Patent Publication Number: US-2018036691-A1

Title: Device for aerating wine

Description:
The present invention relates to a device for aerating or oxygenating wine. 
     Adding controlled amounts of oxygen to wine (also known as aerating the wine) is known to improve its taste. Typically, wine is aerated before use via a decanter or carafe. In a recent development wine can also be aerated using a venturi type system whereby the wine is poured from the bottle into an intermediary vessel above the wine glass, and the wine then aerated via the venturi effect as it passes from the intermediary vessel to the wine glass. Both of these aerating methods however are limited in terms of the rate of which air can be introduced into the wine. 
     It is also known to aerate wine using pressurized gas containing oxygen, e.g. pressurized air. A container containing pressurized gas is particularly provided as a gas cylinder. Herein, the gas from the gas cylinder is diffused into the wine in a controlled manner via a diffusion member, typically provided as a lance member. 
     Depending on the type of wine to be aerated, different amounts of oxygen are preferably diffused. For example, more complex red wines will usually require greater amounts of oxygen than some white wines. Therefore, it is an advantageous feature of wine aerating devices to be provided with means for controlled dosage of predeterminable amounts of oxygen. 
     The invention attempts to facilitate the handling of wine aerating devices in connection with dosage of oxygen. 
     This object is achieved with a wine aerating device according to claim  1   
     The wine aerating device according to the invention comprises a body member, adapted to hold a container containing pressurized gas and a diffusion member for diffusing pressurized gas into a wine to be aerated, the body member being provided with a passage for passing a flow of pressurized gas from the container to the diffusion member, and a control mechanism for providing a flow of pressurized gas from the body member to the diffusion member over a manually settable length of time. 
     The control mechanism comprises a valve, the valve being adapted to be manually opened and/or closed by rotary movement of a collar provided on the body member. 
     Manual actuation of a valve of a control mechanism allowing flow of pressurized gas into the wine to be aerated by means of a rotary movement of a collar ensures easy handling. Furthermore, by such rotary movement, the valve can easily be opened or closed, providing a reliable and robust means for dosage of oxygen. 
     Preferably, there is provided a spring mechanism providing a biasing force acting on the collar. By means of such a biasing force, it can be ensured that the valve, having been manually opened by rotary movement of the collar, is automatically urged back into its closed position after termination of manual actuation. 
     According to a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, the valve defines a closed position, preventing flow of pressurized gas, and an open position, allowing flow of pressurized gas, the valve being adapted for manual actuation of the collar to move it from the closed into the open position, and after termination of manual actuation for the spring mechanism acting on the collar to urge the valve back into its closed position. By means of such a spring, the time required for the valve to return from an open position to the closed position can be predetermined, thus providing an effective means of dosage of oxygen. 
     According to a preferred embodiment, there is provided an inlet channel and an outlet channel within the body member, the valve being provided between the inlet channel and the outlet channel, the valve comprising an eccentric groove provided in the rotary collar, manual actuation of the collar rotating the eccentric groove such that it provides a communication between the inlet channel and the outlet channel, allowing flow of pressurized gas from the inlet channel to the outlet channel. After termination of the manual actuation, the spring urges the groove back into a rotary position corresponding to the closed position of the valve, in which flow of pressurized gas is prevented. 
     The provision of such an eccentric groove in combination with a spring biased rotary collar provides a robust and reliable dosage means, as the duration of time before the valve moves from an open position back into the closed position can easily be set by a corresponding amount of rotary movement of the collar. For example, if the collar is manually rotated by 180°, the valve can be in its open position for about twice as long compared to a rotary movement by 90°. Also, such an eccentric groove allows continuous setting of a desired duration of time, during which the valve shall remain in its open position. 
     According to another preferred embodiment the valve is not rotatable with rotary collar. Instead, it has an axial movement perpendicular to the axis of the body member to open or close the communication between the gas inlet channel and outlet channel. The axis of the body member is the axis of rotation which has preferably a direction from gas inlet to gas outlet. Preferably, the valve is positioned perpendicular to the axis of the body member. The valve comprises a shaft having a first end and a second end. The first end is connected to a spring which provides a biasing force towards the second end of the shaft to the rotary collar. The second end of the shaft is pressed radially on the rotary collar by the biasing force of the spring. The first end has preferably a larger cross-section than the second end of the shaft. 
     The valve is preferably provided with a chamber which provides a communication between the gas inlet and the gas outlet. The spring and at least the first end of the shaft are positioned in the chamber. The pressurized gas flows into the chamber through the gas inlet channel and flows subsequently from the chamber to the gas outlet channel over the valve. The chamber has larger cross-section on the side of first end of the shaft than it of the second end of the shaft. At least one first gasket is provided between the chamber and shaft, preferably at the narrowing of the cross-section of the chamber to close or open the communication between the gas outlet and the chamber by being compressed or decompressed. By controlling the compression of the first gasket the pressurized gas can be released in a controllable manner. The first gasket is preferably formed as an O-ring located in a groove of the shaft. 
     According to a preferred embodiment a recess is provided on the rotary collar. As described above the second end of the shaft is pressed radially on the collar. The collar rotates by the manual actuation while the shaft stays fixed, thus a circumference orbit of the second end of the shaft is formed on the collar. The recess is positioned in this orbit of the collar and is sized at least so large that the second end of the shaft can be fitted into it. Once the collar is automatically urged back into the closed position which means the collar rotates to the position at which the second end of the shaft is pressed into the recess of the collar by the force of the spring connected to the first end of the shaft, the first gasket between chamber and shaft is compressed by the geometry of the narrowing of the chamber to close the communication between gas inlet and outlet. The recess is preferably formed by a curved surface so that the second end of the shaft can be easily removed out of the recess by the manually actuation. 
     Advantageously, the shaft is cone-like shaped and is arranged perpendicular to the axis of the body member. The cross-section of the shaft gets smaller in direction from the first end to the second end of the shaft. 
     Preferably, at least one second gasket is provided between the shaft and the chamber. Unlike the first gasket the second gasket is not located between the gas outlet and the gas inlet channel and thus does not have the function to open or close the communication between the gas inlet and outlet. The second gasket is always gas-tight to ensure that the pressurized gas flow only to the gas outlet channel but not through the gap between the shaft and the chamber to outside. The second gasket is preferably formed as an O-ring located in a groove of the shaft. 
     According to the preferred embodiment the open position is reached by the manual rotary actuation which pushes the shaft radially in direction of the spring to open the communication between gas inlet and outlet by having the first gasket uncompressed. Due to the spring mechanism the collar is automatically urged back to the original position which is also the closed position. During the returning process the first gasket remains uncompressed for a certain period of time which depends on how far the collar is rotated. The closed position is reached when the collar is urged back to the position at which the second end of the shaft falls into the recess. The first gasket then reaches the narrowing of chamber and is thereby compressed at the narrowing of the chamber to close the communication between gas inlet and outlet. 
     Advantageously, the device is provided with a damping mechanism. Such a damping mechanism can, for example, be provided as a rotary damper, utilizing voids filled with viscous fluid, for example silicone oil. 
     Such a damping mechanism counteracts the biasing force of the spring thus providing a slow adjustable linear reaction. Depending on the biasing force exerted by the spring and the damping force exerted by the damping mechanism, various ranges, within which opening durations of the valve can be set, can be provided. 
     Advantageously, the damping mechanism is provided with a toothed gear, which engages with a corresponding toothed gear of the rotary collar. Hereby, a direct and thus mechanically reliable connection between the rotary movement of the collar and the damping mechanism is provided. 
     Advantageously, the device according to the invention is provided with a gauge mechanism. Such a gauge mechanism allows easy setting and reading of a measure of rotation or movement of the collar. Advantageously, such a gauge mechanism can be provided with a scale indicating time durations, during which the valve will remain in its open position, and/or corresponding amounts of oxygen flowing through the valve. Preferably the maximum time duration which could be set by the manual actuation is 600 seconds, preferably 300 seconds, more preferably 150 seconds. Preferably the angle from the closed position to the furthest open position is not more than 360°, more preferably not more than 330°. 
     Advantageously, the device is portable and able to release a pressurized gas having a pressure of 20 bars to 300 bars, preferably of 150 bars to 200 bars with a flowrate of 50 ml/min to 200 ml/min 
     Preferably, the device can supply between 3-10 mg O 2 /l wine with a flow rate of 100 ml/min in a period of 30 seconds to 120 seconds, preferable a period of 80 seconds to 120 seconds. 
    
    
     
       The invention will now be further described with reference to the following figures, in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a plan view of a preferred embodiment of an aerator device according to the invention, 
         FIG. 2  shows a plan view of a preferred embodiment of a body member of an aerator device according to the invention, 
         FIG. 3  shows a sectional view of the body member of  FIG. 2 , along cutting plane line A-A of  FIG. 2 , 
         FIG. 4  shows an enlarged view of section C of  FIG. 3 , showing the valve in a closed position, 
         FIG. 5  shows section C of  FIG. 2  in an open position of the valve, 
         FIG. 6  shows a sectional view along cutting plane line B-B of  FIG. 3 , 
         FIG. 7  shows an enlarged view of a damping mechanism used in connection with the present invention, and 
         FIG. 8  shows a sectional view along cutting plane line A-A of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9  shows a sectional view of a preferred embodiment of a body member of an aerator device according to the invention in which a valve is present in an open position. 
         FIG. 10  shows a sectional view of the preferred embodiment of  FIG. 9  having the valve in a closed position 
         FIG. 11  shows a top view of the preferred embodiment of  FIG. 9   
         FIG. 12  shows a top view of the preferred embodiment of  FIG. 10   
     
    
    
     The aerating device shown in the figures comprises a body member  10  adapted to hold a gas cylinder  12  and a diffusion member  14 . In the embodiment shown, the diffusion member  14  is provided as a diffusion lance comprising a tube  17 , which connects to body member  10 , and a diffuser body  18 . 
     The lance is arranged downstream of the body member  10 . Here and in the following, the term “downstream” shall mean towards the diffusion member end of the gas path, and the term “upstream” towards the cylinder or handle end of the gas path. 
     The body number  10  comprises a core part  18 , a collar  20 , which is manually rotatable about the core part  18 , and an interface  11  (see especially  FIG. 3 ). 
     In use, the device is arranged to engage with the neck of a wine bottle, which e.g. has a fluid content of 75cl (not shown), via the interface  11 . 
     The interface  11  also connects the body member  10  to diffusion member  14 . The interface  11  forms a conical shape, which is dimensioned to fit inside or on the neck of a wine bottle. 
     The core part  18  is provided in a rotationally fixed manner with respect to interface  11 . The collar  20  is rotatable relative to core part  18  and interface  11  about a longitudinal axis X indicated in  FIG. 2 . The collar  20  is part of a control mechanism  23  for providing a flow of pressurized gas (received from gas cylinder  12 ) from the body member  10  to diffusion member  14 , which will now be further explained with reference to  FIGS. 2 to 7 . 
       FIG. 2  shows a preferred embodiment of a body member  10 , which can be used in connection with the aerating device of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 3  shows a sectional view along line A-A of  FIG. 2 .  FIGS. 4 and 5  show section C of  FIG. 3  in an enlarged view.  FIG. 6  shows a sectional view along line B-B of  FIG. 3 .  FIGS. 7 and 8  show further details relating to a damper mechanism and a gauge member, which will be further explained below. 
     The body member  10  is provided with an inlet channel  102  within core part  18  communicating with gas cylinder  12 , and with an outlet channel  104  within interface  11 , communicating with diffusion member  14 , Between inlet channel  102  and outlet channel  104 , there is provided a valve, generally designated  24 , which is also part of the control mechanism  23 . The valve  24  is provided in section C of the body member, which is shown in greater detail in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . 
     Inlet channel  102  is provided with an inlet branch-off  103 , which is in communication with an eccentric groove  120  formed on the inside of collar  20  (see  FIGS. 4 and 5 ). Eccentric groove  120  communicates with an annular gap  121  provided between core part  18  and collar  20 . Annular gap  121  communicates with a branch-off  105  of outlet  104 . 
     In the positions shown in  FIG. 4 , any flow of pressurized gas from inlet  102  to outlet  104  is prevented by an O-ring  122  provided in eccentric grove  120 , which is in a state of compression due to the dimensioning of eccentric groove  120 . As can be seen in  FIG. 4 , the width of eccentric groove  120  is somewhat larger in the region diametrally opposed to the branching-off channels  103 ,  105 . 
     By rotating collar  20  about core part  18  (i.e. axis X), the section of eccentric groove  120  with greater width can be brought into alignment with branching-off channel  103 . This situation is depicted in  FIG. 5 . It can be seen that O-ring  122  is no longer compressed and can be displaced in case of pressurized air impinging on it through inlet  102  and branching-off channel  103 . Thus, in the situation depicted in  FIG. 5 , pressurized air from inlet  102  can pass through branching-off channel  103 , eccentric groove  120 , annular gap  121 , branching-off channel  105  and into outlet  104 , and thus into diffusor member  14 . 
     In order to ensure a stable rotary movement of collar  20  relative to body member  10  and to provide a seal within annular gap  121 , further O-rings  130 ,  132  can be provided. 
     In principal, the collar  20  can be manually held in the position shown in  FIG. 5  as long as a user wishes, and then be manually rotated back into the position shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     However, it is preferable to make use of a spring mechanism  140  provided between core part  18  and collar  20 , which urges the collar back from the open valve position shown in  FIG. 5  to the closed valve position shown in  FIG. 4 . By means of this spring mechanism acting on rotary collar  20  to provide a biasing force, and urging it back into the valve closed position, a duration of time, during which the valve  23  shall be in its open position, can easily be set depending on the extent of rotary displacement of the collar  20 . 
     In order to achieve greater flexibility in connection with setting specific time durations, during which the valve remains open a damper mechanism  30  is provided, which will be explained in the following. By means of such a damper mechanism the range of time, over which the valve can remain in its open state, can be significantly extended and/or more exactly set. 
     The damper mechanism  30  comprises a non-rotary central member  30   a,  and a rotary member  30   b,  rotatable about non-rotatable member  30   a  (see  FIG. 7 ). On its outside, rotary member  30   b  is provided with a toothed gear  31  (see  FIG. 7 ). Toothed gear  31  engages a toothed gear  21  provided on rotary collar  20  (see  FIG. 3 ). On its inside, rotatable member  30   b  is provided with damper vanes  34 , with corresponding voids  36  therebetween. 
     Non-rotatable member  30   a  is provided in a toothed manner, with teeth  30   b  and corresponding voids  30   c  therebetween. Voids  36  and voids  30   c  are filled with a viscous fluid, for example silicone oil. 
     In case of collar  20  being manually actuated (rotated), a corresponding rotary movement of rotary member  30   b  is effected via the interaction between toothed gears  21 ,  31 . After termination of manual actuation, the interaction between damper vanes  34  and the viscous fluid provided in voids  30   c,    36  counteracts the biasing force of spring  140 , thus slowing down movement of the rotary collar  20  and thus valve  23  back into its closed position. 
     The axis of rotation of toothed gear  21  and thus rotary member  30   a  (designated Y in  FIGS. 2 and 7 ) is vertical to the axis of rotation X of toothed gear  21  provided on the rotary collar  20 . 
     Preferably, the damping action is provided to be directionally unilateral, e.g. by providing a (not shown) ratchet mechanism. 
     Preferably a gauge  40  is provided on the face of the damping mechanism (see  FIGS. 2 and 7 ), which is visible to a user. By using such a gauge provided with an expediently chosen scale (e.g. time scale), a desired duration during which the valve remains open can easily be set. The calibrated scale may also be provided around the manual actuating collar. 
       FIG. 9  shows another preferred embodiment of a body member of the device according to the invention. The body member  10  comprises a gas inlet channel  102 , a gas outlet channel  104  and a collar  20  which is manually rotatable. Between the gas inlet channel  102  and the gas outlet channel  104  a valve  24  is provided, which is part of the control mechanism  23 . 
     The valve  24  comprises a shaft  28 , a chamber  27  and a spring  26 , The shaft  28  is cone-like formed and is positioned perpendicular to the axis of the body member  10 . It has a first end  28   a  and a second end  28   b  wherein the first end  28   a  is engaged with a spring  26  and the second end  28   b  is pressed on the collar  20  by the biasing force of spring  26 . The chamber  27  is sized to accommodate the spring  26  and the shaft  28   a  and it has a larger cross-section in direction of the first end  28   a  than it in direction of the second end of the shaft  28   b.  A sharp narrowing of the chamber is thereby formed as shown in the figure. 
     Inlet channel  102  is provided with an inlet branch-off  103 , which is in communication with the chamber  27  and the chamber  27  communicates with an outlet branch-off  105  of outlet channel  104 . The chamber  27  enables thereby a communication between the gas inlet and the gas outlet. 
     At least one first gasket  133  is provided between the chamber  27  and the shaft  28  which is located between the inlet branch-off  103  and the outlet branch-off  105  to open or close the communication between gas inlet and outlet. The first gasket  133  is formed as an O-ring siting in a groove of the shaft  28 . 
     At least one second gasket  134  is provided between the chamber  27  and the shaft  28 . Unlike the first gasket  133  the second gasket  134  is not located between the gas inlet and outlet channel. Therefore it does not have the function to open or close the communication between the gas inlet and outlet. The second gasket  134  act always gastight to prevent the gas flowing through the gap between the chamber  27  and the shaft  28  to outside. The second gasket  134  is formed as an O-ring siting in a groove of the shaft  28 . 
     The valve  24  shown in the figure is in an open position. As can be seen the first gasket  133  is uncompressed which enable the pressurized gas flow from the gas inlet channel  102  through the chamber  27  and outlet branch-off  105  to the gas outlet channel  104 . In the open position of the valve  24  the spring  26  stays compressed by the shaft  28  which makes the first gasket  133  not be compressed to allow the pressurized gas flow therethrough. This open position is achieved by rotating the collar  20  manually against the spring mechanism to keep the shaft  28  pressing on the spring  26 . The first gasket  133  remains uncompressed as long as the spring  26  keeps compressed by the shaft  28 . 
       FIG. 10  shows the valve in a closed position. Due to the spring mechanism  140  the rotated collar  20  is automatically urged back to the original position which is also the closed position. In this position the shaft  28  is pushed into a recess  25  in the collar  20  by the force of the compressed spring  26  which compresses the first gasket  133  at the narrowing of the chamber  27 . The first gasket  133  is compressed by the spring  26  and the geometry of the narrowing of chamber  27  to prevent the pressurized gas flowing from the chamber  27  to the outlet branch-off  105 . The recess  25  is preferably formed with curved surface so the shaft  28  can be easily removed out of the recess  25  to open the valve by manually actuation on the collar  20 . 
       FIG. 11  shows a top view of the body member in  FIG. 9  in which the valve  24  is in the open position. As can be seen the first gasket  133  is uncompressed to allow the gas flow through. The collar  20  is provided with a gear  2 . The non-rotatable core part of body member comprises one or several gears  31  which have a function of transmission to transfer the rotation of the collar  20  to a faster rotation at the end of the transmission. A rotary damping mechanism  32  is provided at the end of the transmission which provides a counterforce to the biased spring mechanism to secure a slow and stable rotation of the collar  20  back to the closed position by its damper function. 
       FIG. 12  shows a top view of the body member in  FIG. 10  in which the valve  24  is in the closed position. The valve  24  falls into the recess  25  by the spring  26  which compresses the first gasket  133  at the narrowing of the chamber  27  as to close the communication between the chamber  27  and the gas outlet(not shown here) to prevent the pressurized gas flowing out.