Modular Cap-Plunging Apparatus for Wine Tank Fermentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cap-plunging systems in vinification face issues such as increased constructional complexity, inconvenient maintenance, and high costs due to permanent fixtures and complex rail systems, which restrict mobility and flexibility in wine cellar installations.
Innovation Solution
A cap-plunging apparatus with non-permanent fixing means and motor-assisted, programmable movement allows for independent rail installation, enabling the cap-plunging unit to travel between tanks and adjust to different tank configurations, reducing structural constraints and costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If fixed plungers are permanently mounted on the roof of the vinification tank, then the cap-plunging function is stable and reliable, but the constructional complexity of the vinification device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cap-plunging device is divided into separate modular components: the plunger unit, the guiding means, and the fixing means. These can be assembled and disassembled independently, reducing overall constructional complexity while maintaining functional reliability during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The fixing means transitions from a static permanent mounting to a dynamic removable configuration. This allows the system to be adapted - permanently fixed for stability when needed, or removed for reduced complexity and tank mobility when required.
2Ease of repair
If plungers are fixed onto the top of the tank using releasable fixing, then maintenance and disassembly become possible, but the tank cannot be easily moved or repositioned
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into the tank and the cap-plunging device as separate entities. The fixing means attaches only the plunger device to the tank, not permanently modifying the tank itself, preserving tank mobility while enabling plunger maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The releasable fixing means allows the plunger device to be easily detached, recovered for maintenance or relocation, and reattached when needed, without permanently affecting the tank's mobility.
3Adaptability or versatility
If movable plungers are arranged on a carriage sliding on a rail fixed to the ceiling, then the cap-plunging unit can serve multiple tanks, but the production cost and structural complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The rail support structure is divided into separate modular sections that can be attached to individual tanks rather than requiring a continuous ceiling-mounted rail system. This reduces overall structural complexity while maintaining multi-tank服务能力.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of mounting rails vertically to the ceiling, the guiding means is mounted horizontally on top of the tank, changing the dimensional orientation and eliminating the need for complex ceiling structures.
4Measurement precision
If rails are fixed to the ceiling of the wine cellar, then the cap-plunging unit can be positioned accurately, but the ceiling height and structural strength requirements increase the installation complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting dimension is changed from vertical (ceiling) to horizontal (tank top). This eliminates the need to accommodate ceiling height constraints and structural strength requirements, simplifying installation while maintaining positioning accuracy through the guiding means.
Data Source
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Figure 4
AI summary
An apparatus or tank for plunging the cap of any pressed vegetable product, preferably must, characterized in that it comprises substantially horizontal guiding means fixed to the top of the apparatus or tank and able to support slidably a plunging unit.