A quantitative sampling device for in vitro simulation of rumen continuous fermentation system

Abstract

The present application belongs to the technical field of in-vitro rumen fermentation simulation device, and particularly relates to a quantitative sampling device for an in-vitro rumen continuous fermentation system, comprising a fermentation equipment main body, a sampler fixed to the outer wall of the fermentation equipment main body, the sampler comprising an outer support tube, and a plurality of equidistantly arranged sampling tubes fixed to the outer wall of the outer support tube and communicated with each other. When it is needed to take out the sampling cup which has completed quantitative sampling from the gravity positioning assembly, the operator can manually pinch the two connecting rods in reverse. The action drives the T-shaped handle to be lifted from the notch where it is currently located through linkage of the two transmission rods, and drives the inner rotating tube connected therewith to move upward synchronously. At the same time, the two auxiliary plates move towards each other, drive the two clamping rods to move away from each other under cooperation of the second elastic sheet, thereby releasing the positioning constraint on the sampling cup. With the conical opening at the bottom end of the inner rotating tube lifted, sufficient space is formed below the conical opening, so that the sampling cup can be smoothly taken out.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the technical field of in vitro rumen-simulated fermentation devices, specifically relating to a quantitative sampling device for an in vitro rumen-simulated continuous fermentation system. Background Technology

[0002] In rumen nutrition and feed science research, in vitro rumen-simulated fermentation systems are key tools for evaluating feed nutritional value, studying microbial metabolism, and optimizing feed formulations. Among them, continuous fermentation devices can better simulate the dynamic physiological processes of a relatively stable rumen environment, continuous substrate supply, and continuous product excretion, and the results are more predictive and valuable for reference compared to batch culture.

[0003] Currently, existing quantitative sampling devices for in vitro rumen-simulated continuous fermentation systems generally use fermenters with constant temperature, anaerobic environment, and stirring structure as the core reactor. In this system, in order to monitor the fermentation process, such as key parameters like volatile fatty acid production, microbial protein synthesis, gas production kinetics, and substrate degradation rate, it is necessary to periodically collect fermentation broth samples from the fermenter.

[0004] Current sampling techniques typically rely on sampling tubes mounted on the outer wall of the fermenter. These tubes have an opening at the bottom and are often equipped with a valve. During sampling, the operator places a separate sampling cup below the opening of the sampling tube, opens the valve, and uses the pressure or level difference within the tank to allow the fermentation broth to flow out. However, this conventional sampling method has the following significant drawbacks:

[0005] The sampling container's poor stability easily leads to spillage and contamination: the fermentation broth has a certain impact force when flowing out, and the external sampling cup lacks an effective fixing and guiding structure, making it extremely prone to displacement, tilting, or even tipping over under the impact of the liquid flow. This not only causes the loss of valuable samples and deviations in experimental data, but more seriously, the spilled fermentation broth may contaminate the operating environment. Rumen fermentation broth contains a complex microbial community, and its leakage poses a biosafety hazard. It may also introduce contaminating bacteria, disrupting the stability of the anaerobic microbial community within the tank, leading to the failure of subsequent experiments.

[0006] Inability to achieve quantitative sampling: Different research objectives often require fermentation broth samples of different preset volumes. Current technologies rely on operators visually estimating or using beakers of different sizes for collection, making it impossible to achieve rapid and accurate volumetric quantification at the sampling source. This non-standardized operation is not only inefficient, increasing operational errors and human intervention time, but also affects the consistency between multiple parallel samples and samples taken at different time points, thereby reducing the accuracy and comparability of experimental results.

[0007] Therefore, existing rumen-simulated continuous fermentation devices have significant technical shortcomings in the sampling process, which restricts the accuracy, efficiency, and reproducibility of experiments. There is an urgent need in this field for an improved solution that can be integrated into the fermentation system, stably receiving samples while enabling rapid, aseptic, and quantitative collection, in order to enhance the overall level of in vitro rumen fermentation research technology.

[0008] The information disclosed in this background section is intended only to enhance the understanding of the overall background of the invention and should not be construed as an admission or in any way implying that the information constitutes prior art known to those skilled in the art. Summary of the Invention

[0009] The purpose of this invention is to provide a quantitative sampling device for an in vitro simulated rumen continuous fermentation system, so as to solve the problems of the prior art.

[0010] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution:

[0011] A quantitative sampling device for an in vitro simulated rumen continuous fermentation system includes a fermentation equipment body. A sampler is fixedly attached to the outer wall of the fermentation equipment body. The sampler includes an outer support tube, and multiple equidistant sampling tubes are fixedly connected to the outer wall of the outer support tube. The ends of the sampling tubes away from the outer support tube extend into the interior of the fermentation equipment body and have multiple filter holes arranged in a ring array. An inner rotating tube is movably installed inside the outer support tube, and the bottom end of the inner rotating tube extends movably to the bottom of the outer support tube and has a conical opening design. Multiple first feed holes are arranged in a spiral array on the inner rotating tube. A T-shaped handle is fixedly attached to the outer side of the inner rotating tube, near its conical opening. The T-shaped handle also has an arc-shaped groove on the outer side of the outer support tube, and the T-shaped handle moves within the arc-shaped groove. Multiple ring arrays are formed on the inner bottom wall of the arc-shaped groove. The sampling cup is secured by a series of recesses arranged in a row. The middle part of the T-shaped handle is movably placed in the leftmost recess. The inner height of the arc-shaped groove is larger than the diameter of the middle part of the T-shaped handle, and the inner width of the recess is equal to the diameter of the middle part of the T-shaped handle. The outer diameter of the inner rotating tube is equal to the inner diameter of the outer support tube. A base plate is fixed to the middle of the bottom end of the outer support tube via a connecting plate. A gravity positioning component is connected between the base plate and the outer wall of the outer support tube. An adjustable quantitative component is installed on the top of the base plate and connected to the bottom of the gravity positioning component. The gravity positioning component is responsible for fixing the sampling cup by the downward gravity of the inner rotating tube and lifting the inner rotating tube and releasing the sampling cup by the reaction force. The adjustable quantitative component drives the sampling cup to complete the quantitative collection of different preset volumes of fermentation broth by adjusting the elasticity by increasing or decreasing the elasticity.

[0012] Preferably, the gravity positioning component includes a C-shaped support plate above the bottom support plate and fixed to the inner arc surface of the connecting plate. At the top of the C-shaped support plate, two symmetrically arranged support bottom blocks are fixed. On the top of each of the two support bottom blocks, a first elastic sheet with a vertical cross-section in an S-shaped structure is integrally formed. On the top of each of the first elastic sheets, an inclined auxiliary plate is integrally formed.

[0013] Preferably, connecting rods are fixed to the top ends of the auxiliary plates. At the front ends of the two connecting rods, transmission rods with a vertical cross-section in a shape like a right-falling stroke are fixed. First weakening grooves are provided at the middle bends of the transmission rods. The top ends of the two transmission rods are fixed to the bottom end of the same arc-shaped top plate. The arc-shaped top plate slides on the outside of the outer support tube. On both sides of the bottom end of the arc-shaped top plate, arc-shaped bottom plates are integrally formed through V-shaped elastic plates. The arc-shaped bottom plates are fixed to the outside of the outer support tube, and the arc-shaped bottom plates are movably sleeved on the outside of the two transmission rods.

[0014] Preferably, third weakening grooves are provided at the middle bends of the V-shaped elastic plates. The two ends of the V-shaped elastic plates are integrally formed with the arc-shaped top plate and the arc-shaped bottom plate through second weakening grooves respectively. Multiple arc-shaped recesses arranged in a circular array are provided on the top of the arc-shaped top plate. The middle part of the T-shaped handle is placed in the arc-shaped recesses.

[0015] Preferably, first lightening grooves are jointly provided on the support bottom blocks and the corresponding connected first elastic sheets. Second lightening grooves are provided on the auxiliary plates.

[0016] Preferably, second elastic sheets with a wavy structure are fixed to the two side walls of the two auxiliary plates. Guide grooves with a vertical cross-section in a convex shape are provided on the top surface of the top ends of the two support bottom blocks. L-shaped guide rods with a horizontal vertical cross-section in a convex shape at the bottom are slidably connected in the two guide grooves. The top ends of the L-shaped guide rods are integrally fixed to the bottom ends of the second elastic sheets. Above the C-shaped support plate, two symmetrically arranged clamping rods are further provided. Both ends of the two clamping rods are fixed to the outer walls of the corresponding L-shaped guide rods. V-shaped clamping mouths are integrally formed in the middle of the two clamping rods.

[0017] Preferably, two symmetrically arranged limiting blocks are fixed to the inner bottom walls of the two guide grooves. Through channels are provided at the bottom ends of the L-shaped guide rods. The through channels are movably sleeved on the outside of the limiting blocks. Third lightening grooves are provided on the second elastic sheets.

[0018] Preferably, the adjustable metering component includes guide columns fixedly connected to the middle of opposite ends of the two support base blocks. The bottom ends of the two guide columns extend to the bottom of the C-shaped support plate and are fixedly connected to the top of the base plate. The bottom of the C-shaped support plate is movably connected to the top of the lifting plate. The bottom end of the lifting plate is connected to the top of the base plate via an adjustment mechanism. The lifting plate is slidably sleeved on the outside of the two symmetrically arranged guide columns.

[0019] Preferably, a baffle plate with an I-shaped cross-section is fixedly connected to the outer arc wall of the lifting plate near the connecting plate. The top of the baffle plate slides in the lifting groove opened in the inner wall of the outer support tube. The cross-section of the lifting groove is also I-shaped. The inner arc surface of the baffle plate is in contact with the outer circumference of the inner rotating tube. A plurality of second material passage holes are opened on the baffle plate at equal intervals. The second material passage holes all coincide with the outlet of the sampling tube away from the filter hole.

[0020] Preferably, the adjustment mechanism includes a plurality of second slots arranged in a ring array at the bottom edge of the lifting platform, and a plurality of first slots arranged in a ring array at the top edge of the bottom platform. The vertical cross-sections of the second slots and the first slots are respectively inverted convex and convex. Each of the four second slots contains a first insert with an inverted convex vertical cross-section. The bottom end of each first insert is fixed to the top of a second insert with a convex vertical cross-section by an S-shaped spring. Each second insert is movably inserted into its corresponding first slot.

[0021] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0022] The present invention provides a quantitative sampling device for an in vitro simulated rumen continuous fermentation system. During sampling, the operator holds the T-handle and lifts the inner rotating tube, disengaging the T-handle from the leftmost recess. The operator then manually rotates the T-handle counter-clockwise along the arc-shaped groove, causing the inner rotating tube to rotate. When a specific sampling height needs to be selected, the first feed hole on the inner rotating tube, corresponding to the horizontal height of the sampling tube outlet, is rotated to an aligned position, connecting the first feed hole with the corresponding second feed hole and the sampling tube outlet, thereby enabling sampling of fermentation broth at different horizontal heights within the fermentation equipment. Before the above operations, the sampling cup can be pre-placed at the center of the top of the lifting tray. After completing the rotation of the inner rotating tube and the selection of the sampling height, and releasing the T-handle, its… The sample cup automatically falls into the corresponding recess below due to the downward gravity of the inner rotating tube. Simultaneously, the outer circumference of the T-shaped handle presses against the arc-shaped recess of the arc-shaped top plate. With the help of two V-shaped elastic plates, the arc-shaped top plate moves downward, causing the center of the top plate to deform via the first weakening groove through the transmission rod. This pushes the two connecting rods to move in opposite directions, simultaneously causing the two auxiliary plates to move in opposite directions. Combined with the cooperation of the first and second spring plates, the two clamping rods are ultimately driven to move in opposite directions, achieving positioning of the sampling cup through the V-shaped clamping opening. In summary, this gravity positioning component automatically positions the sampling cup using the downward gravity of the T-shaped handle and the inner rotating tube, effectively ensuring the stability of the sampling cup during sampling and preventing spillage and contamination.

[0023] During the operation of the aforementioned gravity positioning component, its two V-shaped clamping ports form four points of contact with the outer wall of the sampling cup. This point-contact configuration ensures that during sampling, as the gravity of the fermentation liquid inside the sampling cup gradually increases, the lifting tray will slowly move downwards, causing the baffle plate on it to move downwards synchronously. When the baffle plate moves down to the point where its second feed hole no longer coincides with the corresponding height of the first feed hole and the sampling tube outlet, the passage of the fermentation liquid is cut off, and the discharge stops, thus completing the quantitative sampling of the feed fermentation liquid. Furthermore, in the adjustable quantitative component, the adjustment mechanism allows for precise control of the critical weight required for the baffle plate to move downwards until the sampling tube outlet is closed by increasing or decreasing the number of S-shaped springs, thereby achieving quantitative collection of different preset volumes of fermentation liquid.

[0024] When it is necessary to remove the sampling cup, which has undergone quantitative sampling, from the gravity positioning assembly, the operator can manually squeeze the two connecting rods in the opposite direction. This action, through the linkage of two transmission rods, lifts the T-shaped handle from its current position within the recess, causing the connected inner rotating tube to move upwards synchronously. Simultaneously, the two auxiliary plates move towards each other, and with the cooperation of the second spring plate, drive the two clamping rods to move in opposite directions, thereby releasing the positioning constraint on the sampling cup. As the conical opening at the bottom of the inner rotating tube rises, sufficient space is created below, facilitating the smooth removal of the sampling cup and further improving the ease of operation of the entire sampling process. Attached Figure Description

[0025] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall three-dimensional first-view structure of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the overall three-dimensional second-view structure of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 3 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the baffle plate of the present invention located in the lifting groove provided inside the outer support tube;

[0028] Figure 4 This is a first-view three-dimensional structural diagram of each component in the gravity positioning assembly of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 5 This is a two-dimensional structural diagram of each component in the gravity positioning assembly of the present invention from a second perspective;

[0030] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional unfolded structure of the multiple first material passage holes of the spiral array on the inner rotating tube of the present invention.

[0031] Figure 7 This is the present invention. Figure 4 A magnified structural diagram at point A;

[0032] Figure 8 This is the present invention. Figure 5 A magnified structural diagram at point B;

[0033] Explanation of key figure labels:

[0034] 1. Fermentation equipment main body; 2. Sampler; 21. Outer support tube; 22. Sampling tube; 221. Filter hole; 23. Inner rotating tube; 231. First feed hole; 24. Arc-shaped groove; 241. Notch; 25. T-shaped handle; 26. Connecting plate; 27. Bottom support plate; 3. Gravity positioning assembly; 31. C-shaped support plate; 32. Support base block; 33. First spring; 331. First lightweight tank; 34. Auxiliary plate; 341. Second lightweight tank; 35. Connecting rod; 36. Transmission rod; 361. First weakening tank; 37. Arc-shaped bottom plate; 3 8. V-shaped elastic plate; 381. Second weakening groove; 382. Third weakening groove; 39. Arc-shaped top plate; 391. Arc-shaped recess; 310. Guide post; 311. Lifting support plate; 312. Second spring piece; 3121. Third lightweight groove; 313. Clamping rod; 3131. V-shaped clamping opening; 314. L-shaped guide rod; 315. Guide groove; 316. Through channel; 317. Limiting block; 318. Blocking plate; 3181. Second material passage hole; 3111. S-shaped spring piece; 3112. First insert block; 3113. Second insert block. Detailed Implementation

[0035] The technical solution of this invention patent will be clearly and completely described below. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of this invention. Based on the embodiments of this invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without inventive effort are within the scope of protection of this invention.

[0036] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that the terms "center", "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "inner", "outer", etc., indicating the orientation or positional relationship are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the invention.

[0037] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "joining" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to a connection within two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0038] See attached document Figure 1-8A quantitative sampling device for an in vitro simulated rumen continuous fermentation system includes a fermentation equipment body 1. A sampler 2 is fixedly connected to the outer wall of the fermentation equipment body 1. The sampler 2 includes an outer support tube 21. Multiple sampling tubes 22 are fixedly connected and communicated on the outer wall of the outer support tube 21. The ends of the sampling tubes 22 away from the outer support tube 21 extend into the interior of the fermentation equipment body 1 and have multiple filter holes 221 arranged in a ring array. An inner rotating tube 23 is movably installed on the inner side of the outer support tube 21. The bottom end of the inner rotating tube 23 extends movably to the bottom of the outer support tube 21 and has a conical opening design. Multiple first feed holes 231 are arranged in a spiral array on the inner rotating tube 23. A T-shaped handle 25 is fixedly connected to the outer side of the inner rotating tube 23 near its conical opening. An arc-shaped groove 24 is also provided at the T-shaped handle 25 on the outer side of the outer support tube 21. The T-shaped handle 25 moves within the arc-shaped groove 24. Multiple annularly arranged notches 241 are provided on the inner bottom wall of component 4. The middle part of the T-shaped handle 25 is movably placed in the leftmost notch 241. The inner height of the arc-shaped groove 24 is larger than the middle diameter of the T-shaped handle 25, and the inner width of the notch 241 is equal to the middle diameter of the T-shaped handle 25. The outer diameter of the inner rotating tube 23 is equal to the inner diameter of the outer support tube 21. A bottom support plate 27 is fixedly connected to the middle of the bottom end of the outer support tube 21 through a connecting plate 26. The bottom support plate 27 and the outer support tube 21 are connected... A gravity positioning component 3 is connected between the outer walls; an adjustable quantitative component is installed on the top of the base plate 27 and connected to the bottom of the gravity positioning component 3; the gravity positioning component 3 is responsible for fixing the sampling cup by the downward gravity of the inner rotating tube 23, and lifting the inner rotating tube 23 and releasing the sampling cup by the reaction force; the adjustable quantitative component drives the sampling cup to complete the quantitative collection of different preset volumes of fermentation broth by adjusting the elasticity by increasing or decreasing the elasticity.

[0039] It is worth noting that the height between the inner top wall of the arc groove 24 and the inner bottom wall of the recess 241 is equal to twice the diameter of the middle part of the T-shaped handle 25; the conical opening design allows the bottom opening of the inner rotating tube 23 to extend into the sampling cup.

[0040] The number of first feed holes 231 and the number of second feed holes 3181 are equal, and the number of arc-shaped recesses 391 is the same as the number of first feed holes 231. The number of notches 241 is one more than the number of arc-shaped recesses 391, that is, the leftmost notch 241.

[0041] When attached Figure 2When the T-shaped handle 25 is located in the leftmost recess 241, its corresponding first feed holes 231 are all offset from the corresponding second feed holes 3181 at the same horizontal level. If it is necessary to make the uppermost first feed hole 231 coincide with the uppermost second feed hole 3181, the T-shaped handle 25 can be manually lifted, causing the inner rotating tube 23 to move upward synchronously. At this time, all the first feed holes 231 are higher than the corresponding second feed holes 3181 at the initial horizontal level. Then, holding the T-shaped handle 25, rotate the inner rotating tube 23 counterclockwise so that the uppermost first feed hole 231 is aligned with the uppermost second feed hole 3181. At this time, the T-shaped handle 25 is exactly above the second recess 241. After releasing the T-shaped handle 25, the inner rotating tube 23 falls under the action of gravity, and the uppermost first feed hole 231 coincides with the uppermost second feed hole 3181, completing the sampling of the sampling tube 22 at the corresponding height. The third notch 241 is used to place the T-shaped handle 25, so that the first material passage hole 231 of the second height coincides with the second material passage hole 3181 of the corresponding second height. By repeating the above operation, sampling of the sampling tube 22 at different heights can be achieved.

[0042] Furthermore, such as Figure 1-8As shown, in order to position the sampling cup by means of the downward gravity of the T-shaped handle 25 and the inner rotating tube 23, a gravity positioning component 3 is provided, including a C-shaped support plate 31 above the base plate 27 and fixed to the inner arc surface of the connecting plate 26. Two symmetrically arranged support blocks 32 are fixed to the top of the C-shaped support plate 31. The top of each of the two support blocks 32 is integrally formed with a first spring piece 33 with an S-shaped vertical cross section. The top of each first spring piece 33 is integrally formed with an inclined auxiliary plate 34. The top of each auxiliary plate 34 is fixed with a connecting rod 35. The front ends of each of the two connecting rods 35 are fixed with a vertical cross section with a L-shaped structure. The transmission rod 36 has a first weakening groove 361 at its middle bend. The top ends of both transmission rods 36 are fixed to the bottom end of the same arc-shaped top plate 39. The arc-shaped top plate 39 slides on the outside of the outer support tube 21. Both sides of the bottom end of the arc-shaped top plate 39 are integrally formed with arc-shaped bottom plates 37 through V-shaped elastic plates 38. The arc-shaped bottom plates 37 are fixed to the outside of the outer support tube 21 and are movably sleeved on the outside of the two transmission rods 36. The middle bend of the V-shaped elastic plates 38 has a third weakening groove 382. The two ends of the V-shaped elastic plates 38 are integrally formed with the arc-shaped top plate 39 through the second weakening groove 381. The top of the arc-shaped base plate 37 and the arc-shaped top plate 39 are provided with multiple arc-shaped recesses 391 arranged in a ring array. The arc-shaped recesses 391 are used to place the middle part of the T-shaped handle 25. The support base block 32 and the corresponding first spring piece 33 are both provided with a first lightweight groove 331. The auxiliary plate 34 is provided with a second lightweight groove 341. The two side walls of the two auxiliary plates 34 are fixed with a wave-shaped second spring piece 312. The top surface of the two support base blocks 32 is provided with a guide groove 315 with a convex vertical cross section. The two guide grooves 315 are slidably connected with an L-shaped guide rod with a convex bottom horizontal vertical cross section. The top ends of the L-shaped guide rods 314 are integrally fixed to the bottom ends of the second spring pieces 312. Above the C-shaped support plate 31, there are two symmetrically arranged clamping rods 313. The two ends of the two clamping rods 313 are fixed to the outer walls of the corresponding L-shaped guide rods 314. The middle of the two clamping rods 313 is integrally formed with a V-shaped clamping opening 3131. The inner bottom walls of the two guide grooves 315 are fixed with two symmetrically arranged limiting blocks 317. The bottom ends of the L-shaped guide rods 314 are provided with through channels 316. The through channels 316 are movably sleeved on the outside of the limiting blocks 317. The second spring pieces 312 are provided with third lightweight grooves.

[0043] It is worth noting that the gravity positioning component 3 can be made of stainless steel, which has the effect of corrosion resistance to feed fermentation liquid. It adopts an integrated molding structure design, which is relatively simple to manufacture. The first spring 33 is sampled and thinned, which makes it easier for the two auxiliary plates 34 to move away from each other or towards each other. The arc-shaped bottom plate 37 has an opening to facilitate the movement of the vertical part at the top of the two transmission rods 36. The design of the lightweight groove is all to reduce the weight of the corresponding components.

[0044] The design of the limiting block 317 and its through channel 316 prevents the bottom of the two L-shaped guide rods 314 from disengaging from the guide groove 315 opened on the top surface of their supporting base block 32.

[0045] Furthermore, such as Figure 1-8 As shown, in order to ensure that the sampling cup can achieve quantitative collection of different preset volumes of feed fermentation liquid without affecting its positioning effect, an adjustable quantitative component is provided, including guide columns 310 fixedly attached to the middle of opposite ends of two supporting base blocks 32. The bottom ends of the two guide columns 310 extend to the bottom of the C-shaped support plate 31 and are fixed to the top of the base plate 27. The bottom of the C-shaped support plate 31 is movably connected to the top of the lifting plate 311. The bottom end of the lifting plate 311 is connected to the top of the base plate 27 through an adjustment mechanism. The lifting plate 311 slides... The movable sleeve is located on the outside of two symmetrically arranged guide columns 310. A baffle plate 318 with an I-shaped cross-section is fixed on the outer arc wall of the lifting plate 311 near the connecting plate 26. The top of the baffle plate 318 slides in the lifting groove opened in the inner wall of the outer support tube 21. The cross-section of the lifting groove is also I-shaped. The inner arc surface of the baffle plate 318 is in contact with the outer circumference of the inner rotating tube 23. Multiple second material passage holes 3181 are opened on the baffle plate 318. The second material passage holes 3181 all coincide with the outlet of the sampling tube 22 away from the filter hole 221.

[0046] It is worth noting that the design of the two guide columns 310 enables the lifting pallet 311 to move up and down stably, and the outer arc surface of the baffle plate 318 is in contact with the outlet end of the sampling tube 22.

[0047] The second spring 312 also has a third lightweight groove 3121 to reduce its weight, and the second spring 312 is also made of thin material.

[0048] Furthermore, such as Figure 8As shown, in order to meet the quantitative collection of feed fermentation liquid of different preset volumes, the resistance of the lifting pallet 311 is increased or decreased. Therefore, an adjustment mechanism is set up, including multiple annular array second slots opened at the bottom edge of the lifting pallet 311, and multiple annular array first slots opened at the top edge of the bottom pallet 27. The vertical cross-sections of the second slots and the first slots are respectively inverted convex and convex structures. Each of the four second slots has a first insert block 3112 with an inverted convex structure. The bottom end of the first insert block 3112 is fixed to the top of the second insert block 3113 with a convex structure through an S-shaped spring piece 3111. The second insert blocks 3113 are all movably inserted into the corresponding first slots.

[0049] It is worth noting that the insertion method of the first insert 3112 and the second insert 3113 can increase or decrease the number of S-shaped springs 3111 supporting the descent of the lifting tray 311. The more S-shaped springs 3111 are added, the larger the volume of the sample cup needs to be sampled, so as to meet the descent of the lifting tray 311 and the requirement for the baffle plate 318 to seal the outlet end of the sampling tube 22. Conversely, the number of S-shaped springs 3111 can be reduced. This operation makes the adjustment of quantitative sampling very convenient.

[0050] In actual use, before sampling, the operator holds the T-handle 25 and lifts the inner rotating tube 23, causing the T-handle 25 to disengage from the leftmost recess 241. At this time, the outer circumference of the middle part of the T-handle 25 abuts against the inner top wall of the arc groove 24. The operator continues to manually rotate the T-handle 25 counterclockwise to move it along the arc groove 24, causing the inner rotating tube 23 to rotate. At the same time, the multiple first feed holes 231 move upwards. Since the height of each first feed hole 231 is higher than the height of the corresponding second feed hole 3181 during the rotation of the inner rotating tube 23, the fermentation liquid in the main body 1 of the fermentation equipment will not enter the inner rotating tube 23. At this time, the sampling tube 22 at the specified height can be selected for sampling.

[0051] During operation, the first feed hole 231 on the inner rotating tube 23, which is level with the height of the sampling tube 22 at the specified height, is rotated to be directly above the outlet of the sampling tube 22 at the desired sampling height. Then, the T-shaped handle 25 is lowered. Under the gravity of the inner rotating tube 23, the outer circumference of the middle part of the T-shaped handle 25 descends into the corresponding recess 241 directly below, so that the first feed hole 231 communicates with the second feed hole 3181 at the corresponding height and the outlet of the sampling tube 22, thereby realizing the sampling of fermentation liquid at different horizontal heights within the main body 1 of the fermentation equipment.

[0052] Before the above operation, the sampling cup can be placed at the top center of the lifting tray 311. After the inner rotating tube 23 is lifted and rotated and the T-handle 25 is released, the T-handle 25 automatically falls into the corresponding recess 241 due to the downward gravity of the inner rotating tube 23. At the same time, the outer circumference of the middle part of the T-handle 25 presses against the arc-shaped recess 391 of the arc-shaped top plate 39. Under the structural cooperation of the two V-shaped elastic plates 38, the arc-shaped top plate 39 is moved downward, and then the middle part of the transmission rod 36 is deformed through the first weakening groove 361, which pushes the two connecting rods 35 to move away from each other, and simultaneously drives the two auxiliary plates 34 to move away from each other. Combined with the cooperation of the first spring 33 and the second spring 312, the two clamping rods 313 are finally driven to move relative to each other, and the sampling cup is positioned through the V-shaped clamping port 3131.

[0053] During sampling, the two V-shaped clamping ports 3131 form four points of contact with the outer wall of the sampling cup. This point-contact arrangement ensures that as the gravity of the fermentation liquid inside the sampling cup gradually increases during sampling, the lifting support plate 311 will slowly move downwards, causing the baffle plate 318 on it to move downwards simultaneously. When the baffle plate 318 moves down to the point where the second feed hole 3181 on it no longer coincides with the corresponding height of the first feed hole 231 and the outlet of the sampling tube 22, the fermentation liquid passage is cut off, and the discharge stops immediately, completing the quantitative sampling of the feed fermentation liquid.

[0054] Under the adjustment mechanism of the adjustable quantitative component, by increasing or decreasing the number of S-shaped springs 3111, the critical weight required for the baffle plate 318 to move down to close the outlet of the sampling tube 22 can be precisely controlled, thereby realizing the quantitative collection of fermentation broth of different preset volumes.

[0055] The foregoing description of specific exemplary embodiments of the invention is for illustrative and explanatory purposes. These descriptions are not intended to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and it will be apparent that many changes and variations can be made in accordance with the foregoing teachings. The exemplary embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the specific principles of the invention and its practical application, thereby enabling those skilled in the art to implement and utilize various different exemplary embodiments of the invention, as well as various different choices and variations. The scope of the invention is intended to be defined by the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A quantitative sampling device for an in vitro simulated rumen continuous fermentation system, comprising a fermentation equipment body, a sampler fixedly connected to the outer wall of the fermentation equipment body, the sampler including an outer support tube, a plurality of equidistantly arranged sampling tubes fixedly connected to the outer wall of the outer support tube, the ends of the sampling tubes away from the outer support tube extending into the interior of the fermentation equipment body and having a plurality of filter holes arranged in a ring array, an inner rotating tube movably installed inside the outer support tube, the bottom end of the inner rotating tube movably extending to the bottom of the outer support tube and having a conical opening design, the inner rotating tube having openings... The device comprises multiple first feed holes arranged in a spiral array. A T-shaped handle is fixed to the outer side of the inner rotating tube, near its conical opening. The T-shaped handle also has an arc-shaped groove formed on the outer side of the outer support tube. The T-shaped handle moves within the arc-shaped groove. Multiple annularly arranged notches are formed on the inner bottom wall of the arc-shaped groove. The middle part of the T-shaped handle is movably placed in the leftmost notch. The inner height of the arc-shaped groove is larger than the middle diameter of the T-shaped handle, and the inner width of the notch is equal to the middle diameter of the T-shaped handle. The outer diameter of the inner rotating tube is equal to the inner diameter of the outer support tube. Its distinguishing feature is... A bottom support plate is fixed to the middle of the bottom end of the outer support tube via a connecting plate, and a gravity positioning component is connected between the bottom support plate and the outer wall of the outer support tube. An adjustable metering component is installed on the top of the base plate and connected to the bottom of the gravity positioning component. The gravity positioning component includes a C-shaped support plate above the base plate and fixed to the inner arc surface of the connecting plate. Two symmetrically arranged support blocks are fixed to the top of the C-shaped support plate. Each of the two support blocks has a first spring piece integrally formed on its top with an S-shaped vertical cross-section. Each first spring piece has an inclined auxiliary plate integrally formed on its top. A connecting rod is fixed to the top of each auxiliary plate. A transmission rod with a L-shaped vertical cross-section is fixed to the front end of each of the two connecting rods. A first weakening groove is formed at the bend in the middle of each transmission rod. The tops of both transmission rods are fixed to the bottom end of the same arc-shaped top plate. The arc-shaped top plate slides on the outside of the outer support tube. V-shaped springs are located on both sides of the bottom end of the arc-shaped top plate. The support plate is integrally formed with an arc-shaped base plate, which is fixed to the outside of the outer support tube and movably sleeved on the outside of the two transmission rods. A second spring sheet with a wave-shaped structure is fixed to both side walls of the two auxiliary plates. A guide groove with a convex vertical cross-section is opened on the top surface of the two support blocks. An L-shaped guide rod with a convex bottom horizontal vertical cross-section is slidably connected in the two guide grooves. The top of the L-shaped guide rod is integrally fixed to the bottom end of the second spring sheet. Two symmetrically arranged clamping rods are also provided above the C-shaped support plate. The two ends of the two clamping rods are fixed to the outer wall of the corresponding L-shaped guide rod. A V-shaped clamping opening is integrally formed in the middle of the two clamping rods. The adjustable quantitative component includes guide columns fixedly connected to the middle of opposite ends of the two supporting base blocks. The bottom ends of the two guide columns extend to the bottom of the C-shaped support plate and are fixedly connected to the top of the base plate. The bottom of the C-shaped support plate is movably connected to the top of the lifting plate. The bottom end of the lifting plate is connected to the top of the base plate via an adjustment mechanism. The lifting plate is slidably sleeved on the outside of the two symmetrically arranged guide columns. A baffle plate with an I-shaped cross-section is fixedly connected to the outer arc wall of the lifting plate near the connecting plate. The top of the baffle plate slides in a lifting groove opened in the inner wall of the outer support tube. The cross-section of the lifting groove is also I-shaped. The inner arc surface of the baffle plate is in movable contact with the outer circumference of the inner rotating tube. The baffle plate has multiple equidistant second material passage holes, all of which coincide with the outlet of the sampling tube away from the filter hole.

2. The quantitative sampling device for an in vitro simulated rumen continuous fermentation system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The V-shaped elastic plate has a third weakening groove at the middle bend. The two ends of the V-shaped elastic plate are integrally formed to the arc-shaped top plate and the arc-shaped bottom plate through the second weakening groove. The top of the arc-shaped top plate has multiple arc-shaped recesses arranged in a ring array. The arc-shaped recesses are used to place the middle part of the T-shaped handle.

3. A quantitative sampling device for an in vitro simulated rumen continuous fermentation system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The supporting base block and the corresponding connected first spring sheet are both provided with a first lightweight groove, and the auxiliary plate is provided with a second lightweight groove.

4. A quantitative sampling device for an in vitro simulated rumen continuous fermentation system according to claim 1, characterized in that, Two symmetrically arranged limiting blocks are fixed to the inner bottom walls of the two guide grooves. The bottom end of the L-shaped guide rod is provided with a through channel, which is movably sleeved on the outside of the limiting block. The second spring sheet is provided with a third lightweight groove.

5. A quantitative sampling device for an in vitro simulated rumen continuous fermentation system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The adjustment mechanism includes multiple annular arrays of second slots at the bottom edge of the lifting platform and multiple annular arrays of first slots at the top edge of the bottom platform. The vertical cross-sections of the second slots and the first slots are respectively inverted convex and convex. Each of the four second slots contains a first insert with an inverted convex vertical cross-section. The bottom of each first insert is fixed to the top of a second insert with a convex vertical cross-section by an S-shaped spring. Each second insert is movably inserted into its corresponding first slot.

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