SELF-STANDING THERMALLY INSULATED TANK FOR PRESERVATION OF WINE AND OTHER LIQUID FOODSTUFFS AND PROCESS OF REMODELLING A NON-INSULATED TANK FOR PRESERVATION OF WINE AND OTHER LIQUID FOODSTUFFS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the equipment used in the process of production and preservation of wine and other liquid foodstuffs that require preservation under certain stabile temperature conditions, more precisely it refers to thermally insulated tanks for preservation of wine and other liquid foodstuffs.

TECHNICAL PROBLEM

The usage of stainless steel wine containers and tanks for wine preservation is well known in the fields of wine cellaring and wine production. To produce particular quality and predicate types of wine, quality repeatability and elimination of the external environmental impacts on the process of preservation, storage, or production of wine thermally insulated tanks for preservation of wine have emerged in the market so that neither the room temperature in which the tank for wine preservation is placed nor the temperature variations influence the wine temperature inside the stainless steel container.

Thermally insulated tanks are generally designed in a way in which the inner tank that holds liquid is plated with a layer of thermally insulating material and covered with a stainless steel mantle. The inventor has noticed a problem with the impossibility of a periodic inspection of the outer wall of the inner tank, but also how to enable the reparation of the inner tank in case of leakage. Since the outer stainless steel mantle is fixedly attached to the tank, it is, namely, not possible to access the damaged spot of the inner tank on existing tanks without cutting it, i.e. the spot that requires repair and remediation.

A further technical problem is the question of thermal insulation of existing noninsulated tanks for wine and liquid foodstuffs because the tanks are already located in certain rooms (cellars) and is, therefore, extremely difficult to handle large sheet pieces, i.e., to install thermal insulation on existing tanks.

The inventor has come up with a system of segmented installation of thermal insulation so that all the preparation, elaboration, and production of parts is carried out at a plant, whereas the installation takes place at the location of the tank, which excludes any kind of handling or movement of the tank.

PRIOR ART

Self-standing thermally insulated stainless steel tanks exist in the market. Such tanks do not have segmented thermal insulation, but generally, it is a stainless steel tank covered with two mantles, one from the inside where the wine or other liquid foodstuff is preserved and one on the outside that functions as protection and enables easy maintenance of the tank surface cleanliness. The space between the inner and the outer tank is usually filled with polyurethane foam which has proven to be the best for these purposes.

After the prior art search the inventor hasn't encountered, nor was he familiar with the existence of a solution based on the segmented thermal insulation that also forms the wall of the outer tank.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The self-standing thermally insulated tank for preservation of wine and other liquid foodstuffs is shown in figure 1. Its appearance is essentially no different from a noninsulated stainless steel tank. Basically, like any self-standing tank, it contains three or four legs on which such a tank stands. Wine or liquid foodstuff is stored in the inner tank which is in the shape of a cylinder constituted by a mantle, a cap on the upper side, and a bottom on the lower side of that cylinder. Thermal insulation of this tank is solved through segments, namely the front insulation segment, which has an installed thermal insulation throughout the volume. The front insulation segment is fixedly attached to the inner tank. Other insulation segments are mobile and also contain thermal insulation throughout their entire volume, and these segments are shape-adjusted so that they can be placed against the mantle portion, the cap portion on the upper side, and the bottom portion on the lower side and they follow their contours. When all insulation segments are placed on the inner tank, one unit is obtained that completely thermally insulates the inner tank from the environment. The basic thing about the embodiment of each insulation segment is that there is a stainless steel sheet on the outside (towards the environment) and that a persistent antibacterial agent is applied on the inner side of this sheet to which polyurethane foam is applied (usually in a mould).

The front insulation segment furthermore contains an outer mantle segment, an outer cap segment, and an outer bottom segment all combined into a single unit. The present tank contains usual parts that such tanks have such as a top door, the main door, a level indicator, and a thermometer. The top door is located on the outer cap segment so that the inner tank can be accessed therethrough, whereas the main door, the level indicator, and the thermometer are located on the outer mantle segment and the inner tank can be accessed through the main door. The level indicator shows the liquid level in the inner tank and the thermometer shows the liquid temperature inside the inner tank.

The lateral insulation segments are designed in the shape of a sector of a cylinder mantle portion with an arc range from 90 to 165 degrees, wherein the front insulation segment has an arc width from 30 to 180 degrees, wherein the arc angle of the lateral insulation segment is determined by subtracting from 360 degrees the arc width of the front insulation segment in degrees and the amount thus obtained is divided by two, wherein there are always two lateral insulation segments in one band which are interconnected by screws and are also connected to the front insulation. The lateral insulation segments usually have an upper tooth on the upper side and a lower tooth on the lower side, so that the lower tooth of one lateral insulation segment falls on the upper tooth of another lateral insulation segment below it when the lateral insulation segments are stacked one on top of the other. This ensures good adhesion of lateral insulation segments to one another and good thermal insulation.

The cap insulation segment is in the shape of the cylinder top with the mantle portion so that it fits on the cap of the inner tank and has a sector that shape-wise corresponds to the outer cap segment so that when the cap insulation segment is placed on the cap the said closely touches the outer cap segment, and likewise, the cap insulation segment is tightly seated on the upper side of the uppermost pair of the lateral insulation segments. The bottom insulation segment is in the shape of the cylinder bottom with a mantle portion designed to fit the bottom of the inner tank and has a sector with a shape corresponding to the outer bottom segment, so when the bottom insulation segment is placed on the bottom, the said closely touches the outer bottom segment. The bottom insulation segment is tightly seated on the lower side of the lowermost pair of lateral insulation segments. The number of lateral insulation segments per single tank ranges from 2 lateral insulation segments to 10 segments. The usual height of segments is 50 cm.

Each insulation segment contains a front stainless steel sheet on the back of which polyurethane foam 3 to 12 cm thick has been applied, in the standard version 8 cm, so that when the insulation segments are placed on the inner tank there is a polyurethane foam between the inner tank and the front stainless steel sheet.

Since there is a problem with installing thermal insulation on the existing stainless steel tanks for preservation of wine and other liquid foodstuffs, either because of the lack of space or because of the tank handling problem, the present invention shows the process of remodelling the existing non-insulated tank for preservation of wine and other liquid foodstuffs. The tank for which thermal insulation segments are manufactured is previously measured, segments drafts are made and then the said are produced, delivered to the place where the front insulation segment is installed on the existing tank, and then the bottom insulation segment, the cap insulation segment and lateral insulation segments are added as mobile parts. The parts on the tanks such as connecting pipes, the thermometer, and the like that have already been welded, must be dismantled i.e., must be adjusted during the installation of thermal insulation so that they are located on the outer portion of the insulation segment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings which are incorporated in the description, and which form a part of the invention description, illustrate so far, the best-considered embodiment of the invention and help to explain the basic principles of the invention. This invention is not in any way limited by drawings that are an integral part of the present invention. Figure 1. A view of the self-standing thermally insulated tank for preservation of wine and other liquid foodstuffs

Figure 2. A view of components of the self-standing thermally insulated tank for preservation of wine and other liquid foodstuffs

A LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS USED IN DRAWINGS

1- mantle

2- cap

3- leg

4- bottom 0- top door 1- outer cap segment 2- outer bottom segment 6- level indicator 7- thermometer 8- main door 0- front insulation segment 00- self-standing thermally insulated tank for preservation of wine and other liquid foodstuffs 00- inner tank 1- bottom insulation segment 2- cap insulation segment 6- lateral insulation segment 61- lower tooth 62- upper tooth

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AT LEAST ONE WAY OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The self-standing thermally insulated tank for preservation of wine and other liquid foodstuffs 100 disclosed herein is designed in such a way that the inner tank is made of stainless steel sheet 1.5 or 2 mm thick and is welded by joining three segments: mantle 1, cap 2 on the upper side and bottom 4 on the lower side of mantle 1. That the tank is self-standing is ensured by welding at least three stainless steel legs 3 on the bottom 4. Necessary technological openings are also made on the inner tank. A front insulation segment 40 is then constructed which has an installed thermal insulation throughout the entire volume. The front insulation segment 40 is fixedly attached to the inner tank 200. In addition to this fixed front insulation segment 40 which is filled with polyurethane foam, a mobile part of thermal insulation is constructed in insulation segments 31, 32, 36 which contain thermal insulation of polyurethane foam throughout their entire volume. These segments are placed on the mantle portion 1, the cap 2 portion from the upper side, and on the bottom 4 portion from the lower side of the mantle so that with the front insulation segment 40 they form a unit that completely thermally insulates the inner tank 200 from the environment.

The front insulation segment 40 comprises the outer mantle segment 9, the outer cap segment 11, and the outer bottom segment 12 that are combined into a single unit. Tank 100 comprises the top door 10, the main door 18, the level indicator 16, and the thermometer 17, wherein the top door 18 is positioned on the outer cap segment 11 to get access to the inner tank 200. The main door 18, the level indicator 16, and the thermometer 17 are positioned on the outer mantle segment 9, wherein the level indicator 16 shows the liquid level in the inner tank 200, the thermometer 17 shows the liquid temperature in the inner tank 200, and the inner tank 200 can be accessed through the main door 18. In one embodiment the self-standing thermally insulated tank 100 is designed in a way it comprises lateral insulation segments 36 made in the shape of a sector of a cylinder mantle portion with a 150 degrees arc range, wherein the front insulation 40 has a 60 degrees arc width. The lateral insulation segments 36 are interconnected by screws and are likewise connected to the front insulation segment 40. Stainless steel screws are used. In one embodiment the lateral insulation segments 36 have the upper tooth 362 on the upper side, and the lower tooth 361 on the lower side so that the lower tooth 361 of a lateral insulation segment falls on the upper tooth 362 of another lateral insulation segment 36 below it when the lateral insulation segments 36 are stacked on top of each other. In another embodiment, the junction of the lower tooth 361 and the upper tooth 362 can be arranged as a junction of a protrusion and a groove.

The cap insulation segment 32 is in the shape of the cylinder top with the mantle portion designed to fit the cap 2 of the inner tank and has a sector that shape-wise corresponds to the outer cap segment 10 so when the cap insulation segment 32 is placed on the cap 2, the said closely touches the outer cap segment 10. The cap insulation segment 32 is tightly seated on the upper side of the uppermost pair of the lateral insulation segments 36. The bottom insulation segment 31 is in the shape of the cylinder bottom with a mantle portion designed to fit the bottom 4 of the inner tank and has a sector that shape-wise corresponds to the outer bottom segment 12, so when the bottom insulation segment 31 is placed on the bottom 4 the said closely touches the outer bottom segment 12. The bottom insulation segment 31 is tightly seated on the lower side of the lowermost pair of lateral insulation segments 36.

In one embodiment this self-standing thermally insulated tank 100 comprises 8 lateral insulation segments 36. In another embodiment, this tank comprises 10 lateral insulation segments 36.

The present invention also discloses the process of remodelling the existing noninsulated tank for preservation of wine and other liquid foodstuffs. In doing so, the front insulation segment 40 is installed on the existing tank which is, in fact, the inner tank 200 of the new thermally insulated tank and then the bottom insulation segment 31, the cap insulation segment 32, and lateral insulation segments 36 are added as mobile parts. These parts are interconnected by stainless steel screws.