FR2587813A1 - Level-adjusting device for a liquid container - Google Patents

Abstract

Device for adjusting the level in liquid containers, comprising an inflatable bulb 14 made of impermeable material, immersed in the liquid 11 and inflatable from outside the container 10.

Description

"Level adjustment device for container of
liquid"
The object of the present invention is a level adjustment device for liquid containers, in particular for barrels or wine tanks.

 It is known in fact that the level of barrels or wine vats must be kept constant to reduce the contact of wine with air to a minimum acceptable contact surface.

 Indeed, variations in ambient temperature, variations in temperature due to fermentation, as well as in the case of barrels, tasting samples and evaporation bring variations in level in the containers, which should be compensated for.

 For this purpose, in a manner known per se, the wine tanks for example are provided with a level control device located at the top of the tank, as well as an opening also located at the top of the container, used for filling, which makes it possible to compensate for the lack of level.

 Excess levels are compensated by making the overflow color by a stopper or a tap located at the bottom of the container.

 The controls and adjustment of the levels in the tanks are done manually.

 To do this, an operator must move from tank to tank and climb a ladder each time to gain access above the tank.

 In the case of barrels, the level is examined by a plug, not very accessible, also used for filling.

 This involves long and tedious interventions.

 In addition, a certain amount of liquid (in the case of wine, strictly of the same quality) must be set aside to allow the containers to be filled. This liquid is, in most cases, partially wasted.

 Similarly, when the level increases, it should be reduced by racking.

 The object of the present invention is a device and a method which make it possible to remedy these drawbacks.

 More specifically, the object of the present invention is a device for controlling and adjusting the level of the liquid containers.

 To this end, a level adjustment device for a container of liquid, in particular for a barrel or a wine tank according to the invention, comprises an extendable addition made of an impermeable material, immersed in the liquid, said addition being inflatable from the outside of the container.

 Such a device in particular avoids intervention which is necessarily carried out from above the container, as is customary for traditional containers.

 According to one embodiment of the invention, the submerged skin is connected to inflation means, means for controlling said inflation means being provided, as well as means for identifying the level.

 This simplifies any intervention by an operator.

 Advantageously, according to this embodiment of the invention, the means for inflating the addition comprises a pressure source capable of injecting pressurized air into the addition.

 Advantageously, according to this embodiment of the invention, the control means of said inflation means comprise connector means capable of connecting or isolating pipes connecting the addition, some with the atmosphere, others with the means of inflation of the addition, actuated by magnetic sensors sensitive to the passage of a float capable of moving vertically in a tube depending on the level of liquid in the container.

 According to another aspect of this embodiment of the invention, said control means comprise triggers capable of opening or closing valves arranged in a compressed air circuit connecting several bottles in addition to a pressure source, the pressure in each addition being determined by the action of at least two valves controlling the pressurization and the venting, said triggers being controlled by said magnetic sensors.

 The invention also relates to a method of automatic and simultaneous regulation of the levels of several containers of liquid using a device as described above, characterized in that there is in each of the containers a addition, and on top a transparent tube serving as an expansion vessel, and in that the bottles are connected to a common pressure circuit capable of maintaining a constant pressure in the circuit, said pressure circuit being provided with valves controlling the setting of pressure or its release in the circuit, said valves being controlled by means of controlling the level of one of the containers.

 The Applicant has in fact found that the levels naturally balance in different neighboring containers by simply balancing the pressures between the different bottles, even in the case where the containers are of different sizes.

 This allows the storage of a large number of containers, in which the control and the action of maintaining the liquid level are done automatically, without any intervention of an operator, and this independently for each of the containers with a single level control device.

The characteristics and advantages of the present invention will also emerge from the detailed description which follows, with reference to the appended drawings in which:
- Figure 1 shows a vertical sectional view of an embodiment of a device according to the invention;
- Figure 2 shows a plan view corresponding to Figure 1;
- Figure 3 shows schematically a part of the device shown in Figures 1 and 2;
- Figure 4 is a schematic view of an installation implementing an embodiment of a device according to the invention;
- Figure 5 shows in longitudinal section an iodine simplified embodiment of a device according to the invention;
- Figure 6 shows in longitudinal section a wine barrel provided with a device constituting an embodiment of the invention.

 In more detail, and with reference to FIG. 1, a container of liquid 10, for example a wine tank, is filled with a liquid 11. The container 10 is provided at its upper part with a plate 12 serving as a support to a device according to the invention.

 A conduit 13 passes through the support plate 12, and opens into a flexible further 14. Such a further is located inside the container 10, and is connected in leaktight manner to the conduit 13.

 Advantageously, such a further 14 is made of a waterproof and elastic material of so-called walimentary quality.

 This addition is filled with a fluid, preferably a gas, advantageously air.

 The pipe 13 passes tightly through the support plate 12, and ends, outside the container 10 at an elbow 15 connected to a pipe 16.

Such a pipe 16 connects said conduit 13 to a
Separation T 17 which separates the pipe into two paths 18 and 19 respectively. The pipe 18, via a valve 20, simply opens onto the ambient air, in the embodiment described.

 The valves 20 and 21 are provided with valves 41, 42 respectively, determining the opening or closing of the valves as a function of their positions.

 These valves can be actuated by the pressure differences between their two faces (Figure 3).

 Line 19, via a valve 21, is connected to the end of a line 22 forming part of a "circuit pressurized by means known per se, for example a pressure source 40.

 In this embodiment, as shown more particularly in FIG. 3, the opening and closing of the valves 20 and 21 are controlled by three triggers 23, 24 and 25.

 More precisely, the trigger 23 is used to trigger the opening of the valve 20.

 The trigger 25 is used to trigger the opening of the valve 21.

 The trigger 24 is used to trigger the closure of one or other of the valves 20 or 21, regardless of whether one or the other is open.

 It will be noted that, consequently, the trigger 23 triggers the venting of the pipe 18 and, by the same token, of the bottle 14 to which it is connected via the T 17. The trigger 25, triggers as to him, the pressurization of the bottle 14, by placing the line 19 and the line 22 in communication, already under pressure.

 The trigger 24 9 has the effect of isolating the part of the pipe located between the two valves and also comprising the skin 14.

 In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the triggers 23, 24, 25 constitute simple air orifices normally closed, and released by the angular displacement of needles 26, 27 and 28 described below. These triggers are connected to a pressure source which acts on the objects 20 'and 21' of the valves 20 and 21 when the triggers are in the rest position.

 A cylindrical tube 30, open at both ends, has a thread at its lower end by which it is connected with a complementary threaded orifice formed in the support plate 12. Thus, such a tube 30 puts the liquid 11 into communication with the atmosphere. In order to avoid any contamination, or pollution, the tube 30 is provided, at its upper part with a bacteria filter 31. Such a filter, which completely closes the upper part of the tube 30, nevertheless allows the pressures to equilibrate , this filter is not airtight.

 When the liquid level is sufficient, it can therefore rise over at least a portion of the height of the tube 30.

 In this embodiment of the invention, a cylindrical float 32 is disposed inside the tube, such a float being provided with a magnet in the form of a flat disc 33, such a magnet being disposed transversely to the axis of the float 32, in an axial position such that it can be substantially at the same level as the liquid in which the float soaks.

 Thus the magnet 33 can serve as a reference and indicate the level of the liquid 11. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the three triggers 23, 24 and 25 are aligned in superposition, slightly offset from a plane tangent to the tube 30 , and are arranged in a vertical plane at regular intervals. Each of the triggers 23, 24 and 25 is provided with a horizontal needle respectively 26, 27 and 28, such a needle being mounted on a ball joint (not shown), an angular displacement of the needle controlling the triggering function.

 A rail 35 parallel to the axis of the tube 30, has a U-shaped cross section, and is provided with horizontal slots 36, which allow horizontal movement of the needles 26, 27 and 28 respectively while preventing any other form of movement of these needles.

 The rail 35, and in particular the horizontal slots 36 with which it is provided, serve as guides for the movement of the needles 26, 27 and 28.

 The rail 35 is arranged at right, and in the extension of a diameter of the tube 30, which is perpendicular to the spines 26, 27 and 28. Each of these needles is provided, between the branches of the rail at La 35, with a cylindrical sleeve, respectively 37, 38 and 39, such a sleeve comprising an outer wall made of magnetizable material, iron or steel for example.

 Preferably, the vertical position of the triggers 23, 24, 25, and thereby the needles> s, 27, 28, which extend them, correspond respectively to the three desirable levels, which will be determined respectively by maximum, normal and minimum, levels regarding liquid II in container 10.

 The constituent elements of an embodiment of the present invention having been the subject of the previous description, the operation will now be described.

 Initially, each container 10 is filled with liquid 11 until said liquid rises in the tube 30 and reaches a level considered to be acceptable as an average level.

 In this state of things, the bottle 14 is inflated to a medium pressure, chosen arbitrarily beforehand.

The state of the liquid level in the container is then considered to be that which is desirable.

 For reasons which have been explained above, the level of liquid in the container may vary.

 When the level drops, the float 32 is brought down, and the disc-shaped magnet 33 also descends until it passes in the same horizontal plane as the needle 38. The cylinder 39 is then attracted by the magnet 33 and subjects the needle 28 to an angular displacement which actuates the trigger 25. The trigger 25 is vented, which then opens the valve 21 by depression of the valve 42 upstream (FIG. 3). This has the effect of putting the lines 19, 16 and 13 into communication and therefore, the interior of the bottle 14, with the line 22, which is under pressure, being connected to the pressure source 40.

 This has the effect of increasing the pressure of the bottle 14 which expands, and thus compensates for the loss of level, causing the latter to rise.

 It should be noted that, in this phase of the operation, the valve 20 is, of course, closed, which means that there is no venting, and therefore no drop in pressure corresponding.

 As the liquid level 11 rises, the float 32 is also brought up and this until the magnet 33 arrives in the same horizontal plane as the needle 27.

 This, similarly to the operation of the trigger 25, actuates the trigger 24, which is vented. This causes a vacuum which sucks down the two valves 41 and 42 simultaneously.

 In this state of affairs, the two valves 20 and 21 are closed, and the space contained in the bottle 14, the lines 13, 16, 18 and 19, as well as the various fittings interposed therebetween, are completely isolated.

 The pressure is therefore kept constant, inside this part of the circuit and therefore in the bottle 14, the volume of which does not vary.

 When there is, for various reasons which have been presented previously, an increase in the level of the ZiCllliAP 11, this increases, of course, in the tube 30. This causes the float to rise also, until the disc 33 arrives in the horizontal plane of needle 26.

 As described above, the cylinder 37 is then attracted by the magnet 33, which establishes the release of the trigger 23, which triggers the opening of the valve 20, by vacuum upstream of the valve 41.

 This valve ventilates the pipe 18 and therefore, via the pipes 13 and 16 as well as the connecting elements 15 and 17, the interior space confined in the bottle 14. there is therefore a relaxation. pressure, which leads to a reduction in the volume of the bottle, which lowers the level of the liquid 11.

 As the level of the liquid 11 decreases, the float descends into the tube 30, until it reaches the plane of the needle 27 of the trigger 24, and, in a similar manner to that previously described, the trigger 24 closes the valve 20, then open, which brings about the isolation of the assembly constituted by the pipes 18, 19, 16, 13, as well as of the interior space of the bottle 14, and makes it possible to maintain the level of the liquid 11 at this value.

 Such a device therefore allows automatic regulation of the level of the liquid in the container 10.

 It is clear that, moreover, the level of liquid in each of the barrels can be adjusted automatically, all the pipes 19 and valves 21 being connected to a single pressure distribution circuit, due to the natural tendency of the levels. to become uniform by atmospheric pressure. This can advantageously be used for automatic level regulation, simultaneously, for a large number of containers stored together.

 In more detail, Figure 4 shows several wine tanks provided with a device according to the invention.

 More precisely, each of these tanks has a further 14, connected by a hose 16, which can advantageously be flexible, to a common pressure regulation circuit via the T 17.

 Such a circuit comprises, as described above, two pipes 18 and 19 intended to allow the regulation of the pressure.

 A device as described above, illustrated by Figures 1, 2 and 3, is installed on one of the tanks.

 In addition, each tank is provided, at its upper part, with a tube 30 forming an expansion vessel, provided with qq upper part with a bacteria filter 31.

 Advantageously, such a tube is transparent to allow viewing of the level in the tanks.

 In practice, it is possible to adjust the individual pressure in each of the bottles in order to keep the liquid at the same level from one tank to another by adjusting the pressure in only one of the bottles 14.

 Indeed, when bottles are connected to each other in several neighboring tanks, the actual level tends to balance from one tank to another, and to become identical in all the tanks.

 The pressure is distributed in the wineskins 14 naturally, under the effect of an equilibrium with atmospheric pressure.

 FIG. 5 represents a simplified embodiment of a device according to the invention comprising sealing means and a valve.

 Such an embodiment of the invention is intended to allow the level to be adjusted, preferably in a wine barrel.

 A wall 12 of the barrel 10, provided with an orifice, serves to support a duct 13 around which the opening of the skin 14 is threaded.

 The duct 13, in more detail, comprises a cylindrical sleeve 50 comprising two elements 50A and 50B, each provided with a radial projection 51 and 52 respectively, identical in diameter and each arranged at one end of the sleeve 50.

 A thread 53 is provided in axial projection of the element 50B and allows the latter to engage the element 50A which is provided with an additional internal thread.

 An elastic annular element 54 extends axially between the two projections 51 and 52, and has an outside diameter identical to theirs, while its inside diameter allows it to follow the outline of the elements 50A and 50B.

 The rotation of the element 50B with respect to the element 50A brings them closer to one another, and therefore also brings the projections 51 and 52 which axially compress the annular element 54.

 The latter therefore tends to increase in diameter and thus ensures the integrity between the wall 12 ′ of the barrel, the skin 14 and the conduit 13.

 A generally annular part 55, provided with a central clearance 56 is integral with the element 50B.

 Projecting outside the barrel, this part facilitates the rotation of the element 50B.

 This part 55 comprises a valve 57, installed coaxially thereto, connecting from the outside of the barrel and on the other hand the inside of the skin 14 by axially passing through the conduit 13.

 Such a valve 57, of a type known per se, for its use in other fields, for example of the kind used for inflating automobile tires, allows the addition of the skin as well as its deflation by connection to external inflation means, such as a simple pear for example. A suitable connection member 58 is arranged at the end of the valve projecting from the barrel 10.

 It may be preferable to extend the sleeve 10 by a so-called extension tube (not shown) intended to stiffen a portion of the skin in order to avoid pinching it.

 The barrel shown in Figure 6 also includes means for viewing the level at its upper part, means consisting of a tube 30 forming an expansion vessel, closed by a bacteria filter 31, and can be provided with a float 32 Such a tube is transparent, and it is easy to see the position of the float, which indicates the level of the liquid.

 The regulation of the levels of such barrels can be automatic or require manual intervention by an operator, as in the prior art.

 However, this intervention is considerably facilitated. In addition, it avoids having to use a racking, and therefore a waste of liquid in case of excess level.

 Similarly, in the event of a lack of level, the use of an external supply of liquid of the same kind is avoided.

 In the case of wine, the value of the liquid per quantity of volume being very often large, it is obviously very advantageous to avoid any waste, which allows the invention.

 In the particular case of so-called tasting barrels, it is also possible to adjust the level of wine, which is regularly racked.

 In order to maintain the traditional appearance of the drawing operation, which is desirable for commercial reasons, barrels intended for drawing off can be provided with a level control device according to the invention, without comprising display means. .

 The level is immediately visible during racking, which is done by a drain located at the top of the barrel, or by a tap located at the bottom.

 In this case, the advantage offered by a device according to the invention is that it makes it possible to avoid an external supply of wine.

 The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described, but also encompasses all variant embodiments which it is up to a person skilled in the art to determine.

Claims (11)

 1- Level adjustment device for liquid container, in particular for barrel or wine tank, characterized in that it comprises an extendable addition (14) made of impermeable material immersed in the liquid (11), said addition (14) being inflatable from the outside of the container.  2- level adjustment device for liquid container, according to claim 1, characterized in that the submerged addition (14) is connected to inflation means, means for controlling said inflation means being provided, as well as means for identifying the level.  3- level adjustment device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the inflation means of the addition (14) comprises a pressure source capable of injecting pressurized air into the addition (14 ).  4- level adjustment device according to one quelccnslle of the preceding claims, characterized in that the addition (14) is made of expandable food grade material.  5- level adjustment device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said control means comprise connector means capable of connecting or isolating pipes connecting the further 14, some with the atmosphere, d others with said means for inflating the skin, actuable by magnetic sensors 37, 38, 39 sensitive to the passage of a float (32) capable of moving vertically in a tube t30) as a function of the level of liquid (11 ) in the container (10).  6- level adjustment device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said connector means comprise triggers (23, 24, 25) capable of opening or closing valves (21) arranged in a circuit of compressed air connecting several bottles (14) to a pressure source, the pressure in each addition being determined by the action of at least two valves (20, 21), one for pressurization, the other for setting in the air, said triggers (23, 24, 25) being controlled by said magnetic sensors (37, 38, 39).  7- A method of automatic and simultaneous adjustment of the levels of several containers of liquids, characterized in that one implements a device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 and 5, having in each of the containers a further ( 14) and on top a transparent tube (30) serving as an expansion vessel and in that the bottles are connected to a common pressure circuit capable of maintaining a constant pressure in the circuit, said pressure circuit being provided valves controlling the pressurization or its release in the circuit, said valves being controlled by means of controlling the level of one of the containers.  8- container for liquid, in particular tank or wine barrel, characterized in that it comprises a level adjustment device according to claim 1 penetrating into the container through an orifice provided with a sealing means comprising means inflation and deflation (57), arranged concentrically with the sealing means, allowing the inflation and deflation of the addition (14).  9- container according to claim 8, characterized in that said sealing means comprises a cylindrical sleeve (50) provided at its periphery with an elastic annular seal (54), two radial projections (51, 52) arranged axially on one side and on the other side of the annular seal (54) and of the same external diameter as the latter at rest, and of the clamping means (53) tending to bring the two elements (50a, 50B) axially closer each supporting one of the projections (51, 52) thereby compressing said annular seal (54) in an axial direction, so as to expand it in a radial direction.  10- container according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that said inflation and deflation means comprise a valve (57) disposed concentrically with the sleeve, and means (58) for connecting, from the outside, an inflation member to said valve.  11- Container according to any one of claims 8, 9 and 10, characterized in that level display means comprising a transparent expansion tank (30), closed by a bacteria filter (31) at its upper part (32) is disposed at the top of said container.