Wine Barrel with Ceramic Closure and Heat-Treated Staves

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wooden wine barrels transmit undesirable tannins and flavors, and their closure parts cannot be heat-treated without deformation, which affects the quality of the wine during aging.

Innovation Solution

A container with a cylindrical wooden frame and ceramic closure parts, where the internal surface of the staves is heat-treated to impart desired aromas, and the ceramic parts are more durable and easier to maintain than traditional wooden ones, reducing the transfer of unwanted compounds.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If wooden closure parts are used in wine barrels, then the traditional structure is maintained, but the closure parts cannot be heat-treated without deformation which affects wine quality

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat treatment capabilityVSAvoidclosure part deformation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses composite construction by combining wood (for the staves that require heat treatment) with metal (for the closure parts that cannot tolerate heat treatment). This allows different parts of the barrel to have different material properties optimized for their specific functions: wood provides the desired aroma transmission when heat-treated, while metal provides dimensional stability for the closure parts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Object-generated harmful factors

If wooden barrels are used for aging wine, then traditional aroma transmission is achieved, but undesirable tannins and flavors are transmitted to the wine

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveundesirable tannins and flavorsVSAvoidorganoleptic qualities
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies local quality by selectively treating only the staves with heat treatment to control tannin release, while leaving the closure parts made of metal that do not interact with the wine. This localized application of heat treatment to specific components allows control over which parts of the barrel contribute to wine aging characteristics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of operation

If ceramic closure parts are used instead of wooden ones, then durability and ease of maintenance are improved, but the traditional wooden structure is altered

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemaintenance easeVSAvoidmaterial composition
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses composite construction by combining wood (for the staves that require heat treatment) with metal (for the closure parts that cannot tolerate heat treatment). This allows different parts of the barrel to have different material properties optimized for their specific functions: wood provides the desired aroma transmission when heat-treated, while metal provides dimensional stability for the closure parts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The ceramic closure parts enhance the organoleptic qualities of the wine by minimizing the transfer of undesirable compounds, maintaining the benefits of wooden barrels while preventing deformation and improving durability and maintenance.

Implementation Method 1

The internal surface of the plurality of staves is treated by a heat source

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Data Source

PatentEP4212448B1Container for storing and lifting liquids
Publication Date: 2024.05.01 CHAMPAGNE HENRI GIRAUD
  • EP4212448B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1b
  • EP4212448B1 patent drawingFigure 2~5
  • EP4212448B1 patent drawingFigure 6~8

AI summary

The invention relates to a container (1) for liquid, comprising: - an open rigid frame (2); said frame defining a top opening (11) and a bottom opening (12), and - a top end closure piece (111), and a bottom end closure piece (121), where the top end closure piece (111), and the bottom end closure piece (121), are made of a ceramic material.