Apparatus and method for washing the inside of wine barrels

摘要

A barrel washing apparatus (10) for cleaning barrels, particularly wine barrels (16). A wand assembly (14) has a spray head (22) mounted on a fluid supply tube (28) which is bent in a particular fashion such that it can be inserted through a bung hole (20) of a wine barrel (16). A suction tube (24) has a cut away portion (38) in a distal end (36) thereof for abutting the bottom of the wine barrel (16). The suction tube (24) is also bent in a particular fashion. A barrel stopper (26) is adapted for holding the fluid supply tube (28) and the suction tube (24) in position in the bung hole (20) of the wine barrel (16). A service cart (12) has a pressure pump (55) for providing fluids under pressure to the spray head (22) via a fluid line (50), A vacuum apparatus (62) provides vacuum for removing fluids from the wine barrel (16) via the suction tube (24) and a vacuum line (52) and for depositing the fluids in a sump (63). A sump pump (64) removes the fluids from the sump (63).