Machine for toasting wood casks

The present invention, as indicated by its title, refers to a machine specially designed for internally toasting a wood cask, preferably intended for ageing wines.

In order for the wine to obtain the desired aroma, refining and ageing, it must be introduced into oak casks for a time; during this phase, good flavors are revived and brought out, in contact with the wood, transforming into a quality wine. The toasting process serves to enhance the transfer of aroma and flavors to the wine.

US 5630265 discloses an apparatus for toasting wine barrels.

Currently, the cask toasting process is carried out by cooperage traditional methods and consists of burning oak wood inside of the cask, which is placed in a vertical position, turning it over at a point in the process for attempting to achieve a uniform toasting. The entire process is guided by the experience of the operator controlling it.

The machine of the present invention successfully resolves this drawback, since it allows controlling the toasting process at all times and achieving a not only uniform toasting over the entire internal surface of the cask, but also a homogenous toasting in the entire series of casks subjected to a toasting process under specific conditions, such that the wine contained in these casks will have very similar features.

This machine comprises a framework with a general "L"-shaped profile, the base of which is provided with respective pairs of wheels, assembled respectively on an idler shaft and a drive shaft, arranged in a hypothetical rectangle for supporting and rotating a cask on them which is placed laying on its side and aligned on the base of this framework. An arm is inserted inside the cask, and consequently, parallel to the base of the framework, which arm has a series of resistances assembled on a horizontal plane, facing the internal face of the cask, such that with them, as the cask rotates changing the surface facing the resistances, its internal face is uniformly heated and toasted.

This entire toasting process is controlled by a central processing unit which receives information about what is occurring inside the cask through an inwardly focused temperature sensor, such that the process can not only be programmed in terms of duration and temperature for achieving a desired toasting, but it also enables observing at all times its evolution in order to take corrective measures, if necessary, in certain conditions. A water sprayer, controlled by electrovalves with programming capacity, sprays the cask as it rotates, such that the inside of the cask is moistened, thereby contributing to enhancing the desired aromatic development.

These and other features of the present invention will be more easily understood with the aid of the following description, carried out according to a practical embodiment; this description is carried out according to the drawings of the attached plans, in which:

• Figure 1 shows a profile view of a machine for toasting wood casks, carried out according to the present invention.
• Figure 2 shows a side view of the previous machine.
• Figure 3 shows a schematic perspective view of the control center of the machine shown in the previous figures.
• Figure 4 graphically shows the toasting process carried out (temperature-times).

This machine comprises a framework (2) having a general "L"-shaped configuration, the base of which is provided with: a first pair of wheels (3) assembled on an idler shaft (5), and a second drive shaft (6) parallel to the former, which is provided with respective wheels (4) on the ends, such that the assembly of wheels (3) and (4) forms four bearing points arranged in the corners of a rectangle, so that the cask (1) placed on said wheels (3) and (4) rests on them on the surface near its bases and, by means of actuating the geared motor (7), which drives the shaft (6), achieving the rotation of the cask (1) placed on its side on the base of the framework (2), where it has been placed by pushing it on a ramp (13) located at the free end of said framework.

The upright structure of the framework (2) has a vertically adjustable support (8) of an arm (9) located towards the center of the framework, which has a series of resistors assembled on a horizontal plane such that they are placed close to the internal face of the cask (1) to be toasted as it rotates, thereby achieving an adjustable, precise and homogenous toasting over its entire internal surface. The heating elements (21) are ceramic-type, infrared radiation elements and with a wavelength of 3 µm ± 0.2 µm, arranged at a minimum distance of 120 mm (23) from the internal surface of the cask.

A central, fixed cover (10) is also arranged on the upright structure of the framework (2), which cover is provided with elongated, vertical windows through which the support arm (9) of the resistors passes, in order to adjust to different heights according to the diameter of the cask to be toasted. On the opposite side and parallel to it, a movable cover (11) is arranged, preferably a collapsible cover to allow positioning the cask (1) on the framework (2) and subsequently placing it in a horizontal position, closing the bases of the cask (1) in conjunction with the cover (10) such that, since they are internally protected with a fire-resistant material, they allow achieving greater homogenization of the toasting temperatures and lower thermal leak while the process lasts.

Water spraying elements (19) are arranged positioned inside the cask (1), which act when the electrovalve (22), controlled by the central processing unit (15), opens.

The entire toasting process, in terms of temperature, cask rotation speed, time, proximity of the resistors to the internal face thereof, the amount of water to spray and the remaining variables, is controlled by a control unit included in the cabinet (15), which has a display (14) where the toasting process, sensed by a toasting temperature sensor (12) focused towards the inside of the cask, is visualized. This processing unit has a programming control (17) and a printer (18) for issuing a report or graph of the process (16) carried out. In the middle part of the framework and focused towards the center of the cask (1), a temperature sensor (12) is arranged, which transmits to the control center (15) all the necessary information about the internal area of the cask.

Toasting of wood casks can be carried out with this machine to obtain different wood toasting intensities-times, which has an influence on obtaining different organoleptic qualities.