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A pneumatic seasoning system and method utilizing a rotating drum for seasoning, a funnel-fed pneumatic eductor, line splitters, and a plurality of specially-designed swirl-inducing nozzle spools for inducing a broad and even seasoning plume. In a preferred embodiment, a pneumatic seasoning system t

A pneumatic seasoning system and method utilizing a rotating drum for seasoning, a funnel-fed pneumatic eductor, line splitters, and a plurality of specially-designed swirl-inducing nozzle spools for inducing a broad and even seasoning plume. In a preferred embodiment, a pneumatic seasoning system transports seasoning from a seasoning hopper to food items within a rotating drum using a combination of an eductor and four in-line vacuum generators, which vacuum generators operate on compressed air. Each vacuum generator comprises a distributing nozzle roughly shaped like a collared spool, wherein compressed air is supplied to the annular region defined between the spool and its collar, and said compressed air exits through swirl ports distributed about the circumference of the spool exit. Each swirl port preferably has a pitch angle of 15° and a yaw angle of 15°.

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We claim: 1. A pneumatic seasoning apparatus comprising: a pneumatic eductor propelled by an air flow and ejecting a seasoning powder; a seasoning hopper, positioned above the eductor, for supplying said seasoning powder to the eductor; a first transport tube leading a fluidized flow containing sai

We claim: 1. A pneumatic seasoning apparatus comprising: a pneumatic eductor propelled by an air flow and ejecting a seasoning powder; a seasoning hopper, positioned above the eductor, for supplying said seasoning powder to the eductor; a first transport tube leading a fluidized flow containing said seasoning powder from the eductor to a first line splitter for dividing said fluidized flow into a second transport tube and a third transport tube; and a first nozzle and a second nozzle, wherein said first nozzle receives a portion of the fluidized flow from said second transport tube, and said second nozzle receives a portion of the fluidized flow from said third transport tube; wherein each one of said first and second nozzles comprises: a spool core having a central passage for delivering said fluidized flow, wherein said spool core also has an upstream end and a downstream end; a first flange about the upstream end of said spool core; a second flange about the downstream end of said spool core; a compressed-air cowling encircling said spool core and spanning from the first flange to the second flange, thereby defining an annular swirl-port-feeding chamber between an inner surface of the compressed-air cowling, an outer surface of the spool core, a downstream side of the first flange, and upstream side of the second flange; an annular face located at the downstream end of the spool core and spanning between the outer surface of the spool core and an inner surface of the spool core; and a plurality of swirl ports, wherein each one of said swirl ports passes through a portion of the downstream end of the spool core, beginning at the outer surface of the spool core and leading to the annular face; has a non-zero pitch angle; and has a non-zero yaw angle. 2. The pneumatic seasoning apparatus of claim 1, wherein said annular face is beveled. 3. The pneumatic seasoning apparatus of claim 1, wherein said swirl ports are evenly distributed around the annular face. 4. The pneumatic seasoning apparatus of claim 1, wherein said plurality of swirl ports comprises six swirl ports. 5. The pneumatic seasoning apparatus of claim 1, wherein each one of said swirl ports has a pitch angle of up to 30°. 6. The pneumatic seasoning apparatus of claim 1, wherein each one of said swirl ports has a yaw angle of up to 30°. 7. The pneumatic seasoning apparatus of claim 1, wherein: a second line splitter divides flow from the second transport tube into a fourth transport tube and a fifth transport tube; a third line splitter divides flow from the third transport tube into a sixth transport tube and a seventh transport tube; each one of said first, second, and third line splitters has an acute, gentle splitting angle; the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh transport tubes are attached to and terminate with the first nozzle, the second nozzle, a third nozzle, and a fourth nozzle, respectively. 8. The pneumatic seasoning apparatus of claim 7, wherein further: each line splitter angle is about 20°; said nozzles are spaced evenly and in a row at 10-inch intervals; and said nozzles have a stand-off distance of about 12 inches above the top of an anticipated product bed height. 9. The pneumatic seasoning apparatus of claim 7, wherein each one of the nozzles has a seasoning plume, and the seasoning plumes collectively span a continuous area approximately 40 inches long and 10 inches wide. 10. The pneumatic seasoning apparatus of claim 7, wherein further: the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh transport tubes all have curved sections; the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh transport tubes have differing lengths; and the radius of curvature of the curved section of any given one of said fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh transport tubes is proportional to the length of the given transport tube. 11. The pneumatic seasoning apparatus of claim 1, wherein each one of the nozzles has a seasoning plume, and each seasoning plume comprises a portion of said fluidized flow having a velocity of about 30 feet per second. 12. The pneumatic seasoning apparatus of claim 1, wherein each one of the nozzles further comprises a throat extension, and said throat extension comprises a tapering portion that leads to a cowling outlet. 13. The pneumatic seasoning apparatus of claim 1, wherein said seasoning powder has a bulk density of roughly 1800 kilograms per cubic meter, and further wherein said seasoning powder has an approximate particle-size distribution as follows: 25% on the order of 10 microns in diameter, 50% on the order of 80 microns in diameter, and 25% on the order of 300 microns in diameter. 14. The pneumatic seasoning apparatus of claim 1, wherein further: said annular face is beveled; said plurality of swirl ports comprises six swirl ports evenly distributed around the annular face; each one of said swirl ports has a pitch angle of up to 30′; and each one of said swirl ports has a yaw angle of up to 30°. 15. The pneumatic seasoning apparatus of claim 14, wherein further: a second line splitter divides flow from the second transport tube into a fourth transport tube and a fifth transport tube; a third line splitter divides flow from the third transport tube into a sixth transport tube and a seventh transport tube; each one of said first, second, and third line splitters has an acute, gentle splitting angle; the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh transport tubes are attached to and terminate with the first nozzle, the second nozzle, a third nozzle, and a fourth nozzle, respectively. 16. The pneumatic seasoning apparatus of claim 15, wherein further: each line splitter angle is about 20°; said nozzles are spaced evenly and in a row at 10-inch intervals; and said nozzles have a stand-off distance of about 12 inches above the top of an anticipated product bed height. 17. The pneumatic seasoning apparatus of claim 1, wherein said fluidized flow containing said seasoning powder is a dilute-phase pneumatic flow. 18. The pneumatic seasoning apparatus of claim 1, wherein each one of said swirl ports begins at the junction of the outer surface of the spool core and the upstream side of the second flange.