Method and apparatus for flash freezing various products

Claim 1

APPARATUS FOR FLASH FREEZING OF ARTICLES COMPRISING HOLLOW HOUSING STRUCTURE DEFINING A SUBSTANTIALLY THERMALLY ISOLATED PROCESS CHAMBER, MEANS INCLUDING A CONVEYOR OPERATING IN SAID CHAMBER FOR TRANSPORTING ARTICLES IN SUCCESSION ALONG A PROCESS PATH LEADING INTO, THROUGH AND OUT OF SAID CHAMBER, MEANS INCLUDING SPRAY NOZZLE MECHANISM MOUNTED WITHIN SAID CHAMBER FOR DIRECTING A SPRAY DISCHARGE OF LIQUID NITROGEN AGAINST EACH ARTICLE AT A CERTAIN REGION ALONG SAID PROCESS PATH TO FLASH AT LEAST PARTIALLY TO GAS FOR FRESHLY GENERATING GASEOUS NITROGEN WITHIN SAID CHAMBER, PUMPING MEANS HAVING A SUCTION INLET AND A DISCHARGE OUTLET COMMUNICATING WITH SPACED LOCATIONS WITHIN SAID CHAMBER TO DEVELOP A HIGH VELOCITY STREAM TRAVELING ALONG A RECIRCULATION FLOW PATH THROUGH SAID CHAMBER FROM SAID DISCHARGE OUTLET TO SAID SUCTION INLET, SAID STREAM BEING COMPRISED PARTLY OF RECIRCULATED GASEOUS NITROGEN AND PARTLY OF FRESHLY GENERATE GASEOUS NITROGEN AND SAID STEAM IMPINGING UPON EACH ARTICLE AT ANOTHER REGION ALONG SAID PROCESS PATH, AND MEANS FOR MAINTAINING ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE SUBSTANTIALLY THROUGHOUT THE REMAINDER OF SAID CHAMBER BY DISCHARGING FROM SAID APPARATUS A PORTION OF THE GASEOUS NITROGEN AFTER ARTICLE IMPINGEMENT TRAVEL OF SAID PORTION WITH SAID STREAM.