U.S. patent application number 11/576016 was filed with the patent office on 2007-11-22 for viscous fluid transferring device.
This patent application is currently assigned to KIKKOMAN CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Kiyoshi Matsumoto, Masami Oura, Hideyuki Someya.
Application Number | 20070267097 11/576016 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36118638 |
Filed Date | 2007-11-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070267097 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Matsumoto; Kiyoshi ; et
al. |
November 22, 2007 |
Viscous Fluid Transferring Device
Abstract
A transfer apparatus with which it is possible to transfer a
mash in a storage tank to a mash tub without leaving any mash in
the tank and with the addition of only a small-scale mechanism. In
a viscous fluid transfer apparatus of related art made up of a
storage tank (20) for storing a viscous fluid; a transfer pipe (31)
for taking out the viscous fluid, extending from the bottom of the
storage tank; and a pump mechanism (32) disposed in the transfer
pipe (31), on the intake port (41) side of the pump mechanism the
invention additionally provides a branch pipe (42) branching upward
from the transfer pipe (31), an extension pipe (43), an evacuating
mechanism (44) and an evacuation control part (46). For a while
after the start of a transfer, the transfer is carried out with the
pump mechanism (32) only. Then, in a last period of the transfer,
the evacuating mechanism (44) is started and the viscous fluid
remaining at the bottom of the storage tank (20) is forcibly
transferred to the intake port (41) of the pump mechanism by the
sucking action of this evacuating mechanism (44). As a result, the
pump mechanism (32) can transfer the viscous fluid without leaving
any behind. The branch pipe branching upward from the transfer pipe
and the extension pipe are simple pipes, the evacuating mechanism
can be made a cheap vacuum pump, and the evacuation control part
can be a general-purpose controller. Therefore, it is possible to
transfer a viscous fluid in a storage tank to a mash tub or the
like without leaving any in the tank, with the addition of only a
small-scale mechanism.
Inventors: |
Matsumoto; Kiyoshi;
(Noda-shi, JP) ; Someya; Hideyuki; (Noda-shi,
JP) ; Oura; Masami; (Noda-shi, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
RANKIN, HILL, PORTER & CLARK LLP
38210 Glenn Avenue
WILLOUGHBY
OH
44094-7808
US
|
Assignee: |
KIKKOMAN CORPORATION
250, Noda
Noda-shi, Chiba
JP
|
Family ID: |
36118638 |
Appl. No.: |
11/576016 |
Filed: |
September 27, 2004 |
PCT Filed: |
September 27, 2004 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP04/14101 |
371 Date: |
April 2, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
141/193 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F17D 1/14 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
141/193 |
International
Class: |
B65B 57/06 20060101
B65B057/06 |
Claims
1. A viscous fluid transfer apparatus, comprising: a storage tank
for storing a viscous fluid; a transfer pipe, extending from a
bottom of the storage tank, for taking out the viscous fluid; a
pump mechanism disposed in the transfer pipe; a pump control part
for start/stop-controlling the pump mechanism; a branch pipe
branching upward from the transfer pipe on an intake side of the
pump mechanism; an extension pipe extending from an end of the
branch pipe; an evacuating mechanism disposed in the extension
pipe; and an evacuation control part for starting the evacuating
mechanism when transfer capacity of the pump mechanism has
fallen.
2. The transfer apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
evacuation control part starts the evacuating mechanism when a flow
rate of the viscous fluid, as measured with a flowmeter provided in
the transfer pipe, has fallen sharply.
3. The transfer apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
evacuation control part starts the evacuating mechanism following a
preset time after starting of the pump mechanism.
4. The transfer apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage
tank is a flat-bottomed tank having a bottom part given a
gradient.
5. The transfer apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the viscous
fluid is a soy sauce mash.
6. The transfer apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the viscous
fluid is a soy sauce mash.
7. The transfer apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the viscous
fluid is a soy sauce mash.
8. The transfer apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the viscous
fluid is a soy sauce mash.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This invention relates to a transfer apparatus for
transferring a viscous fluid such as a soy sauce moromi or
mash.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] As an example of a viscous fluid, a soy sauce mash will be
used in the following description.
[0003] FIG. 8 hereof illustrates the principle of a conventional
soy sauce mash transfer apparatus. A storage tank 101 for
preparing, fermenting and maturing a soy sauce moromi or mash
(hereinafter called "mash") 100 is a large vessel made up of a
bottom part 102 given a gradient; a cylindrical part 103 rising
from the rim of this bottom part 102; a cone part 104 connected to
the top of this cylindrical part 103; a feed opening 105 connected
to a small-diameter top part of the cone part 104; and a cover 106,
and has an outlet 107 in a corner of the bottom part 102.
[0004] If the bottom part of the storage tank 101 is also made a
cone part, it is possible to take out mash without any stagnating.
However, when the bottom part is made a cone part, its capacity
decreases. In this example, to provide capacity, the bottom part is
not made a cone part, and is a flat bottom.
[0005] A mash transfer apparatus 110 is made up of a transfer pipe
111 extending from the outlet 107 and a pump mechanism 112 disposed
in this transfer pipe 111, and can transfer the mash 100 to a mash
tub 113 by means of the suction/delivery action of the pump
mechanism 112.
[0006] FIG. 9 illustrates a shortcoming of the apparatus of FIG. 8.
Because mash is a viscous fluid lacking fluidity, in a last period
of the transfer process, it often happens that air passes through
the mash 100A and enters the transfer pipe 111 directly. This is
also a result of the bottom part of the storage tank 101 having
being made a flat bottom instead of a cone part.
[0007] When this happens, in the transfer pipe 111, an air layer
115 forms above the mash 100B. This air layer 115 causes defective
operation of the pump mechanism 112 (see FIG. 8).
[0008] As a countermeasure to this, a suction shifting apparatus
has been proposed (see, e.g., Japanese Patent Post-Exam Publication
6-104235, FIG. 1).
[0009] The 6-104235 publication will now be explained with
reference to FIG. 10 hereof.
[0010] FIG. 10 illustrates the basic principle of the technology of
this related art: the technology of the patent has it as a basis
that a transfer pipe 121 extends from the bottom of a slurry tank
120 and is sucked upon by a vacuum pump 122, and has it as a
characteristic feature that a first air delivery pipe 123, a
compressed air pipe 124 and a second air delivery pipe 125 are
added at the intake end of this transfer pipe 121.
[0011] When a slurry 126 is moved to the right in the figure by the
action of the vacuum pump 122, air is blown into the center of the
pipe with the first air delivery pipe 123 to make breaks in the
slurry 126, the slurry 126 is moved along by the compressed air
pipe 124, and air is blown into the center of the pipe with the
second air delivery pipe 125 to break up the slurry 126 completely,
into slurry slugs 127.
[0012] By changing the continuous slurry 126 into slurry slugs 127,
it is possible to lighten the load on the vacuum pump 122.
[0013] However, as well as adding the first air delivery pipe 123,
the air pipe 124 and the second air delivery pipe 125, an air
compressor is necessary, and the plant cost mounts up. And, when a
mash is considered in place of the slurry 126, because large
quantities of air mix in with the mash, from the need to suppress
changes in the quality of the mash it is necessary for the air to
be removed as quickly as possible, and the cost of air removal also
mounts up.
[0014] Accordingly, technology has been awaited with which it is
possible to shift mash efficiently with the addition of only a
small-scale mechanism, without adding a large-scale apparatus like
that of Patent Document 1.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
Problems that the Invention Seeks to Solve
[0015] It is an object of the invention to provide a transfer
apparatus with which it is possible to transfer a mash in a storage
tank to a mash tub without any mash remaining in the storage tank,
with the addition of only a small-scale mechanism.
Means for Solving the Problems
[0016] In the invention defined in claim 1, a viscous fluid
transfer apparatus is comprises a storage tank for storing a
viscous fluid; a transfer pipe, extending from the bottom of the
storage tank, for taking out the viscous fluid; a pump mechanism
disposed in this transfer pipe; a pump control part for
start/stop-controlling the pump mechanism; a branch pipe branching
upward from the transfer pipe on the intake side of the pump
mechanism; an extension pipe extending from the end of this branch
pipe; an evacuating mechanism disposed in this extension pipe; and
an evacuation control part for starting the evacuating mechanism
when the transfer capacity of the pump mechanism has fallen.
[0017] For a while after the start of the transfer, transfer is
carried out with the pump mechanism only. Then, in a last period of
the transfer, the evacuating mechanism is started, and the viscous
fluid remaining in the bottom of the storage tank is forcibly
transferred to the intake port of the pump mechanism by the sucking
action of this evacuating mechanism. When the storage tank has
become empty, the viscous fluid remaining in the transfer pipe is
forcibly transferred to the intake port of the pump mechanism. As a
result, the pump mechanism can transfer the viscous fluid without
leaving any behind.
[0018] In the invention defined in claim 2, the evacuation control
part starts the evacuating mechanism when the flow rate of the
viscous fluid measured with a flowmeter provided in the transfer
pipe has fallen sharply.
[0019] In the invention defined in claim 3, the evacuation control
part starts the evacuating mechanism when the time from the start
of operation of the pump has reached a preset time.
[0020] In the invention defined in claim 4, the storage tank is a
flat-bottomed tank having a bottom part given a gradient.
[0021] In the invention defined in claim 5, the viscous fluid is a
soy sauce mash.
Advantages of the Invention
[0022] In the invention defined in claim 1, by the pump mechanism
being operated alone for a while from the start of the transfer and
both the evacuating mechanism and the pump mechanism being operated
in a last period of the transfer, it is possible to transfer
viscous fluid in the flow passages of the transfer apparatus
without leaving any behind. This is realized just by providing a
branch pipe, an extension pipe, an evacuating mechanism and an
evacuation control part in addition to a storage tank, a transfer
pipe and a pump mechanism of related art.
[0023] The branch pipe and the extension pipe are simple pipes, the
evacuating mechanism can be a cheap vacuum pump, and the evacuation
control part can be a general-purpose controller; consequently, it
is possible to transfer a viscous fluid in a storage tank to a mash
tub or the like without leaving any behind with the addition of
only a small-scale mechanism.
[0024] In the invention defined in claim 2, the evacuation control
part starts the evacuating mechanism when the flow rate of the
viscous fluid measured with a flowmeter provided in the transfer
pipe has fallen sharply.
[0025] If the evacuating mechanism is started by a timer, it starts
before the time at which it becomes necessary, the operating time
of the evacuating mechanism becomes long, the cost of the
electricity for operating the evacuating mechanism increases, and
the cost of the transfer increases.
[0026] On this point, in the claim 2 invention, because the
evacuating mechanism is started at the time at which it becomes
necessary, the operating time of the evacuating mechanism becomes
short, the cost of the electricity for operating the evacuating
mechanism can be reduced, and the cost of the transfer can be
compressed.
[0027] In the invention defined in claim 3, the evacuation control
part starts the evacuating mechanism when the time from the start
of operation of the pump has reached a preset time.
[0028] Because timers are extremely cheap, it is possible to
minimize the cost of the evacuation control part, and it is
possible to reduce the plant cost of the viscous fluid transfer
apparatus.
[0029] In the invention defined in claim 4, because the storage
tank is a flat-bottomed tank having a bottom part given a gradient,
the flow of the viscous fluid in the storage tank into the transfer
pipe is conducted smoothly.
[0030] The invention defined in claim 5 is characterized in that
the viscous fluid is a mash.
[0031] Because a mash, and particularly a soy sauce mash, has high
viscosity and poor fluidity, air passing through mash remaining in
the storage tank in the last period of the transfer enters the
transfer pipe. With this invention, even if air enters the transfer
pipe, because the evacuating mechanism forcibly draws the mash to
the intake port of the pump mechanism, there is no fear of the
operation of the pump mechanism becoming defective, and smooth
transfer can be maintained.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT INVENTION
[0032] A best mode for carrying out the invention will now be
described on the basis of the accompanying drawings. The drawings
are to be viewed in the orientation of the reference numbers.
[0033] FIG. 1 is a basic construction view of a transfer apparatus
for a viscous fluid, according to the invention.
[0034] A transfer apparatus 10 for a mash constituting a viscous
fluid is made up of a storage tank 20 for storing mash; a first
transfer pipe 31, extending from the bottom of the storage tank 20,
for taking mash out; a pump mechanism 32 connected to this first
transfer pipe 31; a motor 33 for driving this pump mechanism; a
pump control part 34 for controlling the pump mechanism 32 by
operating/stopping the motor 33; a pump Start button 35 and a pump
Stop button 36 connected to the pump control part 34; a second
transfer pipe 37 extending from the pump mechanism 32; a flowmeter
38 connected to this second transfer pipe 37; a third transfer pipe
40 extending from this flowmeter 38 to a mash tub 39; a branch pipe
42 branching upward from the first transfer pipe 31 on the intake
41 side of the pump mechanism 32; an extension pipe 43 extending
from the end of this branch pipe 42; an evacuating mechanism 44 in
this extension pipe 43; a motor 45 for driving this evacuating
mechanism 44; and an evacuation control part 46 for starting the
evacuating mechanism 44 when the transfer capacity of the pump
mechanism 32 has fallen.
[0035] The first transfer pipe 31, the second transfer pipe 37 and
the third transfer pipe 40 are different sections, individually
numbered for convenience, of a single transfer pipe 47. The
reference number 48 denotes a vacuum breaker, whose operation will
be discussed later.
[0036] The storage tank 20 is a flat-bottomed tank and is a large
vessel made up of a bottom part 21 given a gradient of for example
8.degree.; a cylinder part 22 rising from the rim of this bottom
part 21; a cone part 23 connected to the top of this cylinder part
22; a feed opening 24 connected to a small-diameter top part of the
cone part 23; and a cover 25, and has an outlet 26 in a corner (the
lowest position) of the bottom part 21.
[0037] The gradient varies depending on the viscosity of the fluid,
but 25 to 3.degree. is preferable and 22 to 4.degree. is more
preferable. 10 to 6.degree. is most preferable. And in the case of
soy sauce mash, 10 to 6.degree. is most preferable.
[0038] From the point of view of discharging soy sauce mash
smoothly, it is desirable for the bottom part of the storage tank
20 to be made a cone part. However, when the bottom part is made a
cone part, its capacity decreases. In this embodiment, to provide
capacity, the bottom part is not made a cone part.
[0039] Although the pump mechanism 32 may be a general-purpose pump
called a volute pump or a centrifugal pump, it is better still if
it is a special pump capable of separating gas and liquid.
[0040] Next, the operation of the pump control part 34 and the
evacuation control part 46 will be explained.
[0041] FIG. 2 is a view illustrating the operation of a pump
mechanism and an evacuating mechanism according to the
invention.
[0042] (a) shows the pump mechanism 32 switching from a stopped
state to an operating state as a result of the pump Start button 35
of FIG. 1 being pressed and returning to the stopped state as a
result of the pump Stop button 36 being pressed. The operating time
is for example 60 minutes.
[0043] (b) shows the transfer rate of mash measured with the
flowmeter 38 of FIG. 1, and shows the flow rate falling sharply in
a last period of the transfer and then recovering. The sharp fall
in the flow rate occurs at for example 50 minutes.
[0044] (c) shows the operation of the evacuating mechanism, which
remains stopped for a while from the start of the transfer. And it
shows that on the basis of information that the flow rate has
fallen sharply in (b), the evacuating mechanism starts and
continues operating until the pump mechanism of (a) stops.
[0045] The foregoing operation explanation will now be explained
with reference to the storage tank.
[0046] FIG. 3 is a view showing change of the mash in the storage
tank.
[0047] (a) is a sectional view of the storage tank 20 from a first
period of the transfer to a middle period of the transfer: under
the sucking action of the pump, mash 50 flows smoothly into the
first transfer pipe 31 as shown by the white arrow.
[0048] (b) shows a sectional view of the storage tank 20 in the
last period of the transfer: a through hole 51 opens in the mash
50B remaining in the storage tank 20, and because air enters the
first transfer pipe 31 through this through hole 51, in the first
transfer pipe 31 an air layer 52 is formed above the mash 50C.
[0049] When this state is reached, the operation of the pump
mechanism becomes deficient, and the flow rate measured with the
flowmeter 38 of FIG. 1 sharply falls. At this point, the evacuating
mechanism 44 is started. Under the sucking action of the evacuating
mechanism 44, the mash 50B remaining in the storage tank 20 is
drawn into the first transfer pipe 31.
[0050] As a result, as shown in (c), the first transfer pipe 31 is
filled with the mash 50B, the pump mechanism returns to normal, and
the flow rate becomes what it was before. When the storage tank 20
has become empty, the mash 50B in the first transfer pipe 31 is
drawn into the intake 41 of the pump mechanism 32 under the sucking
action of the evacuating mechanism 44 (see FIG. 1). Therefore, all
of the mash 50 can be transferred, without any of it remaining in
the first transfer pipe 31.
[0051] Next, the operation of the branch pipe rising from the
transfer pipe and the vacuum breaker discussed in FIG. 1 will be
explained.
[0052] FIG. 4 is a view illustrating the operation of the branch
pipe and the vacuum breaker in the invention.
[0053] (a) shows a state corresponding to the period of FIG. 3(a):
mash 50 is transferred in turn through the first transfer pipe 31,
the pump mechanism 32 and the second transfer pipe 37. Because the
evacuating mechanism is stopped, the branch pipe 42 is still
empty.
[0054] (b) shows a state corresponding to after the evacuating
mechanism has started (the period of FIG. 3(c)): mash 50 enters the
branch pipe 42 under the sucking action of the evacuating
mechanism. The height to which the mash 50 enters at this time will
be called the head H.
[0055] This head H can be explained in terms of fluid dynamics in
the following way.
[0056] When the density of the mash 50 is written .gamma., the
suction pressure of the pump mechanism 32 is written Pp (a negative
pressure, expressed with a minus pressure), and the suction
pressure of the evacuating mechanism is written Pv (a negative
pressure, expressed with a minus pressure), the head H can be
expressed as (Pp-Pv)/.gamma.. The larger is the suction pressure Pv
(the higher is the degree of vacuum), the larger is H. And the
larger is the density .gamma., the smaller is H.
[0057] The height of the branch pipe 42 is set amply higher than
the head H. This is because when this is done, there is no risk of
mash entering the extension pipe 43.
[0058] It is desirable for a part or the whole of the branch pipe
42 to be made transparent so that the mash 50 inside can be
observed from outside.
[0059] (c) is an enlarged detail view of the part C in (b):
numerous bubbles 53 mixed with the mash 50 separate because they
are light, and ascend. That is, the branch pipe 42 of this
invention has the action of a gas-liquid separator for separating
air and mash.
[0060] Because the bubbles 53 pass through the mash 50, the sucking
action of the evacuating mechanism acts on the first transfer pipe
31 continuously.
[0061] (d) is a view illustrating the action of the vacuum breaker
48: for example if the pump mechanism 32 stops, in the
above-mentioned (Pp-Pv)/.gamma. the Pp becomes zero, and
(Pp-Pv)/.gamma. becomes a maximum. When this happens, the head H
rises, and if nothing was done about it the mash 50 would enter the
extension pipe 43 and damage the evacuating mechanism. The vacuum
breaker 48 has been provided to prevent this. The vacuum breaker 48
is a type of safety valve, and includes a spring; when the inside
of the extension pipe 43 reaches a negative pressure above a fixed
value, it opens and introduces air from outside into the pipe,
thereby fulfilling a role of eliminating any excessive sucking
action.
[0062] Next, an operating flow of the transfer apparatus of the
invention will be described.
[0063] FIG. 5 is an operating flow chart of a transfer apparatus
according to the invention; STXX denotes a step number.
[0064] ST01: The pump Start button 35 of FIG. 1 is pressed.
[0065] ST02: The pump control part 34 of FIG. 1 drives the motor 33
and thereby brings the pump mechanism 32 to an operating state.
[0066] ST03: A flow rate measured by the flowmeter 38 of FIG. 1 is
read into the evacuation control part 46. This flow rate will be
called F1.
[0067] ST04: In the evacuation control part 46 of FIG. 1, it is
checked whether or not the F1 read in is below 80% of a preset
value, for example the pump rated flow rate Fp. In the initial
period and the middle period of the transfer, the determination is
no and transfer using the pump mechanism only is continued. When
the F1 read in sharply decreases and falls below 0.8.times.Fp,
processing proceeds to the next step.
[0068] ST05: On determining that the flow rate has sharply fallen,
the evacuation control part 46 of FIG. 1 drives the motor 45 and
brings the evacuating mechanism 44 to an operating state.
Thereafter, the transfer is carried out using both the pump
mechanism 32 and the evacuating mechanism 44.
[0069] ST06: The transfer operation is continued until the pump
Stop button 36 of FIG. 1 is pressed.
[0070] ST07: When in ST06 the pump Stop button 36 is pressed, the
evacuating mechanism 44 is stopped.
[0071] ST08: The pump mechanism 32 is stopped.
[0072] Although the 0.8.times.Fp given as an example in ST04
described above is not problematic when the flow rate F1 measured
with the flowmeter 38 is stable, when the flow rate F1 fluctuates
(pulsates), it could be misapprehended in the initial period or the
middle period of the transfer that the flow rate has sharply
fallen. In this case, it is necessary to change the 0.8.times.Fp to
0.6.times.Fp or 0.5.times.Fp, to provide a safety allowance. When a
safety allowance is provided, the start timing of the evacuating
mechanism 44 lags, and there is a risk of a load acting on the pump
mechanism.
[0073] In this sort of case, instead of flow rate monitoring, time
management is effective. A specific example of this will now be
described.
[0074] FIG. 6 is a view of a different embodiment of FIG. 5.
Although a number of steps are duplicated with FIG. 5, to ensure
exactitude all of the steps will be set forth.
[0075] ST11: The pump Start button 35 of FIG. 1 is pressed.
[0076] ST12: The pump control part 34 of FIG. 1 drives the motor 33
and thereby brings the pump mechanism 32 to an operating state.
[0077] ST13: A timer is built into the pump control part 34 of FIG.
1, and starts counting when the pump mechanism 32 starts.
[0078] ST14: From experience, the type of the mash, and the season
and so on an air suck-in time is estimated, and a scheduled time
Tstd before this time is set and inputted to the evacuation control
part 46. It is checked whether or not the count time Tact has
reached the scheduled time Tstd. In the initial period and the
middle period of the transfer, the determination is no and transfer
using the pump mechanism only is continued. When the scheduled time
is reached, processing proceeds to the next step.
[0079] ST15: When the scheduled time has been reached, the
evacuation control part 46 of FIG. 1 drives the motor 45 and
thereby brings the evacuating mechanism 44 to an operating state.
Thereafter, the transfer is carried out using both the pump
mechanism 32 and the evacuating mechanism 44.
[0080] ST16: The transfer operation is continued until the pump
Stop button 36 of FIG. 1 is pressed.
[0081] ST17: When in ST16 the pump Stop button 36 is pressed, the
evacuating mechanism 44 is stopped.
[0082] ST18: Then, the pump mechanism 32 is stopped.
[0083] The timer-based control described above has the merit that
it is simpler than flow rate monitoring and does not suffer
influences of flow rate fluctuations. However, there is the
disadvantage that when the evacuating mechanism is started on the
basis of a timer it is started before the time at which it becomes
necessary, and the operating time of the evacuating mechanism is
longer, the cost of the electricity for operating the evacuating
mechanism increases, and the cost of the transfer increases.
[0084] Accordingly, whether the evacuating mechanism 44 is started
on the basis of flow rate monitoring, timer monitoring or a third
type of monitoring replacing these can be chosen as
appropriate.
[0085] A specific example of a more preferable pump mechanism 32
will now be described.
[0086] FIG. 7 is a view illustrating the principle of a special
pump capable of gas-liquid separation employed in the invention: a
gas-liquid separating pump mechanism 60 is made up of a common base
61; a bearing unit 62 mounted on this common base 61; a pump shaft
63 rotatably supported in the bearing unit 62; a motor 33 connected
one end of this pump shaft 63 by way of a coupling 64; a main
gas-liquid separating vane 65, a main impeller 66, and an auxiliary
gas-liquid separating vane 67 attached in order from the rear to
the front to the other end of the pump shaft 63; a main pump
housing 68 enclosing the main impeller 66 and the auxiliary
gas-liquid separating vane 67; a delivery port 69, which is an exit
of this main pump housing 68, and an intake port 41, which is an
entrance; an auxiliary housing 72 enclosing the main gas-liquid
separating vane 65 and extending as far as the intake port 41; a
front through hole 73 and a rear through hole 74 provided at the
front and the rear of this auxiliary housing 72 an air reservoir
chamber 75 for receiving air through this rear through hole 74 and
accumulating it; and a separately located extraction pump 80.
[0087] Also, the pump shaft 63 has in its front end a central hole
76 opening forward, and has a radial hole 77 extending from this
central hole 76 to the auxiliary housing 72.
[0088] The extraction pump 80 has a pump housing 81 having two
chambers, an impeller 82 is housed in one of the chambers, a driven
pulley 84 is attached to the shaft 83 of this impeller 82, and this
driven pulley 84 is connected by a belt 86 to a driving pulley 85
provided on the pump shaft 63, whereby the extraction pump 80 can
also be driven by the motor 33.
[0089] Also, the extraction pump 80 has a water chamber 87
connected to it by pipes 88, 89.
[0090] An operation of the pump mechanism 32 constructed as above
will now be described.
[0091] By the main gas-liquid separating vane 65, the main impeller
66 and the auxiliary gas-liquid separating vane 67 being rotated at
a high speed with the motor 33, mash is sucked through the first
transfer pipe 31. It will be assumed that this mash contains air
bubbles.
[0092] First, the auxiliary gas-liquid separating vane 67 at the
front end has a centrifugal separating action, and brings the heavy
mash to the main impeller 66. The main impeller 66 pressurizes the
mash and discharges it through the delivery port 69.
[0093] On the other hand, air remaining at the center as a result
of the centrifugal separating effect of the auxiliary gas-liquid
separating vane 67 reaches the auxiliary housing 72 through the
central hole 76 and the radial hole 77 under the sucking action of
the main gas-liquid separating vane 65. Because mash is inevitably
included in the air remaining at the center, centrifugal separation
is carried out again with the main gas-liquid separating vane 65,
and separated mash is returned to the intake port 41 through the
front through hole 73. Air having had the mash removed from it
reaches the water chamber 87 through the air reservoir chamber 75,
the pipe 78, the extraction pump 80 and the pipe 88.
[0094] In the water chamber 87, working water 91 and air are
separated by specific gravity separation, and the air is released
to outside.
[0095] Whereas when a general-purpose pump takes in mash containing
air bubbles its operation becomes unstable, with the pump mechanism
32 described above there is no such concern.
[0096] This pump mechanism 32 also has the following other
advantage.
[0097] As mentioned above, the branch pipe 42 not only performs
degassing but also performs the role of guiding mash to the intake
port 41. This being the case, it is necessary for the branch pipe
42 to be brought as close as possible to the intake port 41, as
shown with the broken lines a. However, for various reasons, it may
be unavoidable for it to be disposed in a position slightly further
away.
[0098] The branch pipe rising from the first transfer pipe 31
preferably rises at an elevation angle of 60.degree. to 90.degree.
and particularly 90.degree. (vertically).
[0099] Even if the pump mechanism 32 is weak, because some sucking
action of the extraction pump 80 can be expected, mash can be
shifted smoothly even if the branch pipe 42 is away from the intake
port 41. Therefore, the construction of the apparatus, such as the
piping layout design and so on, becomes easy.
[0100] Although the transfer apparatus according to the invention
is ideal as transferring means for soy sauce mash, it can also be
applied as a transfer apparatus for other viscous fluids such as
other food materials and chemical materials.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0101] The transfer apparatus according to the present invention is
best used as a soy source mash transferring means.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0102] FIG. 1 is a basic construction diagram of a viscous fluid
transfer apparatus according to the invention;
[0103] FIG. 2 is a view illustrating the operation of a pump
mechanism and an evacuating mechanism according to the
invention;
[0104] FIG. 3 is a view showing changes in a mash in a storage
tank;
[0105] FIG. 4 is a view illustrating the operation of a branch pipe
and a vacuum breaker according to the invention;
[0106] FIG. 5 is an operation flow chart of a transfer apparatus
according to the invention;
[0107] FIG. 6 is a view of another embodiment of FIG. 5;
[0108] FIG. 7 is a view illustrating the principle of a special
pump capable of gas-liquid separation employed in the
invention;
[0109] FIG. 8 is a view illustrating the principle of a soy sauce
mash transfer apparatus of related art;
[0110] FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a shortcoming of FIG. 8;
and
[0111] FIG. 10 is a view illustrating a basic principle of
technology of related art.
DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCE NUMERALS AND SIGNS
[0112] 10 . . . viscous fluid transfer apparatus, 20 . . . storage
tank, 21 . . . bottom part, 31, 37, 40, 47 . . . transfer pipe,
32,60 . . . pump mechanism, 38 . . . flowmeter, 41 . . . intake of
pump, 42 . . . branch pipe, 43 . . . extension pipe, 44 . . .
evacuating mechanism, 46 . . . evacuation control part, 50, 50B,
50C . . . soy sauce mash as viscous fluid.
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