AU776873B2

AU776873B2 - Vat seal

Info

Publication number: AU776873B2
Application number: AU48026/01A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Peter Warren
Original assignee: Westbridge Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Westbridge Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2000-05-25
Filing date: 2001-05-25
Publication date: 2004-09-23
Anticipated expiration: 2021-05-25
Also published as: AU4802601A

Description

51890 GEH:PFB P/00/011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

Name of Applicant: WESTBRIDGE PTY LTD Name of inventor: PETER WARREN Address for Service: COLLISON CO.,117 King William Street, Adelaide, S.A. 5000 Invention Title: VAT SEAL Details of Associated Provisional Applications: AUSTRALIAN Patent Application No. PQ7731 Dated 25th May 2000 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: This invention relates to a seal for a vat, more particularly to a seal for a vat to contain a liquid, the vat being constructed of metal and wooden staves.

There is described in AU617673 a vat constructed of a metal ends, top and bottom, the sides being constructed by a plurality of wooden staves sealed together and clamped to the metal surround. This form of vat for the storage of wines with the wooden staves being of oak has created a great deal of interest, for a plurality of the vats can be stacked together and thus due to their shape have a greater storage capacity for a particular cellar or warehouse volume than barrels or the like which have a great volume of unusable storage space between the adjacent stacked circular barrels.

A problem with the seal for such a vat is the fact that the seal must seal between the metal surround and the wooden staves, each of which has a different thermal expansion and also swelling of the wood due to the absorption of liquid into the wood.

This invention is directed to an improved vat construction and seal for a vat as described in the above referred to patent.

In one form of the invention there is provided a seal assembly for a rectangular vat, the vat including a metal hoop forming the top, end walls and bottom of the vat, the side walls comprising wooden walls positioned in sealing relationship against the .20 respective edges of the metal hoop, characterised in that the seal comprises a continuous resilient sealing member surrounding the edge of the metal hoop and forced into sealing relationship with the respective wooden wall by clamping means acting between the wooden wall and the metal hoop.

In another form of the invention there is provided a vat for the storage of a liquid, said 25 vat constructed of a metal hoop formed into a generally rectangular shape to form the **top, end walls and bottom of the vat, the side walls being wooden walls, a seal receiving the edge of the metal hoop, and clamping means between the wooden wall and the metal hoop to press the wooden wall into sealing engagement with the seal on the metal hoop.

In a preferred form the seal is comprised of a compressible member attached to the edge of a metal member, the seal also sealing against a seal retainer.

In order to more fully describe the invention reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a cross sectional view of portion of a vat showing the seal between the metal body and a stave of the wooden walls.

The vat to which the invention relates is similar to that shown in AU617673 and comprises a generally rectangular metallic loop forming the top, end walls and bottom of the vat. The vat is completed by the addition of wooden staves clamped to the side edges of the metallic loop.

Thus as shown in the drawing, the vat includes the metal loop 1 forming the vat body, the vat having a main support frame 2 surrounding the metal body on each side of the vat. The drawing shows a top portion of the vat, with the wood staves 3 (only one of which is shown) being positioned vertically, the staves being clamped against the vat body 1 by a clamping plate 4 bolted by bolt 5 to the main support frame 2.

The clamping plate has a vertical portion 6 extending over the ends of the staves 3 and a horizontal portion 7 to extend horizontally to extend over and rest on the main support frame 2.

A seal 8 is provided between the edge of the vat body and the internal surface of "the staves 3, there also being a channel shaped seal retainer 9 mounted on the support frame 2.

The seal 8 positioned on the edge of the vat body 11 and is formed as a solid compressible member with a hollow section 12 which allows the seal to compress and thus change its shape. As shown in the drawings, the seal in its uncompressed state is shown in dotted lines 10 and when compressed the seal engages against the stave 3 and deforms into a heart shape thus also sealing against the seal retainer 9.

The hollow section 12 thus deforms and virtually closes, this allowing the seal to deform and compress and deflect centrally on the centre line to form a symmetrical *..:shape to seal on the stave and the seal retainer with relatively small pressure applied to the stave through the tensioning of the bolts. Thus only 10 to 20 ft/lbs tension is applied to the bolts to form an effective seal. The seal is formed as a long strip to extend around the edge of the vat body, the seal being positioned over the edge of the vat body, with the vat body extending into the seal in the order of 2/3 of the length of the seal. The seal retainer thus retains the seal in position and also locks the seal preventing the seal from sucking inwards should a negative pressure develop within the vat. The seal retainer also prevents excess pressure being applied to the bolt 5 thereby preventing over-compression of the seals.

The sealing member 8 is of rounded shape as shown in dotted lines 10 in the uncompressed state of the seal and in full lines in the compressed state, the seal being compressed when assembled and the bolts tensioned to thus seal against the wooden staves. On compression the sealing member is compressed and expands so that it is forced against the seal retainer. It has been found in a preferred form that the seal can be compressed between 3mm and 9mm by a bolt tension of 10 to ft/lbs. Preferably the seal is compressed 6mm at a bolt tension of 15 ft/lbs.

Preferably the material of the sealing member is a silicone material so it may deflect under the compression applied to the sealing member.

The seal thus extends around the edge of the vat body and effectively seals against the wooden staves. The seal while sealing against positive pressure from within the vat, also seals when there is a negative pressure within the vat, for example above the liquid within the vat which may occur during temperature changes, such as when the liquid is cooled or chilled by cooling pipes positioned in the vat.

While the vat has been particularly designed for the storage of wine with oak staves, •:it is to be realised that the vat can be used for the transport of wine, and also for the .i :storage and transport of other liquids, such as fruit juices. While one form of the invention has been described in some detail it is to be realised that the invention is 1 5 not to be limited thereto, but can include variations and modifications falling within the •"spirit and scope of the invention.

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Claims

2. A seal assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the sealing member has a hollow interior permitting the sealing member to be compressed centrally on the centre line of the seal in a symmetrical manner.
3. A seal assembly as defined in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the edge of the metal hoop extends into the sealing member in the order of 2/3 of the width of the seal.
4. A vat for the storage of a liquid, said vat constructed of a metal hoop formed into: a generally rectangular shape to form the top, end walls and bottom of the vat, the side walls being wooden walls, a seal assembly comprising a seal receiving the edge of the metal hoop, and clamping means between the wooden wall and the metal hoop to press the wooden wall into sealing engagement with the seal on the metal hoop. A vat as defined in claim 4 wherein the seal has a peripheral slot to receive the edge of the metal hoop, said hoop extending up to 2/3 the width of the seal. l:gO
6. A vat as defined in either claim 4 or 5 wherein the seal has an internal cavity whereby the seal is compressed in a symmetrical manner. 25 7. A vat as defined in any one of claims 4 to 6 wherein a frame extends around the metal hoop adjacent each edge thereof, a U-shaped seal retainer attached to the side of the frame, said seal bearing on the seal retainer when the seal is compressed by clamping.
8. A vat as defined in any of claims 4 to 7 wherein the vat includes an L- shaped clamping plate extending down the outside of the wooden wall and across to rest on the frame, the clamping means being bolts passing through the clamping plate and the frame.
9. A vat as defined in any of claims 4 to 8 wherein the seal retainer has a ledge extending outwardly of the vat, said wooden wall being located by said ledge. A seal assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
11. A vat substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing. Dated this 5 th day of August 2004 WESTBRIDGE PTY. LTD. By their Patent Attorneys COLLISON CO oo* 0.. *S o