A grab for distiller's grains

Abstract

A kind of wine lees grab, it is related to the technical field of brewing, including a grab body, the middle of the top of the grab body is equipped with connecting plate, connecting rod is installed on the rotating shaft between the two connecting plate, the top of the grab body one side is equipped with hinged seat, the hinged seat is rotatably connected with swing rod, sliding sleeve is equipped on the connecting rod, lifting rod is slidably fitted in the sliding sleeve, the lower end of the lifting rod is rotatably connected on swing rod, linear actuator is equipped on the connecting rod, the telescopic rod of linear actuator is connected on lifting rod.The utility model discloses linear actuator is arranged on the connecting rod, cooperates with protective cover and sealing structure, effectively isolates the contact of wine lees and key moving parts, prevents moisture penetration and impurity invasion, guarantees the normal working environment of transmission mechanism and lubricating system.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of brewing technology, and more specifically, to a lees grabber. Background Technology

[0002] In brewing production, the grab bucket is a crucial material handling device, and its performance directly impacts production efficiency and product quality. Currently, most brewing grab buckets employ a conventional structure to maximize the amount of material grabbed at a time when handling materials such as distiller's grains. In a conventional grab bucket, the relative movement of the components compresses the material to accommodate more of it. However, distiller's grains have unique properties and require a high degree of preservation in their original state. Using a conventional grab bucket for compression would damage their internal structure and composition, affecting subsequent brewing processes.

[0003] Chinese patent CN113650974B discloses a lees grabber, the lower wall of which is designed as an arc wall centered on a pin hole. When the grabber closes, the arc wall does not compress the lees being grabbed. This is because the shape and position of the arc wall remain unchanged when it rotates around the pin hole, and it does not compress the internal space.

[0004] However, distillers' grains have a high moisture content, typically reaching 60%-70%. During the operation of the grab bucket, the grains easily fall onto the first and second swing arms. The moisture in the grains gradually seeps into the interior of the two swing arms due to gravity. The interior of the swing arms usually contains critical components such as transmission mechanisms and lubrication systems. The seepage of moisture will disrupt the normal working environment of these components, leading to problems such as lubrication failure and rusting of transmission components, which will seriously affect the normal operation of the swing arms.

[0005] In addition, the lees may contain some solid particles and impurities. When the boom extends and retracts, these solid particles and impurities will generate friction on the boom surface, easily causing scratches on the extension rod surface. Once scratches appear on the extension rod surface, it will not only accelerate wear, but may also lead to seal failure, further aggravating the intrusion of moisture and impurities, forming a vicious cycle that seriously affects the overall performance and operational stability of the grab bucket. Utility Model Content

[0006] The purpose of this utility model is to solve the problems mentioned in the background art above, and then to propose a lees grab bucket.

[0007] The technical solution adopted by this utility model to solve its technical problem is: A grain slurry grab includes a grab body with a connecting plate at the top center. A pivot is located between two connecting plates, and a connecting rod is mounted on the pivot. A hinge seat is located on one side of the top of the grab body, and a swing rod is rotatably connected to the hinge seat. A sliding sleeve is provided on the connecting rod, and a lifting rod is slidably fitted inside the sliding sleeve. The lower end of the lifting rod is rotatably connected to the swing rod. A linear actuator is provided on the connecting rod, and the telescopic rod of the linear actuator is connected to the lifting rod. The linear actuator can drive the grab body to rotate around the pivot.

[0008] Furthermore, the linear actuator is a pneumatic cylinder or an electric cylinder.

[0009] Furthermore, the linear actuator and the outer side of the sliding sleeve are covered with a protective cover, which is fixedly connected to the connecting rod, and a through hole is formed on the protective cover to accommodate the lifting rod.

[0010] Furthermore, the protective cover is provided with an adhesive strip, which abuts against the surface of the lifting rod.

[0011] Furthermore, the through-hole is provided with bristles or a flexible sponge.

[0012] Furthermore, the grab bucket body is provided with a crossbar, and a hinge seat is fixedly connected to the crossbar.

[0013] Furthermore, a flange is provided at the top of the connecting rod.

[0014] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this utility model are: This utility model, by placing the linear actuator above the connecting rod, along with a protective cover and sealing structure, effectively isolates the contact between the lees and key moving parts, prevents moisture penetration and impurity intrusion, and ensures the normal working environment of the transmission mechanism and lubrication system. It has the advantages of preventing the boom from rusting, extending the service life of the equipment, and improving the stability of the grab bucket operation. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of this utility model; Figure 2 for Figure 1 A magnified view of a section at point A in the middle; Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the structure when the protective cover is fitted with adhesive strips; The components include: 1. Grab body, 11. Connecting plate, 12. Rotating shaft, 2. Connecting rod, 3. Flange, 41. Crossbar, 42. Hinge seat, 43. Swing rod, 44. Lifting rod, 45. Sliding sleeve, 46. Linear actuator, 47. Protective cover, 471. Through hole, 472. Rubber strip. Detailed Implementation

[0016] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present utility model, and not all of them. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present utility model without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present utility model. The present utility model will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments: In existing technologies, when grabbing high-moisture-content lees in brewing production, the material easily seeps into the internal structure of the rotating arm. Prolonged contact with moisture can cause lubrication failure and component corrosion in the transmission mechanism and lubrication system inside the rotating arm. Simultaneously, solid particles from the lees can scratch the surface of the arm during its extension and retraction, leading to a vicious cycle of sealing failure and impurity intrusion, severely impacting equipment stability and service life. To address these issues, researchers discovered that the linear actuators in existing grab buckets were positioned at the swing arm, directly exposed to the distiller's grains environment. Analysis of the failure mechanism revealed the need to isolate critical drive components from the material contact area. A redesign of the transmission structure revealed that placing the linear actuators at the top of the grab bucket, transmitting power to the swing arm via a lifting rod, effectively prevented the distiller's grains from contacting the precision components.

[0017] like Figures 1-3 As shown, a lees grab bucket includes a grab bucket body 1. A connecting plate 11 is located at the center of the top of the grab bucket body. A rotating shaft 12 is located between the two connecting plates. A connecting rod 2 is mounted on the rotating shaft. A hinge seat 42 is located on one side of the top of the grab bucket body. A swing rod 43 is rotatably connected to the hinge seat. A sliding sleeve 45 is provided on the connecting rod. A lifting rod 44 is slidably fitted inside the sliding sleeve. The lower end of the lifting rod is rotatably connected to the swing rod. A linear actuator 46 is provided on the connecting rod. The telescopic rod of the linear actuator is connected to the lifting rod. The linear actuator can drive the grab bucket body to rotate around the rotating shaft. The top-mounted design of the linear actuator effectively prevents the lees from contacting the linear actuator.

[0018] The connecting plate is a plate-like structure located at the center of the top of the grab bucket body. It can be fixed by welding or bolting and is used to support the installation of the rotating shaft. The rotating shaft is a rotating shaft that runs through the two connecting plates. It can be a hollow steel tube with bearings to achieve rotation and is used to support the rotational movement of the connecting rod. The hinge seat is a support seat fixed to the top of the grab bucket body. It can be a casting with a shaft hole and is used to provide a fulcrum for the swing rod. The sliding sleeve is a guide component fitted onto the connecting rod. It can be a metal sleeve with a smooth inner wall and is used to constrain the linear motion trajectory of the lifting rod. The lifting rod is a rod-like component that forms a sliding fit with the sliding sleeve. It can be a chrome-plated steel rod and is used to convert the thrust of the linear actuator into the rotational motion of the swing rod. Specifically, when the linear actuator is activated, its telescopic rod drives the lifting rod to move vertically within the sliding sleeve. The lower end of the lifting rod pushes the swing rod to rotate around the hinge seat via the hinge point, thereby driving the grab bucket body to rotate around the axis. The grab bucket body can be flush with the bottom of the wine tank for scooping up the wine. Because the linear actuator is located on the connecting rod at the top of the grab bucket body, its working position is far from the wine grain grabbing area. The cooperation structure between the sliding sleeve and the lifting rod forms a sealed movement channel, preventing wine grain particles from entering the drive components. Compared to existing technologies, the linear actuators of conventional grab buckets are directly mounted at the boom position, leaving them completely exposed to the distillery waste environment during operation. This solution, by moving the drive mechanism to a top enclosed area and utilizing a guiding structure with a sliding sleeve and lifting rod, completely isolates critical components from the material. The protective cover and the sealing structure at the through-holes further prevent liquid penetration, resolving the issues of component corrosion and mechanical damage caused by material contact in traditional equipment. Furthermore, the linear actuator is a pneumatic cylinder or an electric cylinder.

[0019] A cylinder is an actuator that uses compressed gas to generate linear motion. Specifically, it can be implemented using a pneumatic cylinder body structure with a piston rod, controlling the reciprocating motion of the telescopic rod through changes in air pressure. An electric cylinder, on the other hand, is an actuator that achieves linear motion through a motor drive. Specifically, it can be implemented using a servo motor in conjunction with a ball screw or rack and pinion transmission structure, controlling the stroke and speed of the telescopic rod through electrical signals.

[0020] Furthermore, the linear actuator and the outer side of the sliding sleeve are covered with a protective cover 47, which is fixedly connected to the connecting rod, and a through hole 471 is formed on the protective cover to accommodate the lifting rod.

[0021] The protective cover is provided with an adhesive strip 472, which abuts against the surface of the lifting rod to remove the lees adhering to the surface of the lifting rod.

[0022] The protective cover refers to the shell covering the linear actuator and sliding sleeve. It can be made of metal plate or engineering plastic and is fixed to the connecting rod by bolts or welding. It isolates the internal mechanism from external lees and moisture. The through-hole refers to the opening in the protective cover, which can be circular or elliptical in shape. The diameter of the through-hole is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the lifting rod, allowing the lifting rod to maintain a tight seal when sliding vertically. The rubber strip is an elastic strip-shaped sealing element, made of rubber or silicone, which is fixed to the edge of the through-hole by a slot or adhesive. It contacts the surface of the lifting rod to scrape away residual lees. Specifically, the protective cover forms a sealed space by completely enclosing the linear actuator and sliding sleeve, preventing lees and liquids from seeping into the interior. As the lifting rod passes through the through hole, the rubber strip continuously contacts the rod surface, scraping away any adhering substances. The fixed connection between the protective cover and the connecting rod ensures the overall structural stability and prevents seal failure due to vibration. Through the above technical solution, this application effectively prevents moisture and solid particles in the lees from invading the linear actuator and the sliding sleeve, avoids the transmission components from jamming due to lubrication failure or corrosion, extends the service life of key components, and ensures the stability and reliability of the grab bucket in the lees grabbing operation.

[0023] In some embodiments, the through-hole is provided with bristles or flexible sponge, which can effectively prevent lees from entering the protective cover.

[0024] The bristles refer to a densely packed structure made of fibrous material, specifically nylon or polyester fiber bundles, which physically scrapes away the lees particles adhering to the surface of the lifting rod. The flexible sponge refers to a polymer material with a porous elastic structure, specifically polyurethane foam, which fills the gap between the lifting rod and the through-hole through deformation. The through-hole refers to the opening structure on the protective cover through which the lifting rod passes; its inner diameter can be slightly larger than the outer diameter of the lifting rod to allow for some movement.

[0025] Specifically, when the lifting rod reciprocates within the sliding sleeve, the grains of distiller's grains adhering to the rod's surface are blocked by bristles or flexible sponges at the edges of the through-holes. The bristles, through densely packed fiber bundles, maintain continuous contact with the lifting rod surface, scraping off the grains during the rod's movement. The flexible sponge, through elastic deformation, forms an interference fit with the lifting rod, continuously removing residue from the rod's surface during dynamic movement. This structure prevents solid particles from the distiller's grains from entering the protective cover through the through-holes, while the cushioning effect of the flexible material prevents scratches on the lifting rod's surface.

[0026] Furthermore, the grab body is provided with a crossbar 41, and a hinge seat is fixedly connected to the crossbar.

[0027] The crossbar refers to the support structure arranged laterally on the surface of the grab bucket body, which can be made of channel steel or I-beams. The hinge seat refers to the mounting base used to connect the swing arm, which can be made of welded steel plate and fixed to the crossbar by bolts or welding.

[0028] Furthermore, a flange 3 is provided at the top of the connecting rod.

[0029] The flange refers to the disc structure with bolt holes at the top of the connecting rod. It can be manufactured by forging or casting and is used to achieve quick connection between the grab bucket and external lifting equipment. The foregoing has shown and described the basic principles, main features, and advantages of this utility model. Those skilled in the art should understand that this utility model is not limited to the above embodiments. The descriptions of the above embodiments and specifications are merely illustrative of the principles of this utility model. Various changes and modifications can be made to this utility model without departing from its spirit and scope, and all such changes and modifications fall within the scope of protection claimed by this utility model. The scope of protection of this utility model is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A lees grabber, characterized in that, The device includes a grab bucket body, a connecting plate located at the center of the top of the grab bucket body, a rotating shaft between two connecting plates, a connecting rod mounted on the rotating shaft, a hinge seat located on one side of the top of the grab bucket body, a swing rod rotatably connected to the hinge seat, a sliding sleeve located on the connecting rod, a lifting rod slidably fitted inside the sliding sleeve, the lower end of the lifting rod rotatably connected to the swing rod, a linear actuator located on the connecting rod, and a telescopic rod of the linear actuator connected to the lifting rod, the linear actuator being able to drive the grab bucket body to rotate around the rotating shaft.

2. The distiller's grains grabber according to claim 1, characterized in that, The linear actuator is a pneumatic cylinder or an electric cylinder.

3. The distiller's grains grabber according to claim 1, characterized in that, The linear actuator and the outer side of the sliding sleeve are covered with a protective cover, which is fixedly connected to the connecting rod. A through hole is formed on the protective cover to accommodate the lifting rod.

4. The distiller's grains grabber according to claim 3, characterized in that, The protective cover is provided with an adhesive strip, which abuts against the surface of the lifting rod.

5. The distiller's grains grabber according to claim 3, characterized in that, The through-hole is provided with bristles or flexible sponge.

6. The distiller's grains grabber according to claim 1, characterized in that, The grab bucket body is provided with a crossbar, and a hinge seat is fixedly connected to the crossbar.

7. The distiller's grains grabber according to claim 1, characterized in that, The connecting rod is equipped with a flange at its top.

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