초록 ▼

An apparatus for mechanically rinsing and scraping bi-valve mollusks and the like. The mollusks are placed into a perforated drum that is rotated by a motor, the drum having a plurality of agitation protrusions for churning, lifting and dropping the mollusks so they become frictionally engaged with

An apparatus for mechanically rinsing and scraping bi-valve mollusks and the like. The mollusks are placed into a perforated drum that is rotated by a motor, the drum having a plurality of agitation protrusions for churning, lifting and dropping the mollusks so they become frictionally engaged with one another and the plurality of abrasive elements contained therein thereby effectively scraping off any barnacles or other like debris. Jet streams of water are emitted to shower the mollusks during operation and a housing assembly that maintains the perforated drum therein also forms a basin that retains the effluence and creates an agitating, churning bath to facilitate cleaning. The front panel of the housing assembly is hinged to a bottom plate thereof and has two perpendicular side panels extending therefrom to form a chute for unloading the mollusks in an orderly manner into a bucket or other like container.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An apparatus for rinsing and scraping mollusks comprising: a) a housing assembly including: i) a baseplate; ii) a first sidewall; iii) a second sidewall; iv) a rear wall; and v) a chute door pivotably connected to said baseplate by a hinge, said chute door acts as dump chute for controll

1. An apparatus for rinsing and scraping mollusks comprising: a) a housing assembly including: i) a baseplate; ii) a first sidewall; iii) a second sidewall; iv) a rear wall; and v) a chute door pivotably connected to said baseplate by a hinge, said chute door acts as dump chute for controlling the removal of mollusks therefrom when in the open position and when closed forms a watertight seal and conjunctively with said baseplate, said first sidewall, said second sidewall, and said rear wall defines a basin b) a perforated drum horizontally mounted within said housing for maintaining and abrasively churning and tossing the material therein during operation; c) means for axially rotating said drum within said housing; d) means for introducing a pressurized fluid into said drum and onto its respective contents; e) abrasive elements within said drum; and f) a plurality of agitation protrusions extending longitudinally and projecting medially from the inner peripheral wall of said drum to abrasively lift, drop and churn material placed therein; g) a top plate extending angularly and centrally from the top of said rear wall and connected on one side by said first sidewall and on the other side by said second sidewall; and h) a flexible sheet fastened to the top edge of said top plate for retaining the overspray and splashback from said fluid introduction means. 2. An apparatus for rinsing and scraping mollusks as recited in claim 1, wherein said drum is substantially cylindrical with a plurality of perforations large enough to permit fluid and abraded debris to travel freely therethrough and small enough to retain mollusks therein, said drum being rotatably mounted on a horizontal plane within said housing. 3. An apparatus for rinsing and cleaning mollusks as recited in claim 2, wherein said drum further comprises: a) a selectively securable drum access door covering a recess in a longitudinal section of said drum hereinafter referred to as the loading port, wherein said access door is adapted to pivot peripherally away from said drum to allow for the insertion or removal of material therein; and b) an integral axle being a rod extending centrally through said drum and beyond each end thereof, said axle having abrasive elements on the surface. 4. An apparatus for rinsing and scraping mollusks as recited in claim 3, wherein said drum rotating means comprises a motor mounted on said housing assembly and means for communicating with said axle. 5. An apparatus for rinsing and scraping mollusks as recited in claim 4, wherein said communicating means comprises: a) an axle gear engaged with said axle; b) a drive gear engaged with said motor; and c) a chain belt communicating with said axle gear and said drive gear in such a manner that the axial rotation of the drive gear will encourage the axial rotation of the axle gear thereby rotating said perforated drum. 6. An apparatus for rinsing and scraping mollusks as recited in claim 1, wherein said fluid introduction means comprises: a) an adapter for connecting an external water source, preferably a garden hose; b) a conduit with a tubular sidewall defining a fluid distribution channel, said conduit being longitudinally parallel with said perforated drum and connected with said hose adapter; and c) a plurality of pressurizing recesses within said sidewall of said conduit directed towards a central portion of said perforated drum thereby enabling said conduit to deliver a plurality of pressurized jetstreams into the interior of said perforated drum and over the contents therein.