Fermenter

• US 6,125,736 A
• Filed: 11/12/1998
• Issued: 10/03/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Castle Commercial Enterprises Limited
• Original Assignee: Castle Commercial Enterprises Limited
• Inventors: Marin, Francesco
• Primary Examiner(s): Alexander, Reginald L.
• Application Number:
  US09/180,584
• Time in Patent Office: 691 Days
• Field of Search: 99/276, 99/277, 99/277.1, 99/278, 435/300.1, 435/813, 220/225
• US Class Current: 99/276
• CPC Class Codes: C12G 1/02 Preparation of must from grapes; Must treatment and fermentation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 435/813 Continuous fermentation

Abstract

The present invention relates to a fermenter consisting of a vat provided internally with a diaphragm designed to retain the gas bubbles produced by fermentation and release them when they have reached a large size. The diaphragm consists of a concave surface underneath which the rising bubbles are temporarily collected and continue to rise as soon as they flow out from the diaphragm full of gas. In this way the small bubbles which rise up combine together to form others which are larger and able to create strong currents which continuously remix the floating marc and in this way make it possible to avoid or, at least greatly limit, solidification of the cap, keeping it constantly fluid.

Claims

1. A fermenter comprising:

a vat (2) suitable for containing a solution to be fermented (3);

at least one opening (4,

     33) for introducing the solution to be fermented (3);

an opening (5,

     25) for removing the fermented solution (6);

at least one chamber (27) for accumulating fermentation gas (7), said chamber (27) arranged inside the vat between a bottom (8) of the vat (2) and a bottom surface of a frothy liquid portion (10) of the fermenting liquid formed on a non-frothy liquid portion, said chamber having a concavity directed downwards so as to intercept and accumulate temporarily small bubbles of gas (11) generated by fermentation and form and subsequently release, as a result of overflowing, as soon as the chamber (27) is full of gas, larger-sized bubbles (12) which rise toward the bottom surface of the frothy liquid portion (10).

2. Fermenter according to claim 1, characterized in that said chamber (27) is connected to the outside of the vat (2) by means of first controllable communication means (16), so as to be able to act from outside the vat (2) on the trapped gas, as required, causing the gas to flow in or flow out from outside the vat (2).

3. Fermenter according to claim 1, characterized in that accumulation device comprises at least one first concave surface (13), the concavity of which is directed downwards so as to trap the small bubbles (11), and at least one second concave surface (13'"'"') similar to the first one and arranged higher than it so that the larger-sized bubbles (12) produced by the first concave surface (13) rising up are at least partly intercepted by the said second concave surface (13'"'"').

4. Fermenter according to claim 1, characterized in that said concave surface (13) comprises second controllable connection means (19) suitable for connecting the chamber (27) to the part of the vat (2) located above this surface (13).

5. The fermenter according to claim 1 further comprising at least one first accumulating chamber having a concavity directed downwards so as to trap small bubbles (11) and at least one second accumulating chamber similar to said first accumulating chamber and arranged higher than said first accumulating chamber so that the larger-sized bubbles (12) produced by said first chamber when rising up are at least partially intercepted by said second chamber.

6. The fermenter according to claim 1 further comprising second controllable connection means (19) suitable for connecting the accumulating chamber (27) to the part of the vat (2) located above said accumulating chamber.

7. The fermenter according to claim 1 wherein said accumulating chamber (27) is connected to the outside of the vat (2) by means of first controllable communication means (16), so as to be able to act from outside the vat (2) on the trapped gas, as required, causing the gas to flow in or to flow out.

8. The fermenter according to claim 1 wherein said vat (2) comprises, in the region of said gas accumulating chamber, a discharge means (37) for allowing part of the fermented solution (6) to flow out together with the marc of the cap (10).

9. The fermenter according to claim 8 wherein the marc of the cap (10) flows out by means of gravity.

10. The fermenter according to claim 8 wherein the inlet of said discharge means (37) is arranged in the region of an aperture (20) of the gas accumulating chamber.

11. The fermenter according to claim 10 wherein said discharge means comprises a pipe (37).

12. The fermenter according to claim 8 wherein said discharge means comprises an opening located on the side walls of the vat at the height of the gas accumulating chamber.

13. Fermenter according to claim 8, characterized in that said discharge (37) comprises an opening located on the side walls of the vat at the height of the gas accumulation device (7).

14. The fermenter according to claim 1 wherein said accumulating chamber (27) is arranged inside the vat (2).

15. The fermenter according to claim 14 wherein said accumulating chamber comprises at least one concave surface (13).

16. The fermenter according to claim 15 wherein said concave surface (13) comprises an inclined surface (14) firmly fixed to the internal wall (15) of the vat (2).

17. The fermenter according to claim 15 wherein said concave surface (13) comprises a frustroconical surface firmly fixed to the internal wall (35) of the vat (2).

18. The fermenter according to claim 15 wherein said concave surface (13) comprises movable closing means designed to vary the size of an opening (20) of the vat (2) not occupied by the concave surface (13).

19. The fermenter according to claim 15 wherein said concave surface (13) comprises a frustroconical peripheral element (21), the vertex of which is directed upwards, delimited centrally by a cylindrical element (22), a controllable annular through-aperture (23) being provided between the two surfaces.

20. The fermenter according to claim 19 wherein said controllable annular aperture (23) comprises an inflatable toroid (24) for modifying the size of the aperture (23).

21. Fermenter according to claim 19, characterized in that said concave surface (13) converges centrally into a tube (40) which extends downwards.

22. The fermenter according to claim 15 wherein said concave surface (13) converges centrally into a tube (40) which extends downwards.

23. A fermenter comprising:

a vat (2) suitable for containing a solution to be fermented (3);

at least one opening (4,

     33) for introducing the solution to be fermented (3);

an opening (5,

     25) for removing the fermented solution (6);

at least one chamber (27) for accumulating fermentation gas (7), said chamber (27) arranged between a bottom (8) of the vat (2) and a bottom of a solid floating cap (10) formed at a top of the vat by a marc of the fermenting liquid, said chamber having a concavity directed downwards so as to intercept and accumulate temporarily small bubbles of gas (11) generated by fermentation and form and subsequently release, as a result of overflowing, as soon as the chamber (27) is full of gas, larger-sized bubbles (12) which rise toward the bottom surface of the frothy liquid portion (10).