Pneumatic Press Closing Element for Airtight Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pneumatic presses used in wine production face challenges in balancing the need for a large loading/unloading opening for ease of use with the requirement for effective sealing to prevent oxidation and maintain airtight conditions, especially during pre-fermentation maceration and inert gas pressing.
Innovation Solution
A press design featuring a tank with a large loading/unloading opening closed by two movable doors, utilizing a peripheral inflatable seal and a gas- and liquid-impermeable closing element that forms a screen, sandwiched between the seal and doors, ensuring an airtight barrier without compromising the size of the opening. This includes connecting members like magnets or hooks for maintaining the closing element's position and handles for easy handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a large loading/unloading opening is provided to simplify filling, emptying, and cleaning, then ease of operation is improved, but airtightness deteriorates because the opening cannot be sealed effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The closing system is divided into multiple components: two closing doors that can be opened independently for access, and a closing element (screen) that seals the opening when doors are closed. This segmentation allows the opening to be large for ease of operation while maintaining airtightness through the additional closing element that fills the gap between doors and the opening perimeter.
Solution Approach 2:
A closing element (screen) is introduced as an intermediary component between the closing doors and the opening perimeter. This screen is pressed by an inflatable peripheral seal to create the airtight seal, mediating between the need for a large opening and the requirement for effective sealing.
2Ease of operation
If two closing doors are used to close the opening, then ease of operation is improved by allowing independent access, but device complexity increases due to the need for additional sealing mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The closing element (screen) serves multiple functions: it seals the opening when both doors are closed, it fills gaps between the doors and opening perimeter, and it works in conjunction with the inflatable seal to create the airtight barrier. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate sealing mechanisms for each door.
Solution Approach 2:
The inflatable peripheral seal changes its physical state from deflated to inflated to activate the sealing function. When inflated, it presses the closing element against the doors and opening perimeter, creating the airtight seal without requiring complex mechanical locking or sealing mechanisms.
3Reliability
If an airtight seal is maintained to prevent oxidation during maceration, then product quality is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates because the opening must remain small or use complex closing mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The closing system is dynamic rather than static. The two doors can be opened independently at different times, and the inflatable seal can be deflated to facilitate opening/closing operations and inflated to create the airtight seal when needed. This dynamic behavior allows easy access during operation while maintaining airtightness during maceration.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing mechanism operates periodically: the inflatable seal is inflated to create the airtight barrier during maceration, and deflated when opening access is needed. This periodic activation of the sealing function allows the system to switch between ease of operation and oxidation prevention based on operational requirements.
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 solution enhances user comfort by allowing a large opening while maintaining airtight sealing, reducing oxidation risks, and simplifying filling, emptying, and washing processes, ensuring better hygiene and ease of operation.
Implementation Method 1
an inflatable peripheral seal surrounding said opening... the closing element being, in the closed position of the doors, pressed by the gasket towards the doors
Implementation Method 2
the connecting elements are magnetic. This results in easy installation and removal of the screen-forming closure element
Data Source
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AI summary
A press (1) comprising a tank (12) provided with at least: - a loading/unloading opening (3), - at least two doors (4) for closing said tank opening, said doors (4) being movable between an open and a closed position of said opening (3) in which said doors (4) are arranged side by side, and - a peripheral sealing gasket (5) surrounding said opening (3). The press (1) includes a closing element (6) forming an airtight screen arranged, covering the entire opening (3), between the gasket (5) and the doors (4), in the closed position of the doors (4), said closing element (6) being, in the closed position of the doors (4), pressed by the gasket (5) towards the doors (4) and sandwiched between the doors (4) and the gasket (5).