A combination hopper

Abstract

A combined hopper comprises: a hopper body which is a conical cavity through from top to bottom, has an upper inlet and a lower outlet; a gas pressure balance air channel which is fixedly arranged inside the hopper body, and the two ends of the gas pressure balance air channel respectively communicate with the spaces where the inlet and the outlet are located, for balancing the gas pressure inside the hopper body and the outside; a filter screen assembly which is adaptively arranged at the inlet of the hopper body, and comprises a filter screen body, a flow guide structure arranged on the outer wall of the filter screen body, and detachable connection structures arranged at the two ends of the filter screen body; the flow guide structure makes the filtered material passing through the filter screen body have a transverse flow speed, and the detachable connection structures cooperate with the positioning structures on the surface of the hopper body to realize the fixing and detaching of the filter screen assembly.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of daily necessities technology, specifically to a combined funnel for transferring liquid, granular or powder materials. Background Technology

[0002] Funnels, as a common tool for material transfer, are widely used in home kitchens, food processing, laboratories, and other settings. Their core function is to guide material from the inlet to the outlet through a conical structure, achieving material filling or dispensing. However, traditional funnels have the following technical drawbacks:

[0003] Traditional funnels have a single conical hollow structure. When materials fall, they compress the air inside the funnel. The air cannot be discharged in time, resulting in air blockage. This is especially true when processing viscous liquids, such as honey and tomato sauce, or fine powders, such as flour. Air blockage can cause materials to fall intermittently, significantly prolonging the discharge time and even causing blockages.

[0004] To filter impurities from materials, some funnels are equipped with filter screens. However, existing filter screens mostly use fixed welding or snap-fit ​​connections. Fixed connections make cleaning the filter screen difficult, while hard connections are prone to displacement due to material impact, affecting not only the filtration effect but also potentially causing impurity leakage. Even with a filter screen, the filtered material still falls vertically along the screen, with a large amount of material concentrating at the bottom of the funnel near the outlet, further exacerbating the blockage caused by air resistance. This prevents the funnel's pressure balance structure, such as the exhaust pipe in existing technology, from working together to improve the smoothness of material discharge.

[0005] While existing technologies have introduced funnels with added exhaust pipes or air passages to balance air pressure, such designs only address the air resistance problem and do not optimize the ease of disassembly and assembly of the filter screen or the flow coordination of the filtered material. Furthermore, some air passage structures are already covered by prior patents, and there is a lack of improvement on the combined relationship between the air passage, filter screen, and flow of the filtered material, thus failing to fundamentally solve the comprehensive problems of funnel discharge efficiency, ease of disassembly and assembly, and filtration stability.

[0006] Therefore, it is necessary to design a combined funnel that integrates air pressure balance, easy disassembly and assembly of filters, and coordinated flow of filtered materials to improve the practicality and applicability of the funnel. Utility Model Content

[0007] The purpose of this invention is to overcome the shortcomings of existing funnels, such as low discharge efficiency, inconvenient filter screen disassembly and assembly, and easy clogging of filter materials. It provides a combined funnel that integrates a pressure balance channel, a filter screen assembly, and a filter material guide structure to achieve the synergistic effect of rapid discharge, convenient filter disassembly, and stable filtration.

[0008] To achieve the above objectives, this utility model provides a combined funnel, the specific technical solution of which is as follows:

[0009] A combined funnel, comprising:

[0010] The funnel body is a cone-shaped cavity that runs vertically through the inside and has an upper inlet and a lower outlet.

[0011] The pressure balancing air passage is fixedly installed inside the funnel body, and its two ends are respectively connected to the space where the feed inlet and the discharge outlet are located, for balancing the air pressure inside the funnel body and the outside.

[0012] A filter assembly is adapted to be installed at the feed inlet of the funnel body. The filter assembly includes a filter body, a flow guiding structure on the outer wall of the filter body, and detachable connection structures at both ends of the filter body. The flow guiding structure enables the filtered material after being filtered by the filter body to have a lateral flow velocity. The detachable connection structures cooperate with the positioning structure on the surface of the funnel body to realize the fixing and disassembly of the filter assembly.

[0013] Furthermore, the pressure balancing channel is a slender tubular structure that extends along the inner wall of the funnel body, and the top of the pressure balancing channel is lower than the edge of the feed inlet, while the bottom is level with the discharge outlet.

[0014] Furthermore, the material of the pressure balancing channel is the same as that of the funnel body, namely food-grade PP plastic or stainless steel; the inner diameter of the pressure balancing channel is 0.5-1cm, and a cleaning hole is provided on the side of the tube wall of the pressure balancing channel near the discharge port.

[0015] Furthermore, the diameter of the cleaning hole is 0.3-0.5 cm, the angle between the cleaning hole and the axis of the air pressure balance channel is 45°, and the cleaning hole is opened towards the outer wall of the funnel body.

[0016] Furthermore, the flow guiding structure is a cylindrical pipe disposed on the outer wall of the filter screen body. The cylindrical pipe is inclined and has an angle of 10-30° with the horizontal direction. One end of the cylindrical pipe is connected to the inner side of the filter screen body, and the other end extends toward the inner wall of the funnel body.

[0017] Furthermore, the number of cylindrical pipes is 2-4, evenly distributed along the circumference of the filter body; the inner diameter of the cylindrical pipes is 0.8-1.2cm, and the inner wall of the cylindrical pipes is smoothed.

[0018] Furthermore, the positioning structure consists of two protrusions on the outer surface of the funnel body. The two protrusions are symmetrically arranged along the axis of the funnel body, and the height of the protrusions is 0.3-0.5cm, with a semi-circular cross-section.

[0019] Furthermore, the detachable connection structure includes a sleeve portion disposed at one end of the filter screen body and an elastic pull ring disposed at the other end of the filter screen body; the sleeve portion can be sleeved on the outside of one of the protrusions, and the elastic pull ring can be stretched and sleeved on the outside of the other protrusion.

[0020] Furthermore, the elastic pull ring is made of food-grade silicone; the inner wall of the sleeve is provided with anti-slip texture, and the depth of the anti-slip texture is 0.1-0.2mm.

[0021] Furthermore, the mesh size of the filter body is 0.5-2mm, and the material is food-grade stainless steel or nylon; the inner wall of the funnel body is polished, and the surface roughness Ra≤0.8μm.

[0022] The combined funnel of this utility model, through the above-described structural design, has the following advantages compared to the prior art:

[0023] 1. The air pressure balance channel can quickly expel air from the inside of the funnel and eliminate air resistance; at the same time, the inclined cylindrical pipe gives the filtered material a lateral velocity, slowing down the time it takes to reach the bottom and avoiding material accumulation and blockage. With the combined effect of the two, the discharge speed is increased by 40%-60% compared with traditional funnels, which is especially suitable for viscous liquids or fine powder materials.

[0024] 2. With the combination of the sleeve, elastic pull ring, and protrusion, the filter screen can be disassembled and installed in just 10-20 seconds without tools, solving the problem of difficult cleaning of traditional filter screens; and the buffering effect of the elastic pull ring can offset the impact of materials, reducing the filter screen displacement rate by more than 90% and greatly improving filtration stability.

[0025] 3. The funnel body and air passage can be integrally molded by mold, made of plastic or stamped and welded, or made of metal. The cylindrical pipe and filter body can be integrally injection molded or welded. The overall structure is simple. Existing funnel production lines only need to make minor adjustments to the mold to produce it, with a cost increase of less than 10%. It can be adapted to multiple scenarios such as kitchens, food processing, and laboratories.

[0026] 4. The inner wall of the funnel is polished to reduce material adhesion and reduce the residue to less than 1%; all parts in contact with materials are made of food-grade materials, which meet food safety standards and are highly safe to use. Attached Figure Description

[0027] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the present utility model.

[0028] Figure 2 This is one of the schematic diagrams of the funnel body in this utility model.

[0029] Figure 3 This is the second schematic diagram of the funnel body in this utility model.

[0030] Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional view of the funnel body in this utility model.

[0031] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the filter assembly in this utility model. Detailed Implementation

[0032] To more clearly illustrate the technical solution of this utility model, the specific implementation of each technical feature is described in detail below with reference to two typical embodiments, such as... Figure 1-5 As shown:

[0033] Example 1: Food-grade 304 stainless steel combination funnel (suitable for kitchen grain and hot oil filtration scenarios)

[0034] In this embodiment, the funnel body 1 is a conical cavity that runs vertically through the body. It is made of food-grade 304 stainless steel plate with a thickness of 0.8mm and is integrally formed by stamping mold. The upper feed port 6 has a diameter of 10cm, the lower discharge port 5 has a diameter of 2.5cm, and the total height is 15cm. The inner wall is electrolytically polished, with a surface roughness Ra=0.4μm. It is smooth to the touch and free of burrs, which can reduce the residue of grains and hot oil on the wall surface.

[0035] Two circular protrusions 4 are symmetrically welded along the axis on the outer surface of the funnel body 1 near the feed inlet 6. The protrusions 4 are 0.4cm high, 0.8cm in diameter, and 8cm apart. The surface of the protrusions 4 is passivated to prevent sharp edges from scratching the filter screen assembly 3. Their positions are precisely aligned with the connection structure of the filter screen to ensure that there is no misalignment after the filter screen is installed.

[0036] The pressure balancing airway 2 is a slender tubular structure with a diameter of 0.8 cm, set along the inner wall of the funnel body 1; its top is 0.2 cm below the edge of the feed inlet 6, and is recessed inward by 1 cm to prevent material from overflowing from the top of the funnel body 1 and falling into the pressure balancing airway 2; the bottom of the pressure balancing airway 2 is level with the discharge outlet 5 to ensure that air can be smoothly discharged from the bottom of the funnel, and the flow direction of the material inside the funnel is as follows: Figure 4 As shown in ① and ②, the airflow direction is as follows Figure 4 As shown in ③ and ④;

[0037] Two cleaning holes 21 are provided 3cm from the outlet 5 on the wall of the air pressure balancing channel 2. The holes are 0.4cm in diameter, make an angle of 45° with the axis of the air pressure balancing channel 2, and face the outer wall of the funnel. The cleaning holes 21 allow cleaning objects to enter the main pipe of the air pressure balancing channel 2, play a cleaning role, and prevent dirt from accumulating inside.

[0038] The filter assembly 3 includes: a filter body 31, a cylindrical pipe 32 (flow guiding structure), a sleeve 33, and an elastic pull ring 34.

[0039] The filter body 31 is circular with a diameter of 10cm, which is perfectly matched to the inner diameter of the funnel inlet 6. It is made of food-grade 304 stainless steel mesh with a mesh size of 2mm, which can filter impurities such as broken shells and stones in grains. The filter edge is rolled and 0.3mm thick to avoid scratching hands during use.

[0040] The flow guiding structure, namely the cylindrical pipe 32, has four cylindrical pipes 32 evenly arranged circumferentially on the outer wall of the filter body (one is shown in the figure as an illustration). It is made of 304 stainless steel: the inner diameter of the pipe is 1cm and the length is 3cm. The inner wall is polished to reduce the resistance to material flow. The cylindrical pipe 32 is inclined and makes an angle of 15° with the horizontal direction. One end is connected to the inner side of the filter body, and the other end extends toward the inner wall of the funnel body 1 to ensure that the material has a lateral velocity when it flows out, avoiding congestion caused by vertical falling.

[0041] The sleeve part 33 is located at one end of the filter body. It is a ring structure made of 304 stainless steel with an inner diameter of 0.8cm, which is compatible with the diameter of the funnel protrusion 4. The inner wall is pressed with anti-slip texture with a depth of 0.1mm. The anti-slip texture can increase the friction between the sleeve part 33 and the protrusion 4 and prevent the filter from shifting.

[0042] The elastic pull ring 34 is located at the other end of the filter body. It is made of food-grade silicone, with an original length of 5cm and a maximum stretch of 1.3 times the original length. It is fixed to the filter body by stainless steel rivets. The surface of the elastic pull ring 34 is pressed with anti-slip stripes, making it easy to pinch and stretch with your fingers. The silicone material has good resilience and can be used repeatedly without aging.

[0043] When assembling the funnel and the filter screen, align the sleeve part 33 of the filter screen assembly 3 with one of the protrusions 4 (near the funnel handle side) of the funnel body 1, and gently press the sleeve part 33 so that the protrusion 4 is fully embedded in the inner wall of the sleeve part 33. At this time, the anti-slip texture is tightly attached to the surface of the protrusion 4, completing the initial fixation of the filter screen, and the filter screen body remains in a horizontal state.

[0044] Pinch the elastic pull ring 34 at the other end of the filter screen with your thumb and forefinger, and slowly pull it toward the protrusion 4 on the other side of the funnel. The length of the pull ring 34 extends from 5cm to 6.5cm without exceeding the maximum stretch. The pull ring 34 retracts due to its elasticity and fits tightly on the outside of the protrusion 4. At this time, the filter screen assembly 3 and the funnel body 1 are completely fixed. The filter screen does not loosen when rotated along the funnel axis, and the cylindrical pipe 32 does not collide with the inner wall of the funnel.

[0045] Taking the filtering of grains as an example, to meet the needs of rapid discharge and avoid clogging: slowly pour the grains to be filtered, such as 500g of red beans, into the funnel inlet 6. The grains first come into contact with the surface of the filter screen body and are naturally dispersed due to gravity. Large particles of impurities, such as stones and broken shells, are trapped by the 2mm mesh and left on the outside of the filter screen for easy cleaning later.

[0046] Qualified grain particles pass through the mesh and enter the inner side of the filter screen, flowing evenly into four inclined cylindrical pipes 32. Due to the 15° inclination of the pipes, the grains gain lateral velocity when flowing out, and flow slowly downward along the inner wall of the funnel body 1 instead of falling directly vertically. The grains flowing out of adjacent pipes form staggered peaks on the inner wall of the funnel, avoiding concentrated blockage at the bottom of the funnel, above the discharge port 5.

[0047] As the grains are continuously poured in, the internal space of the funnel is filled with material, and the internal air is compressed. The air flows upward through the main pipe of the pressure balancing channel 2, and is discharged to the outside from the top of the pressure balancing channel 2, 0.2cm below the edge of the feed inlet 6. As the airflow flows along the inner wall, it can slightly agitate the attached grain particles, reducing residue on the wall surface. There is no air blockage throughout the process, and the air pressure inside the funnel remains balanced with the outside. The grains, guided and pressure balanced, flow smoothly to the bottom of the funnel and flow precisely into the container below, such as a sealed jar, through the 2.5cm diameter discharge port 5, without any jamming or interruption of flow. After all the grains have been poured in, less than 5g of particles remain on the inner wall of the funnel.

[0048] After filtration, pinch the elastic pull ring 34 and pull it outward to detach it from the protrusion 4. Remove the filter screen assembly 3, first pour the impurities on the outside of the filter screen into the trash can, and then rinse the filter screen body and cylindrical pipe 32 with clean water. The inner wall is smooth and there is no residue. The rinsing time is fast. After drying, it can be reused. The inner wall of the air pressure balance channel 2 can be cleaned through the cleaning hole 21 with a thin brush with a diameter of 0.6cm.

[0049] Example 2: Food-grade PP plastic combination funnel (suitable for household sauce and flour filtration scenarios)

[0050] The funnel body 1 is a cone-shaped cavity that runs vertically through the inside and out. It is made of food-grade PP plastic and is integrally molded by injection molding. The feed port 6 has a diameter of 8cm, which is suitable for small-volume pouring, such as 200g of flour. The discharge port 5 has a diameter of 2cm, which matches the size of the mouth of the condiment bottle. The total height is 12cm. The inner wall is mirror polished with a surface roughness Ra=0.6μm, which can reduce the adhesion of tomato sauce and flour.

[0051] Near the feed inlet 6, on the outer surface of the funnel body 1, two circular protrusions 4 are integrally injection molded with the body. The protrusions 4 are 0.3cm high and 0.6cm in diameter, symmetrically distributed along the funnel axis. The edges of the protrusions 4 are rounded to avoid scratching the elastic pull ring 34 of the filter screen. The flow direction of the object inside the funnel is as follows... Figure 4 As shown in ① and ②, the airflow direction is as follows Figure 4 As shown in ③ and ④.

[0052] The air pressure balancing channel 2 is integrally injection molded with the funnel body 1. It is a thin tube with an inner diameter of 0.5cm, extending along the inner wall of the funnel body 1. The top of the air pressure balancing channel 2 is recessed 1cm inward from the edge of the funnel body 1, and the bottom is flush with the discharge port 5. Two cleaning holes 21 are provided on the tube wall of the air pressure balancing channel 2 at a distance of 2cm from the discharge port 5, which allows cleaning objects to enter the main pipe of the air pressure balancing channel 2 to play a cleaning role and prevent dirt from accumulating inside.

[0053] The filter assembly 3 includes: a filter body 31, a cylindrical pipe 32 (flow guiding structure), a sleeve 33, and an elastic pull ring 34.

[0054] The filter body 31 is a circular nylon mesh with a diameter of 8cm, which is compatible with the feed inlet 6. The mesh size is 0.5mm, which can filter out lumps in flour and impurities in sauce. The filter edge is integrally injection molded with the PP plastic frame, and the frame thickness is 0.2cm to increase the strength of the filter.

[0055] The flow guiding structure consists of two cylindrical pipes 32, integrally injection molded on the outer wall of the filter screen frame. These pipes are made of PP plastic and have an inner diameter of 0.8cm and a length of 2.5cm. The inner wall is smooth. The pipes are at a 20° angle to the horizontal direction. One end is connected to the inner side of the filter screen, and the other end faces the inner wall of the funnel, which can guide flour and sauce to flow obliquely.

[0056] The sleeve part 33 is integrally injection molded with the filter screen frame, made of PP plastic, with an inner diameter of 0.6cm, and is adapted to the protrusion 4. The inner wall is pressed with anti-slip texture with a depth of 0.15mm, and the texture is distributed in a ring to increase the friction with the protrusion 4.

[0057] The elastic pull ring 34 is made of food-grade silicone, with an original length of 4cm and a maximum stretch of 1.4 times. It is fixed to the other end of the filter screen frame through injection molding. The elastic pull ring 34 is 0.8cm wide, making it easy to grip with your fingers and resistant to sauce corrosion. Align the sleeve part 33 of the filter screen with the protrusion 4 on one side of the funnel, and gently press to make the protrusion 4 fit into the sleeve part 33. The anti-slip texture fits tightly with the protrusion 4, and the filter screen remains horizontal. Pinch the elastic pull ring 34 and stretch it to 5.6cm. After slipping it onto the other side of the protrusion 4, release it. The elastic pull ring 34 springs back and is fixed, with no gap between the filter screen and the funnel, and no contact between the cylindrical tube 32 and the inner wall of the funnel.

[0058] In practical use, the combined funnel of this embodiment allows 300g of homemade tomato sauce with a viscosity of 1500mPa·s to be slowly poured in through the feed inlet 6. The sauce first contacts the filter body, while impurities, such as tomato skins and seeds, are trapped by the 0.5mm mesh and remain on the outside of the filter.

[0059] The filtered tomato sauce flows into two inclined cylindrical pipes 32. Because the pipes are inclined at 20°, the sauce gains lateral velocity when it flows out and flows slowly down the inner wall of the funnel, avoiding clumping above the outlet 5.

[0060] The sauce is squeezed to expel air from the inside of the funnel. The air is discharged from the top through the main pipe of the pressure balancing airway 2. The airflow reduces the adhesion of sauce at the opening of the pressure balancing airway 2, preventing sauce stagnation caused by airlock. The sauce flows smoothly into the condiment bottle through the 2cm outlet 5, reducing the discharge time from 90 seconds in the traditional funnel to 40 seconds. After use, the filter screen is removed, and the nylon mesh is rinsed with clean water. The mesh is not clogged, and the pressure balancing airway 2 can be rinsed with clean water from the top, leaving no residue on the inner wall. The cleaning hole 21 of the pressure balancing airway 2 functions the same as in Example 1.

[0061] The funnel body 1 and the air pressure balance channel 2 are integrally injection molded, and the filter assembly 3 has no complex parts, resulting in a cost increase of only 8% compared to traditional funnels. The PP plastic material is lightweight, with the entire funnel weighing approximately 50g, making it easy to store; the elastic pull ring 34 can be repeatedly stretched more than 1000 times without breaking, ensuring a long service life.

Claims

1. A combined funnel, characterized in that, include: The funnel body (1) is a cone-shaped cavity that runs vertically through the inside and outside, and has an upper inlet (6) and a lower outlet (5). The pressure balancing airway (2) is fixedly installed inside the funnel body (1), and the two ends of the pressure balancing airway (2) are respectively connected to the space where the feed inlet (6) and the discharge outlet (5) are located, in order to balance the air pressure inside the funnel body (1) and the outside. A filter assembly (3) is adapted to be installed at the feed inlet (6) of the funnel body (1). The filter assembly (3) includes a filter body (31), a flow guiding structure on the outer wall of the filter body (31), and detachable connection structures at both ends of the filter body (31). The flow guiding structure enables the filtered material after being filtered by the filter body (31) to have a lateral flow velocity. The detachable connection structure cooperates with the positioning structure on the surface of the funnel body (1) to realize the fixing and disassembly of the filter assembly (3).

2. The combined funnel according to claim 1, characterized in that, The pressure balancing airway (2) is a long and thin tubular structure that extends along the inner wall of the funnel body (1). The top of the pressure balancing airway (2) is lower than the edge of the feed inlet (6), and the bottom is level with the discharge outlet (5).

3. A combined funnel according to claim 2, characterized in that, The material of the pressure balancing airway (2) is the same as that of the funnel body (1), which is food-grade PP plastic or stainless steel; the inner diameter of the pressure balancing airway (2) is 0.5-1cm, and a cleaning hole (21) is provided on the side of the tube wall of the pressure balancing airway (2) near the discharge port (5).

4. A combined funnel according to claim 3, characterized in that, The cleaning hole (21) has a diameter of 0.3-0.5 cm, and the angle between it and the axis of the air pressure balance channel (2) is 45°. The cleaning hole (21) is opened towards the outer wall of the funnel body (1).

5. A combined funnel according to claim 1, characterized in that, The flow guiding structure is a cylindrical pipe (32) provided on the outer wall of the filter body (31). The cylindrical pipe (32) is inclined and the angle with the horizontal direction is 10-30°. One end of the cylindrical pipe (32) is connected to the inner side of the filter body (31), and the other end extends toward the inner wall of the funnel body (1).

6. A combined funnel according to claim 5, characterized in that, The number of cylindrical pipes (32) is 2-4, and they are evenly distributed along the circumference of the filter body (31); the inner diameter of the cylindrical pipes (32) is 0.8-1.2cm, and the inner wall of the cylindrical pipes (32) is smooth.

7. A combined funnel according to claim 1, characterized in that, The positioning structure consists of two protrusions (4) on the outer surface of the funnel body (1). The two protrusions (4) are symmetrically arranged along the axis of the funnel body (1), and the height of the protrusions (4) is 0.3-0.5cm, and the cross-section is semi-circular.

8. A combined funnel according to claim 7, characterized in that, The detachable connection structure includes a sleeve (33) at one end of the filter body (31) and an elastic pull ring (34) at the other end of the filter body (31); the sleeve (33) can be sleeved on the outside of one of the protrusions (4), and the elastic pull ring (34) can be stretched and sleeved on the outside of the other protrusion (4).

9. A combined funnel according to claim 8, characterized in that, The elastic pull ring (34) is made of food-grade silicone; the inner wall of the sleeve (33) is provided with anti-slip texture, and the depth of the anti-slip texture is 0.1-0.2mm.

10. A combined funnel according to claim 1, characterized in that, The filter body (31) has a mesh size of 0.5-2mm and is made of food-grade stainless steel or nylon; the inner wall of the funnel body (1) is polished and has a surface roughness Ra≤0.8μm.

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