Brine Injection Filter for Needle Clogging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current brine injection systems face issues with clogged needles due to 'jelly' meat proteins and other particles, leading to reduced injection performance and require frequent disassembly and cleaning of multiple parts, which is time-consuming and wears out the system.

Innovation Solution

A brine injection system with a filter element that uses a screen with varying permeability and inclination to filter out residues, allowing gravity-driven flow and reducing the need for scrapers and rotating parts, along with a vacuum cleaner to remove particles and minimize liquid brine intake, and a chiller to maintain brine temperature.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple filters and scrapers are used to prevent needle clogging, then needle reliability is improved, but device complexity and maintenance time increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveneedle reliabilityVSAvoidfilter system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and removes the harmful 'jelly' meat proteins and particles from the brine at the source (in the filter) before they can reach and clog the needles. By effectively removing these contaminants in a single filtration stage, the complex multi-filter and scraper system is simplified while maintaining needle reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The filter element is designed as a disposable or easily replaceable component that can be quickly changed when blocked. This eliminates the need for complex cleaning mechanisms with multiple moving parts, scrapers, and rotating components, significantly reducing device complexity while ensuring continuous reliable operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Reliability

If multiple filters and scrapers are used to prevent needle clogging, then needle reliability is improved, but maintenance time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveneedle reliabilityVSAvoidmaintenance time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The filter element is designed as a disposable or easily replaceable component that can be quickly changed when blocked. This eliminates the need for complex cleaning mechanisms with multiple moving parts, scrapers, and rotating components, significantly reducing device complexity while ensuring continuous reliable operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The filter system is designed to be self-cleaning through backflushing with unfiltered brine that washes accumulated residues off the filter element. This automatic cleaning mechanism reduces the need for manual disassembly and cleaning of multiple components, thereby reducing maintenance time while maintaining needle reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If scrapers are used to clean the filter, then filter performance is maintained, but system wear increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefilter performanceVSAvoidsystem wear
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The filter element is designed as a disposable or easily replaceable component that can be quickly changed when blocked. This eliminates the need for complex cleaning mechanisms with multiple moving parts, scrapers, and rotating components, significantly reducing device complexity while ensuring continuous reliable operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The filter system is designed to be self-cleaning through backflushing with unfiltered brine that washes accumulated residues off the filter element. This automatic cleaning mechanism reduces the need for manual disassembly and cleaning of multiple components, thereby reducing maintenance time while maintaining needle reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Reliability

If in-line filters with positive pressure pumps are used, then filtration is improved, but needle clogging increases due to scraped particles

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefiltration effectivenessVSAvoidneedle clogging
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and removes the harmful 'jelly' meat proteins and particles from the brine at the source (in the filter) before they can reach and clog the needles. By effectively removing these contaminants in a single filtration stage, the complex multi-filter and scraper system is simplified while maintaining needle reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The filter system is designed to be self-cleaning through backflushing with unfiltered brine that washes accumulated residues off the filter element. This automatic cleaning mechanism reduces the need for manual disassembly and cleaning of multiple components, thereby reducing maintenance time while maintaining needle reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system effectively prevents needle clogging, reduces maintenance time, and minimizes wear by using a simple, efficient filtration process that maintains brine quality and extends the system's lifespan.

Implementation Method 1

The held back residues are permanently or intermittently washed out of the filter with unfiltered or only partially filtered brine and preferably due to gravity

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Implementation Method 2

a filter element, along which the unfiltered brine flows and through which the filtered brine passes and which holds back residues in the unfiltered brine

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFiltration: Filter (physical)

Implementation Method 3

a vacuum cleaner to remove particles and minimize liquid brine intake

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVacuum: Vacuum

Implementation Method 4

a chiller to maintain brine temperature

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCooling: Cooling

Data Source

PatentEP3223619B1Brine injection system with a filter
Publication Date: 2020.05.20 GEA FOOD SOLUTIONS BAKEL BV
  • EP3223619B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3223619B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3223619B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a brine injection system with a plurality of needles, which are inserted into a product and through which brine is injected into the product, wherein brine which does not end up in the product is collected and recycled and wherein during recycling, the brine flows through a filter.