Patent Description:
Winemaking is the biochemical process of converting grapes into wine and its maturing.

The skin of the grapes retains some yeasts that convert the sugar contained in the grapes to alcohol: this process is called alcoholic fermentation.

Polyphenols, contained in the skins and in the seeds, are obtained during the maceration which is performed in the initial step of the fermentation of the must.

The maceration enables the extraction of flavonoids and other substances, depending on the temperature and on the duration of contact with the skins; if the maceration is brief (less than <NUM> hours) it usually produces rosé wines, while a maceration lasting three to five days generally produces new wines to be drunk immediately; lastly, a long maceration, of from seven to twenty-one days, usually produces wine for a long aging.

The vats used for winemaking, and in particular for fermentation and/or for aging, are commonly made of wood, concrete, steel or fiberglass reinforced plastic.

Wood barrels are generally used for aging because they give aromas to the wine and they allow the micro-oxygenation of the wine. They are rather expensive, they require complex maintenance and they present a certain difficulty in cooling.

Vats or tanks made of concrete are very cheap and have various different shapes which allow to optimize the space in the wine cellar; they are porous to oxygen and therefore they can ensure the micro-oxygenation of the wine.

Against this, concrete, in contact with the wine, can release calcium ions, and this can result in the formation of calcium bitartrate crystals. In order to prevent this, the inner surface of concrete tanks is sometimes either tiled or coated with a layer of paint. Cleaning concrete tanks is not particularly straightforward and it is not easy to ensure efficacious cooling.

Furthermore, it is not possible to certify concrete for contact with foods.

Vats made of steel are very light, easy to maintain and are adapted for heat exchange. They are however extremely lacking in terms of oxygenation.

Similar problems are found in vats made of fiberglass reinforced plastic, a material that is essentially constituted by polyester reinforced with glass fibers.

<CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT> describe winemaking systems.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a vat for winemaking plants which is capable of improving the known art in one or more of the above mentioned aspects.

Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a vat for winemaking plants that ensures great lightness, ease of cleaning, high capacity for heat exchange, oxygenation, and an absolute guarantee of full compatibility for contact with food products.

Another object of the invention is to provide a vat for winemaking plants that is highly reliable, easy to implement and at low cost.

This aim and these and other objects which will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a vat for winemaking plants according to claim <NUM>, optionally provided with one or more of the characteristics of the dependent claims.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the description of some preferred, but not exclusive, embodiments of the vat for winemaking plants according to the invention, which are illustrated for the purposes of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings wherein:.

With reference to the figures, the vat for winemaking plants according to the invention, generally designated by the reference numeral <NUM>, comprises a lateral surface <NUM>, a bottom <NUM> and an upper closure element <NUM>.

According to the present invention, the lateral surface <NUM> defines an active portion 2a, at least equal to <NUM>% of the lateral surface <NUM> and, preferably, at least equal to <NUM>% of the lateral surface <NUM>.

Conveniently, the active portion 2a is at least equal to <NUM>% of the lateral surface <NUM>.

In particular, the active portion 2a is made of ceramic and/or refractory material.

The bottom <NUM> and/or the upper closure element <NUM> can have a portion made of ceramic and/or refractory material.

Conveniently, such ceramic and/or refractory material comprises porcelain stoneware.

In particular, the active portion 2a is made of plates of ceramic and/or refractory material <NUM>.

Conveniently, the plates of ceramic and/or refractory material <NUM> have a substantially flat shape or a curved shape.

According to the present invention, the active portion 2a is associated stably, at its outward-facing surface, with a supporting structure <NUM>.

The supporting structure <NUM> defines, in particular, a load-bearing structure for the respective plate of ceramic and/or refractory material.

Advantageously, the supporting structure <NUM> is made of metallic material, for example stainless steel adapted for use in the food sector.

The supporting structure <NUM> is furthermore associated with at least one channeling surface <NUM> which faces a portion of the external surface of the respective plate in order to define at least one oxygenation channel <NUM>.

Conveniently, the channeling surface <NUM> is integrated in the supporting structure <NUM>.

The oxygenation channel or channels <NUM> are functionally associated with a device for forced introduction of air and/or oxygen which is adapted to allow the regulation, and optionally the interruption, of the flow of air and/or of oxygen through the oxygenation channel or channels <NUM>.

The vat <NUM> is associated with a conditioning device, which is adapted to regulate the temperature of the liquid placed inside the vat <NUM>.

The oxygenation channels <NUM> are functionally associated with a device for the forced introduction of air and/or oxygen.

Such device for forced introduction is further functionally associated with the conditioning device.

In particular, the vat <NUM> may comprise sensor means for detecting the temperature of the liquid contained in the vat <NUM>.

The vat <NUM> is further associated with a control and command device, which is functionally connected to the sensor means and is adapted to actuate the device for forced introduction and the conditioning device.

It has in fact been found that the optimization of the micro-oxygenation process depends on the temperature of the liquid and, as a consequence, by virtue of the control device connected to the sensor means, it is possible to intervene on the conditioning device in order to bring the liquid contained inside the vat <NUM> to the optimal temperature for micro-oxygenation.

The conditioning device can comprise a heat exchanger which has a heat exchange surface in contact with the liquid placed inside the vat <NUM>.

Such heat exchanger can be arranged at the lateral surface of the vats (for example between contiguous plates of ceramic material), or at the bottom or at the closure element.

The supporting structure <NUM> can likewise be associated with at least one heat exchange surface <NUM> in contact with respective heat exchange portions defined on the external surface of the plates of ceramic and/or refractory material.

Specifically, the heat exchange surface or surfaces <NUM> is/are integrated in the supporting structure.

The heat exchange surface <NUM> or the heat exchanger can be defined by a respective heat exchange element, preferably having a tubular shape, which is associated with a device for introducing and for controlling a conditioning fluid.

According to a preferred practical embodiment, adhesive fixing means are envisaged between the supporting structure <NUM> and the outward-directed surface of the plates of ceramic and/or refractory material <NUM>.

By way of example, the adhesive means comprise a glue.

With reference to the embodiment shown in <FIG>, the adhesive is interposed between the heat exchange surfaces <NUM> and the heat exchange portions.

Conveniently, the supporting structure <NUM> has an undulating shape which defines, in an alternating manner with respect to a transverse plane, the heat exchange surfaces <NUM> and the channeling surfaces <NUM>.

The active surface 2a is provided with a plurality of plates of ceramic and/or refractory material in order to provide a substantially polygonal structure (for example hexagonal or octagonal).

The supporting structure <NUM> defines angular connecting elements <NUM> which are intended to be arranged outside the areas of angular connection between contiguous plates of ceramic and/or refractory material <NUM>.

The angular elements can comprise a portion of a cylindrical shell <NUM> which is arranged externally to the supporting structure <NUM> or is integrated with it.

Conveniently, the lateral surface <NUM> is provided with an outlet.

Preferably, the radius of curvature of the plate, if it is curved in shape, is comprised between <NUM> and <NUM>.

Conveniently, the plates have a thickness comprised between <NUM> and <NUM>, and more preferably comprised between <NUM> and <NUM>.

Conveniently, the plates have a porosity of less than <NUM>%.

Conveniently, the porcelain stoneware used has a density comprised between <NUM>/dm<NUM> and <NUM>/dm<NUM>.

With reference to the embodiment shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, it is possible for the vat for winemaking plants <NUM> to define a lateral surface <NUM>, a bottom <NUM> and an upper closure element <NUM>.

The lateral surface <NUM> defines an active portion 2a, at least equal to <NUM>%, and preferably at least equal to <NUM>%, of the lateral surface <NUM>.

Conveniently, the active portion 2a is at least equal to <NUM>% of the lateral surface <NUM> and is made of stoneware.

In particular, the active portion 2a is made of plates of stoneware <NUM>.

Conveniently, the plates of stoneware <NUM> have a substantially flat shape or a curved shape.

The supporting structure <NUM> defines, in particular, a load-bearing structure for the respective plate of stoneware which comprises, in the specific case, a plurality of vertical posts 11a, which are optionally connected by way of horizontal crossmembers 11b.

In such embodiment as well, the vat <NUM> is associated with a conditioning device, which is adapted to regulate the temperature of the liquid placed inside the vat <NUM>.

The supporting structure <NUM> is further associated with at least one heat exchange surface <NUM> in contact with respective heat exchange portions defined on the external surface of the plates of ceramic and/or refractory material.

The heat exchange surface <NUM> is defined by a respective heat exchange element, preferably having a tubular shape, which is associated with a device for introducing and for controlling a conditioning fluid.

With reference to the embodiment shown in the figures, the adhesive is interposed between the heat exchange surfaces <NUM> and the heat exchange portions.

Use of the vat <NUM> for winemaking plants, according to the invention, is evident from the foregoing description.

In practice it has been found that the invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects by providing a vat that has high characteristics of heat exchange, is capable of ensuring a correct oxygenation, and is certifiable for contact with foods.

Providing the active portion 2a in plates allows in fact to control the porosity in a precise manner.

In practice the materials employed, provided they are compatible with the specific use, and the contingent dimensions and shapes, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art.

Claim 1:
A vat (<NUM>) for winemaking plants, which comprises a lateral surface (<NUM>), a bottom (<NUM>) and an upper closure element (<NUM>),wherein said lateral surface (<NUM>) defines an active portion (2a), at least equal to <NUM>% of the surface, which is made of plates of ceramic and/or refractory material (<NUM>) and is associated stably, at its outward-directed surface, with a supporting structure (<NUM>) which is associated with at least one channeling surface (<NUM>) which faces a portion of the external surface of the respective plate in order to define at least one oxygenation channel (<NUM>),
characterized in that said vat (<NUM>) is associated with a conditioning device which is adapted to control the temperature of the liquid placed inside said vat (<NUM>), and
in that said at least one oxygenation channel (<NUM>) is functionally associated with a device for the forced introduction of air and/or oxygen which is adapted to allow the regulation of the flow of air and/or of oxygen through said at least one oxygenation channel (<NUM>), said device for forced introduction being functionally associated with said conditioning device.