VITA TECHNICAL BULLETIN
51035-BK
CENTRIFUGAL HONEY EXTRACTOR
This Bulletin
explains how to build a wooden honey extractor.
Honey hives
are placed in two containers. These are
spun with
a pulley
mechanism. Thus, the honey is extracted
by centrifugal
force.
This
extractor was developed by VITA affiliates in Nicaragua.
It has since
then been built and used successfully in several
other
countries.
VITA makes
this material available to generate ideas among as
wide an audience
as possible. Readers should write VITA
about
their
experience with the design. Please send
test results,
suggestions,
and requests for further information to:
Technical Bulletins
VITA
1600 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 500
Arlington, Virginia 22209 USA
Tel:
703/276-1800 * Fax: 703/243-1865
Internet:
pr-info@vita.org
Revised August 1981
ISBN 0-86619-114-3
VOLUNTEERS IN TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
VITA TECHNICAL BULLETINS
This
Technical Bulletin is one of a series of
publications
that offer do-it-yourself technology
information
on a wide variety of subjects.
Technical
Bulletins are idea generators, intended
not so much
to provide a definitive answer as to
guide the
user's thinking and planning. Premises
are sound and
testing results are provided, if
available.
Users of the
information are asked to send us their
evaluations
and comments based on their experiences.
Results are
incorporated into subsequent
editions,
thus providing additional guidelines for
adaptation
and use in a greater variety of conditions.
CENTRIFUGAL HONEY EXTRACTOR
VITA
volunteers in Nicaragua have built a simple, wooden,
honey
extractor. These are two wooden arms
that hang down from
a horizontal
brace. A box is attached to the end of
each arm.
Each box
holds honey hives.
The
horizontal brace is attached to a vertical pole.
There is
a wooden
pulley around the bottom of this pole.
A rope around
the pulley
spins the pole. This motion also spins
the horizontal
brace, wooden
arms, and honey boxes. Centrifugal
force
makes the two
boxes rise and move outward. This forces
the
honey to the
bottom of the boxes, from where it is later
scooped out.
<FIGURE
1>
47p01.gif (600x600)
This is a
view of an extractor in stationary position.
<FIGURE
2>
47p02a.gif (600x600)
View of the
revolving extractor while in operation.
<FIGURE
3>
47p02b.gif (600x600)
The simple
joints for the horizontal crosspiece and the wooden
arm.
<FIGURE
4>
47p03a.gif (600x600)
The rope is
attached to a piece of rubber inner tube that is
tied to a
wooden stake. This creates the
necessary tension.
<FIGURE
5>
47p03b.gif (600x600)
The rope is
then wrapped around a wooden pulley.
This pulley
design comes
from VITA's Village Technology Handbook.
<FIGURE
6>
47p04a.gif (600x600)
Pull the rope
a short distance and then let it recoil.
The
extractor
will revolve in one direction.
<FIGURE
7>
47p04b.gif (600x600)
Lift the lids
from the two honey boxes.
<FIGURE
8>
47p05a.gif (600x600)
<FIGURE
9>
47p06a.gif (600x600)
<FIGURE
10>
47p07.gif (600x600)
POINTS TO
REMEMBER
1.
The top portion of the extractor must be
very secure to
prevent swaying.
Attach guy wires, as shown in the diagram.
Also brace the vertical piece with a board
attached
to a shed or a tree, as shown.
2.
Attach the rope to a piece of tire inner
tube. Tie the
tube piece securely to a wooden spike that
has been driven
deep into the ground.
This arrangement makes the rope
spring back during operation.
3.
The photos show some modifications that differ
from the
drawing.
The "arms" attached to the horizontal crosspiece
are longer than shown in the drawing.
You should experiment
with varying lengths to see which works
best.
4.
Sudden stops as the rotation slows will
cause the boxes to
jerk and slam into the vertical pole.
Place rubber mountings
around the main pole at points where the
boxes may
touch the pole.
VITA also
publishes A Beekeeping Guide, by VITA Volunteer
Harlan H.D.
Attfield, which includes the following information:
*
The Bee Colony
*
What Bees Need to Live
*
Beehives
*
The Langstroth Hive
*
The Newton Hive
*
Simple Hives
*
Some Simple Equipment Needed for Beekeeping
*
How to Move Bees into New Hives
*
Inspecting the Colony
*
Helping A Colony Make More Honey
*
What to do Before the Honeyflow
*
What to do During the Honeyflow
*
Harvesting the Crops (Honey and Beeswax)
*
Appendix:
Species and Varieties of Bees
For a free
catalog that lists this and other VITA publications,
write:
VITA Publications Service
1815 North Lynn Street, Suite
200
Arlington, Virginia 22209-8438
USA
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