초록 ▼

A cryogenic processor for liquid feed preparation of a free-flowing frozen product incorporates a gas diffusion chamber that inhibits freezing of a droplet producing feed assembly and pre-cools liquid droplets during the production of the free-flowing frozen product. This is accomplished by providin

A cryogenic processor for liquid feed preparation of a free-flowing frozen product incorporates a gas diffusion chamber that inhibits freezing of a droplet producing feed assembly and pre-cools liquid droplets during the production of the free-flowing frozen product. This is accomplished by providing a regulated flow of ambient air about the feed assembly in conjunction with a vacuum assembly which is used to remove excess refrigerant vapor from the gas diffusion chamber. The vacuum assembly is incorporated into the gas diffusion chamber between the feed assembly and a freezing chamber. The gas diffusion chamber also provides additional physical separation between the feed assembly and the freezing chamber to allow for pre-cooling of the falling liquid composition droplets prior to contacting liquid refrigerant in the freezing chamber therebelow. Additionally, the shape of the processor has been adapted to reduce refrigerant requirements and improve overall production efficiency.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.]1. A cryogenic processor for liquid feed preparation of a free-flowing frozen product comprising:a freezing chamber having a substantially conical shape;a gas diffusion chamber formed above said freezing chamber;a feed tray overlying said gas diffusion chamber arranged and

[ What is claimed is:] [1.]1. A cryogenic processor for liquid feed preparation of a free-flowing frozen product comprising:a freezing chamber having a substantially conical shape;a gas diffusion chamber formed above said freezing chamber;a feed tray overlying said gas diffusion chamber arranged and adapted to receive liquid composition from a delivery source, said tray having a plurality of orifices for regulating discharge of uniformly sized droplets of said composition from said tray, whereby said droplets are delivered by gravity through said gas diffusion chamber and then into said freezing chamber therebelow; anda mechanism for controlling an air flow through the gas diffusion chamber, where the air flow is directed in a substantially horizontal direction across the orifices of the feed tray.