CONQUET DEVAKING SYSTEM WITH EMERGENCY SHUTOFF
The decanting hopper with a covered loading opening and magnetic sensor system addresses safety hazards by stopping the motor when access points are opened, ensuring operator safety during pomace recovery.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- FR2024006238
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Utility models
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-06-12
- Publication Date
- 2025-12-19
- Estimated Expiration
- 2034-06-12
AI Technical Summary
Existing decanting hoppers for winemaking vats have safety hazards due to open loading openings that increase the risk of accidents and blockages, posing a threat to operators during manual intervention.
A decanting hopper with a loading opening covered by a rigid plate and equipped with magnetic sensors to detect opening, coupled with an electronic circuit to stop the motor when the plate is opened, ensuring operator safety by preventing access to moving parts.
The solution effectively prevents injuries by stopping the motor upon detection of open access points, providing dual protection through the rigid plate and sensor system, enhancing safety during pomace recovery operations.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
Title of the invention: CONQUET DEVANCING SYSTEM WITH EMERGENCY STOP Technical field of the invention
[0001] The present invention relates to a decanting hopper with an emergency stop system. It applies, in particular, to the recovery of pomace from a winemaking vat and, more particularly, to a decanting hopper comprising a hopper equipped with a feed screw, a loading opening, a drive belt, a drive motor for this screw, and a pump. State of the art
[0002] The approaches described in this section are approaches that could be pursued, but not necessarily approaches that have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated, it should not be assumed that any of the approaches described in this section constitutes prior art simply because of its inclusion in this section.
[0003] The known racking hoppers of the type in question have a major drawback which is directly related to safety. Indeed, the loading opening, which is located vertically from the feed screw, has three open sides, the first being opposite the racking outlet of the winemaking tank and which cannot be closed and the other two which are generally protected by grids which the staff often remove in order to manually intervene, at the level of the loading opening, on the pomace which arrives in large quantities and which sometimes causes blockages.
[0004] The risks of falling are not harmed and there is no way to avoid this type of accident. Presentation of the invention
[0005] The present invention aims to remedy the disadvantages of prior art decanting vats.
[0006] To this end, the present invention relates to a decanting hopper suitable for recovering the pomace from a winemaking vat, which includes a hopper equipped with a feeding screw and a loading opening, a drive motor for this screw, a pump and a feed belt, which is located vertically from the loading opening, in the bottom of the hopper, configured to recover the pomace from the winemaking vat through the loading opening, and transfer it into a receptacle where the screw is located;
[0007] compartment in which part of the loading opening is covered by a rigid plate whose dimensions and positioning prevent the hand of a operator to reach the feed conveyor or the feed screw, this rigid plate being mounted on a hinge, the conquet having a safety system comprising a first magnetic sensor which detects the opening of this rigid plate and an electronic circuit which cuts off the electrical supply to the motor in case of detection of the opening of this rigid plate by the first magnetic sensor.
[0008] An operator is thus doubly protected, on the one hand, by the presence of the rigid plate which prevents his hand from reaching the feeding screw, and, on the other hand, by the detection of the opening of this rigid plate, which causes these moving parts to stop.
[0009] In embodiments, the decanting hopper of the invention further comprises an inspection hatch of the receptacle where the auger is located, the safety system comprising a second magnetic safety sensor, which detects the opening of this inspection hatch, the electronic circuit cutting off the power supply to the motor in the event of detection of the opening of the inspection hatch by the second safety sensor.
[0010] The operator is thus protected against any injury resulting from access to the receptacle where the worm screw is located following the opening of the inspection hatch of this receptacle.
[0011] In embodiments, the decanting hopper of the invention further comprises a pump hatch, the safety system comprising a third magnetic safety sensor, which detects the opening of this pump hatch, the electronic circuit cutting off the electrical supply to the motor in the event of detection of the opening of the pump hatch by the third safety sensor.
[0012] The operator is thus protected against any injury resulting from access to the pump following the opening of the pump hatch.
[0013] In embodiments, the decanting hopper of the invention further comprises a motor drum for driving the feed belt, the electronic circuit cutting off the power supply to the motor drum simultaneously with the cutting off of the power supply to the drive motor of the auger.
[0014] The operator is thus protected against any injury resulting from access to the feed conveyor as soon as a magnetic sensor detects an opening.
[0015] In embodiments, the decanting hopper of the invention further comprises, on the part of the loading opening which is not covered by the rigid plate, a bar system comprising bars which have a center distance of 120 mm.
[0016] This center distance prevents the operator's body from passing between two bars while allowing the grounds to pass through.
[0017] In embodiments, the bars are placed on the side of the loading opening furthest from the feeding screw.
[0018] In embodiments, the usable length of the feed belt, between two rollers, is greater than or equal to 1.5 meters. Brief description of the figures
[0019] Other advantages, purposes and particular features of the invention will become apparent from the following non-limiting description of at least one particular embodiment of the decanting vat that is the subject of the present invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0020] [Fig. 1] schematically represents, in elevation, an embodiment of the decanting hopper that is the subject of the invention, and
[0021] [Fig.2] represents, schematically and in top view, the decanting vat illustrated in [Fig.1]. Description of the implementation methods
[0022] This description is given for informational purposes only.
[0023] It should be noted from the outset that the figures are not to scale.
[0024] As will be understood from the present description, various inventive concepts can be implemented by one or more racking cones described below, several examples of which are provided herein. The actions or steps carried out in the implementation of the racking cone can be ordered in any appropriate manner. Consequently, it is possible to construct embodiments in which the actions or steps are performed in a different order than that illustrated, which may include the simultaneous execution of certain acts, even if they are presented as sequential acts in the illustrated embodiments.
[0025] The expression "and / or", as used in this document, shall be understood as meaning "either or both" of the elements thus joined, that is, elements that are present conjunctively in some cases and disjunctively in others. Multiple elements listed with "and / or" shall be interpreted in the same way, that is, "one or more" of the elements thus joined. Other elements may also be present, other than those specifically identified by the "and / or" clause, whether or not they are related to those specifically identified elements.Thus, by way of non-limiting example, a reference to "A and / or B", when used in conjunction with an open language such as "including", may refer, in one embodiment, to A only (possibly including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to B only (possibly including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to A and B (possibly including other elements); etc.
[0026] As used herein in the description, "or" shall be understood inclusively.
[0027] As used in this description, the expression "at least one," with reference to a list of one or more elements, shall be understood as meaning at least one element chosen from one or more elements in the list of elements, but not necessarily including at least one of each element specifically enumerated in the list of elements and not excluding any combination of elements in the list of elements. This definition also allows for the optional presence of elements other than the elements specifically identified in the list of elements to which the expression "at least one" refers, whether or not they are related to those specifically identified elements.Thus, by way of non-limiting example, "at least one of A and B" (or, equivalently, "at least one of A or B", or, equivalently, "at least one of A and / or B") may refer, in one embodiment, to at least one, possibly including more than one, A, without B present (and possibly including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to at least one, possibly including more than one, B, without A present (and possibly including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to at least one, possibly including more than one, A, and at least one, possibly including more than one, B (and possibly including other elements); etc.
[0028] In the description below, all transitive expressions such as "comprising", "including", "carrying", "having", "containing", "implying", "holding", "composed of", and others, should be understood as open, that is, as meaning including but not limited to. Only the transitive expressions "consisting of" and "consisting essentially of" should be understood as closed or semi-closed transitive expressions, respectively.
[0029] Throughout this description, the term "above" or "upper" refers to the part above when the decanting hopper of the invention is in its operating configuration. This is the left-hand side, shown in [Fig. 1]. Correspondingly, the term "below" or "lower" refers to the part below when the decanting hopper of the invention is in its operating configuration, shown on the right in [Fig. 1].
[0030] Figure 1, which is not to scale, shows a decanting hopper 10 which includes a hopper 1, a feed screw 2, without end, a loading opening 3, a drive motor 4 for the moving parts and a pump 5.
[0031] The decanting hopper 10 shown in Figures 1 and 2 further comprises: - a pump hatch 12, - a pump outlet 13, - an alternative valve 14 connected, by a spring 15, to a fixed arm 16, - a drive roller 19 for the feed conveyor 8, preferably consisting of a motor drum, - a 20-roll tension follower for the feed conveyor belt 8, - a speed reducer 17 between the motor 4 and the feed screw shaft 2, - a belt 24 connecting the output of the reducer 17 to the worm screw shaft 2, - a tensioner 18 for the feed conveyor 8, - fixed wheels 21, - rotating wheels 22 around a vertical axis, and - a hopper reinforcement 23.
[0032] Preferably, the feeding screw 2, which is placed in the bottom of a receptacle 6, is entirely protected, in its upper part, by a casing 7. The loading opening 3, and the hopper 1 associated with it, are offset transversely with respect to the feeding screw 2. A feed belt 8, which is located below the loading opening 3, in the bottom of the hopper 1, collects the pomace, coming from a winemaking tank (not shown), through the loading opening 3, and transfers it into the receptacle 6, laterally with respect to the axis of the feeding screw 2.
[0033] The feed belt 8 preferably has a useful length of at least 1.50 meters between the motor drum drive roller 19 and the follower roller 20.
[0034] The motor 4 drives the feed screw 2, via the reducer 17, while the motor drum 19 drives the feed belt 8.
[0035] As illustrated in [Fig. 2], a bar system comprising bars 25, which have, for example, a center-to-center distance of 120 mm and a length of 600 mm, is placed longitudinally on the side of the loading opening 3 furthest from the feed screw 2. On the other part of the loading opening 3 is placed a rigid plate, for example made of metal, whose dimensions and positioning prevent an operator's hand from reaching the feed conveyor 8 or the feed screw 2. This rigid plate is mounted on a hinge and held by two toggle latches (not shown) located on each side of the feed conveyor 8. A safety system comprises a first magnetic sensor 27 which detects the opening of this rigid plate 26 and an electronic circuit 11 which cuts off the power supply to the motor 4 and the motor drum 19 in the event of detection of this opening of this rigid plate 26.
[0036] An inspection hatch 28 allows inspection, maintenance and unblocking of the feed screw 2. The safety system includes a second magnetic safety sensor 29 which detects the opening of the inspection hatch 28, the electronic circuit 11 cutting off the power supply to the motor 4 and the motor drum 19 in the event of detection of this opening of the inspection hatch 28.
[0037] A third magnetic safety sensor 30 detects the opening of the pump 5 hatch 12, the electronic circuit 11 cutting off the power supply to the motor 4 and the motor drum 19 in the event of detection of this opening of this pump hatch 12.
[0038] Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described and illustrated, for which other variants may be provided in: - pump type 5, - the shapes and dimensions of the components and sub-assemblies, or - the technical means implemented to produce these components or sub-assemblies; without going outside the scope of the invention.
Claims
Demands
1. A decanting hopper (10), suitable for recovering pomace from a winemaking vat, which includes a hopper (1) provided with a feeding auger (2) and a loading opening (3), a motor (4) for driving this auger, a pump (5) and a feed belt (8), which is located vertically from the loading opening, in the bottom of the hopper, configured to recover the pomace from the winemaking vat through the loading opening (3), and transfer it into a receptacle (6) where the auger is located;characterized in that a part of the loading opening is covered by a rigid plate (26) whose dimensions and positioning prevent an operator's hand from reaching the feed conveyor or the feed screw, this rigid plate being mounted on a hinge and in that the gate includes a safety system comprising a first magnetic sensor (27) which detects the opening of this rigid plate and an electronic circuit (11) which cuts off the electrical supply to the motor in the event of detection of the opening of this rigid plate by the first magnetic sensor.;
2. A decanting conquet (10) according to claim 1, which further comprises an inspection hatch (28) of the receptacle (6) where the auger (2) is located, the safety system comprising a second magnetic safety sensor (29), which detects the opening of this inspection hatch, the electronic circuit (11) cutting off the electrical supply to the motor (4) in the event of detection of the opening of the inspection hatch by the second safety sensor.
3. A decanting hopper (10) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, further comprising a pump hatch (12) (5), the safety system comprising a third magnetic safety sensor (30), which detects the opening of this pump hatch, the electronic circuit (11) cutting off the electrical supply to the motor (4) in the event of detection of the opening of the pump hatch by the third safety sensor.
4. A decanting hopper (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a motor drum (19) for driving the feed conveyor (8), the electronic circuit (11) cutting off the power supply electric motor drum (19) simultaneously with the electrical power cut-off of the motor (4) driving the worm gear (2).
5. A decanting hopper (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, which further comprises, on the part of the loading opening (3) which is not covered by the rigid plate (26), a bar system comprising bars (25) which have a center distance of 120 mm.
6. Decanting hopper (10) according to claim 5, wherein the bars (25) are placed on the side of the loading opening (3) furthest from the feeding screw (2).
7. A decanting hopper (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the useful length of the feeding conveyor (8), between two rollers (19, 20) is greater than or equal to 1.5 meters.