1 
    
 
 
 
 
DRAFT TANZANIA STANDARD  
MEDC 10(5692) P3  - SPECIFICATION FOR HONEY EXTRACTOR, RADIAL TYPE   
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
©TBS 2018                                                                                                                                  Draft Edition
 
2 
  
0. FOREWORDS  
Honey extractors enable bee -keepers to extract the maximum quantity of honey 
from their frames.  There  are many kinds of honey extractors in use; they range from 
simple hand -driven types used in small apiaries to the complex power -driven types 
used in large bee -keeping organizations. This standard is intended to give general 
requirements for a hand -driven honey extractor of the radial type. The standard is 
intended to give guidance to manufacturing of this type of honey extractor.  
In the preparation of this standard  assistance has been  derived from  Indian standard 
IS 5427:2015  – Specification for honey extractor, radial type . 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
3 
 1. SCOPE  
This standard prescribes the requirements for hand operated honey extractors of the  
hand operated  radial type, used for extracting honey centrifugally from the frames. 
This standard also includes a typical design of the honey extractors of radia l type. 
 
2. TERMINOLOGY  
For the purpose of this standard, the following definitions shall apply;  
2.1 Rotating Frame Holder  - A device which holds super frames in place  while extracting 
honey (see 5.2) and rotates around a central shaft.  
2.2 Comb frame  - A frame which has a depth less than that of the brood  frame and in which 
surplus honey is stored . 
 
3. SIZES  
There shall be two sizes of the honey extractor, radial type, namely,  Size 1 and Size 2. Size 
1 honey extractor shall be used for all the three  sizes of the super frames of Type A beehive 
while Size 2 shall be used for  all the three sizes of the super frames of Type B beehive .(ref 
Table 1)  
 
4. MATERIALS  
5. The honey extractor, radial t ype, shall be constructed from stainless  steel sheets or 
equivalent/ superior  metal sheet acceptable for food industry . 
 
6. CONSTRUCTION  
6.1 Outer Drum  – The outer drum of the honey extractor shall be bent and suitable joint 
to form a cylinder.  The bottom shall be soft soldered to the drum. The bottom may 
be flat or convex as agreed to between the purchaser and the supplier. If required by 
the purchaser, the bottom of the drum may be provided with a metal ring to avoid 
grinding  off action. The rims of the barrel shall be rolled over and beaded with mild 
steel wire of 5 or 6 mm diameter. The boarding shall be done in such a way that the 
wire shall be properly fused before the beading is done. All the joints and seams 
shall be sol dered properly.   
4 
 6.1.1  Outlet - outlet or honey gate of the outer drum shall be fixed near the bottom 
in such a position as to enable the outer drum to be completely emptied with 
minimum tilting.  It shall be not less than 25 mm in diameter, Not less than 50 
mm in  length and shall be soft soldered to the outer drum properly. The outlet 
shall be provided with a stop cock.  
6.2 Rotating Frame Holder (Inner Cage) - The rotating frame holder shall have circular 
top plate and bottom plate made of galvanized sheets. The thick ness of the material 
shall be such that the plates shall not bend and be strong enough to hold the 10 
frames with honey. The top and bottom plates shall be of one -piece construction 
with slots to hold the frames in position. The plates shall be held in pos ition by firm 
mild steel rods and the central axle (see Fig. 1 D, 1E  and Fig. 2). The clearance all 
around the frame holder and the drum shall be not less than 20 mm; the clearance 
between the centers of the bottom plate and the bottom of outer dru m shall n ot be 
less than 75 mm.  
6.2.1  The openings in the top plate shall be such as to hold 10 super frames 
radially (see Fig. 1 E).  
6.2.2  The bottom plate shall have 10 openings (see Fig. 1 E) to fit the lugs of 10 
super frames.  
6.2.3  The supporting rods of 10 mm diameter and threaded at both ends shall be 
fixed at the periphery of the top and bottom plates with nuts. The diameter of 
the central axle rod shall be 12 to 15 mm, as desired by the purchaser.  
 
6.3 Bearings -There shall be  at least  two bearings, that is, top bearing and b ottom 
bearing.  
6.3.1  Bottom Bearing  - A bush bearing shall be fixed to the bottom of the  outer 
drum. The upper surface of the bush shall have a socket and steel balls to 
receive the axle rod. The bush shall be raised and a seal may be provided on 
the top of the bush to avoid mixing of grease or worn out parts of steel in 
honey.  
6.3.2  Top Bearing -One ball bearing shall be fitted at the top of the top cover of the 
frame holder where the axle rod is passing through it.   
5 
 6.4 Handle – The handle of the extractor shall b e made in two pieces (see Fig, 1C  ). 
The first piece of the handle shall be passed through the holes provided in the 
handle support (see 5.4.1 and Fig. 1 ), which in  turn shall be fixed on a steel strip 6 
mm thick and 40 mm wide (see  Fig. 1B ) running acro ss the outer drum. This mild 
steel strip carrying the handle support shall be supported by two steel brackets 
riveted to the outer drum. One end of the first piece of the handle shall have beveled 
gear, which  shall engage with a bevelled  pinion  supported on the top of the central 
shaft. The gear ratio shall be not less than 1:5. The other end of the first piece of the 
handle shall be fixed to one end of the second piece of the handle. A wooden grip 
shall be provided for the other end of the second piece of  handle. The handle  shall be 
operated sideways.  
6.4.1  The handle support shall be made of mild steel strip or cast iron (see Fig. 1 B ) 
and fixed on the mild steel strip running across the barrel. It shall be provided 
with holes for the passage of the handle. If the handle support is made of cast 
iron, it shall be provided with lubricating holes on the top and the inside of the 
holes mean t for the passage of the handle shall be provided with liners.  
6.5 Cover - -A cover made of the same material as of the outer drum, may be provided 
if’ required by the purchaser. The cover may be fitted with a wire gauge on the lower 
side so that it could be u sed as an uncapping tray . 
 
7. SHAPE AND DIMENSIONS  
The various parts of the two sizes of the honey extractor shall, as far as possible, 
conform to the shape and dimensions given in Fig. 1. A pictorial view of the rotating 
frame holder is given in Fig. 2.  
 
 
 
 
 
                                                    Table 1. Dimensions  
SIZE  A B C D E F G H J K L  
6 
 1 350±10  310±10  225± 10 270± 10 220 42 50 32 42 210 260 
2 450±10 330±10 295±10 310± 10 310± 10 260 62 44 62 250 300 
                                              All dimensions in millimeters.  
NOTE : If required by the purchaser, the outlet (spout) may be fixed at the bottom of the outer 
drum .  
8. WORKMANSHIP AND FINISH  
8.1 All joints of the honey extractor shall be satisfactory in all respects. The weld shall not be 
porous or brittle. All welded joints shall be well dressed and smoothly finished. The soldering 
shall be neat and clean. The honey extractor shall be finished smooth all ov er. The honey 
extract - or shall be devoid of cracks, seams, dents and other similar defects.  
8.2 The parts which do not come in contact with honey shall be painted with suitable synthetic 
paint. Removable nuts shall be rust -proofed independently of painting.  
 
9. MARKING  
9.1 The honey extractor shall be marked with the following particulars:  
a. Manufacturer’s name,  
b. Trade -mark or initials;  
c. Year of manufacture;  
d. Batch or code number; and  
e. Size of the extractor.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                    LIST OF FIGURES   
7 
                                 
                     FIG 1 A..DETAILS OF BRACKET SUPPORT FOR STEEL STIRP  
 
                           
 
                                                             FIG 1 B STEEL STRIP  
 
                                               
 
8 
                                                    FIG 1 C.. HANDLE  
                                        
 FIG. 1 D  HANDLE SUPPORT  
                                            
                                              FIG. 1 E  HANDLE SUPPORT  
 
 
 
                          10Ø on 245 PCD  
 
9 
                                         
                                          FIG 1 F1.. BOTTOM PLATE  
                              
                  10Ø on 245 PCD  
                                                      FIG 1F2… TOP PLATE  
             
      
 
10 
                            
                                                          FIG 1 G.. PLAN  
       
 FIG 1 G..  SECTION ELEVATION X -X 
                                                 ASSEMBLY  
 
 
11 
  
 
                FIG 2 ROTATING FRAME HOLDER  
                                      (For other dimensions see Table 1)