GB2116327A

GB2116327A - Method of determining and/or indicating the specific gravity of wine

Info

Publication number: GB2116327A
Application number: GB08207179A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael John Fecher
Original assignee: LATSTOCK PRODUCTS Ltd
Current assignee: LATSTOCK PRODUCTS Ltd
Priority date: 1982-03-11
Filing date: 1982-03-11
Publication date: 1983-09-21

Abstract

The method includes the steps of introducing into the fermentation container with the initial ingredients a plurality of floats of different specific gravity, the tops of the floats being visible during the initial stages of fermentation but during the later stages sinking one by one, the remaining visible float or floats giving an approximate indication of the specific gravity of the liquid without the need to open the container. Each float is made in two parts 12 and 14 of dissimilar plastics, part 12 including a circular end piece 12b from which projects a shank 12a, and part 14 being in the form of a ring which can be slid on the shank 12a and retained thereon by ribs 12c of the shank. Four floats are used, the different specific gravities being obtained by using different lengthened shanks. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Method of determining and/or indicating the specific gravity of wine This invention relates to a method of determining and/or indicating the specific gravity of wine.

In order to determine the specific gravity of wine during and at the end of its fermentation process, it is the current practice in home-made wine processes to remove a sample of the wine from the fermentation container and to test the sample with a suitable hydrometer or sacrometer.

If the desired specific gravity has not been reached the sample is returned to the fermentation container for further fermentation.

The sampling procedure is subsequently repeated one or more times.

A disadvantage with this procedure is that the fermentation container must be opened one or more times which may allow the entry of contaminates into the container.

It is an aim of the invention to provide an improved method of determining and/or indicating the specific gravity of wine, and the method according to the invention includes the steps of introducing into the fermentation container with the initial ingredients a plurality of floats of different specific gravity, the tope of the floats being visible during the initial stages of fermentation but during the later stages will sink one by one, the remaining visible float or floats giving an approximate indication of the specific gravity of the wine without the need to open the container. Preferably, the floats are colour coded.

The present method will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing, which is a cross-section through one of a plurality of floats used in the method of the present invention for determining the specific gravity of wine.

Referring to the drawing, the float 10 is made from two parts 12 and 14 of dissimilar plastics material. The part 12 includes an elongate shank 1 2a of circular cross-section and an enlarged circular end piece 1 2b. Part 14 is in the form of a ring having a outer diameter approximately the same as that of end piece 1 2b and an inner diameter just larger than that of the shank 1 2a to permit the ring to be slid onto the shank to be positioned alongside end piece 1 2b. To retain the ring in its assembled position, two nibs 1 2c extend from shank 1 2a.

One suitable plastics material for part 12 is polypropylene with a specific gravity of 0.905, and a suitable plastics material for ring 14 is acetal with a specific gravity of 1.40.

In the present method, a plurality of floats 10 are used (in this case four) each with a different overall specific gravity. This is achieved by maintaining constant the shape and volume of ring 14 and employing different lengths (shown dotted) for the shanks 1 2a of the four floats.

Conveniently, the float portion 1 2 would be colour coded with one of four different colours (i.e. appropriately coloured polypropylene) each signifying one of four different specific gravities, e.g.

Specific Colour Gravity Wine type Blue 0.995 Very Dry Red 1.000 Dry Yellow 1.006 Medium Green 1.015 Sweet To carry out the present method, the four floats are introduced into the fermentation container along with the initial ingredients and the container is thenclosed by a venting stopper.

During the initial stages of fermentation the tops of all the float shanks would be visible. As fermentation progresses the specific gravity of the wine will increase until it reaches 0.995 at which point the Blue float will disappear indicating that the wine would be very dry if fermentation was stopped at this point. The next float to disappear would be the Red float at a specific gravity of 1.000 indicating a dry wine, followed by the Yellow float at specific gravity 1.006 indicating a medium wine and finally the Green float at specific gravity 1.015 indicating a sweet wine.

It will be seen that the above described method will provide indications as to the specific gravity of the wine during fermentation without requiring the fermentation container to be opened.

Claims (Filed on 11/3/83) 1. A method of determining and/or indicating the specific gravity of a fermenting liquid such as wine, comprising the steps of introducing into the fermentation container with the initial ingredients a plurality of floats of different specific gravity, the tops of the floats being visible during the initial stages of fermentation but during the later stages will sink one by one, the remaining visible float or floats giving an approximate indication of the specific gravity of the liquid without the need to open the container.

2. The method of Claim 1, wherein each of the tops of the floats carry a respective one of a plurality of different colours, each colour representing one of a plurality of different specific gravities.

3. The method of Claim 1 or 2, wherein each float is made from a first part including an elongate shank and an enlarged end piece, and a second ring, ring, part which surrounds the shank at a location alongside the end piece.

4. The method of Claim 3, wherein the parts are formed from plastics materials of different densities.

5. The method of Claim 3 or 4, wherein the

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Method of determining and/or indicating the specific gravity of wine This invention relates to a method of determining and/or indicating the specific gravity of wine. In order to determine the specific gravity of wine during and at the end of its fermentation process, it is the current practice in home-made wine processes to remove a sample of the wine from the fermentation container and to test the sample with a suitable hydrometer or sacrometer. If the desired specific gravity has not been reached the sample is returned to the fermentation container for further fermentation. The sampling procedure is subsequently repeated one or more times. A disadvantage with this procedure is that the fermentation container must be opened one or more times which may allow the entry of contaminates into the container. It is an aim of the invention to provide an improved method of determining and/or indicating the specific gravity of wine, and the method according to the invention includes the steps of introducing into the fermentation container with the initial ingredients a plurality of floats of different specific gravity, the tope of the floats being visible during the initial stages of fermentation but during the later stages will sink one by one, the remaining visible float or floats giving an approximate indication of the specific gravity of the wine without the need to open the container. Preferably, the floats are colour coded. The present method will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing, which is a cross-section through one of a plurality of floats used in the method of the present invention for determining the specific gravity of wine. Referring to the drawing, the float 10 is made from two parts 12 and 14 of dissimilar plastics material. The part 12 includes an elongate shank 1 2a of circular cross-section and an enlarged circular end piece 1 2b. Part 14 is in the form of a ring having a outer diameter approximately the same as that of end piece 1 2b and an inner diameter just larger than that of the shank 1 2a to permit the ring to be slid onto the shank to be positioned alongside end piece 1 2b. To retain the ring in its assembled position, two nibs 1 2c extend from shank 1 2a. One suitable plastics material for part 12 is polypropylene with a specific gravity of 0.905, and a suitable plastics material for ring 14 is acetal with a specific gravity of 1.40. In the present method, a plurality of floats 10 are used (in this case four) each with a different overall specific gravity. This is achieved by maintaining constant the shape and volume of ring 14 and employing different lengths (shown dotted) for the shanks 1 2a of the four floats. Conveniently, the float portion 1 2 would be colour coded with one of four different colours (i.e. appropriately coloured polypropylene) each signifying one of four different specific gravities, e.g. Specific Colour Gravity Wine type Blue 0.995 Very Dry Red 1.000 Dry Yellow 1.006 Medium Green 1.015 Sweet To carry out the present method, the four floats are introduced into the fermentation container along with the initial ingredients and the container is thenclosed by a venting stopper. During the initial stages of fermentation the tops of all the float shanks would be visible. As fermentation progresses the specific gravity of the wine will increase until it reaches 0.995 at which point the Blue float will disappear indicating that the wine would be very dry if fermentation was stopped at this point. The next float to disappear would be the Red float at a specific gravity of 1.000 indicating a dry wine, followed by the Yellow float at specific gravity 1.006 indicating a medium wine and finally the Green float at specific gravity 1.015 indicating a sweet wine. It will be seen that the above described method will provide indications as to the specific gravity of the wine during fermentation without requiring the fermentation container to be opened. Claims (Filed on 11/3/83)

1. A method of determining and/or indicating the specific gravity of a fermenting liquid such as wine, comprising the steps of introducing into the fermentation container with the initial ingredients a plurality of floats of different specific gravity, the tops of the floats being visible during the initial stages of fermentation but during the later stages will sink one by one, the remaining visible float or floats giving an approximate indication of the specific gravity of the liquid without the need to open the container.

5. The method of Claim 3 or 4, wherein the shanks of the floats are of different lengths.

6. A method of determining and/or indicating the specific gravity of a fermenting liquid such as wine, the method being as herein described.

7. A set of floats for carrying out the method according to any one of the preceding claims.