Stopper Oxygen Absorber for Wine Preservation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for removing atmospheric oxygen from containers are cumbersome, costly, or ineffective, particularly for preserving degradable substances, as they often require proprietary vacuums, noble gases, or oxygen-absorption materials that can contaminate liquids or deform sensitive items.
Innovation Solution
A stopper-type device housing replaceable oxygen-absorption material, shielded from liquids and other contaminants, which uses diffusion and mild vacuum mechanisms to reduce oxygen levels in containers, preventing oxidation damage to degradable substances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If vacuum system is used to remove atmospheric gas from container, then oxygen removal effectiveness is improved, but device complexity and operational difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the oxygen removal function from complex vacuum pumping systems and implements it through simple oxygen-absorbing materials (such as iron-based compounds) that chemically consume oxygen. This eliminates the need for motors, valves, and sealing mechanisms while achieving the same oxygen removal effect.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical vacuum pumping systems with a chemical solution approach using oxygen-absorbing materials. Instead of mechanically removing gas through vacuums, the system uses chemical reactions to consume oxygen, thereby eliminating mechanical complexity.
2Reliability
If oxygen-absorption material is placed inside porous-walled bags, then oxygen removal capability is improved, but risk of contamination increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces an intermediary barrier layer (porous bag or capsule) between the oxygen-absorbing material and the preserved substance. This intermediary allows oxygen to diffuse through to the absorbent material while preventing direct contact between the material and the liquid or food, thus eliminating contamination risk.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs flexible porous bags or thin film capsules to contain the oxygen-absorbing material. These flexible barriers permit gas permeation (allowing oxygen to reach the absorbent) while physically isolating the absorbent from direct contact with liquids or food items.
3Reliability
If noble gas is pumped into container as replacement for oxygen, then oxidation prevention is improved, but cost and operational difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces expensive noble gases with inexpensive, disposable oxygen-absorbing materials (such as iron-based compounds). These materials are consumed in the process and can be easily replaced, eliminating the need for costly gas storage and handling infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The oxygen-absorbing materials are designed to automatically consume oxygen through chemical reaction without requiring external power sources, control systems, or user intervention. The system self-regulates the oxygen removal process, making it trivially simple for consumers to use.
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
Effectively preserves degradable substances by significantly lowering oxygen levels within containers without the need for proprietary vacuums or noble gases, preventing bacterial or fungal growth while maintaining container compatibility and safety for liquids.
Implementation Method 1
uses diffusion and mild vacuum mechanisms to reduce oxygen levels in containers
Implementation Method 2
uses diffusion and mild vacuum mechanisms to reduce oxygen levels in containers
Data Source
AI summary
A device for the preservation of degradable substances (e.g. degradable by oxidation) such as liquids or powders, especially edible substances, beverages (e.g. wine), or foods (e.g. coffee) as well as oils, tobacco, pharmaceuticals, colorants or paints in an opened container, e.g. a bottle, exposed to the oxygen of the air is provided herein. Aspects of the invention include an apparatus for removing oxygen from an opened container or bottle by coupling the container or bottle to a shell that contains an oxygen absorbent material such as reduced iron.