A fermentation device facilitating observation of a feed liquid

Abstract

The utility model relates to a kind of fermentation device convenient for observing feed liquid, including fermentation tank and the observation window being set on the lateral wall of fermentation tank. Observation window includes lens and the flange ring of lens fixed on the lateral wall of fermentation tank. Flange ring is also provided with the valve seat extending to fermentation tank. The end of valve seat away from lens is provided with circular sealing valve surface with oblique included angle. The end of valve seat close to lens is set as the cylindrical passage of fluid flow. Valve seat is connected with the shutter for closing the passage of valve seat or for the passage of valve seat for conduction. The oblique included angle of shutter and circular sealing valve surface is consistent, and annular groove is provided on the vertical bisector of shutter. The utility model forms cleaning space in fermentation tank by valve seat, and when cleaning observation window, observation passage is closed by shutter, so that cleaning fluid does not flow into fermentation tank. When needing to observe the inside of fermentation tank, open shutter again, reach better observation effect.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of resource utilization technology of organic waste, and in particular to a fermentation device that facilitates observation of the liquid material. Background Technology

[0002] In fields such as bioengineering, food processing, and pharmaceutical manufacturing, fermentation equipment is the core equipment for realizing microbial fermentation reactions. The state of the feed liquid directly determines the control precision of the fermentation process and the quality of the final product. Therefore, real-time and intuitive observation of the feed liquid inside the tank has become a key requirement in fermentation production. Currently, traditional fermentation equipment has many shortcomings in feed liquid observation and related auxiliary function design, making it difficult to meet the needs of efficient and stable fermentation production. The main problems are as follows:

[0003] In traditional fermentation equipment, the observation window is directly mounted on the surface of the fermenter without an isolation and sealing structure. This results in the observation window being in direct contact with the fermenting liquid, leading to contamination over time and making cleaning and maintenance difficult. Direct cleaning of the observation window is also inconvenient. During fermentation, residues and foam from the fermenting liquid adhere to the inner wall of the observation window lens, causing blurred vision. Traditional equipment often lacks a dedicated cleaning structure, requiring the machine to be stopped and the lens disassembled for cleaning. This not only interrupts the fermentation process and reduces production efficiency but may also disrupt the sterile environment inside the tank. Even in the few devices equipped with cleaning functions, the cleaning components (such as nozzles) require additional openings in the tank wall for installation, and the sprayed cleaning solution can flow into the fermenting liquid inside the tank, causing contamination.

[0004] In summary, existing fermentation devices have significant shortcomings in terms of the intuitiveness of observing the liquid, the reliability of sealing, the convenience of operation, the cleanliness of the lens, and the overall structure. They cannot meet the requirements of fermentation production for real-time monitoring, a sterile environment, and efficient operation. Therefore, a fermentation device that can solve the above problems and facilitate the observation of the liquid is needed.

[0005] Furthermore, on the one hand, there are differences in understanding among those skilled in the art; on the other hand, the applicant studied a large number of documents and patents when making this utility model, but due to space limitations, not all details and contents were listed in detail. However, this does not mean that this utility model does not have the features of these prior art. On the contrary, this utility model has all the features of the prior art, and the applicant reserves the right to add relevant prior art to the background art. Utility Model Content

[0006] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, this invention provides a fermentation device for easy observation of the fermentation liquid, comprising a fermenter and an observation window disposed on the side wall of the fermenter. The observation window includes a lens and a flange ring for fixing the lens to the side wall of the fermenter. A valve seat extending into the fermenter is also disposed on the flange ring. The end of the valve seat away from the lens has a circular sealing valve face with an inclined angle. The end of the valve seat near the lens is configured as a cylindrical channel for fluid flow. A gate is connected to the valve seat for either closing the channel or opening the channel. The gate matches the inclined angle of the circular sealing valve face, and an annular groove is provided on the vertical bisecting surface of the gate.

[0007] According to a preferred embodiment, the circular sealing valve surface is concave. A through hole for discharging liquid is provided on the vertically lower part of the circular sealing valve surface.

[0008] According to a preferred embodiment, a slide bar is connected to the vertical upper end of the gate. The gate and the slide bar are housed within a housing for limiting the horizontal movement of the gate and the slide bar. The housing is connected to a valve seat.

[0009] According to a preferred embodiment, the housing at least covers a portion of the circumferential side of the slide rod and forms a slide rail for vertical movement of the slide rod. The slide rod vertically penetrates the housing through the slide rail.

[0010] According to a preferred embodiment, the housing is provided with a space for accommodating a gate that moves vertically after the valve seat is opened.

[0011] According to a preferred embodiment, a rack and a gear meshing with the rack are provided on the side of the slide bar. A drive rod is connected to the axis of the gear. The drive rod passes through the side wall of the fermenter and is connected to a drive motor.

[0012] According to a preferred embodiment, a rotating shaft is provided on the axis of the lens. A scraper attached to the lens is provided at the end of the rotating shaft located inside the fermentation tank. A handwheel is provided at the end of the rotating shaft located outside the fermentation tank.

[0013] According to a preferred embodiment, a cleaner that sprays onto the lens is provided inside the fermenter. The cleaner extends into the valve seat from its vertical end. A drain pipe for wastewater discharge is also provided at the vertical end of the valve seat.

[0014] According to a preferred embodiment, the spray direction of the cleaner is set at an angle to the lens. The angle is set to 30°-60°.

[0015] According to a preferred embodiment, a sealing ring is provided at the point where the drive rod penetrates the side wall of the fermenter. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1This is a simplified structural diagram of a fermentation device for easy observation of the feed liquid, according to a preferred embodiment of this utility model.

[0017] Figure 2 This is a simplified cross-sectional view of a fermentation device for easy observation of the feed liquid, according to a preferred embodiment of this utility model.

[0018] Figure 3 This is a simplified structural diagram of the observation window and related components of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 4 This is a simplified cross-sectional view of a valve seat according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 5 This is a simplified structural diagram of a gate according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] List of reference numerals

[0022] 100: Fermentation tank; 200: Observation window; 201: Lens; 202: Flange ring; 203: Valve seat; 204: Circular sealing valve face; 205: Gate; 206: Slide rod; 207: Housing; 208: Rack; 209: Gear; 210: Drive rod; 211: Drive motor; 212: Rotary shaft; 213: Sludge scraper; 214: Washer; 215: Water outlet pipe. Detailed Implementation

[0023] The following is a detailed explanation with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0024] Example 1

[0025] This invention provides a fermentation device that facilitates observation of the fermentation liquid, such as... Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown, the system includes a fermenter 100 and an observation window 200 disposed on the side wall of the fermenter 100. The observation window 200 includes a lens 201 and a flange ring 202 that fixes the lens 201 to the side wall of the fermenter 100. A valve seat 203 extending into the fermenter 100 is also disposed on the flange ring 202. The end of the valve seat 203 away from the lens 201 is provided with a circular sealing valve surface 204 having an inclined angle. The end of the valve seat 203 near the lens 201 is provided with a cylindrical channel for fluid flow. A gate 205 is connected to the valve seat 203 for closing the channel of the valve seat 203 or for opening the channel of the valve seat 203. The inclined angle of the gate 205 matches the circular sealing valve surface 204, and an annular groove is provided on the vertical bisecting surface of the gate 205. The annular groove provides partial elastic deformation for the gate 205, ensuring the sealing of the valve seat 203 through interference compression when the gate 205 closes it. An observation window 200 is provided on the side wall of the fermenter 100, allowing direct visualization of the liquid state inside the tank via the lens 201. This provides a foundation for monitoring the fermentation process and solves the problem of traditional fermentation devices struggling to intuitively assess the liquid condition. The flange ring 202 secures the lens 201, ensuring its stable installation and preventing loosening due to vibration during fermentation. It also enhances the sealing at the connection between the lens 201 and the tank wall, preventing leakage of liquid or gas. The valve seat 203 extends into the tank, effectively separating the fluid channel from the observation window 200, preventing obstruction of the observation view, and providing a stable mounting surface for the gate 205. The inclined circular sealing valve face 204 fits into the gate 205, which, compared to a planar sealing structure, increases the sealing contact area and improves the sealing pressure, significantly enhancing the sealing reliability when the channel is closed and reducing the risk of liquid leakage. The gate 205 can realize the control of channel closure and opening, facilitating flexible adjustment of the channel state under different working conditions such as observation and cleaning, and improving the operational flexibility of the device.

[0026] According to a preferred embodiment, such as Figure 4As shown, the circular sealing valve surface 204 is concave. A through-hole (not shown in the attached figure) for discharging liquid is provided on the vertically lower part of the circular sealing valve surface 204. The concave shape of the circular sealing valve surface 204 provides a positioning and guiding effect for the gate 205, ensuring precise contact between the gate 205 and the sealing surface when closed, preventing sealing failure due to gate 205 misalignment and improving sealing stability. Preferably, the thickness of the gate 205 gradually decreases from top to bottom. The width of the concave surface of the circular sealing valve surface 204 also gradually decreases from top to bottom. This creates an inclined sealing surface, allowing the gate 205 to be guided by the inclined sealing surface when inserted into the circular sealing valve surface 204 from above, thus improving the sealing degree. The discharge through-hole on the vertically lower part of the sealing valve surface 204 allows for timely discharge of residual liquid within the valve seat 203, preventing residual liquid from stagnating and deteriorating within the valve seat 203, reducing the risk of bacterial growth, and preventing residual liquid from affecting subsequent cleaning or channel flow, ensuring the cleanliness of the valve seat 203 area.

[0027] According to a preferred embodiment, such as Figure 5 As shown, a slide rod 206 is connected to the vertical end of the gate 205. The gate 205 and the slide rod 206 are housed in a housing 207 that restricts their horizontal movement. The housing 207 is connected to the valve seat 203. The vertical connection between the gate 205 and the slide rod 206 forms a linkage structure of "slide rod 206-gate 205". The movement of the slide rod 206 directly drives the gate 205 to rise and fall, simplifying the drive path of the gate 205 and improving the operation response speed. The housing 207 restricts the horizontal movement of the gate 205 and the slide rod 206, ensuring that they move only vertically. This avoids misalignment between the gate 205 and the sealing valve surface 204 due to horizontal offset, ensuring sealing accuracy, and preventing structural wear caused by the wobbling of the slide rod 206, thus extending the component's lifespan. The housing 207 is connected to the valve seat 203, so that the slide rod 206, the gate 205 and the valve seat 203 form an interlocking structure, which improves the overall stability of the components, avoids operational failures caused by loose parts, and reduces the maintenance frequency.

[0028] According to a preferred embodiment, such as Figure 3 As shown, the outer shell 207 at least covers a portion of the circumferential side of the slide rod 206 and forms a slide track for the vertical movement of the slide rod 206. The slide rod 206 vertically penetrates the outer shell 207 through the slide track. The outer shell 207 covering a portion of the circumferential side of the slide rod 206 and forming a vertical slide track provides strict guidance for the movement of the slide rod 206, ensuring that the slide rod 206 drives the gate 205 to move linearly, further improving the fitting accuracy between the gate 205 and the sealing valve surface 204, and ensuring smooth and unobstructed switching action. The design of the slide rod 206 penetrating the outer shell 207 facilitates the connection of a drive structure (such as the subsequent gear 209 or motor 211) from outside the fermenter 100, realizing external control of the gate 205, which can be operated without opening the tank lid, ensuring the airtightness of the fermentation environment inside the tank.

[0029] According to a preferred embodiment, the housing 207 is provided with a space for accommodating a gate 205 that moves vertically after the valve seat 203 is opened. The housing 207 has a reserved space to accommodate the gate 205 after it is opened, so that the gate 205 can be retracted inside the housing 207 when fully opened, preventing the gate 205 from protruding into the tank space, thus preventing the gate 205 from obstructing the flow of liquid inside the tank, interfering with other components, or being worn by the liquid.

[0030] According to a preferred embodiment, a rack 208 and a gear 209 meshing with the rack 208 are provided on the side of the slide bar 206. A drive rod 210 is connected to the axis of the gear 209. The drive rod 210 passes through the side wall of the fermenter 100 and is connected to the drive motor 211. The rack 208 and gear 209 of the slide bar 206 cooperate to convert the rotational motion of the drive motor 211 into the vertical linear motion of the slide bar 206. The transmission efficiency is high and the precision is controllable, and the lifting distance of the gate 205 can be precisely adjusted. The drive motor 211 provides automated power, replacing manual drive and saving labor costs, which is especially suitable for large fermenters 100. It is understood that the drive motor 211 of this application is a conventional motor assembly, which can be started and stopped or rotated by manually operating a controller or other remote control devices, and has a built-in torque limiter so that the motor will idle when the torque is exceeded (i.e., when the gate 205 abuts against the housing 207 upward or against the valve seat 203 downward). This setup is a standard technical method for motors and will not be elaborated upon here.

[0031] According to a preferred embodiment, a rotating shaft 212 is provided on the axis of the lens 201. A scraper 213, attached to the lens 201, is located at one end of the rotating shaft 212 inside the fermenter 100. A handwheel is located at the other end of the rotating shaft 212 outside the fermenter 100. The rotating shaft 212 on the axis of the lens 201 drives the scraper 213 inside the tank to rotate. The scraper 213, attached to the lens 201, can directly remove material residue, foam, and other obstructions adhering to the inner wall of the lens 201. The clarity of the observation window 200 can be restored without disassembling the lens 201, avoiding frequent disassembly and cleaning that could damage the sterile environment inside the tank, while also reducing wear and tear from lens 201 disassembly and assembly. The handwheel design at the outer end of the tank allows the operator to manually drive the scraper 213 from outside the tank. This is convenient to operate, requires no additional power equipment, is low-cost, and simple to maintain, making it suitable for small fermenters 100 or temporary cleaning needs. The rotating shaft 212 is located at the axis of the lens 201, ensuring that the scraper 213 evenly covers the entire surface of the lens 201 when it rotates, with no dead corners in cleaning, improving the overall cleaning of the lens 201 and ensuring an unobstructed field of view.

[0032] According to a preferred embodiment, a cleaner 214 is installed inside the fermenter 100 to spray onto the lens 201. The cleaner 214 extends into the valve seat 203 from its vertical end. A drain pipe 215 for wastewater outflow is also provided at the vertical end of the valve seat 203. The cleaner 214 sprays onto the lens 201, deeply cleaning it with a cleaning solution (such as sterile water), removing stubborn stains that the scraper 213 cannot remove, further improving the clarity of the lens 201 and ensuring optimal observation results. The cleaner 214 extends from the vertical end of the valve seat 203, utilizing the existing valve seat 203 structure for installation. This eliminates the need for additional openings in the fermenter 100 wall, reducing the number of openings, lowering the risk of leakage, and simplifying the overall structural design of the device, saving installation space and cost. The outlet pipe 215 at the vertical end of the valve seat 203 can discharge the wastewater after cleaning in a timely manner, avoiding the wastewater from remaining in the tank and contaminating the liquid or corroding the internal parts of the tank, ensuring the cleanliness of the cleaning process, and facilitating the centralized collection and treatment of wastewater, which meets environmental protection requirements.

[0033] According to a preferred embodiment, the spray direction of the cleaner 214 is set at an angle to the lens 201. The angle is set to 30°-60°. This 30°-60° angle between the cleaner 214 and the lens 201 balances the cleaning impact force and the spray coverage, ensuring the cleaning fluid has sufficient impact force to remove stains from the lens 201, allowing the cleaning fluid to evenly cover the surface of the lens 201, reducing cleaning dead spots, and improving cleaning efficiency and effectiveness. This invention uses a valve seat 203 to close the connection between the cleaner 214, the water outlet pipe 215, and the fermentation tank 100. When cleaning the observation window 200, a gate 205 closes the observation channel, preventing the cleaning fluid from flowing into the fermentation tank 100. This protects the observation window 200 during non-observation periods and ensures the fermentation effect. When observation of the inside of the fermentation tank 100 is needed, the gate 205 is opened to achieve a better observation effect.

[0034] According to a preferred embodiment, a sealing ring is provided at the point where the drive rod 210 penetrates the side wall of the fermenter 100. The sealing ring is used to ensure the airtightness of the fermenter 100, reduce frictional wear between the drive rod 210 and the tank wall, extend the service life of the drive rod 210 and the tank wall, and ensure smooth power transmission.

[0035] It should be noted that while the sealing rings are not shown at some connections in the attached drawings, this does not mean that sealing rings are not present at those locations. Those skilled in the art can add sealing rings according to the actual operating environment. Furthermore, the lens 201 in the attached drawings is shown as opaque to ensure clear visualization of the structure; however, the inside of the fermenter 100 can actually be seen through the lens 201. The additional water pumps or other cleaning devices connected to the washer 214 and the outlet pipe 215 are not shown; only their piping shape and direction are indicated.

[0036] It should be noted that the specific embodiments described above are exemplary. Those skilled in the art can devise various solutions inspired by the disclosure of this utility model, and these solutions all fall within the scope of this utility model and its protection scope. Those skilled in the art should understand that this utility model specification and its drawings are illustrative and do not constitute a limitation on the claims. The protection scope of this utility model is defined by the claims and their equivalents. This utility model specification contains multiple inventive concepts; phrases such as "preferred" or "according to a preferred embodiment" indicate that the corresponding paragraph discloses an independent concept. The applicant reserves the right to file divisional applications based on each inventive concept. Throughout the text, the feature introduced by "preferred" is only an optional mode and should not be construed as mandatory. Therefore, the applicant reserves the right to abandon or delete relevant preferred features at any time.

Claims

1. A fermentation device that facilitates observation of the fermentation liquid, characterized in that, The system includes a fermenter (100) and an observation window (200) disposed on the side wall of the fermenter (100). The observation window (200) includes a lens (201) and a flange ring (202) for fixing the lens (201) to the side wall of the fermenter (100). The flange ring (202) is also provided with a valve seat (203) extending into the fermenter (100). The valve seat (203) is provided with a circular sealing valve surface (204) with an inclined angle at one end away from the lens (201). The valve seat (203) is provided with a cylindrical channel for fluid flow at one end near the lens (201). A gate (205) for closing the channel of the valve seat (203) or for opening the channel of the valve seat (203) is connected to the valve seat (203). The inclined angle of the gate (205) matches that of the circular sealing valve surface (204), and an annular groove is provided on the vertical bisecting surface of the gate (205).

2. The fermentation device for easy observation of the feed liquid according to claim 1, characterized in that, The circular sealing valve surface (204) is configured to be concave, wherein, The circular sealing valve face (204) has a through hole for discharging liquid material on its vertical lower side.

3. The fermentation device for easy observation of the feed liquid according to claim 2, characterized in that, The gate (205) is connected to a slide rod (206) at its vertical end. The gate (205) and the slide rod (206) are disposed in a housing (207) for limiting the horizontal movement of the gate (205) and the slide rod (206). The housing (207) is connected to the valve seat (203).

4. The fermentation device for easy observation of the feed liquid according to claim 3, characterized in that, The outer casing (207) at least covers a portion of the circumferential side surface of the slide rod (206) and forms a slide rail for vertical movement of the slide rod (206), wherein, The slide bar (206) passes vertically through the outer shell (207) via the slide rail.

5. The fermentation device for easy observation of the feed liquid according to claim 4, characterized in that, The housing (207) is provided with a space for accommodating the gate (205) which moves vertically after the valve seat (203) is opened.

6. The fermentation apparatus for easy observation of the feed liquid according to claim 5, characterized in that, The slide bar (206) has a rack (208) and a gear (209) that meshes with the rack (208) on its side. The axis of the gear (209) is connected to a drive rod (210). The drive rod (210) passes through the side wall of the fermenter (100) and is connected to a drive motor (211).

7. The fermentation apparatus for easy observation of the feed liquid according to claim 6, characterized in that, A rotating shaft (212) is provided on the axis of the lens (201). A scraper (213) is attached to the lens (201) at one end of the rotating shaft (212) inside the fermentation tank (100). A handwheel is provided at the other end of the rotating shaft (212) outside the fermentation tank (100).

8. The fermentation apparatus for easy observation of the feed liquid according to claim 7, characterized in that, A cleaner (214) is provided inside the fermentation tank (100) to spray onto the lens (201). The cleaner (214) extends into the valve seat (203) from its vertical end. The valve seat (203) is also provided with a drain pipe (215) for sewage to flow out at its vertical lower end.

9. The fermentation apparatus for easy observation of the feed liquid according to claim 8, characterized in that, The spraying direction of the cleaner (214) is set such that it forms an angle with the lens (201), and the angle is set to 30°-60°.

10. The fermentation apparatus for easy observation of the feed liquid according to claim 9, characterized in that, A sealing ring is provided at the point where the drive rod (210) passes through the side wall of the fermenter (100).

Images