| Details of Innovation |
India is a leading producer of oil seeds, there is a considerable demand for oil-expellers and oil expelling is a thriving business. However, existing expellers consume a lot of energy and are unviable monetarily. It was necessary to develop an energy efficient oil-expeller, which would be viable in terms of commercialization. An improved power transmission system was one of the most important measures in reducing commercial energy needs for agro-based oil-mill industries. Conventional machines used the screw-press mechanism that gave low output inspite of using high power. It was the need of the hour, to innovate new and energy-saving oil-expelling machines.
After helping his father out in business for some time, Kalpeshbhai started on the business of manufacturing bar-cutting machines (used in the construction business); their quality was unmatched and so were their prices- very high compared to those of locally-available machines. So for the small businessman, this machine was inaccessible. So this business faced financial hardship and had to wind up. But the business had given him a name in the market, and due to this he got an opportunity to manufacture machines for J.M.C. Ind., Mehsana, which were till then imported. At that time, his friend also approached him asking him to think of a machine, which could save on energy and was efficient in expelling oil.
For this innovation, Kalpeshbhai began surveying the oil-mills of nearby villages and cities. When he was able to understand the mechanical details, he was amazed to see that every manufacturer was using indirect power supply from pulleys and V-belts when one could use power directly from the motors of the expeller. Seeing this, he realized that some aspects of the oil-expeller really needed to be improved to make an energy-efficient expeller. After a deep study of the oil-industry and the oil-expeller machine, he used his knowledge of CAD, and mechanical designs to design a new machine which could improve on the design of the conventional expeller. After six months hard work and a year of trial, the first prototype of the new oil-expeller was evolved; this led to his first move into the world of innovations.
Problems:
While manufacturing the new machine, he faced constraints of space and money. He showed it to his friend and his friend provided him a mill and also the manpower to reduce the workload. Then, after creating the first prototype he installed this machine in his oil-mill and tested it in the market to convince some of the people to use his machine. After obtaining feedback from the market, the innovator worked with experts to make the second prototype. After testing his machine in the market, he was able to provide the final marketable expeller, which he named the Entech Oil Expeller.
Functional Details:
* A 30 hp. motor is used to provide a direct supply of power to the oil expeller and enables it to crush 18metric tonnes to 30 metric tonnes per day.
* Gears mounted on the oil expeller (instead of v-belts) are used to drive the crushing shafts.
* The oil-expeller has a hopper, which functions as the device that ensures intake of the seeds; seeds are taken in automatically instead of being fed manually.
* This expeller functions as the best available oil-expeller to be used to expel oil from all types of oil seeds.
* There is a clutch mechanism, which helps in managing each crusher separately, using the planetary gears linked with motor.
* The round chambers are arranged in a manner that allows the seeds to be steamed from all angles before proceeding towards the crusher.
* Three successive crusher chambers are arranged in this expeller, ensuring that the seeds are crushed well after steaming
* The spines of the crusher works as the cleaner of the expeller; which throw out the debris of the seed after being crushed.
* Flywheels are used to make the expeller mobile.
* The steel alloy (of which the oil-expeller machine is made) balances the machine and restricts the noise level.
* There is an automatic system, which provides extra-torque for removal of the seeds incase of a jam .
Working Mechanism:
Entech oil-expeller works on planetary gears with the help of a 40 hp. motor and is fully automatic. The seeds once fed in at one end of machine, are automatically pushed inside the crusher by suction pipe. These seeds are then steamed well in the closed spaces of the separation chamber, before they are crushed in the crushing chambers.
Then these steamed seeds are crushed in three successive crushers and are then pushed into the closed chambers; debris are thrown out in form of cakes from the other end. The seeds are then crushed by a pressing machine, after which oil is obtained from the seeds. This Entech Oil Expeller has a flywheel unit to provide extra torque it times of a jam. |
Honey Bee Network Knowledge & Innovation Database (HBNKIND)