Grain Wetting Vibrating Tube Motor Baseplate

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for wetting grains with a liquid to produce flour require long standing times, leading to space constraints, increased germ and mold formation, and limited water addition capacity, resulting in lower flour yields.

Innovation Solution

A vibrating device with a tube non-positively connected to a motor base plate, allowing for efficient transfer of vibration energy to grains, enabling higher water addition and reduced standing times, while maintaining hygiene and improving flour yield.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If grains are mixed with water in a screw conveyor and left for 12-72 hours, then the shells soften and can be peeled off, but a large amount of space is required for storage during the standing period

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshell softeningVSAvoidstorage space
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies mechanical vibration through a vibrating device with an oscillating tube to accelerate water penetration into grain shells. The vibration energy enhances the softening process, reducing the required standing time from 12-72 hours to just 2-4 hours, thereby significantly reducing storage space requirements while maintaining effective shell softening for peeling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #18Mechanical vibration

2Manufacturing precision

If grains are stored for long periods to soften shells, then peeling can be performed, but increased total germ counts as well as yeast and mold formation occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshell softeningVSAvoidgerm and mold formation
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The vibrating device accelerates the water penetration and shell softening process, reducing standing time from 12-72 hours to 2-4 hours. This time reduction prevents the development of harmful germs, yeast, and mold that typically occur during prolonged storage, while still achieving adequate shell softening for effective peeling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #18Mechanical vibration

3Ease of manufacture

If vibration energy is transferred through a long tube to grains, then the tube can be connected to the motor, but the vibration energy is not completely transferred to the grain

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemotor connectionVSAvoidvibration energy transfer efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the tube length parameter to a maximum of twice the motor base plate length and positions the tube non-positively (at an angle or offset) relative to the motor base plate. This parameter optimization ensures complete vibration energy transfer from the motor to the grains while maintaining easy motor connection, eliminating energy loss to tube vibrations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Productivity

If more liquid is added to grains in one pass, then water addition efficiency increases, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater addition efficiencyVSAvoiddevice structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The vibrating device with oscillating tube enables high-velocity liquid-grain contact through vibration-induced mixing, allowing 12% water addition in a single pass. This vibration-based mixing mechanism achieves high productivity without requiring complex multi-stage mixing systems, maintaining relatively simple device structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #18Mechanical vibration

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 device allows for a 12% water addition in one pass, significantly reducing standing times to 2-4 hours, increasing light flour yield by 0.5-1%, and ensuring better liquid penetration and energy efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

a vibrating device for the grains, which has a tube and at least one motor that sets the tube in vibrating motion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Data Source

PatentEP2651562B1Device and method for wetting grain with a liquid
Publication Date: 2016.06.22 VIBRONET GRAF
  • EP2651562B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2651562B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2651562B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to an apparatus for wetting grain with a liquid using a vibrating device for the grain, having a vertically or obliquely or horizontally arranged tube, and to at least one motor, which causes the tube to vibrate and has a motor baseplate for the connection of a vibratory apparatus, in the case of which the tube is connected in a force-fitting manner to the motor baseplate, the tube having a maximum length corresponding to double the length of the motor baseplate. The invention also relates to a method for wetting grain.