Technical Field

The invention pertains generally to treatment of oil palm and similar fruit brunches for the extraction and production of vegetable oils, more particularly involving a sterihzation process that uses steam as a medium for treatment of fruit bunches.

The invention possesses numerous improvements and advantages over other known sterilizer in accordance with the pending Malaysian patent application no. PI 2012000255 for the treatment of fruit bunches. In particular, the invention possesses the following superior designs;

- in the driving mean of the sterilization receptacle

- in carrying steam treatment of the fruit with the longitudinal axis of the sterilization

receptacle placed in a slightly inclined position.

- in the joint mechanism for steam inlet and condensate outlet

Background Art

Sterilization is an important process in the extraction and production of palm oil and similar vegetable oils from their respective fruit brunches. The primary objectives of sterilization are: i) to deactivate the enzymes found in the harvested fruits which may otherwise cause fermentation to the fruits themselves ii) to loosen fruits from the harvested fruit bunches for easy stripping during the later steps of the oil extraction process concerned

iii) to loosen the kernel from the shell for easy removal during the later step of kernel extraction

In the present prior art, the sterilization process is generally carried out in a number of ways as follows;

i) Horizontal Cylindrical Vessel (horizontal sterilizer)

ii) Vertical Cylindrical Vessel (vertical sterilizer)

iii) Inclined Cylindrical Vessel (slanged sterilizer)

iv) Spherical Vessel (spherical sterilizer)

v) Tilting Cylindrical Vessel (tilting sterilizer)

vi) Centrally Pivoted Single Inlet/Outlet Sterilizer

Sterilizer types i), ii), and iii) are fixed type with the sterilization receptacle main body in a stationary position during operation. Sterilizer of types iv), v), and vi) are moving types with their sterilization receptacle main body turning about a pivot point.

It is the objective of this invention to improve the driving mechanism, cooking position, and the steam inlet means and condensate outlet means of the moving types of sterilizers. Spherical Vessel

The spherical sterilizer provides a sterilizer for treatment of oil palm and similar fruit bunches does not require the use of metal cages for transporting fresh fruit bunches into sterilization vessels. The spherical sterilizer vessel consists of a single opening for both filling and discharging of fruit bunches. The fresh fruit bunches are carried in conveyor belt to drop into the sterilizer. After cooking with steam, the vessel are turned with the opening facing downward for discharging.

The steam inlet to the sterilizer receptacle is attached and formed as an integrated part of the support and turning means of the sterilizer.

The condensate outlet from the sterilizer receptacle is attached and formed as an integrated part of the support and turning means of the sterilizer.

Discharge of the condensate formed at the interior during the sterilization process can be difficult to carry out effectively due to the lack of a drainage outlet for the condensate at the lowest section of the sterilizer.

The system required high power drive to overcome the off balance weight of the large sterilizer, thus more maintenance is required on the drive systems, resulting in lower reliability and availability.

Tilting Cylindrical Vessel

The tilting sterilizer provides a treatment of oil palm and similar fruit bunches does not require the use of metal cages for transporting fresh fruit bunches into sterilization vessels. The fresh fruit bunches are carried in conveyor belt to drop into the sterilization vessel via a top opening. Once filled the vessel is lowered into a horizontal position for carrying treatment with steam. On completion of treatment the vessel is raised to a tilted position allowing the treated fruit bunches sliding down and discharge via opening located at the lower end of the vessel. The tilting sterilizer vessel is mounted on a bottom steel frame which in turn is hinged at a point near the lower end of this frame.

The tilting action is performed by two hydraulic cylinders working in parallel, failure of any of these cylinder will disable the system from operating.

The steam inlet to the sterilizer receptacle is attached and formed as an integrated part of the pivoting hinge means of the sterilizer.

The condensate outlet from the sterilizer receptacle is attached and formed as an integrated part of the pivoting hinge means of the sterilizer.

Centrally Pivot Single Inlet/Outlet Sterilizer

A sterilizer for treatment of oil palm and similar fruit brunches with steam under control conditions comprises an elongated receptacle having a common filling/discharging mean for charging fresh fruit bunches and for discharging of treated fruit bunches and wherein defines as an interior chamber.

The said sterilizer also comprises a centrally pivoted means securely fixed to an anchor means and to which the said receptacle is movably pivoted at a point near to the end of the receptacle thereof.

The said sterilizer further comprises a driving means (wire rope) connected to the said receptacle at both ends away from said pivot means for turning the said receptacle about the said pivot point in a vertical plane such that the longitudinal axis of said sterilizer receptacle defined by said filling/discharging means is capable of turning to any inclination position between horizontal and vertical positions.

The steam inlet to the sterilizer receptacle is mounted on the anchor means and formed an integrated part of the pivoting hinge means of the sterilizer. The condensate outlet from the sterilizer receptacle is mounted on the anchor means and formed an integrated part of the pivoting hinge means of the sterilizer.

Disclosure of Invention According to the present invention, a sterilizer for treatment of oil palm and similar fruit brunches with steam under control conditions comprises an elongated receptacle (100) having a common filling/discharging means (110) for charging fresh fruit bunches and for discharging of treated fruit bunches and wherein defines as an interior chamber.

The said sterilizer also comprises a pivoted means (170) securely fixed to an anchor means (180) and to which the said receptacle is movably pivoted at a point away from the inlet and outlet means near to one end of the receptacle thereof.

The fresh fruit bunches are carried in conveyor belt to drop into the sterilization receptacle via the common filling/discharging means (110). Once filled with fruit the receptacle vessel is turned to a less steep inclined position for carrying treatment with steam. Carrying out steam treatment with the receptacle vessel at a slight inclined position facilitates the drainage and discharge of steam condensate which makes the treatment of fruit more efficient. On completion of treatment the vessel is then turned to a more inclined position with the common filling/discharge means facing downward position allowing the treated fruit bunches to slide down and discharged.

According to the present improved invention, the said sterilizer comprises a driving means (310), using a linked chain or rope system, connected to the upper side of the said receptacle at one end away from said pivot means (170) for turning the said receptacle about the said pivot point in a vertical plane such that the longitudinal axis of said sterilizer receptacle defined by said filling/discharging means (110) is capable of turning to reciprocate in any inclination position between vertical upward and vertical downward positions.

The present invention possesses a steam inlet means and a condensate outlet means installed independently on either side of the pivot means of the sterilizer receptacle. In the present prior art, these steam inlet and condensate outlet are attached as an integral part of the pivot means. The independent steam inlet and condensate outlet means offers the advantages of a more rigid and durable design requiring lesser maintenance.

Description of Drawings and Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

The invention will now be described by way of an example and with reference to

accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 shows the said sterilizer comprises an elongated receptacle (100) having a common filling/discharging means (110) on one end. The said filling/discharging means (110) includes a gate (120) operable by a hydraulically powered inlet lock ring (121) to close or open position according to requirements.

Fig. 1 shows a side view of the preferred embodiment according the present invention disposed in the steam treatment position with the longitudinal axis of the sterilization receptacle either in a slightly inclined or horizontal position.

Fig. 2 shows a side view of the preferred embodiment according to the present invention disposed in a upward inclined position.

Fig. 3 shows a side view of the preferred embodiment according to the present invention disposed in a downward inclined position using "top mounted" driving mechanism with wire rope or linked chain as the driving means (310).

Fig. 4 shows the cross-sectional view of the preferred embodiment in the Έ'-'Β' direction of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 shows the cross-sectional view of the preferred embodiment in the Ά'-Ά' direction of Fig. 1.

Turning the sterilizer receptacle to various inclination positions along its longitudinal axis defined by the said pivot point (170) is made possible by the driving means (310) using a linked chain or rope system driven by either electric, hydraulic or manual mechanism means (300).

Fig. 1 shows the said driving mechanism means (300) firmly mounted on supporting beam (550) above the sterilizer receptacle with the driving means (310) firmly connected via a connection means (320) attached to a point on the upper side of said sterilizer receptacle cylinder (100) away from the pivot means (170). The said driving mechanism means (300) for turning works cooperatively with the pivot means (170) for turning the sterilizer receptacle cylinder (100) to various inclination positions in a vertical plane about the fixed pivot point defined by the anchor means (180) and shaft means (171) of the said pivot means (170) as explained earlier.

According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the sterilizer receptacle (100) can be turned with its longitudinal axis inclined at any angle between its horizontal positions and vertical positions with the filling discharging means (110) thereof facing upward or downward. In the preferred embodiment, the said driving mechanism means (300) is either electric or hydraulic operated via a control panel (not shown). In the preferred embodiment, depending on the specific installation requirements, the said driving mechanism means (300) can also be manually operated via the use of a geared system.

As shown in Fig. 4, the inlet end of the steam supply inlet (134) is connected to a turning joint means (140) installed on either on the right side or left side of one of the two pivot means (170) of the sterilizer receptacle (100). The turning joint means (140) allows the steam inlet pipe (132) to turn together with the sterilizer receptacle during operation. Also as in shown in Fig. 4, the exterior end of the condensate outlet (152) is connected to a turning joint means (151) installed on either on the right side or left side of one of the two pivot means (170) of the sterilizer receptacle (100). The turning joint means (151) allows the condensate outlet (152) to turn together with the sterilizer receptacle during operation.

The turning joint means (140 and 151) are independently anchored to the ground (400).

Each unit of the pivot means (170) includes a first immovable portion (180) and a second movable portion (172) as shown in Fig. 4, both working cooperatively to produce the required pivot effect to turn the sterilizer receptacle (100) in a vertical plane from horizontal to inclination positions and vice versa. The said immovable portion (180) includes an anchor means (190) firmly secured to the ground (400).