Universal electronic bung system
A method and system for monitoring wine in a barrel having a bung hole is provided. The system comprises a sensor enclosure, a sensor conduit, and an original bung. The sensor conduit is operably coupled to the sensor enclosure. The original bung comprises a passage hole for inserting the sensor conduit through the original bung. The original bung also comprises a space for inserting at least a portion of the sensor enclosure. This space does not extend through the original bung. The outer diameter of the original bung is determined by the diameter of the bung hole of the barrel.
1 . A system, wherein the system comprises:
a bung configured to be inserted into a bung hole of a barrel, wherein:
the bung is a conical frustum comprising a larger circular side and a smaller circular side,
a passage hole extends through the bung between the larger circular side of the conical frustum and the smaller circular side of the conical frustum,
the larger circular side of the conical frustum and the smaller circular side of the conical frustum are determined by a diameter of the bung hole of the barrel,
the larger circular side of the conical frustum comprises a space,
the space is wider than the passage hole, and
the space does not extend through the bung;
a sensor enclosure, wherein:
the sensor enclosure is configured to surround a sensor device,
at least a portion of the sensor enclosure is located in the space of the bung,
the sensor device is located above the bung, and
the bung is configured to be separable from the sensor enclosure; and
a sensor conduit operably coupled to the sensor enclosure, wherein:
the sensor conduit is inserted through the passage hole of the bung.
2 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein:
the sensor enclosure comprises a power supply and a controller, and
the controller is operable to wireless communicate with a remote database.
3 . The system according to claim 2 , wherein:
the controller is encased in a resin, and
the power supply is accessible above the resin.
4 . The system according to claim 3 , wherein the resin fills a volume between two flanges within the sensor enclosure.
5 . The system according to claim 4 , wherein
an antenna is located on the surface of one of the two flanges, and
the antenna is operably coupled to the controller.
6 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein an outer dimension across the sensor enclosure is 3 ½ to 4 ½ inches.
7 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein a height of the sensor enclosure is less than 2 ½ inches.
8 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the system comprises the barrel.
9 . A system, wherein the system comprises:
a bung configured to be inserted into a bung hole of a barrel, wherein:
the bung is a conical frustum comprising a larger circular side and a smaller circular side,
a passage hole extends through the bung between the larger circular side of the conical frustum and the smaller circular side of the conical frustum,
the larger circular side of the conical frustum and the smaller circular side of the conical frustum are determined by a diameter of the bung hole of the barrel,
the larger circular side of the conical frustum comprises a space,
the space is wider than the passage hole, and
the space does not extend through the bung;
a sensor enclosure, wherein:
the sensor enclosure is configured to surround a sensor device,
at least a portion of the sensor enclosure is located in the space of the bung, and
the bung is configured to be separable from the sensor enclosure;
a sensor conduit operably coupled to the sensor enclosure, wherein:
the sensor conduit is inserted through the passage hole of the bung; and
an alternative bung, wherein:
the bung is interchangeable with the alternative bung.
10 . The system according to claim 9 , wherein:
the bung and the alternative bung have the same dimensions.