Abstract

In southern Chile, the brewing industry is an important productive sector, with high production from small craft breweries. Prior studies have determined that an important ergonomic risk factor in these companies comes from handling heavy loads, particularly beer barrels, by hand. Considering these companies' economic and space limitations, and the need to move and stack barrels, the present study aimed to design a mechanical prototype for beer barrel handling fitting regional craft breweries' needs. Considering the needs for lifting, moving and stacking barrels, use in small spaces and by a single person, design specifications were established (size, functionality, ergonomics, safety, resistance). Based on the background and using design methodology, different conceptual designs were proposed before choosing the concept developed. This concept, which was a structure with a manual capstan which drives movement via a crank and rod system which allows the cable with the barrel to go up and down on a differential pulley, was developed following the corresponding calculations and structural analyses. The final product is a prototype TRL2 (formulated technological concept) design which fulfills design specifications, along with guaranteeing more acceptable ergonomic conditions from the perspective of posture and manual load handling.