, to the pivotally mounted circle controlled by the rod 221. Manipulation of the rod 221, in this embodiment, will simultaneously actuate the first and second closing means 22 and 22'.

[0123] Other embodiments may provide means 221 for controlling several orifices 21 and 21' autonomously and independently.

[0124] The invention is not limited to the embodiments presented above, and a person skilled in the art has the necessary information to propose embodiments not explicitly described above.

[0125] With reference to Figure 5, a container 6 according to the invention, which is not yet finalized, is shown. The rigid frame is formed by the plurality of staves 5, these being joined by rings 7. Here, it is contrasted that the upper part 8 of each stave 5 of container 6 is not yet machined to create the chamfer that will allow axial insertion of the closing piece which is not shown in the figure.

[0126] Because the container 6 is represented without the closing element, it is possible to visualize the internal surface 31 defined by the staves. It is this surface that will be machined. Examples

[0127] Example - manufacture of a 228L wooden container according to the invention

[0128] The manufacture of a barrel according to [Fig.5] is described here.

[0129] Two important parts make up the 228L drum 6:

[0130] - The staves 5 (on average 28 to 32 pieces) form the body, that is to say the barrel hull 6;

[0131] - The background pieces.

[0132] The galvanized rings 7 allow the staves 5 to be held together.

[0133] To go from the stave to the hull stave, here are the operations to follow:

[0134] 1- Brokerage:

[0135] The staves are given the chosen length. They must, naturally, all be of the same length.

[0136] 2- Shaping:

[0137] Which comprises four operations: doming, excavation, arrow scaling, and jointing

[0138] - doming consists of giving the external rounding which corresponds to the circumference of the was

[0139] - the hollowing: it is the inside of the stave that will be hollowed out

[0140] - arrow swaging is a delicate operation which gives the stave of the arrow or the pointed. Starting from the center, a progressively thicker layer of wood is removed from the sides of the stave, reaching one to two centimeters at the ends, depending on the desired camber of the barrel. The stave thus appears as two spindles joined end to end. During this operation, all defects, knots, and the presence of sapwood will be eliminated.

[0141] - the jointing: this delicate work will consist of passing each stave over the dove to regularize the design of each joint, while respecting the camber, the template and the slope.

[0142] 3- Characteristics of the staves and first assembly operation: the dress (or the pink)

[0143] - On top, the bung stave will be quite wide (10 to 11 cm). Given Depending on his role, the cooper's choice will lean towards a wood of high mechanical quality in particular.

[0144] - Then the first staves, which take their place on each side, will be narrow with a good thickness.

[0145] - The cooper takes the precaution of measuring the wood before assembly, holding account of the loss during tightening by fire.

[0146] 4- Bending and heating

[0147] Another important phase because it involves the dry heat of the wood fire. The barrel 6 is presented "in its casing"

[0148] A heater will be placed inside. The diameter of the heater must be 20 to 35 cm smaller than the diameter of the end of the drum. The heater contains binchotan as a heating material.

[0149] At the start of the heating process, the cooper places the barrel 6 in its cask shape on a winch, which closes its jaws as the wood heats up and its temperature rises. To carry out this operation, the cooper maintains humidity on the outside of the barrel. When the tightening is complete, a retaining hoop is placed at the bottom of the barrel, the barrel is then turned over, and new mold hoops are placed while the wood is still hot, then tightened to properly align the joints.

[0150] The second part of the toasting process constitutes the decisive heating for the barrel, called toasting. This penetrates the wood to a depth of 5 to 10 mm and develops all the aromas of the barrel 6. The gentle and slow toasting allows the heat to permeate the thickness of the wood. The inner face 31 of the staves 5, that is to say, the inside of the barrel 6.

[0151] 5-Trimming

[0152] This operation will prepare the ends of the staves 5 for the placement of the heads. The cooper will simultaneously:

[0153] - the trimming which will remove the internal part of the heads 8 of staves 5. It will then make the Chamfer, angled section according to the type of barrel. The internal part will be leveled just below the chamfer to create the trim.

[0154] - the groove forms the channel that will receive the base; it measures 6 mm to 15 mm thickness

[0155] The base pieces are then assembled.

[0156] The parts are assembled after stainless steel studs have been placed. A strand of reed is placed between each joint to ensure a perfect seal.

[0157] The circle is then drawn on the base, which is sawn along this line. However, 2 mm more is added to the width. This is because, during tightening, the assembly may compress widthwise but never lengthwise.

[0158] Then the internal and external cutting is carried out, which will give the necessary bevel around the bottom to fit into the groove. In our project, the perimeter of the bottom will be straight.

[0159] 7- The sinking

[0160] The end circles are removed to free the staves 5. A paste prepared from "organic" quality buckwheat flour, therefore gluten-free, and water will be placed in the bottom of the jable; it will allow for a perfect seal.

[0161] The main bottom piece is placed in the barrel directly opposite the bung stave. The barrel is tilted, and from the inside, the bottom is pushed into the hole in the barrel. Then, for the second bottom, since it cannot be done from the inside, the cooper uses a screw jack to place the bottom in its slot.

[0162] 8- The banding

[0163] The first hoops used for preparing the barrels are wide and thick. These are called "mold hoops." Subsequent hoops are made of galvanized strip. They are placed on the barrel and driven in using a drift. The number of hoops varies depending on the region.

[0164] Today, it is recommended to use galvanized iron rings, which are better protected against the effects of rust. These final rings are fitted after the finishing operations.

[0165] 9- The finish

[0166] The barrel is water-tested to ensure the absence of defects. For this, one Pour 20 to 30 liters of water into the barrel and shake it thoroughly. This also removes any solid particles that may be stuck to the sides. Then the barrel is inflated with air. Under the pressure and water, any defects will become apparent, causing small leaks that the cooper can then repair.

[0167] Following these operations, the barrel is only unhooked at the neck and moved to facilitate sanding of the hull, then re-hooped with the final galvanized hoops. Finally, the head hoops are fitted.

Claims

Demands

1. Use of a heating material, for the toasting of wooden barrels intended to contain beverages, said heating material comprising at least 93% by mass of carbon.

2. Use according to claim 1, wherein said heating material has a partially crystalline, or semi-crystalline, structure.

3. Use according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said heating material is charcoal.

4. Use according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said heating material is a charcoal called binchotan charcoal, or white charcoal.

5. Method of smoking a wooden barrel intended to contain beverages, said method comprising: - preparing in a heating body (2) a brazier or brazier comprising a heating material, said heating material comprising at least 93% by mass of carbon, and - positioning around said brazier a wooden barrel intended to contain beverages, in order to heat the inside of said barrel.

6. A method of charcoal production according to claim 5, wherein said heating material is a charcoal called binchotan charcoal, or white charcoal.

7. Method according to claim 5 or 6, wherein said heating body has in the vicinity of its base an orifice (21) equipped with a shutter (22) capable of taking several shuttering positions.

8. Method according to any one of claims 5 or 7, wherein a chimney (3) is mounted axially on the heating body (2).

9. Device (1) for toasting a wooden barrel (6) comprising a longitudinal wall ending in two opposing circular rims delimiting a lower opening (61) and an upper opening (62), said device comprising: - a heating element (2) comprising a base enabling the heating element (2) to rest on the bottom of the barrel (6) at the level of the lower opening (61), the heating element (2) having in the vicinity of its base an orifice (21) equipped with a shutter (22) capable of taking several shuttering positions,

10. - a chimney (3) extending axially from the heating body (2), the chimney (3) extending inside the wooden barrel (6), and - a cover (4) attached to the chimney (3), dimensioned and positioned on said chimney (3) so as to at least partially close the upper opening (62) when the base rests on the bottom of the barrel at the level of the lower opening (61), said device being characterized in that the heating element (2) contains a heating material comprising at least 93% by mass of carbon. Device according to claim 9, wherein said heating material is a charcoal called binchotan charcoal, or white charcoal.

Images