• 专利附录
  • 专利说明
  • 权利要求
  • 类似技术
  • 同族专利
  • 引用文献
  • 法律状态
  • 优先权
    • 专利摘要:
    A barrel for storing beverage containers is disclosed. The barrel comprises a plurality of generally curved segments 102 attached along respective edges 104 to define an inner space configured to house a lifting assembly 106. The lifting assembly 106 comprises an elongate plate section 108 attached diametrically across an inner wall defined by the curved segments 102 and a telescopic tubular member 110 fixedly attached to the elongate plate section 108. A linear actuator 120 is positioned on the elongate plate section 108, wherein the linear actuator 120 drives a motor 122 to selectively raise and lower the first circular plate 112 to allow a user to retrieve the beverage containers after the predefined time.
    公开号:DK201600415A1
    申请号:DKP201600415
    申请日:2016-07-12
    公开日:2017-07-10
    发明作者:Peter Klausen
    申请人:Peter Klausen；
    IPC主号:
    专利说明:

    A WHISKY BARREL
    BACKGROUND
    Beverages, such as, whisky, wine, etc. are traditionally aged in timber or oak barrels. Many of the flavors and characteristics of whisky are extracted from the wooden barrel where it is stored for maturing. The naturally occurring oils in the wood adds flavor to the whisky over the period of maturation time. These wooden barrels are quite efficient in fermenting and aging the beverage, and eventually such matured beverages are dispatched to the end customers after a selective period of time. Aged beverages can be discarded or consigned to much lower value use like in bottles. However, the excess beverage that has been fermented and aged cannot be retained again in the wooden barrel.
    In general, the excess flavored beverage is moved to a separate storage container for extended use. Containers that are made of different materials other than wood, have been predominantly used in the recent times to store the flavored beverages. Here, the material of the storage container plays a major role in keeping the consistency of the beverage for longer time. When the beverages have attained its peak maturity after a predetermined time period, and if a user does not want to bottle it right away, then the flavored beverage can be stored in a stainless steel barrels to stop the aging process. However, most steel barrels known in the art, are not user friendly in handling such beverage containers for further use due to the lack of favorable internal mechanisms that would facilitate a temporary storage of these barrels.
    Hence, there is a need for a barrel for storage of beverage containers which contain flavored beverages, where the barrel comprises an internal mechanism which allows the users for the ease of handling and maintenance of the stored beverage containers.
    SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A barrel 100 for storing beverage containers is disclosed. The barrel 100 comprises a plurality of generally curved segments 102 attached along respective edges 104 to define an inner space configured to house a lifting assembly 106. The lifting assembly 106 comprises an elongate plate section 108 attached diametrically across an inner wall defined by the curved segments 102 and a telescopic tubular member 110 fixedly attached to the elongate plate section 108. The lifting assembly 106 also comprises a first circular plate 112 mounted at an upper end 114 of the telescopic tubular member 110 and a rod 116 centrally extending from the first circular plate 112 to fixedly attach a second circular plate 118. The space defined between the first circular plate 112 and the second circular plate 118 is configured to receive and position the beverage containers for a predefined time.
    In an embodiment, a linear actuator 120 is positioned on the elongate plate section 108 to drive a motor 122 to selectively raise and lower the first circular plate 112 to allow a user to retrieve the beverage containers after the predefined time interval.
    In another embodiment, the method of construction of a barrel 100 for storing beverage containers is disclosed. The first step is attaching a plurality of generally curved segments 102 along respective edges 104 to define an inner space configured to house a lifting assembly 106 and attaching an elongate plate section 108 diametrically across an inner wall defined by the curved segments 102. The second step is to fixedly attach a telescopic tubular member 110 to the elongate plate section 108. Mounting a first circular plate 112 at an upper end 114 of the telescopic tubular member 110 and extending a rod 116 centrally from the first circular plate 112 to fixedly attach a second circular plate 118.
    BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 exemplarily illustrates a front view of the barrel 100 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2A exemplarily illustrates a front view of the barrel 100 with partially extended plate sections (112,118) according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2B exemplarily illustrates a front view of the barrel 100 with fully extended plate sections (112,118) according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 exemplarily illustrates a graphical representation of lifting assembly 106 with a linear actuator 120 positioned inside the barrel 100. FIG. 4 exemplarily illustrates a perspective view of a generally curved segment 102 of the barrel 100.
    DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION FIG. 1 exemplarily illustrates a schematic diagram of a barrel 100. The barrel 100 is used for storing beverage containers and comprises a plurality of generally curved segments 102 attached along respective edges 104 of the segments 102 to define an inner space configured to house a lifting assembly 106. The curved segments 102 comprises a plurality of stiffeners 124 to increase the rigidity of the assembled barrel 100. In an exemplary embodiment, the curved segments 102 is configured to have twenty-two stiffeners 124 to enhance the strength of the barrel 100. The curved segments 102 are fixedly attached along respective edges 104 thereof, to define a generally cylindrical shape. The curved segments 102 and plurality of stiffeners 124 are constructed from a group of materials selected from at least one of a metal, alloy or composite. In an exemplary embodiment, stainless steel is used as a construction metal for barrel 100. The barrel 100 further comprises a switch mechanism such as a push button 128 positioned on one of the curved segments 102, wherein the push button 128 is configured to actuate the linear actuator 120 to one of elevate and lower the first circular plate 112.
    According to FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B, in a preferred embodiment, a lifting assembly 106 for a barrel 100 with partially and fully extended plate sections (112,118) are disclosed respectively. The lifting assembly 106 comprises an elongate plate section 108 attached diametrically across an inner wall defined by the curved segments 102. The elongate plate section 108 can be rigidly attached to the inner walls by welding and a telescopic tubular member 110 is fixedly attached to the middle of the elongate plate section 108. The telescopic tubular member 110 further comprises an inner tube and an outer tube for raising and lowering any section. A first circular plate 112 mounted at an upper end 114 of the telescopic tubular member 110. This first circular plate 112 is configured to hold the beverage containers for storage purpose and further comprises an outer rail member 130 to hold the beverage containers in a predetermined position. The first circular plate 112 is configured to rotate about a vertical axis to facilitate handling of the beverage containers placed in the first circular plate 112 so that downtime of the process can be significantly reduced. A cylindrical rod 116 is configured to centrally extend from the first circular plate 112 to fixedly attach a second circular plate 118, wherein the space defined between the first circular plate 112 and the second circular plate 118 is configured to receive and position the beverage containers for a predefined time. These beverage containers are configured to temporarily store the fermented beverage for another predetermined period of time until it gets dispatched for the end customers. FIG. 3 illustrates a linear actuator 120 for the lifting assembly 106 positioned inside the barrel 100. The linear actuator 120 is positioned on the elongate plate section 108 in the bottom section of the barrel 100. The linear actuator 120 is configured to drive a motor 122 to raise and lower the telescopic tubular member 110, thereby selectively raising and lowering the first circular plate 112 to allow a user to retrieve the beverage containers after the predefined time. The inner tube and an interlocking mechanism in the telescopic tubular member 110 is driven by a motor 122 to provide upward thrust and the first circular plate 112 positioned at the top of the telescopic tubular member 110 is elevated by the rotation of inner tube. Hence, the first circular plate 112 holding the beverages containers is lifted for retrieval by the user. This elevated tab design inside the barrel 100 achieves improved capability in ease of maintenance and handling of beverage containers stored inside the barrel. The linear actuator 120 can be selected from at least one of a mechanical actuator, hydraulic actuator, pneumatic actuator, piezoelectric actuators or electro-mechanical actuators. In an exemplary embodiment, LINAK® actuators are used to elevate the lifting assembly 106 inside the barrel 100. In another embodiment of the present invention, (e.g., FIG. 3), DC motor is driven by a voltage pulse of sufficient amplitude and duration to generate enough torque to rotate an inner tube to move a mechanical load engaging the upper end of the telescopic tubular member 110 carrying the first circular plate 112. Optionally, the linear actuator 120 can also have a locking mechanism to lock the torque output transferred to inner tube in case of any fail-safe condition of the lifting assembly 106.
    Referring back to FIG. 1, which exemplarily illustrates a front view of the curved segments 102 of the barrel 100. These curved segments 102 comprise individual stiffeners 124 spanning along the circumference of the curved segment 102 to provide rigidity and strength to the barrel 100. In an exemplary embodiment, the total width and length of the barrel 100 corresponds to 550 and 1000 mm respectively. FIG. 4C illustrates a perspective view of the individual curved segment 102 comprising the plurality of stiffeners 124. In an exemplary embodiment, the length of the individual curved segment 102 corresponds to 500 mm. The curved segment 102 generally expands lengthwise from top to bottom and therefore the thickness of the stiffeners 124 configured along the curved segment 102 also differs respectively.
    In another embodiment of the proposed invention, a method of construction of a barrel 100 for storing beverage containers is disclosed. The method comprises forming a span of individual curved segment 102 with plurality of stiffeners 124 and attaching a plurality of generally curved segments 102 along respective edges 104 to define an inner space configured to house a lifting assembly 106. In an exemplary embodiment, four individual curved segments 102 each having twenty-two stiffeners 124 are welded to each other to define the cylindrical shaped barrel 100. The method also comprises attaching an elongate plate section 108 diametrically across an inner wall defined by the curved segments 102 and fixedly attaching a telescopic tubular member 110 to the elongate plate section 108. A first circular plate 112 is mounted at an upper end 114 of the telescopic tubular member 110 and then extending a rod 116 centrally from the first circular plate 112 to fixedly attach a second circular plate 118 thereby creating a space between the first circular plate 112 and the second circular plate 118 to receive and position the beverage containers for a predefined time. Upon pressing the push button 128 inserted with up-down movability, the user can elevate the first circular plate 112 holding the beverage containers.
    Referring back to FIG. 1, the barrel 100 is designed to house a plurality of containers to hold beverages selected from the group consisting of wine, cognac, armagnac, sherry, port, whiskey, and beer. According to our proposed invention, the barrel 100 is configured to hold flavored whisky for stabilization and to maintain the consistency of the flavor for a selective period of time.
    The foregoing examples have been provided merely for the purpose of explanation and are in no way to be construed as limiting of the present concept disclosed herein. While the concept has been described with reference to various embodiments, it is understood that the words, which have been used herein, are words of description and illustration, rather than words of limitation. Further, although the concept has been described herein with reference to particular means, materials, and embodiments, the concept is not intended to be limited to the particulars disclosed herein; rather, the concept extends to all functionally equivalent structures, methods and uses, such as are within the scope of the appended claims. Those skilled in the art, having the benefit of the teachings of this specification, may affect numerous modifications thereto and changes may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the concept in its aspects.
    权利要求:
    Claims (10)
    [1] 1. A barrel 100 for storing beverage containers, the barrel 100 comprising, a plurality of generally curved segments 102 attached along respective edges 104 to define an inner space configured to house a lifting assembly 106; the lifting assembly 106 comprising; an elongate plate section 108 attached diametrically across an inner wall defined by the curved segments 102; a telescopic tubular member 110 fixedly attached to the elongate plate section 108; a first circular plate 112 mounted at an upper end 114 of the telescopic tubular member 110; a rod 116 centrally extending from the first circular plate 112 to fixedly attach a second circular plate 118, wherein the space defined between the first circular plate 112 and the second circular plate 118 is configured to receive and position the beverage containers for a predefined time; a linear actuator 120 positioned on the elongate plate section 108, wherein the linear actuator 120 drives a motor 122 to raise and lower the telescopic tubular member 110, thereby selectively raising and lowering the first circular plate 112 to allow a user to retrieve the beverage containers after the predefined time.
    [2] 2. A barrel 100 of claim 1, wherein the barrel 100 is constructed from a group of materials selected from at least one of a metal, alloy or composite.
    [3] 3. A barrel 100 of claim 1, wherein the curved segments 102 are fixedly attached along respective edges 104 thereof, to define a generally cylindrical shape.
    [4] 4. A barrel 100 of claim 1, further comprising a push button 128 positioned on one of the curved segments 102, wherein the push button 128 is configured to actuate the linear actuator 120 to one of elevate and lower the first circular plate 112.
    [5] 5. A barrel 100 of claim 1, wherein the beverage containers are configured to temporarily store fermented beverage for another predetermined period of time.
    [6] 6. A barrel 100 of claim 1, wherein the curved segments 102 comprise a plurality of stiffeners 124 to increase the rigidity of the assembled barrel 100.
    [7] 7. A barrel 100 of claim 1, wherein the curved segments 102 are welded to each other to define the barrel 100.
    [8] 8. A barrel 100 of claim 1, wherein the first circular plate 112 mounted at an upper end 114 of the telescopic tubular member 110 further comprises an outer rail member 130 to hold the beverage containers in a predetermined position.
    [9] 9. A barrel 100 of claim 1, wherein the first circular plate 112 mounted at an upper end 114 of the telescopic tubular member 110 is configured to rotate about a vertical axis to facilitate handling of the beverage containers.
    [10] 10. A method of construction of a barrel 100 for storing beverage containers, the method comprising; attaching a plurality of generally curved segments 102 along respective edges 104 to define an inner space configured to house a lifting assembly 106; attaching an elongate plate section 108 diametrically across an inner wall defined by the curved segments 102; fixedly attaching a telescopic tubular member 110 to the elongate plate section 108; mounting a first circular plate 112 at an upper end 114 of the telescopic tubular member 110; and extending a rod 116 centrally from the first circular plate 112 to fixedly attach a second circular plate 118, wherein the space defined between the first circular plate 112 and the second circular plate 118 is configured to receive and position the beverage containers for a predefined time.
    类似技术:
    公开号 | 公开日 | 专利标题
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    同族专利:
    公开号 | 公开日
    DK178967B1|2017-07-10|
    引用文献:
    公开号 | 申请日 | 公开日 | 申请人 | 专利标题
    GB105540A|
    GB184209A|1921-02-26|1922-07-26|Bengt Magnus Wilhalm Hanson|Improvements in shaping mechanism for grinding wheels|
    US1748032A|1928-01-26|1930-02-18|John F Weidmann|Display device for containers|
    US1967794A|1931-06-06|1934-07-24|Matthias A Wagner|Bottle container|
    GB669594A|1949-06-20|1952-04-02|Eric Crisp Lewis|Improvements in or relating to metal barrels and like metal containers|
    FR1596772A|1968-12-03|1970-06-22|
    FR2752227A1|1996-08-08|1998-02-13|Delatour Sa|Instrument for supporting and extracting articles packed in cylindrical container, e.g. gherkins in jar|
    CN105310360A|2014-07-29|2016-02-10|青岛海尔智能技术研发有限公司|Wine cabinet allowing wine bottle to be stored and taken out automatically|
    法律状态:
    优先权:
    申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题
    DKPA201600415A|DK178967B1|2016-07-12|2016-07-12|A Whiskey Barrel|DKPA201600415A| DK178967B1|2016-07-12|2016-07-12|A Whiskey Barrel|
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