Sealed Hop Feed Assembly for Fermentation Atmosphere Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for adding hops to a beer fermenting process, such as dry hopping, often result in the escape of gases and introduction of air into the fermentation vessel, affecting the aroma, flavor, and taste of the beer.
Innovation Solution
A regulator assembly that includes a hollow cross-shaped connector with a rotary shaft and actuator to control the flow of hops into the fermentation vessel, minimizing atmospheric modifications by sealing the system and allowing for automated and controlled hop addition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the fermentation vessel is opened to add hops during dry hopping, then hops can be introduced to the fermenting fluid, but gases escape into the atmosphere and air is introduced into the vessel, affecting beer quality
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains an inert or controlled atmosphere within the fermentation vessel during hop addition. The sealed delivery mechanism prevents external air from entering and internal gases from escaping, preserving the atmospheric conditions necessary for optimal beer quality while enabling hop addition.
Solution Approach 2:
A sealed hop delivery mechanism acts as an intermediary between the external hop supply and the internal fermentation environment. This intermediary system allows hop material to be transferred without direct opening of the vessel, thereby preventing atmospheric exchange while facilitating the necessary material addition.
2Quantity of substance
If the fermentation vessel is opened for hop addition, then hops can be added to improve aroma and flavor, but the internal atmosphere is modified which negatively affects beer quality
Solution Approach 1:
By maintaining a sealed system with controlled atmosphere during hop addition, the system ensures consistent beer quality. The inert atmosphere prevents oxidation and contamination that would otherwise occur with vessel opening, while still allowing precise hop addition to achieve desired aroma and flavor profiles.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealed delivery system serves as a reliable intermediary that enables consistent hop addition without compromising atmospheric stability. This mechanism ensures that the same controlled conditions are maintained throughout the process, leading to reliable and consistent beer quality across multiple batches.
3Device complexity
If manual hop addition is used, then the process is simple, but gas escape and air introduction cannot be prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The sealed hop delivery mechanism acts as an intermediary that reconciles the need for simple operation with the requirement to prevent atmospheric exchange. The system provides automated control through a sealed interface, eliminating the need for manual vessel opening while maintaining operational simplicity through automated mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains an inert atmosphere through sealed connections and automated delivery, preventing the harmful effects of air introduction and gas escape. This approach preserves beer quality while automating the hop addition process to eliminate manual intervention that would require vessel opening.
Data Source
AI summary
Assembly for regulating flow of hops into a fermentation vessel includes a hollow cross-shaped connector including a first cylindrical housing intersecting a second cylindrical housing at an approximate right angle. A rotary shaft coaxially mounted within the first cylindrical housing supports a hub and uniformly spaced vanes at a proximal end with outer ends of each vane adapted to sweep in close engagement with an inner wall of the first cylindrical housing. An actuator coupled to a distal end of the shaft is configured to control rotation of the shaft to control flow of hops from a hopper configured for holding hops into a hatch of a fermentation vessel configured for holding fermenting fluid. An outlet of the second cylindrical housing sealably connects to the hatch of the fermentation vessel, and an inlet of the second cylindrical housing sealably connects to an aperture of the hopper.