Pneumatic Press Membrane Protuberance for Fold Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing pneumatic presses for separating solid and liquid parts, such as juice from grapes, face issues with membrane folds near the material filling orifice during pressurization against the control chamber, leading to material retention and difficulties in cleaning and filling due to excess membrane length.
Innovation Solution
A protuberance on the flange equipped with the material filling orifice is introduced to prevent membrane folds by increasing the pressing surface, ensuring the membrane is pressed against the protuberance, thus avoiding material retention and facilitating cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the membrane length is increased to ensure complete pressing against the treatment chamber walls, then the membrane can effectively press all material to extract juice, but folds form at the connection zone during control chamber pressurization, causing material retention and cleaning difficulties
Solution Approach 1:
The flange is equipped with a protuberance at the specific location where the membrane connects, creating a localized structural feature that prevents fold formation. This local modification addresses the harmful effect without requiring changes to the entire membrane or flange structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The protuberance is pre-positioned on the flange to anticipate and prevent fold formation before material can be retained in folds. By having the protuberance in place beforehand, the membrane is guided to press against it during control chamber pressurization, preventing the harmful effect from occurring.
2Reliability
If the membrane length is increased to compensate for the offset of the connection zone, then complete pressing against the treatment chamber walls is achieved, but the excess length generates folds near the filling orifice during tank filling
Solution Approach 1:
The protuberance creates a localized pressing point at the flange connection zone, allowing the membrane to be effectively pressed without requiring excessive length throughout. This local feature enables complete pressing coverage while preventing fold formation that would obstruct filling.
Solution Approach 2:
The protuberance changes the geometric parameters of the flange structure, creating an additional surface feature that the membrane can press against. This parameter modification allows the membrane to achieve proper tension and positioning without excess length causing folds during filling.
3Reliability
If the membrane connection zone is positioned above the filling orifice to compensate for the gap, then complete pressing is achieved, but the connection zone becomes closer to the control chamber bottom wall, exacerbating fold formation
Solution Approach 1:
The protuberance is strategically positioned at the flange where the membrane connection zone is located. This local feature provides a pressing surface that prevents fold formation regardless of the connection zone's position relative to the control chamber bottom wall, maintaining membrane effectiveness while improving shape during pressurization.
Solution Approach 2:
The protuberance acts as an intermediary element between the membrane and the flange structure. It provides a dedicated pressing surface that mediates the interaction between the membrane and the control chamber walls, preventing direct contact that would cause folds while maintaining the necessary pressing effectiveness.
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 protuberance effectively limits membrane folds near the filling orifice, allowing for reliable cleaning and efficient filling, while the pneumatic configuration enables rotation to prevent sedimentation and ensure proper juice evacuation.
Implementation Method 1
said membrane being configured so as to be able, on the one hand, in the pressurized state of the control chamber, to be pressed against the walls of the tank delimiting the treatment chamber, and, on the other hand, in the depressurized state of the control chamber, coming to press against the walls of the tank delimiting said control chamber
Implementation Method 2
a press, preferably pneumatic, for separating the solid and liquid parts, also called juice, from a material, such as grapes
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~6
AI summary
The pneumatic press comprises a tank (1) having a cylindrical body closed at each of opposite ends by a flange. One of the flanges is equipped with an axial hole for filling the tank in material to be pressed, and other flange is equipped with an axial hole (6) for pressurizing and depressurizing the material. The tank comprises a separation membrane (2) of which the area for connecting to the tank is extended at a level of one flange to a midplane of the tank passing by axial holes and at the opposite flange on the other side of the midplane. The pneumatic press comprises a tank (1) having a cylindrical body closed at each of opposite ends by a flange. One of the flanges is equipped with an axial hole for filling the tank in material to be pressed, and other flange is equipped with an axial hole (6) for pressurizing and depressurizing the material. The tank comprises a separation membrane (2) of which the area for connecting to the tank is extended at a level of one flange to a midplane of the tank passing by axial holes and at the opposite flange on the other side of the midplane so that the membrane separates the interior volume of the tank into two chambers including a treatment chamber in which the axial hole opens for filling the material and a control chamber in which the axial hole opens for pressurizing and depressurizing the material. The part of the flange equipped with axial hole for filling the material, has a protrusion (3) allowing the depressurized state of the control chamber. The protrusion is formed, by a component attached to the flange or by a deformation of the flange, towards inside or outside of the tank from a blank in which notches are formed to define convex folding areas or a longitudinal profile extending substantially in an arc. The deformation of the flange equipped with the axial hole for filling a material. The protrusion has an elongated form and curved into an arc of circle that follows the area for connecting the membrane with the flange having the axial hole for filling the material, and extends along an arc of concavity facing towards the axial hole for filling the material. The membrane is connected inside the tank through a connecting frame, which has two opposite side rails fixed to the cylinder body connected between two opposite cross pieces each fixed by a flange.