초록 ▼

An apparatus for the chilling or freezing of items, particularly food items includes an entrance module, and exit module and may include one or more intermediate modules. The modules may be connected in order to provide an optimal solution in a food freezing or chilling process. Each module includes

An apparatus for the chilling or freezing of items, particularly food items includes an entrance module, and exit module and may include one or more intermediate modules. The modules may be connected in order to provide an optimal solution in a food freezing or chilling process. Each module includes at least a portion of a belt for conveying items and a motor driven impeller for circulating a stream of cryogenic gas around the items. The velocity of the stream of cryogenic gas is increased through the use of one or more impingers creating impingement jets above and below the belt. The impinger may be a plate having a series of holes or it may be a series of channels. The configuration of the impinger effects the rate of heat transfer from the cryogen to the items. A sprayer for spraying liquid cryogen into the impingement jets to provide an immediate freezing of the surface of an item. Baffles between modules enable the user to control the flow of cryogen and the pressure differential between modules. A pneumatically actuated ball valve is used to vibrate the impingers to remove snow and ice. The vibrator may be driven by compressed vaporized liquid nitrogen from the same source as that used to cool and/or freeze food items.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [25.]25. An apparatus for lowering the temperature of a food item comprising:a module;a chamber constructed and arranged within the module to receive the food item;circulating means for circulating vaporized liquid cryogen in the chamber;sprayer means in communication with the chamber f

[ We claim:] [25.]25. An apparatus for lowering the temperature of a food item comprising:a module;a chamber constructed and arranged within the module to receive the food item;circulating means for circulating vaporized liquid cryogen in the chamber;sprayer means in communication with the chamber for spraying liquid cryogen into the vaporized liquid cryogen circulating in the chamber; andimpingement means for directing a plurality of impinging jets of the vaporized liquid cryogen to the food item for reducing the temperature of the food item.