Automatic Preservative Gas Replenishing System for Wine Preservation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for preserving wine and other perishable substances after opening are ineffective and unreliable, often introducing contaminants or requiring complex and expensive pressurized systems, which can lead to spoilage and safety issues.

Innovation Solution

A system and method utilizing volumetric displacement between a flowable substance and a preservative gas within a vessel, where a compressible bladder supplies preservative gas that is automatically replenished, allowing for the preservation of wine and other substances without foreign objects in the vessel, maintaining the integrity and safety of the contents.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If an expandable bladder is inserted into the vessel to displace oxygen-rich air, then the preservation effectiveness is improved, but the risk of introducing contaminants and causing spoilage increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepreservation effectivenessVSAvoidcontaminant introduction

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses an intermediary gas delivery system where preservative gas is delivered through a catheter connected to a syringe, rather than directly inserting an expandable bladder into the wine bottle. This intermediary approach allows gas delivery without introducing foreign objects that could contaminate the wine, resolving the contradiction between preservation effectiveness and contaminant prevention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If pressurized systems are used to preserve wine, then the preservation reliability is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepreservation reliabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses the natural negative pressure generated during wine dispensing to automatically draw preservative gas into the bottle through the catheter. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for external pressurized systems, complex pumps, or power sources, achieving reliable preservation while keeping the device simple and inexpensive

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces complex mechanical pressurized systems with a simple passive gas delivery system that utilizes pressure differentials created during normal wine dispensing operations. This substitution maintains preservation reliability while dramatically reducing device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If preservative gas is supplied in a compressible bladder, then the ease of operation is improved, but the loss of time for gas refilling increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegas supply convenienceVSAvoidgas refilling time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system maintains continuous availability of preservative gas by keeping the catheter connected to a reservoir that can be refilled without removing the catheter from the bottle. This allows the gas supply function to continue uninterrupted, eliminating the time loss associated with complete system disassembly and refilling

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

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 approach effectively prevents spoilage by maintaining a controlled environment within the vessel, ensuring the quality and safety of the preserved substance over time, while being affordable and user-friendly, without the need for complex equipment or frequent gas refilling.

Implementation Method 1

volumetric displacement between a flowable substance within an inner volume of a vessel and a preservative gas to permit a dispensing of a desired volume of the substance, such as wine, from the vessel and the concomitant introduction of the preservative gas into the inner volume of the vessel

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVolumetric displacement:

Implementation Method 2

a compressible bladder supplies preservative gas that is automatically replenished

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCompressible storage:

Data Source

PatentUS10800589B2Automatic preservative gas replenishing system

Publication Date: 2020.10.13 BOSTON WINE DEVICES LLC

AI summary

An automatic replenishing system for automatically replenishing preservative gas within a compressible bladder for supply to the inner volume of a vessel. A compressible bladder has an outer wall and an inner volume. A supply conduit receives preservative gas from a source, and a discharge conduit supplies preservative gas to a vessel. An inflation detection system detect a first condition wherein the compressible bladder is inflated to a state of inflation and a second condition wherein the compressible bladder is inflated below the state of inflation. A valve system is operative to prevent preservative gas from flowing from the source of preservative gas and into the compressible bladder when the compressible bladder is in the first condition and to permit preservative gas to flow from the source of preservative gas and into the compressible bladder when the compressible bladder is in the second condition.