Abstract:
In a facility requiring transfer of a beverage during production thereof, the improvement includes a coupling apparatus passing bulk beverage therethrough and a having an outlet and an inlet along with a magnetic field generator associated with the coupling apparatus and exposing the beverage to the magnetic field as the beverage passes through the coupling.

Description:
[0001]     The present invention is generally related to the industrial production of beverages and is more particularly directed to a magnetic coupling device, which provides an improvement in facilities requiring transfer of a beverage during the production thereof. Such beverages include wine, coffee, tea, fruit juices, vegetable juice, some beans, spirits, and chocolate.  
         [0002]     In the production of these beverages, polyphenol, including tannins, and flavonoids are produced, which are thereafter extracted in a number of different procedures including, for example, maturation in oak.  
         [0003]     The present apparatus is effective in reducing the bitterness and astringency caused by such treatment chemicals and the treatments for their removal.  
         [0004]     Typically, these chemicals cause bitterness in many beverages and chemical changes may be induced by a strong magnetic field particularly in the presence of oxygen so that the bitterness and astringency are reduced and the beverage or food substance becomes richer and more flavorful. It is theorized that the magnetic field acts upon the charged polyphenols to induce polymerization, particularly in the presence of oxygen. Inasmuch as these changes can take place very rapidly, only a brief exposure to a magnetic field and oxygen is required.  
         [0005]     Heretofore, a number of devices have been utilized to treat the end product beverage, more particularly bottled wine.  
         [0006]     The production of various beverages obviously is effected through various processing stations, which vary in sequence and number depending upon the beverage being produced.  
         [0007]     Even the type of wine necessitates a different sequence of processing stations. For example, high quality red wine grapes have a colorless juice and all of the red color is in the grape skins. Consequently, winemakers must leave the juice in contact with the skins for a period of time to extract the color.  
         [0008]     Thus, red wine is made by crushing the grapes and then fermenting the juice, the pulp, and the skins, and the seeds together for variable periods of time. After this period of skin contact, or maceration, a wine press is used to separate the liquid from the solid materials.  
         [0009]     On the other hand, white wine is made by a completely different process. First, the grapes are crushed and then usually pressed to immediately separate the juice from the solids. After pressing, the skins, stems, and seeds are discarded and the juice is cooled at a low temperature. The cold juice is then allowed to settle for several hours and the clear juice is decanted off the residue before it is fermented. White wine, therefore, is usually made by fermenting clarified juice. Sometimes, after crushing, the must is cooled and held in contact with the skins and seeds for a number of hours. The must is then pressed and fermentation begun.  
         [0010]     In addition, fining is a process whereby positive or negatively charged substances (clay, synthetic chemicals, proteins) are added to the wine in order to bind the oppositely charged compounds (tannins and proteins), which then precipitate out of the solution.  
         [0011]     Such fining materials are an expense in the wine making process. In addition, labor cost associated therewith increases the cost of the end product. Also, such fining processes can have negative impact upon the flavor of the wine.  
         [0012]     Further, process stations include optional “micro-oxidation” in which small bubbles of oxygen are slowly added to red wine tanks so as to cause polymerization of the tannins. Even though such “micro” oxidations involves small amounts of oxygen, wines so treated can suffer from “oxidation”. A process which could stimulate tannin polymerization, while requiring less oxygen exposure, could represent an improvement in the winemaking process. Alternatively, a process, such as magnetic exposure of the wine during “micro-oxidation”, could lead to greater efficacy of the process in reducing either astringency or greenness of the wine, or other polyphenol containing beverage.  
         [0013]     The present invention is directed to an improvement in facilities for the production of beverages, which may be utilized at any time a beverage is transferred from one process station to another.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0014]     In accordance with the present invention, in a facility requiring transfer of a beverage during production thereof, the present invention provides the improvement which includes coupling apparatus passing bulk beverage therethrough and having an outlet and inlet. Alternatively, apparatus in accordance with the present invention may be affixed to existing equipment, such as a “micro-oxidation” device for use during the maturation of the beverage.  
         [0015]     A magnetic field generator is associated with the coupling apparatus and exposes the beverage to the magnetic field as the beverage passes through coupling.  
         [0016]     In one embodiment of the present invention, the beverage is red wine and the transfer occurs between at least two production stations selected from a group of stations consisting of crushing, fermenting, processing, clarifying, stabilizing, aging, and bottling stations with the coupling apparatus being disposed between the two selected production stations. If more than two production stations are selected multiple coupling apparatus in accordance with the present invention may be employed.  
         [0017]     In another embodiment in which the facility produces a white wine and the transfer occurs between two production stations which are selected from a group consisting of crushing, pressing, settling, fermenting, clarifying, stabilizing, aging, and bottling, the coupling apparatus is disposed between the two selected production stations.  
         [0018]     In addition, the coupling apparatus may further include an air inlet for introducing oxygen to the beverage passing therethrough.  
         [0019]     In a facility utilizing a fining station with the fining station precipitating charge compounds, the coupling apparatus in accordance with the present invention may be beneficially disposed between the fining station and another station.  
         [0020]     In a facility utilizing an oxidation station, the coupling apparatus in accordance with the present invention may be beneficially disposed between the oxidation channel and another production station, or may be fitted to the oxidation infuser.  
         [0021]     In a facility in which the beverage produced is spirits, and the transfer occurs between at least two production stations selected from the group of stations consisting of storage, blending, and bottling stations, the coupling apparatus may be disposed between the two selected production stations. This would be of particular importance whereby wood barrels, wood staves, or wood chips were being utilized during the production process.  
         [0022]     In facilities in which production stations are produced coffee and tea and include a group of stations including extraction, clarification, settling and bottling stations, the coupling apparatus in accordance with the present invention may be disposed between any of the two selected production stations or for the treatment of ground coffee beans or tea leaves prior to the extraction by hot water.  
         [0023]     In a facility utilized for the production of fruit juice, with transfer occurring between at least two production stations selected from the group of stations consisting of squeezing settling, extraction, and bottling stations, the coupling apparatus in accordance with the present invention may be disposed between the two selected production stations.  
         [0024]     In a facility in which chocolate is produced and transfer occurs between at least two production stations selected from a group of stations consisting of extraction, refining, melting, pouring, bottling, and molding stations, the present invention may be disposed between the two selected production stations. Alternatively, cocoa powder may be treated prior to heating.  
         [0025]     In a facility in which the beverage is beer and transfer occurs between at least two production stations selected from a group of stations consisting of fermentation, blending, and bottling stations, the coupling apparatus in accordance with the present invention may be disposed between the two selected stations.  
         [0026]     In addition, in accordance with the present invention, the magnetic field generator may comprise permanent magnets.  
         [0027]     More particularly, a method in accordance with the present invention for improving the effectiveness of fining during the production of a wine includes adding fines to a wine to precipitate charged compounds, exposing the wine with added fines to a magnetic field, and thereafter filtering precipitated charged compounds.  
         [0028]     Still more particularly, in accordance with the present invention, a method includes enhancing the effectiveness of oxidation during the production of wine which includes adding oxygen to a wine to polymerize the tannins and thereafter applying a magnetic field to the wine. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0029]     The present invention may be more clearly appreciated when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0030]      FIG. 1  is a plan view of a linear coupling in accordance with the present invention generally showing coupling flanges, an inlet and outlet along with permanent magnets attached thereto;  
         [0031]      FIG. 2  is a plan view of another embodiment of a coupling in accordance with the present invention having a curvilinear shape and toroidal magnets disposed thereabout which may be permanent magnets or electromagnets;  
         [0032]      FIG. 3  illustrates a union of the coupling shown in  FIG. 1  or  2  with an outlet from a production stage;  
         [0033]      FIG. 4  is a plan view of a clamp facilitating the union between a coupling and the production station illustrated in  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0034]      FIG. 5  is a schematic drawing of a facility including production stations for the production of red wine in which the present invention may be used to advantage;  
         [0035]      FIG. 6  is a schematic drawing of a facility including production stations for the production of white wine in which the present advantage may be used to advantage;  
         [0036]      FIG. 7  is a schematic drawing of a fining station which may be utilized in a facility shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 ;  
         [0037]      FIG. 8  is a schematic diagram of an oxidation station which may be utilized in combination with the production facilities shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 ;  
         [0038]      FIG. 9  is a schematic diagram of a facility for the production of spirits;  
         [0039]      FIG. 10  is a schematic diagram of a facility for the production of coffee or tea;  
         [0040]      FIG. 11  is a schematic diagram of a facility for production of fruit juices;  
         [0041]      FIG. 12  is a schematic diagram of a facility including stations for the production of chocolate; and  
         [0042]      FIG. 13  is a schematic diagram of a facility including production stations for the production of beer. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0043]     With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , there is shown coupling apparatus  10 ,  14  suitable for use in facilities  20 ,  22 ,  24 ,  26 ,  28 ,  30 ,  32 ,  34 ,  36  respectively and diagramed in  FIGS. 5-13  as will be hereinafter discussed in greater detail.  
         [0044]     With reference again to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , as well as  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the coupling apparatus  10  includes an inlet  40  and an outlet  42  sized for enabling production quantities therethrough, as indicated by the arrows  44 ,  46 .  
         [0045]     Similarly, the coupling  14  includes an inlet  50  and an outlet  52  for enabling production quantities of beverage therethrough indicated by the arrows  54 ,  56 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the coupling  14  is curvilinear in shape as may be necessitated by or even by the various stations within the facilities  28 - 36 , as hereinabove noted.  
         [0046]     The couplings may be formed from any suitable material and may be rigid or flexible.  
         [0047]     The couplings  10 ,  14  include conventional flanges  60 ,  62  and  64 ,  66  respectively to enable union with, for example, an outlet  70  of a crushing station  72  by abutment of the flange  60  with an outlet flange  74  through the use of a conventional clamping device  78 , see also  FIG. 4 .  
         [0048]     The outlet  42  may be interconnected by way of the flange  62  through the input flange  80  of an inlet  82  of a fermenting stage  86  of a red wine making facility  20 , see  FIGS. 3 and 5 .  
         [0049]     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a magnetic field generator  86  may be associated with the coupling apparatus  10  for exposing the beverage passing therethrough to the magnetic field, preferably the magnetic generator, are permanent magnets with linear magnets being shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0050]     Alternatively, toroidal type magnets  90 ,  92 ,  94  may be utilized, as illustrated in  FIG. 2  in combination with the curvilinear coupling apparatus  14 .  
         [0051]     The size and strength of the magnets may be adjusted depending upon the coupling diameter and facility  20 - 36  in which the couplings  10 ,  14  may be utilized.  
         [0052]     In combination with the red wine production facility  20 , shown in  FIG. 5 , the couplings  10 ,  14  may be utilized for transfer of beverage between typical production stations including crushing  72 , fermenting  86 , processing  100 , clarifying  102 , stabilizing  104 , aging  106 , and bottling  108 . As hereinabove noted, the coupling  10 ,  12  may be utilized between one or more pairs of the stations  72 ,  86 ,  100 ,  102 ,  104 ,  106 ,  108 .  
         [0053]     For a white wine facility  22 , as shown in  FIG. 6 , the coupling  10 ,  14  may be utilized between any two stations including the crushing station  110 , pressing station  112 , settling station  114 , fermenting station  116 , clarifying station  118 , stabilizing station  120 , aging station  122 , and bottling station  124 .  
         [0054]     Other stations may be provided in any of the facilities  20 ,  36  and if utilized are to be considered within the scope of the present invention.  
         [0055]     For example, fining station  24  shown in  FIG. 7  or the oxidation station  26  shown in  FIG. 8  may be used in combination with the red wine facility and the white wine facility  22 .  
         [0056]     With reference to  FIG. 9 , there is illustrated a facility  28  for the production of spirits which include a storage station  126 , a blending station  128 , and a bottling station  130 , among others not shown, the coupling  10 ,  14  being utilized between any two stations as earlier illustrated in  FIG. 3 .  
         [0057]     With reference to  FIG. 10 , there is shown a coffee and tea producing facility  30  which includes an extraction station  132 , a clarification station  134 , a settling station  136 , and a bottling station  138 , and perhaps others not shown, the coupling  10 ,  14  being disposed between any two stations as earlier illustrated in  FIG. 3 .  
         [0058]      FIG. 11  illustrates a facility for the production of fruit juice and vegetable juice, which includes a squeezing station  140 , a settling station  142 , an extraction station  144 , and a bottling station  146 , the coupling  10 ,  14  being disposed between any two stations as earlier illustrated.  
         [0059]      FIG. 12  is a diagram of a chocolate production facility  34 , which may include an extraction station  148 , a refining station  150 , a melting station  152 , a pouring station  154 , a bottling station  156 , and a cooling station  158 , the coupling  10 ,  14  being disposed between any two stations as earlier illustrated in  FIG. 3 .  
         [0060]     A beer production facility  36  is illustrated in  FIG. 13 , which may include a fermentation station  160 , a blending station  162 , and a bottling station  164  among others not shown but considered to be within the scope of the present invention, the coupling  10 ,  14  being disposed between any two stations as earlier illustrated in  FIG. 3 .  
         [0061]     Although there has been hereinabove described a specific magnetic industrial device in accordance with the present invention for the purpose of illustrating the manner in which the invention may be used to advantage, it should be appreciated that the invention is not limited thereto. That is, the present invention may suitably comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of the recited elements. Further, the invention illustratively disclosed herein suitably may be practiced in the absence of any element which is not specifically disclosed herein. Accordingly, any and all modifications, variations or equivalent arrangements which may occur to those skilled in the art, should be considered to be within the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.