System for fire prevention in drying automators

Description

FIRE PREVENTION SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATED DRYING SYSTEMS Technological sector of invention

[001] The present invention pertains to the grain drying sector and relates to a safety system designed to prevent fires in automated drying systems. The system was developed to mitigate the risk of fire returning during biomass feeding into furnaces. Through the integration of temperature sensors, pneumatic guillotines, and automatic hatches, the system autonomously detects and reacts to critical temperature increases, isolating the fire through the guillotines and emptying the biomass through the hatches, preventing its spread to components such as conveyors and storage bins. In addition to increasing operational safety, the system maintains the efficiency of the drying process and ensures greater reliability. State of the art

[002] Grain drying automation equipment faces critical problems related to fire prevention, especially in situations of backfire from the injectors. This risk is aggravated by several technical factors, such as lack of adequate pressure in the combustion area, operational errors by employees, and the possibility of component breakage during operation. These factors make the process vulnerable to accidents, compromising the safety of the facilities.

[003] Currently available solutions, such as manual hatches for emergency biomass discharge, prove ineffective in many cases. Their main limitation is their dependence on human intervention, which is impractical in high-risk situations requiring immediate responses, especially during nighttime hours or when there is no supervision at the facility. Furthermore, manual hatches cannot predict or proactively react to factors that trigger a return of fire, leaving equipment exposed to significant damage. The combination of technical failures and the inefficiency of current solutions... Petition 870250007340, dated 01 / 29 / 2025, page 5 / 21 2 / 7 increase the frequency and severity of accidents, highlighting the need for improvements to ensure operational safety. New Invention Details

[004] The implementation of a fire prevention system in automated drying systems presents significant advantages in the context of operational safety and efficiency in risk management. This automated system was designed to quickly identify and isolate the risks of fire reignition during the biomass injection process, reducing dependence on human intervention and ensuring the continuity of the process safely. The integration of temperature sensors, PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) and safety devices, such as hatches and guillotines, allows for autonomous, fast and precise action, preventing accidents even in adverse conditions.

[005] In addition, the system acts when recurring problems occur, such as lack of pressure in the burning area, operational failures caused by human error, power outages (very common in rural areas where most of the equipment is installed), and the eventual breakage of components. By proactively detecting critical changes in the environment, it reacts automatically, isolating risk areas and preventing the spread of damage. Pneumatic automation, combined with effective shut-off devices, minimizes response times and increases process reliability, standing out as a robust solution to mitigate the dangers associated with backfire in drying equipment. Description of the attached drawings

[006] In order for the present invention to be fully understood and put into practice by any technician in this technological sector, it will be described in a clear, concise and sufficient manner, based on the attached drawings, which illustrate and support it, listed below: Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a conventional grain drying machine, highlighting the guillotine and the hatch; Petition 870250007340, dated 01 / 29 / 2025, page 6 / 21 3 / 7 Figure 2 represents a perspective view of the injectors, highlighting the sensors; Figure 3 represents a perspective view of the guillotine, highlighting the pneumatic cylinders and the connecting bar that connects the sheet metal; Figure 4 represents a perspective view of the guillotine, highlighting the sheet metal; Figure 5 represents a perspective view of the equipment, highlighting the hatches positioned below the injection boxes; Figure 6 represents a perspective view of the hatch, highlighting the locking mechanism; Figure 7 represents a perspective view of the hatch, highlighting the operating mechanism. Detailed description of the invention.

[007] In general, the equipment consists of a stock box (SC), responsible for supplying the biomass. Attached to the stock box (SC) is the conveyor belt (CB). This, in turn, has the function of lifting the material to the upper screw that distributes the product to the injection boxes (IC). The system is designed to completely fill the first injection box (IC) before directing the material to the next. Each injector (IN) transports the biomass into the furnace, dosing it according to the process demand.

[008] In this context, the invention system was designed to identify and mitigate potential risks of backfire in the biomass injection process, promoting greater safety and automation in the control of temperature and biomass flow. The operation is performed autonomously, minimizing the need for human intervention, but also offering resources for manual control.

[009] The system comprises temperature sensors (SS), preferably PT100, installed in the injectors (IN) with the function of monitoring critical points where fire may return to the system. As the injectors (IN) represent the only location susceptible to fire return due to their positioning inside the furnace, in cases of pressure loss, component failure, power failure or other Petition 870250007340, dated 01 / 29 / 2025, page 7 / 21 4 / 7 process errors, the location becomes the most favorable point for the fire to find oxygen and concentrate heat. Under these conditions, heat tends to return through the injector, making it the area most vulnerable to fire flashback. Furthermore, the injector (IN) is the only point directly exposed to the fire and containing biomass, further increasing susceptibility to the problem. Thus, accurate temperature readings at these points are essential for the early detection of hazardous situations.

[010] The data collected by the sensors (SS) is sent to a Programmable Logic Controller - PLC, which uses a predefined setpoint to identify critical temperature increases. If the setpoint limit is exceeded, the system is automatically activated to perform the necessary preventive actions.

[011] At the bottom of the injection boxes (CI), where the injection augers are located, hatches (ES) have been designed to empty the accumulated biomass. This procedure is essential to prevent the return of fire to the supply system, which includes the conveyor belt (ET) and the storage box (CE). The hatches (ES) have locking mechanisms that allow both manual and automatic operation.

[012] The hybrid hatch locking mechanism (ES) comprises two bearings (ES7)(ES12) where a shaft (ES8) is positioned by means of hooks (ES10) associated with the lower cover of the injection box (CI), connected to the shaft (ES8) is a support (ES9) that receives a locking pin (ES2) that anchors a stop (ES11) of the return spring (ES3), positioned in a handle (ES4) located in a support (ES6) fixed to the structure; the locking pin (ES2) is associated with a rod (ES1) by means of an oblong pin (ES13) welded into the hole (ES14) and located in the slot (ES15), the rod (ES1) being connected to the piston (ES5).

[013] Observing the mechanism, it is noted that the pin (ES13), to which the piston (ES5) is connected by means of the rod (ES1), has an oblong shape, allowing the system to function in both manual and automatic modes. In automatic mode, when the piston (ES5) retracts, it pulls the pin (ES13) in contact with the rod (ES1); this movement activates the locking pin (ES2), which is retracted within the limits imposed by the action of the spring (ES3), allowing the system to open. Petition 870250007340, dated 01 / 29 / 2025, page 8 / 21 5 / 7 release the support (ES9); the support, in turn, is rotated by the shaft (ES8), which causes the hooks (ES10) to release the lower cover of the injection box (CI). In manual mode, the operator can simply pull the handle (ES4), similarly activating the retraction of the locking pin (ES2).

[014] In the injector box (CI), when the bottom cover is opened, it is as if the bottom were removed, allowing the complete removal of the biomass accumulated inside. As for the biomass present in the injectors (IN), since it is already inside the tubes, the machine gradually pushes it into the furnace over time, as the injectors remain in continuous operation.

[015] Between the upper chute and the conveyor system (ET), a pneumatic guillotine (GL) is installed with the aim of isolating access and preventing the fire from spreading to the conveyor belt (ET) and the stock box (CE). Like the hatches (ES), the guillotine (GL) is automatically controlled, providing an additional safety barrier.

[016] The guillotine (GL) consists of pneumatic cylinders positioned in parallel and connected by a bar (BR) that is fixed to the sheet (CS), forming a drive on rails when positioned over sheets. The guillotine (GL) is composed of two cylinders (CL) that ensure the direction of the sheet, allowing it to return to the open position without losing alignment in case of expansion. If a single cylinder were used on only one side, there would be a risk of misalignment or locking over time, resulting in sheet deformation. At the rear, the sheet flange (CS) has a drawn steel bar (BR), whose function is to connect the sheet to the cylinders (CL), ensuring the stability and proper functioning of the system.

[017] The guillotine (GL) functions to block fire access to biomass and the conveyor belt (ET), interrupting the flow. The biomass moves along the conveyor belt (ET) towards the upper chute. If the sensor (SS) detects a high temperature in the injectors (IN) or a power outage in the unit, the system automatically opens the pneumatic system (CL) and closes the guillotine (GL). An important point to highlight is that, even in the event of Petition 870250007340, dated 01 / 29 / 2025, page 9 / 21 6 / 7 power interruption, the cylinders (CL) continue to move, as the terminal valves have springs that ensure their operation. This ensures the continuity of safe operation, regardless of the availability of electrical power.

[018] Even when the injector bottoms are open, there is a possibility of combustion of the biomass already in process, given that the system operates in a high-temperature environment. In this situation, the activation of the guillotine (GL) cuts off communication between the biomass and the conveyor belt (ET), preventing the spread of fire. This measure is essential to avoid damage to the conveyor belt (ET), such as the melting of the rubber or other more serious problems. In addition, the blockage prevents the fire from reaching the storage tank (CE) at the bottom of the system, where the biomass stock is kept. A fire in this area would represent an even greater loss, making the action of the guillotine (GL) a critical component for operational safety.

[019] This mechanism is integrated into a thermal control system. If any sensor detects high temperatures, the system automatically triggers the closing of the cylinders (CL) to protect the process. When the temperature returns to safe levels, the system automatically reopens the cylinders (CL), ensuring operational efficiency and safety.

[020] The system was designed to operate autonomously, eliminating the need for manual intervention during the risk mitigation process. The automatic activation of the hatches (ES) and the guillotine (GL) significantly reduces the risk of human error, ensuring a safer and more efficient operating environment for handling biomass.

[021] It is important to emphasize that the figures and descriptions provided do not limit the ways in which the inventive concept proposed herein can be implemented, but rather illustrate and make understandable the conceptual innovations revealed in this solution. Thus, the descriptions and images should be interpreted in an illustrative and not limiting way, and other equivalent or analogous forms may exist. Petition 870250007340, dated 01 / 29 / 2025, page 10 / 21 7 / 7 of the implementation of the inventive concept now revealed, and which do not deviate from the protection scope outlined in the proposed solution.

Claims

1- FIRE PREVENTION SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATED DRYING SYSTEMS, characterized by comprising temperature sensors (SS), preferably PT100, installed in the injectors (IN), where the data collected by the sensors (SS) are sent to a Programmable Logic Controller - PLC, which uses a predefined setpoint to identify critical temperature increases, and if the setpoint limit is exceeded, the hatches (ES) and guillotine (GL) are activated; In the lower part of the injection boxes (CI), where the injection helicoids are located, there are hatches (ES) with locking mechanisms for manual as well as automatic operation, wherein the hybrid locking mechanism of the hatches (ES) comprises two bearings (ES7)(ES12) where a shaft (ES8) is positioned by means of hooks (ES10) associated with the lower cover of the injection box (CI), connected to the shaft (ES8) is a support (ES9) that receives a locking pin (ES2) that anchors a stop (ES11) of the return spring (ES3) positioned in a handle (ES4) located in a support (ES6) fixed to the structure; the locking pin (ES2) is associated with a rod (ES1) by means of an oblong pin (ES13) welded in the hole (ES14) and located in the slot (ES15), the rod (ES1) being interconnected to the piston (ES5); Between the upper chute and the conveyor system (ET), the guillotine (GL) is installed, formed by pneumatic cylinders positioned in parallel and connected by a bar (BR) that is fixed to the plate (CS), forming a drive on rails when positioned on plates.

Images