Beeswax extracting apparatus
View Patent ↗Disclosed are an apparatus and method for extraction of beeswax from honeycomb products. In an embodiment, a membrane may be positioned to receive beeswax rendered from a honeycomb product. The membrane may have holes of a sufficient size formed therein to permit beeswax heated to a liquid state to pass through while impeding impurities from passing through. A tray may be disposed beneath the perforated screen to receive and/or collect liquified beeswax passing through the membrane. A drain may allow the received and/or collected liquified beeswax to escape the tray for further processing.
1 . An apparatus comprising:
a stainless-steel perforated membrane having holes formed therein to permit beeswax heated to a liquid state to pass through while impeding impurities from passing through; and
a tray comprising a sloped surface, the tray to be disposed beneath the membrane to receive and/or collect beeswax deposited from a honeycomb heated to the liquid state by steam while the honeycomb is positioned over the membrane, the deposited beeswax to pass through the membrane, wherein the tray further comprises:
a drain to be positioned at a lowest point of the sloped surface relative to a direction of gravity to allow the received and/or collected beeswax heated to the liquid state to escape the tray;
a first hole to receive steam from an external steam source to be applied to the honeycomb for heating the beeswax to the liquid state; and
a box having one or more opened ends, wherein:
the tray is fitted into one of the one or more opened ends; and
the membrane is fitted over the tray fitted into the one of the one or more opened ends;
the drain comprises a second hole formed in the tray;
the box comprises a third hole that is aligned with the second hole while the tray is fitted into the box;
the drain further comprises a tube having a size to permit insertion into the aligned second and third holes;
the box comprises a fourth hole that is aligned with the first hole while the tray is fitted into the box;
the first hole formed in the tray is adapted to be attached to a brass fitting of a hose, the brass fitting passing through a side of the box; and
the hose is adapted to inject steam.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , and further comprising a frame to position the tray to have the sloped surface to receive and/or collect the beeswax heated to the liquid state.
3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the tube further comprises a flange to secure the tube at a position in the second hole formed in the tray.
4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the box is dimensioned for placement of a hive box over the membrane such that:
an interface between the hive box and the box forms a seal to trap at least some of the injected steam.
5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the membrane comprises a stainless steel perforated screen.