Horizontal Plate Freezer Engaging Device to Reduce Corrosion and Wear
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing horizontal plate freezers face challenges in maintaining robustness and reliability due to mechanical displacement parts like chains and joints, leading to corrosion and wear, which can result in equipment failure and inefficient seafood processing, especially in harsh marine environments.
Innovation Solution
A horizontal plate freezer design featuring a stack of freezer plates between a top and bottom frame, with an intervention unit and engaging devices that move along the plates, allowing for controlled separation and access, using actuators and pivoting latches to manage plate spacing for efficient loading and unloading, and a displacement device to adjust the bottom frame for easy tray handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If mechanical displacement parts such as chains and joints are used in the filling and emptying devices, then the productivity and handling efficiency are improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to corrosion and wear in harsh marine environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the chain actuators and mechanical displacement parts from the filling and emptying device, extracting the problematic mechanical components that caused corrosion and wear. The engaging device now uses a different mechanism that does not rely on chains, joints, or mechanical displacement parts, thereby eliminating the reliability issues while maintaining the productivity benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical chain actuator system with an engaging device that uses a different operational mechanism. The engaging device engages with the freezer plates directly and moves them without requiring chains, joints, or mechanical displacement parts, substituting the unreliable mechanical system with a more reliable alternative suitable for harsh marine environments.
2Productivity
If chain actuators are used for filling and emptying the freezer, then the productivity is improved, but the maintenance requirements increase due to corrosion and wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the chain actuators and mechanical displacement parts from the system, removing the components that require extensive maintenance. The new engaging device does not use chains or joints, eliminating the need for maintenance activities such as lubrication, inspection for wear, and corrosion prevention that were previously required.
Solution Approach 2:
The engaging device is designed to be maintenance-free in operation, requiring no lubrication, inspection, or adjustment. The device engages and moves freezer plates without relying on mechanical displacement parts that degrade over time, making the system self-sufficient and eliminating the maintenance burden associated with chain actuators.
3Productivity
If the freezer plates are kept in close contact during freezing, then the freezing efficiency is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates during loading and unloading
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic system where the engaging device can selectively separate individual freezer plates from the stack during loading and unloading operations. The device engages with specific plates and moves them away from the main stack, creating temporary access points without disrupting the overall close-contact arrangement of the freezing plates during the freezing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The engaging device acts as an intermediary mechanism between the operator and the freezer plates. It provides the functionality to separate and access individual plates when needed for loading and unloading, while maintaining the close-contact configuration of the plate stack during freezing. The device mediates between the conflicting requirements of operational accessibility and freezing efficiency.
Data Source
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Figure 3
AI summary
A horizontal plate freezer (1) for freezing articles inside said horizontal freezer during a freezing process comprising: a plurality of freezer plates (2) forming a stack of freezer plates, where said plurality of freezer plates are arranged substantially horizontal, defining a distance between the freezer plates, where in use articles to be frozen are arranged on one or more freezer plates, where said stack of freezer plates are arranged between a top frame (3) and a bottom frame (4), where said top frame is arranged at a horizontal level above the stack of freezer plates, and said bottom frame is arranged at a horizontal level underneath the stack of freezer plates, at least one intervention unit (8) with at least one engaging device (10), where the engaging device is arranged moveable in a longitudinal direction along said intervention unit(s), whereby the engaging device is lifted and lowered along said stack of freezer plates, at least one displacement device (6) comprising a first end positioned above a topmost freezer plate and a second end connected to said bottom frame.