A hops addition device

Abstract

The utility model discloses a hops adding device, which is installed on a boiling pot, and comprises a shell, a solenoid valve, a balance valve, a piston assembly and a feeding pipe. The discharge end of the shell is communicated with the feeding end of the boiling pot through the solenoid valve. The piston assembly is arranged on the top of the shell, and the working end of the piston assembly is located in the cavity of the shell. The balance valve and the feeding pipe are both communicated with the top of the shell, and the balance valve and the feeding pipe are respectively located above and below the working end of the piston assembly. The shell of the device is installed on the injection hole of the boiling pot. Before the hops are added into the pot, the water with PH 8.0 and the hops are put into the cavity of the main shell to isomerize the hops. After the isomerization is completed, the hops are injected into the pot to ensure the isomerization rate of the hops and reduce the production cost. In addition, because the internal temperature of the boiling pot is high and the pressure is large, the hops in the shell are difficult to automatically flow into the pot. With the help of the piston assembly, the hops can be quickly injected into the pot.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of beer production technology, and in particular to a hop addition device. Background Technology

[0002] The current method of adding hops is to add them directly through the manhole of the boiling pot during the wort boiling process. This has two drawbacks: 1. During boiling, a large amount of steam escapes from the manhole, making it easy to burn people when adding hops through the manhole; 2. The main purpose of adding hops is to utilize the α-acids in the hops. During boiling, α-acids undergo isomerization to form iso-α-acids, which are the true source of beer bitterness. The isomerization of α-acids is directly related to the pH value of the solution. The pH value of the wort during boiling is around 5.5, while the optimal pH value for α-acid isomerization is 8.0. Therefore, with the conventional method, the isomerization rate of α-acids is very low, resulting in very low hop utilization and thus increasing the production cost of beer. Utility Model Content

[0003] The purpose of this invention is to provide a hop addition device to solve the problem of low hop isomerization rate leading to low utilization rate and high beer production cost in beer production.

[0004] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0005] A hop addition device is installed on a boiling kettle. The device includes a housing, a solenoid valve, a balance valve, a piston assembly, and a feed pipe. The outlet end of the housing is connected to the inlet end of the boiling kettle through the solenoid valve. The piston assembly is located at the top of the housing, and the working end of the piston assembly is located within the cavity of the housing. The balance valve and the feed pipe are both connected to the top of the housing, and the balance valve and the feed pipe are located above and below the working end of the piston assembly, respectively.

[0006] A further technical solution is: the piston assembly includes a cylinder and a piston, the cylinder is vertically mounted on the top of the housing, the piston is slidably mounted in the cavity of the housing, and the power output end of the cylinder is connected to the piston.

[0007] A further technical solution is that the piston is cymbal-shaped, and the top of the inner cavity of the housing is provided with a deformable part that is adapted to the piston.

[0008] A further technical solution is that the waist diameter of the deformable part is larger than the maximum diameter of the piston.

[0009] A further technical solution is that the bottom diameter of the deformable part is smaller than the maximum diameter of the piston.

[0010] A further technical solution is: a liquid level sensor is provided on the housing, and the signal output terminal of the liquid level sensor is electrically connected to the actuator of the solenoid valve and the piston assembly through a PLC controller.

[0011] A further technical solution is that a viewing window is provided on the housing.

[0012] A further technical solution is that a discharge pipe is provided at the bottom of the shell.

[0013] Compared with the prior art, the present invention can achieve at least one of the following beneficial effects:

[0014] This invention proposes a hop addition device. The device's housing is installed on the injection port of a boiling kettle. Before adding hops to the kettle, water with a pH of 8.0 and hops are first placed together in the cavity of the housing to isomerize the hops. After isomerization, the hops are then injected into the kettle to ensure the isomerization rate and reduce production costs. Furthermore, because the boiling kettle is subjected to high temperature and pressure, it is difficult for hops inside the housing to flow into the kettle automatically. A piston assembly is used to ensure rapid injection of hops into the kettle. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a hop addition device according to the present invention.

[0016] Figure 2 This utility model Figure 1 A magnified structural diagram of part A in the middle.

[0017] Reference numerals: 1. Boiling pot; 2. Shell; 3. Solenoid valve; 4. Balance valve; 5. Piston assembly; 6. Feed pipe; 7. Cylinder; 8. Piston; 9. Liquid level sensor; 10. Viewing window; 11. Discharge pipe. Detailed Implementation

[0018] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this utility model clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this utility model, not all embodiments. The components of the embodiments of this utility model described and shown in the accompanying drawings can typically be arranged and designed in various different configurations.

[0019] Therefore, the following detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention provided in the accompanying drawings is not intended to limit the scope of the claimed invention, but merely to illustrate selected embodiments of the invention. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without inventive effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0020] It should be noted that, where there is no conflict, the embodiments and features in the embodiments of this utility model can be combined with each other.

[0021] It should be noted that similar labels and letters in the following figures indicate similar items. Therefore, once an item is defined in one figure, it does not need to be further defined and explained in subsequent figures.

[0022] In the description of this utility model, it should be noted that the terms "center," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, or the orientation or positional relationship commonly used when the product of this utility model is in use, or the orientation or positional relationship commonly understood by those skilled in the art. They are only used for the convenience of describing this utility model 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 this utility model. In addition, the terms "first," "second," etc., are only used to distinguish descriptions and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0023] In the description of this utility model, it should also be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "set," "install," "connect," and "link" 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 the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model based on the specific circumstances. Example

[0024] This implementation example Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown, a hop addition device is installed on a boiling pot 1. The device includes a housing 2, a solenoid valve 3, a balance valve 4, a piston assembly 5, and a feed pipe 6. The discharge end of the housing 2 is connected to the feed end of the boiling pot 1 through the solenoid valve 3. The piston assembly 5 is located on the top of the housing 2, and the working end of the piston assembly 5 is located in the cavity of the housing 2. The balance valve 4 and the feed pipe 6 are both connected to the top of the housing 2, and the balance valve 4 and the feed pipe 6 are located above and below the working end of the piston assembly 5, respectively.

[0025] The working process of this utility model is as follows: First, close the solenoid valve 3, and the working end of the piston assembly 5 is also located above the feed pipe 6. At this time, hops and water with a suitable pH value can be added into the shell 2 through the feed pipe 6. After a certain period of time, the hops reach a certain isomerization rate. At this time, open the solenoid valve 3, and the hops in the cavity of the shell 2 flow into the boiling pot 1. If the gas pressure in the pot is high, the hops will not easily flow into the pot. The working end of the piston assembly 5 can be used to squeeze the hops downward, and the pressure can be used to make the hops flow into the boiling pot 1 quickly, so as to ensure that the hops can be used smoothly in beer production.

[0026] The balancing valve 4 mainly serves to balance the air pressure inside the cavity of the housing 2.

[0027] Preferably, the piston assembly 5 includes a cylinder 7 and a piston 8. The cylinder 7 is vertically mounted on the top of the housing 2, and the piston 8 is slidably mounted in the cavity of the housing 2. The power output end of the cylinder 7 is connected to the piston 8.

[0028] The cylinder 7 moves up and down with the piston 8 within the cavity of the housing 2 to change the volume of the space where the hops are located. Under the pressure of the piston 8, the hops are rapidly injected into the boiling pot 1.

[0029] Preferably, the piston 8 is cymbal-shaped, and a deformable portion adapted to the piston 8 is provided at the top of the inner cavity of the housing 2. The waist diameter of the deformable portion is larger than the maximum diameter of the piston 8. The bottom diameter of the deformable portion is smaller than the maximum diameter of the piston 8.

[0030] The working changes of piston 8 in the deformed part of the cavity are as follows: First, cylinder 7 carries piston 8 upward. At this time, the top of piston 8 will abut against the inner top of the cavity (deformed part). At this time, the upper surface of piston 8 is at a certain distance from the inner end of balance valve 4, that is, it will not block balance valve 4, ensuring smooth air passage of balance valve 4. Then, cylinder 7 carries piston 8 downward. When piston 8 descends below the deformed part of the cavity, the outer circumference of piston 8 will press against the inner wall of the cavity and squeeze the hops into the boiling pot 1.

[0031] Preferably, a liquid level sensor 9 is provided on the housing 2, and the signal output terminal of the liquid level sensor 9 is electrically connected to the actuator of the solenoid valve 3 and the piston assembly 5 through a PLC controller.

[0032] The liquid level sensor 9 detects the liquid level of the hops. After the hops are injected into the housing 2, the liquid level sensor 9 can transmit a signal to the PLC controller. After a certain period of time, the PLC controller will control the solenoid valve 3 to open and the working end of the piston assembly 5 to move downward, injecting the hops into the boiling pot 1.

[0033] Preferably, the housing 2 is provided with a viewing window 10.

[0034] The viewing window 10 is used to facilitate observation of the foam in the cavity of the shell 2, such as the liquid level and degree of dissociation.

[0035] Preferably, a discharge pipe 11 is provided at the bottom of the housing 2.

[0036] The discharge pipe 11 can temporarily discharge unusable hops and temporarily clean the shell 2 to discharge wastewater.

[0037] Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art can still modify the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments or make equivalent substitutions for some of the technical features. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A hop addition device, which is installed on a boiling pot (1), characterized in that: The device includes a housing (2), a solenoid valve (3), a balance valve (4), a piston assembly (5), and a feed pipe (6). The discharge end of the housing (2) is connected to the feed end of the boiling pot (1) through the solenoid valve (3). The piston assembly (5) is located on the top of the housing (2), and the working end of the piston assembly (5) is located in the cavity of the housing (2). The balance valve (4) and the feed pipe (6) are both connected to the top of the housing (2). The balance valve (4) and the feed pipe (6) are located above and below the working end of the piston assembly (5), respectively.

2. The hop addition device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The piston assembly (5) includes a cylinder (7) and a piston (8). The cylinder (7) is vertically mounted on the top of the housing (2), and the piston (8) is slidably mounted in the cavity of the housing (2). The power output end of the cylinder (7) is connected to the piston (8).

3. The hop addition device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The piston (8) is cymbal-shaped, and the top of the inner cavity of the housing (2) is provided with a deformable part that is adapted to the piston (8).

4. The hop addition device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The waist diameter of the deformable part is greater than the maximum diameter of the piston (8).

5. The hop addition device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The bottom diameter of the deformable part is smaller than the maximum diameter of the piston (8).

6. The hop addition device according to claim 1, characterized in that: A liquid level sensor (9) is provided on the housing (2). The signal output terminal of the liquid level sensor (9) is electrically connected to the actuator of the solenoid valve (3) and the piston assembly (5) through a PLC controller.

7. The hop addition device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The housing (2) is provided with a viewing window (10).

8. The hop addition device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bottom of the housing (2) is provided with a discharge pipe (11).

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