GRAINS-REMOVING DEVICE FOR A LAUTER TUN

• US 20090313775A1
• Filed: 05/29/2009
• Published: 12/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: GEA Brewery Systems GmbH (GEA Group AG)
• Original Assignee: GEA Brewery Systems GmbH (GEA Group AG)
• Inventors: Bauer, Stephan, Bahns, Patrick, Ziegler, Georg, Scheller, Ludwig, Makowski, Josef
• Application Number:
  US12/474,669
• Publication Number:
  US 20090313775A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/57
• CPC Class Codes: C12C 7/17 in lautertuns , e.g. in a tub with perforated false bottom

Abstract

The invention relates to a grains-removing device for a lauter tun on which at least one grains-removing member is provided which can be adjusted between a raised neutral position and a lowered grains-removing position, wherein the spent grains can be conveyed out of the lauter tun by rotationally driving the grains-removing member arranged in the grains-removing position, and wherein on the grains-removing device, at least one position sensor (01) is provided, by means of which the position of the grains-removing member can be detected in at least one position, wherein the position sensor (01) interacts with a transmitter unit, wherein the sensor data of the position sensor (01) for the description of the position of the grains-removing member can be transmitted in a wireless manner from the transmitter unit to a stationary mounted receiver unit and transferred from the receiver unit to a control unit, and wherein for the supply of electrical energy to the transmitter unit, an electro-mechanical generator unit is provided, wherein with the generator unit, mechanical drive movements can be transformed into electrical supply power, and wherein by means of a transmission device, the adjusting movements of the grains-removing device can be transmitted as drive movements directly or indirectly to the generator unit.

Claims

1. A grains-removing device for a lauter tun, comprising:

at least one grains-removing member adjustable between a raised neutral position and a lowered grains-removing position, the grains removing member configured to convey the spent grains out of the lauter tun by rotationally driving the grains-removing member when arranged in the lowered grains-removing position;

at least one position sensor configured to detect the position of the grains-removing member in at least one position and to generate sensor data describing the position of the at least one grains-removing member;

a transmitter unit in communication with the position sensor, a control unit;

an electro-mechanical generator unit; and

a transmission device;

wherein the transmitter unit is configured to wirelessly transmit the sensor data describing the position of the grains-removing member to a stationary mounted receiver unit;

configured to transmit the sensor data to the control unit;

wherein the electromechanical generator unit supplies electrical energy to the transmitter unit, and wherein the transmission device is configured to transmit adjusting movements of the grains-removing device as drive movements directly or indirectly to the generator unit and the generator unit generates electrical energy from the drive movement.

2. The grains-removing device according to claim 1, wherein the position sensor and the grains-removing device are mounted to a rotationally drivable lauter tun chopping unit.

3. The grains-removing device according to claim 1, wherein the generator unit comprises a piezo element for transforming the mechanical drive movements into electrical supply power.

4. The grains-removing device according to claim 1, wherein the transmission device comprises a drive cam which is moved during the adjustment of the grains-removing device, wherein the drive cam is engaged with a tappet which transmits the adjusting movement of the drive cam to the piezo element.

5. The grains-removing device according to claim 1, wherein the receiver unit is arranged outside of the lauter tun.

6. The grains-removing device according to claim 1, wherein the receiver unit is designed in the form of a mobile radio antenna, in particular in the form of a rod antenna.

7. The grains-removing device according to claim 1, wherein the receiver unit is arranged on a sight glass of the lauter tun, on a manhole cover of the lauter tun, or on a cover glass of a lighting device of the lauter tun.

8. The grains-removing device according to claim 1, wherein the receiver unit is designed in the form of an adhesive antenna or a throw-out antenna.

9. The grains-removing device according to claim 1, wherein the position sensor is configured to detect the arrangement of the grains-removing member in the neutral position and/or the arrangement of the grains-removing member in the grains-removing position.

10. The grains-removing device according to claim 1, wherein the grains-removing device is provided with a plurality of grains-removing members and each grains-removing member is provided with a position sensor.

11. The grains-removing device according to claim 1, further comprising a display device controlled and configured to signalize certain positions of the grains-removing member based on sensor data.

12. The grains-removing device according to claim 1, wherein a fault display is controlled in such a manner that on the fault display, a false position of the grains-removing member based on sensor data is signalized.

13. The grains-removing device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit of the lauter tun is configured to query the position of the grains-removing member and to control or regulate the processes within the lauter tun accordingly based on the sensor data transferred from the position sensor to the control unit of the lauter tun.