Rotating-Core Die for Protein-Rich Food Extrusion Thrust Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing extrusion dies for high protein and water materials induce mechanical stresses on components, leading to deformation and degradation of fibration settings due to hydrostatic thrust forces applied to rotating cores, making them impractical and difficult to move.
Innovation Solution
A die design with a tubular casing and a coaxial rotating core, where a male divergent part secures the core and applies hydrostatic thrust forces to the casing, allowing for localized mechanical stress management and easy dimensioning, ensuring excellent coaxiality and fibration control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a rotating core is used in the die for efficient fibration, then the fibration performance is improved, but hydrostatic thrust forces cause mechanical stresses that lead to deformation and degradation of settings
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the rotating core from the bearing structure, making it an independent, freely rotating component without axial constraint. This removes the core from the load-bearing path, eliminating the transmission of hydrostatic thrust forces to the bearing structure and preventing mechanical deformation while preserving fibration control capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a sealing element as an intermediary between the rotating core and the die body. This sealing element allows the core to rotate freely while maintaining hydraulic sealing, acting as a mediator that prevents direct mechanical coupling between the core and the bearing structure, thereby isolating the core from hydrostatic thrust forces
2Ease of operation
If the die includes a bearing structure to support the rotating core, then the core can rotate, but the hydrostatic thrust forces make the bearing structure difficult to move and impractical
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the bearing structure entirely from the design. The rotating core is extracted from mechanical support and allowed to rotate freely within the die body, eliminating the heavy, immobile bearing structure while preserving rotational capability through direct contact with the hydraulic medium
3Stability of the object's composition
If the core is axially blocked to prevent movement, then positioning is maintained, but mechanical stresses are transmitted to the bearing structure causing deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the core from axial constraint, allowing it to move freely in the axial direction. This removes the mechanical coupling that transmits hydrostatic thrust forces to the bearing structure, preventing deformation and maintaining fibration precision while the core remains positioned by the hydraulic medium itself
Solution Approach 2:
The rotating core is made self-positioning through the hydraulic medium. The core floats and positions itself axially within the die body without mechanical blocking, using the hydraulic pressure and sealing elements to maintain its position while avoiding stress transmission to the bearing structure
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 die achieves compactness, high performance, and practicality by localizing mechanical stresses, preventing deformation and ensuring precise fibration control without impacting the bearing structure, facilitating easy movement and maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
The material flowing through the annular channel of the die is subjected to two combined movements, namely that the material is pushed along the axis of the die by the screws of an extruder at the outlet of which the die is arranged, and that the material is sheared at the periphery by the rotation of the rotating core.
Data Source
AI summary
A tubular casing centered on an axis and a coaxial core mounted rotatably about the axis. An upstream part of the core extends into the casing so that a material flow channel is defined therebetween, which is annular in cross-section and centered on the axis. A downstream part of the core extends outside the casing and is coupled to a motor-drive for driving in rotation is fixedly secured to the casing and coaxially received in the casing so that a passage is delimited therebetween, connecting a central inlet of the casing and an upstream end of the channel. The passage is shaped so that the material advances through the passage forming a flow that diverges from the axis toward the downstream and is distributed around the axis. The male divergent part abuts axially against the upstream part of the core, supporting same and guiding same in rotation.