Composite Stave Wood Assembly Without Adhesive for Wine Aging
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Solution Overview
Problem
The scarcity of high-quality woods like oak and chestnut due to diseases and increased demand in other sectors has led to a need for improved wood container production methods that minimize the use of adhesive and ensure the effectiveness of the wood container production methods that maintain the beneficial oxygenation and chemical compound extraction from wood.
Innovation Solution
A monolithic stave wood design using a mortice and tenon joint without adhesive, comprising a first layer of rare wood and a second layer of different wood, where the second layer is thinner and flexible, allowing for reduced wood consumption and improved mechanical strength.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single layer of rare wood is used to ensure quality and oxygenation, then the beneficial chemical compound extraction and oxygenation are maintained, but the quantity of costly wood consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The stave wood is divided into two distinct layers: a first layer of rare wood (oak or chestnut) with thickness of 10-20mm that provides the essential oxygenation and chemical compound extraction, and a second layer of more common wood (beech, ash, or hornbeam) with thickness of 5-15mm that provides structural support. This segmentation allows the expensive rare wood to be used only where its functional properties are needed, reducing overall wood consumption while maintaining quality.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the stave wood have different qualities assigned to them: the first layer uses rare wood specifically in the interior region where oxygenation and chemical extraction are most important for wine aging, while the second layer uses more economical wood in the exterior region where structural integrity is the primary concern. This local differentiation optimizes resource allocation.
2Ease of manufacture
If adhesive is used to join wood layers to simplify assembly, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the harmful factors increase due to potential chemical contamination and reduced oxygenation
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful adhesive component is completely removed from the system. Instead of using chemical bonds, the patent employs a purely mechanical joint system where the second layer of wood is joined to the first layer through interlocking protrusions and recesses, eliminating all adhesive substances that would contaminate the wine and impede oxygenation.
Solution Approach 2:
A mechanical intermediary structure (the joint system with protrusions and recesses) replaces the chemical intermediary (adhesive) to achieve the bonding function. This mechanical intermediary allows the wood layers to be joined without introducing harmful chemical substances.
3Strength
If thick wood layers are used to ensure structural strength, then the strength and durability are improved, but the risk of defects during shaping increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wood structure is segmented into two layers with different thickness ranges: the first layer (10-20mm) provides structural foundation while the second layer (5-15mm) provides surface integrity and flexibility. This segmentation allows each layer to be optimized for its specific function, reducing the risk of defects during shaping compared to using a single thick layer.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the thickness parameter of the wood layers to optimal values (10-20mm for first layer, 5-15mm for second layer) that balance structural strength with shaping flexibility. These specific parameter ranges reduce the risk of defects during the shaping process while maintaining necessary strength.
4Reliability
If first quality wood such as oak is used to ensure excellent organoleptic characteristics, then the flavor and oxygenation quality are improved, but the cost and scarcity issues worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The wood composition is segmented into a first layer of first quality wood (oak or chestnut, 10-20mm thick) that provides the essential organoleptic characteristics for wine aging, and a second layer of second quality wood (beech, ash, or hornbeam, 5-15mm thick) that provides structural support. This segmentation ensures that expensive first quality wood is used only where its superior organoleptic properties are most important, reducing overall consumption and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
First quality wood is allocated specifically to the interior region of the stave where it contacts the wine and provides oxygenation and flavor extraction, while second quality wood is used in the exterior region where structural functions are primary. This local quality differentiation optimizes the use of scarce resources.
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
This design reduces the quantity of costly wood used, minimizes the risk of defects during shaping, and maintains the beneficial oxygenation and flavor impartation to the liquid, while ensuring the integrity and durability of the wood container.
Implementation Method 1
said first and second layers of wood being joined together exclusively by a mortice and tenon joint with no adhesive binder such as a glue
Implementation Method 2
slow penetration of oxygen through the wood produces managed oxidation of the compounds present in the wine
Implementation Method 3
chemical compounds that can be extracted from the wood, for example tannins, are released into the wine
Implementation Method 4
the staves of the future container are subject to a step of heating and humidification in such a manner as to be progressively curved
Data Source
AI summary
A stave wood for the production of a stave of a wood container, having a first layer of a first wood and a second layer of wood. The second layer being a layer of a second wood different from the first wood. The first and second layers of wood being assembled together exclusively by a mortice and tenon joint with no adhesive binder. The face of the second layer opposite that intended to form an exterior face of the stave includes one or more tenons forming a projection thereon extending only along the longitudinal axis of the stave wood. The face of the first layer of wood opposite that is intended to an interior face of the stave includes a corresponding mortice for each tenon of the second layer of wood a extending along the longitudinal axis of the stave wood.