AU2012204096B2

AU2012204096B2 - Improvements relating to aeration of wine

Info

Publication number: AU2012204096B2
Application number: AU2012204096A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Larry D. Nelson; Rio Sabadicci
Original assignee: Greenfield World Trade Inc
Current assignee: Greenfield World Trade Inc
Priority date: 2006-02-15
Filing date: 2012-07-11
Publication date: 2014-04-03
Anticipated expiration: 2027-02-01
Also published as: AU2011203112A1; AU2011203112B2; AU2012204096A1

Abstract

C:WRPonrtb\DCC\AZM\4460806_ .DOC. IA7/2012 There is disclosed an improved venturi apparatus for facilitating the mixture of a liquid and a gas, the apparatus comprising a first funnel section operative to receive a fluid and channel the same through a first cylindrical section or 5 passageway, the first cylindrical section being fluidly connected to an intermediate passageway having a diameter larger than the first cylindrical section, at least one sidearm passageway which is fluidly connected to the intermediate passageway into which at least one second fluid is introduced, the at least one sidearm passageway being configured to fluidly interconnect with 10 the intermediate passageway at approximately the medial portion of to the intermediate passageway, and a second cylindrical section that fluidly connected to the intermediate passageway and is operative to direct the flow of the intermixed fluids to a second exit funnel section. 16-- ----- 22 18 }---Z4 )'jr26 24 --- 2-28 - 28

Description

Australian Patents Act 1990 - Regulation 3.2A ORIGINAL COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title "Improvements relating to venturi apparatuses" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: C \NRPoribr\DCC\AZM\4459965_ .DOC - 12/7/12 lICMNmeA, ovcmNRPortbADCOSOn5%91. _. do-1041116 1 IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO AERATION OF WINE The disclosure of the complete specification of Australian Patent Application No. 2007218017 as originally filed is incorporated herein by reference, 5 The present invention is directed to a venturi device, and more particularly, a venturi device that is operative to aerate wine. Venturi-type devices are well-known in the art. Generally, such devices comprise fittings or tubular structures, and in particular pipe structures, that are constricted in the middle and flared on both ends. When a fluid, such as a gas or liquid, is passed through the venturi, the fluid's velocity of 10 flow is caused to increase whereas the fluid's pressure is correspondingly caused to decrease. Such devices are used in a variety of applications, and especially in measuring fluid flow or for creating suction as for driving aircraft instruments or drawing fuel into the flow stream of a carburettor. Venturi devices may be used to mix or combine wine and air. Drawbacks currently exist in relation to the construction of such devices. 15 According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a venturi device intended for aerating wine, comprising: a wine-receiving section, configured to be open to atmosphere, at an upper end of which is an inlet through which wine may be poured into the wine-receiving section from a receptacle when the device is orientated upright, whereby a flow thereof passes, under gravity, through the device so 20 orientated, and at a lower end of which is an outlet which is smaller in cross-sectional area than the inlet; a mixing section which is downstream of the wine-receiving section and comprises a passageway larger in cross-sectional area than said outlet; an air intake via which said passageway is in fluid communication with an exterior of the 25 device such that said flow causes air to be drawn through the air intake into the passageway whereby it mixes with the wine; and an exit section arranged downstream of the mixing section such that the wine exits the device therethrough, an entrance to which section is smaller in cross-sectional area than said passageway. 30 According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of aerating wine, comprising, with a device according to the first aspect orientated upright, pouring wine into the wine-receiving section through the inlet, whereby the wine flows, under gravity, through the device, such that air is drawn through the air intake into the passageway so as to mix with the wine and the wine exits the device through the exit section.

H.Ab mnieowoven@Ronb NC W OUCC\SBN d Imi /A Wal0 -2 According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of aerating wine, comprising: orientating upright a venturi device according to the first aspect; and pouring wine into the winc-receiving section through the inlet whereby the wine flows 5 through the upright-orientated device under gravity, such that air is drawn through the air intake into the passageway so as to mix with the wine, and the wine exits the device through the exit section. Preferred embodiments of the invention provide a venturi apparatus that modifies the desired flow dynamics to consequently improve the ability of wine passing through the venturi to 10 draw in air such that a resultant mixture is produced having substantially greater homogeneity than conventional venturi devices. Preferred embodiments of the invention also provide a venturi apparatus that is of simple construction, low cost to design and capable of being readily deployed in a wide-variety of applications, such as a device that can be readily utilized with a low or high pressurized fluid flow, and facilitate the mixture of air with wine. 15 Preferred embodiments of the invention provide a venturi apparatus that is operative to facilitate the assimilation and mixture of air and wine in a manner superior to prior art venturi apparatuses, In certain embodiments, the venturi apparatus comprises a plurality of sections defining a fluid passageway, a first said section comprising a generally funnel-type, frusto-conical void for receiving wine, the first funnel section, per conventional venturi design, possessing a 20 tapered configuration operative to define a progressively narrowing passageway to thus accelerate fluid velocity, the first section channeling the wine to a first cylindrical section, the latter defining a generally straight, cylindrical passageway and being operative to normalize the flow of wine and thus reduce fluid turbulence, and an expanded intermediate cylindrical passageway, fluidly connected to the first cylindrical section, that is configured and dimensioned to be larger in 25 diameter than the first cylindrical section, the intermediate passageway being operative to cause the wine received from the first cylindrical section to experience a slight decrease in pressure, contrary to conventional venturi design. The venturi apparatus includes an air intake. The air intake may include two diametrically opposed sidearm passageways fluidly connected to the intermediate passageway to thus enable air to be drawn into and introduced with the wine. Preferably, such 30 sidearm passageways will be operative to fluidly interconnect with the intermediate passageway at approximately the medial portion of the intermediate passageway. Along these lines, to facilitate optimal flow dynamics may require that the sidearm passageways introducing one or more additional fluids interconnect with the intermediate passageway at a point where the wine experiences a slight reduction in pressure. In certain embodiments, extending downwardly from 35 the intermediate passageway is a second cylindrical section that is preferably smaller in diameter vtbeeNON bhCC$AMMS 1_ILdo- IMH/ 201 J -3 relative to the intermediate passageway and operative to receive the wine and air and normalize the flow of the same. Descending from the second cylindrical section there may be provided a second funnel-type, frusto-conical void defining an exit pathway that enables the fluids to further mix and exit. The aforementioned sections may be integrated in vertical, horizontal, or angled 5 configurations. The invention is efficient and effective to facilitate the aeration of wine, especially red wine. Certain embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of non limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which; 10 Figure 1 is an elevated perspective view of a housing incorporating a venturi apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Figure 1; Figure 2A is a cross-sectional view showing a chamfer-type transition between adjoining sections of the venturi apparatus; and 15 Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the intermediate passageway of the apparatus and passageways of the apparatus fluidly coupled therewith for facilitating the mixture between wine and air. The detailed description set forth below is intended as a description of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention, and is not intended to represent the only form in which the 20 present invention may be constructed or utilized. The description sets forth the functions and sequences of steps for constructing and operating the invention. It is to be understood, however, that the same or equivalent functions and sequences may be accomplished by different embodiments and that they are also intended to be encompassed within the scope of the invention, Referring now to the figures, and initially to Figure 1, there is perspectively illustrated a 25 venturi apparatus 10 that is operative to facilitate the assimilation and mixture of wine, particularly red wine, and air, in a manner that is exceptionally more effective and efficient than prior art methods. The venturi apparatus 10 comprises a plurality of sections, narnely, a first funnel section 14, first cylindrical section 16, intermediate passageway 18, at least one and preferably two 30 sidearm passageways 24, 26, second cylindrical section 28 and second funnel section 30, all of which are discussed more fully below, that collectively define a sequential path or passageway through which wine is caused to flow through and by which air, via its introduction through passageways 24, 26, is drawn into intermediate passageway 18 and thereafter combine and exit the apparatus via second cylindrical section 28 and second funnel section 30, the latter being operative 35 to facilitate mixing and attaining the desired homogeneity.

14:1110 eM,6mplitRonbbDCC\SB'Sjn 76 ,1fdeed0A) 1/20 1 -4 To achieve the desired effects herein described, there is shown in Figure 2 the arrangement of the various sections of the venturi apparatus of embodiments of the present invention. As illustrated, first funnel section 14 defines an opening for receiving wine. The wine introduced into first section 14, per conventional venturi design, creates a narrowing of the fluid flow path, thus 5 creating an increase in the wine's velocity and decrease of the wine's pressure. The wine then passes from the first section 14 to a first straight, cylindrical or tubular section 16 as shown. Such first cylindrical section 16 is operative to normalize the flow of the wine passing from the first funnel section 14 and consequently reduces fluid turbulence. In order to attain optimal functioning of the venturi, a chamfer or bevel may be provided at the point interconnecting 10 adjacent sections, 14 and 16 of the venturi 10, shown as 32 in Figure 2A. In this regard, it is believed that this smooth rounded transitional surface is operative to facilitate fluid flow and minimize turbulence and disruptions. To fabricate such contoured surfaces will be easily understood by those skilled in the art and that any type of material, whether it be glass, plastic and/or metal can be readily utilized to fabricate the venturi devices disclosed herein. 15 The wine is then sequentially introduced from first cylindrical section 16 to intermediate passageway 18. As illustrated, intermediate passageway 18 defines a chamber having a diameter greater than that of the first cylindrical section 16, and is provided with a floor and ceiling as well as a mid section having a diameter substantially greater than the first cylindrical section 16 and second cylindrical section 28. As a consequence of having a greater diameter, the wine passing 20 from the first cylindrical section 16 to the intermediate passageway 18 experiences a slight decrease in pressure, unlike conventional venturi devices. By virtue of the fluid flow into the intermediate passageway 18, a vacuum force is created that causes air to be drawn into the intermediate passageway 18 via one or both sidearm passageways 24, 26, as shown. As will be recognized by those skilled in the art, the venturi apparatus 10 need only be provided with one sidearm 25 passageway to allow for the introduction of air. or, alternatively, may be provided with three or more channels to enable a greater volume of air to be drawn into the intermediate passageway 18. Accordingly, although depicted in Figure 2 as having two diametrically opposed sidearm passageways 24, 26, and dedicated openings 20, 22, through which air may be introduced, various design changes and modifications of the passageway design will be readily appreciated by those 30 skilled in the art. Preferred embodiments of the apparatus 10 advantageously overcome the inability of known venturi devices to introduce air into wine passing through the venturi device. In this regard, the velocity of the wine passing through prior art venturi devices is maximized at the point of tapering, which gives rise to the vacuum enabling the air to be drawn into the fluid flow. However, 35 the venturi's tapered portion in such prior art devices, because of its limited site, is operative to reduce the area into which air can be drawn into the fluid flow. The combined increased speed of the fluid and reduced area can thus preclude the ability of the venturi to draw in air. According to a preferred embodiment, at least one or all of the sidearm passageways 24, 26, will be configured such that the same are fluidly connected to the intermediate passageway 18 5 at generally the median or mid section thereof. Along these lines, and as more clearly illustrated in Figure 3, sidearm passageways 24, 26, interconnect with intermediate passageway 18 at a point below the ceiling of the intermediate passageway 18, represented by "A" and a distance above the floor of the intermediate passageway 18 represented in Figure 2 by "B". In a most highly preferred embodiment, distances "A" and "B" will be equal. It is preferred that some distance cxist between 10 the ceiling of the intermediate passageway 18 and the sidearm passageway or passageways 24, 26, utilized to introduce the air in order to achieve optimum intermixing of fluids as discussed more fully herein. To the extent the passageways 24, 26, are aligned with the ceiling of the intermediate passageway 18 (i.e., the distance represented by "A" is 0), it is believed that the ability to optimally draw in air will be suboptimal and hence the ability to attain superior mixing by the venturi 15 apparatus of the present invention will be suboptimal. By so arranging the interconnection between sidearn passageways 24, 26, and intermediate passageway 18, the air is thus drawn into and allowed to mix with the wine passing into the intermediate passageway 18 in a manner substantially superior to that of prior art devices. Quite unexpectedly, it is believed that by configuring the intermediate passageway 18 to have a greater 20 diameter relative to both first and second cylindrical sections 16, 28 coupled with the introduction of air at substantially the mid portion of the intermediate passageway 18, a substantially greater volume of air is drawn in to the fluid flow that, as a consequence, produces a substantially more thorough interaction between the air and wino to thus create a resultant mixture having a higher degree of homogeneity when the combined fluids pass through the venturi relative to the mixing of 25 fluids via conventional venturi devices. Following the commingling of the first and second fluids in intermediate passageway 18, the resultant combination is then caused to pass downwardly via second cylindrical section 28 that, similar to first cylindrical section 16, is operative to normalize fluid flow. Thereafter, the combination of fluids is caused to thoroughly intermix and exit via second funnel section 30 per 30 conventional venturi devices. Along these lines, such second funnel section 30 facilitates the mixture between the fluids as the same undergo a decrease in velocity and an increase in pressure. As will further be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art, a variety of dimensions can be utilized in each of the various sections of the venturi apparatus for use in a given application, in one specific embodiment exceptionally effective in facilitating the aeration of wine, especially 35 red wine, it is believed that the following dimensions are ideal: the first cylindrical section 14 will have a conical shape of any length tapering to 4.9 mm with a sharp reduction in 1.8 mm height to 4.7 mm, known as a chamfer or bevel, shown as 32 in Figure 2A; first cylindrical section 16 will have a constant diameter of 4.7 mm and a height of at least 3.6 mm; intermediate passageway 18 will have a diameter of 6.3 mm and a height of approximately 5 mm, two symmetrical, 5 diametrically opposed sidearm passageways, 24, 26 will have lengths of approximately 8.3 mm and diameters of approximately 3.2 mm and fluidly interconnecting with the intermediate passageway 18 at approximately the mid portion thereof; a second cylindrical section 28 will have a constant diameter of 4.7 mm and a height of 6.8 mm; and second exit funnel section 30 will have a height of approximately 64 mm tapering to an exit diameter of approximately 10.5 mm. When so 10 constructed, the venturi apparatus is operative to substantially aerate wine, especially red wine, when a flow of liquid wine is merely passed through the venturi apparatus at atmospheric pressure and the consumer need only pour the wine from the bottle through a vertically oriented venturi apparatus and into a wine glass or other receptacle, such as a decanter. Such dimensions, however, are merely one example of how to construct the venturi apparatus for a specific application and by 15 no means should be construed as any limitation thereof. Moreover, the venturi apparatus 10, as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art, may be formed as part of a housing 12, as shown in Figure 1. The venturi apparatus 10 is configured to assume a vertical orientation, to thus enable gravitational force to cause wine to flow sequentially through the sections 14, 16, 18, 28 and 30, as shown, 20 Additional modifications and improvements of the present invention may also be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Thus, the particular combination of parts and steps described and illustrated herein is intended to represent only certain embodiments of the present invention, and is not intended to serve as limitations of alternative devices and methods within the spirit and scope of the invention. Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the 25 context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps. The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or 30 admission or any form of suggestion that that prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates.

Claims

1. A venturi device intended for aerating wine, comprising: a wine-receiving section, configured to be open to atmosphere, at an upper end of which is 5 an inlet through which wine may be poured into the wine-receiving section from a receptacle when the device is orientated upright, whereby a flow thereof passes, under gravity, through the device so orientated, and at a lower end of which is an outlet which is smaller in cross-sectional area than the inlet a mixing section which is downstream of the wine-receiving section and comprises a 10 passageway larger in cross-sectional area than said outlet; an air intake via which said passageway is in fluid communication with an exterior of the device such that said flow causes air to be drawn through the air intake into the passageway whereby it mixes with the wine; and an exit section arranged downstream of the mixing section such that the wine exits the 15 device therethrough, an entrance to which section is smaller in cross-sectional area than said passageway.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said wine-receiving section and exit section are defined by a single piece. 20

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein the air intake is also defined by said single piece.

4. A device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the single piece is moulded from plastic. 25

5. A device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein said sections and the air intake are defined by a plastic structure.

6. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said sections and the air intake are defined by a single piece. 30

7. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the air intake comprises an air intake passage which is separate from the wine-receiving section. WANINtenoVeANRNO NnDCOMNDW9I -I.4c-In1l/2014 8

8. A device according to claim any one of claims I to 6, wherein the air intake comprises air intake passages which are separate from the wine-receiving section, the air intake.passages being formed in the housing at spaced positions around said passageway. 5

9. A device according to claim 8, wherein the air intake passages comprise ones which are diametrically opposite.

10. A device according to claim 8 or 9, wherein said positions are equally spaced. 10

11. A device according to any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein the or each air intake passage terminates at said exterior.

12. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the air intake has separate inlets arranged around a peripheral part of the device. I5

13. A device'according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the passageway and air intake fluidly interconnect at a medial portion of the passageway.

14. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the winc-receiving section 20 has an interior which is bounded by a surface that extends from a mouth of the device to said outlet and is substantially smooth throughout.

15. A device according to any one of claims I to 13, wherein the wine-receiving section has an interior which is bounded by a surface that extends from an uppermost extent of the device to said 25 outlet and is substantially smooth throughout.

16. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wine-receiving section has an interior which extends from a mouth of the device to said outlet and is of continually reducing cross-sectional area. 30

17. A device according to any one claims I to 15, wherein the wine-receiving section has an interior which extends from an uppermost extent of the device to said outlet and is of continually reducing cross-sectional area. 9

18. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

19. A method of aerating wine, comprising, with a device according to any one of the 5 preceding claims orientated upright, pouring wine into the wine-receiving section through the inlet, whereby the wine flows, under gravity, through the device, such that air is drawn through the air intake into the passageway so as to mix with the wine and the wine exits the device through the exit section. 10

20. A method of aerating wine, comprising: orientating upright a venturi device according to any one of claims I to 1 8; and pouring wine into the wine-receiving section through the inlet whereby the wine flows through the upright-orientated device under gravity, such that air is drawn through the air intake into the passageway so as to mix with the wine, and the wine exits the device through the exit 15 section.

21. A method of aerating wine according to claim 19 or 20, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.