AU629687B2

AU629687B2 - Bulk storage seal

Info

Publication number: AU629687B2
Application number: AU62417/90A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Garry Arthur Smith
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-09-22
Filing date: 1990-09-11
Publication date: 1992-10-08
Anticipated expiration: 2010-09-11
Also published as: AU6241790A

Description

NEW :ii I_ YC- L1 629687 S F Ref: 106308 FORM COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1952 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

FOR OFFICE USE: Clast Int. Class Application Number: Lodged: Priority: PJ6522 22 September 1989 B f Accepted: Published: Related Art: Name and Addrrss of Applicant: Garry Arthur Smith 8 Grattan Street Kurri Kurri New South

AUSTRALIA

Wales 2327 Actual Inventor: Address for Servic:: Garry Arthur Smith Spruson Ferguson, Patent Attorneys, Level 33 St Martins Tower, 31 Market Street, Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Australia I I S 14*1*1

S

Complete Specification for the invention entitled: Bulk Storage Seal The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us 0, )Q 5815/2 ')8u/3 ;i;II ii -2- The present invention relates to bulk storage sealing and more particularly, though not exclusively to a seal for an onening in storage vats as used to store wine for example.

Known storage vats have inherent problems associa'ed with the sealing thereof. When a conventional lid is closed onto such vats, air or air/gas is usually entrapped therein.

Such air entrapment is undesirable since the gases can react with the stored wine, impairing the wine quality. Conversely if too little or no air is enclosed overfilling of the vat with wine) then expansion and contraction problems can result from fluctuations in temperature.

It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate the above disadvantages.

This invention in one broad form provides; a bladder containing, or adapted to contain a liquid, 5 an air sack/float formed on or in said bladder, 0o" 1said bladder being adapted to be inserted into an opening of a vessel oo: containing a liquid beverage such that any pressure exerted by said beverage on said air sack/float and/or bladder compresses said air i sack/float while urging at least a portion of said bladder into sealing contact with said opening.

Typically, the liquid is selected from the group consisting of SO 2 and H 2 0.

Preferably, the air sack/float incorporates an inflation valve.

Advantageously, the bladder has formed around an upper periphery thereof an annular lip adapted to engage with the opening of the vessel.

Typically, a securing strap is applied to or formed integrally with the annular lip, the strap serving upon tightening thereof as an additional measure to secure the lip to the opening of the vessel.

Generally, the bladder is formed from a food grade polyethylene material.

Alternatively, the bladder is formed of PVC material.

A prefei're form of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: -3 Fig. 1 Is a schematic sectional elevational view of a seal inserted into an opening of a vat, Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5 are schematic sectional elevational views of alternative embodiments of the seal of Fig. 1 inserted into an opening of a vat, and Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are schematic sectional elevational views of further alternative embodiments of the seal of Fig. 1 inserted into an opening of a vat.

In the accompanying drawings, there is schematically depicted a seal 1 in place in an opening neck 12 of vat 4.

Seal 1 comprises bladder 2 being filled with a mixture of SO 2 and/or water 9. Seal 1 further comprises air sack/float 3 having inflation valve 8 formed therein.

Various configurations of air sack/float 3 are envisaged. For T example a bulbous form of air sack/float (Fig. a disk form (Fig. a t.jft cylindrical form (Figs. 3 and an inverted frusto conical form (Figs. 4, 6 and 8) or an essentially conical form 5) of air sack/float 3 are envisaged.

Bladder 2, being generally of cylindrical configuration has formed around its upper periphery an annular lip 7 adapted to engage with opening neck 12 of vat 4. Bladder 2 being formed of PVC material or food grade polyethylene further comprises threaded cap 5 through which SO 2 and water is inserted. Threaded cap 5 further serves to eliminate spoilage of the

SO

2 and/or water by contact with air. Securing strap 6 may be used as an additional measure to secure lip 7 to heck 12.

In use, vat 4 is initially filled with wine 11. A user may inflate air sack/float 3 by blowing through and then closing inflation valve 8.

Valve 8 may typically be formed on an underside of bladder 2 as depicted in Figs. 1 to 5. Alternatively, inflation valve 8 m6, be formed on an upperside of bladder 2 as depicted in Figs. 6, 7 and 8. Bladder 2 may be filled with water and/or SO 2

(SO

2 being an approved chemical in the wine industry). Seal 1 would then be inserted through opening neck 12.

Lip 7 would then be placed over opening neck 12 and if necessary, strap 6 tightened therearound.

I I' rl -4- As the air in air sack/float 3 does not actually contact wine 11 it cannot react therewith, though it is capable of being compressed if the wine temperature increases. In the event that wine 11 does expand in vat 4 then pressure exerted on air sack/float 3 and/or bladder 2 may force edge 13 of bladder 2 to frictionally engage with the inner edge of opening neck 12 thus ensuring an efficient seal. Alternatively, seal 1 may be elevated in neck 12, reducing the effectiveness of the seal between seal 1 and neck 12, but not to such an extent as to allow air into the vessel. Further this elevation of seal 1 in neck 12 has the effect that the vessel cannot become pressured.

As air sack/float 3 floats upward with respect to SO 2 and/or water 9, the SO 2 and/or water is forced outwardly against the bladder 2.

It should further be appreciated that the buoyancy of air sack/float 3 helps to prevent an adverse funnelling effect which is created when a 'i more dense liquid !uch as an S0 2 /water solution in the bladder 2 is inserted into a less dense solution such as dry wine. Such an adverse funnelling effect would draw the edges 13 of bladder 2 away from neck 12.

if 4 4I 4 I '4

Claims

1. Apparatus comprising; a bladder contalilng, or adapted to contain a liquid, an air sack/float formed on or in said bladder, said bladder being adapted to be inserted into an opening of a vessel containing a liquid beverage such that any pressure exerted by said beverage on said air sack/float and/or bladder compresses said air sack/float while urging at least a portion of said bladder into sealing j contact with said opening.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said liquid is selected from B! the group consisting of SO 2 and H 2 0. i

3. The apparatus of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the air sack/float incorporates an inflation valve.

4. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims wherein said bladder has formed around an upper periphery thereof an annular lip adapted Ltt to engage with the opening of the vessel. off

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein a securing strap is applied to 0* or formed integrally with the annular lip, the strap serving upon Stightening thereof as an additional measure to secure the lip to the opening of the vessel.

6. An apparatus of any one of the preceding claims wherein the bladder is formed from a food grade polyethylene material.

7. An apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the bladder is *~44 o formed of PVC material.

8. An apparatus, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this SEVENTH day of SEPTEMBER 1990 Garry Arthur Smith Patent Attorneys for the Applicant SPRUSON FERGUSON