US3749002A

US3749002A - Counter current pomace washer

Info

Publication number: US3749002A
Application number: US00105015A
Authority: US
Inventors: R Nowlin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1971-01-08
Filing date: 1971-01-08
Publication date: 1973-07-31
Anticipated expiration: 1990-07-31

Abstract

A counter current pomace washer comprising a screen reel. Along the inside of the screen reel are disposed screen lifters which are spaced apart radially at equal angular distances and which extend in a direction parallel to the axis of the reel. A screw conveyor is located along the axis of the reel so that the screen lifters through the rotating action of the reel transfer pomace to the screw conveyor. Counter flowing liquid washes the pomace on the screen reel to recover the usable ingredients of the pomace.

Description

United States Patent 1191 Nowlin July 31, 11973 COUNTER CURRENT POMACE WASHER [76] llnventor: Redford L. Nowlln, 4124 S.

Soderquist Rd., Turlock, Calif. 95380 [22] Filed: Jan. 8, 1971 21 Appl. 016.: 105,015

[52] US. Cll..... 99/536, 23/269, 23/270,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/1951" Anderson 23/270 12/1951 Langen 23/270 2,392,911 1/1946 Gaudet 134/157 542,438 7/1895 Butler 2,538,457 1/1951 Hudson... 1,779,046 10/ 1930 McNaney.. 438,533 10/ 1890 Davis 404,141 5/1889 Wilcox 3,498,838 3/1970 Mehta 134/65 Primary Examiner-Norman Yudkofi Assistant Examiner-R. T. Foster Attorney-Jack M. Wiseman [5 7] AWSTRACT A counter current pomace washer comprising a screen reel. Along the inside of the screen reel are disposed screen lifters which are spaced apart radially at equal angular distances and which extend in a direction parallel to the axis of the reel. A screw conveyor is located along the axis of the reel so that the screen lifters through the rotating action of the reel transfer pomace to the screw conveyor. Counter flowing liquid washes the pomace on the screen reel to recover the usable ingredients of the pomace.

7 Claims, 5 Drawing ri /11m 2,923,604 2/1960 Fawley et 51.... 23 269 2,998,307 8/1961 Walker 23 269 3,117,031 1 1964 0111111115 23 270 3,135,668 6 1964 Wesson 23/269 3,433,598 3/1969 Andersen et al.... 23 270 3,632,445 1/1972 .Barre 23 270 2,734,635 2/1956 HOlZefllhfll 23 269 se 5 5 e '1 1 PATENIEU JUL 3 1 191a SHEET 1 0F 7 INVENTOR. RADFORD L. NOWLIN W. I

ATTORNEY PATENIEUJM 1 ms sum 2 or 3 INVENTOR. RADFORD L, NQWUN ATTORNEY PAIENIEDJUU I ma SHEET 3 OF 3 INVENTOR. RADFORD L. NOWLIN 41 MM ATTORNEY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates in general to apparatus for recovering wines and juices from the skins and seeds of grapes, and more particularly to apparatus for recovering alcohol or sugar from pressed pomace.

In the production of wine and juices, waste material resulting therefrom is known as pomace, which constitutes the skins and the seeds of grapes. The pomace is pressed to recover therefrom all the usable wine and juices as a full strength product. The pomace remaining after pressing may be discarded or may be used to recover the remaining sugar and alcohol.

To recover the sugar and alcohol remaining after the pressing, it has been the practice to wash the pomace in tanks and subsequently press the pomace. The wash mixture ferments and has been distilled for producing a high proof alcohol. In some instances, the pomace is removed and washed during multiple cycle processes to recover the remaining usable alcohol and sugar. All the sugar is converted into alcohol, when the pomace is fermented dry. The pomace can then be run through a steam chamber and the alcohol recovered as a low wine distillate. It has been found that the foregoing methods are too expensive and inefficient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A pomace washer comprising a screen reel with screen lifters disposed along the inside of the screen reel parallel to the axis thereof and spaced radially therealong at angular distances. A conveyor is located along the axis of the reel, whereby rotation of the reel causes the screen lifters to transfer pomace onto the conveyor.

A method of washing pomace in which a counter current flow of liquid wash advances through a screen reel with a conveyor along its axis thereof.

A method of washing pomace in which a counter current flow of liquid wash advances through a screen reel with a conveyor along the axis thereof and with plural ity of screen lifters secured to the inside of the reel for transferring pomace onto the conveyor.

A pomace washer in which a screen reel is submerged in liquid wash and wherein the solid components of the pomace are maintained within the reel while the liquid wash from an external source flows through the screen reel.

A plurality of stages in which each stage includes a screen reel submerged in a liquid wash and the solid components of the pomace are left within the reel while liquid wash from an external source flows through the screen reel.

By virtue of the present invention, a high recovery efficiency is obtained with reduced usage of wash liquid. By increasing the recovery efficiency, the yield of sugar and alcohol is improved. By reducing the usage of wash liquid, a stronger solution is produced. The stronger the solution, the less costly is the further operations, because the wash liquid resulting from the process must be further acted upon by distillation or the like.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of pomace washer apparatus embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an elevation view of a pomace washing system embodying the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the pomace washing system shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. d is an enlarged vertical section taken along line d-d of FIG. 33.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal section taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 3 partially in elevation to illustrate the screw conveyor thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Illustrated in FIG. I is a pomace washing apparatus llti embodying the present invention. In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, three of such pomace washing apparatus W-lllb (FIGS. 2 and 3) are included in the pomace washing system of the present invention. Each pomace washing apparatus is similar in structure and operation and, hence, only the pomace washing apparatus It) will be described in detail.

The pomace washing apparatus 10 comprises a suitable support frame 11 (FIGS. 1-5) in which is supported a generally tubular housing 12. In the exemplary embodiment, the housing l2 includes four sections IZa-llZd (FIGS. ll, 3 and 5). Within each section Illa-112d is a pomace washer, such as pomace washer 1l5a (FIGS. 4% and 5), embodying the present invention. Each pomace washer 1511-1511 in the sections l2a-ll2d, respectively, operates in a similar manner. Hence, only the pomace washer 15a in the section 112a will be described in detail.

Initially, an operator places a supply of pomace, which may have been previously pressed to recover wine and juice, onto a conventional screw conveyor 20 (FIGS. 2, 3 and 5). Pomace is discharged from the screw conveyor 20 into a pomace receiving receptacle 211 for advancement into the interior of the housing 12. In a manner to be described hereinafter, pomace advances through the housing 12 in the direction of the arrow 1P (FIG. 3) and is discharged from the housing 12 through a pomace outlet 23. The pomace discharged from the outlet 23 is discharged onto a conventional screw conveyor 24 for discharge into the pomace washing apparatus we. From the pomace washing apparatus Ilia, pomace is advanced by a conventional screw conveyor 25, for discharge into the pomace washing apparatus Mb. lPomace discharged from the pomace washing apparatus 1011 is advanced by a conventional screw conveyor 26 into a well-known press machine 2'7. The dry pomace discharged from the press machine 27' is advanced by a conveyor 28 to be discarded as waste material.

During the time the pomace P advances from the conveyor 201i and through the pomace washing apparatus ItI-lltlb, in succession, wash liquid, such as water, is supplied to the pomace washing apparatus lltlb through a conduit 3th. A mixture of wash liquid, juice and wine (hereinafter referred to as mixture") advances in the direction of the arrows W (FIG. 3) in succession through the pomace washing apparatus 1%, Eda and IE. The mixture advances through the pomace washing apparatus Hub-W, while pomace advances through the pomace washing apparatus 10-1012. The passage of the mixture through the housing 12 of the pomace washing apparatus will be described in detail hereinafter.

The housing 12 includes an inlet conduit 32 through which passes the mixture discharged from the pomace washing apparatus 100. In addition, the housing 12 includes a discharge outlet from which is discharged the final mixture for the recovery of sugar and alcohol. Juice and wine recovered from the pressing of pomace from the pressing machine 27 is discharged into the pomace washing apparatus b. The mixture discharged from the conduit 33 is processed in a conventional manner for producing therefrom sugar and alcohol.

Disposed within the housing 12 along the axis thereof is a conventional screw conveyor 40 (FIGS. 4 and 5) which comprises a drive shaft 41. The drive shaft is journalled by suitable bushing carried by the end walls of the housing 12. Connected to the drive shaft 41 is a conventional varidrive motor 42, which imparts rotation to the shaft 41. Fixed to the shaft 41 for rotation therewith are a plurality of well-known screw-like impeller blades 43.

A suitable trough 44 of the screw conveyor 40 is disposed below and along the sides of the screw impeller blades 43 to gather pomace so that the screw impeller blades 43 can advance the pomace in the trough 44 in the direction of the arrow P. The trough is open at the top thereof and the screw impeller blades 43 are suitably exposed from above so that pomace can be cast into the trough 44 to be advanced by the blades 43. Suitably spaced small openings 45 are formed in the bottom wall of the trough 44 so that the pomace in the trough 44 can be exposed and re-exposed to the mixture. An apron 46 serves to guide the pomace into the trough 44.

Disposed within the housing 12 and surrounding the screw conveyor 40 is a screen reel 50 (FIGS. 4 and 5), which includes an increased diameter wall 50 and a reduced diameter wall 52. The reduced diameter wall 52 is disposed between successive sections of the housing 12 and at each end of the housing 12. In this manner, the end walls of the housing 12 form supports from which the screen reel 50 is journalled for rotation. For imparting rotation to the screen reel 50, a suitable motor 51 is carried by the frame 11. A drive shaft 52 is driven by the motor 51 through a suitable sheave and belt arrangement. Fixed to the shaft 52 for rotation therewith are pulleys 53 and S4. Trained around the

pulleys

53 and 54 and the reel 50 are suitable

endless chains

58 and 59 to impart rotation to the reel 50. A support 65 is mounted on the frame 11 below a reduced diameter portion of the reel 50. Brackets 67 with idler rollers 66 thereon engage the reel 50 for supporting the same. The reel 50 and the screw conveyor 40, in the preferred embodiments, rotate in opposite directions.

On the inside wall of the reel 50 along each enlarged diameter portion 50' thereof are lifters 75. The lifters 75 are spaced equal angular distances apart and extend in a direction parallel to the axis of the reel 50. The lifters 75 are made from a screen material, similar to the reel 50, and serve to transfer solid material pomace out of the mixture or liquid wash and east the pomace onto the screw conveyor 40 adjacent thereto. The lifters 75 are suitably bent to assist in the lifting and casting action. More specifically, the rotation of the reel 50 causes the lifters to lift pomace submerged in the wash liquid or mixture and cast the same onto the conveyor 40 adjacent thereto, whereby the pomace is drained with each lifting action to pennit exposure and re-exposure to the advancing mixture. It is intended that the wash liquid and mixture will flow in the direction of the arrow W until it reaches the outlet conduit 33 at which time it can be pumped to a storage vessel for further processing. Wash liquid or mixture enters into the housing and flows through the screen reel 50 from a direction externally of the wall 51. The screen reel 51 is submerged in the wash liquid or mixture and the level thereof will at all times be slightly lower than the conveyor 40. The pomace on the other hand enters the housing so as to be always contained within the screen reel 50. It is to be observed that the pomace advances in one direction while the mixture or wash liquid flows in an opposite direction in a counter current manner.

I claim:

1. Washing apparatus comprising:

a. a housing containing a liquid with material to be washed therein;

b. a screen reel mounted in said housing for rotation and disposed in said liquid;

c. means connected to said screen reel for rotating said screen reel within said housing;

d. conveyor means disposed in said housing along the axis of said reel for advancing material therealong and centrally of the reel; and

e. lifters formed with openings therein carried by an inner wall of said reel for rotation therewith for transferring material in said liquid onto said conveyor.

2. Washing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said lifters are of screen-like material.

3. Washing apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said lifters are spaced apart radially and extend in a direction parallel to the axis of said reel.

4. Washing apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said conveyor is a screw conveyor.

5. Washing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said material is a pomace and said liquid is a liquid wash and comprising an inlet for said pomace at one side of said housing, an outlet for said pomace at the other side of said housing, and an outlet for liquid at said one side of said housing, whereby said pomace and liquid advance through said housing in the axial direction from opposite directions.

6. Washing apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said material is a pomace and said liquid is a liquid wash and comprising an inlet for said pomace at one side of said housing, an outlet for said pomace at the other side of said housing, an inlet for liquid at said other side of said housing, and an outlet for liquid at said one side of said housing, whereby said pomace and liquid advance through said housing in the axial direction from opposite directions.

7. Washing apparatus comprising:

a. a housing containing a liquid with material to be washed therein;

e. lifters carried by an inner wall of said reel for rotation therewith to transfer material in said liquid onto said conveyor.

Claims

1. Washing apparatus comprising: a. a housing containing a liquid with material to be washed therein; b. a screen reel mounted in said housing for rotation and disposed in said liquid; c. means connected to said screen reel for rotating said screen reel within said housing; d. conveyor means disposed in said housing along the axis of said reel for advancing material therealong and centrally of the reel; and e. lifters formed with openings therein carried by an inner wall of said reel for rotation therewith for transferring material in said liquid onto said conveyor.

7. Washing apparatus comprising: a. a housing containing a liquid with material to be washed therein; b. a screen reel mounted in said housing for rotation and disposed in said liquid; c. means connected to said screen reel for rotating said screen reel within said housing; d. conveyor means disposed in said housing along the axis of said reel for advancing material therealong and centrally of the reel; and e. lifters carried by an inner wall of said reel for rotation therewith to transfer material in said liquid onto said conveyor.