A dry hop feeding device
The design of the dry hop feeding device solves the safety hazards and pollution problems of traditional hop feeding, and achieves efficient and safe hop feeding and filtration, thereby improving the brewing quality and efficiency of beer.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- JINAN GAOGUAN BIOLOGICAL ENG CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2025-07-29
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-30
AI Technical Summary
Traditional dry hopping methods pose safety risks, affect beer quality and brewing efficiency, and are prone to contaminating the fermentation liquid.
The system employs a dry hop feeding device, which includes a hop mixing tank, a filter, and a circulation pump. Through valve control and the coordination of the circulation pump, the hops are granulated and filtered, avoiding direct feeding and depressurization operations.
It simplifies the hop addition process, improves brewing efficiency, prevents external impurities from entering, reduces beer loss, and enhances the taste and flavor of the beer.
Smart Images
Figure CN224430554U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This utility model relates to the technical field of beer brewing, specifically a hop dry-feeding device. Background Technology
[0002] The traditional dry-hopping method, and the method still used in homebrewing today, involves placing hops or extracts into a hop bag, opening the port or manhole of the fermentation vessel, and pouring the hop bag into it.
[0003] However, due to the pressure inside the fermentation tank during the later stages of fermentation, hops cannot be added under normal circumstances. To add hops, it is necessary to release the pressure inside the fermentation tank beforehand, open the top flange of the fermentation tank, and then add the hops. Adding hops in this way presents three problems:
[0004] First, the carbon dioxide content in the beer is insufficient. To solve this problem, after adding hops, carbon dioxide needs to be manually and repeatedly added. This involves the purity of carbon dioxide and microbial issues. If the carbon dioxide purity is insufficient or does not meet food-grade requirements, it will not only affect the taste of the beer but also cause food safety issues. If the operation method does not meet the requirements of aseptic operation during the carbon dioxide addition process, it will also cause secondary contamination of the fermentation liquid.
[0005] Secondly, after the flange is opened, outside air enters the fermentation tank, which can easily cause contamination. Therefore, although IPA wine is good, the success rate of brewing good wine is not high. In order to brew good wine, a clean environment with a high degree of sterility is required, and aseptic operation methods must be followed.
[0006] Thirdly, pouring hops directly into the fermentation tank is a contest of speed at which the beer foams violently and the brewer's speed in completing the addition and closing the fermentation tank opening. The danger lies in the fact that if you are not decisive enough, you will experience a sensation similar to adding a mint to Coca-Cola. This is because the carbon dioxide produced during beer fermentation rapidly nucleates with the added hops, accelerating the escape of carbon dioxide and causing it to detach from the suspension, resulting in a fountain-like spray of foam. Utility Model Content
[0007] The purpose of this invention is to provide a hop dry-feeding device to solve the safety hazards that exist during hop dry-feeding, avoid contaminating the beer in the fermentation tank, and improve the brewing efficiency and effect of beer.
[0008] To achieve the above objectives, the utility model employs the following technical solution:
[0009] A hop dry-feeding device includes a hop dry-feeding mechanism connected to a fermentation tank. The hop dry-feeding mechanism includes a hop mixing tank, a filter, and a circulation pump. The top of the hop mixing tank is provided with a feeding port. One side of the hop mixing tank is provided with a first pipeline connected to the fermentation tank. The bottom of the beer fermentation tank is provided with a second pipeline connected to the inlet of the circulation pump. The outlet of the circulation pump is provided with a third pipeline connected to the bottom of the filter. The top of the filter is provided with a fourth pipeline connected to the fermentation tank. The other side of the hop mixing tank is provided with a fifth pipeline connected to the circulation pump. The first, second, third, fourth, and fifth pipelines are respectively provided with a first valve, a second valve, a third valve, a fourth valve, and a fifth valve.
[0010] Furthermore, it also includes a drain pipe connected to the bottom of the filter, and the drain pipe is equipped with a drain valve.
[0011] Furthermore, the top of the hop mixing tank is provided with a cleaning ball, which has several through holes, and also includes a sixth pipeline connected to the cleaning ball and the circulation pump, with a sixth valve on the sixth pipeline.
[0012] Furthermore, a seventh pipeline is provided between the top of the filter and the outlet of the circulation pump, and a seventh valve is provided on the seventh pipeline.
[0013] Furthermore, an eighth pipeline is provided between the top of the filter and the hop mixing tank, and an eighth valve is provided on the eighth pipeline.
[0014] Furthermore, the top of the hop mixing tank is equipped with a pressure gauge and a breather valve.
[0015] Furthermore, both the bottom of the hop mixing tank and the filter are equipped with spiral plates.
[0016] Furthermore, the top of the filter is provided with several vertical plates and a horizontal plate connected to the vertical plates. The filter includes a beer outlet connected to the fourth pipeline. A filter plate is provided on the beer outlet. The vertical plates and the filter plate are each provided with a first filter hole. The horizontal plate is provided with a second filter hole. The inner diameter of the second filter hole is larger than that of the first filter hole.
[0017] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this utility model are as follows:
[0018] 1. When hops need to be added, add hops to the hop mixing tank through the feed port in advance, open the first valve, close the second and fifth valves, and introduce some beer from the fermentation tank into the hop mixing tank. When a certain amount of beer has entered, close the first and third valves, open the second and fifth valves, and use the circulation pump to pump the beer and hops at the bottom of the hop mixing tank back into the top of the hop mixing tank through the second and fifth pipes. Continue for a period of time to circulate the beer in the hop mixing tank, so that the hops in the hop mixing tank are fully granulated. There is no need to depressurize and open the fermentation tank. Hops can be added from the top, which simplifies the operation of adding hops, improves the efficiency of brewing beer, prevents safety hazards caused by failure to close valves in time, and avoids external impurities from entering the fermentation tank during the addition process.
[0019] 2. Open the second, third, and fourth valves, and close the first and fifth valves. Use the circulation pump to pump the beer into the filter through the second and third pipelines. The filter will intercept the hops, and the clear beer from the filter outlet will re-enter the fermentation tank. This process extracts the hops without the need to remove them from the fermentation tank, improving brewing efficiency and avoiding beer loss caused by removing hops. Furthermore, it prevents the beer from being affected by not removing hops for a long time, thus improving the overall quality of the brewed beer. Attached Figure Description
[0020] Appendix Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the fermentation tank and hop mixing tank of this utility model.
[0021] Appendix Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the hop mixing tank of this utility model.
[0022] Appendix Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the filter of this utility model.
[0023] Appendix Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the cleaning ball of this utility model.
[0024] The labels shown in the attached diagram:
[0025] 1. Fermentation tank; 2. Hop mixing tank; 3. Filter; 4. Circulation pump; 5. Feed port; 6. First pipeline; 7. Second pipeline; 8. Third pipeline; 9. Fourth pipeline; 10. Fifth pipeline; 11. First valve; 12. Second valve; 13. Third valve; 14. Fourth valve; 15. Fifth valve; 16. Drain pipeline; 17. Drain valve; 18. Cleaning ball; 19. Through hole; 20. Sixth pipeline; 21. Sixth valve; 22. Seventh pipeline; 23. Seventh valve; 24. Eighth pipeline; 25. Eighth valve; 26. Pressure gauge; 27. Breathing valve; 28. Spiral plate; 29. Vertical plate; 30. Horizontal plate; 31. Beer outlet; 32. Filter plate; 33. First filter hole; 34. Second filter hole. Detailed Implementation
[0026] The present invention will be further illustrated below with reference to specific embodiments. It should be understood that these embodiments are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Furthermore, it should be understood that after reading the teachings of this invention, those skilled in the art can make various alterations or modifications to the present invention, and these equivalent forms also fall within the scope defined in this application.
[0027] This utility model provides a hop hopping device, such as... Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown, the system includes a dry hop feeding mechanism connected to a fermentation tank 1. The dry hop feeding mechanism includes a hop mixing tank 2, a filter 3, and a circulation pump 4. The top of the hop mixing tank 2 has a feeding port 5. One side of the hop mixing tank 2 has a first pipe 6 connected to the fermentation tank 1. The bottom of the beer fermentation tank 1 has a second pipe 7 connected to the inlet of the circulation pump 4. The outlet of the circulation pump 4 has a third pipe 8 connected to the bottom of the filter 3. The top of the filter 3 has a fourth pipe 9 connected to the fermentation tank 1. The other side of the hop mixing tank 2 has a fifth pipe 10 connected to the circulation pump 4. The first pipe 6, second pipe 7, third pipe 8, fourth pipe 9, and fifth pipe 10 are respectively equipped with a first valve 11, a second valve 12, a third valve 13, a fourth valve 14, and a fifth valve 15. 5. When hops need to be added, add hops to the hop mixing tank 2 through the feeding port 5 in advance, open the first valve 11, close the second valve 12 and the fifth valve 15, and introduce some beer from the fermentation tank 1 into the hop mixing tank 2. When a certain amount of beer has entered, close the first valve 11 and the third valve 13, open the second valve 12 and the fifth valve 15, and use the circulation pump 4 to pump the beer and hops at the bottom of the hop mixing tank 2 back into the top of the hop mixing tank 2 through the second pipeline 7 and the fifth pipeline 10, and continue for a period of time to make the beer in the hop mixing tank 2 circulate in the tank, so that the hops in the hop mixing tank 2 are fully granulated. There is no need to depressurize and open the fermentation tank 1 to add hops from the top, which simplifies the operation steps of adding hops, improves the efficiency of brewing beer, and at the same time avoids external impurities from entering the fermentation tank 1 during the addition process.
[0028] Then, open the second valve 12, the third valve 13, and the fourth valve 14, and close the first valve 11 and the fifth valve 15. The circulating pump 4 pumps the beer into the filter 3 through the second pipeline 7 and the third pipeline 8. The hops are intercepted by the filter 3, and the clear beer from the filter 3 re-enters the fermentation tank 1, thus achieving hop extraction. There is no need to remove the hops in the fermentation tank 1, which improves the efficiency of beer brewing and avoids beer loss caused by removing hops. In addition, it can avoid the impact of not removing hops for a long time, which affects the taste and flavor of the beer, thereby improving the final result of the beer brewing.
[0029] Preferred, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, it also includes a sewage pipe 16 connected to the bottom of the filter 3, and a sewage valve 17 is provided on the sewage pipe 16 for discharging hop lees and sewage.
[0030] Preferred, such as Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 4As shown, the top of the hop mixing tank 2 is equipped with a cleaning ball 18, which has several through holes 19. It also includes a sixth pipeline 20 connected to the cleaning ball 18 and the circulation pump 4. The sixth pipeline 20 is equipped with a sixth valve 21. Before hops are added to the hop mixing tank 2, the cleaning solution is added to the hop mixing tank 2. The second valve 12 and the sixth valve 21 are opened. The circulation pump 4 pumps the cleaning solution located at the bottom of the hop mixing tank 2 back into the cleaning ball 18 located at the top of the hop mixing tank 2. The solution is then sprayed from the multiple through holes 19 of the cleaning ball 18 to various parts of the hop mixing tank 2. This process is repeated multiple times to clean the inside of the hop mixing tank 2. The waste liquid after cleaning flows to the outside through the drain pipe 16.
[0031] Preferred, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, a seventh pipe 22 is provided between the top of the filter 3 and the outlet of the circulation pump 4. A seventh valve 23 is provided on the seventh pipe 22. After a certain amount of hop lees are intercepted in the filter 3, the second valve 12, the seventh valve 23 and the drain valve are opened, and the other valves are closed. The cleaning liquid in the hop mixing tank 2 is then pumped into the filter 3 from the top through the second pipe 7 and the seventh pipe 22 by the circulation pump 4. This backwashes the hop lees and impurities in the filter 3 and flushes them from the top to the bottom of the filter 3. The hop lees and impurities are then discharged to the outside through the drain pipe 16, thereby achieving backwashing of the filter 3 and improving the brewing effect.
[0032] Preferred, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, an eighth pipe 24 is provided between the top of the filter 3 and the hop mixing tank 2. An eighth valve 25 is provided on the eighth pipe 24. After the clear beer is pumped back to the fermentation tank 1, the eighth valve 25 is opened and the fourth valve 14 is closed, so that the cloudy beer mixed with hop lees after being filtered by the filter 3 returns to the hop mixing tank 2 through the eighth pipe 24 to mix with the beer, forming a cycle.
[0033] Preferred, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the top of the hop mixing tank 2 is equipped with a pressure gauge and a breather valve 27 to monitor and control the pressure inside the hop mixing tank 2, ensuring the safety of the entire process and improving the taste of the brewed beer.
[0034] Preferred, such as Figure 3 As shown, both the bottom of the hop mixing tank 2 and the filter 3 are equipped with spiral plates 28. After the hops are circulated in a swirling flow, the particle size of the hops is smaller, and the hop flavor extraction effect is better.
[0035] Preferred, such as Figure 3As shown, the top of the filter 3 is provided with several vertical plates 29 and a horizontal plate 30 connected to the vertical plates 29. The filter 3 includes a beer outlet 31 connected to the fourth pipe 9. A filter plate 32 is provided on the beer outlet 31. The vertical plates 29 and the filter plate 32 are each provided with a first filter hole 33. The horizontal plate 30 is provided with a second filter hole 34. The inner diameter of the second filter hole 34 is larger than that of the first filter hole 33. When the beer containing hops passes through the filter 3, it is first diverted by the vertical plates 29. Then, the beer gradually passes through the first filter hole 33 on the vertical plates 29 and enters the chamber near the beer outlet 31. The hops are intercepted by the vertical plates 29 to prevent the hops from accumulating at the beer outlet 31 and affecting the filtration efficiency. Subsequently, the hops are pushed by the water flow and gradually pass through the second filter hole 34 on the horizontal plate 30 to enter the top of the filter 3. At the same time, the hops are prevented from flowing back and affecting the subsequent filtration effect, thereby improving the efficiency of beer brewing.
[0036] Example 1
[0037] This utility model provides a hop hopping device, such as... Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, when hops need to be added, hops are added to the hop mixing tank 2 through the feeding port 5 in advance. The first valve 11 is opened, and the second valve 12 and the fifth valve 15 are closed. Some of the beer in the fermentation tank 1 is introduced into the hop mixing tank 2. When a certain amount of beer has entered, the first valve 11 and the third valve 13 are closed, and the second valve 12 and the fifth valve 15 are opened. The beer and hops at the bottom of the hop mixing tank 2 are pumped back into the top of the hop mixing tank 2 through the second pipeline 7 and the fifth pipeline 10 by the circulation pump 4. This continues for a period of time, so that the beer in the hop mixing tank 2 circulates in the tank, so that the hops in the hop mixing tank 2 are fully granulated. There is no need to depressurize and open the fermentation tank 1. Hops are added from the top of the fermentation tank, which simplifies the operation of adding hops, improves the efficiency of brewing beer, prevents safety hazards caused by failure to close valves in time, and avoids external impurities from entering the fermentation tank 1 during the addition process.
[0038] Then, open the second valve 12, the third valve 13, and the fourth valve 14, and close the first valve 11 and the fifth valve 15. The circulating pump 4 pumps the beer into the filter 3 through the second pipeline 7 and the third pipeline 8. The hops are intercepted by the filter 3, and the clear beer from the filter 3 re-enters the fermentation tank 1, thus achieving hop extraction. There is no need to remove the hops in the fermentation tank 1, which improves the efficiency of beer brewing and avoids beer loss caused by removing hops. In addition, it can avoid the impact of not removing hops for a long time, which affects the taste and flavor of the beer, thereby improving the final result of the beer brewing.
[0039] Example 2
[0040] Based on Example 1, such as Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 4 As shown, before adding hops to the hop mixing tank 2, the cleaning solution is added to the hop mixing tank 2. The second valve 12 and the sixth valve 21 are opened, and the cleaning solution located at the bottom of the hop mixing tank 2 is pumped back into the cleaning ball 18 located at the top of the hop mixing tank 2 by the circulation pump 4. The cleaning solution is then sprayed from the multiple through holes 19 of the cleaning ball 18 to various parts of the hop mixing tank 2. This process is repeated multiple times to clean the inside of the hop mixing tank 2. Then, the second valve 12, the seventh valve 23 and the drain valve are opened, and the remaining valves are closed. The cleaning solution in the hop mixing tank 2 is pumped from the top of the filter 3 into the filter 3 through the second pipe 7 and the seventh pipe 22 by the circulation pump 4. This backwashes the hop lees and impurities in the filter 3 and flushes them from the top of the filter 3 to the bottom. The hop lees and impurities are then discharged to the outside through the drain pipe 16, thereby achieving backwashing of the filter 3 and improving the quality of the beer after brewing.
[0041] Example 3
[0042] Based on Example 1, such as Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, when the beer containing hop lees passes through the filter 3, it is first diverted by the vertical plate 29. Then, the beer gradually passes through the first filter hole 33 on the vertical plate 29 and enters the chamber near the beer outlet 31. The hop lees are intercepted by the vertical plate 29 to prevent them from accumulating at the beer outlet 31 and affecting the filtration efficiency. Subsequently, the hop lees are pushed by the water flow and gradually pass through the second filter hole 34 on the horizontal plate 30 to enter the top of the filter 3. At the same time, the hop lees are prevented from flowing back and affecting the subsequent filtration effect, thereby improving the efficiency of beer brewing.
[0043] After the sake liquid is returned to fermentation tank 1, the eighth valve 25 is opened and the fourth valve 14 is closed, so that the cloudy sake liquid mixed with hop lees at the top of filter 3 returns to the hop mixing tank 2 through the eighth pipe 24 to mix with the beer, forming a cycle.
Claims
1. A hop dry pitching device comprising a hop dry pitching mechanism connected to a fermenter (1), characterized in that: The hop mixing mechanism includes a hop mixing tank (2), a filter (3), and a circulation pump (4). The top of the hop mixing tank (2) is provided with a feeding port (5). One side of the hop mixing tank (2) is provided with a first pipeline (6) connected to the fermentation tank (1). The bottom of the fermentation tank (1) is provided with a second pipeline (7) connected to the inlet of the circulation pump (4). The outlet of the circulation pump (4) is provided with a third pipeline (8) connected to the bottom of the filter (3). The top of the filter (3) is provided with a fourth pipeline (9) connected to the fermentation tank (1). The other side of the hop mixing tank (2) is provided with a fifth pipeline (10) connected to the circulation pump (4). The first pipeline (6), the second pipeline (7), the third pipeline (8), the fourth pipeline (9), and the fifth pipeline (10) are respectively provided with a first valve (11), a second valve (12), a third valve (13), a fourth valve (14), and a fifth valve (15).
2. A hop dry pitching device according to claim 1, characterised in that: It also includes a drain pipe (16) connected to the bottom of the filter (3), and a drain valve (17) is provided on the drain pipe (16).
3. A hop dry pitching device according to claim 1, characterised in that: The top of the hop mixing tank (2) is provided with a cleaning ball (18), which has several through holes (19) and a sixth pipeline (20) connected to the cleaning ball (18) and the circulation pump (4). The sixth pipeline (20) is provided with a sixth valve (21).
4. A hop dry pitching device according to claim 1, characterised in that: A seventh pipeline (22) is provided between the top of the filter (3) and the outlet of the circulation pump (4), and a seventh valve (23) is provided on the seventh pipeline (22).
5. A hop dry pitching device according to claim 1, characterized in that An eighth pipeline (24) is provided between the top of the filter (3) and the hop mixing tank (2), and an eighth valve (25) is provided on the eighth pipeline (24).
6. A hop dry pitching device according to claim 1, characterized in that The top of the hop mixing tank (2) is equipped with a pressure gauge (26) and a breather valve (27).
7. The hop tapping device according to claim 1, characterized in that: Both the bottom of the hop mixing tank (2) and the filter (3) are equipped with spiral plates (28).
8. The hop hopping device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The filter (3) has several vertical plates (29) on its top and a horizontal plate (30) connected to the vertical plates (29). The filter (3) includes a beer outlet (31) connected to the fourth pipeline (9). A filter plate (32) is provided on the beer outlet (31). The vertical plates (29) and the filter plate (32) are each provided with a first filter hole (33). The horizontal plate (30) is provided with a second filter hole (34). The inner diameter of the second filter hole (34) is larger than that of the first filter hole (33).