An oxygen regulating mechanism and a plant-based organic acid fermentation device comprising the same

Abstract

The present application relates to the technical field of biological fermentation equipment, in particular to an oxygen inlet regulation mechanism and a plant-based organic acid fermentation device containing the same, which comprises a transmission shaft part for connecting with a driving motor part and transmitting driving torque; an inner rod body part comprising an inner valve cylinder connected with the transmission shaft part, an inner chamber for guiding oxygen being arranged inside the inner valve cylinder, and an inner air valve hole being arranged on the inner valve cylinder. The present application utilizes the resistance change caused by the medium viscosity, drives the relative deflection of the double valve cylinders through the elastic deformation of the torsion bar part, realizes the pure mechanical oxygen inlet amount self-feedback regulation, matches the oxygen consumption law of each stage of the plant-based fermentation through the water drop-shaped air hole design, and supports the quick disassembly, which is convenient for the rapid deployment of different materials.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of bio-fermentation equipment technology, specifically to an oxygen intake regulation mechanism and a plant-based organic acid fermentation device containing the mechanism. Background Technology

[0002] In aerobic fermentation, the efficiency of organic acid synthesis is inextricably linked to dissolved oxygen regulation during fermentation. To ensure the smooth progress of the fermentation reaction, the oxygen intake needs to be adjusted in a timely manner according to the fermentation status. However, existing oxygen control mechanisms have the following technical shortcomings when used for organic acid fermentation of plant-based raw materials: First, existing oxygen control mechanisms generally rely on electronic sensors, solenoid valves, and PLC controllers for detection and regulation. Due to the high humidity, high viscosity, and tendency to scale formation in plant-based fermentation media, electronic sensors and solenoid valves operate under these harsh conditions for extended periods. Material residue easily adheres to their surfaces, leading to signal distortion, valve core jamming due to scaling, or damage to electrical components due to moisture. This results in a persistently high failure rate for electronic control mechanisms in plant-based fermentation environments, making it difficult for the equipment to meet the requirements of continuous industrial production in terms of interference resistance and service life.

[0003] Secondly, in actual production, the initial fiber content, particle size, and medium viscosity often vary significantly for different types of plant-based raw materials. When using a mechanical structure with resistance feedback for oxygen intake regulation, it is necessary to adjust feedback parameters such as the torsional stiffness of the internal elastic elements in a timely manner according to the different initial characteristics of the materials. However, existing feedback regulation structures are usually highly integrated with the core components of the fermenter, making assembly and disassembly cumbersome. Replacing feedback elements often requires extensive disassembly of the fermenter, which not only greatly increases the maintenance workload of technicians and easily damages the sterile environment of the core structure of the tank, but also makes it difficult for the same fermentation device to quickly adapt to plant-based raw materials with different initial characteristics, resulting in poor equipment versatility. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In order to overcome the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention aims to provide an oxygen intake regulation mechanism and a plant-based organic acid fermentation device containing the mechanism, so as to solve the problems mentioned in the background art.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution: An oxygen intake control mechanism includes a fermenter body, a tank cover, and a drive motor, wherein: a transmission shaft is connected to the drive motor and transmits driving torque; an inner rod body includes an inner valve cylinder connected to the transmission shaft, the inner valve cylinder having an inner chamber for guiding oxygen, and an inner air valve hole; an outer rod body includes an outer valve cylinder sleeved outside the inner valve cylinder, the outer valve cylinder having an outer air valve hole corresponding to and communicating with the inner air valve hole, and a stirring blade for stirring the fermentation medium is connected to the outside of the outer valve cylinder; and a torsion bar, the two ends of which are respectively linked to the inner rod body and the outer rod body, for elastically torturing when the stirring blade is subjected to resistance, so that the outer valve cylinder deflects relative to the inner valve cylinder at a relative angle.

[0006] Preferably, the openings of both the inner and outer air valve holes are teardrop-shaped.

[0007] Preferably, the transmission shaft includes an upper plate and a lower plate. The upper plate is used to connect to the working end of the drive motor. The lower plate and the upper plate are connected by a connecting bracket. The bottom of the lower plate is used to connect to the inner valve cylinder.

[0008] Preferably, the lower plate is detachably connected to the inner valve cylinder by bolts, and the connecting bracket is used for the bolts between the lower plate and the inner valve cylinder to extend and be installed.

[0009] Preferably, the bottom of the lower plate is connected to a clamping end rod.

[0010] Preferably, the outer rod body further includes a bottom clamping plate connected to the bottom of the outer valve cylinder, and the bottom clamping plate is provided with a slot corresponding to the torsion bar.

[0011] Preferably, one end of the torsion bar is bent and inserted into the slot of the bottom plate, and one end of the torsion bar is U-shaped and contacts the pressing end rod. When the lower plate and the inner valve cylinder are fixed by bolts, the torsion bar is squeezed and fixed in the middle by the pressing end rod and the bottom plate.

[0012] Preferably, the bottom plate is provided with a collar, which is used to fit onto the slot opened on the bottom plate corresponding to the torsion bar.

[0013] Preferably, the outer rod body further includes a collection box, which is connected to the bottom clamping plate by threads. The bottom clamping plate and the collar are provided with flow channels, and the flow channels are used to connect the inner cavity of the inner valve cylinder with the collection box.

[0014] Preferably, the inner valve cylinder is provided with an air inlet for connecting to the oxygen pumping equipment near the drive shaft, and the inner rod body also includes a main bearing disposed outside the inner valve cylinder, and the inner valve cylinder is connected to the tank cover through the main bearing.

[0015] Preferably, there are four stirring blades, and the four stirring blades are symmetrically connected to the outer surface of the outer valve cylinder. The inner valve cylinder and the outer valve cylinder are in frictional contact with each other. A packing seal is provided between the top end of the outer valve cylinder and the inner valve cylinder. The drive motor is mounted on a linear module, and a drive rotary disk for fixing on the tank cover is installed at the bottom of the linear module.

[0016] A plant-based organic acid fermentation device, comprising the aforementioned oxygen intake control mechanism.

[0017] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are: The device cleverly utilizes the resistance generated by the change in viscosity of the fermentation medium, and directly drives the relative displacement between the outer valve cylinder and the inner valve cylinder through the elastic deformation of the torsion bar, realizing a fully mechanical self-feedback regulation of oxygen intake. This avoids the high failure rate of electronic sensors, solenoid valves and other electronic control components in the high humidity, viscous and easy scaling environment of plant-based fermentation, and significantly improves the anti-interference ability and service life of the equipment. By designing the inner and outer air valve holes as corresponding teardrop-shaped openings, the overlapping area of ​​the valves and the deflection angle of the outer valve cylinder are adjusted in a non-linear proportion. In the early stage of fermentation, under high resistance, the wide parts of the two holes overlap to provide a large flow of oxygen. In the later stage, under low resistance, the holes move towards the narrow part to automatically and gradually reduce the oxygen supply. This precisely matches the oxygen consumption pattern of plant fibers at different stages from before to after degradation, avoiding the adverse effects of blindly excessive or insufficient oxygenation on the fermentation and metabolism of organic acids. The quick-release linkage structure, with a detachable compression locking design between the lower plate, inner valve cylinder, and torsion bar components, combined with the axial lifting and rotation avoidance of the external drive motor, allows technicians to quickly extract and replace torsion bar components of different thicknesses or stiffnesses without damaging the core structure of the tank. This enables the same fermentation unit to be quickly adapted to plant-based raw materials with different initial viscosities, improving the equipment's versatility. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the overall three-dimensional cross-section of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the transmission shaft portion, inner rod portion, and outer rod portion of the present invention. Figure 4This is a cross-sectional structural schematic diagram of the transmission shaft portion, inner rod portion, and outer rod portion of the present invention; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the inner air valve hole and the outer air valve hole of the present invention; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the transmission shaft portion of the present invention.

[0019] In the diagram: 11. Fermentation tank body; 12. Tank lid; 13. Drive motor component; 02. Transmission shaft; 21. Upper plate component; 22. Lower plate component; 23. Pressing end rod; 03. Inner rod body component; 31. Inner valve cylinder; 311. Inner air valve hole; 32. Main bearing; 04. Outer rod body component; 41. Outer valve cylinder; 411. Outer air valve hole; 42. Bottom clamping plate component; 43. Collar; 44. Stirring blade; 45. Collection box; 05. Torsion bar component. Detailed Implementation

[0020] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0021] One embodiment provided by the present invention: refer to Figures 1-2 An oxygen intake control mechanism includes a fermentation tank 11, a tank cover 12, and a drive motor 13, and further includes: Drive shaft part 02, inner rod part 03, outer rod part 04 and torsion bar 05; refer to Figure 6 The transmission shaft part 02 includes an upper plate 21 and a lower plate 22. The upper plate 21 is connected to the working end of the drive motor part 13. The lower plate 22 and the upper plate 21 are connected by a connecting frame. The bottom of the lower plate 22 is used to connect the inner valve cylinder 31. The bottom of the lower plate 22 is connected to a pressing end rod 23.

[0022] refer to Figures 2-5 The inner rod body 03 includes an inner valve cylinder 31. The outer side of the inner valve cylinder 31 is provided with a main bearing 32. The inner valve cylinder 31 is connected to the can cover 12 through the main bearing 32. An inner air valve hole 311 is opened on the inner valve cylinder 31.

[0023] The outer rod body 04 includes an outer valve cylinder 41, which has an outer valve hole 411 corresponding to the inner valve hole 311. The bottom of the outer valve cylinder 41 is connected to a bottom clamping plate 42, which has a slot corresponding to the torsion bar 05. The bottom clamping plate 42 has a collar 43, which is used to fit onto the slot of the bottom clamping plate 42 corresponding to the torsion bar 05.

[0024] The outer valve cylinder 41 is provided with stirring blades 44. There are four stirring blades 44, and the four stirring blades 44 are symmetrically connected to the surface of the outer valve cylinder 41. The collection box 45 is connected to the bottom clamping plate 42 by threads. The bottom clamping plate 42 and the collar 43 are provided with flow channels, and the flow channels connect the inner cavity of the inner valve cylinder 31 and the collection box 45.

[0025] The inner valve cylinder 31 is provided with an air inlet near the lower plate 22, and the air inlet is connected to an oxygen pump. The lower plate 22 is detachably connected to the inner valve cylinder 31 by bolts, and the connecting bracket between the lower plate 22 and the upper plate 21 is used to allow the bolts between the lower plate 22 and the inner valve cylinder 31 to extend and be installed.

[0026] A packing seal is provided between the top end of the outer valve cylinder 41 and the inner valve cylinder 31.

[0027] The bottom end of the torsion bar 05 is bent, and the top end of the torsion bar 05 is U-shaped. The bottom end of the torsion bar 05 is inserted into the groove of the bottom plate 42, and the top end is in contact with the pressing end rod 23. When the lower plate 22 and the inner valve cylinder 31 are fixed by bolt connection, the torsion bar 05 is pressed and fixed in the middle by the pressing end rod 23 and the bottom plate 42.

[0028] The inner valve cylinder 31 and the outer valve cylinder 41 are in frictional contact. The openings of the inner and outer air valve holes 311 and 411 are teardrop-shaped. During control and adjustment, the greater the angle change of the outer valve cylinder 41 relative to the inner valve cylinder 31, the greater the overlap between the inner and outer air valve holes 311 and 411. Due to the teardrop-shaped design, in the early stage of fermentation when the medium viscosity is high and the resistance is large, the outer valve cylinder 41 deflects at a large angle, and the wide parts of the two teardrop-shaped openings overlap, forming a large overlapping area. This allows sufficient oxygen to be quickly introduced into the fermentation medium, meeting the high oxygen demand at this stage before the plant fibers have decomposed. As the stirring fermentation progresses, the plant fibers are gradually decomposed, the medium viscosity decreases, and the resistance acting on the stirring blade 44 decreases accordingly. The deflection angle of the outer valve cylinder 41 also decreases accordingly. At this time, the two teardrop-shaped openings begin to move towards their respective narrow parts, the overlapping area shrinks rapidly, and the oxygen supply decreases gradually.

[0029] The drive motor 13 is mounted on the linear module, and a drive rotary disk is mounted on the bottom of the linear module. This drive rotary disk is mounted on the can cover 12. This part of the structure is existing technology, and the specific working principle will not be described in detail in the text.

[0030] A plant-based organic acid fermentation device includes the aforementioned oxygen intake control mechanism.

[0031] Working principle: When the drive motor 13 is started, its working end outputs torque and transmits it to the upper plate 21 of the transmission shaft 02, which drives the lower plate 22 to rotate via the connecting frame. Since the lower plate 22 is fixedly connected to the inner valve cylinder 31 by bolts, it drives the inner valve cylinder 31 of the inner rod body 03 to rotate synchronously. During this process, the rotational torque of the inner valve cylinder 31 is transmitted to the torsion bar 05 through the clamping end rod 23 and the bottom clamping plate 42, and then the torsion bar 05 transmits the power to the outer valve cylinder 41 of the outer rod body 04, which drives the four stirring blades 44 on the surface of the outer valve cylinder 41 to rotate and stir the fermentation material in the fermentation tank 11.

[0032] In the initial stage of fermentation (high oxygen consumption, high resistance stage): Due to the fermentation characteristics of plant-based organic acids, the medium in the fermentation tank 11 is relatively viscous in the initial stage due to the presence of a large amount of plant fiber. When the stirring blade 44 moves in the thick fermentation medium, it will encounter significant medium resistance. This resistance acts in the opposite direction through the outer valve cylinder 41 and the bottom clamping plate 42 to the bottom elbow end of the torsion bar 05, causing the elastic torsion bar 05 to undergo a small-amplitude elastic torsion. At this time, the outer valve cylinder 41 has a significant relative deflection angle compared to the inner valve cylinder 31. Since the openings of both the inner and outer air valve holes 311 are designed in a teardrop shape, as the deflection angle increases, the widths of the two teardrop-shaped openings overlap, forming a large overlapping area. Oxygen input from the oxygen pump enters the inner chamber of the inner valve cylinder 31 through the air inlet, and then exits through the large overlapping inner air valve hole 311 and outer air valve hole 411. It then enters the collection box 45 through the flow channels in the bottom card plate 42 and the collar 43, and is finally discharged into the fermentation medium to meet the high oxygen demand in the early stage when the plant fiber has not yet decomposed.

[0033] In the mid-to-late stage of fermentation (low oxygen consumption, low resistance stage): As the stirring fermentation continues, the plant fibers in the medium are gradually degraded and decomposed, and the overall viscosity of the medium decreases. At this time, the medium resistance acting on the stirring blade 44 decreases, and the torsion bar 05 gradually rebounds and returns to its original position under its own elasticity, causing the deflection angle of the outer valve cylinder 41 relative to the inner valve cylinder 31 to decrease accordingly. In this state, the inner air valve hole 311 and the outer air valve hole 411 begin to move relative to their respective narrow parts, and the overlapping area of ​​the two shrinks rapidly, thereby causing the amount of oxygen supplied into the fermentation medium to decrease gradually, achieving automatic matching between the amount of oxygen supplied and the fermentation stage.

[0034] When dealing with different types of plant-based raw materials, resulting in differences in the initial medium viscosity, the torsion bar 05 can be replaced to adjust the torsional stiffness according to the usage requirements. During replacement, first disconnect the upper plate 21 from the working end of the drive motor 13, control the drive motor 13 to rise along the linear module and rotate it using the drive rotary disc to avoid the subsequent removal axis of the torsion bar 05. Then, remove the connecting bolts between the lower plate 22 and the inner valve cylinder 31 (the bolts can be inserted through the connecting bracket space between the lower plate 22 and the upper plate 21), and remove the entire drive shaft 02 upwards. At this point, the locking force is released, and the old torsion bar 05 can be directly pulled out from top to bottom. Reinsert the bottom elbow end of the new torsion bar 05 of suitable thickness or stiffness into the groove of the bottom clamp plate 42, and then replace the drive shaft 02, so that the clamping end rod 23 contacts the U-shaped structure end at the top of the torsion bar 05. Finally, tighten the connecting bolts between the lower plate 22 and the inner valve cylinder 31. The replaced torsion bar 05 is then tightly pressed and locked between the pressing end rod 23 and the bottom clamping plate 42, completing the replacement and adjustment.

[0035] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the details of the exemplary embodiments described above, and that the invention can be implemented in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. Therefore, the embodiments should be considered in all respects as exemplary and non-limiting, and the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description. Thus, all variations falling within the meaning and scope of equivalents of the claims are intended to be included within the present invention. No reference numerals in the claims should be construed as limiting the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. An oxygen intake control mechanism, comprising a fermentation tank body, a tank cover, and a drive motor, characterized in that: The drive shaft is used to connect with the drive motor and transmit drive torque. The inner rod body includes an inner valve cylinder connected to the drive shaft. The inner valve cylinder has an inner chamber for guiding oxygen, and an inner air valve hole is provided on the inner valve cylinder. The outer rod body includes an outer valve cylinder sleeved outside the inner valve cylinder. The outer valve cylinder has an external air valve hole that communicates with the inner air valve hole. An agitator blade for stirring the fermentation medium is connected to the outside of the outer valve cylinder. A torsion bar, with its two ends respectively linked to the inner rod body and the outer rod body, is used to elastically torsion when the stirring blade is subjected to resistance, so that the outer valve cylinder deflects relative to the inner valve cylinder at a relative angle.

2. The oxygen intake control mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: Both the inner and outer air valve holes have teardrop-shaped openings.

3. The oxygen intake regulation mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: The transmission shaft includes an upper plate and a lower plate. The upper plate is used to connect to the working end of the drive motor. The lower plate and the upper plate are connected by a connecting bracket. The bottom of the lower plate is used to connect to the inner valve cylinder.

4. The oxygen intake control mechanism according to claim 3, characterized in that: The lower plate is detachably connected to the inner valve cylinder by bolts, and the connecting bracket is used for the bolts between the lower plate and the inner valve cylinder to extend and be installed.

5. The oxygen intake control mechanism according to claim 3, characterized in that: The bottom of the lower plate is connected to a clamping end rod.

6. The oxygen intake control mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: The outer rod body also includes a bottom clamping plate connected to the bottom of the outer valve cylinder, and the bottom clamping plate has a slot corresponding to the torsion bar.

7. The oxygen intake control mechanism according to claim 5, characterized in that: One end of the torsion bar is bent and inserted into the slot of the bottom plate. The top end of the torsion bar is U-shaped and contacts the pressing end rod. When the lower plate and the inner valve cylinder are fixed by bolts, the torsion bar is squeezed and fixed in the middle by the pressing end rod and the bottom plate.

8. The oxygen intake control mechanism according to claim 6, characterized in that: The bottom plate is provided with a collar, which is used to fit onto the slot opened on the bottom plate corresponding to the torsion bar.

9. The oxygen intake control mechanism according to claim 8, characterized in that: The outer rod body also includes a collection box, which is connected to the bottom clamping plate by threads. The bottom clamping plate and the collar are provided with flow channels, and the flow channels are used to connect the inner cavity of the inner valve cylinder with the collection box.

10. The oxygen intake control mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: The inner valve cylinder is provided with an air inlet for connecting to the oxygen pumping equipment near the drive shaft. The inner rod body also includes a main bearing disposed outside the inner valve cylinder. The inner valve cylinder is connected to the tank cover through the main bearing.

11. The oxygen intake control mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: The stirring blades are provided in four parts, and the four stirring blades are symmetrically connected to the outer surface of the outer valve cylinder. The inner valve cylinder and the outer valve cylinder are in frictional contact with each other. A packing seal is provided between the top end of the outer valve cylinder and the inner valve cylinder. The drive motor is mounted on the linear module. A drive rotary disk for fixing on the tank cover is installed at the bottom of the linear module.

12. A plant-based organic acid fermentation device, characterized in that, It includes the oxygen intake control mechanism as described in any one of claims 1 to 11.

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