Abstract: A juice press as used in the production of wine for removing liquids from solids, having a horizontally positionable press frame that allows a vertical press mechanism to be rolled to a first position for interference-free loading of a press basket with material to be pressed, and then rolled to a second operating position located over the press basket. The press basket has a liquid channeling plate having an arrangement of holes and channels that creates a perimeter seal along a circumference at the bottom of a loaded press basket. The liquid channeling plate traps naturally occurring sludge along the circumference bottom and allows for efficient evacuation of extracted juice from the bottom of the basket as the press mechanism is operated.

Abstract: A wine punch down unit and method for processing fermenting wine by punching down a cap formed from buoyant skins, seeds, pulp, and stems within a batch of fermenting wine, and mixing the cap material with the fermenting wine to improve contact between the wine and the cap in order to extract a requisite amount of color and flavor. The wine punch down unit has a platform for placement under a vessel of fermenting wine, a vertical shaft mounted to the platform supporting a positionable arm that holds a vertically extendible agitator accessory. The agitator accessory is operational in an upward and downward and side-to-side manner for punching down the cap and mixing the cap material with the fermenting wine. This invention further relates to a vertical shaft adaptor as used by a wine maker for adapting a pallet jack or similar lift platform to securely hold a vertical shaft for supporting a device such as a wine punch down unit.

Abstract: A juice press as used in the production of wine for removing liquids from solids, having a horizontally positionable press frame that allows a vertical press mechanism to be rolled to a first position for interference-free loading of a press basket with material to be pressed, and then rolled to a second operating position located over the press basket. The press basket has a liquid channeling plate having an arrangement of holes and channels that creates a perimeter seal along a circumference at the bottom of a loaded press basket. The liquid channeling plate traps naturally occurring sludge along the circumference bottom and allows for efficient evacuation of extracted juice from the bottom of the basket as the press mechanism is operated.

Abstract: A retaining wall is described using multiple pre-cast concrete block modules positioned in stacked horizontal rows with multiple vertical concrete columns which interlock each horizontal row. Each block, which is designed and manufactured to interlock with other like modules, includes a body having at least one vertical side, a leg connecting means attached to a vertical side, and a central passageway. In the preferred embodiment, a leg is attached to and extends laterally from the body with a compatible connecting means formed on the end surface of the leg which interconnects with a leg connecting means located on the body. An alignment means may be formed on the top and bottom surface of the body and used to align stacked block modules. During the wall's assembly, the modules are positioned side-by-side and interconnected in a horizontal row either on the ground or on a pre-constructed continuous concrete footing. End or corner block modules are used when desired.

Abstract: A lightweight, pre-cast, reinforced, module used to build a structurally engineered retaining wall system. Each module has a panel with a front and rear surface with at least one horizontal reinforcing rod. In the preferred embodiment, a portion of each rod horizontal transverse an integrally attached flange located at each opposite end of the panel. On the outside surface of each flange, there is a recess across which a portion of each reinforcing rod is exposed to be subsequently surrounded by concrete of a poured-in-place reinforced column. A horizontal row of adjacent modules is positioned on a constructed, reinforced footing. The front surface of each module is exposed and each flange is positioned opposite to a flange located on an adjacent module with a column space created between opposite flanges. Alignment elements are attached to the upper surface of each flange and successive horizontal rows of modules are then positioned above until the desired height is achieved.