US3580000A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Chamber for food treating apparatus
Assignee: Integral Process Systems Inc
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Filing: 1969-03-17
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Granted: 1971-05-25
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Expires: 1989-03-17
Abstract
Abstract To provide for the ease of cleaning of an elongated food treating chamber, such as a flash freezing chamber, which contains a conveyor for the passage of food therethrough, means are provided for separating the chamber into sections, opening a lid portion of each section and lifting the conveyor out of the chamber by means of lifting jacks which pass through the spaces between the separated sections. Another aspect of the invention provides means for accommodating differential thermal expansion or contraction of inner and outer walls of the chamber section by connecting said inner and outer walls only by cover caps and end caps which are slidably attached thereto.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard C Wagner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 16:34
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25D; F25D3/00; F25D3/10; F25D3/11; F25D2400/00; F25D2400/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
A food treating apparatus comprising an open-ended, elongated, horizontally disposed chamber having a conveyor passing therethrough, said chamber comprising a plurality of separable sections affixed to each other in end-to-end relationship during the operation of said apparatus, each of said sections comprising a lower body portion and an upper lid portion, each of said portions extending the entire length of said section, means for displacing each of said lid portions from each of said body portions to permit the lifting of said conveyor, means situated below said chamber portions to lift said conveyor and means to separate said conveyor sections to enable said lifting means to move into engagement with said conveyor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
112 words
A food treating apparatus comprising an open-ended, elongated, horizontally disposed chamber having a conveyor passing therethrough, said chamber comprising a plurality of separable sections affixed to each other in end-to-end relationship during the operation of said apparatus, each of said sections comprising a lower body portion and an upper lid portion, each of said portions extending the entire length of said section, means for displacing each of said lid portions from each of said body portions to permit the lifting of said conveyor, means situated below said chamber portions to lift said conveyor and means to separate said conveyor sections to enable said lifting means to move into engagement with said conveyor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said lid displacing means comprises a hinge and a means to partially counterbalance the weight of said lid section.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said lifting means comprises a screw jack adapted to lift said conveyor at at least two points along its length.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said lifting means comprises a hydraulic jack adapted to lift said conveyor at at least two points along its length.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said conveyor comprises downwardly extensible support members adapted to engage said lifting means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus for the flash freezing of food in accordance with claim 1.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus for the heat treating of food in accordance with claim 1.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of said chamber body sections comprises an inner wall, an outer wall and insulating means therebetween and means are provided to permit the length of said inner wall to respond to temperature fluctuations independently of the length of said outer wall.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
54 words
The apparatus of claim 8 where in said last-named means comprises a cover cap member extending the length of said chamber body section and slidably attached to said inner and outer walls and an end cap member extending the height of saId chamber body section and slidably attached to said inner and outer walls.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said cover cap is attached to said inner and outer walls by clips attached to the underside of said cap.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
84 words
A method for cleaning a food treating apparatus comprising a horizontally disposed open-ended chamber having a conveyor therewithin and made up of a plurality of separate lidded sections held in end-to-end relationship which method comprises separating said chamber sections from each other, opening the lids of said sections, passing a lifting mechanism between at least two of said separated sections to lift said conveyor above the level of said sections, and thereafter cleaning said conveyor and the interior walls of said separated conveyor sections.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
84 words
A method for cleaning a food treating apparatus comprising a horizontally disposed open-ended chamber having a conveyor therewithin and made up of a plurality of separate lidded sections held in end-to-end relationship which method comprises separating said chamber sections from each other, opening the lids of said sections, passing a lifting mechanism between at least two of said separated sections to lift said conveyor above the level of said sections, and thereafter cleaning said conveyor and the interior walls of said separated conveyor sections.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-05-24 | 1974-11-23 | 1975-05-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-05-24 | 1978-11-23 | 1979-05-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-05-24 | 1982-11-23 | 1983-05-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |